Safe Ulvan Silver Nanoparticles Composite Films for Active Food Packaging

Abstract

Protecting food from the corruption caused by different microbes is a big problem, as we need safe methods for food packaging. In this study, Ulvan (U), edible sulfated polysaccharide extracted from Ulva lactuca, was mediated for the first time non-toxic biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) to produce new and safe bio-nanocomposite films called (U/Ag-NPs) films for active food packaging. Ulvan was extracted by hot waterextraction and ethanol-precipitation method and was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy. Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using U. lactuca was proven by Ultra Violet-Visible (UV-VIS), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) analyses. Investigation of films was by incorporation 1m M of Ag-NPs into different concentrations of ulvan (3, 6 and 12%, w/v). The formation of bionanocomposite films was confirmed by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and TEM analysis. Bio-nanocomposite films were further characterized by physical parameters as water vapor permeability (1.18±0.07, 0.9±0.09 and 0.55±0.1 10 −8 g mm cm −2 h −1 Pa −1), film thickness (0.01, 0.03 and 0.08 mm) and contact angle measurements (70.833, 81.066 and 109.066) respectively. The bio-nanocomposite films also showed high antimicrobial activity using Kirby-Bauer method as antibacterial and good antioxidant activity with IC50 = 1.128 µg/ml. (U/Ag-NPs) bio-nanocomposite films exhibited good chemical and physical properties, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities making them a potential substitute for active food packaging to extend shelf-life of foods during processing, transportation and storage with no harm as previous packaging methods.

Seaweed-based polysaccharides – review of extraction, characterization, and bioplastic application

“…These films show good antimicrobial properties against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. 213 The incorporation of ulvan into cellulose films had shown an improvement in film thickness, water solubility, and water vapor permeability, and good barrier properties against UV and visible light but decreased oxygen permeability. The antioxidant properties and thermal stability had improved significantly at higher contents of ulvan.…”

Rosmarinic Acid and Ulvan from Terrestrial and Marine Sources in Anti-Microbial Bionanosystems and Biomaterials

“…For example, ulvan was used to produce antimicrobial biofilms of silver for food packaging [164]. In the food industry, nisin is a biopreservative with antimicrobial properties against Gram-positive bacteria and the nisin-loaded ulvan particles were more stable and thus, ulvan was used as a carrier for the small nisin molecule [165].…”