title: Cellulose nanocomposite films with in situ generated silver nanoparticles using Cassia alata leaf extract as a reducing agent.
abstract: Cotton linters were dissolved in aq. (8% LiOH+15% urea) that was pre-cooled to -12.5°C. Using this solution cellulose gel films were prepared by regeneration method with ethyl alcohol as a coagulant. These wet films were diffused with 10wt% Cassia alata leaf extract that acted as a reducing agent. The leaf extract diffused cellulose wet films were used as the matrix. The wet matrix films were dipped individually in lower concentrated 1-5mM aq.AgNO3source solutions in the presence of sunlight and allowed the solutions to react with the diffused leaf extract reducing agent which in situ generated the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) inside the films as well as in the source solution. The AgNPs formed in the source solution were observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) while those formed in situ the films were observed by SEM and the particle size distribution was determined. The cellulose/AgNP composite films showed good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli bacteria. These nanocomposite films were also characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and tensile tests. At temperatures below 300°C, the thermal stability of the nanocomposite films was lower than that of the matrix due to the catalytic effect of AgNPs. The nanocomposite films also possessed good tensile properties. The ecofriendly cellulose/AgNP composite films with good antibacterial activity and tensile properties can be considered for medical applications like dressing materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Kalasalingam University, Krishnankoil 626126, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sivaranjana
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Kalasalingam University, Krishnankoil 626126, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Nagarajan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Composite Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kalasalingam University, Krishnankoil 626126, Tamil Nadu, India; Biocomposite Technology Laboratory, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: rajiniklu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rajini
authors.affiliation: Biocomposite Technology Laboratory, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jawaid
authors.affiliation: Centre for Composite Materials, International Research Center, Kalasalingam University, Krishnankoil 626126, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: A Varada
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Rajulu
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002366:Cassia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D019163:Reducing Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019163:Reducing Agents; D012834:Silver; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Antibacterial activity; Cassia alata; Cellulose; In situ generation; Silver nanoparticles; Tensile properties