Chapter 3 - Fundamentals of processing and characterization of polysaccharide nanocrystal–based materials

Abstract

Nanosized polysaccharides have abundant applications and unique structural features that attract the processing of such materials through various biological or chemical routes in a facile manner. The polysaccharides are derived from various sources of biomass such as plants and animals. Generally, they are found in nature in both crystalline and amorphous forms. Out of these two, crystalline form is ordered, stable, and of high utility. The pure crystalline form of polysaccharide can be obtained via controlled hydrolysis or an oxidation reaction. The isolated crystalline polysaccharides are referred to as nanocrystals, nanowhiskers, or nanofibers. The crystalline form possesses important features, in that they are biodegradable, nonconventional, natural, economic, and flexible, and they also have a high aspect ratio, high specific strength, and improved mechanical properties, which makes it a versatile high-value material in the field of medicinal and industrial sectors. In the present chapter, we discuss the different processes of preparing PNs and highlight the various characterization techniques such as IR, thermal, scanning electron microscopy/transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and so on for the presence of bonding and molecular structures, morphology, and size of the polysaccharide nanocrystals.