This paper reports on the development and characterization of oxygen scavenging films made of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) containing palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) prepared by electrospinning followed by annealing treatment at 160 °C. The PdNPs were modified with the intention to optimize their dispersion and distribution in PHB by means of two different surfactants permitted for food contact applications, i.e., hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). Analysis of the morphology and characterization of the chemical, thermal, mechanical, and water and limonene vapor barrier properties and the oxygen scavenging capacity of the various PHB materials were carried out. From the results, it was seen that a better dispersion and distribution was obtained using CTAB as the dispersing aid. As a result, the PHB/PdNP nanocomposites containing CTAB provided also the best oxygen scavenging performance. These films offer a significant potential as new active coating or interlayer systems for application in the design of novel active food packaging structures.

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In this study, a natural antibacterial substance chitosan was coated with/without potassium sorbate (KS) (0.8% (w/w) of KS, 8% (w/v) chitosan) onto the polypropylene (PP) film by using electrospinning technique to obtain novel antibacterial composite materials for various applications such as wound dressing, tissue engineering, drug delivery and food packaging. Atmospheric pressure plasma surface treatment was applied onto polypropylene films in order to increase its wettability thus enhancing the adhesion capacity of the films and the optimum CA value was determined as 42.75 ± 0.80°. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analyses were realized to observe the morphological changes and chemical properties of the samples, respectively. Contact angle measurements, tensile testing, oxygen and water vapor transmission rate analyses were performed to obtain wettability values, mechanical properties and WVTRs, respectively. The WVTR was increased by plasma treatment and addition of KS (from 14.264 ± 0.214% to 21.020 ± 0.659%). The desired antibacterial performance of the samples was assessed with Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by inhibition ratio calculation and disc diffusion assay. The highest inhibition ratios were found as 64% for S. aureus and 92% for E. coli for plasma-treated CS-KS-PP films.