ABSTRACT
Development of biopolymeric nanocomposites (BNCs) and biopolymeric nanoparticles (BNPs) from biodegradable materials has received signiŠcant attention over the past few years (Gref et al., 2002; Panyam and Labhasetwar, 2003; Szymonska et al., 2009). Generally, BNCs and BNPs of synthetic or natural polymers are submicro solid colloidal particles, with size ranging from 1 to 1000 nm. In these BNPs and BNCs, nanoŠllers can be encapsulated, adsorbed, or covalently attached. BNCs are new generation of nanocomposites (NCs), contributing innovative developments in the material science, life science, and nanotechnology (Darder et al., 2007). Research on BNCs has evolved development of natural polymer-based NCs, which showed improvements in mechanical, thermal, and functional properties (Yu et al., 2009). Other additional beneŠts of natural-based NCs include low density, transparency, ¡owability, improved surface properties, and recyclability (Zhao et al., 2008). BNCs are a mixture of polymers with organic or inorganic Šllers of particular size (nano), geometry, and surface chemistry (Zhao et al., 2008). NanoŠllers include solid-layered clays, synthetic polymer nanoŠbers, cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW), and carbon nanotubes (Ma et al., 2009). Nanoparticles (NPs) are also recognized as possible additives to improve the properties of BNCs.
