title: Physicochemical and antifungal properties of bio-nanocomposite film based on gelatin-chitin nanoparticles.
abstract: The gelatin-based nanocomposite films containing chitin nanoparticles (N-chitin) with concentrations of 0, 3, 5 and 10% were prepared and their physical, thermal and anti-microbial properties were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs showed that N-chitin size distribution was around 60-70nm which dispersed appropriately at low concentration in gelatin matrix. The results showed that incorporation of N-chitin significantly influenced apparent color and transparency of the gelatin films. The reduced water vapor permeability (WVP) and solubility and higher surface hydrophobicity of the nanocomposite films were obtained by enhancing N-chitin concentration in film formulation. The use of N-chitin up to 5% concentration in the gelatin based nanocomposite film led to improved mechanical properties. Also, the results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed improved stability of nanocomposite films against melting and degradation at high temperatures in comparison to neat gelatin film. The well compatibility of chitin nanoparticles with gelatin polymer was concluded from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and X-ray diffraction (XRD) plots. Finally, the gelatin based nanocomposite films had anti-fungal properties against Aspergillus niger in the contact surface zone. Increasing the concentration of N-chitin up to 5% enlarged inhibition zone diameter, but the nanocomposite film containing 10% N-chitin showed smaller inhibition zone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran. Electronic address: Samar.sahraee@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Samar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahraee
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran. Electronic address: Jmilany@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Jafar M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, P.O. Box 51666-16471, Tabriz, Iran. Electronic address: Ghanbarzadeh@tabrizu.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ghanbarzadeh
authors.affiliation: Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Electronic address: Hamishehkar.hamed@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamishehkar
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000187:drug effects; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry*; D004355:Drug Stability; D018857:Food Packaging; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010539:Permeability; D012995:Solubility; D013227:Steam; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D013227:Steam; D002686:Chitin; D005780:Gelatin
keywords: Biodegradable film; Chitin; Gelatin; Nanocomposite