Enhancing structural properties and antioxidant activity of kefiran films by chitosan addition

• Physical properties decreased with increasing chitosan content.
• Water vapor permeability increased with increasing chitosan content.
• Mechanical properties increased with increasing chitosan content.
• Antioxidant activity increased with increasing chitosan content.
• Results revealed that these two film-forming components are compatible.

Film-forming solutions of different ratios of kefiran to chitosan (100/0, 68/32, 50/50 and 32/68) were cast at oven in 30 °C. The effects of chitosan addition on the resulting films’ physical, mechanical, water vapor permeability properties and antioxidant activity were investigated. Increasing chitosan content to composite films significantly (P < 0.05) decreased moisture content, solubility in water and water vapor permeability, but significantly (P < 0.05) increased tensile strength, elongation at break, puncture strength, puncture deformation and scavenging ability on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals. Results related to optical properties of surface composite films showed that with increasing chitosan content, opacity degree, a and b values significantly (P < 0.05) increase, but L values significantly (P < 0.05) decreases.

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