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Advancing sustainable technologies: plasma-engineered bioplastics with silver nanoparticle integration

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Abstract

The advancement of sustainable packaging technologies is crucial for environmental conservation and enhancing food shelf life. We advance sustainable packaging by developing cassava starch sheets functionalized with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) via plasma-deposited 2-methyl-2-oxazoline thin film. This innovative method requires less precursors and generates no liquid waste, presenting a significant leap in eco-friendly packaging solutions. Uniquely, it deviates from traditional nanoparticle incorporation methods by emphasising surface functionalization over bulk integration, leveraging plasma polymerization for environmentally friendly and efficient AgNP immobilisation. This surface-centric approach offers distinct advantages in active packaging by enhancing the initial antimicrobial interaction at the packaging's surface. Surface morphology, characterised by SEM–EDX, and chemical composition, verified by XPS, indicated successful AgNP immobilisation after 5 and 25 h, albeit with some aggregation at prolonged immobilisation time. UV–Vis spectroscopy results confirmed the successful immobilisation of AgNPs and suggested enhanced light barrier properties of the treated sheets. AFM measurements revealed alterations in surface roughness post-treatment, correlating with changes in hydrophilicity and potentially impacting the moisture barrier properties of the packaging. The treated bioplastics showed improved mechanical properties, indicated by tensile strength and elongation at break. Antimicrobial testing revealed substantial efficacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, but not against fungi. All bioplastic samples demonstrated non-toxicity to fibroblast cells, irrespective of the treatments applied. This work paves the way for future developments targeted at improving the efficacy and scalability of plasma-nanoengineered bioplastics.

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The data that support the findings of this study are available upon reasonable request(s) from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

KV thanks the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for Grant GNT1194466. BP thanks LPDP for the Research Grant through Riset dan Inovasi untuk Indonesia Maju (RIIM) batch 4, 172/IV/KS/11/2023 and 6815/UN1/DITLIT/Dit-Lit/KP.01.03/2023, and BRIN for research facilities through e-Layanan Sains (ELSa).

Funding

This study was funded by National Health and Medical Research Council, GNT1194466, Krasimir Vasilev, Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education Agency (LPDP), 172/IV/KS/11/2023, Bidhari Pidhatika, 6815/UN1/DITLIT/Dit-Lit/KP.01.03/2023, Bidhari Pidhatika

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Author notes

  1. Neethu Ninan, Bidhari Pidhatika and Richard Bright contributed equally to this paper.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia

    Neethu Ninan, Richard Bright & Krasimir Vasilev

  2. Research Center for Polymer Technology, PRTPL BRIN Indonesia, National Research and Innovation Agency of the Republic of Indonesia, Serpong, Tangerang Selatan, 15314, Indonesia

    Bidhari Pidhatika, Reza Pahlevi Rudianto & Yogi Angga Swasono

  3. Research Collaboration Center for Biomedical Scaffolds, National Research and Innovation Agency of the Republic of Indonesia and Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sekip Utara, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia

    Bidhari Pidhatika

  4. Research Center for Advanced Materials, PRMM BRIN Indonesia, National Research and Innovation Agency of the Republic of Indonesia, Serpong, Tangerang Selatan, 15314, Indonesia

    Bayu Mahdi Kartika

  5. Department of Dental Biomedical Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia

    Retno Ardhani

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  1. Neethu Ninan
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Contributions

NN, BP, and RB contributed equally to the manuscript. More details on author contributions: NN, BP, RB, BMK, RPR, YAS, RAD performed experiments and data analysis; NN, BP, RB were involved in writing initial draft; BP, KV acquired the funding; NN, BP, RB, BMK, RPR, YAS, RAD, KV helped in editing and proofreading.

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Correspondence to Bidhari Pidhatika or Krasimir Vasilev.

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Ninan, N., Pidhatika, B., Bright, R. et al. Advancing sustainable technologies: plasma-engineered bioplastics with silver nanoparticle integration. J Mater Sci 59, 9003–9020 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-024-09673-7

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