Non-Medical Applications of Chitosan Nanocomposite Coatings: History
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Subjects: Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
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Joydeep Dutta

Millions of tons of crustaceans are produced every year and consumed as protein-rich seafood but the shells and other non-edible parts constituting about half the body mass are wasted. The crustacean shells are a prominent source of polysaccharide (chitin) and protein. Chitosan, a de-acetylated form of chitin obtained from the crustacean waste are used for a variety of medical applications. In recent times, it has also found use in food and paint industries including marine antifouling coatings, due to its characteristic properties, like solubility in weak acids, film-forming ability, pH-sensitivity, antifouling properties, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. Chitosan composite coatings in food, paint and water treatment solutions have been developed. In food industries, chitosan-based composite films and coatings are applied for prolonging the post-harvest life of fruits and vegetables, while anti-corrosion and self-healing properties are mainly explored for antifouling applications in paints and metal ion chelation and antifouling properties are useful for water treatment.

  • Crustacean waste
  • Chitosan
  • Nanocomposite
  • Films or Coatings
  • Antimicrobial activity
  • Anti-corrosion
  • Antifouling
  • Food preservation
  • Fruits and vegetable
  • Water Treatment

1. Introduction

Millions of tons of crustaceans such as crabs, shrimps, lobsters, and krill are consumed as protein-rich seafood worldwide every year. The shells of the crustaceans and other non-edible parts which are about half the body mass, a prominent source of chitin and protein, are generally discarded as waste. Although chitin is the second largest natural polysaccharide on earth, after cellulose, it is not widely used for fabrication of products or as a food commodity due to its insolubility in commonly used solvents [1,2]. Chitosan (CH) can be obtained commercially from crustacean wastes and the cell walls of some fungi by the deacetylation of chitin [3,4,5]. The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has recommended chitosan a GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) material, which is increasingly attracting attention for potential applications in food, agriculture, and biomedicine.
Chitosan is a biopolymer and “hydrocolloid”. Although most hydrocolloids are neutral or negatively charged at acidic pH, chitosan is charged positively due to the presence of highly reactive amino groups. Chitosan is not extensively available in nature and is usually derived from chitin by the partial deacetylation in alkaline solutions at elevated temperatures, which is a linear polysaccharide composed of N-acetyl, D-glucosamine, and D-glucosamine units [6]. Chitosan has been used in food and paint applications owing to its superior characteristic properties, such as degradability, solubility in weak acids, pH-sensitivity, film-forming property, biocompatibility, non-antigenic properties, absence of toxicity, and low-cost [7,8,9]. Moreover, because of its natural origin and multiple possible applications, like preparation of biodegradable films, blends, coatings, composites, nanocomposites, etc., it has attracted the attention of both the scientific community and industries, particularly involved in food and paints applications (Figure 1). 
 
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Figure 1. Wide ranging industrial applications of chitosan.

2. Chitosan and its Properties

2.1. Source and Extraction

Chitin is a linear homo-polysaccharide comprising of b-(1, 4)-linked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine units (Figure 2). Chitin is commonly present in invertebrates, such as crustacean shells or insect cuticles, as well as in the cell walls of fungi, some mushroom envelopes, green algae, and yeasts [10,11,12]. Abdulwadud et al. reported that crustacean shells usually contain 20–30% chitin, 30–40% proteins, 30–50% calcium carbonate/phosphate, and some pigments (astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, lutein, or β-carotene), which varies depending on the sources, or species of sources, and harvesting seasons [13]. Chitosan has been extracted from shrimp shells [14,15,16,17], fish scales of Labeo rohita [18], squid gladius (Loligo vulgaris) [19], locust waste [20], honey bees waste [21], fungus like Aspergillus niger [22], silkworm chrysalides [23], fishery waste [18], and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) waste [24], amongst others.
 
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Figure 2. Chemical structures of chitin and chitosan.
 
Generally, chitin is commercially extracted from the exoskeleton of crustaceans (crab and shrimp shells) by acid treatments, followed by treatment with alkali to remove the calcium carbonates and proteins, respectively. The extraction process includes three major steps: demineralization, deproteinization, and depigmentation/discoloration (Figure 3). The demineralization step comprises the elimination of calcium carbonate and calcium chloride, which are the primary inorganic compounds in a crustacean’s exoskeleton. The digestion reaction is usually carried out in dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution followed by filtration, washing, and drying. The emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas is a significant indicator of the removal of mineral contents from the materials. In the second step, deproteinization is performed using an alkaline solution, such as dilute sodium hydroxide (NaOH), followed by filtration, washing, and drying, similar to the first step, as described above. Proteins that are extracted from crustacean waste shells during this process have found use in animal feed [25]. The final step, depigmentation/discoloration, is a purification process during which color pigments such as astaxanthin and β-carotene are removed using organic and inorganic solvents, such as sodium hypochlorite, acetone, and hydrogen peroxide, to obtain purified chitin [26]. The most common process for the deacetylation of chitin is the treatment with concentrated sodium or potassium hydroxide solutions at elevated temperatures whereby the acetyl (-C2H3O) group gets removed from the polymer chain of chitin resulting in the formation of an amino (-NH2) group, thus forming N-acetyl-glucosamine and D-glucosamine copolymer.
 
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Figure 3. Schematic representation of the steps followed during the preparation of chitosan from crustacean wastes.

2.2. Physico-Chemical Properties of Chitosan

2.2.1. Degree of Deacetylation (DD)

The degree of deacetylation is one of the most significant chemical characteristics of chitosan determining the content of free amino groups (-NH2) formed due to partial replacement of acetyl groups (-C2H3O) resulting in a copolymer of N-acetyl-glucosamine and D-glucosamine. Copolymers formed containing higher than 50% D-glucosamine units are typically considered as chitosan, whereas copolymers with more than 50% N-acetyl-glucosamine units are referred to as chitin. For chitosan, the percentage of D-glucosamine units are termed as the degree of deacetylation (DD), whereas for chitin, the percentage of N-acetyl-glucosamine units are known as the degree of acetylation (DA). The degree of deacetylation (DD) of chitosan (ratio of D-glucosamine to the sum of D-glucosamine and N-acetyl D-glucosamine) provides an indication of the number of amino groups in the polymer chains (e.g., D-glucosamine residues of 70% in deacetylated chitin corresponds to a deacetylation degree of 70% and an acetylation degree of 30%).
The deacetylation of chitin begins in the amorphous regions followed by the crystalline regions, through chemical and biological (enzymatic) hydrolysis processes. Chemical treatment methods generally involve acidic or alkaline treatments under a nitrogen environment, or by the addition of sodium borohydride to NaOH solutions, to avoid any undesirable side reaction. Enzyme hydrolysis is environmentally friendly but is comparatively more expensive, thus primarily limited to laboratory-scale experiments [27]. Researchers determine DD of chitosan using acid-base titration [28], potentiometric titration [29], conductometric titration [30], 1H-NMR spectroscopy [31,32], elemental analysis [30], Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy [33], UV spectrophotometric analysis [34], capillary zone electrophoresis [35], and Raman spectroscopy [36].
DD indicates the amount of amino groups in chitosan polymer, that affect the properties of chitosan, such as charge, density, solubility, crystallinity, degradation behavior, mechanical, barrier, and thermal properties [37,38,39]. An increased percentage of amino groups in chitosan polymer makes it soluble in weak acids, a characteristic difference from chitin. The amino groups in chitosan polymer, which is highly reactive, contribute towards its versatility for utilization in industrial applications. Recently, Zhuang et al. investigated the effect of deacetylation degree on mechanical and barrier properties of chitosan films with three different DD values, 81.0%, 88.1%, and 95.2%, wherein CH films with higher DD values (88.1% and 95.2%) were found to have better water barrier property and tensile strength compared to films obtained with a chitosan of 81.0% DD value [37]. It has been reported that the antimicrobial efficiency also improves with the increase in the DD of chitosan that is generally attributed to the increase in the number of positive charges from the amine groups [39].

2.2.2. Molecular Weight (MW)

Molecular weight (MW) of chitosan also influences the physicochemical and antimicrobial properties. Chitosan is categorized into three different forms: high molecular weight (HM-CH) chitosan, low molecular weight (LM-CH) chitosan, and oligochitosan (O-CH, short-chained chitosan) [40]. Jongsri et al. reported the effect of molecular weights on the coating ability of chitosan and the postharvest quality of mango fruit by using three different molecular weights of chitosan, namely, high molecular weight chitosan (HM-CH: 360 kDa), medium molecular weight chitosan (MM-CH: 270 kDa), and low molecular weight chitosan (LM-CH: 40 kDa) [41]. HM-CH coatings were found to be effective in delaying the ripening of mango fruit by retaining the titratable acidity, fruit firmness, and slowing down the rate of weight loss, ethylene production, and respiration. Additionally, HM-CH-coated fruits exhibited no incidences of spoilage throughout the reported storage period of 16 days. More recently, Zhong et al. evaluated the effect of MW on film-forming ability, electrostatic spraying atomization performances, and other film characteristics. Chitosan films were prepared with different molecular weights of chitosan (MW 6.55 kDa, 12.93 kDa, and 47.70 kDa) using the electrostatic spraying (ES) technique [42]. The results indicate that with an increase in the MW of chitosan, some film-forming solution properties, such as conductivity, viscosity, surface tension, and contact angle, were raised due to the increase in the proportion of amine-groups and degrees of CH chain entanglements. Moreover, with the increase in MW, water barrier property and tensile strength of CH films were also found to improve. However, the antibacterial capacities of chitosan films against Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua were inferior when higher MW chitosan-based coatings were applied [42]. High molecular weight chitosan cannot pass through the bacterial membrane and hence, they stack on the cell surface, which may alter the membrane permeability affecting the transport of nutrients into the microbial cell membrane, resulting in cell lysis, whereas chitosan with a lower molecular weight can proactively penetrate into the nuclei of a microorganism and could bind with DNA, inhibiting synthesis of mRNA and resulting in subsequent cell death [43,44]. No et al. however, reported that the antimicrobial activity was higher for lower molecular weight chitosan with Gram-negative bacteria, but not for Gram-positive bacteria, which is still an area of contention amongst researchers [45].

2.2.3. Solubility

Chitosan is a semi-crystalline polymer due to the strong inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonds. Solubility plays a critical role in various applications of chitosan as it is readily soluble in dilute acidic solutions at pH < 6.0 but insoluble in most organic solvents. The pKa value of primary amine groups of chitosan is ~6.3, and thus, under acidic conditions, the amine groups are protonated, leading to repulsion between positively charged macromolecular chains, which allow water molecules to diffuse in and solubilize the polymer. Chitosan precipitates in solutions at pH > 6.0, limiting the use of chitosan in basic conditions. Derivatives of chitosan such as acyl-chitosan [46], N-alkyl-chitosan [47], hydroxyalkyl-chitosan [48], PEG-chitosan [49], carboxymethyl chitosan acyl thiourea [50], and TEMPO-laccase oxidized chitosan [51] have been synthesized to improve the solubility in water over broader pH ranges. Water-soluble derivatives of chitosan have been reported to be effective in food, paints, and water treatment applications [52,53,54].

2.3. Antimicrobial Properties

Allan and Hadwiger first reported the antifungal properties of chitosan and suggested that chitosan does not only possess fungicidal properties but is also more effective on a wider range of fungi than chitin [55]. Since then, several researchers have evaluated the antimicrobial nature of chitosan against different microorganisms and their action mechanisms, but no clear consensus on the mechanism of antimicrobial activity of chitosan has yet been reached [56,57,58,59,60]. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the antimicrobial properties of chitosan. These include: (i) interactions between the positively charged amine groups of chitosan and the negatively charged microbial cell membranes, leading to leakage of cellular constituents; (ii) activation of several defence mechanisms in the host tissue by chitosan molecules acting as a water-binding agent and hindering several enzymes by blocking their active centres; (iii) chitosan as a chelating agent, selectively binding metals and then preventing the microbial growth; (iv) chitosan (high-molecular-weight) forms an impervious polymeric layer on the cell surface that alters cell permeability and ultimately blocks the entry of nutrients into the cell; (v) penetration of chitosan into microbial cytosol that may bind with DNA, resulting in alterations for the synthesis of mRNA and proteins, mostly prevalent with low-molecular-weight chitosan; (vi) adsorption and flocculation of electro-negative materials in the cell, hampering the physiological properties of microorganisms, triggering cell death.
The most widely accepted mechanisms for antimicrobial activity of chitosan is the interaction between the positively charged amine groups of chitosan and the negatively charged microbial cell membranes. In acidic solutions (pH < 6.3) chitosan has a polycationic nature and the positively charged amino groups of chitosan interact with negatively charged components on microbial cell membranes, causing extensive alterations to the cell surface and membrane barrier properties, leading to leakage of intracellular contents that results in cell death. Tyagi et al. have demonstrated this hypothesis through a mechanistic study of chitosan nanoparticles against Gram-positive bacteria, S. aureus [56]. As chitosan has pKa ~6.3, in mildly acidic conditions it is protonated, leading to a reduction in osmotic stability affecting membrane disruption that may efficiently lead to alterations in cell permeability and leakage of intracellular contents, ultimately imbibing rupture of a cell. In addition, positively charged chitosan may interact with negatively charged teichoic acids in the cell wall of gram-positive microbes leading to the formation of small pores on the cell wall and subsequently leading to leakage of the intracellular components [56]. Li et al. suggested that increased permeability of the outer membrane of Escherichia coli is the primary reason for the antibacterial activity of chitosan against such Gram-negative bacteria. Increased permeability leads to the release of cellular contents followed by cell lysis, as shown through microstructural analysis using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) (Figure 4) [61].
 
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Figure 4. Transmission Electron Micrographs (TEM) of E. coli (a) treated with buffer and (b–d) chitosan of 50 kDa molecular weight, (Reproduced with permission from [61], Copyright © 2010, Elsevier).

2.4. Self-Healing Properties

The ability of a material to heal or repair damages automatically or with some external stimulation independently is called self-healing. Numerous polymeric materials with self-healing capabilities have been fabricated in recent years [62,63,64,65]. Self-healing materials, being capable of forming reversible bonds or reactions in the networks, enhance the durability of the materials. An example of chitosan-based self-healing materials that have attracted attention are anticorrosion self-healing paints [66,67,68,69]. Despite significant achievements in the development of chitosan-based self-healing materials, several challenges still need to be addressed for wider applications. An appropriate balance between mechanical strength, self-healing capacities, and mechanical robustness is required for the fabrication of newly developed, chitosan-based, self-healing materials.
Applications of self-healing coatings include automotive refinish on the backside of smartphones to stop the development of corrosion in scratches [70], etc. Due to excellent film-forming properties, superior adhesion to metallic surfaces, and self-healing abilities, chitosan-based self-healing coatings have been effective in protecting metal surfaces and metallic pieces [71,72]. Two main approaches have been pursued for corrosion protection in self-healing coatings: (i) the fixing of defects by adding polymerizing agents in polymeric coating matrix and (ii) by using corrosion inhibitors that can protect corroding areas [73]. In anti-corrosion paints, self-healing refers to both dynamic care of the substrate and structural repair of the coatings, offering superior protecting ability and increased longevity of the coating compared to other protective coatings [71]. Chitosan- and cerium (Ce)-based self-healing coatings have been reported to protect aluminium alloy 2024 from corrosion [68,74]. 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) has been used as an effective corrosion inhibitor in chitosan-based coating for aluminium alloys 2024. The study revealed that MBT has strong inhibiting ability and even after one week in a full immersion condition no corrosion attack was reported [71]. In the study, the surface properties of the chitosan coatings were also improved by chemical grafting using poly (ethylene-alt-maleic anhydride) (PEMA) and poly (maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene) (PMAO) to increase its hydrophobicity, which is important for corrosion protection in atmospheric conditions. Due to good wettability and adhesion properties it was argued that chitosan provides corrosion protection, simultaneously working as a reservoir for the corrosion inhibitor which prevents the formation of pittings on aluminium alloy. The grafting of chitosan at the coating/solution interface with PEMA and PMAO provided an adequate hydrophobic effect, especially in the case of chitosan loaded with MBT, leading to the delay of ingress of electrolyte towards the metal interface. The combination of active corrosion protection due to MBT and the surface hydrophobicity conferred by grafting could be the reason behind the efficient protection from corrosion to aluminium alloy 2024 [71].

3. Chitosan-Based Nanocomposites

Previously, many studies have reported chemical modification of chitosan either by coupling with small molecules or grafting with polymers, for changing/improvement or better use of the intrinsic properties of chitosan. Chitosan has been grafted with poly-lactide to form polymeric amphiphilic micelles [75] or polyethyleneimine (PEI) to form a branched PEI-g-chitosan with lowered cytotoxicity but higher gene transfection efficiency compared to PEI [76]. More recently, chitosan-based nanocomposites have emerged, where both polymer and nanoparticles contribute to the improvement or enhancement of specific properties. Dispersed nanomaterials contained in chitosan polymer matrix not only improves the physical, mechanical, and thermal stability of chitosan but also endows the composite with its intrinsic properties, such as high surface area or extraordinary physicochemical properties. Chitosan nanocomposites formed between chitosan and metal/metal oxide, carbon, polymer, or clay materials via physical or chemical interaction and their applications in food, paints, and environmental fields are summarized in Table 1.

3.1. Chitosan-Metal/Metal Oxide

A noble metal, such as silver, is an effective antimicrobial agent [77,78,79] and can be synthesized in situ in a chitosan matrix due to the metal ion chelation capability of chitosan. Taking into account that silver nanoparticles are well-known for their antimicrobial property, chitosan-silver nanocomposite coatings materials have been studied on metal, glass, wood, etc., surfaces [80,81,82]. Metal oxide nanomaterials are commonly applied in the polymer matrix as filler materials to enhance the antimicrobial and mechanical properties of the films and coatings, which are mainly used in food packaging and food preservation applications [83,84,85,86]. Silica nanoparticles in chitosan were reported to selectively absorb rare earth elements [87], while zinc oxide nanoparticles were reported to photo-catalytically generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to high anti-diatom and anti-bacterial activities under sunlight [85,86].

3.2. Chitosan-Carbon Materials

Carbon-based nanomaterials, such as CNT, graphene, and graphene oxide have been well-studied. Incorporation of graphene oxide into chitosan improves the mechanical properties of chitosan in addition to enhancing its antimicrobial and pollutant removal abilities [88,89]. Chitosan has been applied to improve the solubility of CNT and to reduce its toxicity for facilitating practical applications (Table 1) [90].

3.3. Chitosan-Polymer Mixture or Copolymer

Chitosan is often introduced to other types of polymers to form a mixture or copolymer in order to enhance the properties for specific applications (Table 1). Attributed to the chemical reactivity of primary amine groups in chitosan, polymers containing activated carboxyl groups can be covalently linked with chitosan, commonly employing carbodiimide crosslinking reagents to form an amide bond between an amine and carboxyl group [91,92]. For polymers containing abundant hydroxyl groups, such as cellulose, physical mixture/interaction with chitosan is often used for the preparation of chitosan-cellulose hydrogels through simple Van der Waal interactions without changing chemical structures[93]. Alternatively, chemical linking of polymers containing hydroxyl groups to chitosan works by the activation of hydroxyl into imidazolyl carbamate intermediates, that react with primary amine groups in chitosan to form N-alkyl carbamate linkages [94]. Since chitosan is a polycationic molecule, it can easily interact with negatively charged electrolyte/polymers/particles through electrostatic interactions. For instance, chitosan-nucleic acid nanoparticle complex can be formed by coacervation between the positively charged amine groups and negatively charged phosphate groups in the nucleotide. Alginic acid/alginate, a natural polysaccharide, has a similar chemical structure to chitosan but contains carboxylic instead of amine groups. Due to the opposite charges, chitosan and alginate can easily form electrostatic complexes [95].

3.4. Chitosan-Clay Composites

Clay is finely grained soil mainly composed of metal oxides or hydroxides with traces of organic matters. Owing to its small particle size (ca. 1 μm) and excellent colloidal properties, clay has been widely used in different applications, such as for water purification, as an odor absorbent, and as a lubricant in construction industries. Because of the structural characteristics, clay nanotubes and platelets can be used to load active agent to improve the passive barrier performances of anticorrosive coating [96]. Due to the electrostatic interaction between chitosan and clay, the composites are normally combined through adsorption, gelation, or intercalation. In chitosan-clay nanocomposites, clay exhibits its characteristic properties, such as absorption of specific species [97,98] or hemostatic properties [99], while chitosan can provide a higher loading or the cross-linked chitosan network as a support or scaffold for clay (Table 1).
 
Table 1. Examples of chitosan-based nanocomposites and their applications.
Chitosan Molecular Weight/Viscosity Type of Nanomaterials in Composite Name of Nanomaterial/Polymer/Clay Preparation Method of Chitosan Nanocomposite Form of Chitosan Nanocomposites Specific Application Key/Enhanced Properties Application Field Reference
100 kDa Metal Ag nanoparticles In situ reduction on chitosan Thin film coating on bandage Antibacterial activity against E. coliand S. aureus Inactivation bacterial metabolism Antimicrobial [100]
Medium molecular weight Metal Ag nanoparticles In situ reduction on chitosan Ag nanoparticles anchored on chitosan particles Sensing of ammonia in solution Sensitive in optical absorption intensity and wavelength Environment [101]
Medium molecular weight Metal oxide ZnO nanoparticles Blending Thin film coating Antifouling prevention Anti-diatom activity and antibacterial activity against the marine bacterium Anti-biofouling [85,86]
Low viscosity Metal oxide SiO2 nanoparticles In situ Stöber method grown on chitosan Slurry packed in liquid chromatography (LC) column Adsorption of rare-earth elements High adsorption efficiency, selectivity, and reusability Environmental [87]
190–310 kDa Carbon Graphene oxide Cross-linking Thin film Antimicrobial against E. coliand B. subtilis Improved mechanical and antimicrobial properties Antimicrobial [88]
300 kDa Carbon Graphene oxide Cross-linking Hydrogel Removal of dyes and metal ions from water Tunable surface charge; efficient removal of pollutants Environmental [89]
N/A Polymer low density poly-ethylene (LDPE) film Grafting Coating Significant changes in surface wettability Improved anti-thrombogenic properties Antifouling [92]
N/A Clay Halloysite clay nanotubes Electrostatical adsorption Coating Anticorrosive protective Improved passive barrier protective and self-healing Environmental [96]
50–190 kDa Clay Bentonite and sepiolite Blend Thin film Winemaking application Enhanced immobilization of protease but negatively affected catalytic properties Antimicrobial [97]
Medium molecular weight Clay Bentonite Gelation and lyophilization Bead Carbon dioxide adsorption High adsorption capacity under moderate condition Environmental [98]

 

4. Applications of Chitosan-Based Nanocomposites

4.1. Water Purification

Synthetic dyes are used increasingly for industrial applications, particularly in the textile industry, which leads to severe water pollution because of the discharge of unutilized dyes into water bodies. Over 10,000 different colorants (dyes and pigments) are used in textile industries and over 7 × 105 tons of synthetic dyes are annually produced worldwide [102,103]. Most of the synthetic dyestuffs are discharged into the ecosystem without appropriate treatments, thus triggering global environmental problems [103]. Removal of dyes from water bodies is challenging because of their inert nature and existence in low concentrations. Chitosan has received attention in water purification as it is an inexpensive biopolymer and also due to the presence of a large number of reactive amino (-NH2) and hydroxyl (-OH) groups. Adsorption of acid dyes on chitosan and modified chitosan materials occurs because of the electrostatic interaction between negatively charged dye ions and the protonated amino groups [104]. Shen et al. demonstrated that the removal of dyes from alkaline effluent involves chelating interactions rather than electrostatic interactions [105].
The removal of dye from wastewater using nanocomposites of chitosan has been achieved using several processes, such as physical adsorption, ion-exchange, hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic attractions, and chemical bonding. Chitosan-based composite fibers (MNPs/ZnPc-CS) and pellets of zinc photocatalysts (ZnPc)-supported metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles have been synthesized by Ali et al. for metal ions uptake [106]. The MNPs/ZnPc-CS fibers were used as dip-catalysts for the reduction of nitrophenols and azo dyes like methyl orange (MO) and congo red (CR). The results showed that the developed composites exhibited excellent catalytic efficiency and recyclability in the reduction of these dyes.
 
Zhou et al. fabricated three low-cost polypyrrole-based composites, i.e., polypyrrole-chitosan-lignosulfonate (PPY-CS-LS), polypyrrole-chitosan (PPY-CS), and polypyrrole-lignosulfonate (PPY-LS) via polymerization (in-situ) of pyrrole monomers with chitosan (CS) and/or lignosulfonate (LS) as dispersants in order to improve the dye adsorption capacity of polypyrrole [107]. The selective adsorption properties of these composites were investigated for six dyes, i.e., methylene blue (MB), malachite green (MG), amaranth (AM), acid orange 10 (AO10), congo red (CR), and acid blue74 (AB74). The synergistic effects of amino/hydroxyl-containing functional groups from CS, sulfonic groups from LS, and nitrogen-containing functional groups from PPY chains resulted in high adsorption performance (feasible and spontaneous) for dyes with the PPY-CS-LS composite.

4.2. Antifouling Paints and Coatings

Marine biofouling is the undesirable growth of organisms on submerged surfaces in ponds, rivers, estuaries, and oceans [108]. Any submerged, clean, and unprotected substrate are quickly colonized by microorganisms (bacteria, diatoms, and unicellular eukaryotes) and later by larvae of invertebrates and spores of algae [109,110]. Biofouling has huge economic impacts in maritime industries [111]. Biofouling significantly increases vessel drag, fuel consumption, clogs membranes and pipes, and also interfere with the stability of sensors attached to the vessels. Worldwide, countries spend billions of US dollars in order to manage and prevent this problem [112]. Currently, antifouling paints utilize toxic biocides that pollute the environment [111]. Thus, new low-cost and non-toxic antifouling paints are urgently needed. Chitosan has been proposed as a promising antifouling agent due to its antimicrobial properties [113]. Plastic substrates coated with 2.5% chitosan significantly reduced the settlement of bryozoan Bugula neritina compared to untreated substrates. Chitosan mixed with a non-toxic paint base applied to plastic substrates were found to protect from bacterial fouling over one week of laboratory experiments [114]. Chitosan incorporated into a silicon-polyurethane marine paint was exposed to biofouling for over two months in cold seawater [113]. Experiments demonstrated a short-term antibacterial action of chitosan, while no anti-algal action was observed. In contrast, chitosan paints significantly reduced densities of micro-fouling on the surface of a sea glider exposed to periodical oscillations of environmental conditions in the Sea of Oman. Moreover, it was found that the structure of microbial communities formed on chitosan paints was similar to unprotected surfaces and was totally different from what is found on surfaces coated with copper-based antifouling paints, suggesting that chitosan-based coatings have a minimal negative impact on marine communities [115].
Few researchers have combined chitosan with nanoparticles in order to increase antifouling properties and stability of coatings. Chitosan-ZnO hybrid coatings were found to inhibit bacterial and diatom fouling more efficiently than chitosan coatings alone [86]. Nanocomposite films of chitosan mixed with silver nanoparticles were found to be effective against E. coli and Bacillus bacteria and thus it was proposed that these “green” films can be used as packaging materials [116]. Nitric oxide (NO)-releasing chitosan coatings were found to exhibit dose-dependent behavior for the degradation of biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa [117]. The effect of NO-chitosan coating was better than chitosan alone, suggesting synergistic action of chitosan and NO. Chitosan functionalized with polyelectrolyte brushes were tested against bacteria in laboratory experiments and against biofouling in static field experiments in the Mediterranean sea, showing promising antifouling activities [118].
 
Chitosan membranes show strong antibacterial properties [119] and the growth of gram-positive bacteria was found to reduce more significantly than gram-negative bacteria. Cellulose membranes with smaller pore sizes, when modified with higher molecular weight chitosan, were found to have improved antibacterial activity against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative E. coli bacteria [120]. Forward osmosis (FO) membrane coated with chitosan and graphene oxide nanosheets on a porous support layer, was found to be effective in fouling rejection of alginate in laboratory experiments [121]. Silicone and glass surfaces coated with chitosan nanocoatings were able to prevent the adsorption of proteins and biofilm formation by S. aureus wherein the antifouling effect was found to depend on the coating thickness [122]. Chitosan-modified polyacrylonitrile (PAN) hollow fiber membranes were reported to have better antibacterial properties against E. coli and Bacillus subtilis compared to unmodified PAN membranes [123]. Composite polyethersulfone (PES) nanofiltration membranes synthesized by blending O-carboxymethyl chitosan (O-CMC) and iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were found to have considerably higher water flux, permeation, and fouling resistance compared to PES membranes [124]. PES membranes prepared using O-CMC and silver nanoparticles were found to prevent protein fouling as well as a good antibacterial property towards E. coli and S. aureus [125].
 

4.3. Shelf-Life Extension of Fruits and Vegetables

During postharvest transportation and storage, fresh produce (fruits and vegetables) undergo quality deteriorations due to the various physiology reactions and processes, such as postharvest respiration, ripening, ethylene production, and senescence. These physiological changes are directly influenced by the surrounding environment, i.e., temperature, oxygen, humidity, and light, that lead to loss of water, texture, color, and nutrients of the produce [126,127]. Microbiological spoilage leads to postharvest losses of about 15% to 50% of fruits and vegetables produced worldwide [128]. In developing countries, the percentages of product losses are quite high due to a lack of appropriate technologies for postharvest storage of fruits and vegetables. The physiological, biochemical, and environmental changes promote the growth of postharvest pathogens that are the major causes of loss/damages in the supply chain. However, controlling postharvest destruction of fresh produce involves the application of synthetic antimicrobials, fungicides, and insecticides. Consumer concerns about the adverse effect of synthetic chemical residues on human health and environment and the chances of the development of pathogen resistance have led global scientific research towards the development of alternative strategies for the preservation of fresh produce [129].
The application of a natural polymer (biopolymer)-based films and coatings on food surfaces have recently gained interest for the shelf-life extension of fresh produce due to their similar functions to those of conventional protection or synthetic packaging. Out of several natural polymers, the use of chitosan-based treatment at the postharvest stages has been considered to be a suitable alternative treatment to replace the use of synthetic chemicals [130]. Chitosan-based films and coatings have been reported to effectively extend quality and storability of food products in general, and of fresh agricultural produce in particular, due to its excellent natural antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities [131,132,133,134].

4.3.1. Packaging Films

One of the main research areas in food industries has focused on developing new packaging techniques capable of improving post-harvest life of fresh foods based on their interaction with packaging. Such techniques called "active packaging" is defined as the incorporation of an active system/materials into packaging film or a container to maintain the quality or extending the shelf-life of food products. In particular, antimicrobial packaging is one of the most innovative and promising active packaging systems developed over the last decade, for inhibiting microbial growth and action, leading to the maintenance of food quality with improved shelf-life [132,135,136].
Biopolymer-based packaging films have received considerable interest as an alternative packaging material to plastics. Bioplastics are usually degradable under appropriate conditions of moisture, temperature, and oxygen availability and do not produce any toxic residues. Major problems associated with biodegradable polymers are three-fold (3P): performance, processing, and price. Performance and processing related problems are universal to almost all biodegradable polymers irrespective of their origin [137]. In particular, brittleness, low heat-distortion temperature, high gas-vapor barrier properties, and poor resistance to harsh processing operations limit extensive applications of biopolymers. Application of nanotechnology forming nanocomposites has opened new options for improving properties of biopolymers. Through the incorporation of nanoscale materials as a filler into biopolymer matrices markedly improve mechanical, thermal, barrier, and other physio-chemical properties, compared to base polymers and conventional (microscale) composites [138]. Nano-sized fillers can be either inorganic or organic materials, such as clay (e.g., montmorillonite, attapulgite), natural antimicrobial agents (e.g., nisin), metal (e.g., silver, gold), and metal oxides (e.g., zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO2)) leading to antimicrobial activity, thermal stability and improved mechanical properties of biopolymer films [131,133,137,139,140,141]. Chitosan-ZnO hybrid coatings on polyethylene films have been reported to reduce the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi [85], as well as increased the shelf life of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) vegetables [142]. Zhang et al. developed a chitosan-TiO2 composite film that was effective against E. coli, S. aureus, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger with 100% sterilization achieved within 12 h [131]. The composite film could successfully protect red grapes from microbial infection thus enhancing their shelf-life (Figure 5). 
 
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Figure 5. Preservation of red grapes wrapped with (a) polyethylene film, (b) pure chitosan film, and (c) chitosan-TiO2 film, stored at 37 °C for six days. (Reproduced with permission from [131], Copyright © 2017, Elsevier).
 

4.3.2. Coatings of Fruits and Vegetables

Coatings provide a thin layer of materials on food surfaces to maintain or control the ingress of gases, moisture, and solutes from the environment. Additionally, coatings can also act as a carrier for functional antimicrobial and antioxidant substances to additionally enhance its functionality for ensuring food quality and food safety of fresh produce (Figure 6). Coatings on the surface of fruits and vegetables could provide the following functions:
 
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Figure 6. Illustration of coatings for improving the shelf-life of fresh produce.
  • Offer barrier properties against moisture and oxygen
  • Help to deliver antimicrobial activity to inhibit or delay the microbial growth
  • Deliver antioxidant effects that help to reduce the oxidation process, loss of color, vitamins, etc.
  • Help to maintain the loss of volatile components and stop acquiring foreign odors
Several researchers have reported the development or fabrication of chitosan-based nanocomposite coating formulations to improve post-harvest storage life by studying moisture loss, reduced respiration process, deliverability of antimicrobial and antioxidant agent, etc. 
 

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