Green preparation of licorice flavonoids/ZnO/attapulgite nanocomposites for multifunctional chitosan-based food packaging films
Wenting Gao, Bin Mu, Fangfang Yang, Yalong Li, Aiqin Wang
Abstract
Multifunctional biodegradable packaging films with antibacterial and antioxidant properties are highly desirable for food preservation. In this study, multifunctional bioactive chitosan-based composite films were fabricated for loquat preservation after incorporation of licorice flavonoids/ZnO/attapulgite (LF/ZnO/APT) nanocomposites, which were prepared using green phyto-mediated synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles in the presence of attapulgite followed by mechanochemical-assisted loading of licorice flavonoids. The structure and physicochemical properties of composite films were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, etc., while the effects of the added amount of LF/ZnO/APT nanocomposites on the mechanical, antibacterial and antioxidant performances of composite films were investigated. The results indicated that introduction of LF/ZnO/APT nanocomposites obviously enhanced the mechanical properties and antibacterial ratios against Escherichia coli (97.04 ± 2.08%) and Staphylococcus aureus (98.68 ± 1.10%) of composite films. Moreover, the composite films also exhibited excellent scavenging capacities against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl radicals. Therefore, the as-prepared composite films significantly extended the shelf life of loquats, and it is feasible to be served as promising active food packaging materials based on component synergistic effect of composite films.