Sustainable bioactive composite films from agro-waste cellulose and chitosan reinforced with green-synthesized...

This study presents the development of multifunctional and sustainable bioactive composite films for potential bone tissue engineering by integrating chitosan with cellulose isolated from potato peel waste and hydroxyapatite (HAp) synthesized via a green, plant-mediated sol-gel route using Hylocereus undatus cladode extract. Emphasizing circular economy principles, agro-industrial waste valorization was employed to obtain cellulose, which served as a reinforcing component within the composite system. Chitosan/cellulose blends with varying ratios were evaluated, with the 80/20 composition selected for its optimal balance of mechanical strength (∼62 MPa) and antibacterial performance. This matrix was further reinforced with 0.10% and 0.15% (w/w) of HAp to enhance mineralization capacity. Structural, morphological, and compositional analyses were conducted using SEM and EDS, while mechanical and electrical properties were assessed through tensile testing and impedance spectroscopy, respectively. The CC-H15 scaffold exhibited the highest tensile strength (∼69 MPa), along with stable electrical behavior at physiological temperature. In vitro bioactivity tests demonstrated the apatite-forming ability of the films in simulated body fluid, while antimicrobial assays confirmed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The combined use of natural polymers, waste-derived cellulose, and green-synthesized HAp yields a bioactive, antimicrobial, and electrically stable composite film with promising potential for sustainable bone regeneration applications.