title: Deciphering the potential of guar gum/Ag-Cu nanocomposite films as an active food packaging material.
abstract: Guar gum (GG) based nanocomposite (NC) films were prepared by incorporating silver-copper alloy nanoparticles (Ag-Cu NPs) through solution casting method. Effect of NP loadings (0.5-2%) on the thermo-mechanical, optical, spectral, oxygen barrier and antimicrobial properties of the GG/Ag-Cu NC films were investigated. Tensile testing showed an improvement in the mechanical strength, and a decrease in elongation at break for all NP loadings. NP incorporation into GG films showed a marked influence on the color values. The NC films showed excellent UV, light and oxygen barrier capability. Thermal properties of the NC films were improved as evidenced from the differential scanning calorimetry and the thermal conductivity data. NC films became rough and coarse over neat GG film as visualized through the scanning electron microscopy. A strong antibacterial activity was exhibited by NC films against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and therefore, the film could be considered as an active food packaging.
authors.affiliation: Food and Nutrition Program, Environment & Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat-13109, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Yasir Ali
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Arfat
authors.affiliation: Food and Nutrition Program, Environment & Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat-13109, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ejaz
authors.affiliation: Food and Nutrition Program, Environment & Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat-13109, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Harsha
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.affiliation: Food and Nutrition Program, Environment & Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat-13109, Kuwait. Electronic address: jaahmed@kisr.edu.kw.
authors.forename: Jasim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahmed
keywords: Ag-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles; Antimicrobial packaging; Bionanocomposite material; Differential scanning calorimetry; Guar gum film; Mechanical properties