Enhancing the properties of industrial waste nanocellulose bioaerogels using turmeric nano particles

In the present investigation, modified approach to enhance the properties of corrugated paper wastes nanocellulose (NC). The isolated NC was used with seafood wastes chitosan (CS) in the preparation of nano turmeric-loaded bioaerogel scaffolds. The results showed that the isolated NC had fibers length and diameters of 81 ± 12 nm and 7 ± 1.9 nm, respectively and crystallinity index of 77.9%, which indicates a maximum removal of impurity from the NC. CS had 64.3% crystallinity index with observable nonporous structures. Pure NC aerogel had the highest porosity, surface area and water absorption, but it showed very weak mechanical properties. Nano turmeric loaded bioaerogels showed enhanced mechanical properties and reduced water absorption capacity. Loaded bioaerogels exhibited higher antibacterial activity against S. aureus than E. coli with an inhibition zone of 32 mm and 27 mm respectively. Biocompatibility assay was conducted on murine fibroblast cells; the addition of nano turmeric significantly enhanced the proliferation of the cells compared with the control. These findings confirm the possibility and potential of smart conversion of wastes materials into advanced functional materials. Such bioaerogels can be of great interest in several biomedical applications such as wound healing, drug delivery and tissue scaffolding.