Abstract
The physicochemical, mechanical, and structural properties of chitosan-based films (CS) alone or CS-films with mixed oxide nanoparticles (TiO2-ZnO-MgO, TZM; CSTZM) at different concentrations (125, 250, and 500 μg mL−1) were investigated. The addition of nano-TZM promoted a color change (from colorless to white) in the film-forming solution, which increased its turbidity and it decreased viscosity. CSTZM were semitransparent (transmittance, T% decreased up to 49%) compared to CS-based films (T% = 95.5). CSTZM (particularly at a concentration of 500 μg mL−1) exhibited an improvement in the moisture content (decreased from 12.6 to 9.67%), water solubility (decreased from 14.94 to 10.22%), degree of swelling (increased from 19.79 to 36.28%), water vapor barrier (decreased from 6.62 x 10−16 to 4.33 x 10−16 g m−1 h−1 Pa−1), thermal stability (the endotherm peak increased from 99.5 to 157.7 °C), and mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation at break increased from 4.15 to 4.98 kPa and 6.96 to 56.18%, respectively, while the modulus of elasticity decreased from 144 kPa to 4.11 kPa), without toxicity effects on Artemia salina (93.33% survival). X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared studies demonstrated an interaction between CS-based films and nano-TZM. Overall, this film exhibited great potential for diverse industrial applications.
Highlights
Developing hybrid materials has gained considerable attention in the last years, mainly due to their interesting properties for several industrial and biomedical applications [1, 2]
Influenced the coloration and transparency of the film (Fig. 1 (b)). These findings are in agreement with those reported by Díaz-Visurraga et al [12], who demonstrated that chitosan solutions became whiter after the nano-TiO2 powder addition, and the transparency of the films was decreased [38]
These visual changes of the CSTZM film-forming solution and films may be related to the intrinsic properties of TiO2 [14], which is widely used in diverse industrial applications as a white pigment and/or for its excellent ultraviolet-light -barrier properties [37]
Summary
Developing hybrid materials has gained considerable attention in the last years, mainly due to their interesting properties for several industrial and biomedical applications [1, 2]. It is obtained from chitin deacetylation (synthesized by chemical or enzymatic pathways), and it has been recognized as a biologically functional compound [6]. It is non-toxic and biodegradable with excellent antimicrobial and film-forming properties for many relevant applications (food preservation, biomedical and environmental applications) [7]. Its poly-cationic character enhances its biocompatibility with other organic or inorganic compounds, mainly associated with the presence of functional groups (–NH2 and –OH) in its structure [7]. The addition of TiO2 nanoparticles to CS-based films improves their mechanical, physical, and biological properties [3, 5]
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