Design, Fabrication, and Molecular Docking Evaluation of Eco-Friendly Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)/Aloe Vera Gel (AVG)/gelatin Biocomposite Films as Antimicrobial Coatings for Mobile Devices

Abstract

The natural polymer-based biocomposites have received more attention recently owing to their biocompatibility, renewability, and tunable physicochemical properties for biomedical as well as environmental applications. Herein, new films based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and aloe vera gel (AVG)/gelatin (GL) were developed and characterized. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), and x-ray diffraction analyses confirmed intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the components and a partial crystallinity within the polymer network. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis of the morphological characteristics demonstrated a uniform dispersion of aloe vera and GL within the PVA matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) provided information on the thermal behavior, showing that, compared to pure PVA, the co-PPGe/PVA amalgam exhibits higher thermodynamic stability and more suitable viscoelastic properties. Water uptake studies revealed the hydrophilic properties of the composites, making them suitable for applications in drug delivery and wound healing. The antimicrobial activity of the films showed strong effectiveness against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans (ZOI: ~18, ~12, and ~28 mm, respectively). Additionally, in silico molecular docking revealed favorable binding interactions of aloe vera bioactives with bacterial and fungal enzymes, aligning with the antimicrobial effects seen in vitro. Overall, these results suggest that PVA/AVG/GL biocomposites are a promising group of multifunctional biomaterials with potential applications in antimicrobial coatings.