1.
Name of the Institute:- CPRI Shimla
Project 1:Title:- Biodegradable and antimicrobial nanocomposite films based on potato
starch for food packaging application
Name of the PI:- Dr. Pinky Raigond
Main objectives:
To prepare potato starch based biodegradable nanocomposite films with improved
barrier and mechanical properties

To test the effectiveness of different antimicrobial agents against microbial growth.

To develop potato starch based antimicrobial films with improved antimicrobial, barrier
and mechanical property.
To study the surface morphology, barrier, pasting and rheological properties of biodegradable
nanocomposite and antimicrobial nanocomposite films
Reports:Packaging materials available in market are produced from synthetic polymer
materials that are non-degradable in the environment. To reduce the packaging waste
new bio-based packaging films from renewable resources has been prepared in recent
past. Potato being a good source of starch, that is the second most abundant polymer
in nature, needs attention. Owing to its biodegradability, wide availability and low cost,
starch based material has received great attention in food packaging sector. To
enhance the utilization of potato starch a method for preparation of potato starch
based biodegradable film was standardized using casting method. Starch utilized for
this purpose was extracted from the Indian potato cultivars in the laboratory. Method
was standardized using 1.5g potato starch mixed with varying concentrations of
plasticizer. Starch along with different concentrations of plasticizer was mixed and
heated. The solution was casted on the petriplate and dried in hot air oven. The films
were peeled off after drying. Films prepared with 0.4% plasticizer were brittle (Fig 1).
Those prepared with 0.6% and 0.8% plasticizer were soft and flexible. Though the
films prepared from starch were showing poor mechanical properties and were not
much flexible, therefore, to improve the mechanical properties starch is blended with
polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) - a biodegradable synthetic material. Films were made with
starch and PVA in 1:1, 1:3, 3:1 ratio and with pure starch and pure PVA in presence
of 0.6% plasticizer (Fig 2). Films prepared with pure starch lack flexibility and clarity
and were brittle. Flexibility improved with increasing the concentration of plasticizer.
Films made of PVA were more flexible, soft and transparent than films made of pure
starch and different ratios of starch and PVA. Starch and PVA in 1:3 ratio showed good
results, with soft, flexible and semi-transparent films. Once the properties of starch
based films are improved, it can be a good replacement for plastic based packaging
and can be used as biodegradable packaging material.
B
A
C
Fig. 1. Starch films made of (A) 0.4%, (B) 0.6% and (C) 0.8% plasticizer
A
C
B
D
E
Fig.2. Films made of (A) PVA, (B) Starch, (C) Starch: PVA 1:3 (D) 3:1 (E) 1:1 ratios
Degradation of starch film in soil
Methodology for preparation of cellulose nanowhiskers
The films made by starch are gaining importance since it is eco-friendly and expected
to be widely acceptable by the society. Potato starch based films with addition strength
by addition of cellulose nanowhiskers can be prepared. Cellulose is the most abundant
polymer in nature and has great potential in its nanoform (nanowhiskers) due to its
role in large number of applications. Cellulose nanowhiskers or nanofibres are defined
as crystalline rod-like nanoparticles with diameter of 2-20nm and length of 100nm to
2.1 µm and are obtained by acid hydrolysis of cellulose fibers. Cellulose nanowhiskers
were prepared with the aim to utilize them for formation of nanocomposite
biodegradable films to enhance the mechanical strength and barrier properties of
potato starch based biodegradable films. Method for preparation of cellulose
nanowhiskers was optimized by ‘Top Down’ approach of nanotechnology. To prepare
cellulose nanowhiskers, cellulose microcrystalline was hydrolyzed. The sample was
diluted with distilled water and centrifuged repeatedly, until a stable pH of 7.0 reached.
Cellulose nanowhiskers had a white gel appearance as shown in Figure (3B). Washed
sample with stable pH was examined under Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)
for its dimensions. The TEM images revealed that the aqueous suspension of cellulose
nanowhiskerswere rod like nanoparticles, agglomerated in the forms of bundles while
some of them were single i.e., well separated and in bundles as well and the size was
ranging between 4-20 x 110-250 nm (Fig. 3C). The above methodology can be
adopted to generate cellulose nanowhiskers for its further use in respective areas.
0.8µm
A
B
C
6.2nm
200nm
4.2µm
Fig:3 Images of cellulose microcrystalline (A), dilute suspension of cellulose nanowhiskers (B) and
TEM image of cellulose whisker (C).
Project 2:Title:- Nanoparticles for detection and intra-cellular localization of Potato
pathogens.
Name of the PI:- Dr. Baswaraj Raigond
Main objectives:

Standardization of protocols for detection of potato pathogens (PVX, PVS,
PLRV,
Phytophthora
infestans
and
Ralstonia
solanacarum)
using
nanoparticles of different emission wavelengths.

Protocol development for in situ detection of potato pathogens in
micropropagated tissue by Confocal Lazer Scanning Microscopy and TEM.
Report:
i)
A study was initiated to detect Potato virus A (PVA) in infected potato plants by
immuno-gold electron microscope. PVA particles were completely purified and the IgG
of PVA was also purifies and conjugated with colloidal gold nano particles. The IgG
conjugated gold nano particles were allowed to incubate with partially purified PVA
infected sap and examined under TEM which showed a good concentration of
filamentous flexuous long particle coupled with several colloidal gold (CG) nano
particles revealing the presence of PVA. More than one IgG-CG complex was
associated with each PVA particle indicating its successful conjugation with gold
particles. Since only the homologous virus will be decorated with IgG-CG complex, it
can be used for specific detection and diagnosing a targeted virus even in mixed
infection of viruses with similar morphology.
A
B
IgG-CG
PVA
ii) GLAD-Potato virus M (PVM): A study was initiated to detect Potato virus M
(PVM) in infected potato leaves by immune-gold electron microscopy. Purified
IgG of PVM was conjugated with Gold nanoparticles for electron microscopic
detection of PVM. The IgG conjugated with gold nanoparticles were incubated
with the suspected potato leaf samples and processed for electron microscopic
examination which showed a good concentration of filamentous flexuous long
particle coupled with several colloidal gold (CG) nano particles revealing the
presence of PVM. More than one IgG-CG complex was associated with each
PVM particle indicating its successful conjugation with gold particles. Since only
the homologous virus will be decorated with IgG-CG complex, it can be used
for specific detection and diagnosing a targeted virus even in mixed infection of
viruses with similar morphology. Thus this technique can be used successfully
for detection or screening of PVM in potato plant samples.
C
B
A
IgG-CG
PVM
Fig: Typical spoon-shaped symptoms of PVM in potato (A), detection of PVM by IgG-CG complex (B) and
coupling of more than one IgG-CG complex with PVM (C).
iii)
Involved in: Protocol for synthesis of cellulose nanowhiskers and starch nanocrystals
0.8µm
4.2µm
A
B
6.2nm
C
200nm
Fig 1: Images of cellulose microcrystalline (A), dilute suspension of cellulose nanowhiskers (B)
and TEM image of cellulose whisker (C).
Project 3:Title:- Development of lateral flow assay Kits for the detection of potato
pathogens.
Name of PI:- Dr. A. Jeevalatha
Main objectives:




Development of antibodies against the potato pathogens.
Standardization of protocols for coupling of nano particles with antibodies.
Standardization of membrane pore size, antibody concentration and
preparation of LF strips.
Standardization of detection protocol and assessing the strips storability.
Validation of kits.
Reports:NIL
Project 4:Title of the project:- Assessment of nano products for improved use efficiency,
growth, yield and quality of potato
Name of PI:- Dr. Pooja Chaukhande
Main objectives: To synthesize nano nutrients.
 To Characterize the synthesized nanoparticles.
 To study the efficacy of synthesized nano nutrients for crop demand economically
and eco-friendly way.
 To study the uptake of nanoparticles in plant parts.
 To study the fate of synthesized nanoparticles in soil.
 To study the bio-safety of synthesized nano nutrients.
Report
NIL
Project 5:Title of the project: Evaluation of Nano based pheromones for the management
of Potato tuber moth
Name of PI:- Vallepu Vankteshwarllu.
Main Objectives:



To synthesize and develop the pheromone attractive to Potato tuber moth
To design, develop, characterize and evaluate nanopolymers and encapsulators
with different time and quantity of release and loading/encapsulation of nano
materials into pheromone
To standardize the minimal dose of nano pheromone required for
electrophysiological responses in PTM, through GC-EAD /single sensillum
studies.
To develop and evaluate the nano pheromone against potato tubermoth.