Cinnamon essential oil-enriched arrowroot starch-based biodegradable films for sustainable packaging and microbial preservation of chicken meat
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The demand for sustainable food packaging has driven the development of biodegradable materials with multifunctional properties. This study investigates arrowroot starch (ARS)-based composite films enhanced with cinnamon essential oil (CEO) nanoemulsions, offering eco-friendly and active packaging solutions. CEO nanoemulsions, stabilized using 1 % pectin and 0.1 % Tween 80, achieved optimal stability (zeta potential: 16.9 mV) and nano-sized droplets (<500 nm), ensuring uniform incorporation and film performance. The concentration of CEO significantly influenced the film properties, with 2 % CEO emerging as the optimal level for most parameters. The ARS-CEO (2 %) films exhibited superior tensile strength (19.78 MPa) and elongation at break (372 %), compared to the control ARS film (11.23 MPa, 227 %). The nanocomposite films demonstrated excellent UV barrier properties (7.24 % transmittance at 280 nm) while maintaining high visible transparency (95.89 %), ensuring suitability for food packaging. Reduced film solubility (18.4 %) and moisture content (18.2 %) were observed for ARS-CEO (2 %), compared to the higher values of the control film (34.5 %, 34.9 %). Antioxidant activity was concentration-dependent, with ARS-CEO (2 %) achieving the highest free radical scavenging activity (67.35 %). Similarly, antibacterial tests revealed significant inhibition of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with 2 % CEO providing optimal antimicrobial efficacy. Biodegradation studies demonstrated balanced durability and environmental compatibility, with ARS-CEO (2 %) films achieving 65.24 % weight loss after 21 days. Packaging trials using chicken samples highlighted the ability of ARS-CEO (2 %) films to significantly reduce microbial load, extending the shelf life effectively. Overall, the ARS-CEO nanocomposite films, particularly at 2 % CEO, offer a promising, sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, with superior mechanical, barrier, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and biodegradability characteristics tailored for active food packaging applications.
Authors: Divya Mathew, N.M. Sudheep, Benny Thomas
Institution: Mahatma Gandhi University
Language: English
Subfield: Biomaterials
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,190
Award: G597538452
OpenAlex ID: W4413036706