There are significant societal repercussions from our excessive use of plastic products derived from petroleum. In response to the increasing environmental implications of plastic wastes, biodegradable materials have been proven to be an effective means of mitigating environmental issues. Therefore, protein- and polysaccharide-based polymers have gained widespread attention recently. In our study, for increasing the strength of a biopolymer (Starch), we used ZnO dispersed nanoparticles (NPs), which resulted in the enhancement of other functional properties of the polymer. The synthesized NPs were characterized using SEM, XRD, and Zeta potential values. The preparation techniques are completely green, with no hazardous chemicals employed. The floral extract employed in this study is Torenia fournieri (TFE), which is prepared using a mixture of ethanol and water and possesses diverse bioactive features and pH-sensitive characteristics. The prepared films were characterized using SEM, XRD, FTIR, contact angle and TGA. The incorporation of TFE and ZnO (SEZ) NPs was found to increase the overall nature of the control film. The results obtained from this study confirmed that the developed material is suitable for wound healing and can also be used as a smart packaging material.
12 June 2024 in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
The rapidly expanding area of regenerative medicine may soon enter a new phase owing to developments in biomaterials and their application in generating new tissues. Chemicals and synthetic drugs are currently the subject of heated debate due to their effects on human health and the environment. Therefore, scientists seek out new products and procedures that are harmless to both the environment and human health concerns. Bio-based materials provide excellent functional qualities with a variety of applications. This study resulted in the development of a film with antimicrobial, hydrophilic, and anti-cancer properties, which is most beneficial in the medical sectors. In this study, we developed a blended biodegradable film containing agar and pectin (AP), with excellent surface functional properties framed through a casting technique. Additionally, the property can be changed by the addition of extract of hemigraphis alternata (HA) extract. The incorporation of extract in AP (APH) can be used for anti-cancer wound care therapy. The fabricated film is biodegradable, biocompatible, and non-toxic. This material is entirely based on a green methodology, and it was prepared in a concise manner without the use of any hazardous solvents. Based on the overall nature of biopolymer, the prepared material is a promising alternative to our society.