Antimicrobial and Hydrophilic Behavior of Soluble Soy Polysaccharide Starch/Cold Water Fish Gelatin Films Incorporated with Nano-Titanium Dioxide

Edible films based on starch are applied for food protection to extend shelf-life of food products. The biodegradability of film compounds was significantly improved by the utilization of biopolymer molecules in comparison to petroleum packaging, and it could be a replacement for synthetic packaging. In the presentation work, the effects of nano titanium dioxide (TiO2-N) were studied on the moisture content, water solubility, moisture uptake, and antimicrobial properties of soluble soy polysaccharide (SSPS) starch/cold water fish gelatin films. The nano titanium dioxide was incorporated into the SSPS starch/cold water fish gelatin dispersion at various levels (1, 2, 3, and 5 w/w% based on SSPS starch). The moisture content of the biofilms decreased from 14.12% to 12.28% and water solubility decreased from 93.18% to 71.46% by the incorporation of 5% TiO2-N into the biopolymer matrix. Increasing TiO2-N from 0 to 5% decreased the moisture uptake, a value of 9.83–6.81 g/g dried film. According to an increased inhibition zone of 1-5% TiO2-N for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli from 32.44 to 62.27 mm2 and from 22.15 to 45.17 mm2 respectively, SSPS starch/cold water fish gelatin/TiO2-N films showed antimicrobial characterizations against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In summary, TiO2-N improves the functional properties of SSPS/cold water fish gelatin biofilms and can be applied in the food industry.