Application of microcrystalline cellulose from banana pseudostem fibers in pharmaceutical and food industries -

Application of  microcrystalline cellulose from banana pseudostem fibers in pharmaceutical and food industries

Banana pseudostem, a cellulose-rich by-product, is regarded as an important agricultural waste during the process of banana production. Microcrystalline cellulose was successfully prepared from banana pseudostem using acid hydrolysis method. Microcrystalline cellulose was characterized through various techniques such as XRD, TGA, SEM, FTIR and antioxidant activity to explore the possible applications in the pharmaceutical industries especially as a drug delivery vehicle. The investigation revealed that the derived microcrystalline cellulose is non-aggregated, short rods with high crystallinity index 67% and stable up to 347 °C. Microcrystalline cellulose exhibited good antioxidant activity 90.29% at 100 μg/ml. In vitro studies for the drug release were carried out in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) using Isoniazid drug. The study proves that microcrystalline cellulose can be directly obtained from banana pseudostem which is not only beneficial to reduce the cost of traditional microcrystalline cellulose but is also conducive to the value-added utilization of the pseudostem.

Preparation of microcrystalline cellulose

The banana fibers were derived by mechanical method using Raspador machine. The fibers were cut into the small pieces band washed thoroughly with the water. Figure shows the steps for the extraction of microcrystalline cellulose from banana pseudostem fibers. Pure cellulose fibers were derived by alkaline and acid hydrolysis method. Alkaline solution removes the hemicellulose and pectin from the fibers. The fibers were dried at 60 °C for 24–48 h. The dried banana fibers were dispersed with 4% (w/v) NaOH at 80 °C for 4 h. The solubilized components from the banana fibers were removed by washing with distilled water. Subsequently, bleaching treatment was carried out to remove the phenolic components. The fibers were bleached with sodium chlorite (NaClO₂) for 90 min at 80 °C. The bleaching process was repeated twice. The white cellulose pulp obtained was rewashed with deionized water until the pH 7 is obtained. Microcrystalline cellulose was derived from the cellulose fibers through acid hydrolysis method. Sulfuric acid (2.5 N) was used to treat the cellulose pulp at 90 °C for 30 min. The derived microcrystalline cellulose was washed with deionized water until the neutral pH is obtained. MCC was dried at 60 °C for 5–6 h and stored in airtight plastic bags.

Conclusion

Microcrystalline cellulose was successfully derived from the banana pseudostem fibers. MCC was found to be with higher crystallinity and thermal stability at higher temperature. Furthermore, XRD data revealed that type Ι cellulose was present in the microcrystalline cellulose. The FTIR study also showed the crystalline and cellulose bond in the microcrystalline cellulose. MCC also show an excellent antioxidant activity. The experimental data indicate that MCC have capability to sustainably disperse Isoniazid medicine, which is used for the treatment of anti-tuberculosis at regular time interval. The present study, thus, manifests that the MCC can be directly prepared from the banana pseudostem fibers, which can be further explored for the applications in the pharmaceutical, food industries and as an excellent reinforced material for the polymeric materials where high thermal stabilities required.

Reference:

Diarsa, M. and Gupte, A., 2021. Preparation, characterization and its potential applications in Isoniazid drug delivery of porous microcrystalline cellulose from banana pseudostem fibers. 3 Biotech, 11(7), pp.1-13.