Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Materials Today Communications journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/mtcomm Biopolymer reinforced nanocomposites: A comprehensive review Bhasha Sharma, Parul Malik, Purnima Jain ⁎ Advance Centre of Polymer Science, Department of Chemistry, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, Dwarka Sector-3, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110078, India ARTICLE INFO Keywords: Biopolymer Metals Polymer Nanocomposite Nanofiller Graphene Oxide Carbonanotube Silicates ABSTRACT Innovation in the field of polymer nanocomposites leads to diverse applications in drug delivery, biosensors, bone regeneration, solar cells, super capacitors etc. A step towards sustainable development, biomimetic ap- proach has been taken into consideration in which vital role is played by the integration of nanofiller in bio- polymers. In the present scenario the utilization of biopolymers facilitated by the functionalization of nanofiller by different types of methods which can eradicate agglomeration and enhance thermal, mechanical and elec- trical properties. This paper reviews the new dimensions in enhancement of properties and their potential ap- plications made by employing a range of metal and carbon based nanofiller into biodegradable polymers in detail. The key factors to incorporate nanofiller are to increase the efficiency of biopolymers due to their high aspect ratio, biocompatibility, low density and high mechanical strength. The observations have been sum- marized to convey the mechanism and structural changes involved into the biopolymer to the researchers. 1. Introduction The progression of polymer nanocomposites have blossomed from last few decades due to its outstanding accreditations in structural, electrical, mechanical applications. Inclusion of nanofiller within the polymer host has potential application in biosensors, energy storage devices, photo catalysts, drug delivery etc [1]. Polymer nanocomposites have emerged out to be a paradigm that has exceptional physiochem- ical properties which is pertinent for the field of modern science. At- tributions of nanostructured materials towards miniaturized and smart futuristic technology are the class of materials which are in nanoscale range and disperse into polymer matrix to increase the efficiency that has high aspect ratio and load transfer ability. Polymer nanocomposites were invented by Toyota research group which has bestowed new di- mensions by inclusion of organic and inorganic nanofiller owing to the numerous applications [2]. The fabrication of polymer nanocomposite has been facilitated by the use of ultrasonication process for the dis- persion of nanofiller, however the controlled amount of weight % and size of the nanomaterial is carefully taken into consideration. The key challenge is to eradicate the agglomerate formation when nanofiller comes into contact with the host polymer. Different methods are adopted to functionalize the surface of nanofiller so that uniform dis- persion can be obtained. Today different types of shape i.e. nanotubes, nanofibers, nanoribbons and nanoparticles have come into account to get desired properties [3]. Conventional fillers like carbon black, sili- cates, calcium carbonates and many more reinforcing agents have also been used on industrial as well as academic scale are being decreased [4]. Several polymers have been extensively studied for e.g. conducting polymers (polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyfuran) which have excellent applications in sensors, fuel and solar cells, EMI shielding and supercapacitors attributed to its high optical and con- ductive properties [5]. Thermoplastic(polystyrene, polyethylene ter- ephthalate, polycarbonate) and thermosetting polymers (epoxy, poly- urethane) based nanocomposites have applications in light emitting diodes [6], dye sensitized solar cells [7], aerospace[8], supercapacitors [9], photo catalyst, energy storage devices and biomedical field[10]. The existing population, global change in climate and industrial pursuit manifests the scientific attention towards the augmentation of biopolymers based nanocomposites. Recent attention has been trig- gered towards the utilization of different thermoplastic biopolymers and their nanocomposites for the perspective of environmental im- plications to design novel applications. Biopolymers demand in- corporation of nanofiller due to its high production cost and have in- adequate characteristics, integration of nanofiller readily enhance the mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, anti-corrosion, thermal properties etc [11,12]. Mostly biopolymers are biodegradable, there- fore it has not destructive impact on the environment because they are derived from renewable resources. They have effective applications in coatings, the interfacial interactions via functional groups between the polymer matrix and nanofiller governs the formation of network with enhanced homogeneity in dispersion and the biodegradability compo- nent makes it essential prodigy material. Natural and synthetic https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2018.07.004 Received 19 March 2018; Received in revised form 4 May 2018; Accepted 9 July 2018 ⁎ Corresponding author. E-mail address: prnmnsit@gmail.com (P. Jain). Materials Today Communications 16 (2018) 353–363 Available online 24 July 2018 2352-4928/ © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. T