Starch-based biopolymers, derived from renewable resources, offer a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging. They are biodegradable, versatile, and increasingly cost-effective, though challenges remain in improving their properties. This research centered on developing a biodegradable biofilm from oxidized corn starch and carboxymethylcellulose, using succinic anhydride as a crosslinker. The biofilm’s mechanical strength, water absorption, and biodegradability were evaluated and compared to a commercial biopolymer. The biofilm exhibited a strength of 0.78 MPa, absorbed 0.21% water, and had a biodegradability rate of 0.008%. These findings suggest that the biofilm has significant potential for industrial applications, particularly in the biofilms and bioplastics sector. This study contributes to the ongoing global efforts to create sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic packaging, a critical aspect of environmental preservation. The promising characteristics of the synthesized biofilm indicate its potential to significantly influence the future of packaging materials. This research marks a progressive step in the pursuit of sustainable packaging solutions.

Synthetic materials used to enhance the productivity of agricultural crops have, in turn, begun to exert negative impacts on soil ecology. This has led to an increased interest in environmentally safe biomaterials. In this context, an antibacterial biofilm was developed based on oxidized starch and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as well as cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) derived from corn husk (CH). According to the obtained results, the film containing 3% CNFs exhibited the highest mechanical strength, reaching 3.87 MPa. To impart antibacterial properties to the resulting biofilm, different volumetric amounts of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) synthesized via a green method were incorporated. As a result, the biofilm containing 1 mL of CuNPs demonstrated the highest antibacterial activity. It was also found that, compared to the pristine film, the mechanical strength of the CuNPs-immobilized biofilm decreased by threefold, while its flexibility increased. The antibacterial biofilm was comparatively characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TGA techniques, and its physicochemical properties were determined. The biodegradation behavior of the biofilm in soil was also investigated, revealing that 57% of its total mass degraded within 80 days. In this context, it was determined that the degradation of the biofilm did not significantly affect soil pH or the levels of macro- and microelements. Based on its physicochemical properties, the obtained biofilm demonstrates high potential for application in the agro-industrial sector as a mulching film, as well as in the production of food packaging materials and bioplastics.

This review systematizes and critically summarizes current knowledge of microcrystalline cellulose as a multifunctional material with considerable potential for property tailoring. Particular attention is given to the diversity of cellulose feedstocks, ranging from conventional sources such as wood and cotton to alternative agro-industrial residues, including rice husk, bagasse, straw, cocoa bean shells, and recycled textile materials. The analysis is structured around the relationship between feedstock architecture, isolation conditions, and the resulting functional properties of MCC. Major MCC production routes are examined in detail, including conventional acid hydrolysis, organosolv processing, HCl gasphase degradation, and hydrothermal treatment. The available evidence demonstrates that the characteristics of the initial lignocellulosic matrix, together with processing conditions, govern the degree of polymerization, crystallinity index, cellulose polymorphism, and particle morphology, thereby influencing the sorption behavior and chemical reactivity of the resulting material. Particular emphasis is placed on targeted chemical and physical modification strategies, including oxidation, esterification, and graft polymerization, which provide additional opportunities to tailor MCC performance. These approaches broaden its potential use in pharmaceutical formulations for direct compression, biomedical systems such as hydrogels and wound dressings, environmental sorbents, and advanced biocomposites. The scientific significance of this review lies in consolidating the transition from the conventional perception of MCC as a passive filler toward its consideration as an engineered functional precursor whose properties can be deliberately tailored for specific applications.