POLYMER GRAFTING AND ITS APPLICATIONS: A REVIEW

Grafting polymerization is a process in which polymer chains are covalently bonded (grafted) onto a backbone polymer, leading to the formation of a new material with enhanced properties or functionalities. This process involves the attachment of polymer chains (known as “graft chains” or “grafts”) onto the surface or within the bulk of the substrate material. Polysaccharides have numerous applications in various industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and biotechnology. They are used as thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers, gelling agents, and drug delivery systems due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and functional properties. Flavonoids are a group of polyphenolic secondary metabolites found in plants, fruits, and vegetables. They show a wide range of health benefits. They have gained interest recently due to their possible benefits for human health, especially their antioxidant, antiviral, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer characteristics. Flavonoid-grafted polysaccharide-form complexes generate synergistic effects, such as enhanced physical, chemical, and functional properties. Therefore, they show great potential for applications in food, cosmetics, and medicine. Structural characterization methods of the graft products, including FTIR, NMR, and DSC, are introduced.