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Article

Tuning Corn Zein-Chitosan Biocomposites via Mild Alkaline Treatment: Structural and Physicochemical Property Insights

1
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
2
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
3
Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ 08102, USA
4
Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ 08102, USA
5
Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Polymers 2025, 17(15), 2161; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17152161 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 18 July 2025 / Revised: 6 August 2025 / Accepted: 7 August 2025 / Published: 7 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers)

Abstract

This study investigates the structural and functional enhancement of corn zein–chitosan composites via mild alkaline treatment to develop biodegradable protein-polysaccharide materials for diverse applications. Films with varying zein-to-chitosan ratios were fabricated and characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Both untreated and sodium hydroxide (NaOH)-treated films were evaluated to assess changes in physicochemical properties. FTIR analysis revealed that NaOH treatment promoted deprotonation of chitosan’s amine groups, partial removal of ionic residues, and increased deacetylation, collectively enhancing hydrogen bonding and resulting in a denser molecular network. Simultaneously, partial unfolding of zein’s α-helical structures improved conformational flexibility and strengthened interactions with chitosan. These molecular-level changes led to improved thermal stability, reduced degradation, and the development of porous microstructures. Controlled NaOH treatment thus provides an effective strategy to tailor the physicochemical properties of zein–chitosan composite films, supporting their potential in sustainable food packaging, wound healing, and drug delivery applications.
Keywords: zein; chitosan; composite film; NaOH treatment; secondary structure; hydrogen bonding zein; chitosan; composite film; NaOH treatment; secondary structure; hydrogen bonding

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MDPI and ACS Style

Poluri, N.; Singer, C.; Salas-de la Cruz, D.; Hu, X. Tuning Corn Zein-Chitosan Biocomposites via Mild Alkaline Treatment: Structural and Physicochemical Property Insights. Polymers 2025, 17, 2161. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17152161

AMA Style

Poluri N, Singer C, Salas-de la Cruz D, Hu X. Tuning Corn Zein-Chitosan Biocomposites via Mild Alkaline Treatment: Structural and Physicochemical Property Insights. Polymers. 2025; 17(15):2161. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17152161

Chicago/Turabian Style

Poluri, Nagireddy, Creston Singer, David Salas-de la Cruz, and Xiao Hu. 2025. "Tuning Corn Zein-Chitosan Biocomposites via Mild Alkaline Treatment: Structural and Physicochemical Property Insights" Polymers 17, no. 15: 2161. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17152161

APA Style

Poluri, N., Singer, C., Salas-de la Cruz, D., & Hu, X. (2025). Tuning Corn Zein-Chitosan Biocomposites via Mild Alkaline Treatment: Structural and Physicochemical Property Insights. Polymers, 17(15), 2161. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17152161

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