Recently, there is an increasing interest in research on biodegradable, non‐toxic, and high‐strength biomaterials that can replace plastics, especially in the food industry. In this study, mucilage obtained from Linum usitatissimum seeds is used to develop a natural biodegradable biomaterial by reinforcing it with different concentrations of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The biomaterials produced in the form of films are thoroughly investigated in terms of physicochemical (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectrum (EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle, and mechanical), biodegradable (in soil and water), and antibacterial properties. SEM‐EDX and AFM demonstrate the homogeneous distribution of PDMS throughout the mucilage matrix. The incorporation of PDMS improves the water solubility of the mucilage composite films, thereby enhancing their strength. It also imparts hydrophobic characteristics to the composite films. Thus, PDMS ensures the high barrier property of the composite films against water vapor. Furthermore, the addition of PDMS increases the antimicrobial properties of the mucilage composite films. The obtained results indicate that the first‐time produced mucilage‐PDMS composite films can serve as an alternative product for food packaging applications.
20 February 2025 in Journal of the Australian Ceramic Society
Conventional cancer therapies, while effective, are frequently associated with significant adverse effects owing to their lack of selectivity, impacting both malignant and healthy cells. To address these challenges, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have emerged as a promising platform for targeted drug delivery. Giant macroporous silica (GMS) is a recently developed material, with its drug delivery potential explored in only a single study to date. In this study, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesized using Thymus vulgaris (garden thyme) extract were incorporated into GMS, forming GMS-AuNPs. Additionally, AuNPs coated with chitosan (AuNPs@CS) were similarly loaded into GMS, resulting in GMS-AuNPs@CS composites. The synthesized materials were characterized through light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The anti-cancer effects of GMS-AuNPs and GMS-AuNPs@CS were assessed against breast cancer cells using real-time cell analysis. Notably, no cytotoxic effects were observed on MCF-12 A normal breast epithelial cells at any of the tested concentrations. GMS-AuNPs demonstrated a dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cells. These findings suggest that GMS-AuNPs hold promise as a potential therapeutic strategy for breast cancer treatment.
This study investigates the adsorption performance of Reactive Red-141 (ReR-141) using three modified orange peel derivatives: raw orange peel (ROP), oil-free orange peel (NOOP), and cellulose extract (CE). The adsorbents were prepared through sequential treatments and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to investigate their surface morphology and functional groups. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted under varying conditions of pH, temperature, time, and adsorbent amount. NOOP displayed the highest adsorption capacity (99.72% removal efficiency), followed by CE (86.99%) and ROP (77.55%), under optimal conditions. The adsorption kinetics followed a PSO model, while the equilibrium data were best described by Langmuir, indicating monolayer adsorption. Thermodynamic factors confirmed that the process was self-generated and primarily determined by physisorption. Desorption studies using 0.2 M NaOH demonstrated that NOOP retained 98.16% efficiency after three cycles, indicating its strong reusability. The adsorption mechanism is determined by different interactions, such as electrostatic forces, H-bonding, and π–π stacking. These findings suggest that orange peel derivatives, particularly NOOP, serve as optimal and environmentally sustainable adsorbents for the yield of ReR-141 from synthetic aqueous media.