Merin Sara Thomas is an Assistant Professor at Department of Chemistry, Mar Thoma College, Tiruvalla, Kerala, India. Her research interest is in the field of chitosan based bionanocomposites. She has written 3 book chapters in the field of biopolymers.

Rekha Rose Koshy is an Assistant Professor at Dept. of Chemistry, Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara, Kerala. India. Her research interests include Soy protein based bionanocomposites. She has published one review article in 'Food Hydrocolloids' and has written over 6 book chapters in the field of various biopolymers.

Siji K Mary is working as an Assistant Professor in the department of Chemistry, Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara, Kerala, India since 2011. Her research area of interest is starch based bionanocomposites. She has written 7 book chapters in the field of biopolymers.

Prof. Dr. Sabu Thomas

Professor Sabu Thomas is currently Pro-Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University and the Founder Director and Professor of the International and Interuniversity Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. He is also a full professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the School of Chemical Sciences of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. Prof. Thomas is an outstanding leader with sustained international acclaims for his work in Nanoscience, Polymer Science and Engineering, Polymer Nanocomposites, Elastomers, Polymer Blends, Interpenetrating Polymer Networks, Polymer Membranes, Green Composites and Nanocomposites,  Nanomedicine and Green Nanotechnology. Professor Thomas received many  national and international awards and he published over 800 peer reviewed research papers, reviews and book chapters. He has co-edited 80 books and he is the inventor of 6 patents.

Dr. Laly A. Pothen, former Head of the Department of Chemistry of Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara, Kerala is actively involved in biopolymer and nano research at Nanotechnology Center at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. She has served as an Academic Visitor to the Imperial College, London. She had been a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Emeritus Fellow of UGC, India and had collaborated with University of Chemnitz, Germany, CSIR of South Africa, City University of Hong Kong and leading researchers in the field of Natural Fibres. She holds a patent for Nanofibril synthesis from Natural Fibers and has number of publications to her credit in Natural Fibre Composites, Bionano Composites & Biopolymers.

1;Contents;6 2;Abbreviations;8 3;1 Introduction;11 3.1;1.1 Starch;12 3.2;1.2 Chitosan;16 3.3;References;17 4;2 Processing Techniques;19 4.1;2.1 Starch Based Composites;19 4.1.1;2.1.1 Solution Casting;19 4.1.2;2.1.2 Compression Moulding;21 4.1.3;2.1.3 Twin Screw Extrusion;22 4.1.4;2.1.4 Thermal Moulding;23 4.1.5;2.1.5 Melt Blending;23 4.2;2.2 Processing Techniques of Chitin and Nano Chitin Based Composite Films;24 4.2.1;2.2.1 Solution Casting;24 4.2.2;2.2.2 Extrusion;25 4.2.3;2.2.3 Freeze-Drying Method;25 4.3;2.3 Processing Techniques of Chitosan Based Composites;26 4.3.1;2.3.1 Physical Blends;26 4.3.2;2.3.2 Polyelectrolyte Complexes;26 4.4;References;26 5;3 Properties of Composites;28 5.1;3.1 Thermal Properties of Composites;28 5.1.1;3.1.1 Thermal Properties of Starch Based Composites;28 5.1.2;3.1.2 Thermal Properties of Chitin Based Composites;29 5.1.3;3.1.3 Thermal Properties of Chitosan Based Composites;32 5.2;3.2 Mechanical Properties;33 5.2.1;3.2.1 Mechanical Properties of Starch Based Composites;33 5.2.2;3.2.2 Mechanical Properties of Chitin Based Composites;34 5.2.3;3.2.3 Mechanical Properties of Chitosan Based Composites;38 5.3;3.3 Morphological Analysis;40 5.3.1;3.3.1 Morphological Analysis of Starch Based Composites;40 5.3.2;3.3.2 Morphological Analysis of Chitin Based Composites;40 5.3.3;3.3.3 Morphological Analysis of Chitosan Based Composites;43 5.4;3.4 Barrier Properties;46 5.5;References;48 6;4 Applications of Polysaccharide Based Composites;52 6.1;4.1 Packaging Applications;52 6.2;4.2 Water Treatment;54 6.3;4.3 Biosensor;56 6.4;4.4 Biomedical Application;58 6.4.1;4.4.1 Biomedical Applications of Starch Based Composites;58 6.4.2;4.4.2 Biomedical Applications of Chitin Based Composites;59 6.4.3;4.4.3 Biomedical Application of Chitosan Based Composites;60 6.5;References;61 7;5 Conclusion;65