Biodegradable polymers have garnered increasing attention as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional petroleum-derived plastics, which pose a global environmental challenge due to their difficult recycling and slow degradation. This study focuses on the preliminary evaluation of surface functional properties of chitosan films reinforced with TiO₂ or ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). These films were prepared at different loading ratios using the solution-casting method. Structural and morphological properties were characterized using FTIR and FESEM, while functional properties were evaluated by surface wettability, UV–Vis spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and antibacterial activity testing. FTIR results showed significant changes in absorption peaks associated with amine and hydroxyl groups, indicating the formation of hydrogen bonds and strong surface interactions between chitosan and NPs. Morphological imaging also revealed a nanoscale surface structure that could influence wettability and surface interactions. The results of functional tests, compared to pure chitosan, showed improvements in some functional properties, like UV protection and thermal stability, while maintaining other properties, like surface wettability, within accepted functional limits. Moreover, chitosan films reinforced with TiO₂ or ZnO NPs showed statistically significant antibacterial activity, particularly against S. aureus. These results represent a preliminary evaluation of potential candidate materials for packaging applications. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of the studied samples and their suitability for practical applications requires further future studies that include tests of mechanical properties, gas permeability, biodegradability, migration and biosafety studies and performance under real-world application conditions.
This study was carried out to evaluate parasitological and immunological of the effect of chitosan and chitosannanoparticles loaded with spiramycin on toxoplasmosis infected mice. After injection intra peritoneal with 103viable tachyzoites for acute infection, treatments given for seven days. Peritoneal fluid examination revealed a significant decrease in the number of Toxoplasmagondiitachyzoites in all treated infected mice compared with infected non-treated. The combined therapy gave better results than single. The best effect was observed in group of mice treated with spiramycin combined with chitosan nanoparticles. Also immunoglobulin Ig Manti body and gamma Interferon (INFγ), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) cytokines responses ag
... Show MoreIn this research, the effect of reinforcing epoxy resin composites with a filler derived from chopped agriculture waste from oil palm (OP). Epoxy/OP composites were formed by dispersing (1, 3, 5, and 10 wt%) OP filler using a high-speed mechanical stirrer utilizing a hand lay-up method. The effect of adding zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, with an average size of 10-30 nm, with different wt% (1,2,3, and 5wt%) to the epoxy/oil palm composite, on the behavior of an epoxy/oil palm composite was studied with different ratios (1,2,3, and 5wt%) and an average size of 10-30 nm. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry and mechanical properties (tensile, impact, hardness, and wear rate) were used to examine the composites. The FTIR
... Show MoreIn this research, the effect of reinforcing epoxy resin composites with a filler derived from chopped agriculture waste from oil palm (OP). Epoxy/OP composites were formed by dispersing (1, 3, 5, and 10 wt%) OP filler using a high-speed mechanical stirrer utilizing a hand lay-up method. The effect of adding zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, with an average size of 10-30 nm, with different wt% (1,2,3, and 5wt%) to the epoxy/oil palm composite, on the behavior of an epoxy/oil palm composite was studied with different ratios (1,2,3, and 5wt%) and an average size of 10-30 nm. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry and mechanical properties (tensile, impact, hardness, and wear rate) were used to examine the composites. The
... Show MoreIn this article, the influence of group nano transition metal oxides such as {(MnO2), (Fe2O3) and (CuO)} thin films on the (ZnO-TiO2) electric characteristics have been analyzed. The prepared films deposited on glass substrate laser Nd-YAG with wavelength (ℷ =1064 nm) ,energy of (800mJ) and number of shots (400). The density of the film was found to be (200 nm) at room temperature (RT) and annealing temperature (573K).Using DC Conductivity and Hall Effect, we obtained the electrical properties of the films. The DC Conductivity shows that that the activation energies decrease while the σRT at annealing temperature with different elements increases the formation of mixed oxides. The Hall effect, the elec
... Show MoreZinc Oxide (ZnO) thin films of different thickness were prepared
on ultrasonically cleaned corning glass substrate, by pulsed laser
deposition technique (PLD) at room temperature. Since most
application of ZnO thin film are certainly related to its optical
properties, so the optical properties of ZnO thin film in the
wavelength range (300-1100) nm were studied, it was observed that
all ZnO films have high transmittance (˃ 80 %) in the wavelength
region (400-1100) nm and it increase as the film thickness increase,
using the optical transmittance to calculate optical energy gap (Eg
opt)
show that (Eg
opt) of a direct allowed transition and its value nearly
constant (~ 3.2 eV) for all film thickness (150
Polyacrylamide Solutions of different concentrations (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 %) of Ag nanoparticles and ZnO nanoparticles were prepared, the viscosities and surface tension were measured for all solutions, where measurements indicated an increase in these properties with increased concentration, where the relative viscosity of polyacrylamide/zinc nanoparticles increased from 1.275 to 2.243, and the relative viscosity of polyacrylamide/silver nanoparticles increased from 1.178 to 1.934. Viscosity is significant parameters during electrospinning process. While the surface tension of the polyacrylamide/zinc nanoparticles has changed from 0.0343 Nm-1 to .0.0.0 Nm-1 and changed from .0.000Nm-1 to.0.0.0 Nm-1. Also the constants KH and KK were
... Show MoreIn this work, yttrium oxide particles (powder) reinforced AL-Si matrix composites (Y2O3/Al-Si) and Chromium oxide particles reinforced AL-Si matrix composites (Cr2O3/AL-Si) were prepared by direct squeeze casting. The volume percentages of yttrium oxide used are (4, 8.1, 12.1, 16.1 vol %) and the volume percentages of the chromium oxide particles used are (3.1, 6.3, 9.4, 12.5 vol. %). The parameters affecting the preparation of Y2O3/Al-Si and Cr2O3/AL-Si composites by direct squeeze casting process were studied. The molten Al-Si alloy with yttrium oxide particles or with chromium oxide particles was stirred again using an electrical stirrer at speed 500 rpm and the molten alloy was poured into the squeeze die cavity. Th
... Show MoreCompounds from ZnO doped with AgO in different ratio (0,3,5,7, and 9)wt.% were prepared.Thin films from the prepared compounds were deposited on a glass substrate using the pulsed laser deposition method. The XRD pattern confirmed the presence of a single-phase hexagonal wurtzite ZnO structure, without the presence of a secondary phase. AFM measurements showed an increase in both average grain size and average surface roughness with increasing concentration content of (AgO).The crystallite size of ZnO of the main peak corresponding to the preferred plane of crystal growth named (100) increases from 17.8 to 22.5nm by increasing of AgO doping ratio from 0 to 9%. The absorbance and transmittance in the wavelength range (350-1100 nm)
... Show MoreThis paper reports the effect of Mg doping on structural and optical properties of ZnO prepared by pulse laser deposition (PLD). The films deposited on glass substrate using Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) as the light source. The structure and optical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmittance measurements. The films grown have a polycrystalline wurtzite structure and high transmission in the UV-Vis (300-900) nm. The optical energy gap of ZnO:Mg thin films could be controlled between (3.2eV and 3.9eV). The refractive index of ZnO:Mg thin films decreases with Mg doping. The extinction coefficient and the complex dielectric constant were also investigate.