Development and Characterization of Multifunctional Chitosan-Based Composite Films Reinforced with Calcium Chloride, Iron Oxide Nanoparticles, Polyethylene Glycol, and Thymus vulgaris Essential Oil

Functional alginate-chitosan packaging nanofilms enhanced with calcium chloride and in situ synthesized ZnO@MgO nano-heterostructures

The use of biodegradable materials in food packaging has gained increasing attention as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. In this study, calcium chloride-loaded nanofilms were developed using sodium alginate (NaAlg) as the primary polymer matrix, with chitosan (Ch) added at varying concentrations, res...

N,S-Co-Doped Carbon Dot-Reinforced Biopolymer Films with Enhanced Barrier, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Performance for Active Food Packaging

The development of sustainable active food packaging materials with multifunctional protective capabilities is highly desirable for improving food safety and extending shelf life. In this study, sulfur- and nitrogen-rich carbon dots (GLCDs) were synthesized from glycine and lipoic acid through a facile hydrothermal app...

Fabrication and Characterization of Esterified Corn Starch/Chitosan Composite Active Films Incorporated With Mint Extract for Mutton Preservation

Background:This study developed a novel chitosan (CS)–mint extract (ME)–esterified corn starch (ECS) (CS–ME–ECS) active film to preserve chilled mutton.Methods:Using solvent casting, composite films were fabricated with ECS as the continuous matrix, CS as a structural copolymer, and ME as a bioactive agent. Results:Str...

Structure, morphology, and optical properties of polyacrylamide/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PAM/PVA) polymer blend containing MnO₂ nanoparticles at different concentrations

Manganese Dioxide (MnO2) nanoparticles were incorporated into a Polyacrylamide/Polyvinyl Alcohol (PAM/PVA) polymer blend via solution casting to investigate the influence of MnO2 content (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 wt%) on the composite’s structural and optical behavior. The novelty of this work lies in demonstrating that the in...

Bi-layer PVA/sodium alginate active films reinforced with clays and functionalized with Nigella sativa essential oil: enhanced stability, controlled release, molecular interaction insights, and fresh beef shelf-life extension

In this study, active bilayer films based on PVA-SA, activated with Nigella sativa essential oil (NSEO) and stabilized with nanoclays (bentonite and LDH), were successfully developed and characterized. The incorporation of the essential oil-clay systems significantly improved the physicochemical properties of the f...

Development of natural organic acid cross-linked PVA/starch films with enhanced physicochemical and antioxidant properties for extending the shelf life of Malus domestica