Akuleti Saikumar

In the present study, biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was carried out using the underutilized aqueous sepals extract of Dillenia indica as a natural resource. The synthesized ZnO NPs (0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5%) were reinforced into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix, and their effects on the morphological, thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties of PVA nanocomposite films were reported. The prepared ZnO NPs were characterized to analyze their functional groups, UV absorption properties, crystalline structure, elemental composition, surface morphology, zeta potential, hydrodynamic measurements and antimicrobial activities. The peaks of XRD diffraction were closely aligned with the standard pattern for hexagonal wurtzite ZnO. The mean crystallite size of the ZnO NPs was found to be 12.83 nm. The hydrodynamic diameter of ZnO NPs was 580.2 nm with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.606. The maximum antibacterial activity was observed at the concentration of ZnO NPs (0.5%) against E. coli (24.90 ± 0.656 mm) and S. aureus (21.18 ± 0.928 mm). The reinforced effects of ZnO NPs significantly enhanced the tensile strength (TA) of the PVA nanocomposites from 39.736 ± 1.431 MPa to 53.209 ± 0.983 MPa with the addition of 0.3%, respectively. The water vapor permeability (WVP) of the films was significantly decreased from 36.160 ± 1.860 (g·mm/m ² ·day·kPa) to 10.883 ± 0.552 (g·mm/m ² ·day·kPa) with increasing ZnO NPs concentration. In conclusion, the antibacterial activity of synthesized ZnO NPs and their positive impact on the properties of PVA nanocomposite films make them suitable for food safety applications.

The development of biodegradable plates using cellulose fibers of areca nut husk and water hyacinth helps to create eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic plates and mitigate environmental concerns associated with non-degradable packaging.

Hen’s egg yolk (HEY) is rich in proteins, lipids, and vitamins, making it highly biocompatible for biomedical applications such as drug delivery and tissue engineering. Its inherent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties further enhance its utility in developing therapeutic agents and medical devices. This study investigates the effects of vacuum oxygen (O₂) plasma treatment at varying power levels (96, 144, 192, and 240 W) on the properties of electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/amoxicillin hydrochloride trihydrate (Amox)/HEY nanofibers. Plasma treatment effectively improved the antibacterial activity and cytocompatibility of the nanofibers, suggesting their promising applications in biomedicine. Electrospun nanofibers, subjected to varying power levels 96 (0.4 A), 144 (0.6 A), 192 (0.8 A), and 240 W (1.0 A), at a constant input voltage of 240 V, exhibited notable improvements in wettability, tensile strength, and change in elongation at break. Within the power range of 96–240 W, these nanofibers also exhibited a significant increase in the release rate of Amox. However, plasma treatment beyond 144 W resulted in only marginal enhancements in the drug release rate. Additionally, the plasma‐treated nanofibers demonstrated good antibacterial activity against both Gram‐negative E. coli and Gram‐positive bacteria S. aureus . Both untreated and plasma‐treated PVA/Amox/HEY electrospun nanofibers maintained high cell viability (> 97%) and minimal hemolysis activity (< 5%) across the tested power supply (96–240 W). Notably, nanofibers treated at 144 W demonstrated superior antibacterial activity and biocompatibility, highlighting their potential for wound dressing applications. Summary: Vacuum O₂ plasma treatment effectively modifies the surface of PVA/Amox/HEY nanofiber mats. Tensile strength and wettability improve significantly with plasma power increasing up to 144 W. Amoxicillin release rate and antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus are enhanced. Haemolytic activity remains low (97%) for treatments up to 144 W. Optimized biocompatibility and drug release kinetics support potential wound dressing applications.

The aim of this study was to develop polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/graphene oxide (GO) nanofiber mats using electrospinning fabrication technique. Polymer solutions were prepared with PVA at a concentration of 6% w/v, CMC ranging from 0.5% to 1.5% w/v, in a 1:1 polymer blend ratio, and GO nanofiller from 0.1% to 0.5% w/v. Addition of CMC and GO amend the solution properties such as conductivity and viscosity, leading to notable alteration in nanofiber diameters from 90.514 to 169.225 nm. As evidenced by rheological analysis, addition of GO significantly enhanced the storage moduli and shear stress of PVA/CMC/GO solutions compared to PVA and PVA/CMC. According to tensile properties, the tensile strength of PVA/CMC/GO nanofiber mats was increased by 25.59% to 46.41% at 0.1%–0.3% w/v of GO compared to PVA/CMC mats, contributing to overall mechanical improvements. FTIR spectroscopy revealed interactions between the hydroxyl (OH) groups of PVA and carboxylate groups (COOH) of CMCs, with increased intensity in OH and CH absorption bands. The presence of hydrophilic functional groups increases the wettability of the nanofiber mats, as indicated by reduced water contact angles from 51.321° to 45.924°. The oxygen‐rich structure of GO enhances the barrier properties of nanofiber mats, resulting in reduced water vapor permeability (WVP) from 1.049 to 0.980 g/m.h. Pa and moisture retention capacity (MRC) from 95.68% to 90.854%. Moreover, TGA analysis showed a significant improvement in the decomposition temperature of the hybrid PVA/CMC/GO nanofibers, resulting in reduced mass loss compared to other developed nanofibers. Overall, the obtained results validate the use of CMC biopolymer and GO nanofiller as an additive for the production nanofiber mats with improved structural, mechanical, thermal and barrier properties particularly for industrial, medical and packaging applications. Highlights: Blending of polymers to overcome the properties of single polymer system. Development of PVA, PVA/CMC and PVA/CMC/GO electrospun nanofiber mats. Effect of GO nanofiller on the properties of nanofiber mats. Potential future applications in advanced engineering and material sciences.

Groundnut is a rich source of protein with biological value and highly desirable both in raw and roasted form. Peanuts after oil extraction gives a lot of meal called as deoiled peanut cake which contains 50-55% of high-quality protein. The extraction of protein powder from de oiled peanut flour is necessary to provide the food industries with new high protein food ingredient for various food product formulations. The protein from the de-oiled peanut oil cake was extracted by alkaline extraction at room temperature by using pH from 4 to 9.5. The amount of protein obtained from 150 µm and 250 µm sized de-oiled flour were 58% and 85%. Protein film solution at different concentrations of 0.5 g CMC and 1.5 g CMC was prepared and edible films for food packing were prepared.