Abstract

Preparation and characterization of cellulose-gelatin nanocomposite isolated from jute for biomedical application

Author(s): Md.Shafiul Islam, Mohammed Mizanur Rahman,Md.Abdul Gafur, Ahmad I.Mustafa, Mubarak A.Khan

Due to their abundance, high strength and stiffness, low weight and biodegradability, nano-scale cellulose fiber materials serve as promising candidates for bio-nanocomposite production. Cellulose nanocrystals (JCNCs) were prepared by sulfuric acid hydrolysis of delignified and bleached jute fibers and were used to reinforce nanostructured biocomposites with gelatin by solution casting method under laminar flow using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as dispersant. JCNCs and the composite films were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, Xray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermo-gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy. Tensile properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break and antimicrobial properties of the composite films were also measured and were compared with pure gelatin film. A significant enhancement of the thermal, mechanical and antimicrobial properties was achieved with a small addition of cellulose nanofibers to the gelatin matrix. The results of thermo-mechanical properties demonstrated that JCNCs containing composites have higher thermal stabilities than that of pure gelatin. The detailed study showed that tensile properties were enhanced up to 65%with 8%JCNCswith gelatin in the composite.Moreover the composite also exhibited high resistance to water and good antimicrobial activities than that of pure gelatin. The outstanding and unusualmechanical properties showed by the composite are due to the formation of a rigid filler network in the gelatinmatrixwhich could be a potential scaffoldmaterial for biomedical application such as in wound healing.