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Published on: April 24, 2019
Antibacterial nut grass cellulose reinforced polylactic acid nanocomposites: A holistic assessment for biomedical
1Department of Chemistry & Research, Nesamony Memorial Christian College (Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India), Marthandam, Tamil Nadu 629165, India.
Abstract:
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites reinforced with various natural fibers have been extensively investigated for biomedical applications. However, the use of nut grass-derived cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) remains unexplored in the current literature. This study presents the development of PLA nanocomposites reinforced with CNFs extracted from nut grass for biomedical applications. The PLA matrix was chemically modified using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and plasticized with castor oil. SEM analysis revealed uniform dispersion of CNFs at lower concentrations, leading to improved film morphology. XRD analysis indicated a CNF particle size of approximately 26 nm. Mechanical testing showed significant enhancements in material strength, with tensile strength and Young's modulus increasing by 97.1 % and 113.9 %, respectively. The nanocomposites showed greater degradation in alkaline than acidic medium due to accelerated hydrolysis. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa increased with CNF content. Hemolysis assays revealed reduced red blood cell damage compared to plain PLA, indicating favorable hemocompatibility. Additionally, MTT assay confirmed low cytotoxicity of the nanocomposites toward PBMC cells. These results demonstrate the potential of PLA nanocomposites as biocompatible, multifunctional materials suitable for applications in implants, wound healing and regenerative medicine.
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