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This study focuses on the creation of high degree biocomposite with the utilization of renewable resources, including cardanol oil, palm kernel fiber and chitosan biopolymer. The principal aim of this research was to achieve high degree ratio of biocomposite for safe and eco-friendly application. The chitosan biopolymer was extracted from marine waste sea urchin spikes via deproteination. The biocomposites were prepared via hand layup technique following testing via ASTM standards. According to results, among the composites fabricated, PC5 exhibits exceptional mechanical strength with tensile strength of 88.2 MPa, flexural strength of 133.35 MPa and impact energy of 3.92 J. Therefore, PC6 composite performs better wear resistance with reduced coefficient of friction of 0.399 and Sp. wear rate of 0.01 mm3/Nm, respectively. And also, PC6 provides good thermal resistance with initial decomposition temperature of 345 °C. Similar to mechanical properties, in fatigue behavior also PC5 exhibits high fatigue life cycle counts with 19,647 for 25% UTS, 18,799 for 50% UTS and 17,571 for 75% UTS. The obtained results show that the inclusion of palm kernel fiber and chitosan significantly enhances the mechanical properties, wear and thermal resistance of the composites, while the cardinal oil binder ensures proper adhesion. However, thermal aging conditions were implemented to assess the material's ability to withstand harsh environmental factors. Notably, among the composite materials tested, the designations with chitin (such as PC4, PC5, and PC6) exhibited lesser susceptibility to the effects of thermal aging. This resilience is attributed to the presence of NH2 functional groups within chitin, which play a role in reducing the impact of thermal aging. These discoveries highlight the promising qualities of the developed polyester biocomposites, suggesting their suitability for a wide array of industrial applications requiring materials capable of enduring high-temperature environments such as automotive door panels, structural, space, defense and sports applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double emulsion consists of two interfacial layers which can encapsulate both hydrophilic and lipophilic substances within a single carrier. Besides encapsulation, double emulsion has also been used to modify the sensorial properties of food products. However, at the same time, double emulsion is susceptible to destabilization under environmental stresses and long-term storage. In this paper, recent articles on double emulsion were critically highlighted in terms of production, composition, and stabilization. With current existing fundamental knowledge about double emulsion, this paper aims to review the utilization of double emulsion for food application to bring potential benefits, stability, and future application. The stability of double emulsion during production and storage was affected by the production method, composition, and temperature control. In terms of food application, double emulsion has been successfully applied in fat-reducing products, food encapsulation, fortification, preservation, edible food packaging, etc. The recent insights in forming stable storage of double emulsion with food-grade emulsifiers have also been discussed in this review paper. In the future, the efforts in mitigating the destabilization behaviour of double emulsion might be beneficial in boosting the applications of double emulsion in bigger markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the few synthetic resins from petroleum-based sources that are biodegradable and can reduce the environmental pollution is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). PVA film is non-toxic, transparent, and biocompatible in line with green ecologically friendly requirements. It is completely biodegradable and possesses good mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and gas barrier. PVA's hydroxyl groups, however, decrease its mechanical and thermal properties and make it water-soluble, which limits its use. However, it is possible to control the water solubility or absorption by partially cross-linking the polymer chains. This work aims to enhance the mechanical properties while making an insoluble film through cross-linking with oxalic acid (OA). In the present investigation, PVA film was cross-linked with OA (with variable weight percentage (wt%) of OA) to limit its ability to absorb moisture. Tensile testing was utilized to evaluate the mechanical properties of the films, revealing their ultimate tensile strength, % elongation, and Young's modulus. With increase in wt% of OA, % elongation of PVA-based films decreases, whereas maximum tensile strength was observed at 10 wt% of OA configuration. In comparison to neat PVA, the differential thermo-gravimetric analysis peak migrated towards the higher temperature side with an increase in the OA concentration. The peak value of tan δ curve also increased and shifted towards higher temperature side as the OA concentration increased. This concludes that prepared films have high damping coefficient and can absorb impact load. Finally, the films' creep-recovery behaviour was also examined in detail. To represent the potential application of these films as packaging materials, anti-microbial tests were also conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conductive biohydrogel received prominent application in the diverse field. Hydrogel based on biopolymer is generally biocompatible and degradable but exhibiting poor conductivity. To enhance the conductivity of biohydrogel, composite of bioplomer and synthetic polymer are preferred. This work aims to prepare such composite for the augmentation of conductivity of biohydrogel. Gum Ghatti (GG), a natural biopolymer, was grafted with polyacrylic acid and subsequently cross-linked to form a hydrogel. The synthesized hydrogel was then infused with oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (-o-MWCNTs). The materials underwent comprehensive characterization using techniques, such as FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and TGA-DTA. The grafted GG demonstrated a synergistic blend of biopolymer and polyacrylic acid (AA) properties. The hydrogel's electrical conductivity was systematically investigated at varying loadings of -o-MWCNTs within the GG-cl-P(AA) matrix. As the loading of -o-MWCNTs increased from 10 to 30 mg, there was a notable enhancement in electrical conductivity. However, at higher loading amounts, the electrical conductivity exhibited a subsequent decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of novel cellulosic materials is imperative at the moment to ensure high-quality materials for building polymer composites that possess high-performance. This study was conducted to explore the specific properties of a novel micro-sized cellulosic fillers obtained from Nelumbo nucifera leaves and thereby to establish its feasibility as composite reinforcement. The physico-chemical, surface and thermal behaviours are investigated for cellulosic micro fillers that extracted through thermo-chemical method. The density of the extracted fillers was analysed to realize its mode of applicability. Whereas chemical characterization studies were indispensable to explore the chemical nature of the material. Of which, X-ray diffraction analysis proved that Nelumbo nucifera leaves has good crystallinity index (75.9%) and crystalline size (8.2 nm). The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer analysis showed that the material possesses high cellulosic contents rather very less non-cellulosic residues. Scanning electron microscope images disclosed the roughness pattern of the filler surface and subsequently the average particle size of the micro fillers is identified as 23.253±6.55μm through ImageJ tool. At the same time, atomic force microscopy images revealed that micro cellulose extracted has desired average roughness (28.296 μm). Though, the suitable surface features of Nelumbo nucifera leaves are found to be virtuous for providing interfacial bonding with other matrices during composite formulation. Along with that, good thermal stability (215°C) offers its processing and application even at relatively higher temperatures. Since, the present study has accomplished that Nelumbo nucifera leaves is a promising alternative source of micro cellulose for traditionally used sources like wood, hemp, and cotton, for the extraction of micro cellulose, which could be further used as a promising alternative to synthetic reinforcements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural polymer chitin is an abundant source for valuable N-acetylchitooligosaccharides and N-acetylglucosamine applicable in several industries. The endochitinase Chit36-TA from Trichoderma asperellum was recombinantly expressed in Komagataella phaffii for the enzymatic degradation of chitin from unused insect exuviae into N-acetylchitooligosaccharides. Chit36-TA was purified by Ni–NTA affinity chromatography and subsequently biochemically characterized. After deglycosylation, the endochitinase had a molecular weight of 36 kDa. The optimum pH for Chit36-TA was 4.5. The temperature maximum of Chit36-TA was determined to be 50 °C, while it maintained > 93% activity up to 60 °C. The chitinase was thermostable up to 45 °C and exhibited ~ 50% activity after a 15 min incubation at 57 °C. Chit36-TA had a maximum specific enzyme activity of 50 nkat/mg with a Km value of 289 µM with 4-methylumbelliferyl-N,N′,N″-triacetyl-β-chitotrioside as substrate. Most tested cations, organic solvents and reagents were well-tolerated by the endochitinase, except for SDS (1 mM), Cu2+ (10 mM) and Mn2+ (10 mM), which had stronger inhibitory effects with residual activities of 3, 41 and 28%, respectively. With a degree of hydrolysis of 32% applying colloidal shrimp chitin (1% (w/v)) and 12% on insect larvae (1% (w/v)) after 24 h, the endochitinase was found to be suitable for the conversion of colloidal chitin as well as chitin from black soldier fly larvae into water-soluble N-acetylchitooligosaccharides. To prove scalability, a bioreactor process was developed in which a 55-fold higher enzyme activity of 49 µkat/l and a tenfold higher protein expression of 1258 mg/l were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of food disposal has grown more serious, but the application of nanocomposite polymers offers a viable solution. These cutting-edge polymers provide cost-effective solutions and a sustainable means of reducing environmental harm. Food waste can be used extensively to make nanocomposite polymers, that are useful in a variety of industrial applications. Biodegradable components like lignin and chitin, which are sourced from animal products or crop leftovers, are used to create the cutting-edge polymers. The mechanical qualities and endurance of the polymers are improved by including these natural components, making them suitable for a variety of industrial fields. In the rapidly expanding sector of biocomposite polymer materials, there is a big emphasis on using food waste as a viable feedstock. According to research, biocomposites made from food waste have better mechanical strength and barrier qualities than conventional materials. These biocomposites can also be modified to fulfil specific application requirements, such as better thermal insulation capabilities or higher fire resistance. They are a desirable replacement for conventional synthetic polymers due to their sustainability, which also expands the variety of possible uses. Inorganic and organic nanoparticles are mixed with biopolymers to form nanocomposite materials based on biopolymers. While many waste materials can be employed as substrates for the manufacture of bionanomaterials, recent focus has been placed on the food industry waste, which is produced at a significant pace globally. These biopolymers are gaining popularity in the pharmaceutical and medical industries in addition to their current use in culinary applications because of their distinctive properties. This study sheds light on the possibilities of this novel strategy for sustainable development by compiling a wide range of food waste sources and biopolymer synthesis technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, a substantial quantity of agricultural food waste and byproducts that contain significant bioactive chemicals are produced, particularly across the whole supply chain. Reducing food waste and byproducts is the initial choice to mitigate environmental issues and contribute to economic and societal well-being. Despite the implementation of many policies and the availability of numerous management methods to utilize agricultural food wastes, these wastes continue to be generated on a yearly basis. Researchers have identified numerous types of waste materials that can be used as substrates in the manufacturing of biomaterials. Conversely, there has been a growing emphasis on using agro-food waste, namely waste from fruits, vegetables, and fatty products, to produce various types of biopolymers. Biopolymers comprise gelatin, xanthan gum, cellulose, collagen, Polyhydroxyalkanoates and other chemically related substances. This review focuses on significant biopolymeric materials synthesized from agricultural food waste and their prospective applications. This work also addresses the difficulties and possibilities associated with the creation of sustainable biopolymer-based composites derived from agri-food waste biomass through a closed loop strategy and circular economy. The study's findings suggest that incorporating agricultural biomass into the production of biopolymer-based composites holds significant promise for improving environmental sustainability. The extensive aggregated data can aid academics in addressing and resolving the problems related to food waste and the depletion of fossil fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pectin from Taiwan Citrus depressa Hayata's peels (CDH pectin) and sodium alginate (Na alginate) were mixed in neutral acidity to produce microhydrogel beads or microspheres. The potential use of the microspheres such as encapsulation materials for quercetin and nobiletin, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity, toxic elements absorption ability, and thermal characteristics were explored. Results: Different ratios of CDH pectin and Na alginate produced microspheres of varying sizes and shapes. The highest yield (47.59%) with the broadest diameter was obtained at a Na alginate—CDH pectin ratio of 2:1, while the smallest yield was obtained from Na alginate—CDH pectin ratio of 1:3 (24.13%). Increasing the amount of Na alginate resulted in more spherical microspheres, higher heavy metals (cobalt and nickel) removal rates, yet a lower swelling ratio. A high pectin concentration also increased the encapsulation efficiency of quercetin and nobiletin, reaching 91.5% and 86.74%, respectively. Quercetin and nobiletin release analysis (in vitro) showed a slow release of drugs from the microspheres. Less than 20% quercetin and nobiletin were released from the microspheres in SGF (simulated gastric fluid) pH 1.2 solution after 2 h and more than 40% of the encapsulated drug was released in SIF (simulated intestinal fluid) pH 6.8 after 4 h. The strong DPPH scavenging activity of quercetin (99%) was not hindered by encapsulation materials. ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry) analysis demonstrated that the biopolymer can absorb cobalt and nickel from water. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) result showed that the combination of CDH pectin and Na alginate produced a biopolymer that exhibited a weight loss of only 1.86–4.33% at 100 °C. Conclusions: These findings suggest that microspheres produced from CDH pectin cross-linked with sodium alginate had potential in nobiletin and quercetin encapsulation. Moreover, the polymer could absorb heavy metals and exhibit an important characteristic for hot food and beverage packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing rise in CO2 emission, resulting in accelerated global warming, there is an increased utilization of lignocellulosic waste biomass to synthesize inexpensive CO2 adsorbents, via hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of biomass followed by chemical activation (CAC) to create porous activated hydrochar that can capture CO2. However, despite analogous thermochemical conversion (HTC and CAC) conditions, the activated hydrochars derived from different biomass precursors exhibit dissimilarity in surface morphology and its corresponding CO2 capture capacity. Hence, finding the fundamental key underlying this discrepancy is of interest where biopolymer constituents' composition is hypothesized to be the determining factor. This study, therefore, explored the biopolymer model compounds of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and glucose which were independently hydrothermally carbonized and KOH-activated to develop porous adsorbents. The findings of this study highlighted discrete porosity development in the biopolymer-derived activated hydrochar ranging from 591 m2/g for glucose precursor to as high as 2279 m2/g for that cellulose. On the other hand, lignin-based activated hydrochar demonstrated the lowest microporosity (0.084 cm3/g), reflecting its reluctance in transforming the hydrochar carbon matrix into substantially rich micro-cavities, at moderate HTC and CAC conditions. CO2 capture was observed to be the lowest of 1.45 mmol/g for glucose and highest of 2.45 mmol/g for cellulose-derived activated hydrochars, reflecting the direct influence of surface porosity on CO2 adsorbed. Literature data of other lignocellulosic biomass-derived activated hydrochars were combined with results of this study where a statistical analysis revealed the inhibiting role of glucose in pore creation while micropore creation was favored by cellulose and hemicellulose, benefitting CO2 capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pullulan is a biopolymer produced by various strains of the fungi Aureobasidium pullulans. It is made up of maltotriose units consisting of α-(1,6) and α-(1,4) glycosidic bonds. Pullulan was discovered by Bauer in 1938, characterized by Bernier in 1958 and named as 'pullulan' by Bender in 1959. Submerged fermentation is widely employed for pullulan production followed by downstream processing for recovery of pullulan. Factors such as nutrients, minerals, pH, temperature, surfactants, light intensity, and melanin intermediate affect its production. Various optimization methods such as Plackett Burman design, response surface methodology, and artificial neural networks have been utilised for enhancing the yield of pullulan. Pullulan yield as high as 62.52 g/L can be achieved using a 5 L fermenter under optimised conditions. It can be characterized by techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy. The biopolymer has remarkable properties which makes it an ideal candidate to be used in various applications such as the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors, cosmetics, food, and wastewater treatment. Pullulan's applications can be expanded by chemically modifying to obtain grafted pullulan, polymer blends, nanocomposites and hydrogels which have been gaining importance in recent years. Over the years, many patents using pullulan have been granted for different applications worldwide. This review sheds light on all these aspects of pullulan including its future scope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, cellulose with quaternary ammonium functions was prepared and utilized to remove Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions and water samples from plating baths. Batch sorption tests conducted with aqueous solutions revealed that the removal of Cr(VI) was rapid, completing in just 3 min. Cr(VI) sorption was pH dependent, exhibiting a low removal rate at acidic pH levels and increasing with the solution pH. Within the pH range of 6–10, up to 99% of Cr(VI) could be removed from the solution. The optimum conditions identified were applied to an actual plating bath water sample, resulting in 99% of Cr(VI) removal from the solution. The maximum sorption capacity of the prepared sorbents was 32.68 mg/g. The removal rate of Cr(VI) changed by only 1% at low coexistence of ions (namely Cl−, SO42−, PO43–, and NO3−), but it decreased by 14% to 45% when concentrations increased from 5 to 100 mg/L. Thermodynamic studies revealed that Cr(VI) sorption was both spontaneous and exothermic. The exhausted sorbent can regenerate completely with 1 M HCl or H2SO4 solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose present in natural plant sources has better potentials to replace traditional synthetic fibers. However, a lack of knowledge and awareness on cellulose hinders efforts to fully utilize this extremely biodegradable resource. This study aims to extract and characterize the microcrystalline cellulose (MC) obtained from Pandanus tectorius leaves. The MC particles are extracted with the aid of alkaline and chemical treatment. The extracted MC powder is in pure white color and further investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy analysis (SEM) to understand its physicochemical properties and surface morphology. The band gap energy of exfoliated MC was 4.21 eV; with crystallinity index and degree of crystallinity of 76.8% and 81.4%, the dislocation density is calculated as 0.002. Thermal stability of MC particle was up to 470 °C; further increment in temperature degrades the MC particles. The obtained results depict that exfoliated MC particles have better band gap, and it can be used for food packing industries, and furthermore, this type of waste plant weeds can be converted in to useful MC particles to be used as a filler material in developing polymer matrix composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food fortification with iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) can effectively reduce deficiencies of these important micronutrients, but the reactivity of bioavailable Fe compounds in foods remains a challenge. Here, this problem was tackled by binding water-soluble Fe3+ and Zn2+ sources to alginate by ionotropic gelation, resulting in the formation of mixed Fe/Zn alginate beads. The dry beads were 0.8–1.4 mm in diameter and had Fe and Zn contents of up to 143 mg/g. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the successful binding of Fe3+ and Zn2+ with the carboxylic acid groups of alginate with preferential binding of Fe3+ over Zn2+. When added to difficult-to-fortify polyphenol-rich foods, the Fe alginate beads caused smaller color changes than water-soluble Fe sources, confirming that binding Fe3+ to alginate reduced its reactivity and improved its stability. Adding increasing amounts of Zn into the beads further improved color stability as evidenced by the lower ΔE values. The in vitro Fe solubility was 75–90% within 120 min at pH 1.0, independent of the Zn content, suggesting that the Fe from these structures is released in the stomach and available for absorption in the intestine. Their improved stability may make these Fe/Zn alginates attractive dual fortificants for difficult-to-fortify foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the geotechnical performance of municipal solid waste fines (MSWF) stabilized with xanthan gum and agar gum. As urbanization escalates, the challenge of managing MSW becomes more critical, especially in India, projected to produce up to 436 million tonnes annually by 2050. Landfill mining yields material with poor engineering properties, necessitating effective stabilization techniques. This research evaluates the efficacy of xanthan and agar gums in enhancing the geotechnical properties of MSW fines. Various tests, including compaction, triaxial, and unconfined compressive strength, were conducted on samples subjected to different curing periods. The results indicate a substantial improvement in the mechanical properties of MSW fines treated with agar gum, including a maximum increase of 58% in unconfined compressive strength (UCS). Microstructural examinations confirm enhanced interparticle bonding, while leachate analysis shows a notable reduction in heavy metal release. Statistical assessments underscore the significance of curing time in determining the final properties of the treated MSW fines. Overall, agar gum emerges as a more effective biopolymer for MSW fines stabilization, with curing duration playing a vital role in achieving optimal geotechnical characteristics. These findings offer valuable insights for selecting appropriate bio-treatment methods for heterogeneous materials like MSW fines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid polymer electrolytes are given great importance as they can provide significant potential in building electrochemical devices including batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells. This study prepared and optimized a blend of rosin gum and cellulose acetate to which LiNO3 was added to prepare lithium ion conducting solid polymer electrolyte. A maximum ionic conductivity of 6.21×10−5 Scm−1 was attained. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the synthesized polymer electrolytes indicated that the films possess an amorphous structure and indicate the complete dissolution of salt. The analysis of the blend polymer doped with the salt using FTIR spectroscopy provided a comprehensive understanding of the detailed interaction between the salt and the blend system. The thermogravimetry study demonstrated that electrolyte membrane was stable up to 205 °C. The electrochemical stability of the produced electrolyte was investigated using LSV analysis which showed that the electrolyte was stable up to 2.6 V. The calculation of transference numbers verified that ions are the main charge carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The review summarizes studies on modification of fish collagen and pectin to obtain the branched and three-dimensional structures. They are biodegradable and biocompatible sealants prepared via radical graft copolymerization under photocatalysis in the presence of a RbTe1.5W0.5O6 complex oxide of a β-pyrochlore structure, including the variation of composition of a initial reaction mixture, and via the isolation stage by introduction of known modification additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a curdlan-producing bacterium was isolated from Cow pea soil and identified as Priestia megaterium based on 16 S rRNA sequencing. To identify the most suitable carbon and nitrogen sources for curdlan production, submerged fermentation studies with different sources was carried out. To enhance the curdlan yield, optimization by one-factor-at-a-time approach was conducted. The optimal fermentation media consisted of 15% (w/v) sucrose, 0.1% (w/v) urea, 0.1% (w/v) KH2PO4, 0.04% (w/v) MgSO4·7H2O, trace elements, initial pH of 7.0 with 10% (v/v) inoculum size and agitation speed of 180 rpm. Kinetics of growth, curdlan yield, sucrose and ammonia depletion were studied for a period of 168 h. Maximum curdlan yield (0.31 g/L) was achieved at 96 h of fermentation. At this point, the fermentation media had an optical density of 9.68, biomass concentration of 4.26 mg/mL, and viable count of 2.4 × 104 CFU/mL. Additionally, the maximum percentage consumption of sucrose and ammonia over 168 h of fermentation were 75 and 62.5%, respectively. Finally, the identity of biopolymer curdlan was validated through characterization techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Some characteristic features of curdlan such as the β-1,3-linkage was depicted by the absorption band at 890 cm−1 in FTIR, flaky granules with irregularities as seen in SEM, and thermal degradation between 235 and 350 °C by TGA. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on curdlan production from Priestia megaterium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, bead foams are of great interest due to their high lightweight potential. The processing of such foams strongly depends on the crystallization and rheological behavior of the polymers used. By blending polymers, these properties can be tailored to obtain beaded foams with low density, small cell size and high cell density. As a bio-based polymer, PLA is of great interest due to its renewable carbon source. PLA suffers from its low thermal and rheological properties, which can be compensated by using blends. The correlation between the PLA/PHBV ratio and the rheological as well as the crystallization behavior was investigated. The use of PHBV as a minor phase significantly changes the rheological properties and increases the crystallization behavior of PLA. These findings were applied to the foam extrusion process to obtain low density bead foams. Bead foams with densities below 100 kg/m3, mean cell sizes below 50 µm and cell densities of 1 × 107 cells/cm3 were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leachable plasticizers made of petroleum are causing growing environmental and health concerns because they are so dangerous to the environment. Therefore, searching for novel biodegradable plasticizers is of increasing interest of researchers across different domains. So, there is a need to develop bio-based plasticizers from natural sources. Within this context, Agave sisalana act to be real alternatives to the chemical plasticizers because they are biocompatible and biodegradable. In light of these aspects, in this work, we explored a green plasticizer from Agave sisalana, a renewable resource. In this report, a compound was isolated from the residue after extracting from sisal leaf and its structure was investigated. Thermal investigations (TGA), X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to assess its chemical stability and structure. The surface morphology of A. sisalana was examined in detail by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and particle size is analyzed by using SEM/EDAX. The results show that the novel bioplasticizers have better qualities than the other traditional plasticizers. The crystallinity index and crystallinity size values of the A. sisalana leaf plasticizer were calculated through X-ray-diffraction for the isolated biomaterials. This exposed its amorphous-crystalline nature. The particle size of the extracted plant material was examined. The kinetic activation parameter was calculated by using TGA/DTG studies. The plasticizing effect of this novel bioplasticizers was also studied by reinforcing this with PLA matrix for biofilm manufacturing for futuristic applications. The conducted investigation showed that these bioplasticizers could be suitable for applications in the bioplastics sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research study effect of silane-treated pectin biopolymer from waste dragon fruit peel as filler in the vinyl based composite and its resistance against to load bearing properties when the composite under aging condition. Pectin biopolymer is extracted from dragon fruit peel and pineapple leaf fibre is reinforced into the composite. Both fibre and filler undergo silane treatment to enhance bonding strength. The composite is developed through a hand layup process, and compositional values are documented. The compositesare undergoes temperature aging at 60 °C for 30, 60, and 90 days in a hot air oven. According to results notably, specimen D2 shows minimal reduction in mechanical strength even after 90 days of temperature aging. The tensile strength remained at 118 MPa, flexural strength at 158 MPa, ILSS at 24 MPa, V-notch shear strength at 21.2 MPa, Izod impact at 4.77 J, and hardness at 77 Shore-D. This resilience suggests that the silane treatment on both fibre and pectin played a pivotal role in preserving the mechanical integrity of the composite material, even under prolonged thermal weakening. Similar improvements were observed in fatigue life counts too. The silane treated pectin adhere the fibre and resin well and maintain high structural rigidity. SEM analysis also revealed adhesion improved fibre, improved toughness with fibre, fibre breakage, and minimalfibrepull-out. Overall, these findings offer insights into enhancing composite material properties through the strategic use of silane-treated pectin biopolymer and pineapple fibre reinforcement when aiming for varying in temperature applicable zones such as automotives, structural and drones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the focus of research is to alternate synthetic polymers with organic polymers. Most of the polymers need an additive called plasticizer to enhance the physiochemical properties of the polymer. Plasticizer is available synthetically in both liquid and solid state. There are only limited polymers available organically synthesized. Most of the synthetic polymers such as phthalates, ethylene glycol, oligomers, esters and etc., are derived from fossil fuels. These polymers provide good flexibility, mould ability, chain rotation, and softness of polymers. Without plasticizers the polymers get shrunk and become weak quality polymer. According to the use of plasticizer, in our study we focussed on organic plasticizer extraction from plant based materials. The plant that was used was Jatropha curcas, and its leaves have a high organic content. The plasticizer was extracted chemically and characterized using FT-IR, TGA, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-Ray diffraction and particle size analysis. The extracted plasticizer withstand up to temperature of 2900C. The high crystallinity index (48.76%) and the low crystalline size (19.6 nm) attained are required characteristics of plasticizer. The residual mass obtained in TGA was only 8%. The FT-IR analysis shows the presence of polyphenols, aromatic ring stretching. The elemental analysis shows the presence of higher percentage of oxygen and carbon which are main components of organic plasticizer. Compared to conventional non-biodegradable plasticizers, organic plasticizers are a great choice because they were made with natural and safe raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish gelatin is a promising polymer for creating plastics derived from agro-industrial waste, offering a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics. This research aimed to develop fish gelatin films that can be used to replace conventional single-use plastics employed in food packaging. Specifically, our focus was on reducing the high hydrophilic behavior of fish gelatin films which limits their possible applications. To address this, mono-, bi-, and tri- layer films were fabricated from fish gelatin and amylopectin. The fish gelatin was cross-linked with the enzyme transglutaminase to reduce its hydrophilicity achieving two levels of cross-linking: 40 ± 2%, and 65 ± 4%. Micrographs confirmed crack-free films and bilayer/trilayer formation. The cross-linked films exhibited reduced solubility: about 30% in monolayer and 40–67% in bilayer and trilayer films compared to pure protein films. Regarding the water vapor transmission rate, the highly cross-linked trilayer film displayed a value of 0.95 g/m2 h which is significantly lower than pure protein films (2.89 g/m2 h) and amylopectin films (9.37 g/m2 h). Additionally, Young's modulus and the thermal stability were improved with the lamination. These results suggest an effective method for manufacturing films from fish waste, which could contribute to a circular economy for the fishing industry. Enhanced water resistance also makes the films potentially suitable for sustainable biopolymer-based active food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review explores the use of biopolymers as sustainable alternatives for soil improvement in geotechnical engineering. Specifically, focusing on three commonly used biopolymers: xanthan gum, agar gum, and guar gum, this review highlights their potential applications and effects on the geotechnical properties of different soil types. Xanthan gum exhibits improved impermeability and water storage capacity, making it suitable for anti-wind erosion, soil remediation, and grouting vegetation growth. Agar gum shows promise in liquefaction remediation with its gelation process and absence of chemical reactions during soil cementation. It is resistant to thermal degradation, oxidation, acid-alkaline environments, and salt concentrations. Its hygroscopicity and stability make it useful for soil stabilization. Guar gum enhances shear strength, reduces permeability, and improves soil stability, making it effective for mine tailing stabilisation, slope stability, and other geotechnical applications. Being a polymeric molecule, as it breaks down, it becomes more biopolymer-rich, making it more resistant to wetting and drying processes. This review discusses biopolymer-treated soils’ strengthening mechanisms, such as hydrogel formation and cross-links between soil particles. The utilisation of biopolymers offers advantages in terms of abundance, non-toxicity, and potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The review also identifies the use of biopolymers in mine tailings. Although further research is needed to optimise their application and explore their full potential in sustainable improvement practices, This integration of biopolymers in soil engineering would provide a more environmentally friendly approach.Article Highlights: Biopolymers, such as xanthan gum, agar gum, and guar gum, are sustainable alternatives for soil improvement in geotechnical engineering. Biopolymer-treated soils have strengthening mechanisms such as hydrogel formation and cross-links between soil particles. The use of biopolymers offers advantages in terms of abundance, non-toxicity, and potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Biopolymers can be used in the remediation of mine tailings, which are characterized by high toxicity and low fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, lanthanum (La)-based magnetic biopolymers were synthesized, and the first adsorption study was conducted on the removal of brilliant green dye from aqueous water with these biopolymers. For the adsorption study, adsorption parameters were investigated and the ideal adsorption conditions determined for the removal of brilliant green dye from aqueous solutions are pH 11, t 60 min, m 10 mg, C0 25 mg/L, T 298 K. It was determined that the adsorption process was compatible with the single-layer Langmuir isotherm, and maximum adsorption capacity obtained according to the Langmuir isotherm was calculated as 256.41 mg/g. The adsorption process was found to be in accordance with the pseudo-second-order, and the adsorption process was explained by intra-particle diffusion. According to studies of adsorption thermodynamics, it has been established that the nature of the adsorption reaction is spontaneous, and this process is endothermic and has increasing randomness. Moreover, the reusability of magnetic lanthanum/alginate (La/Alg) biopolymers was investigated, and it was determined that the biopolymers could be used successfully. In summary, brilliant green dye has been successfully removed with simple, low-cost, environmentally friendly, and easily obtained magnetic La/Alg biopolymers. It can be stated that even low amounts of these biopolymers can be effective in the treatment of highly concentrated dye wastewaters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of bio-based raw materials in the manufacture of customized aerogels has increased significantly over the last decade. Combining the advantages of biopolymer sustainability and lower costs when producing aerogels in particulate form, agar aerogel particles were fabricated in this study. They were prepared by successive thermal gelation, ethanol solvent exchange, wet milling and supercritical CO2 assisted drying. The particles still maintain high porosity (~ 1.0 cm3 g−1) and high specific surface areas (210–270 m2 g−1). The stability in wound fluid substitutes, liquid holding capacity, and cytocompatibility of these agar-based aerogel particles may make them an advantageous wound-dressing matrix that can be further customized for particular applications by adding wound-active/reactive substances, such as antibiotics, antioxidants, immunoreactive drugs or growth factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an ecofriendly and low-carbon binder, biopolymer has been used as the reinforcing material for stabilizing marine soils. However, the biopolymer-reinforced soils always show low resistance to moisture. Recent studies found that the carrageenan-reinforced calcareous silt may show some differences when facing the moisture-induced degradation. In this study, water immersion tests were performed on carrageenan-reinforced calcareous silt with different biopolymer dosages and dry–wet (DW) cycles. The specimen dimension, shear wave velocity, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and UCS strength were measured for these specimens. The changes in the physical and mechanical properties of the reinforced soils with dry–wet cycle were studied. It is found that the total volume of specimen is decreasing with dry–wet cycle. Shear wave velocity, thermal conductivity, and unconfined compression strength (UCS) increase at DW = 1 and then drop continuously. The mass percentage of 3% carrageenan is considered as a better dosage compared with 5% carrageenan content with the balance of morphology and strength degradation. The microscopic images of the tested specimens show clear degradations of carrageenan bonds connecting soil grains. The belt form of the carrageenan is transferred to the silk form after a few dry–wet treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed bioplastics made from different mass proportions of commercial chitosan and banana plant pseudostem-derived hemicelluloses. The bioplastics were prepared by the casting method and characterized for moisture content, water solubility, opacity, water absorption, tensile strength, and thermogravimetric properties. The formulations with hemicelluloses addition showed higher moisture content and water solubility than the chitosan-only bioplastic, the maximum values of these properties (22.3 and 22.4%) were achieved when hemicelluloses were added at the proportion of 10 and 5%, respectively. A positive linear correlation (r = 0.86) was found between added hemicelluloses and opacity, with the highest opacity (1.95 mm−1) achieved in the formulation with the maximum hemicellulose incorporation. The bioplastics containing hemicelluloses exhibited lower swelling (water absorption) than that made only of chitosan, with the formulation featuring the highest hemicelluloses content showed the lowest swelling (229.2%). A negative linear correlation (r = 0.95) was observed between added hemicelluloses and swelling values. The formulation with the highest hemicelluloses content demonstrated statistically significant differences and exhibited the highest tensile strength (18.7 MPa) and Young's modulus (66.1 MPa). Thermogravimetric analysis revealed four stages of mass loss in the bioplastics. Hemicelluloses addition decreased the temperature at maximum mass loss, and the formulation with the lowest hemicelluloses content showed a higher degradation rate than the others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed towards the fabrication of biodegradable packaging films using carboxymethyl guar gum (CMG) as the base material. Various ratios of glycerol (Gly) as a plasticizer and glutaraldehyde (Glu) as a cross-linker were employed in the synthesis of these biopolymer-based films through the solution casting technique. Comprehensive characterization, such as attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), was conducted. The films were further examined for tensile strength, percent elongation, thickness, solubility in water, gloss, haze, and transparency. The maximum tensile strength of 37.82 MPa, maximum percent elongation of 124.20%, maximum gloss of 25.52% at a 20° angle, maximum haze of 41.93%, maximum transparency of 88.53%, and a minimum water solubility of 60.42% were observed for the developed films. This reveals that CMG-based films hold promising potential as a novel biomaterial for future applications in packaging, such as edible coatings and water-soluble, biodegradable packaging films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocular infirmities significantly influence a person's routine process by impairing vision to the point of blindness. Effective ocular drug administration with significant bioavailability is challenging due to physiology and defensive mechanisms, which is majorly due to inadequate epithelial permeability and quick removal of the drug from the eye after administration. Due to the numerous restrictions on drug distribution across the blood–retinal barrier, conventional medicines cannot provide definitive therapy for all ocular illnesses, making it a significant clinical issue. However, significant breakthroughs in the management of ocular disorders have been made possible by the use of biopolymeric drug transport with nanoscience. The use of biopolymers in ophthalmic medications has produced several positive effects, including safety, prolonged retention times, improved bioavailability, and controlled release via adhesion to epithelia. Moreover, therapeutic implementation of nanostructure materials, from diagnosis to therapy, has also received significant attention. This evolving biopolymer-based nanoscale drug delivery system has enhanced the drug's ability to pass through various ocular barriers with improvement in bioavailability. Among other beneficial characteristics, biodegradable polymers offer amended retention period and extended release. This review emphasizes the various biopolymer-based fabricated nano-formulations used to mitigate ocular infection. Biopolymer-based nano-formulations for targeted delivery of drugs against ocular infections [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) stands as a compelling alternative to conventional plastic-based packaging, signifying a notable shift toward sustainable material utilization. This comprehensive analysis illuminates the manifold applications of PLA composites within the realm of the food industry, emphasizing its pivotal role in food packaging and preservation. Noteworthy attributes of PLA composites with phenolic active compounds (phenolic acid and aldehyde, terpenes, carotenoid, and so on) include robust antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, significantly enhancing its capability to bolster adherence to stringent food safety standards. The incorporation of microbial and synthetic biopolymers, polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, oils, proteins and peptides to PLA in packaging solutions arises from its inherent non-toxicity and outstanding mechanical as well as thermal resilience. Functioning as a proficient film producer, PLA constructs an ideal preservation environment by merging optical and permeability traits. Esteemed as a pioneer in environmentally mindful packaging, PLA diminishes ecological footprints owing to its innate biodegradability. Primarily, the adoption of PLA extends the shelf life of products and encourages an eco-centric approach, marking a significant stride toward the food industry's embrace of sustainable packaging methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful development of several unique and intelligent drug delivery systems, characterized by enhanced therapeutic effectiveness and improved patient compliance, underscores the ongoing advancements and research in the realm of biopolymers, guiding cost-effectiveness. Various biodegradable polymers find widespread use in the drug delivery industry due to their ability to break down biologically inside the body into non-toxic components. A comprehensive understanding of the potential qualities of biopolymers is crucial for designing diverse drug delivery systems. This includes insights into extraction techniques, environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, chemistry, surface properties, rheology, bulk properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. As a response to these demands, novel biopolymers were synthesized using free radicals and cross-linked molecules, and their physical and chemical properties were thoroughly investigated. Several analytical techniques, such as FT-IR-EDX, XRD, SEM, TEM, TGA, and BET-BJH, were employed to conduct comprehensive examinations. The results demonstrated favorable adsorption and release of the adsorbed drug into the aqueous solution, with a percentage of 20% at pH 2 and 3% at pH 7. Notably, the dissolution rate was observed to be high in the presence of varying concentrations of salt. This research signifies a significant contribution to the field, as it provides valuable insights into the properties and potential applications of newly synthesized biopolymers in drug delivery systems. The successful outcomes in adsorption and release highlight the promise of these biopolymers in improving therapeutic outcomes and patient experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food packaging is an essential line to defend against the intrusion of undesirable external factors to protect food. The antibacterial edible films are considered as promising food packaging due to their biodegradability, environmental friendliness, and safety. In this paper, recent research progress on antimicrobial edible films based on polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids is reviewed. It is worth noting that polysaccharides and proteins are the main substrates of antimicrobial edible films, while lipids are mainly plasticizers and carriers of active substances in composite films. For example, second-generation liposomes have been investigated as promising carriers for antimicrobial substances or other bioactive substances due to their excellent stability. Moreover, recent advances and future trends of antimicrobial edible films are then analyzed. Linking antimicrobial edible film materials to delivery systems for stable loading of bioactive substances is a promising future direction, such as nanoemulsion and microencapsulation technologies. In addition, a smart and active packaging that allows consumers to directly determine the freshness of food products without unwrapping the package has come into the limelight. Currently, pH-sensitive films and smart fluorescent "on–off" sensors for humidity have been investigated as smart and active packaging materials for monitoring the freshness of food products, which can be vigorously explored in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to increasingly stringent global environmental regulations, the petroleum industry must find practical, affordable, and environmentally compliant biopolymers. This study is focused on developing such a biopolymer from orange peels, which exhibits viscous properties and stability in high-salinity and high-temperature (HSHT) reservoirs. The extraction process involved drying, crushing, and grinding orange peels into particulate sizes. These preprocessed peels were then heated in a mixture of water and hydrochloric acid (HCl) before vacuum extracting the yield solution—biopolymer. Parameters that could influence the yield viscosity of the biopolymer, like extraction solvent salinity, HCl concentration, orange peel concentration, peel part—whole or albedo, peel size, and heating, were studied. The highest yield viscosity obtained was 75 cp at a shear rate of 5 s−1 and temperature of 25 °C; this decreased to 20 cp at 90 °C at the same shear rate. The viscosity was 47 cp at 65 s−1 at 25 °C, which decreased to 10 cp at the same shear rate, demonstrating a shear thinning behavior. These results were obtained for powdered whole orange peels with 8% concentration, water salinity of 37,000 ppm, and 5 ml/L of HCl. An environmentally friendly and sustainable enhanced oil recovery (EOR) biopolymer has been successfully extracted from citrus wastes with a viscosity suitable for EOR applications in HSHT reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature sensitivity of photoluminescence (PL) of synthesized composites based on differently charged biopolymers with colloidal quantum dots CdSe/ZnS and erythrosin B dye was investigated. The dynamic range of the analytical signal of the intensity of quantum dot photoluminescence broadens under the combined action of temperature quenching and the resonance energy transfer from the quantum dots to the dye, which can be used to create dynamic temperature sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drag reduction of high molecular polymer solutions is well known as the Toms effect. The drag reduction can be divided into two types: Type A and B. Type A corresponds to the solutions of synthetic polymers such as polyethylene oxide or polyacrylic amide. In contrast, Type B corresponds to the solutions of biopolymers such as xanthan gum, guar gum, and polysaccharide. Experiments were performed to measure the friction factor and heat transfer coefficient for the aqueous suspensions of graphene oxide thin-plate particles. The results show that the complex fluids exhibit a Type B drag reduction phenomenon in the turbulent flow range. The onset point of the drag reduction was found to be R e f ≅ 260 for Cw = 0.1 wt%. This point increased compared to the experimental results for Cw = 0.5 wt% graphene oxide solutions that have been reported on drag reduction. The velocity profiles of the aqueous suspensions of graphene oxide thin-plate particles and the dried malted rice culture solutions classified as biopolymer were estimated from the experimental data of the friction factor. In general, aqueous suspensions of fine particles are characterized by an increase in the friction factor and the heat transfer coefficient as compared to water. However, the aqueous suspension of the graphene thin-plate particles produces the drag reduction of the friction factor and increases the heat transfer coefficient. Therefore, the experimental results obtained in this study show that graphene oxide shin-plate particle suspensions become a useful carrier for the cooling pipeline system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microneedles are minimally-invasive devices with the unique capability of bypassing physiological barriers. Hence, they are widely used for different applications from drug/vaccine delivery to diagnosis and cosmetic fields. Recently, natural biopolymers (particularly carbohydrates and proteins) have garnered attention as safe and biocompatible materials with tailorable features for microneedle construction. Several review articles have dealt with carbohydrate-based microneedles. This review aims to highlight the less-noticed role of proteins through a systematic search strategy based on the PRISMA guideline from international databases of PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Original English articles with the keyword "microneedle(s)" in their titles along with at least one of the keywords "biopolymers, silk, gelatin, collagen, zein, keratin, fish-scale, mussel, and suckerin" were collected and those in which the proteins undertook a structural role were screened. Then, we focused on the structures and applications of protein-based microneedles. Also, the unique features of some protein biopolymers that make them ideal for microneedle construction (e.g., excellent mechanical strength, self-adhesion, and self-assembly), as well as the challenges associated with them were reviewed. Altogether, the proteins identified so far seem not only promising for the fabrication of "better" microneedles in the future but also inspiring for designing biomimetic structural biopolymers with ideal characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis and characterization of chitosan encapsulated copper oxide nanocomposites (CuNPs) using plant extracts for the photocatalytic degradation of second-generation antibiotics, cefixime and cefuroxime, were investigated. The study revealed that the presence of diverse chemical components in the plant extract significantly influenced the size of the CuNPs, with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showing spherical shapes and sizes ranging from 11–35 nm. The encapsulation process was confirmed by an increase in size for certain samples, indicating successful encapsulation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis further elucidated the chemical makeup, confirming the valency state of Cu2+ and the presence of Cu–O bonding, with no contaminants detected. Photocatalytic activity assessments demonstrated that the copper oxide nanocomposites exhibited significant degradation capabilities against both antibiotics under UV light irradiation, with encapsulated nanocomposites (EnCu30) showing up to 96.18% degradation of cefuroxime within 60 min. The study highlighted the influence of chitosan encapsulation on enhancing photocatalytic performance, attributed to its high adsorption capability. Recycling studies confirmed the sustainability of the Cu nanocomposites, maintaining over 89% degradation rate after five consecutive cycles. This research underscores the potential of green-synthesized CuNPs as efficient, stable photocatalysts for the degradation of harmful antibiotics, contributing to environmental sustainability and public health protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chitosan-co-GLU/eucalyptus residue composite membrane was synthesized, characterized and applied in the stabilization of β-d-galactosidase in aqueous solution. From results of the point of zero charge, it was inferred that protonated glucosamine and carboxyl groups would be found on the surface of the membrane and in the structure of the enzyme at pH lower than 4.82 and 4.37, whereas deprotonated amine and carboxyl groups would be found on the surface of the membrane and in the structure of the enzyme at pH higher than 4.82 and 4.37. Fourier-transformed infrared spectra, thermal analysis results and scanning electron microscopy images confirmed the chemical structure, thermal stability and morphology of the membrane, respectively. The enzymatic stability of β-d-galactosidase under the influence of the composite membrane in the medium was evaluated at different temperatures and pH values. The following experimental conditions assisted in avoiding enzymatic degradation: (i) enzyme/buffer solution ratio of 0.0057, (ii) pH 5.6, (iii) membrane mass greater than 50 mg and (iv) temperature from 10 to 45 °C. In conclusion, certain solid supports are not only important for enzyme immobilization, but can also serve as matrices for stabilization of soluble free enzymes in reaction media. Thus, chitosan-co-GLU/eucalyptus residue composite membranes may be important to industrial processes that use soluble free enzymes. The lining of the sides of food industrial reactors covered with chitosan-co-GLU/eucalyptus residue composite membrane or film could be a strategy for the use of free β-d-galactosidase in the processing of dairy products to achieve the hydrolysis of lactose with greater efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research and development of nanocomposites have become a scientific field of interest in the last decade. These are formed from mixtures of polymers and inorganic solids that combine to form a heterogeneous/hybrid material. They are a type of matrix added to nanoparticles to enhance mechanical properties and additional properties such as electrical, physical and optical properties, followed by size repositioning. These matrices are added in a concentration of about 0.5–2% in the nanocomposite structure. Minor changes in structure, composition, interfacial interactions and components or any exclusive properties may instigate the product. Regarding the method of preparation, the biopolymer and inorganic matrix are grown and polymerized in situ to create a nanocomposite material. The use of nanocomposites has increased its share of interest in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences, as they can be used as a medicinal carrier due to their morphological properties, such as their surface and rheological properties. This comprehensive review aims to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of nanocomposites, their method of preparation, their types and the utility of nanocomposites as a controlled and targeted delivery system, their use to deliver anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and cardiovascular drugs, including their prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diverse practices implementing biopolymer-producing bacteria have been examined in various domains lately. PHAs are among the major biopolymers whose relevance of PHA-producing bacteria in the field of crop improvement is one of the radical unexplored aspects in the field of agriculture. Prolonging shelf life is one serious issue hindering the establishment of biofertilizers. Studies support that PHA can help bacteria survive stressed conditions by providing energy. Therefore, PHA-producing bacteria with Plant Growth-Promoting ability can alter the existing problem of short shelf life in biofertilizers. In the present study, Bacillus subtilis NJ14 was isolated from the soil. It was explored to understand the ability of the strain to produce PHA and augment growth in Solanum lycopersicum and Cicer arietinum. NJ14 strain improved the root and shoot length of both plants significantly. The root and shoot length of S. lycopersicum was increased by 3.49 and 0.41 cm, respectively. Similarly, C. arietinum showed a 9.55 and 8.24 cm increase in root and shoot length, respectively. The strain also exhibited halotolerant activity (up to 10%), metal tolerance to lead (up to 1000 μg/mL) and mercury (up to 100 μg/mL), indicating that the NJ14 strain can be an ideal candidate for a potent biofertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to develop films based on pequi (Caryocar brasiliense) pulp added of gelatin and plasticizer (glycerol or sorbitol) and characterize their properties and biodegradation in different soils. The films were presented with a good appearance, easy to handle, and with a predominant yellowish color. The greater the addition of plasticizers (3.5%), the greater the elongation and the lower the tensile strength of the films. The higher the gelatin (7%) and the lower the plasticizer (1.5%) concentrations, the higher the tensile strength. Thermal analysis allowed to observe a desirable characteristic for packing films: a band between 2Ɵ = 21° for both glycerol and sorbitol films, which is present in low crystalline films, reducing the incidence of light in the products. Films were at the most 100% degraded over a period of 5 to 9 days. Thus, the films obtained are recommended to be utilized for food packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a Sodium alginate-g-poly (acrylamide-clay)/TiO2 hydrogel nanocomposite [SA-g-p(AM-Bn)/TiO2] was synthesized using the biopolymer sodium alginate (SA), acrylamide (AM), and bentonite clay (Bn) as hybrid materials embedded with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) for the removal of toxic Congo Red (CR) dye from an aqueous solution. The [SA-g-p(AM-Bn)/TiO2] nanocomposite has been described on the basis of thermal stability, morphological analysis, estimation of functional group, and crystalline/amorphous character by TGA, EFSEM/EDX, TEM, FT-IR, and XRD analysis, respectively. The effects of operational parameters toward the CR dye adsorption on [SA-g-p(AM-Bn)/TiO2], including contact time, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration, initial pH, and temperature were investigated. The maximum adsorption efficiency was found to be 185.12 mg/g for [SA-g-p(AM-Bn)/TiO2] in 100 mg/L of solution CR at pH 6.0 within 1 h. The equilibrium isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics parameters of adsorption were examined, and results showed that the isotherm fitted the Freundlich model and the kinetics adsorption model of CR followed pseudo-first-order, thus indicating physisorption of anionic-CR onto the sorbent due to the development of an electrostatic attraction bond. Thermodynamic parameters for [SA-g-p(AM-Bn)/TiO2] have values (ΔG and ΔH) reflecting the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption processes. Moreover, [SA-g-p(AM-Bn)/TiO2] presented outstanding excellent reusability and recyclability with a relatively best removal percentage as compared to [SA-g-p(AM-Bn)] and suggested their applicability towards the textile industry and water purification purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioactive compounds blended with synthetic polymers constitute an effective alternative for tailored materials design in advanced applications. Biological functionalities are easily incorporated, and the materials' overall performance can be improved using this technique. The present work introduces the production and characterization of electrospun scaffolds comprised poly(vinyl alcohol), chitosan, and oligo(β-pinene) with potential for tissue engineering. Oligo(β-pinene) presents many biological functionalities of interest, especially cytoprotective activity. The scaffolds' structure, processing, properties, and performance relationships were evaluated. The materials presented an average fiber diameter of 159 nm, which was increased with the oligo(β-pinene) addition in the polymer matrix. There was an overall trend of crystallinity decrease (from 21.02 to 6.4%) with the incorporation of the oligomer. The polymers' ∆Hm and Tm increased from 28.43 to 35.51 J g−1 and from 190.54 to 194.10 °C, respectively, with the addition of oligo(β-pinene). The presence of a few fiber defects appeared upon oligomer inclusion. However, the overall thermal performance of the scaffolds improved with the increase in oligo(β-pinene) content on the nanofibers. Essays of cell proliferation revealed significant benefits from oligo(β-pinene) inclusion on the blends tested. Biocompatibility improvement of up to 21.5% was noted compared to the control. Thus, incorporating oligo(β-pinene) in poly(vinyl alcohol)-chitosan electrospun nanofibers constitutes a renewable option to enhance the scaffolds' properties and biocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural cellulose owing to its remarkable microstructural and physiochemical behaviour, and its eco-friendliness have attracted significant interest among the researchers. Therefore, in this work, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is extracted from the Musa paradisiaca plant leaf (MPPL) debris which is accumulated in large quantity and treated as waste material. The purified micro-cellulose is obtained by subjecting the MPPL raw material to alkali treatment followed by acid hydrolysis, bleaching and slow pyrolysis. From the FT-IR spectra of the cleaned cellulose, it is observed that its amorphous phase is eliminated. The crystallinity index is found to be 87.42% and this value is attributed to the sodium chlorite bleaching. The particle size analyzer results show that the micro-cellulose found to have a bimodal distribution with an average size of 35.97 μm and standard deviation 16.53. It is evident from SEM that the microcrystalline cellulose is of semi-spherical in shape and found to be aggregated with uneven distribution. Further, TGA analysis is carried out in this work and the results show that the microcrystalline cellulose can exhibit high heat resistance up to 297 °C. Surface roughness values (Ra) for MPPL MCC is 58.41 μm. The properties are well suited for futuristic polymer composite applications such as filler addition in biofilm for packaging industries and coating material in pharma industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) especially Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) have gained much attention as an environmentally benign alternative to petroleum-derived plastics. However, path to a bright future of sustainable production and development has been hampered by their dubious quality. PHAs are biodegradable, biocompatible, and non-toxic which make them excellent choices for packaging, agriculture, and medicine. Despite having such great scope, PHAs have a number of disadvantages, including a high cost, brittleness, thermal instability, and poor mechanical properties. Thus, PHAs need to be upgraded to enhance its inherent qualities. This upgradation can be primarily achieved by blending PHAs either with natural or synthetic bio-based polymers and adding reinforcements to develop novel PHAs-based biocomposites and blends. Keeping the view of future PHAs multi-dimensional applications, the present study provides an extensive understanding of the blending of PHAs to enhance their physico-chemical traits. Additionally, a number of state-of-the-art processing methods are also discussed in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomaterials utilized for various medical applications are expected to be hemocompatible, i.e., they don't cause any adverse effect on red blood cells in contact with them. Presently, hydrogels prepared from biopolymers with three-dimensional porous networks are considered as prime candidates for biomedical applications. The present study conducted preliminary in vitro assessment of hemocompatibility of different biopolymers, various chemical reagents including cross-linkers, grafting monomers and free radical initiator required for the synthesis of hydrogels of biomedical importance and finally of the synthesized hydrogels. The synthesized hydrogels were characterized using swelling studies, FTIR and mechanical strength. Herein, in vitro hemolytic analysis was utilized as a preliminary indicator to assess the hemocompatibility of a biomaterial. Out of the biopolymers studied (starch, carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate, karaya gum, chitosan, xanthan gum, β-cyclodextrin, gelatin and dextrin), the degree of hemolysis was found to be minimum for chitosan (0.08%) and maximum for β-cyclodextrin (44.57%). The presence of higher charge density seems to be negative for hemocompatibility. Further, the cross-linkers including N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide, glutaraldehyde, maleic acid, fumaric acid, DL-malic acid and citric acid were studied for their hemocompatibility. The maleic acid and fumaric acid were found to possess better compatibilities in the range of 3.25% and 4.43%, respectively. The natural or synthetic origin of a cross-linker does not seem to be a consideration for hemocompatibility. Further, most of the synthesized biopolymer based hydrogels displayed better hemocompatibility in comparison to the starting precursor materials owing to their unique surface chemistry and distribution of the hydrophilic groups. The acrylamide grafted hydrogels displayed hemolytic activity (2.23%) in safer range in comparison to the acrylic acid grafted hydrogels (68.15%). The presence of certain functional groups containing oxygen and nitrogen and moderate negative charge improved hemocompatibility in comparison to carbon containing functional groups and high negative charge density. The hemolytic activity of hydrogels was observed to be increased manifold in the presence of nanoparticles incorporated into hydrogels to improve their physical characteristics. The results indicate that the careful selection of biopolymers, cross-linkers, grafting monomers and further tuning of surface chemistry by controlling functional groups and their charge density over a biomaterial is prerequisite to prevent protein adsorption, inflammatory response and lysis of RBCs in the living host. Undoubtedly, in vitro hemocompatibility analysis is not a satisfactory indicator for measuring hemolytic activity of biomaterials, but can definitely help in preliminary assessment as indicated by the results of the present study. These bio-based hydrogels within safer limits of hemocompatibility can be prime materials for many biomedical applications including scaffolds in tissue engineering, implants, prosthetic devices, antibacterial and dental materials, drug delivery carriers, biosensors and bio adhesives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, carbon fiber aerogel (CFA) was prepared by controlled pyrolysis of cotton at 800 °C in flowing N2 for 90 min and subsequent chemical treatment by 2 M potassium hydroxide and further carbonization. The fabricated CFA was characterized using different techniques such as FESEM, FTIR, XRD, BET, and BJH. The results showed that the specific surface area of CFA was 1109 m2/g and the structure was microporous with an average pore diameter of 2 nm and pore volume of 0.57 (cm3/g). The aerogel was then applied as an adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue (MB) and p-nitrophenol (PNP) as organic pollutant models from water. Various parameters like initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, and solution pH were examined to investigate the adsorption behavior. The equilibrium data of MB adsorption followed the Langmuir model with a maximum capacity (qmax) of 256.41 mg/g while the PNP data conformed to the Freundlich isotherm model with a qmax of 192.30 mg/g at room temperature. The kinetic of both pollutants followed the pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption of MB was endothermic (ΔH° ~ 6.25 kJ/mol) while the PNP adsorption was exothermic (ΔH° ~ − 3.61 kJ/mol). The values of ΔG° and ΔH° suggested that the adsorption was of physical nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incorporation of biological control agents (BCAs) such as Trichoderma spp. in agricultural systems favors the transition towards sustainable practices of plant nutrition and diseases control. Novel bioproducts for crop management are called to guarantee sustainable antagonism activity of BCAs and increase the acceptance of the farmers. The encapsulation in polymeric matrices play a prominent role for providing an effective carrier/protector and long-lasting bioproduct. This research aimed to study the influence of biopolymer in hydrogel capsules on survival and shelf-life of T. koningiopsis. Thus, two hydrogel capsules prototypes based on alginate (P1) and amidated pectin (P2), containing conidia of T. koningiopsis Th003 were formulated. Capsules were prepared by the ionic gelation method and calcium gluconate as crosslinker. Conidia releasing under different pH values of the medium, survival of conidia in drying capsules, storage stability, and biocontrol activity against rice sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani) were studied. P2 prototype provided up to 98% survival to Th003 in fluid bed drying, faster conidia releasing at pH 5.8, storage stability greater than 6 months at 18 °C, and up to 67% of disease reduction. However, both biopolymers facilitate the antagonistic activity against R. solani, and therefore can be incorporated in novel hydrogel capsules-based biopreparations. This work incites to develop novel biopesticides-based formulations with potential to improve the delivery process in the target site and the protection of the active ingredient from the environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the safe disposal of used face masks has become troublesome due to their non-biodegradable nature. This study focuses on the reuse potential of used face masks as a reinforcement to enhance the engineering properties of expansive soil treated with biopolymers such as Xanthan Gum and Guar Gum. The face masks were shredded into 5 × 5 mm chips and added to expansive soil at 0.5% by volume. A series of laboratory tests such as Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) Test, Splitting Tensile Test, Free swell Index (FSI) Tests, Swelling Pressure, Swelling Potential Tests, and California—Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests were performed for the evaluation of engineering behaviour of Shredded Face Mask Chips (SFMC) reinforced expansive soil treated with various dosages of Xanthan Gum and Guar Gum. The experimental test results showed that the inclusion of SFMC significantly improved the engineering characteristics of the soil. The maximum compressive strength and tensile strength have been attained at 2% inclusion of Xanthan gum and Guar gum into the expansive soil. The maximum values of compressive strength at optimum biopolymer content of 2% Xanthan gum and Guar gum were 369–437 kPa, respectively. The free swell index percentage for stabilized expansive soils with xanthan gum and guar gum decreased to 73.6–75.9%, respectively. The swell pressure of the treated soil showed up to a reduction of 90.2–94.1%. In all the tests, Guar Gum exhibited greater efficiency when compared to Xanthan Gum. Thus, the investigation results confirmed the efficient use of SFMC in biopolymer stabilization of expansive soil that would lead to the beneficial way for the safe disposal of used face masks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]