Functional enhancement of hydroxypropyl cellulose‐based bionanocomposite films incorporating chitosan nanoparticles

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to investigate the effect of the incorporation of chitosan nanoparticles (ChiNPs) on the physicochemical properties and antifungal activity of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) bionanocomposite films. The films of 4% HPC and ChiNP at various dosages (0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 3% w/w of HPC) were prepared. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) verified the dispersion of sphericalshaped ChiNP in a nanoscale size range (14.75-56.74 nm). Incorporation of nanofiller affected the functional properties by increasing the film-water contact angle to >53°, improving the optical properties, and reducing water vapour permeability by 5.73-12.54%. These results were influenced by surface roughness and microstructure characteristics of a bionanocomposite film, which were confirmed using AFM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tensile assays of the films showed slight increases in tensile strength from 8.87 to 11.08 MPa and Young's modulus from 0.10 to 0.15 GPa with increasing proportions of ChiNP (1.5%). An effective concentration of ChiNP of 1.5% (w/w of HPC) was able to improve the performance of HPC and offered antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, as confirmed through mycelial growth inhibition assays and by membrane integrity changes. The HPC/ChiNP bionanocomposite films may have potential applications for active packaging, particularly for fresh fruit commodities.

Roughness Study of Hydroxypropyl Cellulose Film Surface Loaded with Cinnamaldehyde/Lauric Arginate by Atomic Force Microscopy

“…The scanning was done in tapping mode equipped with cantilever type SI-DF20, frequency 0.7 Hz to 0.84 Hz, scan area 2 × 2 μm 2 . Root mean square deviation from the mean (Rq) and arithmetical mean deviation from the mean (Ra) were calculated from 10 measurements of different line profiles, as Equation (1) and Equation (2).…”

“…HPC-based edible films have been shown to be effective in encapsulating and releasing bioactive compounds, making them a promising material for use in functional food products. HPC possesses hydrophilic and nonionic properties where some of the OH groups are hydroxypropylated, yielding -OCH2CH(OH)CH3 groups) [2]. However, the films made of only pure HPC is not satisfied, thereby the effort to improve its performance is necessary.…”

Water and Oxygen Barrier Properties of All-Cellulose Nanocomposites

“…27 However, its hydrophilic character results in a very high water vapor permeability, which can be lowered by introducing an impermeable nanofiller into the HPC matrix. 28,29 Speculating that this can be achieved with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), 30 we sought to investigate the oxygen and water barrier properties of HPC/CNC nanocomposites and explore if such compositions would be suitable for food packaging applications. CNCs are highly crystalline, rod-like nanoparticles that can be isolated from plant or animal sources via acid hydrolysis.…”

“…To improve their performance, biopolymers can be chemically modified, as is the case for hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), a cellulose derivative that is used in applications areas that range from food , to biomedical , and to stimuli-responsive materials. , HPC exhibits certain features that are attractive for food packaging, in particular, the absence of cytotoxicity, its flexibility, and its relatively low oxygen permeability . However, its hydrophilic character results in a very high water vapor permeability, which can be lowered by introducing an impermeable nanofiller into the HPC matrix. , Speculating that this can be achieved with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), we sought to investigate the oxygen and water barrier properties of HPC/CNC nanocomposites and explore if such compositions would be suitable for food packaging applications. CNCs are highly crystalline, rod-like nanoparticles that can be isolated from plant or animal sources via acid hydrolysis. − Depending on the source and the hydrolysis conditions, CNCs have a typical length of 100–2000 nm and a width of 5–10 nm. − The hydrolysis with mineral acids can lead to the introduction of charged species on the CNCs’ surfaces that render CNCs colloidally stable in highly polar solvents such as DMSO, H 2 O, and DMF.…”

Advanced biomaterial‐based active packaging for food shelf‐life extension

“…Either plant or microbial‐derived original or their derivatives including (i) cellulose, (ii) chitosan and (iii) alginate‐based reinforcing with essential oils from plant sources and their application on fruits and vegetable or fish packaging were discussed. Authors from all over the world have submitted manuscripts to this special issue (Adhikari et al ., 2022; Kaya et al ., 2022; Rathod et al ., 2022; Thanaruenin et al ., 2022; Wardana et al ., 2022; Yuan et al ., 2022). The expansion of novel biomaterials in diverse food packaging uses can ensure bio‐active future food packaging materials.…”