Preparation, characterization, mechanical, barrier and antimicrobial properties of chitosan/PVOH/clay nanocomposites

Aris Giannakas; Maria Vlacha; Constantinos Salmas; Areti Leontiou; Petros Katapodis; Haralambos Stamatis; Nektaria-Marianthi Barkoula; Athanasios Ladavos

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.12.072

Preparation, characterization, mechanical, barrier and antimicrobial properties of chitosan/PVOH/clay nanocomposites

Carbohydr Polym. 2016 Apr 20:140:408-15. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.12.072. Epub 2015 Dec 31.

Authors

Aris Giannakas¹, Maria Vlacha², Constantinos Salmas³, Areti Leontiou⁴, Petros Katapodis⁵, Haralambos Stamatis⁶, Nektaria-Marianthi Barkoula⁷, Athanasios Ladavos⁸

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Food Technology, Department of Business Administration of Food and Agricultural Enterprises, University of Patras, Agrinio 30100, Greece. Electronic address: agiannakas@upatras.gr.
² Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, Ioannina 45110, Greece. Electronic address: vlacham@hotmail.com.
³ Laboratory of Food Technology, Department of Business Administration of Food and Agricultural Enterprises, University of Patras, Agrinio 30100, Greece. Electronic address: ksalmas@upatras.gr.
⁴ Laboratory of Food Technology, Department of Business Administration of Food and Agricultural Enterprises, University of Patras, Agrinio 30100, Greece. Electronic address: aleontiu@upatras.gr.
⁵ Department of Biological Applications & Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina 45110, Greece. Electronic address: pkatapo@cc.uoi.gr.
⁶ Department of Biological Applications & Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina 45110, Greece. Electronic address: hstamati@uoi.gr.
⁷ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, Ioannina 45110, Greece. Electronic address: nbarkoul@cc.uoi.gr.
⁸ Laboratory of Food Technology, Department of Business Administration of Food and Agricultural Enterprises, University of Patras, Agrinio 30100, Greece. Electronic address: alantavo@upatras.gr.

PMID: 26876868
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.12.072

Abstract

In the current study low molecular weight poly(vinylalcohol) (PVOH) was used to prepare chitosan/PVOH blends and chitosan/PVOH/montmorillonite nanocomposites via a reflux - solution - heat pressing method. The effect of PVOH content and montmorillonite type (hydrophylic vs. organically modified) on the morphology, mechanical, thermomechanical, barrier and antimicrobial properties of the obtained polymer blends and nanocomposite films was studied. Higher amounts of PVOH (20 and 30%) resulted in plasticization of the films, with an increase in the elongation at break and decrease of the stiffness and the strength while effective blending between chitosan and PVOH chains was observed based on the XRD and DMA findings. Addition of PVOH was beneficial for water and oxygen barrier properties of the obtained films while it did not influence the antimicrobial activity of films against the growth of Escherichia coli. Intercalated structures were obtained after the addition of hydrophilic and organo-modified clays leading into stiffening of the nano-modified films and enhancement of their barrier and antimicrobial properties.

Keywords: Antimicrobial; Chitosan; Food packaging; Nanocomposites; Polyvinylalcohol.

MeSH terms

Aluminum Silicates / chemistry*
Anti-Infective Agents / chemistry*
Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
Chitosan / chemistry*
Clay
Escherichia coli / drug effects
Food Packaging
Mechanical Phenomena*
Nanocomposites / chemistry*
Oxygen / chemistry
Permeability
Polyvinyl Alcohol / chemistry*
Temperature
Water / chemistry

Substances

Aluminum Silicates
Anti-Infective Agents
Water
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Chitosan
Oxygen
Clay