Chitosan/Gelatin/Silver Nanoparticles Composites Films for Biodegradable Food Packaging Applications

Abstract

The food packaging industry explores economically viable, environmentally benign, and non-toxic packaging materials. Biopolymers, including chitosan (CH) and gelatin (GE), are considered a leading replacement for plastic packaging materials, with preferred packaging functionality and biodegradability. CH, GE, and different proportions of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used to prepare novel packaging materials using a simple solution casting method. The functional and morphological characterization of the prepared films was carried out by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–Visible spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mechanical strength, solubility, water vapor transmission rate, swelling behavior, moisture retention capability, and biodegradability of composite films were evaluated. The addition of AgNPs to the polymer blend matrix improves the physicochemical and biological functioning of the matrix. Due to the cross-linking motion of AgNPs, it is found that the swelling degree, moisture retention capability, and water vapor transmission rate slightly decrease. The tensile strength of pure CH–GE films was 24.4 ± 0.03, and it increased to 25.8 ± 0.05 MPa upon the addition of 0.0075% of AgNPs. The real-time application of the films was tested by evaluating the shelf-life existence of carrot pieces covered with the composite films. The composite film containing AgNPs becomes effective in lowering bacterial contamination while comparing the plastic polyethylene films. In principle, the synthesized composite films possessed all the ideal characteristics of packaging material and were considered biodegradable and biocompatible food packaging material and an alternate option for petroleum-based plastics.

Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles: What We Know and What Do We Need to Know?

“…Antioxidant and antimicrobial AgNPs synthesized by using Mussaenda frondosa leaves extract were loaded into gelatin/chitosan composite films that enhanced the shelf life of vegetables and fruits. From an ecological point of view, the use of biodegradable AgNPs films may reduce synthetic plastics consumption and environmental harm and may promote healthy foods [209]. In another study, Myxobacteria virescens synthesized AgNPs were impregnated into fruit wrapping paper, which increased the shelf life of apples up to 15 days as compared with the non-impregnated wrapper [210].…”

Development and Characterization of Pectin Films with Salicornia ramosissima: Biodegradation in Soil and Seawater

“…In recent decades, a considerable number of packaging films have been developed using biopolymers, such as proteins, and polysaccharides. More recently, the combination of clays, nanostructures, and other innovative materials has been studied for novel packaging applications [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. In addition to biopolymers, plant-derived bioactive compounds—such as essential oils, minerals, carotenoids, vitamins, and polyphenols, among others—have been used to modify the films’ antioxidant, antimicrobial, and physicomechanical properties [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

Preparation and characterization of the plasticized polylactic acid films produced by the solvent‐casting method for food packaging applications

“…The results showed that the PLA-TA10 film had a swelling degree of 0.32%, while swelling degree of the neat PLA was 0.24%. It is found that the observed higher swelling degree of the PLA-TA10 film compared to the neat PLA is associated with increasing hydrophilicity and water retention capacity by introducing the TA plasticizer to PLA (Ediyilyam et al, 2021;Sanyang et al, 2016).…”