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Graphite–aluminium (Gr–Al) composites are being used for diverse engineering applications because of their light weight, good electrical conductivity and thermal properties. However, their applications are limited by high coefficient of thermal expansion and low microhardness values which can be enhanced by adding cheap and efficient fillers. This paper reports the effect of addition of eggshell (ES) particles on the properties of sintered Gr–Al-based composites. Five different composites (Gr–Al, Gr–Al + 20 wt.%Si, Gr–Al + 20 wt.%SiC, Gr–Al + 20Si wt.% + 20 wt.%ES and Gr–Al + 20SiC wt.% + 20 wt.%ES) were sintered at a temperature of 540 ℃, holding time of 10 min, heating rate of 52 ℃/min and pressure of 50 MPa using spark plasma sintering system. The sintered samples were characterized based on morphology, microhardness, relative density, coefficient of thermal expansion and electrical conductivity. Based on SEM images, graphite particles of flake-like structure were largely undeformed while Al particles were smaller, round and irregular in shape and fairly uniformly distributed in the composites. The microhardness value of sintered Gr–Al + 20 wt.%SiC + 20 wt.%ES composite was 39.55 HV compared to 30.46 HV for Gr–Al, the least of the samples. The Gr–Al + 20 wt.%SiC + 20 wt.%ES composite also has a very low thermal expansion coefficient (0.98 × 10−5/K) but lowest electrical conductivity at temperature beyond 150 ℃. Highest densification and minimum relative density (94%) were obtained in Gr–Al + 20 wt.%Si + 20 wt.%ES composite. These enhanced performances are largely due to the incorporation of ES particles. This study therefore demonstrated that ESs particles enhanced microhardness and lowered thermal expansion of Gr–Al-based composites which have promising applications in industries especially for thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kenaf and sisal fibres were selected for the development of natural fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composites because they are in abundance in South Africa. These materials can be used in the building industry, where good mechanical and fire resistance properties are required for structural and non-structural applications. High load bearing, moisture and fire can negatively affect the properties of these composites and decrease their performance. The effect of water glass, maleic anhydride-grafted-polypropylene (MAPP) treatment and fibre loadings on mechanical and thermal properties as well as fire resistance of kenaf and sisal fibre-reinforced polypropylene composites were investigated. The fibre-reinforced polypropylene composites were produced by injection and compression moulding processes. A significant improvement of the tensile strength and modulus of kenaf fibre composites was more pronounced when compared to sisal fibre composites. However, the water glass has a slight negative influence on mechanical properties of fibre/polypropylene matrix composites but showed better fire resistance and thermal properties when compared to the untreated fibre/polypropylene composites. Generally, the impact strength of fibre/polypropylene composites decreased with the addition of MAPP. The low impact strength could be the results of weak interfacial bond strength between the fibre and the matrix. The total heat release was reduced by water glass treatment due to the non-flammable polysilicate coating, while the average mass loss rate was slightly reduced by MAPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monolayer boron nanosheet, commonly known as borophene, has garnered significant attention in recent years due to its unique structural, electronic, mechanical, and thermal properties. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the advancements in the synthetic strategies, tunable properties, and prospective applications of borophene, specifically focusing on its potential in energy storage devices. The review begins by discussing the various synthesis techniques for borophene, including molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and chemical methods, such as ultrasonic exfoliation and thermal decomposition of boron-containing precursors. The tunable properties of borophene, including its electronic, mechanical, and thermal characteristics, are extensively reviewed, with discussions on its bandgap engineering, plasmonic behavior, and thermal conductivity. Moreover, the potential applications of borophene in energy storage devices, particularly as anode materials in metal-ion batteries and supercapacitors, along with its prospects in other energy storage systems, such as sodium-oxygen batteries, are succinctly, discussed. Hence, this review provides valuable insights into the synthesis, properties, and applications of borophene, offering much-desired guidance for further research and development in this promising area of nanomaterials science., (© 2024 The Author(s). Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Herein, the recent advances in the development of resorbable polymeric-based biomaterials, their geometrical forms, resorption mechanisms, and their capabilities in various biomedical applications are critically reviewed. A comprehensive discussion of the engineering approaches for the fabrication of polymeric resorbable scaffolds for tissue engineering, drug delivery, surgical, cardiological, aesthetical, dental and cardiovascular applications, are also explained. Furthermore, to understand the internal structures of resorbable scaffolds, representative studies of their evaluation by medical imaging techniques, e.g., cardiac computer tomography, are succinctly highlighted. This approach provides crucial clinical insights which help to improve the materials' suitable and viable characteristics for them to meet the highly restrictive medical requirements. Finally, the aspects of the legal regulations and the associated challenges in translating research into desirable clinical and marketable materials of polymeric-based formulations, are presented., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Healthcare Materials published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Sapota is an important climacteric fruit with limited shelf life. A special system must be employed to extend the shelf life of sapota fruits. In the present study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and montmorillonite clay (MMt)-based bio-nanocomposite films (BNFs) were integrated at various concentrations (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) into cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), produced from garlic peels (GPs). The BNF loaded with 8% CNC has a better crystallinity index and mechanical properties than the other concentrations of CNC. Therefore, the 8% CNC-incorporated BNF (BNF-8) was selected for further packaging studies. The combined effect of BNF-8 with ajwain essential oil (AO) and oregano essential oil (OO) vapors and BNF-8 with carbendazim (commercial fungicide-CARB) were investigated. In this study, the BNF-based packagings are categorized into five types, viz: BNF+8% CNC (BNF-8), BNF-8+AO, BNF-8+OO, BNF-8+CARB and the non-packaged fruits (control). The shelf-life duration, antioxidant activity, firmness, decay index, and sensory quality were evaluated in order to identify the effectiveness of packaging treatment on sapota fruits. BNF-8+CARB, BNF-8+AO, and BNF-8+OO packaging extended the shelf life of sapota fruits to up to 12 days and maintained the overall physiochemical parameters and sensory qualities of the fruits. Therefore, the BNF-8+AO and BNF-8+OO packaging materials are appropriate alternatives to commercial fungicides for the preservation of sapota during postharvest storage.

The aim of this research work is to improve the mechanical and water-resistance properties of soy protein isolate (SPI) biofilm. In this work, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) coupling-agent modified nanocellulose was introduced into the SPI matrix in the presence of citric acid cross-linker. The presence of amino groups in APTES facilitated the formation of - cross-linked structures with soy protein. The incorporation of a citric acid cross-linker made the cross-linking process more productive, and the surface smoothness of the film was confirmed by a Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM). From the study of the mechanical and thermal properties and water resistance of the film, it was confirmed that the results were highly satisfactory for the modified nanocellulose-incorporated film compared to the non-modified one. Additionally, coating of citral essential oil onto SPI nanocomposite film displayed antimicrobial properties due to the presence of various phenolic groups in the citral oil. The Tensile Strength and Young's Modulus of silane-modified nanocellulose containing film were enhanced by ∼119 % and ∼ 112 %, respectively on incorporation of 1 % APTES-modified nanocellulose. Consequently, this work is expected to offer an effective way for silylated nano-cellulose reinforcing soy protein isolate (SPI)-based bio nanocomposite films for packaging applications. As an example, we have demonstrated one of the applications as wrapping films for packing black grapes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Energy storage is one of the challenges currently confronting the energy sector. However, the invention of supercapacitors has transformed the sector. This modern technology's high energy capacity, reliable supply with minimal lag time, and extended lifetime of supercapacitors have piqued the interest of scientists, and several investigations have been conducted to improve their development. However, there is room for improvement. Consequently, this review presents an up-to-date investigation of different supercapacitor technologies' components, operating techniques, potential applications, technical difficulties, benefits, and drawbacks. In addition, it thoroughly highlights the active materials used to produce supercapacitors. The significance of incorporating every component (electrode and electrolyte), their synthesis approach, and their electrochemical characteristics are outlined. The research further examines supercapacitors' potential in the next era of energy technology. Finally, concerns and new research prospects in hybrid supercapacitor-based energy applications that are envisaged to result in the development of ground-breaking devices, are highlighted.

This study investigated the effect of the Joncryl concentration on the properties of polylactide/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PLA/PCL) and PLA/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) blends. The addition of Joncryl influenced the properties of both PLA-based blends. In the blend of PLA/PCL blends, the addition of Joncryl reduced the size of PCL droplets, which implies the compatibility of the two phases, while PLA/PEG blends showed a co-continuous type of morphology at 0.1% and 0.3 wt.% of Joncryl loading. The crystallinity of PCL and PEG was studied on both PLA/PCL and PLA/PEG blend systems. In both scenarios, the crystallinity of the blends decreased upon the addition of Joncryl. Thermal stabilities were shown to depend on the addition of Joncryl. The toughness increased when 0.5 wt.% of Joncryl was added to both systems. However, the stiffness of PLA/PCL decreased, while the stiffness of PLA/PEG increased with the increasing concentration of Joncryl. This study provides new insight into the effect of chain extenders on the compatibility of PLA-based blends.

The optimization of the production of thermoplastic starch (TPS) bionanocomposite films for their potential application in food packaging was carried out, according to the Box-Wilson Central Composite Design (CCD) with one center point, using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and fillers based on lignin and nanofiber, which were derived from bamboo plant. The effects of the fillers on the moisture absorption ( MAB ), tensile strength ( TS ), percent elongation (PE) and Young's modulus ( YM ) of the produced films were statistically examined. The obtained results showed that the nanocomposite films were best fitted by a quadratic regression model with a high coefficient of determination ( R 2 ) value. The film identified to be optimum has a desirability of 76.80%, which is close to the objective function, and contained 4.81 wt. % lignin and 5.00 wt. % nanofiber. The MAB , TS , YM and PE of the identified film were 17.80%, 21.51 MPa, 25.76 MPa and 48.81%, respectively. The addition of lignin and cellulose nanofiber to starch composite was found to have reduced the moisture-absorption tendency significantly and increased the mechanical properties of the films due to the good filler/matrix interfacial adhesion. Overall, the results suggested that the produced films would be suitable for application as packaging materials for food preservation.

Packaging materials are a significant part of our lives due to their daily usage at grocery stores, supermarkets, restaurants, pharmaceuticals, etc. Packaging plays an important role in ensuring that the products are preserved during handling, transporting, and storage. Similarly, it helps to maintain and prolong the shelf life of products. These materials are used for packaging meats, poultry and seafood products, food and beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. Several applications of packaging materials have been discussed extensively, with little discussion on their end of life and continuous availability without impacting the environment. This study presents the need for sustainable packaging as a result of growing demands and the environmental impact of packaging materials after use. This study also presents the importance, types, and applications of packaging materials. Based on the findings of this study, sustainable packaging is made possible by using bio-based and recyclable materials. These materials contribute a great deal to protecting and ensuring a sustainable environment.

Drug delivery systems transfer medications to target locations throughout the body. These systems are often made up of biodegradable and bioabsorbable polymers acting as delivery components. The introduction of density functional theory (DFT) has tremendously aided the application of computational material science in the design and development of drug delivery materials. The use of DFT and other computational approaches avoids time-consuming empirical processes. Therefore, this review explored how the DFT computation may be utilized to explain some of the features of polymer-based drug delivery systems. First, we went through the key aspects of DFT and provided some context. Then we looked at the essential characteristics of a polymer-based drug delivery system that DFT simulations could predict. We observed that the Gaussian software had been extensively employed by researchers, particularly with the B3LYP functional and 6-31G(d, p) basic sets for polymer-based drug delivery systems. However, to give researchers a choice of basis set for modelling complicated organic systems, such as polymer-drug complexes, we then offered possible resources and presented the future trend.

Areca nut husk fibers are easily available and they are abundant agricultural waste, whose utilization to high value products needs more attention. The present study aims at the extraction of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from areca nut husk fibers and the evaluation of its reinforcement capacity in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS) film. The CNC showed rod-like structures, which were confirmed by TEM and AFM analysis. The diameter of the isolated CNC was 19 ± 3.3 nm; the length was about 195 ± 24 nm with an aspect ratio of 10.2 ± 6.8. The zeta potential of CNC was -15.3 ± 1.2 mV. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis showed that the non-cellulosic compounds were effectively eliminated, and the X-ray diffraction results showed that CNC had higher crystallinity than the raw, alkali, and the bleached fibers. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed good thermal stability for the CNC. Moreover, the effects of the incorporation of CNC on the optical and tensile behaviours of the bionanocomposite film were investigated. The bionanocomposite film retained the same transparency as the PVA/CS film, indicating that the CNC was disseminated evenly in the film. The incorporation of CNC (3 wt%) to the PVA/CS film enhanced the tensile strength of the bionanocomposite film (9.46 ± 1.6 MPa) when compared to the control films (7.81 ± 1.4 MPa). Furthermore, the prepared nanobiocomposite film exhibited good antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogenic bacteria and postharvest pathogenic fungi. These findings suggest that the bionanocomposite film might be suitable for food packaging applications., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cellulose nanofibril (CNF) paper has various applications due to its unique advantages. Herein, we present the intrinsic mechanical properties of CNF papers, along with the preparation and properties of nanoparticle-reinforced CNF composite papers. The literature on CNF papers reveals a strong correlation between the intrafibrillar network structure and the resulting mechanical properties. This correlation is found to hold for all primary factors affecting mechanical properties, indicating that the performance of CNF materials depends directly on and can be tailored by controlling the intrafibrillar network of the system. The parameters that influence the mechanical properties of CNF papers were critically reviewed. Moreover, the effect on the mechanical properties by adding nanofillers to CNF papers to produce multifunctional composite products was discussed. We concluded this article with future perspectives and possible developments in CNFs and their bionanocomposite papers., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study investigates the effect of using ethanol as the process control agent during the wet ball milling of niobium (Nb). Dried nanocrystal Nb powders, of high purity, with particle sizes, ranging from 8.5 to 14.3 nm, were synthesized by ball milling. Commercial Nb powder of particle sizes of - 44 µm was employed by using the planetary ball mill equipped with stainless still vials with still balls in ethanol. A ball-to-powder mass ratio of 10:1 was used at a rotation speed of 400 rpm, an interval of 15 min with an interval break of 5 s, and a milling time of 10 h. The powder was dried in vacutec at a temperature of 100 °C, using a speed of 15 rpm in the vacuum of 250 mbar at a time of approximately 653 min. The crystal phase of the dried powders was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) with CuK ɑ radiation, and by modification of the Scherrer equation, a single crystallite size of 11.85 nm was obtained. The morphology of the particles was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The XRD results show that the pure crystal sizes in nanometre (nm), which decreases as the 2θ and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) increases., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

In this research, developed finite element codes were used to study the effective elastic modulus and stress-strain distribution profiles of epoxy resin filled with 6 wt. % microparticles of kaolinite. The random distribution of the particles was microstructurally regenerated with Digimat MSC software and random sequential algorithm codes in epoxy matrix. Stochastic representative volume element models of the composites were developed and analyzed under periodic boundary conditions. For validation, the predicted result by finite element analysis was compared with that of Mori-Tanaka's mean field homogenization scheme, selected micromechanical models and experiment. All the results indicated that 6 wt. % of kaolinite microparticles can improve the elastic modulus and load-bearing capacity of epoxy resin with <5 % error between predicted and actual results. The microstructure, phase identification and chemical characterization of the composite were also studied with scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction spectroscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, respectively. In addition, the particle size and distribution of the kaolinite in the epoxy matrix were experimentally investigated., (© 2020 The Author(s).)

Alginate biopolymer has been used in the design and development of several wound dressing materials in order to improve the efficiency of wound healing. Mainly, alginate improves the hydrophilic nature of wound dressing materials in order to create the required moist wound environment, remove wound exudate and increase the speed of skin recovery of the wound. In addition, alginate can easily cross-link with other organic and inorganic materials and they can promote wound healing in clinical applications. This review article addresses the importance of alginates and the roles of derivative polymeric materials in wound dressing biomaterials. Additionally, studies on recent alginate-based wound dressing materials are discussed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The current research trend for excellent miscibility in polymer mixing is the use of plasticizers. The use of most plasticizers usually has some negative effects on the mechanical properties of the resulting composite and can sometimes make it toxic, which makes such polymers unsuitable for biomedical applications. This research focuses on the improvement of the miscibility of polymer composites using two-step mixing with a rheomixer and a mix extruder. Polylactic acid (PLA), chitin, and starch were produced after two-step mixing, using a compression molding method with decreasing composition variation (between 8% to 2%) of chitin and increasing starch content. A dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was used to study the mechanical behavior of the composite at various temperatures. The tensile strength, yield, elastic modulus, impact, morphology, and compatibility properties were also studied. The DMA results showed a glass transition temperature range of 50 °C to 100 °C for all samples, with a distinct peak value for the loss modulus and factor. The single distinct peak value meant the polymer blend was compatible. The storage and loss modulus increased with an increase in blending, while the loss factor decreased, indicating excellent compatibility and miscibility of the composite components. The mechanical properties of the samples improved compared to neat PLA. Small voids and immiscibility were noticed in the scanning electron microscopy images, and this was corroborated by X-ray diffraction graphs that showed an improvement in the crystalline nature of PLA with starch. Bioabsorption and toxicity tests showed compatibility with the rat system, which is similar to the human system.

Alginate has been a material of choice for a spectrum of applications, ranging from metal adsorption to wound dressing. Electrospinning has added a new dimension to polymeric materials, including alginate, which can be processed to their nanosize levels in order to afford unique nanostructured materials with fascinating properties. The resulting nanostructured materials often feature high porosity, stability, permeability, and a large surface-to-volume ratio. In the present review, recent trends on electrospun alginate nanofibers from over the past 10 years toward advanced applications are discussed. The application of electrospun alginate nanofibers in various fields such as bioremediation, scaffolds for skin tissue engineering, drug delivery, and sensors are also elucidated.

This paper presents a comparison on the effects of blending chitin and/or starch with poly(lactic acid) (PLA). Three sets of composites (PLA-chitin, PLA-starch and PLA-chitin-starch) with 92%, 94%, 96% and 98% PLA by weight were prepared. The percentage weight (wt.%) amount of the chitin and starch incorporated ranges from 2% to 8%. The mechanical, dynamic mechanical, thermal and microstructural properties were analyzed. The results from the tensile strength, yield strength, Young's modulus, and impact showed that the PLA-chitin-starch blend has the best mechanical properties compared to PLA-chitin and PLA-starch blends. The dynamic mechanical analysis result shows a better damping property for PLA-chitin than PLA-chitin-starch and PLA-starch. On the other hand, the thermal property analysis from thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) shows no significant improvement in a specific order, but the glass transition temperature of the composite increased compared to that of neat PLA. However, the degradation process was found to start with PLA-chitin for all composites, which suggests an improvement in PLA degradation. Significantly, the morphological analysis revealed a uniform mix with an obvious blend network in the three composites. Interestingly, the network was more significant in the PLA-chitin-starch blend, which may be responsible for its significantly enhanced mechanical properties compared with PLA-chitin and PLA-starch samples., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

High density polyethylene (HDPE) composites reinforced with short bamboo fibre (BF) were fabricated by compression moulding technique. BF were extracted from bamboo culm and treated with 0.5 M NaOH. The composites were developed by melt-compounding various weight fractions (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 wt.%) of the treated BF with HDPE with the aid of single screw laboratory extruder at a temperature of 180-220 °C. The extrudates were thereafter moulded into various test specimens with the aid of carver laboratory press at a temperature of 230 °C and applied pressure of 0.2 kPa for 10 min. Effect of the treated BF on the mechanical properties and water uptake behaviour of the composites were studied. The results revealed that there was enhancement in the mechanical properties from 2 - 4 wt.% of BF while the water absorption rate increased with increase in the fibre weight fraction. The morphology of the composites showed that there was a homogenous dispersion of BF at lower weight fraction, although fibre agglomeration was noticed at higher weight fraction. The results of this study revealed that treated bamboo fibres are suitable for reinforcing HDPE.

Over the past decades, research has escalated on the use of polylactic acid (PLA) as a replacement for petroleum-based polymers. This is due to its valuable properties, such as renewability, biodegradability, biocompatibility and good thermomechanical properties. Despite possessing good mechanical properties comparable to conventional petroleum-based polymers, PLA suffers from some shortcomings such as low thermal resistance, heat distortion temperature and rate of crystallization, thus different fillers have been used to overcome these limitations. In the framework of environmentally friendly processes and products, there has been growing interest on the use of cellulose nanomaterials viz. cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and nanofibers (CNF) as natural fillers for PLA towards advanced applications other than short-term packaging and biomedical. Cellulosic nanomaterials are renewable in nature, biodegradable, eco-friendly and they possess high strength and stiffness. In the case of eco-friendly processes, various conventional processing techniques, such as melt extrusion, melt-spinning, and compression molding, have been used to produce PLA composites. This review addresses the critical factors in the manufacturing of PLA-cellulosic nanomaterials by using conventional techniques and recent advances needed to promote and improve the dispersion of the cellulosic nanomaterials. Different aspects, including morphology, mechanical behavior and thermal properties, as well as comparisons of CNC- and CNF-reinforced PLA, are also discussed.

End-of-life (EOL) tyres and their decomposition present severe environmental concern due to their resistance to moisture, oxygen, natural degradation, etc. Pyrolysis is considered to be the most effective and sustainable process for recycling, due to its eco-friendly process. The current work studied the effect of recycled carbon black (rCB), obtained from the pyrolysis of EOL tyres, on the properties of ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM). The rCB was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and chemical methods. rCB was incorporated solely, into a conventional EPDM formulation and also in combination with N550 carbon black. The physico-mechanical properties of the EPDM vulcanizates, before and after aging, were succinctly studied by SEM, TGA, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), tensile tests and cross-link density. The average particle size of rCB was observed to be 8 µm and the ash content was observed to be higher when compared to the conventional N550 carbon black, which was evident, by the TGA and SEM-EDX analyses. The reinforcing effect and the cross-link density of the rCB-filled vulcanizates were found to be marginally inferior in comparison to the conventional carbon black (N550). The morphology of the tensile- and tear-fractured surfaces were studied by SEM and it was observed that the breaking mechanism follows the rubber chain detachment from the surface mode., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this report, we investigated the swelling behavior and antibacterial property of nanosilver composite hydrogels made from tea with polyacrylamide via a free-radical polymerization and green process technique. This is probably for the first time; tea-based nano silver composite hydrogels were developed. The composite hydrogels comprise embedded nano silver particles in the tea hydrogel matrix via a green process with mint leaf extract. The size of the nano silver particles in the hydrogel matrix was found to be < 10 nm. The nano silver composite hydrogels formed and their blank hydrogels from the mint leaf were characterized by using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction studies. The nano silver composite hydrogels developed exhibit eminent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This clearly indicates that the nano silver composite hydrogels are potential candidates for antimicrobial applications.

Carboxymethyl cellulose has been used for the design of novel engineered hydrogels in order to obtain effective three-dimensional structures for industrial applications. In this work, dye removal carboxymethyl cellulose-acrylamide-graphene oxide (CMC-AM-GO) hydrogels were prepared by a free-radical polymerization method. The GO was developed by the modified Hummers method. The CMC-AM-GO and GO were characterized by FTIR, XRD and SEM. The swelling and swelling kinetics were calculated using gravimetric process. The kinetic parameter, swelling exponent values [n=0.59-0.7507] explained the fact that the CMC-AM-GO hydrogles have super Case II diffusion transport mechanism. CMCx-AM-GO (x=1-4) and CMC-AM hydrogels were used for removal of Acid Blue-133. The result explains that composite hydrogels significantly removed the acid blue when compared to the neat hydrogel. The maximum AB absorption (185.45mg/g) capacity was found in the case of CMC 2 -AM-GO hydrogel. Therefore, cellulose-based GO hydrogels can be termed as smart systems for the abstraction of dye in water purification applications., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present investigation describes the development of metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films from biodegradable poly-ε-caprolactone, disposed poly(ethylene terephthalate) oil bottles monomer and zinc oxide-copper oxide nanoparticles. The terephthalic acid and zinc oxide-copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by using a temperature-dependent precipitation technique and double precipitation method, respectively. The terephthalic acid synthesized was confirmed by FTIR analysis and furthermore, it was characterized by thermal analysis. The as-prepared CuO-ZnO nanoparticles structure was confirmed by XRD analysis and its morphology was analyzed by SEM/EDS and TEM. Furthermore, the metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films have excellent mechanical properties, with tensile strength and modulus better than pure films. The metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films that were successfully developed show a relatively brighter colour when compared to CuO film. These new metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films can replace many non-degradable plastics. The new metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films developed are envisaged to be suitable for use in industrial and domestic packaging applications., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In the present study, chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were blended with different concentrations of sodium montmorillonite (Na + MMT) clay solution by a solvent casting method. X-ray diffraction and transition electron microscope results show that the film properties are related to the co-existence of Na + MMT intercalation/exfoliation in the blend and the interaction between chitosan-PVA and Na + MMT. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) was loaded with chitosan-PVA/Na + MMT nanocomposite films for in vitro drug delivery study. The antimicrobial activity of the chitosan-PVA/Na + MMT films showed significant effect against Salmonella ( Gram - negative ) and Staphylococcus aureus ( Gram - positive ), whereas 5-FU encapsulated chitosan-PVA/Na + MMT bio-nanocomposite films did not show any inhibition against bacteria. Our results indicate that combination of a flexible and soft polymeric material with high drug loading ability of a hard inorganic porous material can produce improved control over degradation and drug release. It will be an economically viable method for preparation of advanced drug delivery vehicles and biodegradable implants or scaffolds.

The main theme of this work is to study the influence of ion-exchangeable alkali metal cations, such as: Li(+), Na(+), K(+), and Cs(+) on the thermal, mechanical and morphological properties. In this regard, a set of rectorite/chitosan (REC-CS) bio-nanocomposite films (BNCFs) was prepared by facile reaction of chitosan with ion-exchanged REC clay. The microstructure and morphology of BNCFs were investigated with XRD, TEM, SEM and AFM. Thermal and tensile properties of BNCFs were also investigated. As revealed from TEM and XRD results, the BNCFs featured a mixed morphology. Some intercalated clay sheets, together with nano-sized clay tactoids were obtained in LiREC/CS, NaREC/CS and KREC/CS of the BNCFs. From fractured surface study, via SEM, it was observed that the dispersion of chitosan polymer attaches to (and covers) the clay platelets. FTIR confirmed strong hydrogen bonds between clay and chitosan polymer. In addition, the thermal stabilities significantly varied when alkali metal cations varied from Li(+) to Cs(+). The BNCFs featured high tensile strengths (up to 84 MPa) and tensile moduli (up to 45 GPa). After evaluating these properties of BNCFs, we came to conclusion that these bio-nano composites can be used for packaging applications., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Natural polymer hydrogels are useful for controlling release of drugs. In this study, hydrogels containing gum acacia were synthesized by free-radical polymerization of acrylamide with gum acacia. The effect of gum acacia in the hydrogels on the release mechanism of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate (BP) was studied at pH 1.2 and 7.4. The hydrogels exhibited high swelling ratios at pH 7.4 and low swelling ratios at pH 1.2. The release study was performed using UV-Visible spectroscopy via complex formation with Fe(III) ions. At pH 1.2, the release profile was found to be anomalous while at pH 7.4, the release kinetic of BP was a perfect zero-order release mechanism. The hydrogels were found to be pH-sensitive and the release profiles of the BP were found to be influenced by the degree of crosslinking of the hydrogel network with gum acacia. The preliminary results suggest that these hydrogels are promising devices for controlled delivery of bisphosphonate to the gastrointestinal region., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Polyamidoamine conjugates containing curcumin and bisphosphonate were synthesized via a one-pot aqueous phase Michael addition reaction. In the design of the conjugate, bisphosphonate formed an integral part of the polymer carrier backbone. Curcumin was incorporated onto the polyamidoamine backbone via piperazine linker. The conjugates were characterized by Fourier transform spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, atomic force spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and it confirmed the successful incorporation of the antiproliferative agents onto the carriers. The weight percentage incorporation of bisphosphonate to the carriers was found to be between 2.56% and 3.34%. The in vitro release studies of curcumin from the polyamidoamine conjugate were performed in dialysis bag at selected pH values. The release of curcumin was significantly slower at pH 7.4 when compared to pH 5.8. The release profiles indicate that the conjugates are more stable at pH 7.4 and are potential sustained drug-delivery systems for combination therapy.

In this research, aminoquinoline compounds were synthesized, characterized, and incorporated into water-soluble polymers to form conjugates. The conjugates were characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to confirm the successful incorporation of the aminoquinoline compound on to the polymer. The synthesized conjugates were screened for in vitro antiplasmodial activity in triplet test against chloroquine-sensitive strain of Plasmodium falciparum and chloroquine drug was used as a reference drug in all the experiments. A full dose-response was performed to determine the concentration inhibiting 50% of parasite growth (IC50 value). Polymeric conjugates containing 3-diethylamino-1-propylamine solubilizing units were found to be most active against the chloroquine-sensitive strain of P. falciparum., (© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Uniaxial cellulose fabric Sterculia urens reinforced poly (lactic acid) (PLA) matrix biocomposites were prepared by a two-roll mill. In order to assess the suitability of Sterculia fabric as reinforcement for PLA matrix, the PLA/Sterculia fabric biocomposites were prepared. Tensile parameters, such as maximum stress, Young's modulus and elongation-at-break, were determined using the Universal Testing Machine. The effect of alkali treatment and silane-coupling agent on the tensile properties of PLA-based biocomposites was studied. The results of thermogravimetric analysis show that uniaxial treatment of the fabric can improve the degradation temperature of the biocomposites. Moreover, morphological studies by scanning electron microscopy confirmed that better adhesion between the uniaxial fabric and the matrix was achieved. It was established that standard PLA resins are suitable for the manufacture of S. urens uniaxial fabric reinforced biocomposites with excellent engineering properties, useful for food packaging., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The development of commercially viable "green products", based on natural resources for the matrices and reinforcements, in a wide range of applications, is on the rise. The present paper focuses on Sterculia urens short fiber reinforced pure cellulose matrix composite films. The morphologies of the untreated and 5% NaOH (alkali) treated S. urens fibers were observed by SEM. The effect of 5% NaOH treated S. urens fiber (5, 10, 15 and 20% loading) on the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the composites films is discussed. This paper presents the developments made in the area of biodegradable S. urens short fiber/cellulose (SUSF/cellulose) composite films, buried in the soil and later investigated by the (POM), before and after biodegradation has taken place. SUSF/cellulose composite films have great potential in food packaging and for medical applications., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The creep behavior of acrylic dental base resins, at room temperature and at different loading conditions, has been examined. The behaviors of these resins are similar to that of "commercial perspex" at room temperature over a period of 1000 seconds. The pseudo-elastic moduli of the blends of PMMA VC show a significant increase compared with PMMA alone. The addition of the PVC powder to the heat-cured acrylic resin increased the time-dependent elastic modulus. This increase in elastic modulus is advantageous in the production of denture based resins of improv mechanical properties.