A new nanohybrid particle reinforced multifunctional active packaging film for efficiently preserving postharvest fruit

This study aimed to develop a multifunctional active packaging film for fruit preservation. In detail, a series of gelatin (Gel) composite films were prepared by employing chitosan-ferulic acid-titanium dioxide nanohybrid particles (CFT NPs) as filler into Gel film and then their structural, physical, and functional properties were characterized to determine a nanocomposite film with the optimal performances. The results showed that synthesized CFT NPs posed exceptional performances (UV absorption, antioxidant activity, antibacterial ability, etc). After incorporating into Gel film, CFT-Gel films possessed denser network structure owing to the hydrogen bond connection between Gel and CFT NPs. The addition of CFT NPs significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced mechanical and barrier properties for water vapor, oxygen, and carbon dioxide of nanocomposite films, especially for CFT-Gel film with 0.40 mg/mL of CFT NPs (CFT0.40-Gel). CFT0.40-Gel film also showed enhanced UV shielding (∼100% at 200–400 nm), antioxidant ability (2-fold∼3-fold enhancement), and high relative bacteriostatic rate (>95% against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus under ultraviolet catalysis due to the generation of reactive oxygen species). Moreover, hemolysis assay proved the good bio-safety of CFT-Gel films. Further, CFT0.40-Gel film was successfully applied in the preservation of non-climacteric fruit (strawberries) and climacteric fruit (bananas), as the evidence of its good preservation ability. Therefore, the multifunctional CFT0.40-Gel film possessed great application prospect in fruit preservation. Meanwhile, this work provided a feasible strategy for designing a multifunctional active food packaging.