Development and characterization of chitosan-based antimicrobial films incorporated with streptomycin loaded starch nanoparticles

Nowadays, Chitosan has attained more attention due to its potential applications in food, agriculture and pharmaceutics. The cationic nature of chitosan enhances the film forming capacity of this polymer. However, films made only from chitosan lack water resistance and have reduced mechanical properties. The functional properties of chitosan films can be improved when chitosan films are combined with other film forming materials. The objective of this study was to prepare chitosan based antimicrobial films by the incorporation of streptomycin loaded starch Nanocrystals. Different properties of this film such as swelling nature, moisture content, degradation nature and the antimicrobial activity of modified chitosan films were investigated. Drug releasing efficacy of the film was also studied. The addition of streptomycin loaded Starch nanocrystals in chitosan-gelatin film increased crystallinity of the film, lowered the swelling nature of the film to a controlled manner. Moreover the Modified chitosan based antimicrobial film showed almost 90% of 'Escherichia coli' inhibition and 80% of 'Bacillus subtilis' inhibition and also the film showed a sustained release (60%) of streptomycin for 10 days. Focal point • Benchside Synthesis of streptomycin loaded starch nanoparticles (SS-NPs) using nanoprecipitation method and the development of novel chitosan based antimicrobial film by the incorporation of streptomycin loaded starch nanoparticles using solvent casting technique • Bedside Development of potential multifunctional antimicrobial film for medical, pharmaceutical and food based applications due to its excellent film forming ability, biocompatibility, biodegradability and antimicrobial property • Industry The designed unique antimicrobial film, if finely tuned, can be used both in biomedical fields for developing scaffolds in tissue engineering, wound dressing material, capsule material for sustained drug release and immobilization of enzyme and food industry as packaging material • Government Financial investment and support from government would help to develop new novel translational tools which contribute for better health care and also help to reduces disease burden • RegulatoryStringent regulatory principles limit the clinical trials essential for validation of biomaterials which might have turned in to a highly beneficial multifunctional product such as antimicrobial film potentially useful both in biomedical and food industry.