Synthesis, Characterization and Applications of Nanochitosan/Sodium Alginate/Microcrystalline Cellulose Film

Abstract

The antimicrobial potential of the synthesized ternary nanochitosan (NCS)/sodium alginate (SA)/microcrystalline cellulose (MC) (extracted from banana fiber) film in 4:16:1 ratio against Bascillus subtilis and E. coli are reported here. Initially the present work focuses on the synthesis and characterization of ternary nanochitosan (NCS)/sodium alginate (SA)/microcrystalline cellulose (MC) (extracted from banana fiber) film. The prepared NCS/SA/MC film sample was then characterized using advanced analytical techniques such as FT-IR, XRD, TGA, DSC and SEM studies. The obtained results of FT-IR studies clearly indicate that the nanochitosan gets effectively binded with the sodium alginate and the microcrystalline cellulose in the film form. The change in crystallinity and the increased thermal behavior was elucidated from XRD and TGA analysis respectively. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies of NCS/SA/MC film showed that the prepared film has the improved rough surface morphology and fractured structure. The bactericidal action of NCS/SA/MC film determined using Muller Hinton Agar medium on two microbial strains (Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis) reveals that the prepared NCS/SA/MC film has the greater potential to kill the microorganisms to a greater extent and hence this NCS/SA/MC film was found to be suggested as the promising material for biomedical applications.