Development of Plumeria alba extract supplemented biodegradable films containing chitosan and cellulose derived from bagasse and corn cob waste for antimicrobial food packaging.

With the increase in global plastic pollution due to conventional plastic packaging (petroleum-derived), bioplastics have emerged as an alternative green source for practising a circular economy. This research aimed to extract cellulose from bagasse and corn cob waste and utilized in mixed form to prepare bioplastic film. The mixed cellulose was further reinforced with natural substances such as chitosan, bentonite, and P. alba extract. These newly developed bioplastics films were characterized by various physical tests like film thickness, moisture content, water solubility and spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopic (SEM-EDX), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy for opacity testing. The results revealed the enhanced bioplastic thermal and mechanical characteristics through robust interactions between cellulose and bentonite molecules. Moreover, incorporating chitosan solution as reinforcements in bio-composite films resulted in improved water barrier properties. The results indicated lower absorption in the UV range of 250-400 nm, attributed to the absence of UV-absorbing groups. Finally, their biodegradability was tested in soil, and 85.3 % weight loss of bioplastic films was observed after 50 days of the experiment which is the main task of this research. The antimicrobial properties of bioplastic films have been evaluated, and showed an inhibition zone of 16 mm against E. coli. After 12 days of incubation of sherbet berries, complete spoilage is identified in the control group compared to those covered with the bioplastic film. This outcome is attributed to the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities provided by chitosan and P. alba extract in the bioplastic film. The comprehensive outcomes of this study suggest the potential future adoption of these entirely bio-derived, environmentally sustainable and biodegradable bioplastic films as a viable substitute for the plastic packaging currently present in the market.

Medicinal and chemosensing applications of chitosan based material: A review.

Chitosan (CTS), has emerged as a highly intriguing biopolymer with widespread applications, drawing significant attention in various fields ranging from medicinal to chemosensing. Key characteristics of chitosan include solubility, biocompatibility, biodegradability and reactivity, making it versatile in numerous sectors. Several derivatives have been documented for their diverse therapeutic properties, such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antioxidant activities. Furthermore, these compounds serve as highly sensitive and selective chemosensor for the detection of various analytes such as heavy metal ions, anions and various other species in agricultural, environmental and biological matrixes. CTS derivatives interacting with these species and give analytical signals. In this review, we embark on an exploration of the latest advancements in CTS-based materials, emphasizing their noteworthy contributions to medicinal chemistry spanning the years from 2021 to 2023. The intrinsic biological and physiological properties of CTS make it an ideal platform for designing materials that interact seamlessly with biological systems. The review also explores the utilization of chitosan-based materials for the development of colorimetric and fluorimetric chemosensors capable of detecting metal ions, anions and various other species, contributing to advancements in environmental monitoring, healthcare diagnostics, and industrial processes.