Soluble soybean polysaccharide/TiO₂ nanocomposites: Biological activity, release behavior, biodegradability, and biosafety

This study aimed to produce and characterize eco-friendly SSPS nanocomposites incorporated with various concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) (1%, 3%, and 7%). The antimicrobial activity of the nanocomposite films against five strains of pathogenic bacteria was examined. Salmonella typhi PTCC 1609 was the most sensitive species to TiO2 NPs at concentrations equal to the synthetic antibiotic. The migration of TiO2 to ethanol and acetic acid, as two food simulants increased when the initial nano-TiO2 content increased. The release profiles for TiO2 in two simulants of ethanol and acetic acid indicated a non-Fickian release, and the release kinetics were concentration-dependent. SSPS/TiO2 nanocomposites degraded easily and thus have the potential to be applied as an eco-friendly packaging system. Oral administration of doses of 1, 12.5, 25, 50, and 75 mg/kg TiO2 revealed that the dose of 50 and 75 mg/kg increased malondialdehyde (p < .001) concentration in the liver tissue. In addition, it decreased glutathione (p < .001) concentration in the liver tissue.