Kokkarachedu Varaprasad - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Kokkarachedu Varaprasad

Materials Science and Engineering: C, 2017

The present investigation describes the development of metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films fr... more The present investigation describes the development of metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films from biodegradable poly-ε-caprolactone, disposed poly(ethylene terephthalate) oil bottles monomer and zinc oxide-copper oxide nanoparticles. The terephthalic acid and zinc oxide-copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by using a temperature-dependent precipitation technique and double precipitation method, respectively. The terephthalic acid synthesized was confirmed by FTIR analysis and furthermore, it was characterized by thermal analysis. The as-prepared CuO-ZnO nanoparticles structure was confirmed by XRD analysis and its morphology was analyzed by SEM/EDS and TEM. Furthermore, the metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films have excellent mechanical properties, with tensile strength and modulus better than pure films. The metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films that were successfully developed show a relatively brighter colour when compared to CuO film. These new metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films can replace many non-degradable plastics. The new metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films developed are envisaged to be suitable for use in industrial and domestic packaging applications.

Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2016

For the first time, green-tea (GT)-based magnetic nanohydrogels were developed for drug-delivery ... more For the first time, green-tea (GT)-based magnetic nanohydrogels were developed for drug-delivery purposes. The hydrogel matrices were fabricated via the in situ polymerization of acrylamide with GT molecules. Magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by the reduction of the 1:2 molar ratio mixture of ferrous sulfate heptahydrate and ferric chloride hexahydrate with an ammonia solution. A chemotherapeutic drug, 5-fluorouracil, was chosen as a model drug, and its releasing profiles in the presence and absence of the external magnetic field were evaluated at a pH of 7.4. We observed that in the presence of the applied magnetic field, these magnetic nanohydrogels released 2.86% more drug than in the absence of a magnetic field. The magnetic nanohydrogels were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, and transmission electron microscopy. V

Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2015

Carbohydrate Polymers, 2016

In the present study, antibacterial cellulose fibres were successfully fabricated by a simple and... more In the present study, antibacterial cellulose fibres were successfully fabricated by a simple and cost-effective procedure by utilizing nano zinc oxide. The possible nano zinc oxide was successfully synthesized by precipitation technique and then impregnated effectively over cellulose fibres through sodium alginate matrix. XRD analysis revealed the 'rod-like' shape alignment of zinc oxide with an interplanar d-spacing of 0.246nm corresponding to the (101) planes of the hexagonal wurtzite structure. TEM analysis confirmed the nano dimension of the synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles. The presence of nano zinc oxide over cellulose fibres was evident from the SEM-EDS experiments. FTIR and TGA studies exhibited their effective bonding interaction. The tensile stress-strain curves data indicated the feasibility of the fabricated fibres for longer duration utility without any significant damage or breakage. The antibacterial studies against Escherichia coli revealed the excellent bacterial devastation property. Further, it was observed that when all the parameters remained constant, the variation of sodium alginate concentration showed impact in devastating the E. coli. In overall, the fabricated nano zinc oxide-sodium alginate cellulose fibres can be effectively utilized as antibacterial fibres for biomedical applications.

This research work resulted in the development of novel inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels as an a... more This research work resulted in the development of novel inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels as an antibacterial agent. Novel inorganic hydrogels were developed from the Noveon® AA-l Polycarbophil with acrylamide. Inorganic nanoparticles were produced by the nucleation of Ag+ and Au3+ salts with extracts of mint leaf that formed within the hydrogels system. The characterizations of the hydrogels developed were done using, various electron microscopy such as scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis and Transmission electron microscopy. Theses nanocomposite hydrogels were examined for their antibacterial activities against to E coli which indicate that these nanocomposite hydrogels can be used as possible candidates for advanced biomedical applications.

ABSTRACT Liquid crystals constitute a fascinating class of soft condensed matter characterized by... more ABSTRACT Liquid crystals constitute a fascinating class of soft condensed matter characterized by the counterintuitive combination of fluidity and long-range order. Today liquid crystals are best known for their exceptionally successful application in flat panel displays, but they actually exhibit a plethora of unique and attractive properties that offer tremendous potential for fundamental science as well as innovative applications well beyond the realm of displays. This full breadth of the liquid crystalline state of matter is becoming increasingly recognized and numerous new and exciting lines of research are being opened up. In this chapter we look at these exciting developments, focusing primarily on the physics aspects of the new research thrusts, in which thermotropic as well as lyotropic liquid crystals often meet other types of soft matter, such as polymers and colloidal nano- or microparticle dispersions. Because the field is also of interest for researchers who may not have a liquid crystal background we begin with a concise introduction to the liquid crystalline state of matter and the key concepts of the research field. We then discuss nanostructured liquid crystals, followed by applications of nanostructured liquid crystals.

Multifunctional zinc oxide-bismuth ferrite material was developed as energy material. The ferrite... more Multifunctional zinc oxide-bismuth ferrite material was developed as energy material. The ferrite material was developed by employing polycrystalline BiFeO 3 and semiconductor ZnO via precipitation technique. The ZnO-BiFeO 3 composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, which show that BiFeO 3 immigrated into the ZnO. Temperature dependent magnetic behavior of ZnO-BiFeO 3 composite was studied by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) in the range 5 to 300K. As temperature increased, the magnetic nature decreased; exhibiting a blocking temperature at 50K. This nanocomposite system has potentials for spintronics and energy applications.

2013 Annual International Conference on Emerging Research Areas and 2013 International Conference on Microelectronics, Communications and Renewable Energy, 2013

This research work resulted in the development of novel inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels as an a... more This research work resulted in the development of novel inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels as an antibacterial agent. Novel inorganic hydrogels were developed from the Noveon® AA-1 Polycarbophil with acrylamide. Inorganic nanoparticles were produced by the nucleation of Ag + and Au 3+ salts with extracts of mint leaf that formed within the hydrogels system. The characterizations of the hydrogels developed were done using, various electron microscopy such as scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis and Transmission electron microscopy. Theses nanocomposite hydrogels were examined for their antibacterial activities against to E coli which indicate that these nanocomposite hydrogels can be used as possible candidates for advanced biomedical applications.

RSC Adv., 2014

Multifunctional zinc oxide-bismuth ferrite and tin dioxide-bismuth ferrite have been synthesized ... more Multifunctional zinc oxide-bismuth ferrite and tin dioxide-bismuth ferrite have been synthesized using a double precipitation technique. The structural formation, chemical composition, morphology and thermal properties were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Temperature-dependent magnetic behaviour of zinc oxide-bismuth ferrite and tin dioxide-bismuth ferrite were studied using a vibrating sample magnetometer in the range of 5 K to 300 K. The results indicate that zinc oxide-bismuth ferrite is a potential candidate for spintronics applications. PAPER Fig. 6 M-H curves of (a) ZnO-BiFeO 3 and (b) SnO 2 -BiFeO 3 .

The present scientific research resulted in the development of novel microbial resistant inorgani... more The present scientific research resulted in the development of novel microbial resistant inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels, which can be used as antibacterial agents. They are promising candidates for advanced antimicrobial applications in the field of biomedical science. Novel inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels were developed from Carbopol[registered sign] 980 NF and acrylamide. Dual-metallic (Ag0-Au0) nanoparticles were prepared (via a green process) by the nucleation of silver and gold salts with mint leaf extract to form a hydrogel network. The Carbopol nanocomposite hydrogels contain (Ag0-Au0) nanoparticles [similar]5 +/- 3 nm in size, which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The developed hydrogels were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The pure and inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels...

Curcumin, a greatly potent, non-toxic and naturally existing bioactive material in turmeric is wi... more Curcumin, a greatly potent, non-toxic and naturally existing bioactive material in turmeric is widely employed to develop biomedical functional materials due to its environmental friendly nature. In general, curcumin functional materials were prepared by administrating non-aqueous solvents as a dissolving medium for curcumin. These non-aqueous solvents cause adverse effects for the environment and humans. However, if the curcumin functional materials are developed based on aqueous solution then the adverse effects can be eliminated. In view of this, for the first time aqueous based nanocurcumin (nanoparticles of curcumin) impregnated gelatin cellulose fibers (NCGCFs) were developed by a green process. The required nanocurcumin was prepared by ultrasonication process. Transmission electron microscopy showed the sizes of nanocurcumin exist in the range $2 to 15 nm. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra showed no structural modification of nanocurcumin to that of curcumin. The developed fibres were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis and swelling studies. Cumulative releasing studies showed slow and sustained releasing patterns for NCGCFs. A comparative antimicrobial study was performed for nanocurcumin impregnated gelatin cellulose fibres (NCGCFs) and curcumin impregnated gelatin cellulose fibres (CGCFs) against E. coli and S. aureus. The results indicated the superior performance of NCGCFs over CGCFs. Hence, NCGCFs prepared completely from naturally available materials can be considered as a novel kind of functional materials for wound dressing and antimicrobial applications.

Nanotechnology Applications for Tissue Engineering, 2015

ABSTRACT Over the past two decades, the rapid development of cells encapsulated hydrogels and sel... more ABSTRACT Over the past two decades, the rapid development of cells encapsulated hydrogels and self-assembled hydrogels have been sources of attraction in several biomedical fields in order to control various aspects of human-related diseases and tissue regeneration and repair (surgery). Polymer hydrogels are composed of several natural, synthetic polymers, and cross-linkers in order to form tissue-like elasticity, nontoxicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and swelling ability, which enhance their applicability in advanced medicine and cell biological applications. This chapter covers several important natural and synthetic polymers widely used as hydrogels and self-assembled hydrogels for cell encapsulation. Cells encapsulated self-assembled hydrogels, their recent developments, and their significances in various medical applications are also discussed.

In this scientific paper, we report a facile and eco-friendly fabrication of antibacterial nanoco... more In this scientific paper, we report a facile and eco-friendly fabrication of antibacterial nanocomposite hydrogels of Au-core Ag-shell nanoparticles, embedded within Carbopol® 980 NF/Noveon® AA-1 polycarbophil acrylic acid polymeric matrix. The aim of the study was to investigate whether these nanocomposite hydrogels have the potential to be used for bacterial inactivation applications. The key feature was that, unlike the use of chemical reductants, auxiliary stabilizers and specialized expensive equipment, the Au-core Ag-shell nanoparticles ($15 AE 3 nm) were synthesized utilizing aqueous mint leaf extracts. The developed hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Swelling studies were performed in phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.4) solution. A sustained antibacterial study against E. coli (GÀ) and B. subtilis (G+) showed their excellent antibacterial efficiency, which suggested that the developed hydrogels are potential candidates for a wide range of biomedical applications.

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials, 2013

In this investigation, silver nanocomposite hydrogels were developed by using acrylamide and biod... more In this investigation, silver nanocomposite hydrogels were developed by using acrylamide and biodegradable gelatin. Silver nanoparticles were generated throughout the hydrogel networks using in situ method by incorporating Ag ? ions and the subsequent treatment with sodium borohydride. The effect of gelatin on the swelling studies was investigated. The hydrogel synthesized silver nanocomposites were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared, UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The biodegradable gelatin-based silver nanocomposite hydrogels were tested for antibacterial properties. The results indicate that these biodegradable silver nanocomposite hydrogels can be useful in medical applications, as antibacterial agents.

Nanotechnology Applications for Tissue Engineering, 2015

Nanostructured Polymer Blends, 2014

ABSTRACT Liquid crystals constitute a fascinating class of soft condensed matter characterized by... more ABSTRACT Liquid crystals constitute a fascinating class of soft condensed matter characterized by the counterintuitive combination of fluidity and long-range order. Today liquid crystals are best known for their exceptionally successful application in flat panel displays, but they actually exhibit a plethora of unique and attractive properties that offer tremendous potential for fundamental science as well as innovative applications well beyond the realm of displays. This full breadth of the liquid crystalline state of matter is becoming increasingly recognized and numerous new and exciting lines of research are being opened up. In this chapter we look at these exciting developments, focusing primarily on the physics aspects of the new research thrusts, in which thermotropic as well as lyotropic liquid crystals often meet other types of soft matter, such as polymers and colloidal nano- or microparticle dispersions. Because the field is also of interest for researchers who may not have a liquid crystal background we begin with a concise introduction to the liquid crystalline state of matter and the key concepts of the research field. We then discuss nanostructured liquid crystals, followed by applications of nanostructured liquid crystals.

Nanostructured Polymer Blends, 2014

ABSTRACT Nanostructured hydrogels represent a unique class of materials that synergizes the advan... more ABSTRACT Nanostructured hydrogels represent a unique class of materials that synergizes the advantageous features of hydrogels. Research into nanostructured hydrogels for biomedical applications has seen great progress in recent years owing to their unlimited potential to advance human health. The development of nanotechnology provides opportunities to characterize, manipulate, and organize matter systematically at the nanometer scale. This is because nanostructured systems in general and nanostructured polymer hydrogels in particular have noble advantages as transporters for a wide range of drugs and tissue engineering scaffolds for biomedical (therapeutic) applications. This chapter explains the design and development of different nanostructured hydrogels and their applications in the biomedical field.

Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, 2012

Materials Science and Engineering: C, 2017

The present investigation describes the development of metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films fr... more The present investigation describes the development of metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films from biodegradable poly-ε-caprolactone, disposed poly(ethylene terephthalate) oil bottles monomer and zinc oxide-copper oxide nanoparticles. The terephthalic acid and zinc oxide-copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by using a temperature-dependent precipitation technique and double precipitation method, respectively. The terephthalic acid synthesized was confirmed by FTIR analysis and furthermore, it was characterized by thermal analysis. The as-prepared CuO-ZnO nanoparticles structure was confirmed by XRD analysis and its morphology was analyzed by SEM/EDS and TEM. Furthermore, the metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films have excellent mechanical properties, with tensile strength and modulus better than pure films. The metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films that were successfully developed show a relatively brighter colour when compared to CuO film. These new metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films can replace many non-degradable plastics. The new metal-oxide polymer nanocomposite films developed are envisaged to be suitable for use in industrial and domestic packaging applications.

Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2016

For the first time, green-tea (GT)-based magnetic nanohydrogels were developed for drug-delivery ... more For the first time, green-tea (GT)-based magnetic nanohydrogels were developed for drug-delivery purposes. The hydrogel matrices were fabricated via the in situ polymerization of acrylamide with GT molecules. Magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by the reduction of the 1:2 molar ratio mixture of ferrous sulfate heptahydrate and ferric chloride hexahydrate with an ammonia solution. A chemotherapeutic drug, 5-fluorouracil, was chosen as a model drug, and its releasing profiles in the presence and absence of the external magnetic field were evaluated at a pH of 7.4. We observed that in the presence of the applied magnetic field, these magnetic nanohydrogels released 2.86% more drug than in the absence of a magnetic field. The magnetic nanohydrogels were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, and transmission electron microscopy. V

Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2015

Carbohydrate Polymers, 2016

In the present study, antibacterial cellulose fibres were successfully fabricated by a simple and... more In the present study, antibacterial cellulose fibres were successfully fabricated by a simple and cost-effective procedure by utilizing nano zinc oxide. The possible nano zinc oxide was successfully synthesized by precipitation technique and then impregnated effectively over cellulose fibres through sodium alginate matrix. XRD analysis revealed the 'rod-like' shape alignment of zinc oxide with an interplanar d-spacing of 0.246nm corresponding to the (101) planes of the hexagonal wurtzite structure. TEM analysis confirmed the nano dimension of the synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles. The presence of nano zinc oxide over cellulose fibres was evident from the SEM-EDS experiments. FTIR and TGA studies exhibited their effective bonding interaction. The tensile stress-strain curves data indicated the feasibility of the fabricated fibres for longer duration utility without any significant damage or breakage. The antibacterial studies against Escherichia coli revealed the excellent bacterial devastation property. Further, it was observed that when all the parameters remained constant, the variation of sodium alginate concentration showed impact in devastating the E. coli. In overall, the fabricated nano zinc oxide-sodium alginate cellulose fibres can be effectively utilized as antibacterial fibres for biomedical applications.

This research work resulted in the development of novel inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels as an a... more This research work resulted in the development of novel inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels as an antibacterial agent. Novel inorganic hydrogels were developed from the Noveon® AA-l Polycarbophil with acrylamide. Inorganic nanoparticles were produced by the nucleation of Ag+ and Au3+ salts with extracts of mint leaf that formed within the hydrogels system. The characterizations of the hydrogels developed were done using, various electron microscopy such as scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis and Transmission electron microscopy. Theses nanocomposite hydrogels were examined for their antibacterial activities against to E coli which indicate that these nanocomposite hydrogels can be used as possible candidates for advanced biomedical applications.

ABSTRACT Liquid crystals constitute a fascinating class of soft condensed matter characterized by... more ABSTRACT Liquid crystals constitute a fascinating class of soft condensed matter characterized by the counterintuitive combination of fluidity and long-range order. Today liquid crystals are best known for their exceptionally successful application in flat panel displays, but they actually exhibit a plethora of unique and attractive properties that offer tremendous potential for fundamental science as well as innovative applications well beyond the realm of displays. This full breadth of the liquid crystalline state of matter is becoming increasingly recognized and numerous new and exciting lines of research are being opened up. In this chapter we look at these exciting developments, focusing primarily on the physics aspects of the new research thrusts, in which thermotropic as well as lyotropic liquid crystals often meet other types of soft matter, such as polymers and colloidal nano- or microparticle dispersions. Because the field is also of interest for researchers who may not have a liquid crystal background we begin with a concise introduction to the liquid crystalline state of matter and the key concepts of the research field. We then discuss nanostructured liquid crystals, followed by applications of nanostructured liquid crystals.

Multifunctional zinc oxide-bismuth ferrite material was developed as energy material. The ferrite... more Multifunctional zinc oxide-bismuth ferrite material was developed as energy material. The ferrite material was developed by employing polycrystalline BiFeO 3 and semiconductor ZnO via precipitation technique. The ZnO-BiFeO 3 composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, which show that BiFeO 3 immigrated into the ZnO. Temperature dependent magnetic behavior of ZnO-BiFeO 3 composite was studied by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) in the range 5 to 300K. As temperature increased, the magnetic nature decreased; exhibiting a blocking temperature at 50K. This nanocomposite system has potentials for spintronics and energy applications.

2013 Annual International Conference on Emerging Research Areas and 2013 International Conference on Microelectronics, Communications and Renewable Energy, 2013

This research work resulted in the development of novel inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels as an a... more This research work resulted in the development of novel inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels as an antibacterial agent. Novel inorganic hydrogels were developed from the Noveon® AA-1 Polycarbophil with acrylamide. Inorganic nanoparticles were produced by the nucleation of Ag + and Au 3+ salts with extracts of mint leaf that formed within the hydrogels system. The characterizations of the hydrogels developed were done using, various electron microscopy such as scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis and Transmission electron microscopy. Theses nanocomposite hydrogels were examined for their antibacterial activities against to E coli which indicate that these nanocomposite hydrogels can be used as possible candidates for advanced biomedical applications.

RSC Adv., 2014

Multifunctional zinc oxide-bismuth ferrite and tin dioxide-bismuth ferrite have been synthesized ... more Multifunctional zinc oxide-bismuth ferrite and tin dioxide-bismuth ferrite have been synthesized using a double precipitation technique. The structural formation, chemical composition, morphology and thermal properties were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Temperature-dependent magnetic behaviour of zinc oxide-bismuth ferrite and tin dioxide-bismuth ferrite were studied using a vibrating sample magnetometer in the range of 5 K to 300 K. The results indicate that zinc oxide-bismuth ferrite is a potential candidate for spintronics applications. PAPER Fig. 6 M-H curves of (a) ZnO-BiFeO 3 and (b) SnO 2 -BiFeO 3 .

The present scientific research resulted in the development of novel microbial resistant inorgani... more The present scientific research resulted in the development of novel microbial resistant inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels, which can be used as antibacterial agents. They are promising candidates for advanced antimicrobial applications in the field of biomedical science. Novel inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels were developed from Carbopol[registered sign] 980 NF and acrylamide. Dual-metallic (Ag0-Au0) nanoparticles were prepared (via a green process) by the nucleation of silver and gold salts with mint leaf extract to form a hydrogel network. The Carbopol nanocomposite hydrogels contain (Ag0-Au0) nanoparticles [similar]5 +/- 3 nm in size, which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The developed hydrogels were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The pure and inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels...

Curcumin, a greatly potent, non-toxic and naturally existing bioactive material in turmeric is wi... more Curcumin, a greatly potent, non-toxic and naturally existing bioactive material in turmeric is widely employed to develop biomedical functional materials due to its environmental friendly nature. In general, curcumin functional materials were prepared by administrating non-aqueous solvents as a dissolving medium for curcumin. These non-aqueous solvents cause adverse effects for the environment and humans. However, if the curcumin functional materials are developed based on aqueous solution then the adverse effects can be eliminated. In view of this, for the first time aqueous based nanocurcumin (nanoparticles of curcumin) impregnated gelatin cellulose fibers (NCGCFs) were developed by a green process. The required nanocurcumin was prepared by ultrasonication process. Transmission electron microscopy showed the sizes of nanocurcumin exist in the range $2 to 15 nm. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra showed no structural modification of nanocurcumin to that of curcumin. The developed fibres were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis and swelling studies. Cumulative releasing studies showed slow and sustained releasing patterns for NCGCFs. A comparative antimicrobial study was performed for nanocurcumin impregnated gelatin cellulose fibres (NCGCFs) and curcumin impregnated gelatin cellulose fibres (CGCFs) against E. coli and S. aureus. The results indicated the superior performance of NCGCFs over CGCFs. Hence, NCGCFs prepared completely from naturally available materials can be considered as a novel kind of functional materials for wound dressing and antimicrobial applications.

Nanotechnology Applications for Tissue Engineering, 2015

ABSTRACT Over the past two decades, the rapid development of cells encapsulated hydrogels and sel... more ABSTRACT Over the past two decades, the rapid development of cells encapsulated hydrogels and self-assembled hydrogels have been sources of attraction in several biomedical fields in order to control various aspects of human-related diseases and tissue regeneration and repair (surgery). Polymer hydrogels are composed of several natural, synthetic polymers, and cross-linkers in order to form tissue-like elasticity, nontoxicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and swelling ability, which enhance their applicability in advanced medicine and cell biological applications. This chapter covers several important natural and synthetic polymers widely used as hydrogels and self-assembled hydrogels for cell encapsulation. Cells encapsulated self-assembled hydrogels, their recent developments, and their significances in various medical applications are also discussed.

In this scientific paper, we report a facile and eco-friendly fabrication of antibacterial nanoco... more In this scientific paper, we report a facile and eco-friendly fabrication of antibacterial nanocomposite hydrogels of Au-core Ag-shell nanoparticles, embedded within Carbopol® 980 NF/Noveon® AA-1 polycarbophil acrylic acid polymeric matrix. The aim of the study was to investigate whether these nanocomposite hydrogels have the potential to be used for bacterial inactivation applications. The key feature was that, unlike the use of chemical reductants, auxiliary stabilizers and specialized expensive equipment, the Au-core Ag-shell nanoparticles ($15 AE 3 nm) were synthesized utilizing aqueous mint leaf extracts. The developed hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Swelling studies were performed in phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.4) solution. A sustained antibacterial study against E. coli (GÀ) and B. subtilis (G+) showed their excellent antibacterial efficiency, which suggested that the developed hydrogels are potential candidates for a wide range of biomedical applications.

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials, 2013

In this investigation, silver nanocomposite hydrogels were developed by using acrylamide and biod... more In this investigation, silver nanocomposite hydrogels were developed by using acrylamide and biodegradable gelatin. Silver nanoparticles were generated throughout the hydrogel networks using in situ method by incorporating Ag ? ions and the subsequent treatment with sodium borohydride. The effect of gelatin on the swelling studies was investigated. The hydrogel synthesized silver nanocomposites were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared, UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The biodegradable gelatin-based silver nanocomposite hydrogels were tested for antibacterial properties. The results indicate that these biodegradable silver nanocomposite hydrogels can be useful in medical applications, as antibacterial agents.

Nanotechnology Applications for Tissue Engineering, 2015

Nanostructured Polymer Blends, 2014

ABSTRACT Liquid crystals constitute a fascinating class of soft condensed matter characterized by... more ABSTRACT Liquid crystals constitute a fascinating class of soft condensed matter characterized by the counterintuitive combination of fluidity and long-range order. Today liquid crystals are best known for their exceptionally successful application in flat panel displays, but they actually exhibit a plethora of unique and attractive properties that offer tremendous potential for fundamental science as well as innovative applications well beyond the realm of displays. This full breadth of the liquid crystalline state of matter is becoming increasingly recognized and numerous new and exciting lines of research are being opened up. In this chapter we look at these exciting developments, focusing primarily on the physics aspects of the new research thrusts, in which thermotropic as well as lyotropic liquid crystals often meet other types of soft matter, such as polymers and colloidal nano- or microparticle dispersions. Because the field is also of interest for researchers who may not have a liquid crystal background we begin with a concise introduction to the liquid crystalline state of matter and the key concepts of the research field. We then discuss nanostructured liquid crystals, followed by applications of nanostructured liquid crystals.

Nanostructured Polymer Blends, 2014

ABSTRACT Nanostructured hydrogels represent a unique class of materials that synergizes the advan... more ABSTRACT Nanostructured hydrogels represent a unique class of materials that synergizes the advantageous features of hydrogels. Research into nanostructured hydrogels for biomedical applications has seen great progress in recent years owing to their unlimited potential to advance human health. The development of nanotechnology provides opportunities to characterize, manipulate, and organize matter systematically at the nanometer scale. This is because nanostructured systems in general and nanostructured polymer hydrogels in particular have noble advantages as transporters for a wide range of drugs and tissue engineering scaffolds for biomedical (therapeutic) applications. This chapter explains the design and development of different nanostructured hydrogels and their applications in the biomedical field.

Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, 2012