Abstract Electrospun nanofibers from gelatin (G), chitosan (CS), and chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol (CS-PVA) were developed by electrospinning process. Mechanical properties were determined by the tensile test, the elastic modulus values of the nanofibers were G (15.418-34.34 MPa) and CS-PVA (17.44-126.427 MPa). The morphological characterization by SEM revealed that the systems with 15% G and 6% CS-PVA showed morphological homogeneity. Structural characterization by FTIR indicated an interaction among some functional groups of the component. Thermal analysis by DSC and TGA showed degradation temperatures for G (330 °C), CS (210 °C to 370 °C), and PVA (310 °C to 420 °C). The contact angles values denoted the hydrophilic nature of the material. Finally, the antimicrobial assay proved that both 15% G and 7% PVA on the CS-PVA system presented the best antimicrobial effect. The results indicate that the electrospun nanofibers fabricated with G or CS-PVA can be used as wound healing dressings.

Abstract The use of agroindustry waste is an option that benefits the environment. During the production of products with woven jute fibers (WJF) fragments are generated which do not have a specific use. In this work, we propose the use of WJF residues as a reinforcing material in laminates of polylactic acid (PLA) as an ecological and sustainable alternative to obtain low cost biodegradable biocomposites that can replace petroleum plastics. In order to improve the WJF and PLA compatibility, physicochemical treatments were used in fibers such as gamma irradiation (GI) and functionalization with maleic anhydride (MA). The results of PLA/WJF (MA) biocomposites revealed improvements in the mechanical and thermal properties compared to neat PLA; with an increase in elastic, flexural and storage modules of 48%, 6%, and 23%, respectively. This opens up the possible application of PLA/ WJF biocomposites in rigid containers, as well as the way to take advantage of other natural fibers used locally.

Resumen El aprovechamiento de residuos agroindustriales es una opción que beneficia al medio ambiente. Durante la elaboración de productos con fibras tejidas de yute (FTY) se generan fragmentos, los cuales no tienen un uso específico. En este trabajo, se propone la utilización de residuos de FTY como material de refuerzo en láminas de ácido poliláctico (PLA), como una alternativa ecológica y sustentable de obtener biocompuestos biodegradables a bajo costo que puedan sustituir a los plásticos provenientes del petróleo. Con el objetivo de mejorar la compatibilidad de las FTY y el PLA se utilizaron tratamientos fisicoquímicos en las fibras como la irradiación gamma (IG) y la funcionalización con anhídrido maleico (AM). Los resultados de los biocompuestos de PLA/ FTY (AM) revelaron mejoras en las propiedades mecánicas y térmicas comparadas con el PLA puro; con un incremento en los módulos elástico, de flexión y almacenamiento del 48%, 6% y 23 %, respectivamente. Esto entreabre la posible aplicación de los biocompuestos de PLA/FTY en envases rígidos, así como el camino para el aprovechamiento de otras fibras naturales usadas localmente.