<i>Venus antiqua</i> Clamshell-Derived Calcium Oxide Nanoparticles for the Preparation of PLA/<scp>d</scp>-Limonene/CaO Nanocomposites with Antimicrobial Properties
Viviana Moreno‐Serna, Claudio Oyarzún, Maria T. Ulloa-Flores, Lina Rivas, Francesca Antonella Sepúlveda, Carlos Loyo, Esmeralda Lopez Toro, Paula A. Zapata
Abstract
Antimicrobial films based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/ d -limonene/calcium oxide (CaO)-based nanocomposites were prepared by extrusion and successive thermocompression. d -Limonene was incorporated into PLA at a concentration of 5 or 10 wt %. Venus antiqua clamshell-derived calcium oxide (CaO) nanoparticles with an average diameter of 11.2 ± 9.9 nm were added at concentrations of 3 and 5 wt %. A decrease in the glass transition temperature ( T g ) by ca. 20% corroborated the plasticizing effect of d -limonene compared to pure PLA. The incorporation of 5 wt % CaO in PLA composites promoted a ca. 15% decrease in T cc . Although CaO induced a lower Young’s modulus and a lower thermal stability in nanocomposites, excellent antimicrobial performance was demonstrated. Both PLA/limonene and PLA/limonene/CaO films reached 99.99% efficiency against Escherichia coli, regardless of the source of irradiation, d -limonene, and nanoparticle loading. Therefore, these nanocomposites establish significant progress in developing sustainable antimicrobial materials in the fields of medicine or food packaging.