Nanocellulose reinforced sustainable polyvinyl alcohol and pectin based nanocomposite films embedded with AgO/ZnO nano structures for wound dressing applications

TL;DR

This study creates sustainable nanocomposite films using nanocellulose and AgO/ZnO nanostructures, showing promise for wound dressing applications due to their antibacterial and biodegradable properties.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel nanocellulose-reinforced PVA/PEC nanocomposite with embedded AgO/ZnO nanostructures for sustainable wound dressings.

Findings

Nanocellulose significantly improves the mechanical and structural properties of PVA/PEC films.

AgO/ZnO nanostructures provide effective antibacterial activity in the nanocomposite films.

The films exhibit good biodegradability with controlled degradation rates in soil.

Abstract

Natural fibers play a significant role in the polymer nanocomposites due to its biodegradability, sustainability, ease of disposal and minimal energy required during processing. The utilization of sustainable materials in developing usable products is making a tremendous impact in the society by mitigating the problems caused by hazardous plastics. Recent research studies have focused on identifying promising natural fibres with superior mechanical properties. In this study, we explore the reinforcing ability of extracted pure plant-based nanocellulose fibres in PVA/PEC nanocomposite films. The produced nanocellulose was characterized using a combination of techniques, including 13C NMR, XRD, FTIR, DLS, and morphological examination via AFM and TEM, along with thermal analysis. The synthesized AgO/ZnO nano structures were used as inorganic filler. The nano structures were confirmed by using XRD, TEM and XPS analysis. The reinforcing effect of nanocellulose was investigated by incorporating varying concentrations of CNF into PVA/PEC films, followed by characterization using XRD and FTIR. The physical properties of the films were evaluated through TGA, WVTR and water contact angle measurements. Reduction in microbial viability results in the promising antibacterial activity. Biodegradability was assessed through a soil burial test, where the observed weight loss indicated good biodegradation behavior with a controlled degradation rate. The overall study provides a comprehensive analysis of nanocellulose extraction and its effective use as a reinforcing agent in polymer blends. In conclusion, the extracted nanocellulose demonstrates significant potential for enhancing the structural and functional properties of nanocomposite films for sustainable applications.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-34411-7.

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