Open Access

ARTICLE

Amination of a Natural Polymer, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) galactomannan: Synthesis, Optimization and Characterization

NEERAJ MITTAL, GURPREET KAUR^*

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, 147002, Punjab, India

* Corresponding Author: e-mail :

Journal of Polymer Materials 2018, 35(4), 433-448. https://doi.org/10.32381/JPM.2018.35.04.3

Abstract

Currently, biomedical, food, and pharmaceutical industries are exploring biocompatible, biodegradable, and readily available polymers as an alternative to synthetic polymers. The naturally occurring galactomannans comprising of galactopyranosyl (Gal) and mannopyranosyl (Man) residues are an attractive alternative to synthetic polymers due to their wide availability, and easily maniputable physical, and chemical properties. In the present study, a natural polymer, Leucaenea leucocephala galactomannan (LLG) was extracted from the seeds of Leucaenea leucocephala by an aqueous method, derivatized by reductive amination process using ethylene diamine as aminating agent to form aminated LLG (AMLLG). The conditions for amination were optimized by varying the concentration of aminating agent, temperature of the reaction mixture and time of reaction and their effect on degree of substitution was determined. The derivatized galactomannan was characterized by FTIR, DSC, XRD, SEM and zeta potential analysis. The texture properties (firmness, consistency, and cohesiveness) and bioadhesive strength of AMLLG was also determined. Furthermore, the antimicrobial potential of AMLLG was evaluated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus suggesting better antibacterial activity of AMLLG than chitosan (standard). Overall, the study highlights that the amine derivative of LLG could be a promising candidate as preservative in food industry and as a drug delivery vehicle in pharmaceutical industry.

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