Fabrication and Characterization of ZnO Nanoparticles-Based Biocomposite Films Prepared Using Carboxymethyl Cellulose, Taro Mucilage, and Black Cumin Seed Oil for Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities

Abstract

Food packaging is often made from plastic, which is usually obtained from non-renewable resources. The development of new technologies, like biocomposite films, has been driven in response to environmental concerns as well as consumer demands for eco-friendly, high-quality products derived from nature. Biocomposite films were prepared by incorporating taro mucilage, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), ZnO, glycerol, and black cumin seed (BCS) oil. The SEM results showed that the biocomposite films containing taro mucilage (TM), ZnO, and BCS oil had noticeably smoother surfaces. The FTIR analysis indicated the existence of a -OH group, N-H bond, alkaline group, C-C, C=N, C-H, C-O-H, and C-O-C bond formation, confirming the interaction of CMC, glycerol, BCS oil, ZnO nanoparticles, and TM. The results of TGA and DSC analysis suggest that incorporating ZnO nanoparticles, BCS oil, and TM into the CMC polymer matrix increased thermal stability. The addition of TM significantly increased water uptake capacity, antioxidative property, tensile strength, and elongation at break, with significantly decreased whiteness index and water solubility. The film inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as foodborne pathogens. The results suggest that the films can be potentially used as environment-friendly antioxidative and antimicrobial packaging films with additional research.

ZnO Nanoparticles-Reinforced Chitosan–Xanthan Gum Blend Novel Film with Enhanced Properties and Degradability for Application in Food Packaging

“…3% (w/w) ZnO reached the highest (118.66%) elongation at break, much higher than that of the control. This implies that ZnO nanoparticles and tensile strength improvement show no interference with polymer chain mobility, even improving the stretchable mechanism, as suggested by other researchers. , However, in both cases, tensile strength and elongation % first increase then start decreasing after a point; agglomeration of nanofillers is to be blamed. , So, a ZnO loading of 3% might be regarded as ideal for producing the desired improvements in the mechanical characteristics. According to the findings of the FTIR investigation, the maximum amount of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the nano ZnO filler and the chitosan/xanthan gum blend matrix may have taken place at this loading of ZnO.…”

Strain/pressure sensors utilizing advanced nanomaterials

“…For example, a vacuum pressure sensor was developed using ZnO NPs synthesized by sol-gel technique. 38 The sensor showed a linear relationship between the current and pressure in a logarithmic plot, with a sensitivity of 110 in the pressure range of 1 mbar to 1 bar, along with a fast response and recovery time, which makes it superior to other ZnO-based sensors reported before. Similarly, a gold NPs-based pressure sensor on dense micro/nanowires was developed, which had high sensitivity, a low detection limit, and low energy consumption.…”

“…Zinc oxide (ZnO) has been used as one of the most common metallic materials for sensing. For example, a vacuum pressure sensor was developed using ZnO NPs synthesized by sol‐gel technique 38 . The sensor showed a linear relationship between the current and pressure in a logarithmic plot, with a sensitivity of 110 in the pressure range of 1 mbar to 1 bar, along with a fast response and recovery time, which makes it superior to other ZnO‐based sensors reported before.…”

Microbial Exopolysaccharide Composites in Biomedicine and Healthcare: Trends and Advances

“…Most biological materials can also be produced in bulk amounts using microorganisms, hence the cost of the products is also reduced along with the higher availability. The addition of other polymers may also add a specific type of bioactivity, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and even catalytic activity to the composite, which widens the possible application in different fields [ 55 , 56 , 57 ].…”