Synthesis of alginate-based antibacterial and antioxidant food packaging films

Abstract

This study contributes to the preliminary development of the active food packaging materials by using bio-based polymers under ultrasonic waves. For this alginate (Algi) polymer was reinforced with functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (COOH-MWCNTs) dispersed in surfactants to form A-type of films. Similarly, to form a B-type of films, Algi polymer was blended with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in the presence of COOH-MWCNTs. The synthesized films were physiochemically characterized by FTIR, SEM, TEM, and mechanical testing. The antibacterial and antioxidant properties of prepared films were assessed by agar well diffusion method and ABTS/Ferrozine methods, respectively. Synthesized films showed prominent peaks of Algi, PVA, and of COOH-MWCNTs in FTIR analysis and dispersed nanofillers in SEM/TEM study. The Youngs Modulus of AD90 is 249.17 N/mm2, Bs90 is 216.80 N/mm2 and of Algi is 129.55 N/mm2. Staphylococcus aureus is the positive and Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli are the negative strains of bacteria that were successfully inhibited to grow by the prepared films. Synthesized materials also acted as strong antioxidants with no significant difference (P > 0.05) from ascorbic acid compared to Algi tested by ABTS and Ferrozine methods.