Synergistic interaction of silk sericin, zinc oxide nanoparticles, and gallic acid on the developed antibacterial wheat straw paper: Towards sustainability and waste valorization

Manisha Madan ¹, Rohit Rajiv Bhamare ¹, Vibhore Kumar Rastogi ¹

⁰Department of Paper and Packaging Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules +

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December 5, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Antimicrobial paper was developed using wheat straw pulp combined with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) and gallic acid (GA), enhanced by silk sericin. This synergistic approach significantly boosted antibacterial properties, especially against Staphylococcus aureus.

Area Of Science

Materials Science
Biotechnology
Industrial Microbiology

Background

Microbial contamination is a major issue in the paper and pulp industry, leading to material degradation.
Sustainable solutions are needed to support the circular economy, utilizing renewable resources like wheat straw pulp.
Agro-based materials can be enhanced with antimicrobial agents to create value-added products.

Purpose Of The Study

To develop novel antimicrobial paper using wheat straw pulp.
To investigate the synergistic antibacterial properties of incorporating zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP), gallic acid (GA), and silk sericin.
To assess the effectiveness of these formulations against common bacterial pathogens.

Main Methods

Wheat straw pulp was prepared with varying concentrations of ZnO NP and GA, combined with silk sericin.
Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the disc diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli).
Zones of inhibition (ZOI) were measured to quantify antibacterial effectiveness.

Main Results

The combination of silk sericin with ZnO NP or GA demonstrated significant synergistic antibacterial effects.
Formulations containing sericin showed substantial zones of inhibition, particularly against S. aureus (36-41 mm) and E. coli (29-35 mm).
The combined treatments were more effective than single-component treatments, especially against S. aureus.

Conclusions

Incorporating silk sericin with ZnO NP or GA markedly enhances the antimicrobial properties of wheat straw-based paper.
This approach offers a sustainable method for producing antimicrobial paper, utilizing agricultural and industrial by-products.
The findings support the development of eco-friendly materials and contribute to circular economy principles in the paper industry.

Keywords:

Antimicrobial paper Silk sericin Waste valorisation ZnO NP