Characterization of physico-mechanical, chemical and antioxidant properties of chitosan based film incorporated with PGHE nanoliposome

In recent decade, developing natural biodegradable films carrying bio active material extracted from cheap agricultural wastes have fostered many attentions. This is due to increasing economic and environmental and health conservations. The purpose of this study first, is the production of an active biodegradable film based on chitosan and carboxymethyl cellulose and second, is the investigation of two different ways of incorporating nanoliposomes loaded with Pistachio green hall extract into the film on its physico-mechanical, chemical, antioxidant capacity and release properties.

Phenolic component of Pistachio green hall were extracted and purified and encapsulated into nanoliposomes. 10 film samples based on chitosan, carboxymethyl cellulose and glycerol as plasticizer incorporated with 0, 1, 1.5, %2 w/w layered and dispersed nanoliposome carrying 1000 ppm PGHE were developed. Total phenol content of PGHE, liposome dimension, loading efficiency, and mechanical resistance, optical property, antioxidant capacity and release property of extract of film samples were studied. Also FTIR analysis of the film samples was studied to search about probable interactions among film ingredients and liposomes.

All film samples showed desirable mechanical properties. However, film samples with 1.5 to 2% w/w liposome especially the sample containing dispersed liposomes significantly presented higher mechanical strength and the percentage of elongation. Also, the film samples with 1.5 to 2% w/w liposome demonstrated a high and concentration dependent antioxidant potential. The FTIR studies showed the specific peaks of the blank film components, indicating no probable interactions among the film ingredients and liposomes. Also, and electrostatic interaction of chitosan and carboxymethyl cellulose was detectable. The spectra of two both film samples containing liposome were similar to blank film sample, indicated no probable interactions among the film ingredients and liposomes. There was no significant difference among optical data showing that incorporating liposomes had no effect on the clarity of film samples. The release test showed the similar release kinetic between the sample with layered and the film sample incorporated with free extract. This finding cleared that antioxidant components could release without any delay and struggling with film polymer strands.

Although all prepared film samples had notable optical, mechanical and tensile strength and antioxidant features, the film samples with %2 layered liposome besides exhibiting desire physico-mechanical, optical and antioxidant activity showed more efficient release kinetic of antioxidants. So, it could be concluded that the proposed method in this research could be a promising way for developing active biodegradable films.