Effect of Glycerol Concentrations on the Characteristics of Cellulose Films from Cattail (Typha angustifolia L.) Flowers

Plastic waste has become a big problem for the environment globally. Biodegradable polymers are a potential replacement for plastics that can have a positive outcome both environmentally and economically. In this work, we used acid hydrolysis and alkaline treatment to extract cellulose fibers from cattails. The obtained cellulose was used as a substrate for the fabrication of cellulose film using a casting technique on plastic plates. Different concentrations of the plasticizer, glycerol, were used to prepare films for comparison, and its effects on the film's characteristics were observed. The morphology, chemical structure, and thermal stability of the cattail cellulose (CTC) films were studied using techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. Measurements of transparency, moisture content (MC), water solubility (MS), and water contact angle (WCA) were also performed. Introducing glycerol into the films increased the transparency, MC, and WS values, as well as the gap width between film textures. However, it resulted in a decrease in the WCA of the films, showing that the hydrophilicity of the films is increased by the addition of glycerol. The interaction between the functional groups of cellulose and glycerol was established from the ATR-FTIR and XRD data. The obtained results indicated that glycerol affected the thermal stability and the degree of crystallinity of the produced films. Accordingly, the hydrophilicity of the cellulose film was increased by increasing the glycerol content; therefore, cattail cellulose films can be used as a biodegradable alternative to plastic in the future.

Preparation of silk fibroin microspheres by emulsificationdiffusion method for controlled release drug delivery applications

Silk fibroin (SF) microspheres containing a model drug were prepared by a simple water-in-oil emulsification-diffusion method. Aqueous SF solution and ethyl acetate were used as water and oil phases, respectively. Methylene Blue was used as a water-soluble model drug. Effect of drug content on microsphere characteristics, drug loading efficiency and drug release behavior was determined. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that drug-loaded SF microspheres were spherical in shape with a smooth surface. The SF microspheres showed predominant random coil SF conformation. All drug loading efficiencies were approximately 50%. An increase in drug/SF ratio could lead to an increase in %drug release and surface erosion after the drug release test. Drug release from SF microspheres is due to SF matrix swelling and surface erosion processes.