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A sustainable biomass-based nanocomposite hydrogel was formulated, characterized, and applied for curcumin delivery. Phytosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) employing musk melon (Cucumis melo) seed extract was embedded in the hydrogel matrices and cross-linked using Dialdehyde cellulose prepared from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) bagasse (SCB). Nanoparticle incorporation enhanced the hydrogel's swelling degree to 4048% at pH 4.0. Also, an improved tensile strength of 14.1 ± 0.32 MPa was exhibited by the nanocomposite hydrogel compared to 9.79 ± 0.76 MPa for the pure chitosan cellulose hydrogel. A curcumin loading efficiency of 89.68% with around 30% increased loading was exhibited for the nanocomposite hydrogel. A Fickian diffusion-controlled curcumin release mechanism with maximum release at pH 7.4 was obtained. The synergistic effect on the antimicrobial activity was exhibited against Staphylococcus aureus and Trichophyton rubrum. The in vitro cytotoxicity studies employing L929 cells and A431 cells demonstrated good biocompatibility and enhanced anticancer activity of the curcumin-loaded green nanocomposite hydrogel compared to pure curcumin.

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BACKGROUND In this study, hydrophilic metal oxides such as TiO2, ZrO2 and ZnO were used as modifier for the preparation of polyethersulfone (PES) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for the filtration of cheese whey effluent. Nano metal oxide loading concentration was varied from 0.5 to 2.5 wt%. RESULTS Characterization of metal oxide studies show that the particles are hydrophilic and nanoscaled. ZnO nanoparticles are in the form of nanocluster and of size 14.28–20.10 nm. Physio‐chemical characterization of PES MMMs indicated that the nano metal oxides dispersed well in the PES matrix. Contact angle decreased up to 59.88° for 1.5 wt% TiO2 embedded PES (TiO2ePES) MMMs. Also, 1.5 wt% TiO2ePES MMMs gives a higher water permeability of 4.62 × 10–7 m s–1 kPa–1. Among membranes, 1.5 wt% TiO2ePES, 2.0 wt% ZrO2ePES and 1.5 wt% ZnOePES MMMs showed better flux, lower percentage fouling and better rejection for individual whey proteins. CONCLUSION The whey protein from cheese whey effluent was concentrated up to maximum of 43.9 mg L–1 using 2.0 wt% ZrO2ePES MMMs. It was found that 1.5 wt% TiO2ePES MMMs gives a higher average flux of 25.09 L m–2 h–1 and a lower flux reduction percentage of 39%. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry