In this study, a new plastic film with antiviral and antibacterial properties was developed using modified cassava starch with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTMAC) and reinforced by crystalline nanocellulose (CNC), called Q-CS/CNC. For comparison, a control film (Q-CS) was produced without the addition of CNC. Elemental analysis revealed a degree of substitution (DS) of 0.552, indicating the replacement of the OH groups of starch by the NR₄⁺ groups of GTMAC during the quaternization reaction. The addition of CNC resulted in significant increases (p < 0.05) of 38.9, 38.2, and 43.1% in thickness, opacity, and water vapor permeability measurements, respectively, compared to Q-CS. Incorporating CNC also contributed to an increase of 43.6% in tensile strength and 109% in stiffness but slightly decreased thermal stability. The Q-CS/CNC film demonstrated efficacy by inactivating 99% of the coronavirus in 1 min and inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. This action is attributed to the electrostatic interaction of quaternary amino groups, grafted onto starch, with the phospholipid membrane of microorganisms, resulting in the inactivation of these microorganisms. Therefore, these results highlight the potential use of Q-CS/CNC film as antimicrobial packaging, especially against coronavirus.

This study demonstrated, for the first time, the successful formation of porous paramylon esters, which were made from euglenoid polysaccharide known as paramylon and short-chain fatty acids, through supercritical CO₂ processing. By maintaining a constant ester functional group attached to the paramylon and varying its proportion, distinct porous structures were selectively produced. Solubility parameter estimations indicated that changes in esterification had no significant effect on the solubility of the paramylon esters used in the experiment. Thus, these structural differences are likely attributed to variations in the viscoelastic properties of paramylon esters under supercritical CO₂ conditions. Furthermore, thermal conductivity measurements revealed reductions of up to 20%. Intriguingly, substantial decreases in thermal conductivity were observed even at low foaming ratios, achieved through precise control of the porous structure.

The environmental and ecological concerns drive researchers to synthesize functional materials using components from natural resources. Nanocellulose (NC), derived from plants, marine animals, or microorganisms, is a green material attracting attention due to its abundance, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. NC’s interstice properties enable the synthesis of functional nanocomposites in forms like aerogels, foams, paper, sheets, or hollow filaments. This review briefly describes NC classification and production while comprehensively presenting its mechanical, rheological, optical, and electrical properties, offering foundational knowledge for future research. Additionally, it highlights recent developments in NC-based products across fields such as papermaking, water treatment, civil engineering, electronics, cosmetics, food, and medicine. For the first time, this paper explores recent advances in NC molecular simulation, providing insights into structure, arrangement, and interactions through molecular dynamic simulation. Finally, future prospects for NC-based applications are discussed to encourage studies addressing current challenges.

The widespread use of cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-based aerogels is hindered by their limited flame retardancy and mechanical properties. This study addresses these challenges by developing cellulose nanofiber/sodium alginate/fly ash (CNF/SA/FA) aerogel through a one-pot method, utilizing industrial waste fly ash (FA) as a reinforcing material. Various characterization and analytical techniques were employed to evaluate the properties of the CNF/SA/FA aerogel. The findings have revealed that resulting aerogel exhibited excellent thermal insulation performance, with a thermal conductivity of 0.485 W/(m·K), along with an impressive compressive strength of 88.4 kPa and favorable shape processability. Vertical combustion tests demonstrated a V-0 rating, indicating superior flame retardancy, and the aerogel achieved a remarkable 79.16% residual carbon, confirming their effective heat shielding capabilities. Notably, the incorporation of FA significantly enhanced both the thermal and mechanical properties of the composite aerogel, presenting a sustainable and effective solution to optimizing the properties of aerogel for thermal insulation.

Polybutylene succinate, polybutylene adipate, polybutylene suberate and their copolyesters were synthesized. The physical properties and biodegradability of these polyesters were controlled by adjusting the composition of carboxyl monomers. Compared with the homopolyesters, the addition of comonomer during polymerization resulted in the formation of copolyesters with lower melting temperatures and crystallinity. Among them, poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) had the lowest crystallinity, and poly(butylene adipate-co-suberate) (PBASub) had the lowest melting point. The elongation at break and tensile strength of PBSA was 766.2% and 21.5 MPa, respectively. Enzymatic degradation by Fusarium solani cutinase (FsC) showed that both the crystalline and amorphous regions of the polyester were simultaneously degraded by FsC, and the crystal structure of the polyester was not disrupted. FsC preferentially got attached to the surface of polyesters, subsequently attacked the center of the films, and the water penetrated the amorphous region, leading to enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis. The biodegradability of copolyester was higher than that of homopolyesters. PBSA and poly(butylene succinate-co-suberate) (PBSSub) were completely degraded in about 10 h, and can be used in agricultural, automotive, electronics, biomedical materials, packaging, etc.