title: Properties and characterization of agar/CuNP bionanocomposite films prepared with different copper salts and reducing agents.
abstract: Various types of agar-based bio-nanocomposite (BNC) films were prepared by blending agar and six different copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) with different shapes and sizes obtained from three different sources of copper salts and two different reducing agents. The BNC films were characterized by UV-visible, FE-SEM, FT-IR, and XRD. The thermogravimetric study showed that the melting point of BNC films was increased when ascorbic acid was used as a reducing agent for CuNPs synthesis. Apparent surface color and transmittance of agar film was greatly influenced by the reinforcement of CuNPs. However, mechanical and water vapor barrier properties did not change significantly (p>0.05) by blending with CuNPs. Tensile modulus and tensile strength decreased slightly for all types of CuNPs reinforced while elongation at break slightly increased when CuNPs produced by ascorbic acid were blended. The agar bio-nanocomposite films showed profound antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative food-borne pathogenic bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering and Bionanocomposite Research Institute, Mokpo National University, 61 Dorimri, Chungkyemyon, Muangun, 534-729 Jeonnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Shiv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shankar
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering and Bionanocomposite Research Institute, Mokpo National University, 61 Dorimri, Chungkyemyon, Muangun, 534-729 Jeonnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Xinnan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering and Bionanocomposite Research Institute, Mokpo National University, 61 Dorimri, Chungkyemyon, Muangun, 534-729 Jeonnam, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jwrhim@mokpo.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jong-Whan
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Rhim
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar / Q000737:chemistry*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D019163:Reducing Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D013818:Thermogravimetry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019163:Reducing Agents; D003300:Copper; D000362:Agar
keywords: Agar; Antimicrobial activity; Bio-nanocomposite film; Copper nanoparticle; Different copper salts; Reducing agents