Tuning Corn Zein-Chitosan Biocomposites via Mild Alkaline Treatment: Structural and Physicochemical Property Insights.
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| Title: | Tuning Corn Zein-Chitosan Biocomposites via Mild Alkaline Treatment: Structural and Physicochemical Property Insights. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Poluri, Nagireddy1,2 (AUTHOR), Singer, Creston2,3 (AUTHOR), Salas-de la Cruz, David3,4 (AUTHOR), Hu, Xiao1,2,4,5 (AUTHOR) hu@rowan.edu |
| Source: | Polymers (20734360). Aug2025, Vol. 17 Issue 15, p2161. 14p. |
| Subjects: | Chitosan, Sodium hydroxide, Thermal stability, Corn, Fibrous composites, Drug delivery systems, Thermal properties, Compostable materials |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the structural and functional enhancement of corn zein–chitosan composites via mild alkaline treatment to develop biodegradable protein-polysaccharide materials for diverse applications. Films with varying zein-to-chitosan ratios were fabricated and characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Both untreated and sodium hydroxide (NaOH)-treated films were evaluated to assess changes in physicochemical properties. FTIR analysis revealed that NaOH treatment promoted deprotonation of chitosan's amine groups, partial removal of ionic residues, and increased deacetylation, collectively enhancing hydrogen bonding and resulting in a denser molecular network. Simultaneously, partial unfolding of zein's α-helical structures improved conformational flexibility and strengthened interactions with chitosan. These molecular-level changes led to improved thermal stability, reduced degradation, and the development of porous microstructures. Controlled NaOH treatment thus provides an effective strategy to tailor the physicochemical properties of zein–chitosan composite films, supporting their potential in sustainable food packaging, wound healing, and drug delivery applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Polymers (20734360) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 187311414 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Tuning Corn Zein-Chitosan Biocomposites via Mild Alkaline Treatment: Structural and Physicochemical Property Insights. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Poluri%2C+Nagireddy%22">Poluri, Nagireddy</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Singer%2C+Creston%22">Singer, Creston</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Salas-de+la+Cruz%2C+David%22">Salas-de la Cruz, David</searchLink><relatesTo>3,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hu%2C+Xiao%22">Hu, Xiao</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,4,5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> hu@rowan.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Polymers+%2820734360%29%22">Polymers (20734360)</searchLink>. Aug2025, Vol. 17 Issue 15, p2161. 14p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chitosan%22">Chitosan</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sodium+hydroxide%22">Sodium hydroxide</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thermal+stability%22">Thermal stability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Corn%22">Corn</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fibrous+composites%22">Fibrous composites</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Drug+delivery+systems%22">Drug delivery systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thermal+properties%22">Thermal properties</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Compostable+materials%22">Compostable materials</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This study investigates the structural and functional enhancement of corn zein–chitosan composites via mild alkaline treatment to develop biodegradable protein-polysaccharide materials for diverse applications. Films with varying zein-to-chitosan ratios were fabricated and characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Both untreated and sodium hydroxide (NaOH)-treated films were evaluated to assess changes in physicochemical properties. FTIR analysis revealed that NaOH treatment promoted deprotonation of chitosan's amine groups, partial removal of ionic residues, and increased deacetylation, collectively enhancing hydrogen bonding and resulting in a denser molecular network. Simultaneously, partial unfolding of zein's α-helical structures improved conformational flexibility and strengthened interactions with chitosan. These molecular-level changes led to improved thermal stability, reduced degradation, and the development of porous microstructures. Controlled NaOH treatment thus provides an effective strategy to tailor the physicochemical properties of zein–chitosan composite films, supporting their potential in sustainable food packaging, wound healing, and drug delivery applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Polymers (20734360) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3390/polym17152161 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 14 StartPage: 2161 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Chitosan Type: general – SubjectFull: Sodium hydroxide Type: general – SubjectFull: Thermal stability Type: general – SubjectFull: Corn Type: general – SubjectFull: Fibrous composites Type: general – SubjectFull: Drug delivery systems Type: general – SubjectFull: Thermal properties Type: general – SubjectFull: Compostable materials Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Tuning Corn Zein-Chitosan Biocomposites via Mild Alkaline Treatment: Structural and Physicochemical Property Insights. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Poluri, Nagireddy – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Singer, Creston – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Salas-de la Cruz, David – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hu, Xiao IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 08 Text: Aug2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 20734360 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 17 – Type: issue Value: 15 Titles: – TitleFull: Polymers (20734360) Type: main |
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