Guar gum based biodegradable, antibacterial and electrically conductive hydrogels

Synthesis, characterization and column adsorption properties of gum ghatti and water hyacianth derived cellulose grafted poly(vinyl sulfonic acid-co-acrylamide) composites

Vinylsulfonic acid (VSA), acrylamide (AM) and N, N methylene bis acrylamide(MBA) were copolymerized by radical polymerization in the presence of gum ghatti (GG) and treated water hyacianth (WH) in water. Several composite copolymers were prepared by varying the i) AM: VSA molar ratios ii) wt% of GG and iii) wt% of treated WH based on a Box-Behnken Design(BBD) of a response surface methodology (RSM) model with three input variables and the batch adsorption capacity (mg/g) of 100 mg/L Cd (II) from water as response. The composite polymer was characterized by Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis(TGA), X- ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS), compressive strength, pH reversibility, pH at point zero charge (pHPZC), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The network parameters of the composites were determined. The copolymer composite prepared with AM: VSA of 5:1 containing 10 wt% GG and 4 wt% treated WH showed an optimum batch adsorption capacity of 399.15 mg/g Cd (II) from water containing 100 mg/L Cd (II). The same composite showed an adsorption capacity of 170.1 mg/g and a removal% of 31.5 at a feed concentration/feed flow rate/bed height of 150 mgL-1/30mLmin-1/30 mm in a fixed bed column.

Seed gum-based polysaccharides hydrogels for sustainable agriculture: A review

Globally, water scarcity in arid and semiarid regions has become one of the critical issues that hinder sustainable agriculture. Agriculture, being a major water consumer, presents several challenges that affect water availability. Hydrogels derived from polysaccharides seed gums are hydrophilic polymers capable of retaining substantial moisture in their three-dimensional network and releasing it back into the soil during drought conditions. Implementation of hydrogels in the agricultural sectors enhances soil health, plant growth, and crop yield. Furthermore, the soil permeability, density, structure, texture, and rate of evaporation and percolation of water are modified by hydrogel. In this review, hydrogels based on natural plant seed gum like guar, fenugreek, Tara and locust beans have been discussed in terms of their occurrence, properties, chemical structure, method of synthesis, and swelling behavior. The focus extends to recent applications of modified seed gum-based natural hydrogels in agriculture, serving as soil conditioners and facilitating nutrient delivery to growing plants. The swelling behavior and inherent structure of these hydrogels can help researchers unravel their maximum possibilities to promote sustainable agriculture and attenuate the obstacles propounded by our dynamic nature. The current review also examines market growth, prospects, and challenges of eco-friendly hydrogels in recent times.

Nanocellulose-Based Ecofriendly Nanocomposite for Effective Wastewater Remediation: A Study on Its Process Optimization, Improved Swelling, Adsorption, and Thermal and Mechanical Behavior

A nanocellulose (NC)-based cross-linked adsorbent has been employed herein for the removal of dye pollutants (e.g., methylene blue) from the textile industry. The synthesized hydrogel was optimized to achieve the best concentrations of the adsorbent constituents, i.e., 1.55% guar gum, 1.46% NC, and 0.84% borax for achieving the maximum swelling index (SI, 3741.42%) and higher adsorption capacity (qe, 24.05 mg g-1). 98.8% of dye qe was achieved at optimal conditions of pH 8 within 30 min at 30 °C. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics investigations showed good correlation with the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model (R2 > 0.9889; ΔG° = -4.71; ΔH° = -12.30; ΔS° = -0.025) as well as the pseudo-second-order kinetics model, indicating multilayered and intricate adsorption mechanisms for dye removal. The study of thermodynamic parameters confirmed the exothermic nature of the adsorption process. The adsorption-desorption study of the resulting hydrogel exhibited 64.58% dye removal efficiency even after 4 consecutive cycles of reuse. Further, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the surface morphology, functional moieties, thermal behavior, and crystallinity pattern of the hydrogel. Rheological analysis demonstrated pseudoplastic flow and improved mechanical behavior for the hydrogel. The current study found that the synthesized adsorbent with a higher SI and qe has a noticeable potential for the removal of dye pollutants from wastewater.

Hydrogels: An overview of its classifications, properties, and applications

The review paper starts with the introduction to hydrogels along with broad literature survey covering different modes of synthesis including high energy radiation methods. After that, paper covered broad classification of the hydrogels depending upon the basis of their source of origin, method of synthesis, type of cross-linking present and ionic charges on bound groups. Another advanced category response triggered hydrogels, which includes pH, temperature, electro, and light and substrate responsive hydrogels was also studied. Presented paper summarises chemical structure, properties, and synthesis of different kinds of hydrogels. Main focus was given to the preparation super absorbents such as: Semi-interpenetrating networks (semi-IPNs), Interpenetrating networks (IPNs) and cross-linked binary graft copolymers (BGCPs). The weak mechanical properties and easy degradation limit the uses of bio-based -hydrogels in biomedical field. Their properties can be improved through different chemical and physical methods. These methods were also discussed in the current research paper. Also, it includes development of hydrogels as controlled drug delivery devices, as implants and biomaterials to replace malfunctioned body parts along with their use in several other applications listed in the literature. Literature survey on the application of hydrogels in different fields like biomedical, nano-biotechnology, tissue engineering, drug delivery and agriculture was also carried out.

Guar gum, a low-cost sustainable biopolymer, for wastewater treatment: A review

Rapid population growth and the resultant pollution of freshwater resources have created a water stress condition reducing the availability of safe and affordable water. Guar gum, a biocompatible macromolecule obtained from the endosperm of the seeds of Cyamopsis tetragonolobus, is a fascinating raw material for multifunctional adsorbents. This review assembled the work conducted by various researchers over the past few decades and discussed the structure, properties, and different modifications methods employed to develop versatile guar gum-based adsorbent. The paper also summarized the recent progress of guar gum-based nanocomposites for the remediation of multiple hazardous substances such as organic dyes, toxic heavy metal ions, oil-water separation as well as inhibiting the growth of bacterial pathogens. Thus, the important contribution of guar gum composites to safeguard the water quality is highlighted which will overcome the limitations and streamline the future course of innovative research.

Optimization of biodegradable cross-linked guar-gum-PLA superabsorbent hydrogel formation employing response surface methodology

Cross-linked polymer networks with three-dimensional structures known as hydrogels absorb and retain a large amount of water. Because of their properties, hydrogel materials have been considered a boon in agriculture science. In the present investigation, guar gum cross-linked polylactic acid hydrogel is synthesized using MMA as monomer and optimized using a central composite design of response surface methodology for better swelling. The studied input variables are monomer concentration, initiator concentration, and cross-linker concentration at constant pH and temperature. The constructed response model has been tested using the analysis of variance (ANOVA), where the model F-value of 4.64 indicates that the model is significant. The R2 value (0.806) (multiple correlation coefficient) and the standard deviation for the quadratic model were both found to be 4.27. A separate validation experiment is conducted to ensure the quadratic model is sufficient. The hydrogel synthesis was confirmed by characterization techniques like FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, TGA, XRD, and water absorption studies. Synthesized hydrogels swell maximum in water and least in 0.9 % NaCl solution. The present work highlights the development of guar gum-based super-absorbent hydrogels, which are biodegradable and lead to potential application in agriculture, especially in drought regions.

Encapsulation with Natural Polymers to Improve the Properties of Biostimulants in Agriculture

Encapsulation in agriculture today is practically focused on agrochemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers to enhance the protective or nutritive aspects of the entrapped active ingredients. However, one of the most promising and environmentally friendly technologies, biostimulants, is hardly explored in this field. Encapsulation of biostimulants could indeed be an excellent means of counteracting the problems posed by their nature: they are easily biodegradable, and most of them run off through the soil, losing most of the compounds, thus becoming inaccessible to plants. In this respect, encapsulation seems to be a practical and profitable way to increase the stability and durability of biostimulants under field conditions. This review paper aims to provide researchers working on plant biostimulants with a quick overview of how to get started with encapsulation. Here we describe different techniques and offer protocols and suggestions for introduction to polymer science to improve the properties of biostimulants for future agricultural applications.

Nanomaterial-Based Electrically Conductive Hydrogels for Cardiac Tissue Repair

Cardiovascular disease is one of major causes of deaths, and its incidence has gradually increased worldwide. For cardiovascular diseases, several therapeutic approaches, such as drugs, cell-based therapy, and heart transplantation, are currently employed; however, their therapeutic efficacy and/or practical availability are still limited. Recently, biomaterial-based tissue engineering approaches have been recognized as promising for regenerating cardiac function in patients with cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI). In particular, materials mimicking the characteristics of native cardiac tissues can potentially prevent pathological progression and promote cardiac repair of the heart tissues post-MI. The mechanical (softness) and electrical (conductivity) properties of biomaterials as non-biochemical cues can improve the cardiac functions of infarcted hearts by mitigating myocardial cell death and subsequent fibrosis, which often leads to cardiac tissue stiffening and high electrical resistance. Consequently, electrically conductive hydrogels that can provide mechanical strength and augment the electrical activity of the infarcted heart tissue are considered new functional materials capable of mitigating the pathological progression to heart failure and stimulating cardiac regeneration. In this review, we highlight nanomaterial-incorporated hydrogels that can induce cardiac repair after MI. Nanomaterials, including carbon-based nanomaterials and recently discovered two-dimensional nanomaterials, offer great opportunities for developing functional conductive hydrogels owing to their excellent electrical conductivity, large surface area, and ease of modification. We describe recent results using nanomaterial-incorporated conductive hydrogels as cardiac patches and injectable hydrogels for cardiac repair. While further evaluations are required to confirm the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of these materials, they could potentially be used for the regeneration of other electrically active tissues, such as nerves and muscles.

Rhizobia exopolysaccharides: promising biopolymers for use in the formulation of plant inoculants

Inoculants with beneficial microorganisms comprise both selected strains and carriers that ensure a favorable microenvironment for cell survival and stability. Formulations of inoculants using synthetic polymers as carriers are common. However, only a few studies are available in the literature regarding the formulation of inoculants using natural biomolecules as carriers. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are biomolecules produced by a vast array of microbial species, including symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, commonly known as rhizobia. EPS perform several functions, such as the protection against the deleterious effects of diverse environmental soil stresses. Two Rhizobium tropici strains and one Paraburkholderia strain were selected after semiquantitative analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of their EPS production in liquid YMA medium. Their EPS were characterized through a series of analytical techniques, aiming at their use in the formulation of plant inoculants. In addition, the effect of the carbon source on EPS yield was evaluated. Multi-stage fragmentation analysis showed the presence of xylose, glucose, galactose, galacturonic acid, and glucuronic acid in EPS chemical composition, which was confirmed by FT-IR spectra and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Thermal stability (thermogravimetric) was close to 270 °C and viscosity ranged from 120 to 1053.3 mPa.s. Surface morphology (SEM) was rough and irregular, with a cross-linked spongy matrix, which, together with the hydrophilic functional groups, confers water holding capacity. The present study showed that the three EPS have potential as microorganism carriers for formulation of microbial inoculants to be applied in plants.

In Situ Synthesis of AZO-Np in Guar Gum/PVOH Composite Fiber Mats for Potential Bactericidal Release

Since the number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections is growing and cases are getting worse every year, the search for new alternative bactericidal wound dressing treatments is becoming crucial. Within this context, the use of polysaccharides from plants and seeds in innovative biopolymer technologies is of key importance. In this work, bio-nano-composite guar gum/polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) membranes loaded with aluminum-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles were produced via electrospinning. Citric acid was added to the mixture to increase spinnability. However, depending on the pH, zinc oxide nanoparticles are partially dissociated, decreasing their bactericidal efficiency. Thus, a second successful alkaline thermo-chemical regrowth step was added to the process to treat the obtained fibers. This alkaline thermo-chemical treatment reconstituted both the nanoparticles and their bactericidal properties. The Staphylococcus aureus antibacterial assay results show that the membranes obtained after the alkaline thermo-chemical treatment presented a 57% increase in growth inhibition.

DOE-based synthesis of gellan gum-acrylic acid-based biodegradable hydrogels: screening of significant process variables and in situ field studies

The current study uses the free radical graft copolymerization of acrylic acid as a monomer, N,N-methylene-bis-(acrylamide) as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate as an initiator to synthesise GG-cl-poly(AA) hydrogels based on gellan gum utilising response surface methodology (RSM). A full factorial design was used to obtain the greatest percent swelling (P_s), and key process variables were determined using the Pareto chart. To make the procedure cost-effective, a multiple regression model employing ANOVA projected a linear model with a maximum percentage swelling of 556 at the lowest concentration of all three studied factors. As a result, the sequential experimental design was successful in obtaining two-fold increases in the percentage swelling in a systematic way. An RSM-based central composite design was used to optimize the percentage swelling of the three most important synthesis parameters: initiator concentration, monomer concentration, and crosslinker concentration. The best process conditions are 7.3 mM L⁻¹ initiator, 44 μM L⁻¹ monomer, and 21.6 mM L⁻¹ crosslinker. The effective synthesis of GG-cl-poly(AA) was validated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance. The swelling behavior of GG-cl-poly(AA) in water and saline solutions, as well as its water retention capability, was investigated. In comparison to distilled water, the swelling potential of optimized hydrogel was shown to be significantly reduced in saline solutions. The addition of GG-cl-poly(AA) significantly improved the moisture properties of plant growth media (clay, sandy, and clay–soil combination), implying that it has great potential in moisture stress agriculture. GG-cl-poly(AA) biodegradation was studied by soil burial and vermicomposting methods. The composting approach showed 89.95% deterioration after 22 days, while the soil burial method showed 86.71% degradation after 22 days. The synthesized hydrogel may be beneficial for agricultural applications because of its considerable degradation behaviour, strong water retention capacity, low cost, and environmental friendliness.

We use free radical graft copolymerization of acrylic acid as a monomer, N,N-methylene-bis-(acrylamide) as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate as an initiator to synthesise GG-cl-poly(AA) hydrogels based on gellan gum utilising response surface methodology.

Preparation and characterization of guar gum based polyurethanes

Guar gum (plant-based polysaccharide) is a promising candidate with immense potential. It is used as emulsifier, thickener, stabilizer, and as binding agent in many industries. In the present project, it was planned to synthesize guar gum based polyurethanes by varying the amount of guar gum. Guar gum (GG) was used along with hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) as soft segment, which was then reacted with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) to form PU pre-polymers. In last step, these -NCO terminated pre-polymers were extended with 1,4 butane diol as chain extender. The prepared polyurethane samples were then characterized by using FTIR, solid-state ¹HNMR and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Thermal behavior of the samples was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results indicated that the incorporation of guar gum in PU backbone improved its thermal behavior and crystallinity.

A multifunctional self-crosslinked chitosan/cationic guar gum composite hydrogel and its versatile uses in phosphate-containing water treatment and energy storage

A new self-crosslinked composite hydrogel is prepared with chitosan (CS) and cationic guar gum (CGG), based on the imine and acetal chemistry for gelation. The CS/CGG hydrogel exhibits thermal/pH responsiveness, injectability, adhesiveness and good compressive strength. The hydrogel is effective in removing phosphate from wastewater through an adsorption process, during which KH₂PO₄ is used as a phosphate model. The adsorption complies with the Freundlich model, indicating that it is a multilayered process with complex adsorption mechanisms. Considering their porous structure and nitrogen/phosphorus heteroatoms doping, the phosphate-adsorbed hydrogels are made into porous N,P doped carbon aerogels that can be potentially used as electrodes for a supercapacitor. The results indicate that these carbon aerogels possess excellent capacitive performance (best specific capacitance of 302.2 ± 4.9 F/g), as well as good cycling stability after 5000 times of charging/discharging.

Comparative study of uranium and thorium metal ion adsorption by gum ghatti grafted poly(acrylamide) copolymer composites

Uranium and thorium ions were selectively removed from aqueous solution using synthesized gum ghatti grafted poly(acrylamide) gum-g-poly(AAm) composite. A gamma radiation induced free radical copolymerization technique was used to synthesize the copolymer composite of gum-g-poly(AAm). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were used to characterize the graft copolymer gum-g-poly(AAm). The adsorption of uranium ions and thorium ions using the gum-g-poly(AAm) copolymer composites has been investigated in batch mode. The adsorptive characteristics were investigated by varying the pH, concentration and time for both ions. The adsorption method depends on the pH of each metal ion, and the highest adsorption percentage was achieved at pH 6.0. The adsorption statistics were justified by isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic models. The Langmuir adsorption model was revealed to be the best fitted monolayer arrangement, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 367.65 mg g-1 for the uranium ions and 125.95 mg g-1 for the thorium ions. The adsorption of metal ions occurred by the ion exchange process, which was specified through the rate controlling step with a best-fitted pseudo-second order kinetic rate model. Thermodynamic analysis shows that the ΔH and ΔS values for the uranium ions and thorium ions were positive. The negative ΔG values decreased with an increase in temperature, suggesting that the metal ion adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous in behaviour.

A glimpse of biodegradable polymers and their biomedical applications

Over the past two decades, biodegradable polymers (BPs) have been widely used in biomedical applications such as drug carrier, gene delivery, tissue engineering, diagnosis, medical devices, and antibacterial/antifouling biomaterials. This can be attributed to numerous factors such as chemical, mechanical and physiochemical properties of BPs, their improved processibility, functionality and sensitivity towards stimuli. The present review intended to highlight main results of research on advances and improvements in terms of synthesis, physical properties, stimuli response, and/or applicability of biodegradable plastics (BPs) during last two decades, and its biomedical applications. Recent literature relevant to this study has been cited and their developing trends and challenges of BPs have also been discussed.

Carbohydrate and collagen-based doubly-grafted interpenetrating terpolymer hydrogel via N-H activated in situ allocation of monomer for superadsorption of Pb(II), Hg(II), dyes, vitamin-C, and p-nitrophenol

Herein, guar gum (GG)-g-(acrylic acid (AA)-co-3-acrylamido propanoic acid (AMPA)-co-acrylamide (AM))-g-cow buffing dust (CBD)/(GGTPCBD), a smart carbohydrate and protein-based doubly-grafted interpenetrating terpolymer hydrogel showing excellent physicochemical properties and recyclability was synthesized by in situ strategic allocation of AMPA during solution polymerization of AA and AM through systematic optimization of the amounts of components and reaction temperature for superadsorption of Hg(II), Pb(II), methyl violet (MV), methylene blue (MB), p-nitrophenol (PNP), and vitamin-C (vit.C). The in situ strategic protrusion of AMPA, grafting of both GG and CBD into AA-co-AMPA-co-AM, and ligand-selective superadsorption was inferred by advanced microstructural analyses of unadsorbed- and/or adsorbed-GGTPCBD using FTIR, ¹H/¹³C NMR, O1s-/N1s-/C1s-/Pb4f_7/2,5/2-/Hg4f_7/2,5/2-XPS, UV-vis, TGA, DSC, XRD, DLS, SEM, EDX, % gel content, % -COOH, and pH_PZC. The prevalence of covalent, ionic, and variegated interactions was rationalized by FTIR, fitting of kinetics data to the pseudosecond order model, and activation energies of adsorption. The BET and Langmuir isotherms fitted the best to MB and Hg(II)/Pb(II)/MV, respectively. Thermodynamically spontaneous chemisorption processes showed the maximum adsorption capacities (ACs) of 976.64, 859.23, 116.80, and 58.52 mg g^-1 for Pb(II), Hg(II), MV, and MB, respectively, at 303 K, adsorbent dose = 0.01 g, and initial concentration of metal ions/dyes = 800/30 ppm.

Guar gum and its composites as potential materials for diverse applications: A review

Naturally occurring polymers are currently of prime importance among which polysaccharides occupies superior position due to their easy availability, eco- friendly and non-toxic nature. Guar gum, one of the naturally occurring polymer, is a galactomannan acquired by ground endosperm of Cyamopsis tetragonolobus or Cyamopsis psoraloides. It belongs to the family leguminosae. Presence of large number of hydroxyl groups increases its H- bonding ability when dissolved in water that enhance the viscosity and gelling properties of the guar gum solution. Based upon these properties, guar gum is used in several industries such as textile, food, petrochemical, mining and paper for varied applications. It is used as suspending, emulsifying, gelling and stabilising agent in the conventional dosage forms. Last few decades have marked the increase in development of various composites of guar gum that have intrinsic utilization in various fields. Immobilization of guar gum with the others not only enhances its properties but also enriches its utilization in numerous fields for diverse applications such as water purification, drug delivery, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries, etc. Guar gum derivatives are found to have therapeutic importance in certain physiological disorders also. In this review article, we have summarized various possible composites of guar gum and their most probable applications in different fields.

A One Pot Method for Preparing an Antibacterial Superabsorbent Hydrogel with a Semi-IPN Structure Based on Tara Gum and Polyquaternium-7

An antibacterial superabsorbent polymer was prepared by graft polymerization of acrylic acid onto tara gum polysaccharide, by adding N,N-dimethyl-N-2-propenyl-2-propen-1-aminium chloride and a polymer with 2-propenamide (polyquaternium-7, PQ7) as an antibacterial agent. The effects of the amount of PQ7 in the hydrogel on its swelling ratio were investigated and maximum swelling ratios of 712 g/g and 68 g/g, in distilled water and 0.9 wt % NaCl solution were attained with 0.5 g PQ7 per gram of tara gum. The superabsorbent hydrogel was characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. The results showed that poly (acrylic acid) was successfully grafted onto tara gum and a three-dimensional network structure formed with PQ7 chains penetrated in the networks. The antibacterial properties of these superabsorbent hydrogels against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli improved with increasing PQ7 content. This study demonstrates a method of preparing novel functional superabsorbent hydrogels.

Guar Gum-Grafted Terpolymer Hydrogels for Ligand-Selective Individual and Synergistic Adsorption: Effect of Comonomer Composition

Grafting of guar gum (GG) and in situ strategic attachment of acrylamidosodiumpropanoate (ASP) via solution polymerization of acrylamide (AM) and sodium acrylate (SA) resulted in the synthesis of a sustainable GG-g-(AM-co-SA-co-ASP)/GGAMSAASP interpenetrating polymer network (IPN)-based smart superadsorbent with excellent physicochemical properties and reusability, through systematic optimization by response surface methodology (RSM) for removal of methyl violet (MV) and/or Hg(II). The relative effects of SA/AM ratios, in situ allocation of ASP, grafting of GG into the AMSAASP terpolymer, ligand-selective superadsorption mechanism, and relative microstructural changes in individually/synergistically-adsorbed MV-/Hg(II)-/Hg(II)-MV-GGAMSAASPs were determined by extensive analyses using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), and O 1s-/N 1s-/C 1s-/Hg 4f7/2,5/2-X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy and were supported by % gel content, pHPZC, and % graft ratio. The ionic/covalent-bonding, monodentate, bidentate bridging, and bidentate chelating coordination between GGAMSAASPs and Hg(II), and MV+-Hg(II) bonding were rationalized by FTIR, UV-vis, fitment of kinetics data to the pseudo-second-order model, and thermodynamic parameters. The maximum adsorption capacities of 49.12 and 53.28 mg g-1 were determined for Hg(II) and MV, respectively, under optimized conditions.

Thermal and Rheological Properties of the Mucilage from the Fruit of Cordia lutea

In recent years, natural gums and mucilages have been shown to be useful in the food and pharmacological industries. In this study, the mucilage of the fruit of Cordia lueta has been extracted and characterised in order to explore its potential applications. Thermogravimetric tests were used to measure the water content of this natural mucilage. Differential scanning calorimetry allowed assessing thermal transitions and thermal degradation of the samples. Steady flow rheometry was used to measure the viscosity of the samples as a function of the shear rate. Dynamic oscillatory rheometry was used to study the variation of the storage and loss modulus of the mucilage as function of the oscillatory frequency and stress. The results showed that this mucilage is a polysaccharide network that behaves as a pseudoplastic fluid. Its storage modulus is not completely independent from the oscillation frequency. In addition, the stress sweeps showed that C. lutea mucilage has a reversible stress softening behaviour. The findings reported in the present work suggest that this mucilage can be used as a rheology modifier for commercial foods and biomedical materials.

Engineering Biodegradable and Biocompatible Bio-ionic Liquid Conjugated Hydrogels with Tunable Conductivity and Mechanical Properties

Conventional methods to engineer electroconductive hydrogels (ECHs) through the incorporation of conductive nanomaterials and polymers exhibit major technical limitations. These are mainly associated with the cytotoxicity, as well as poor solubility, processability, and biodegradability of their components. Here, we describe the engineering of a new class of ECHs through the functionalization of non-conductive polymers with a conductive choline-based bio-ionic liquid (Bio-IL). Bio-IL conjugated hydrogels exhibited a wide range of highly tunable physical properties, remarkable in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility, and high electrical conductivity without the need for additional conductive components. The engineered hydrogels could support the growth and function of primary cardiomyocytes in both two dimentinal (2D) and three dimensional (3D) cultures in vitro. Furthermore, they were shown to be efficiently biodegraded and possess low immunogenicity when implanted subcutaneously in rats. Taken together, our results suggest that Bio-IL conjugated hydrogels could be implemented and readily tailored to different biomedical and tissue engineering applications.

Synthesis, characterization, and anti-microbial activity of superabsorbents based on agar–poly(methacrylic acid-glycine)

In this study, poly(methacrylic acid-glycine)-grafted agar-based hydrogels with optimized process parameters were synthesized via a two-step green-radiation induced grafting process using microwave heating. Poly(methacrylic acid) chains were graft copolymerized onto an agar backbone using ammonium persulfate as a free radical initiator and N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide as a cross-linking means using microwave heating. The influence of different reaction parameters was investigated on the percentage swelling behavior of the cross-linked hydrogel networks. The prepared hydrogel networks with optimum percentage swelling were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis, using agar as a reference. The anti-bacterial activities of the prepared hydrogels against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria were investigated. Staphylococcus aureus was found to be more susceptible to the compounds compared to Escherichia coli. These results indicate that the prepared hydrogels have the potential to be applied as anti-bacterial agents.

Guar gum as a promising starting material for diverse applications: A review

Guar gum is the powdered endosperm of the seeds of the Cyamopsis tetragonolobus which is a leguminous crop. The endosperm contains a complex polysaccharide called galactomannan, which is a polymer of d-galactose and d-mannose. This hydroxyl group rich polymer when added to water forms hydrogen bonding imparting significant viscosity and thickening to the solution. Due to its thickening, emulsifying, binding and gelling properties, quick solubility in cold water, wide pH stability, film forming ability and biodegradability, it finds applications in large number of industries. In last few decades a lot of research has been done on guar gum to fit it into particular application, as such or by its structural modifications. This review gives an overview of the nature, chemistry and properties of guar gum and discusses recent developments in its modifications and applications in major industries like hydraulic fracturing, explosives, food, agriculture, textile, paper, cosmetics, bioremediation, drug delivery, medical and pharmaceuticals. This article would help researchers engaged in biopolymer area and other end-users who want to begin research in natural polysaccharides.