Development of poly (ethylene oxide) bioactive nanocomposite films functionalized with zein nanoparticles

Abstract In this work, zein nanoparticles (NP) loaded with thymol (PEO/T-NP) and carvacrol (PEO/C-NP), were incorporated in poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) films. Structural, mechanical, optical, wettability, thermal, morphological, antioxidant potential and controlled released properties were investigated in the nanocomposite films produced. The interaction between the zein nanoparticles and PEO was confirmed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques. The antioxidant activity increased in three times, due to the incorporation of nanoparticles in the filmogenic matrix, compared to the control film. PEO nanocomposite with 30% of NP increased the hydrophobicity from 65.6° ± 0.4 to 106.7° ± 0.3, in the presence of polar solvent. The thermal stability was confirmed by the lower variability of melting point. An increase in color and opacity of the films was also observed while maintaining the brightness and plasticizing effect of the PEO film. Evaluating the controlled released, the stability was obtained for 12 days, with 13.6 and 15.6 mg g-1 film, to PEO/C-NP and PEO/T-NP, respectively. By the model of Korsmeyer–Peppas, PEO films incorporated with zein nanoparticles were characterized as super case II transport. Based on the results obtained, the PEO nanocomposite films developed may be an alternative to packaging in food systems.