Composite films of natural rubber/cellulose fiber/silver nanoparticle were synthesized in a green route via the latex solution process. Hybrid cellulose filler containing carboxymethyl cellulose and cellulose microfibers was used to facilitate facile and fast preparation and to improve mechanical strength to the composites, respectively. All the composites possessed a high tensile strength of ~120 MPa, a high heat resistance of nearly 300 °C, and more than 20% biodegradability in soil in two weeks. Chemical resistance and antibacterial activity of the composite was enhanced depending on sizes and concentrations of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The composites containing 0.033-0.1% w/w AgNPs retarded toluene uptake to less than 12% throughout 8 h, whereas the composite containing 0.067-0.1% w/w AgNPs exhibited excellent antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In comparison, 50 nm-AgNPs presented higher antibacterial activities than 100 nm-AgNPs. In vitro cytotoxicity test assessed after incubation for 24 h and 48 h revealed that almost all AgNPs-composite films exhibited non/weak and moderate cytotoxicity, respectively, to HaCaT keratinocyte cells.
Keywords: biocomposite film; cellulose fiber; natural rubber; silver nanoparticle.