Combined effect of cellulose nanocrystal and reduced graphene oxide into poly-lactic acid matrix nanocomposite as a scaffold and its anti-bacterial activity

- Cellulose nanocrystals and reduced graphene oxide were successfully synthesized and incorporated into PLA matrix through solution casting method.
- Different percentage of Cellulose nanocrystals and reduced graphene oxide were optimized and considered for the fabrication of nano-biocomposite film.
- Cellulose nanocrystal with reduced graphene oxide film showed better cytocompatibility and antibacterial response.

In the present study, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were successfully synthesized via acid hydrolysis and modified Hummer's method, respectively. Further, the synthesized CNCs and rGO were incorporated into poly-lactic acid (PLA) matrix using solution casting method utilizing different weight (wt.) % of CNCs (nanofiller) and rGO. The successful synthesis of various nanoformulations were confirmed by several characterization techniques including Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Hydrophilicity measurement of the film was done by wettability analysis. The mechanical property evaluation of scaffold showed considerable increased tensile strength of PLA/CNC/rGO nanocomposite upto 23%, with increase in elongation at break (εb) indicating the ductile behavior of nanocomposite as compare to pristine PLA. The distinct anti-bacterial efficacy of PLA/CNC/rGO nanocomposite film was found against both Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) and Gram negative Escherichia coli. (E. coli) bacterial strains respectively. Furthermore the in-vitro cell based cytotoxicity assay showed negligible cytotoxicity of fibroblast cell line (NIH-3T3) upon treatment with nanocomposite film. Therefore, the as fabricated nanocomposite film possesses considerable potential in biomedical as well as in food packaging applications.

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