Development and properties of active films based on potato starch modified by low-temperature plasma and enriched with cinnamon essential oil coated with nanoparticles

Potato starch dispersion was modified with low-temperature plasma (LTP) and cinnamon essential oil (CEO) was successfully loaded into mesoporous nano-silica particles (SBA-15). The SBA-15-CEO/LTP-potato starch film was prepared to explore the effects of LTP and SBA-15-CEO on the thermal stability, mechanical and physical properties of the starch-based film. The results showed that the plasma modification and SBA-15-CEO improved the thermal stability and mechanical and physical properties, as well as reduced the gas permeability of the film. Significantly, the crystal structure of the LTP- potato starch film changed after adding SBA-15-CEO. The optimized SBA-15-CEO/LTP-potato starch film (1.5 g glycerin; 0.5 g SBA-15-CEO) had the best mechanical properties and thermal stability and the lowest air permeability and hydrophilicity. Moreover, the aggregation of SBA-15-CEO decreased after LTP treatment, and the appearance of irregular and rough fractured surfaces was also alleviated. After LTP modification, the agglomeration of SBA-15-CEO in the film was solved to some extent. The addition of SBA-15-CEO alleviated the problem of starch dehydration and film cracking caused by LTP modification. Therefore, LTP is a simple and environmentally friendly method to improve the properties of potato starch film.