Development of nanocurcumin-incorporated biopolymer films for enhanced stability and pH-responsive monitoring
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54939/1859-1043.j.mst.110.2026.74-83Keywords:
Biodegradable film; Nanocurcumin; pH indicator; Smart packaging.Abstract
This study developed biopolymer films using chitosan (CS), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and pectin (Pec) incorporated with nanocurcumin (NCur). FE-SEM and ATR–FTIR analyses confirmed that NCur integration created denser microstructures through strengthened molecular interactions, improving tensile strength and elongation by up to 17% and 20%, respectively. Furthermore, NCur reduced moisture content and doubled antioxidant radical-scavenging activity. The films exhibited distinct pH-dependent colour transitions from yellow (acidic) to reddish-brown (alkaline). In beef storage trials, the films successfully monitored spoilage via recognisable colour shifts over two days. Overall, these NCur-loaded films demonstrate strong potential as sustainable, intelligent packaging for active preservation and real-time freshness monitoring.
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