Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most widely used biopolymers, and it has demonstrated a huge potential for replacing some of the conventional plastics in certain application fields. However, due to a lack of other attributes such as antimicrobial properties and slow degradation rates, it is often blended with other polymers to impart these properties. Chitosan has desirable features including antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, biodegradability and biocompatibility, and environmental friendliness. Thus, it is widely blended with PLA to generate materials that can be applied in various fields. In recent years, PLA/chitosan blend composites and nanocomposites have been produced to develop sustainable and ecofriendly materials that can be suitable in active food packaging, water treatment, air filtration, and biomedical applications. This review provides an overview of the recent advancements in the development of PLA/chitosan blend composites and nanocomposites for various applications. The processing strategies, mechanical and thermal properties, together with utilization in biomedical, air filtration, water treatment, and packaging applications, are provided.

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The environmental and ecological concerns drive researchers to synthesize functional materials using components from natural resources. Nanocellulose (NC), derived from plants, marine animals, or microorganisms, is a green material attracting attention due to its abundance, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. NC’s interstice properties enable the synthesis of functional nanocomposites in forms like aerogels, foams, paper, sheets, or hollow filaments. This review briefly describes NC classification and production while comprehensively presenting its mechanical, rheological, optical, and electrical properties, offering foundational knowledge for future research. Additionally, it highlights recent developments in NC-based products across fields such as papermaking, water treatment, civil engineering, electronics, cosmetics, food, and medicine. For the first time, this paper explores recent advances in NC molecular simulation, providing insights into structure, arrangement, and interactions through molecular dynamic simulation. Finally, future prospects for NC-based applications are discussed to encourage studies addressing current challenges.

Glyceryl lactate (GlyLA) was synthesized through the esterification of glycerol (Gly) and lactic acid (LA) to plasticize whey protein concentrate (WPC) films with three different ratios of WPC to plasticizer (85, 90, and 100% w/w). LA was also introduced as a new plasticizer of whey protein films and compared in similar contents. Gly-plasticized films were also used as control groups. The synthesized GlyLA, including compatible esterification degree with WPC, was characterized by Fourier transform infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-NMR) analyses. Then, the plasticizing effect of different types of plasticizers on the optical, thermal, mechanical, and water resistivity properties of the prepared films was evaluated. FTIR in attenuated total reflectance (ATR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), tensile measurements, and cup method were also employed to examine the molecular structure, transition temperatures, mechanical resistivity, and water vapor permeability (WVP) of the modified films. The results showed a lower glasstransition temperature (T_g) and better ductility. By Increasing plasticizer content, solubility and WVP were increased in all groups. Furthermore, WPC-based films plasticized with 80 or 90% w/w of LA and GlyLA exhibited not only higher tensile strength and flexibility but also remarkably lower WVP than Gly plasticized films, turning them into potential alternatives for application as food packaging.

Arsenic, an element found in the Earth’s mantle, can be highly toxic, especially in its As (III) form. It enters our food chain through human activities like melting metals, using arsenic-based pesticides, and natural processes like volcanoes and rock breakdown. Consuming too much arsenic is extremely dangerous, impacting many countries worldwide. To tackle this issue, various methods like filtering, adding chemicals, and using electricity have been developed to clean arsenic-contaminated water. Among these, adsorption is a standout approach due to its simplicity and effectiveness. Biopolymers from living sources offer a natural solution, easily tweaked for arsenic removal. These biopolymers contain functionalities that can strongly latch onto toxic materials, acting like magnets. By customizing them with compounds like titanium dioxide (TiO₂), magnetite (Fe₃O₄), and others, they become even better at capturing arsenic, shaped into tiny particles or beads. This adaptation makes biopolymers a promising choice for cleaning arsenic from water. This review focuses on ways to clean water, specifically exploring how materials like chitosan, alginate, and modified cellulose can be used to remove arsenic by adsorption. It investigates how these materials work under different conditions, highlighting important details. By sharing these insights, this article contributes to the ongoing efforts to ensure cleaner water resources.