Physicochemical and Functional Properties and Storage Stability of Chitosan–Starch Films Containing Micellar Nano/Microstructures with Turmeric and Hibiscus Extracts

Abstract

The dynamic development of the food industry and the growing interest of consumers in innovative solutions that increase the comfort and quality of life push the industry towards seeking pioneering solutions in the field of food packaging. Intelligent and active packaging, which affects the quality and durability of food products and allows one to determine their freshness, is still a modern concept. The aim of our study was to obtain two types of films based on chitosan and starch with micellar nanostructures containing extracts from turmeric rhizomes and hibiscus flowers. The presence of spherical nanostructures was confirmed using a scanning electron microscope. The structural and optical properties of the obtained composites were characterised by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), UltraViolet-Visible (UV-VIS), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the presence of spherical micellar structures with a size of about 800 nm in the obtained biocomposites. The presence of nano-/microstructures containing extracts affected the mechanical properties of the composites: it weakened the strength of the films and improved their elongation at break (EAB). Films with nano-/microparticles were characterised by a higher water content compared to the control sample and lower solubility, and they showed stronger hydrophilic properties. Preliminary storage tests showed that the obtained biocomposites are sensitive to changes occurring during the storage of products such as cheese or fish. In addition, it was found that the film with the addition of turmeric extract inhibited the growth of microorganisms during storage. The results suggest that the obtained bionanocomposites can be used as active and/or intelligent materials.

Alginate Silver Nanoparticles and Their Effect on Sperm Parameters of the Domestic Rabbit

“…The possibilities of innovative modifications of natural polymer technology also allow the formation of nanometer-sized capsules. In the results of the scientific and research work of the team of Woszczak et al [67], it was reported that a polysaccharide-based biomaterial contain-ing micellar nano/microstructures with extracts of turmeric and hibiscus was obtained. The evaluation of the physicochemical parameters of the tested biocomposites by using methods such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS) and SEM electron microscopy also in this case allowed us to document the efficiency of the method of synthesis of nanostructures, which also confirms the method of obtaining polysaccharide composites presented in this manuscript.…”