PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PVA/AZADIRACHTA INDICA BIO-COMPOSITE FOR THE ADVANCED MEDICAL TEXTILE APPLICATIONS

Abstract

In recent years, the development of bio-composites for various applications has gained significant attention due to their sustainable and multifunctional nature. The combination of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) and Azadirachta indica (Neem) extract in the form of bio-composite films holds promise for diverse applications including medical textiles, biomedical materials, and agricultural products. This study aims to develop and characterize the PVA/neem bio-composite by film casting method for medical textile applications. Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) reports have all examined the bonding behavior, orientation of the bio-composite, and thermal behaviors, respectively. Using the Agar Disc Diffusion method, the generated sample's antibacterial activity was evaluated against both Gram-positive (S. aureus) and Gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria. The surface of the produced samples is shown in the SEM image to have a moderate texture and porosity of 11.13% and 9.25%, respectively, indicating its appropriateness for use in wound healing applications. The antibacterial components of neem extract led to bacterial resistance against E. Coli and Staphylococcus aureus of up to 18 mm and 21 mm, respectively. Furthermore, the presence of both components was verified by the distinctive peaks of PVA and neem ingredients in the produced bio-composite's FTIR spectra, which identified O=C=O stretching, O-H stretching, C-H bending of aromatic rings, etc. The produced bio-composite showed superior thermal characteristics in terms of weight loss percentage, according to the thermal behavior data. Consequently, the created bio-composite may find usage in wound healing applications as a biodegradable and bio-based material.