title: Self-bonded composite films based on cellulose nanofibers and chitin nanocrystals as antifungal materials.
abstract: Cellulose nanofibers and chitin nanocrystals, two main components of agricultural and aquacultural by-products, were obtained from blue agave and yellow squat lobster industrial residues. Cellulose nanofibers were obtained using high pressure homogenization, while chitin nanocrystals were obtained by hydrolysis in acid medium. Cellulose nanofibers and chitin nanocrystals were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Atomic Force Microscopy and Infrared spectroscopy. Self-bonded composite films with different composition were fabricated by hot pressing and their properties were evaluated. Antifungal activity of chitin nanocrystals was studied using a Cellometer(®) cell count device, mechanical properties at tension were measured with a universal testing machine, water vapor permeability was evaluated with a thermohygrometer and surface tension with sessile drop contact angle method. The addition of chitin nanocrystals reduced slightly the mechanical properties of the composite. Presence of chitin nanocrystals influenced the growth of Aspergillus sp fungus in the surface of the composites as expected.
authors.affiliation: Biorefinery Processes Research Group, Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Plaza Europa 1, 20018 Donostia, Spain.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robles
authors.affiliation: Biorefinery Processes Research Group, Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Plaza Europa 1, 20018 Donostia, Spain.
authors.forename: Asier M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Salaberria
authors.affiliation: Biorefinery Processes Research Group, Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Plaza Europa 1, 20018 Donostia, Spain.
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.affiliation: Biorefinery Processes Research Group, Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Plaza Europa 1, 20018 Donostia, Spain. Electronic address: susanaf@kth.se.
authors.forename: Susana C M
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Biorefinery Processes Research Group, Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Plaza Europa 1, 20018 Donostia, Spain. Electronic address: jalel.labidi@ehu.eus.
authors.forename: Jalel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Labidi
mesh_terms: D027882:Agave; D000818:Animals; D001230:Aspergillus; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D033364:Decapoda; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D002686:Chitin; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Antifungal properties; Blue agave; Cellulose; Chitin; Nanocrystals; Yellow squat lobster