Nanocomposite films consisting of functional nanoparticles (TiO2 and ZnO) embedded in 4A-Zeolite and mixed polymer matrices (gelatin and polyvinyl alcohol)

Maryam Azizi-Lalabadi; Mahmood Alizadeh-Sani; Baharak Divband; Ali Ehsani; David Julian McClements

doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109716

Nanocomposite films consisting of functional nanoparticles (TiO₂ and ZnO) embedded in 4A-Zeolite and mixed polymer matrices (gelatin and polyvinyl alcohol)

Food Res Int. 2020 Nov:137:109716. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109716. Epub 2020 Sep 22.

Authors

Maryam Azizi-Lalabadi¹, Mahmood Alizadeh-Sani², Baharak Divband³, Ali Ehsani⁴, David Julian McClements⁵

Affiliations

¹ Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
² Student's Scientific Research Center, Department of Food Safety and Hygiene, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Dental and Periodontal Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Inorganic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Tabriz, C.P. 51664 Tabriz, Iran.
⁴ Nutrition Research Center, Department of Food Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Electronic address: ehsani@tbzmed.ac.ir.
⁵ Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA. Electronic address: mcclements@foodsci.umass.edu.

PMID: 33233288
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109716

Abstract

In this study, nanocomposite films with enhanced functional properties were prepared by loading titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and/or zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles within 4A zeolite (4AZ) particles, and then incorporating these nanocomposites into a poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and gelatin matrix. The composition and morphology of the films were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The thermal behavior of the films was established using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). SEM showed the nanoparticles were dispersed throughout the films when used at these levels. FTIR indicated that the inorganic nanoparticles interacted with the PVA/gelatin polymer network through hydrogen bonding. XRD confirmed that the nanoparticles were in a crystalline state within the films. DSC and TGA showed that introduction of the nanoparticles modified the nanocomposite's thermal behavior. Nanoparticle addition had a number of effects: (i) it decreased film transparency from 78.7% to 69.4% 72.0% and 69.7%; (ii) it decreased film water vapor permeability (WVP) from 8.20 × 10^-9 to 5.13 × 10^-9, 5.71 × 10^-9 and 5.24 × 10^-9 g/Pa.h.m; (iii) it reduced film oxygen permeability from 4.57 to 3.29, 3.10 and 3.00 mEq/g; and (i) it increased film tensile strength (TS) from 14.6 to 22.0, 20.3 and 18.0 MPa, for PVA/gelatin films containing 0%, 1.5% ZnO, 1.5% TiO₂ and 1% (ZnO + TiO₂) nanoparticles, respectively (with the nanoparticles being trapped within 4AZ). Moreover, active nanocomposite films exhibited significant antimicrobial effects especially against gram-negative bacteria. Overall, our results show that nanoparticle-loaded PVA/gelatin nanocomposites may be useful as active biodegradable nanocomposite films for application in the packaging industry and that their properties can be modulated by controlling the nature and level of nanoparticles incorporated.

Keywords: Antimicrobial properties; Functional packaging; Nanocomposite film; Titanium dioxide; Zeolite; Zinc oxide.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Gelatin
Nanocomposites*
Nanoparticles*
Polymers
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Titanium
Zeolites*
Zinc Oxide*

Substances

Polymers
Zeolites
titanium dioxide
Gelatin
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Titanium
Zinc Oxide