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Abstract Blending biopolymer is a key objective in development of innovative materials and effectively enhances the characteristics of the components to achieve tailored properties. This study introduces five eco-friendly blends in different ratios, created by melt-blending polymers, incorporating Pistacia atlantica subsp. mutica gum into plasticized poly (lactic acid) with 16% acetyl tributyl citrate. To perform a comprative analysis of blends ratios, comprehensive techniques were applied, including differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and evaluations of water absorption behavior, chemical resistance, and biodegradability. The 70/30 (plasticized poly (lactic acid)/P. atlantica) blend was mechanically superior, exhibiting the greatest elongation at break and the lowest yield strength and Young’s modulus. FTIR analysis showed consistent spectral patterns across the 3000 to 650 cm− 1 range, with numerous absorption bands. DSC analysis identified the highest and lowest glass transition temperatures for the 90/10 and 70/30 blends, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy highlighted the development of more distinct island-sea structures as the proportion of P. atlantica gum increased. Water absorption tests differentiated the 90/10 blend as the most absorbent, while the 70/30 blend absorbed the least. Chemical resistance testing revealed all blends gained weight in HCl, but only the 90/10 blend lost weight in NaOH. All samples were confirmed to be highly biodegradable, surpassing 50% degradation after 6 months. Overall, the findings suggest that blending plasticized poly (lactic acid) and P. atlantica gum enhances the flexibility and performance of poly (lactic acid), warranting further attention.

Blending biopolymer is a key objective in development of innovative materials and effectively enhances the characteristics of the components to achieve tailored properties. This study introduces five eco-friendly blends in different ratios, created by melt-blending polymers, incorporating Pistacia atlantica subsp. mutica gum into plasticized poly (lactic acid) with 16% acetyl tributyl citrate. To perform a comprative analysis of blends ratios, comprehensive techniques were applied, including differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and evaluations of water absorption behavior, chemical resistance, and biodegradability. The 70/30 (plasticized poly (lactic acid)/P. atlantica) blend was mechanically superior, exhibiting the greatest elongation at break and the lowest yield strength and Young's modulus. FTIR analysis showed consistent spectral patterns across the 3000 to 650 cm− 1 range, with numerous absorption bands. DSC analysis identified the highest and lowest glass transition temperatures for the 90/10 and 70/30 blends, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy highlighted the development of more distinct island-sea structures as the proportion of P. atlantica gum increased. Water absorption tests differentiated the 90/10 blend as the most absorbent, while the 70/30 blend absorbed the least. Chemical resistance testing revealed all blends gained weight in HCl, but only the 90/10 blend lost weight in NaOH. All samples were confirmed to be highly biodegradable, surpassing 50% degradation after 6 months. Overall, the findings suggest that blending plasticized poly (lactic acid) and P. atlantica gum enhances the flexibility and performance of poly (lactic acid), warranting further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of next‐generation batteries lies in solid biodegradable polymer electrolytes. This research delves into a solid blend polymer electrolyte (SBPE) for magnesium conduction, utilizing a chitosan‐dextran blend matrix doped with magnesium perchlorate (Mg(ClO4)2) salt. The electrolyte films are prepared using a conventional solution casting technique. Through techniques like X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the successful incorporation of Mg(ClO4)2 into the blend matrix is confirmed. Notably, the SBPE containing 30 wt% of Mg(ClO4)2 demonstrates the highest ionic conductivity of 6.99 × 10−4 S cm−1 and a prominent ionic transference number of 0.84. Thermogravimetric analysis is carried out to study thermal stability. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis of the electrolyte systems gives insight into their thermal properties. Additionally, it showcases favorable electrochemical stability of 2.66 V. The oxidation and reduction peaks are observed in the cyclic voltammetry curve of the highest conducting sample. Furthermore, the discharge performance of Mg/(CS + DN + Mg(ClO4)2)/cathode cells is explored with varied cathode materials, illustrating the SBPE's potential for magnesium‐ion batteries. This study unveils a sustainable, biodegradable, and economical electrolyte solution for advanced energy storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, bead foams are of great interest due to their high lightweight potential. The processing of such foams strongly depends on the crystallization and rheological behavior of the polymers used. By blending polymers, these properties can be tailored to obtain beaded foams with low density, small cell size and high cell density. As a bio-based polymer, PLA is of great interest due to its renewable carbon source. PLA suffers from its low thermal and rheological properties, which can be compensated by using blends. The correlation between the PLA/PHBV ratio and the rheological as well as the crystallization behavior was investigated. The use of PHBV as a minor phase significantly changes the rheological properties and increases the crystallization behavior of PLA. These findings were applied to the foam extrusion process to obtain low density bead foams. Bead foams with densities below 100 kg/m3, mean cell sizes below 50 µm and cell densities of 1 × 107 cells/cm3 were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, lignin underwent chemical modification via acetylation of hydroxyl groups to enhance its interfacial connection with poly (lactic acid) (PLA). Further enhancement of the blend was attained by adding an impact modifier, Biomax Strong. Incorporating Biomax Strong into PLA-lignin blends resulted in improvements in material characteristics, particularly in impact strength and thermal stability. This blend exhibited a unique set of mechanical properties, characterized by a reduction in tensile modulus as well as an increase in ductility. This will allow a more versatile use of PLA in various applications. The observed improved impact strength highlights the synergistic effect of stress redistribution within the PLA matrix contributing to widespread applications of PLA based composites. This can clearly be observed for the compound containing PLA and 15 wt.% lignin, where the impact strength was approximately 15 kJ/m2. With the addition of 5 wt.% impact modifier, the impact strength increased by 60 %, reaching approximately 25 kJ/m2. This synergy effect reinforces the overall structure, improving the impact toughness behavior. The combination of Biomax Strong and lignin not only address the limitations of PLA but also introduces new opportunities for applications requiring a balance of impact strength, ductility, and thermal stability. These advancements indicate a promising future for composite materials in various applications.

Three-dimensional printing is a prototyping technique that is widely used in various fields, such as the electrical sector, to produce specific dielectric objects. Our study explores the mechanical and dielectric behavior of polylactic acid (PLA) and plasticized cellulose acetate (CA) blends manufactured via Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). A preliminary optimization of 3D printing parameters showed that a print speed of 30 mm·s−1 and a print temperature of 215 °C provided the best compromise between print quality and processing time. The dielectric properties were very sensitive to the three main parameters (CA content WCA, infill ratio, and layer thickness). A Taguchi L9 3^3 experimental design revealed that the infill ratio and WCA were the main parameters influencing dielectric properties. Increasing the infill ratio and WCA increased the dielectric constant ε′ and electrical conductivity σAC. It would, therefore, be possible to promote the integration of CA in the dielectric domain through 3D printing while counterbalancing its greater polarity by reducing the infill ratio. The dielectric findings are promising for an electrical insulation application. Furthermore, the mechanical findings obtained through dynamic mechanical analysis are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bio-based polymer blend of polylactic acid (PLA)-polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) incorporated with cashew shell biomass synthesized cardanol oil (CARD) was prepared by solution casting method. The various formulations were prepared with PLA/PBAT(90/10) polymer blend containing 1%, 3%, and 5 wt.% of cardanol oil. All the prepared PLA/PBAT films were subjected to characterization techniques such as surface morphology, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, mechanical, thermal stability, X-ray diffraction, film color, opacity, wettability, and antimicrobial properties. The FTIR and XRD results confirmed the effective miscibility and molecular interactions of cardanol oil in PLA/PBAT blend. Further, the results of TGA analysis showed thermal stability improvement in PLA/PBAT bio-based film by the addition of cardanol oil. The homogeneous distribution of cardanol oil droplets on the PLA/PBAT blend was confirmed by observed SEM and TEM images. The mechanical result proved that the addition of 5 wt.% of cardanol oil into the PLA/PBAT blend increases the elongation at break. Moreover the bio-based PLA/PBAT film shows good barrier against water vapor and a poor barrier against oxygen permeability. The presence of cardanol oil in the PLA/PBAT matrix helps to enhance the optical and wettability properties of prepared bio-based film. Finally, it is proved from the investigational results that the PLA/PBAT/cardanol biodegradable films may be recommended to use in food packaging applications wherever high flexibility, water vapor barrier, thermal stability, antibacterial resistance, and less water absorption properties are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable polymer electrolyte has attracted significant attention from both economic and environmental perspectives. This study reports the preparation and analysis of plasticized methylcellulose (MC)-dextran (DN)-ammonium iodide (NH4I) bio-based polymer electrolytes with high ion transport properties using solution casting method. It was discovered that when the glycerol concentrations increased, the FTIR bands changed and dropped in their intensities, revealing good complexation between electrolyte constituents. The glycerol inclusion improved the ionic conductivity up to (3.24 × 10−4) S/cm, according to impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The EEC simulation has been employed to study the electrolyte circuit components further. Transference number measurement (TNM) was used to calculate both transport ion (tion) and electron (tel) values, which were found to be 0.952 and 0.048, respectively. The most conducting sample was found to be stable up to 2 V. Various techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) were utilized to examine the properties of the assembled EDLC device. At the initial cycle, the designed EDLC had a specific capacitance (Cspe) value of ∼ 44F/g, with an energy density of ∼ 4.9 Wh/kg and a power density of ∼ 500 W/kg.

A bacon-type meat analogue consists of different structural layers, such as textured protein and a fat mimetic. To obtain a coherent and appealing product, a suitable binder must glue those elements together. A mixture based on pea protein and sugar beet pectin (r = 2:1, 25% w/w solids, pH 6) with and without laccase addition and a methylcellulose hydrogel (6% w/w) serving as benchmark were applied as binder between textured protein and a fat mimetic. A tensile strength test, during which the layers were torn apart, was performed to measure the binding ability. The pea protein–sugar beet pectin mixture without laccase was viscoelastic and had medium and low binding strength at 25 °C (F ≤ 3.5 N) and 70 °C (F ≈ 1.0 N), respectively. The addition of laccase solidified the mixture and increased binding strength at 25 °C (F ≥ 4.0 N) and 70 °C (F ≈ 2.0 N), due to covalent bonds within the binder and between the binder and the textured protein or the fat mimetic layers. Generally, the binding strength was higher when two textured protein layers were glued together. The binding properties of methylcellulose hydrogel was low (F ≤ 2.0 N), except when two fat mimetic layers were bound due to hydrophobic interactions becoming dominant. The investigated mixed pectin–pea protein system is able serve as a clean-label binder in bacon-type meat analogues, and the application in other products seems promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable polymer electrolyte has attracted significant attention from both economic and environmental perspectives. This study reports the preparation and analysis of plasticized methylcellulose (MC)-dextran (DN)-ammonium iodide (NH 4 I) bio-based polymer electrolytes with high ion transport properties using solution casting method. It was discovered that when the glycerol concentrations increased, the FTIR bands changed and dropped in their intensities, revealing good complexation between electrolyte constituents. The glycerol inclusion improved the ionic conductivity up to (3.24 × 10−4) S/cm, according to impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The EEC simulation has been employed to study the electrolyte circuit components further. Transference number measurement (TNM) was used to calculate both transport ion (t ion) and electron (t el) values, which were found to be 0.952 and 0.048, respectively. The most conducting sample was found to be stable up to 2 V. Various techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) were utilized to examine the properties of the assembled EDLC device. At the initial cycle, the designed EDLC had a specific capacitance (C spe) value of ∼ 44F/g, with an energy density of ∼ 4.9 Wh/kg and a power density of ∼ 500 W/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel pH-colorimetric intelligent films were designed from agar and methylcellulose matrix (AM) with soybean wax (SBW) in several percentages (5, 10, 15, and 20%w/w) combined with purple cauliflower (CF) anthocyanins as an indicator of the shrimp freshness at 4 °C and 25 °C of storage temperatures. The color was observed in a mixture of AM/CF anthocyanins with SBW (hydrophobic), which completely converted in pH acidity 2–6 and somewhat in pH alkalinity 7–12, equivalent to the color seen when exposed to ammonia vapors 100 mmol/L. The spectroscopic analysis indicated that SBW was successfully settled into the AM/CF film. The homogenized SBW films enhanced the mechanical, thermal, antioxidant, control release of the anthocyanins and physical properties, significantly reducing water vapor permeability in AM/CF/15%SBW. Remarkably, SBW films showed total protection for UV–Vis light and a beneficial decline in visible light. Lastly, pH-colorimetric film validity to indicate the freshness/spoilage of a model food (shrimp) was confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper is a fascinating metal with wide applications since ancient time. Although Copper is resistant to certain environmental factors and several chemicals, aggressive medium could deteriorate the metal leading to its complete damage. The need for an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor is much relevant in the present scenario. The inhibition efficiency of gum arabic (GA), sodium alginate (SA) and its blend is investigated using weight loss method, potentiodynamic polarization and electroscopic impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis in 1.0 M HCl solution. Higher inhibition efficiency is obtained at room temperature for the blend with 6666 ppm GA and 3333 ppm SA. The values of inhibition efficiency obtained are 88.8%, 80.5% and 86.2% using weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization and EIS analysis, respectively. The investigations are complemented by atomic force microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy which helped to analyze the physical adsorption of the biopolymer on the metal surface. The adsorption of the biopolymer on Copper obeyed Langmuir isotherm and inhibition efficiency has an inverse relation with temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bacon-type meat analogue consists of different structural layers, such as textured protein and a fat mimetic. To obtain a coherent and appealing product, a suitable binder must glue those elements together. A mixture based on pea protein and sugar beet pectin (r = 2:1, 25% w/w solids, pH 6) with and without laccase addition and a methylcellulose hydrogel (6% w/w) serving as benchmark were applied as binder between textured protein and a fat mimetic. A tensile strength test, during which the layers were torn apart, was performed to measure the binding ability. The pea protein–sugar beet pectin mixture without laccase was viscoelastic and had medium and low binding strength at 25 °C (F ≤ 3.5 N) and 70 °C (F ≈ 1.0 N), respectively. The addition of laccase solidified the mixture and increased binding strength at 25 °C (F ≥ 4.0 N) and 70 °C (F ≈ 2.0 N), due to covalent bonds within the binder and between the binder and the textured protein or the fat mimetic layers. Generally, the binding strength was higher when two textured protein layers were glued together. The binding properties of methylcellulose hydrogel was low (F ≤ 2.0 N), except when two fat mimetic layers were bound due to hydrophobic interactions becoming dominant. The investigated mixed pectin–pea protein system is able serve as a clean-label binder in bacon-type meat analogues, and the application in other products seems promising.

Inter- and intramolecular interactions in multicomponent polymer systems influence their physical and chemical properties significantly and thus have implications on their synthesis and processing. In the present study, chemical images were obtained by plotting the peak position of a spectral band from the data sets generated using in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopic imaging. This approach was successfully used to visualize changes in intra- and intermolecular interactions in poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/poly(L -lactic acid) (PHB/PLLA) blends during the isothermal melt crystallization. The peak position of ν(C＝O) band, which reflects the nature of the intermolecular interaction, shows that the intermolecular interactions between PHB and PLLA in the miscible state (1733 cm−1) changes to the inter- and intramolecular interaction (CH3⋯O=C, 1720 cm−1) within PHB crystal during the isothermal melt crystallization. Compared with spectroscopic images obtained by plotting the distribution of absorbance of spectral bands, which reveals the spatial distribution of blend components, the approach of plotting the peak position of a spectral band reflects the spatial distribution of different intra- and intermolecular interactions. With the process of isothermal melt-crystallization, the disappearance of the intermolecular interaction between PHB and PLLA and the appearance of the inter- and intramolecular interactions within the PHB crystal were both visualized through the images based on the observation of the band position. This work shows the potential of using in-situ ATR FT-IR spectroscopic imaging to visualize different types of inter- or intramolecular interactions between polymer molecules or between polymer and other additives in various types of multicomponent polymer systems. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomimetic characteristics of hydrogel scaffold are tuned in this study utilizing the synergy of alginate, gelatin, and microfluidically embedded voids. Superposition of alginate and gelatin polymer networks results in additional rigidity, which can be tuned by introduction of voids, and thereby allowing faster release of pore pressure through movement of aqueous phase through the pore network. More importantly, voids enabled the cells to penetrate from the surface of seeding into the depth of the scaffold and proliferate there, as demonstrated for MDA MB 231 breast cancer cells. The uniform voids, generated by the microfluidic device, self-align creating uniform macroporosity within the gel structure, get readily filled by the media due to hydrophilicity, and extend the characteristics of composite uniformly across the entire scaffold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fibre-reinforced biopolymer composites are of special interest because they are entirely bioresourced, recyclable and biodegradable. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(hydroxybutyrate- co -hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) are among the most known environment-friendly biodegradable thermoplastics. Unfortunately, they present unbalanced mechanical characteristics when they are taken separately. The aim of this work is to overcome this problem using a blending process accompanied with fibre reinforcement. For this purpose, entirely biodegradable composite materials were fabricated and characterized. These biocomposites are based on two different ternary PLA/PHBV/PBS blends reinforced with twill flax fabrics and fabricated using extrusion and film-stacking techniques. Monotonic and cyclic load–unload tensile tests followed by acoustic emission and scanning electron microscopy observations were performed. In particular, the obtained biocomposites present interesting mechanical properties with a tensile modulus of 20 GPa and an ultimate tensile strength of 110 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this study was on the preparation of porous bio-based matrix with a view to fabricating the environment-friendly supercapacitors from two sustainable materials, cellulose acetate (CA) and chitosan (CS). The strategy used is, first preparing a tri-hybrid of rGO/NiO/Fe3O4 (rNF) particles followed by mixing it into CA/CS (CC), as prepared CC/rNF was then dipped into aniline. After the impregnation by aniline, the polymerization proceeded to get a CA/CS/PANI/rNF (CCPRNF) electrode. The prepared electrode shows excellent properties such as high conductivity (7.1 × 10–2 S/cm), an areal capacitance of 16.61 mF/cm2 at a scan rate of 5 mV/s and 88% capacitance retention after 1000 cycles. The symmetric device fabricated from 15% CCPRNF achieved areal capacitance of 5.5 mF/cm2 (scan rate 20 mV/s). Herein, we suggest a new approach for the construction of environment-friendly, flexible, conducting, 3D scaffold-like porous electrodes for supercapacitors using CA/CS through simple "phase inversion and in-situ polymerization method". These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biopolymers have received considerable attention in recent years given the environmental concern related to the incorrect disposal of materials based on synthetic plastics. Starch and chitosan are good examples of raw materials of interest, and its combination can exhibit some newsworthy barrier and mechanical properties. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the impact of the acid type, acetic and lactic solutions (1% v/v), used for chitosan solubilization and the starch:chitosan proportion on the properties of cornstarch/chitosan-based films. The films were prepared by casting and characterized by analyses of water vapor permeability, tensile strength, elongation, elastic modulus, antimicrobial activity, and biodegradability. Mechanical properties analyses showed that the films prepared by using acetic acid presented higher rigidity and lower deformation, giving higher values of Young's Modulus and a smaller percentage of elongation, in comparison to the films fabricated with lactic acid. Besides, starch/chitosan films containing acetic acid also exhibited better water vapor barrier properties, showing smaller water permeation values. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of the cornstarch-based films containing chitosan was confirmed, obtaining better results for the blended films prepared with lactic acid, indicating a high potential for the development of active packaging. For the biodegradation tests, all samples started the degradation after 15 days. • Cornstarch and chitosan blended films using different acids were prepared by casting. • The chitosan incorporation promoted an improvement in mechanical properties. • Biopolymers blended films containing lactic acid presented higher water permeance. • Biopolymers blend films presented antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. • Biodegradation tests showed that all films start its degradation after 15 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biopolymer blends and nanocomposites based on chitosan (Cs) are promising in various technological applications. Magnesia (MgO)/Cs/poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) nanocomposites were prepared by casting technique. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a homogeneous dispersion for MgO on the surface of the porous CsPEG films. XRD and FTIR spectra revealed a significant change in the crystallinity and intensity of the characteristic peaks of the functional groups in the composite films with increasing the content of MgO. The dielectric properties of the films were studied in the range 306–411 K and 0.1 kHz – 5 MHz. Two relaxation peaks were observed for pure, and 5 wt% magnesia-doped CsPEG. The correlated barrier hopping (CBH) is the most suitable conduction mechanism. Transmittance, refractive index (n) and various optical parameters were calculated and given. The outcome results confirm the possibility of broadening the multifunctionality of Cs to include tissue engineering, removing unwanted products and antireflection coating applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomaterials play a fundamental role in tissue engineering by providing biochemical and physical cues that influence cellular fate and matrix development. Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) as a biomaterial is distinguished by its abundant composition of matrix proteins, such as collagen, elastin, fibronectin, and laminin, as well as glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. However, the mechanical properties of only dECM-based constructs may not always meet tissue-specific requirements. Recent advancements address this challenge by utilizing hybrid biomaterials that harness the strengths of silk fibroin (SF), which contributes the necessary mechanical properties, while dECM provides essential cellular cues for in vitro studies and tissue regeneration. This review discusses emerging trends in developing such biopolymer blends, aiming to synergistically combine the advantages of SF and dECM through optimal concentrations and desired cross-linking density. We focus on different fabrication techniques and cross-linking methods that have been utilized to fabricate various tissue-engineered hybrid constructs. Furthermore, we survey recent applications of such biomaterials for the regeneration of various tissues, including bone, cartilage, trachea, bladder, vascular graft, heart, skin, liver, and other soft tissues. Finally, the trajectory and prospects of the constructs derived from this blend in the tissue engineering field have been summarized, highlighting their potential for clinical translation. [Display omitted] • Brief outlook on dECM and SF and transition to their biopolymeric hybrids for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. • Overview of hybrid scaffolding fabrication strategies, crosslinking methods, and biological performance. • Recent applications in various tissue engineering approaches promoting cell-tissue interaction and regeneration. • Significance in biomaterials research with potential clinical translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interfacial adhesion between polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and native starch is poor. To improve the interfacial adhesion, PHAs were in-situ grafted onto starch using dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as a free radical initiator. The grafting reaction was carefully characterized and confirmed by gel analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The gel yield of the PHAs/starch/DCP blend increased with the DCP concentration up to 2 wt%. Meanwhile, obvious plastic deformation (stretched fibrils) was observed at the interface in the PHAs/starch/DCP blend in comparison with complete interfacial debonding in the PHAs/starch physical blend. The improved interfacial adhesion after grafting was further confirmed by a reduction in adhesion factor ( A f ) obtained from dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The mechanical strength and the crystallization rate of the PHAs were deteriorated after incorporation of starch, and were backed up by the interfacial improvement. A linear relationship between the mechanical properties and the gel yield was discovered. In addition, the PHAs/starch/DCP blend exhibited higher decomposition active energy ( E a ) and thus better thermal stability in comparison with the PHAs and the PHAs/starch physical blend. Therefore, this study provides a simple route to utilize low-cost starch as a component in biopolymer blend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible and efficient electroactive polymeric materials that can convert electrical energy into mechanical work are potential be used as artificial muscles in soft robots, sensors and wearable technology. This work reports on the development of flexible electroactive material based on poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA) as a matrix and poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD) as a conductive filler. The PBSA film flexibility was modified by using dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as a plasticizer. The doped PoPD (dPoPD) particles with the polar free = NH substitution were synthesized and doped with perchloric acid. The prepared dPoPD/PBSA blends possess the enhanced mechanical and electrical properties compared to the pristine PBSA film. The dPoPD/PBSA blend with the dPoPD loading of 0.05%v/v provided the highest storage modulus (2.2 × 106 Pa) at 100 rad/s, the dielectric constant (28) at 40 Hz, and the electrical conductivity (2.67 × 10−9 S/cm). On the other hands, the 0.01%v/v dPoPD/PBSA blend showed the highest deflection distance of 9.71 mm, whereas the highest dielectrophoresis force density was obtained from the 0.05%v/v dPoPD/PBSA blend at 70 V/mm. This work presents the new biobased/conductive polymer blends and demonstrates that the bending response and the required dielectrophoresis force are not inclusively related and each can be individually tailored to meet the soft robot requirements. [Display omitted] • New biobased/conductive polymer blends based on PBSA and PoPD are fabricated. • Adding doped PoPD can enhance mechanical and electrical properties of pristine PBSA. • 0.01%v/v dPoPD/PBSA/DBP blend showed the highest deflection distance of 9.71 mm. • The highest dielectrophoresis force is obtained from 0.05%v/v dPoPD/PBSA/DBP blend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-active bi-layer thin film having both bio-adhesive and non-adhesive end composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and gelatin/chitosan/polyethylene glycol (PEG) blend was developed for biomedical applications especially as an alternative of advanced tissue scaffold. The developed composite film was subjected to mechanical, thermal and physico-chemical characterization such as tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (Eb), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), fluid drainage capacity and biocompatibility. Suitable packaging was also selected and stability study and aging test of the composite film were performed after packing. The incorporation of chitosan and PEG into gelatin showed improved mechanical properties of both TS and Eb, which suggested the occurrence of interaction among gelatin, chitosan and PEG molecules in the composite film. The presence of crosslinking as an interaction of above three polymers was also confirmed by FTIR study. Results from the DSC study suggested increased thermal stability after crosslinking. On the other hand, water uptake studies suggested excellent fluid drainage capability and hydro-stability of the composite film. The proposed dressing also showed excellent biocompatibility. Based on the studies related to the performance with confirmed identity, we concluded that our developed bi-layer film is very potential as an ideal wound dressing material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underlined microstructure of biopolymer blends reflects complexity of mass and heat transfer during processing. In the present work, such complexity is apprehended using simple and intuitive way to generate typical microstructures resulting from thermomoulding processing. The starting point is a simple generation scheme of the feed powder approximated as circular heat sources. Finite element computation of a transient thermal analysis is performed and the resulting nodal fields are again converted into 2D microstructures. The final microstructures prove to be similar in all geometrical characteristics starch–zein blends. Elasticity response of these blends is explored using finite element computation. Sensitivity analysis is performed to derive the effect of perfect and imperfect interface properties on the mechanical performance of the biopolymer blend. Predictions show a significant role of interfaces which trigger the elasticity properties of the biopolymer blends much larger than the contrast in phase properties. This study demonstrates that nonlinear interface effect on elasticity behaviour is related to geometrical percolation that occurs at specific phase content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose and chitin, both biopolymers, decompose before reaching their melting points. Therefore, processing these unmodified biopolymers into multifilament yarns is limited to solution chemistry. Especially the processing of chitin into fibers is rather limited to distinctive, often toxic or badly removable solvents often accompanied by chemical de-functionalization to chitosan (degree of acetylation, DA, <50%). This work proposes a novel method for the preparation of cellulose/chitin blend fibers using ionic liquids (ILs) as gentle, removable, recyclable and non-deacetylating solvents. Chitin and cellulose are dissolved in ethylmethylimidazolium propionate ([C2mim] + [OPr] − ) and the obtained one-pot spinning dope is used to produce multifilament fibers by a continuous wet-spinning process. Both the rheology of the corresponding spinning dopes and the structural and physical properties of the obtained fibers have been determined for different biopolymer ratios. With respect to medical or hygienic application, the cellulose/chitin blend fiber show enhanced water retention capacity compared to pure cellulose fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Blend membranes are produced from polyvinyl alcohol and hydroxyethyl cellulose. [•] Mixed matrix blend membranes are also produced by using micro and nano fillers. [•] These membranes are characterized. [•] The nano particle filled membrane show high flux and water selectivity. [•] Sorption, permeation and diffusion characteristics of membranes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bacon-type meat analogue consists of different structural layers, such as textured protein and a fat mimetic. To obtain a coherent and appealing product, a suitable binder must glue those elements together. A mixture based on pea protein and sugar beet pectin (r = 2:1, 25% w / w solids, pH 6) with and without laccase addition and a methylcellulose hydrogel (6% w / w ) serving as benchmark were applied as binder between textured protein and a fat mimetic. A tensile strength test, during which the layers were torn apart, was performed to measure the binding ability. The pea protein-sugar beet pectin mixture without laccase was viscoelastic and had medium and low binding strength at 25 °C (F ≤ 3.5 N) and 70 °C (F ≈ 1.0 N), respectively. The addition of laccase solidified the mixture and increased binding strength at 25 °C (F ≥ 4.0 N) and 70 °C (F ≈ 2.0 N), due to covalent bonds within the binder and between the binder and the textured protein or the fat mimetic layers. Generally, the binding strength was higher when two textured protein layers were glued together. The binding properties of methylcellulose hydrogel was low (F ≤ 2.0 N), except when two fat mimetic layers were bound due to hydrophobic interactions becoming dominant. The investigated mixed pectin-pea protein system is able serve as a clean-label binder in bacon-type meat analogues, and the application in other products seems promising.

In recent years, there has been a great demand for artificial materials for biomedical applications, especially to bone growth. In the present study, the in vitro bioactivity of chitosan-acetylated jute blended film was investigated through biomimitic growth of bone-like apatite layer formation in simulated body fluid (SBF) on the surface of the film. Chitosan was prepared from crab shells and the blended film was prepared by solvent casting method using 10 % formic acid aqueous solution of in-house chitosan and mercerized, acetylated jute fiber. Water absorption characteristics (swelling test) and tensile strength (Universal testing machine) of the films were determined. Thermal behavior of the films were examined by TGA analysis. The biocompatibility of the chitosan-acetylated jute (CAJ) film was indicated by the formation of hydroxy apatite (HAp) bone-like layer formed on the surface when soaked in SBF solution for 14 days. The topography of the film was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Ca/P ratio of the apatite layer was confirmed to be 50:50 by EDX analysis. The results showed that the CAJ film will be a promising bone substituting material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ternary composite of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(caprolactone) (PCL), and carbon black (CB) shows the PCL-induced CB self-aggregation and percolation formation when the amount of the PCL phase as the secondary phase is as small as the amount of CB. Furthermore, when the drop size of the PCL phase becomes smaller, the ternary composite forms a percolation of high order structure, resulting in a remarkable enhancement of the electrical conductivity (~4 × 10−2 S/m with 4 wt.% CB). To further control the percolation structure, the composite fabrication is controlled by splitting a typical single-step mixing process into two steps, focusing on the dispersion of the secondary PCL phase and the CB particles separately. Under the single-step mixing protocol, the ternary composite shows a structure with greater CB aggregation in the form of a high aspect ratio and large aggregates (aggregate perimeter~aggregate size 0.7). Meanwhile, the two-step mixing process causes the CB aggregates to expand and create a higher structure (aggregate perimeter~aggregate size 0.8). The reduced size of the secondary phase under a mixing condition with high shear force prior to the addition of CB provides a larger interfacial area for CB to diffuse into the PCL phase during the subsequent mixing step, resulting in a further expansion of CB aggregation throughout the composite. The particle percolation of such a high order structure is attributed to high storage modulus (G′), high Young's modulus, high dielectric loss (ε″), and negative–positive switching of dielectric constant at high frequency (of 103 Hz) of composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was targeted towards the synthesis and characterization of new chitosan–gelatin biocomposite films reinforced with graphene oxide and crosslinked with genipin. The composites' mode of structuration was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, while morphology and topography were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, nano-computer tomography and profilometry. Eventually, thermal stability was evaluated through thermogravimetrical analysis, mechanical properties assessment was carried out to detect potential improvements as a result of graphene oxide (GO) addition and in vitro enzyme degradation was performed to discern the most promising formulations for the maturation of the study towards in vivo assays. In accordance with similar works, results indicated the possibility of using GO as an agent for adjusting films' roughness, chemical stability and polymer structuration. The enzymatic stability of chitosan–gelatin (CHT-GEL) films was also improved by genipin (GEN) crosslinking and GO supplementation, with the best results being obtained for CHT-GEL-GEN and CHT-GEL-GEN-GO3 (crosslinked formulation with 3 wt.% GO). Yet, contrary to previous reports, no great enhancement of CHT-GEN-GEL-GO thermal performances was obtained by the incorporation of GO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly (Lactic Acid), PLA, and Poly (ε-CaproLactone), PCL, compatibilized with Ethyl Ester l-Lysine Triisocyanate (LTI) can be employed as biomaterials. We mixed PLA with PCL and LTI in a twin extruder and by a melt spinning process obtained threads with an average diameter of about 0.3 mm. In order to study the possible application of these threads, mechanical tensile (with the calorimetric and morphological investigations) and biological tests were performed. The results highlighted these biopolymers as promising materials for sutures since they can be rigid and elastic (especially by increasing the PCL amount in the blend), and they are bioactive, able to inhibit bacterial growth. This paper represents a starting point to optimize the blend composition for biomedical suture application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]