The emergence of diseases and mortalities in aquaculture and development of antibiotics resistance in aquatic microbes, has renewed a great interest towards alternative methods of prevention and control of diseases. Nanoparticles have enormous potential in controlling human and animal pathogens and have scope of application in aquaculture. The present investigation was carried out to find out suitable nanoparticles having antimicrobial effect against aquatic microbes. Different commercial as well as laboratory synthesized metal and metal oxide nanoparticles were screened for their antimicrobial activities against a wide range of bacterial and fungal agents including certain freshwater cyanobacteria. Among different nanoparticles, synthesized copper oxide (CuO), zinc oxide (ZnO), silver (Ag) and silver doped titanium dioxide (Ag-TiO2) showed broad spectrum antibacterial activity. On the contrary, nanoparticles like Zn and ZnO showed antifungal activity against fungi like Penicillium and Mucor species. Since CuO, ZnO and Ag nanoparticles showed higher antimicrobial activity, they may be explored for aquaculture use.

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In the present research program, chitosan has been mixed with polycaprolactone (PCL) (80 : 20) for using them for control delivery of doxycycline. Organoclay, Cloisite 30B of different concentrations 1, 2.5, and 5% has been blended with the composite. Chitosan is a natural biodegradable polymer where as polycaprolactone is a synthetic biopolymer. The blending of the two polymers has been carried out varying the proportion of nanoclay so that the composite can be a better drug carrier. The blends were characterized by Fourier Transmission Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Xray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. From the FTIR spectra, the various groups present in chitosan and PCL blend were monitored. The homogeneity, morphology, and crystallinity of the blends were ascertained from SEM and XRD data, respectively. The swelling studies have been carried out at different drug loading. Swelling study is an important parameter to predict the diffusion of the drugs from the matrix. The kinetics of the drug delivery system has been systematically studied. Drug release kinetics was analyzed by plotting the cumulative release data versus time by fitting to an exponential equation which indicated the non-Fickian type of kinetics. The drug release was investigated at different pH medium, and it was found that the drug release depends upon the pH medium as well as the nature of matrix.

New biobased, ecofriendly nanocomposites were prepared from polycaprolactone (PCL)/soy protein isolate (SPI) blend (80/20 wt/ wt) with organically modified clay, by melt compounding. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that an intercalated nanocomposite was formed and the silicate layers of the clay were uniformly dispersed at a nanometer scale in matrix polymer. There was great enhancement of both tensile and dynamic mechanical properties in the nanocomposite. A rheological study revealed that the nanocomposite exhibits strong shear-thinning behavior in the melted state, and a percolated network of clay particles was formed in the melted state.

New biobased, eco‐friendly nanocomposites were prepared from maleated polycaprolactone/soy protein isolate blend (50/50 wt/wt) with organo‐modified clay by melt compounding. The XRD, TEM, tensile, DMTA, and rheological properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that the intercalated nanocomposite is formed and the silicate layers of the clay are uniformly dispersed at a nanometer scale in the polymer matrix. There is a great enhancement in tensile and dynamic mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. Rheological study revealed that the nanocomposite exhibits strong shear thinning behavior and clay particles form network in the melted state of the composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers

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