Thermoplastic starch and bioactive chitosan sub-microparticle biocomposites: Antifungal and chemico-physical properties of the films

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 230; p. 115627
• Main Authors: Moeini, Arash, Mallardo, Salvatore, Cimmino, Alessio, Dal Poggetto, Giovanni, Masi, Marco, Di Biase, Mariaelena, van Reenen, Albert, Lavermicocca, Paola, Valerio, Francesca, Evidente, Antonio, Malinconico, Mario, Santagata, Gabriella
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15-02-2020
• Subjects: Bioactive films; Biocomposites; Chitosan; Mater-Bi; Packaging; Penicillium roqueforti; Packaging; Bioactive films; Penicillium roqueforti; Mater-Bi; Chitosan; Biocomposites
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115627

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•Thermoplastic starch based polymer (MBi) was the matrix of bioactive biocomposites.•Chitosan_Ungeremine_TPP sub-microparticles were the bioactive dispersed phase (CTUn).•The biocomposites were active against P.roqueforti, a bakery food contaminant.•Hydrogen bonding interaction occurred between MBi matrix and CTUn dispersed phase.•Releasing kinetics and bioactivity depended on bakery food pH and CTUn concentration.
In this study, chitosan (C) tripolyphosphate (T) sub-micro particles containing ungeremine (CTUn), an alkaloid particularly active against Penicilliumroqueforti, a fungus responsible of the bakery products deterioration, were prepared through external gelation crosslinking process. The particles were included in a thermoplastic starch based polymer Mater-Bi (MBi), and MBi/CTUn bioactive biocomposites were obtained. The films showed bioactivity against P. roqueforti. In particular, the bioassays were performed on films with different concentration of CTUn and at different pH values. CTUn particles influenced MBi crystallization (DSC analysis) and promoted thermal degradation of MBi starch component (TGA). Morphological analysis confirmed even distribution of sub-micro particles into the polymeric matrix. Water permeability slightly increased, as expected, whereas oxygen permeability decreased. Tensile tests showed CTUN sub-microparticles improved rigidity and tensile strength of the films at the expense of ductility. Finally, MBi/CTUn biocomposites evidenced interesting performances potentially exploitablein bioactive bakery based food packaging materials.