Green‐Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Integrated Into Chitosan Gelatin Films for Antimicrobial and Biodegradable Food Packaging

The conventional plastic materials pose many environmental problems and food safety issues, leading to the need for eco‐friendly and antimicrobial active food packages. In this study, eco‐friendly AgNPs were produced using Moringa oleifera leaf extract, which were subsequently incorporated into CH‐GE‐PEG composite films as a sustainable food package material. AgNPs were characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, DLS, zeta potential measurement, EDX, and FE‐SEM. Physicochemical, mechanical, thermal, antibacterial, and biodegradation characteristics of the nanocomposites were investigated for different concentrations of AgNPs. With an increase in the AgNP loading concentration, there was an improvement in the absorbance of ultraviolet light and opacity, but there was a decrease in swelling from 162.5% to 120.8%. The permeability of water vapor was slightly improved, while solubility stayed at a relatively low value (5.00%–6.31%). The AgNP loaded films were shown to exhibit strong antibacterial action against both Escherichia coli (11.0 mm) and S taphylococcus aureus (12.0 mm). Biodegradation tests revealed that 33%–46% degradation could occur in a soil environment. Shelf‐life tests conducted on carrot samples showed that the AgNP loaded films delayed spoilage better than commercial petroleum‐based plastic films.