Influence of NiO Supported Silica Nanoparticles on Mechanical, Barrier, Optical and Antibacterial Properties of Polylactic Acid (PLA) Bio Nanocomposite Films for Food Packaging Applications

This study aimed to prepare the nickel oxide supported on silica nanoparticles (NiO NPs) incorporated polylactic acid (PLA) bio nanocomposite films of various concentrations (0.25, 0.5. 0.75, 1 wt%) and study the resultant properties of NiO on the tensile, barrier, surface color, opacity and antibacterial properties for food packaging applications. The maximum tensile strength of 16.4 MPa was obtained at 1 wt% of the prepared biocomposite film. The barrier properties like oxygen transmission rate and water vapor transmission rate were significantly reduced and showed a better value of 841.20 (cc / (m 2 . day. atm)) and 3.96 (g/ m 2 /day) on 1 wt% of NiO . The incorporation of NiO NPs increased the surface color (L*, a*, b*) and the opacity values were bio nanocomposite films. Also, the PLA / NiO bio nanocomposite films showed good antibacterial activity against gram-positive (L.monocytogenes) and gram-negative bacteria ( Salmonella). Therefore, the prepared bio nanocomposite films could be used as an excellent packaging material for food packaging applications.