Development of new active packaging film made from a soluble soybean polysaccharide incorporating ZnO nanoparticles

• Mechanical aspects were affected by incorporation of nanoparticles into the films.
• Antibacterial activity of ZnO/SSPS films is depended to ZnO concentration.
• The SSPS/ZnO films indicate antifungal and yeasticidal activity.
• Lack of good affinity between ZN and SSPS and crystal plane of hexagonal ZN.
• Mono dispersed particles with clearly spherical morphology was observed using AFM.

This study aimed to develop a soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) nanocomposite incorporating ZnO nanoparticles. The nanocomposites were prepared using the solvent-casting method. SEM, AFM, DSC and X-ray diffraction methods were applied to characterize the resulting films. Furthermore, the antibacterial and anti-mold activities of SSPS/ZN films were assessed against the selected microorganisms. The results indicated that incorporating ZNs into the SSPS film affected the tensile strength and elongation at break significantly. In addition, the antibacterial, antifungal and yeasticidal activities of ZnO/SSPS films have been approved. XRD results showed a crystal plane of hexagonal ZN, while SEM showed that there was not a good affinity between ZN and SSPS. Mono-dispersed particles with clearly spherical morphology and with no voids on the surface were observed using AFM. Fluctuation in Tg and Tm resulted from incorporating ZN. In summary, the potential of ZNs as a functional filler in SSPS film has been demonstrated.