Search results for "BIOPOLYMER"
showing 10 items of 169 documents
Modelling of proton and metal exchange in the alginate biopolymer.
2005
Acid-base behaviour of a commercial sodium alginate extracted from brown seaweed (Macrocystis pyrifera) has been investigated at different ionic strengths (0.1or=I/mol l(-1)or=1.0) and in different supporting electrolytes (Et4NI, NaCl, KCl, LiCl, NaCl+MgCl2), with the aim of examining the influence of ionic medium on the proton-binding capacity and of quantifying the strength of interaction with light metal ions in the perspective of speciation studies in natural aqueous systems. Potentiometric ([H+]-glass electrode) and titration calorimetric data were expressed as a function of the dissociation degree (alpha) using different models (Henderson-Hasselbalch modified, Högfeldt three parameter…
In vitro Antifungal Activity of Biopolymeric Foam Activated with Carvacrol
2020
Background: Active packaging represents a defining strategy to improve food quality and safety of the packaged foods. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro ability of commercial biopolymeric foams, namely Mater-Bi (MB), activated with 20% of carvacrol, to develop a completely biodegradable and compostable packaging to inhibit the growth of spoilage and pathogenic yeasts.
 Methods: MB foams, with and without carvacrol, were produced by melt mixing and the foaming process was performed in a laboratory press. The antifungal activity of foams containing carvacrol was tested applying the disk diffusion method. Statistical analysis was done using XLStat software version 7.5.2 for Excel.&…
Natural Compounds as Sustainable Additives for Biopolymers
2020
In the last few decades, the interest towards natural compounds, coming from a natural source and biodegradable, for biopolymers is always increasing because of a public request for the formulation of safe, eco-friendly, and sustainable materials. The main classes of natural compounds for biopolymers are: (i) naturally occurring fillers (nFil), such as nano-/micro- sized layered alumino-silicate: halloysite, bentonite, montmorillonite, hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate, etc.; (ii) naturally occurring fibers (nFib), such as wood and vegetable fibers; (iii) naturally occurring antioxidant molecules (nAO), such as phenols, polyphenols, vitamins, and carotenoids. However, in this short review, …
Protein aggregation induced by phase separation in a pea proteins–sodium alginate–water ternary system
2012
Abstract The physicochemical properties of a native, globular plant protein–linear anionic polysaccharide aqueous system at 20 °C were investigated in conditions where biopolymers carry a net negative charge (pH 7.2, 0.1 M NaCl). The pea proteins–sodium alginate mixtures showed a phase separation mainly by thermodynamic incompatibility, characterized at both the macroscopic and microscopic scale. Phase diagram was established and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) provided accurate data on the microstructure morphology of the system, regarding its phase behavior. In admixture, sodium alginate induced a protein aggregation, certainly by a local depletion of the polysaccharide. Protein…
V2O5 nanowires with an intrinsic iodination activity leading to the formation of self-assembled melanin-like biopolymers
2011
V2O5 nanowires act as biomimetic catalysts resembling vanadium haloperoxidases (V-HPO). The nanowires display iodinating activity as confirmed by a colorimetric assay using thymol blue (TB), UV/Vis spectrophotometry and mass spectrometry (FD-MS). In the presence of dopamine these nanowires catalyze the fast and efficient synthesis of melanin-like biopolymers under mild conditions (aqueous solution, neutral pH and room temperature). The resulting melanin-like biopolymer obtained by the V2O5 nanowire catalysts was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis, FT-IR and electric conductivity resembling the natural biopolymer both in its chemical and morphologi…
Polyelectrolyte properties of filamentous biopolymers and their consequences in biological fluids.
2014
Anionic polyelectrolyte filaments are common in biological cells. DNA, RNA, the cytoskeletal filaments F-actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments, and polysaccharides such as hyaluronan that form the pericellular matrix all have large net negative charge densities distributed over their surfaces. Several filamentous viruses with diameters and stiffnesses similar to those of cytoskeletal polymers also have similar negative charge densities. Extracellular protein filaments such collagen, fibrin and elastin, in contrast, have notably smaller charge densities and do not behave as highly charged polyelectrolytes in solution. This review summarizes data that demonstrate generic counterion-…
Film-forming process and biocide assessment of high-molecular-weight chitosan as determined by combined ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and antimicrobial assay…
2006
This pioneering study reported about the film-forming properties of high-molecular-weight chitosan as followed in situ by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, and has implications in fields such as biomedical, pharmaceutical, packaging, and coating applications. From the results, it was observed that immediately after dissolution in an acetic acid aqueous solution and subsequent casting over the ATR crystal, the formed carboxylate antimicrobial (-NH3+ -OOCH) species are not stable in the film formulation and become reduced over time; further assays confirmed previous research, which suggested that the presence and stability of these groups is stron…
PLA graphene nanoplatelets nanocomposites: Physical properties and release kinetics of an antimicrobial agent
2017
Abstract Graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) as filler and ciprofloxacin (CFX) as biocide were incorporated via melt-compounding into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to obtain biopolymer-based nanocomposites with antimicrobial properties. GnP were added with the aim of improving the mechanical properties of the antimicrobial system and tuning the drug release. The obtained systems were mechanically characterized in tensile mode by quasi-static and dynamic mechanical tests. Furthermore, rheological measurements were performed. The morphology of the samples was analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, a mathematical model, i.e. power law model, was used to fit the release data in order…
Effect of Graphene Nanoplatelets on the Physical and Antimicrobial Properties of Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposites
2016
In this work, biopolymer-based nanocomposites with antimicrobial properties were prepared via melt-compounding. In particular, graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) as fillers and an antibiotic, i.e., ciprofloxacin (CFX), as biocide were incorporated in a commercial biodegradable polymer blend of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and a copolyester (BioFlex®). The prepared materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and rheological and mechanical measurements. Moreover, the effect of GnPs on the antimicrobial properties and release kinetics of CFX was evaluated. The results indicated that the incorporation of GnPs increased the stiffness of the biopolymeric matrix and allowed for the t…
Optimization of the biocide properties of chitosan for its application in the design of active films of interest in the food area
2009
The influence on biocide performance of some unprecedented physicochemical features of chitosan cast films such as film thickness, pH of the nutrient broth, film neutralization, film autoclave sterilization and temperature exposure were analyzed against Staphylococcus aureus and in some experiments also against Salmonella spp. The work demonstrates for the first time the influence of the release or positive migration of protonated glucosamine fractions from the biopolymer into the microbial culture as the responsible event for the antimicrobial performance of the biopolymer under the studied conditions. From the results, a reliable and reproducible method for the determination of the bacter…