Polymer-Based Nanostructured Barrier Materials

V. Prajitha is a research associate at the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. She completed her Master of Science degree in biopolymer science at Cochin University of Science and Technology, India. Her research focuses on self-assembling nanomaterials, such as nanosilica, graphene oxide, and rubber nanocomposites. She has also co-edited one book, entitled Colloidal Metal Oxide Nanoparticles, published by Elsevier. Sabu Thomas is a Professor and Director of the International and Interuniversity Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. Professor Thomas is internationally recognized for his contributions to polymer science and engineering, with his research interests encompassing polymer nanocomposites, elastomers, polymer blends, interpenetrating polymer networks, polymer membranes, green composites, nanocomposites, nanomedicine, and green nanotechnology. His groundbreaking inventions in polymer nanocomposites, polymer blends, green bionanotechnology, and nano-biomedical sciences have significantly advanced the development of new materials for the automotive, space, housing, and biomedical fields.Keloth Paduvilan Jibin is an assistant professor at the Department of Chemistry, Mahatma Gandhi College, Iritty Kannur, Kerala, India. He completed his Master of Science degree in Analytical Chemistry in 2016, and was ranked first in the MSc Analytical Chemistry at Mahatma Gandhi University. Jibin has presented several papers at national and international conferences. As part of his work on nanomaterials, he has been involved in projects on optical studies of samarium complexes, synthesized using curcumin, isolated from turmeric extract as ligand, and on the synthesis of Mg and Co co-doped ZnO-based diluted magnetic semi-conductors, for optoelectronic applications. Currently he is working in the area of hybrid polymer nanocomposites for engineering applications. He has published 10 journal articles, more than 10 book chapters and edited two books.

• Part I: Materials for nanostructured barrier materials1. Introduction to polymers as barrier materials2. The Green Barrier: Biopolymers in Packaging3. Growth and requirements of barrier materials in packaging4. Nanomaterials as functional enablers in smart and active packaging5. Oxygen and aroma barrier in films6. Biodegradable packaging and gas barrier mechanism7. Package industry growthPart II: Properties and applications8. Low conducting melt-mixed films of polypropylene and carbon nanofibers for antistatic packaging9. Nanocellulose-based materials in packaging10. Barrier properties of polymer nanoclay and hybrid composites11. Barrier properties of polymer graphite, graphene, and their hybrid composites12. Barrier properties of polymer polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane and hybrid composites13. Graphene-based polymer nanocomposites as barrier coatings for corrosion protection14. Applications of barrier films in the food industry15. Standardized testing of nanostructured polymer-based barrier films` for edible fruit coatings16. Nanostructured barrier materials for edible packaging17. Biobased packaging18. Polymeric barrier materials for biomedical applications19. Polymeric nanocarriers for herbal medicine delivery and therapeutic applications20. Natural bioactive polyphenols as ultraviolet barriers in biodegradable packaging21. Smart packaging systems for quality preservation and food safety monitoring22. Applications of barrier nanostructured electrospun polymeric fibers and nonwovens23. Polysaccharide and proteins versus synthetic polymer aerogels to remove contaminants from contaminated water24. Miscellaneous applications of polymers as barrier materials