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Fish-Waste-Derived Gelatin and Carbon Dots for Biobased UV-Blocking Films
Carlotta Campalani1, Valerio Causin2, Maurizio Selva1
1Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Università Ca' Foscari di Venezia, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia Mestre, Italy.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|July 25, 2022
Summary
Fish waste yields novel hybrid films with impressive UV-blocking capabilities. These sustainable films, incorporating carbon dots (CDs), enhance mechanical strength and offer protection for human health and food preservation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Sustainable Chemistry
Background:
- Fish industry waste, particularly scales, is a rich source of collagen.
- Type I collagen and carbon dots (CDs) are valuable biomaterials.
- Developing sustainable UV-blocking materials is crucial for health and food preservation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize hybrid films from fish-derived collagen and carbon dots.
- To evaluate the UV-blocking, mechanical, and optical properties of these hybrid films.
- To explore the potential of these films as sustainable UV-shields.
Main Methods:
- Extraction of type I collagen from *Mugil cephalus* scales.
- Synthesis of carbon dots (CDs) from *Dicentrarchus labrax* scales.
- Fabrication of hybrid films by incorporating varying percentages of CDs (0-5%) into a gelatin matrix.
- Comprehensive characterization of film properties (mechanical, morphological, optical, water solubility, water vapor permeability, thermal stability).
Main Results:
- Successfully created 40 μm thick hybrid films with high water solubility (70%).
- Incorporation of CDs significantly improved mechanical properties, increasing tensile strength to 17 MPa and elongation at break to 40%.
- Films with 5% CDs exhibited nearly 70% UV radiation blocking with minimal impact on transparency and opacity.
Conclusions:
- Hybrid films derived from fish scales show excellent UV-blocking properties.
- These bio-based films offer enhanced mechanical performance and tunable properties.
- The developed materials represent a sustainable solution for UV protection in food packaging and human health applications.
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