Open Access

ARTICLE

Chitosan/Sodium Alginate Multilayer pH-Sensitive Films Based on Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembly for Intelligent Packaging

Mingxuan He¹, Yahui Zheng¹, Jiaming Shen¹, Jiawei Shi¹, Yongzheng Zhang¹, Yinghong Xiao^2,*, Jianfei Che^1,*

1 Key Laboratory of Soft Chemistry and Functional Materials, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210094, China
2 Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, China

* Corresponding Authors: Yinghong Xiao. Email: ; Jianfei Che. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Active and Intelligent Food Packaging Films)

Journal of Renewable Materials 2024, 12(2), 215-233. https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2023.043659

Received 08 July 2023; Accepted 02 November 2023; Issue published 11 March 2024

Abstract

The abuse of plastic food packaging has brought about severe white pollution issues around the world. Developing green and sustainable biomass packaging is an effective way to solve this problem. Hence, a chitosan/sodium alginate-based multilayer film is fabricated via a layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly method. With the help of superior interaction between the layers, the multilayer film possesses excellent mechanical properties (with a tensile strength of 50 MPa). Besides, the film displays outstanding water retention property (blocking moisture of 97.56%) and ultraviolet blocking property. Anthocyanin is introduced into the film to detect the food quality since it is one natural plant polyphenol that is sensitive to the pH changes ranging from 1 to 13 in food when spoilage occurs. It is noted that the film is also bacteriostatic which is desired for food packaging. This study describes a simple technique for the development of advanced multifunctional and fully biodegradable food packaging film and it is a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging.

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