Balbir Singh Kaith

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar | NITJ · Department of Chemistry

Nanohydrogels are nanoscale polymeric particles with physical and chemical cross-linking in the size range of 10 nm to 1000 nm and blend the significant characteristics of hydrogels with the versatile properties of nanoparticles. The nanoparticle matrices with soft, swellable, elastic tissue-like mechanical properties of hydrogels are biocompatible...

(without gelatin) was also synthesized to highlight the importance of gelatin in the hybrid hydrogel. The RSM-CCD (response surface methodology integrated central composite design) was used to optimize the synthesis of both the hydrogels to their maximum swelling capacity. The synthesis of hydrogel was confirmed using various characterization techn...

Hydrogels are composed of three dimensional structures with hydrated polymeric network. Nowadays, an exhaustive research has been carried out throughout the world related to the biomedical, pharmaceutical and environmental applications of hydrogels. Such materials possesses superabsorbent properties which can be controlled by varying the concentrat...

Polymer matrix composites have established themselves in the materials family due to their improved properties like high specific stiffness and strength, durability etc. Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET) is being used as matrix material in a variety of polymer matrix composites. Composite materials based on RPET matrix, in addition to bein...

Stretchabiliy, transparency and self-healing ability of bio-based materials are some of the important features for their utilization in the biomedical field. Recently, robust self-healing super porous materials possessing multi-functional nature have raised enormous interest among the researchers in order to design different materials which can be...

In the present study, the dialdehyde carboxymethyl cellulose (DCMC) was cross-linked covalently to gelatin via the Schiff base reaction to form a three-dimensional hydrogel (DCMC-cl-G). The crosslinking degree of DCMC and gelatin was estimated to be 50.31 ± 2.65. The maximum swelling capacity of the hydrogel in aqueous medium was around 74 g/g at p...

The current investigation highlights the synthesis of adsorption device MHa-g-poly(AN)-AE by graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) onto Holarrhena antidysenterica fiber in the presence of air along with Ferrous ammonium sulfate (FAS) and Potassium persulfate (KPS) initiators followed by quaternization process. Synthesized samples and backbon...

The work was intended to develop a novel acrylic acid grafted hydrogel by chemical crosslinking of Xanthan gum and starch under microwave irradiation . The swelling capacity of hydrogel was found to be dependent upon pH. The maximum swelling capacity of hydrogel was recorded as 32.21 g/g under the optimized conditions. The swelling capacity of hydr...

Over the years there has been a growing interest among researchers to produce and evaluate mechanical properties of fiber reinforced recycled thermoplastic and thermoset resin composites which are derived from non-biodegradable and non-renewable plastics that comprise of massive fraction of disregarded solid waste today. Current paper reviewed all...

This paper introduces a novel approach for the fabrication of antibacterial silver nanocomposite scaffolds using the plant gum exudate of Boswellia serrate. The fabrication of the nanocomposites was done through the formation of semi-IPN (Bs-cl-polyAAm-Gm) and IPN (Bs-cl-polyAAm-IPN-AA-Gm) matrices under the impact of high energy γ-radiations. The...

Polymeric matrices are highly preferable these days because of their eco-friendly usage, availability, and low cost. Inserting nanomaterials to the polymer matrices is further meant to be a boon as their usage is extended to a large number of applications. Nanofillers of any dimension whether 0D, 1D, 2D, or 3D have unique characteristics and applic...

The research work performed and described here is in regard to synthesis of dextrin-sodium alginate based hybrid hydrogel film. It showed the maximized percentage swelling at 1145% after optimization of all reaction parameters. It was further functionalized with a fluorophore, i.e., riboflavin, to introduce luminescent behavior to the film. The RDS...

Natural polymer based smart hydrogels have wide field of applications. They follow a green approach right from the synthesis methods to their applications. They are currently the hot topic for researchers and are widely used as they are highly biodegradable, bio-compatible and bio-erodible in nature. Their applications in addition to industrial sca...

A pH, temperature and salt sensitive hydrogel was synthesized using acrylic acid (AA) as monomer, natural polysaccharide Aloevera as backbone, ammonium per sulphate- N,N-methylene-bis-acrylamide (APS-MBA) as an initiator-crosslinker system via free radical grafting method. The different parameters such as treatment time, temperature, solvent, pH, c...

The research work carried out involves synthesis of quinine derivatized hydrogel film (Q-gel film) based on dextrin and Polyvinyl alcohol hybrid mixture. The maximum percentage swelling obtained for the synthesized gel-film was 295% for 1.88 mol/L acrylamide concentration, 0.266 mol/L glutaradehyde concentration, 5.48 × 10⁻² mol/L ammonium persulph...

A crosslinked hydrogel was synthesized using a hybrid backbone of karaya gum starch and grafted with polyacrylic acid. It showed a maximum swelling ratio of 30.5 g/g at pH 10 and was explored as an oral drug delivery carrier using paracetamol and aspirin as model drugs. In vitro release experiments revealed that maximum drug release at pH 7.4 in co...

Bacterial infection is a major problem in our society because some diseases originate from various microbes. Therefore, much research has been devoted to the design and engineering of novel nanomaterials with improved functionality for bacterial disinfection. In this regard, noble metal and metal oxides such as silver (Ag) and titanium dioxide (TiO...

The hybrid hydrogel of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and gelatin was synthesized by grafting of poly(acrylic acid) chains in the presence of ammonium persulphate (APS) as initiator and N, N′–methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as cross-linker in aqueous medium using microwave irradiation method. The hydrogel showed swelling ratio (SR) of 80 g/g at pH 10.0...

In the present article, the authors have highlighted the applications of some natural backbone based smart materials for the controlled release of drugs and their antibacterial properties. Different natural backbones including Gum ghatti, Gum tragacanth and Gum salai guggal were graft copolymerized with different monomers like acrylamide, acrylic a...

In the present paper, the authors have highlighted the use of natural fibre graft copolymers as reinforcing materials for the preparation of composite materials. Natural fibre backbones used were Flax, Saccharum spontaneous L, mercerized Flax etc. Different vinyl monomers were graft copolymerized onto natural fibre backbones. Composites prepared we...

The present work represents RSM-CCD (Response Surface Methodology integrated Central composite Design) optimized synthesis scheme of semi-IPN (semi interpenetrating network) NaAla-Gel-cl-polyAAm and ZnS nanocomposite adsorbent NaAla-Gel-cl-polyAAm/ZnS. Under optimized reaction parameters semi-IPN NaAla-Gel-cl-polyAAm showed maximum swelling percent...

This paper describes the fabrication of silver nanocomposites based on semi interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) and interpenetrating network (IPN) matrices and their antibacterial activity. The semi-IPN and IPN matrices were prepared under microwave radiation using polyacrylic acid and polyacrylamide chains to graft copolymerize the polysaccharide...

This paper deals with the synthesis of a biodegradable interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) from the natural polysaccharide aloe vera (Av), acrylamide (AAm) and acrylic acid (AA), and its evaluation as a dye removal device. In the synthesis of Av-cl-poly(AA-ipn-AAm), ammonium persulfate (APS) was used as an initiator, N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide...

Blending of xanthan and acacia gives a unique hybrid that was used for the synthesis of semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) in which poly(acrylamide) chains were grafted onto hybrid of xanthan-acacia followed by their cross-linking (Xan-Aca-cl-poly(AAm)). Optimization was carried out under response surface methodology-central composite design...

Gum acacia and sodium alginate were blended to synthesize highly efficient superadsorbent formed by grafting of poly(acrylic acid) (AA) used as monomer onto the hybrid of gum acacia and sodium alginate and the polymeric chains were crosslinked through N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA). The overall reaction followed free radical polymerization with...

The present work deals with the synthesis of a biodegradable interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) consisting of natural polysaccharide aloe vera, acrylamide and acrylic acid. Biodegradability of the synthesized IPN was studied through soil burial and composting methods. The synthesized IPN was completely degraded within 70 days through the compos...

This article critically reviews the recent developments in the structural modifications of chitosan and its nano-structured variants produced via different techniques and their potential applications in diversified biomedical fields such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound healing, and gene therapy. Chitosan, a unique cationic polysaccharid...

In the present work synthesis of novel silver nanocomposite Sg-cl-polyAAm-IA-Ag0 based on gum Salai guggal semi interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) Sg-cl-polyAAm-IA and its antimicrobial behavior has been described. Semi interpenetrating network was prepared under hot air conditions using acrylamide and N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide under the initiat...

The present research work describes the synthesis of a nanocomposite hydrogel [BFO/Mr-cl-poly(AAm)-IPN-poly(AA)] from nano bismuth iron oxide (BFO) synergistically coupled with interpenetrating network (IPN: Mr-cl-poly(AAm)-IPN-poly(AA)) of acrylic acid (AA) created within crosslinked network of a semi-IPN (Mr-cl-poly(AAm)). Semi-IPN was previously...

A facile and convenient tandem approach has been devised towards the diastereoselective synthesis of β‐carboline C‐3 tethered α‐methylene γ‐butyrolactones via indium‐promoted Barbier Type allylation reaction followed by in situ intramolecular lactonisation protocol. Interestingly, no additive was required for this transformation and the products we...

The present work deals with the fabrication of decomposable, agar-gelatin based semi-IPN superabsorbent which was cast-off as template for the synthesis of bioactive nano-hydroxyapatite. Microwave assisted free-radical polymerization technique was used and the optimized reaction parameters were: initiator (mol/L): 0.021; time (sec): 15; microwave p...

In the present study, the flocculation behavior of crosslinked copolymer GrA-cl-poly(AAm) hydrogel has been studied for the removal of turbidity from waste water. Sodium borohydride has been used for the reduction of the Gum rosin acids by which it gets converted into rosin alcohols. The reduced Gum rosin alcohol was crosslinked by the use of MBA a...

Present study envisaged the sequential experimental design approach for the development of biodegradable Gelatin-Tapoica/polyacrylamide superabsorbent. Percentage water uptake efficacy of candidate sample was optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) design under microwave irradiation. Different process variables such as potassium persulph...

Biodegradable hydrogel based on xanthan gum graft co-polymerized with polyacrylic acid was fabricated by free radical polymerization in presence of microwave radiations and its potential utility as bactericidal agent along with controlled agro-chemical release device was explored. The biodegradability was tested using soil burial method and it has...

Present work offers use of semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) and interpenetrating network (IPN) as the template for the synthesis of nano-hydroxyapatites. Semi-IPN and IPN of agar-gelatin were prepared and successfully used to synthesize nano-hydroxyapatite. Graft copolymerization technique was used to alter the properties of the hybrid back...

Present work is concerned with synthesis of semi-interpenetrating network based on Gum xanthan graft co-polymerized with polyacrylic acid in presence of glutaraldehyde-ammonium persulfate as cross linker-initiator system. Different reaction parameters were optimized in order to incorporate maximum fluid uptake efficacy. Further the sample is irradi...

The semi-IPN based on Psyllium-Gum xanthan hybrid backbone was synthesized using free-radical polymerization technique which was used for the sequestration of rhodamine-B dye from waste water. Response surface methodology (RSM) and Central composite design (CCD) was employed to optimize the synthesized semi-IPN with respect to maximum liquid uptake...

A crosslinked interpenetrating network based on gum xanthan was produced in the presence of gamma radiation and its potential as controlled release fertilizer was evaluated. Different process parameters such as gamma radiation dose, solvent amount, crosslinker and monomer concentrations were optimized to determine the maximum fluid uptake capacity...

Ggum-based conducting hydrogels possessing dye removal and antibacterial property were developed by two-step free-radical aqueous polymerization method. Conductivity was introduced with polyaniline (PANI) chains incorporated within the crosslinked network of Ggum-poly(itaconic acid) superabsorbent. The material properties of the synthesized samples...

Present work reports the synthesis of semi-Interpenetrating Network Polymer (semi-IPN) using Gelatin-Gum xanthan hybrid backbone and polyvinyl alcohol in presence of L-tartaric acid and ammonium persulphate as the crosslinker-initiator system. Reaction parameters were optimized with Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in order to maximize the percen...

The industrial demand for novel and smart materials as well as the urge for basic understanding has led to a notable improvement in the area of polymer science. Recently, significant consideration has been given to the modifications of biodegradable hydrogels based on natural polymers with conducting polymers (CPs), because this extends a straightf...

In the present work, the synthesis of novel device for the efficient removal of toxic cationic dye methylene blue (MB) from aqueous fluid was carried out. The device was fabricated by in-situ incorporation of K2Zn3[Fe(CN)6]2 ¢9H2O nanoparticles into gum semi-IPN matrix in the presence of glutaraldehyde-ammonium persulphate as crosslinker�initiator...

A systematic method was employed to synthesize organic-inorganic based hybrid ion-exchanger for the removal of rhodamine B dye from aqueous solution. Ion exchange capacity of the hybrid ion exchanger was found to be 2.4 meq/g. The morphology, chemical structure and elemental analysis of the synthesized hybrid ion exchanger were investigated by SEM,...

Gum xanthan/psyllium-based nanocomposite was prepared by microwave-assisted synthetic method for the removal of toxic Malachite green (MG) dye from aqueous solutions. The nanocomposite was prepared by in situ incorporation of the K2Zn3[Fe(CN)6]·9H2O nanoparticles into the semi-IPN matrix in the presence of ammonium persulphate and glutaraldehyde as...

Guar gum-poly(acrylic acid-aniline) based interpenetrating network hydrogels were prepared via two-step aqueous polymerization in which aniline monomer was in situ polymerized to induce electrical conductivity. The hydrogels were characterized by FTIR, TGA and SEM techniques. Biodegradation of synthesized hydrogels was performed in soil burial and...

The present work reported the gum xanthan–psyllium based semi-IPN which was used for the efficient capture of auramine-O dye from aqueous fluid. The semi-IPN was prepared using a free radical polymerization technique under hot air conditions using ammonium persulphate-glutaraldehyde as an initiator–crosslinker system. The liquid uptake capacity of...

Current advancements in green synthesis of materials especially nanoparticles have led to conservation of natural and non-renewable resources along with reduction in environmental pollution. Development of cost-effective, simple and eco-friendly routes for the synthesis of nanoparticles is very important. All over the world, a wide variety of bioge...

Present work reports the under pressure preparation of reduced gum rosin and acrylamide-based GrA-cl-poly(AAm) green flocculant. Characterization of the synthesized product was carried out by different techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction method and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, several variable...

A green route was successfully used to synthesize some manganese oxides (MO) nanoparticles like MnO2, Mn2O3 and Mn3O4 with varied Mn/O ratio. This approach involved utilization of Sapindus mukorossi (raw reetha)-water as a natural surfactant-solvent system. The most important feature of present work was that during the synthesis of nanoparticles, n...

Green surface modification of coconut fibers was performed using laccase biografting of eugenol for the development of antibacterial functionalities and fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Fourier transform infrared analysis, X-ray diffraction and surface morphology of grafted fibers were utilized to confirm the biografting of eugenol. Antibacteri...

Today's era of fast development demands advancements in existing products, which can be of great significance in different fields. Such demands are putting pressure for the search of new and renewable resources. Moreover, petroleum-based resources utilized by mankind are not going to serve for a longer period and have to look for some other alterna...

Prussian blue analogue potassium metal hexacyanoferrate (KMHCF) nanoparticles Fe 4 [Fe(CN) 6 ] 3 (FeHCF), K 2 Cu 3 [Fe(CN) 6 ] 2 (KCuHCF), K 2 Ni[Fe(CN) 6 ]·3H 2 O (KNiHCF), and K 2 Co[Fe(CN) 6 ] (KCoHCF) have been synthesized using plant based biosurfactant Aegle marmelos (Bael) and water as a green solvent. It must be emphasized here that no harm...

Figure 1 in Supplementary information describes the FT-IR spectra of all the synthesized KMHCF nanoparticles. A broad band in the range of 2000–2200 cm−1 is diagnostic of the νCN absorption of PB and its analogues. Peak below 400 cm−1 corresponds to the metal ion peak, whose frequency varies depending upon the transition metal ion. Also, degradatio...

Nature has nourished β-carboline and isoxazole derivatives as privileged scaffolds and consequently they are ubiquitously found in alkaloids isolated from various sources. Moreover, several drug molecules based on them have been released in the market. Considering their immense impact, novel β-carboline-isoxazole-based molecular hybrids have been d...

In this work, biodegradable hydrogel composite gum ghatti-co-poly(acrylic acid-aniline) (Gg-co-poly(AA-ANI) was prepared through graft copolymerization of ANI onto Gg-co-poly(AA) chains, in the presence of N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA) and ammonium persulphate (APS) as a crosslinker-initiator system in an aqueous solution. The matrix Gg-co-po...

In the present work, laccase from Trametes versicolor has been used for the biografting of natural phenol syringaldehyde (SA) on the surface of coconut fibers. Three parameters such as concentration of laccase, phenol and incubation period have been varied to optimize the reaction conditions for maximum biografting. Biografted coconut fibers were c...

Modification of natural polymers like protein by graft co-polymerization is an important method to incorporate the desired properties into the backbone. Soy protein concentrate (SPC) was grafted with ethylmethacrylate (EMA) using ascorbic acid /potassium persulphate as redox initiator system under pressure. Different reaction parameters such as rea...

The present paper is focused on the synthesis of a green GrA-cl-poly(AAm) adsorbent using N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide and potassium persulphate as a crosslinker–initiator system. The synthesized adsorbent was found to remove 83% of the toxic malachite green dye from aqueous waste water. Kinetic studies of the adsorption of the dye on the adsorben...

Poly(HEMA) chains grafted chemically modified Holarrhena antidysenterica fiber was converted into cation-exchanger using phosphorylation and p-doping technique. The cation-exchanger synthesized was found to remove about 94.6% methylene blue dye from aqueous solution. The graft copolymer and cation exchanger vis-a-vis backbone were characterized usi...

A novel green route was used to synthesize potassium zinc hexacyanoferrates (K2Zn3[Fe(CN)6]2.9H20) (KZnHCF) nanocubes using Sapindus mukorossi as natural surfactant and water as solvent. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fo...

The objective of the present investigation was to develop colon-specific drug delivery systems for amoxicillin trihydrate and paracetamol using Gum ghatti (Gg) based cross-linked hydrogels. An interpenetrating network (IPN) of electrically active hydrogel based on Gg, poly(acrylic acid) (AA) and polyaniline was synthesized by a two-step aqueous pol...

Gum ghatti-graft-poly(methacrylic acid-aniline) interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel was prepared by a two-step aqueous polymerization method. First, poly(methacrylic acid) (poly(MAA)) chains were graft co-polymerized onto a Gum ghatti (Gg) backbone via free radical polymerization. Different reaction conditions were optimized in order to incorpo...

The adsorption of crude oil from aqueous solution was carried out using a Gum tragacanth-acrylic acid based hydrogel. The prepared hydrogel was characterized using TGA/DTA/DTG techniques. Effect of pH, contact time, acrylic acid, and glutaraldehyde concentration for the adsorption of oil from aqueous solution was measured. Maximum crude oil adsorpt...

A natural polysaccharide, Gum ghatti (Gg), was modified to prepare cross-linked hydrogels using the grafting method initiated by gamma-radiation. Acrylic acid (AA) and aniline monomers were used as the grafted monomers. Grafted copolymer based on Gg and AA was synthesized using N, N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide as a cross linker. The effects of monome...

Conductive superabsorbent hydrogels based on gum ghatti (Gg)/methacrylic acid (MAA)/aniline (ANI) were synthesized by gamma radiations initiated by two-step aqueous polymerization. A cross-linking agent N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide was used in the polymerization process, and MAA was graft-copolymerized onto Gg by γ-rays. Influence of preparative c...

The aim of this study is to investigate the use of modified soy protein fibre (SPF) as a sorbent material for treatment of water contaminated with petroleum products. Studies were done with diesel, petrol, kerosene and petroleum ether both in pure oil medium and oil–water medium. Oleophilic behaviour of SPF was enhanced by successive benzoylation (...