Randomized trial demonstrates enhanced antimicrobial activity in multilayer films using silver nanoparticles, indicating promise for active packaging solutions.
Multilayer packaging—engineered by integrating complementary materials such as plastics, paper, and aluminum—has become a cornerstone technology for enhancing shelf life, minimizing spoilage, and reinforcing the mechanical integrity of packaging formats including films, pouches, and bottles. In this study, a laminate was developed by thermally bonding polylactic acid (PLA) with a poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/thermoplastic starch (TPS) matrix embedded with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) at 0–3 wt.%. The resulting structures were systematically evaluated for their barrier performance, physicochemical characteristics, and antimicrobial functionality. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the absence of chemical interactions between Ag-NPs and the polymer matrix, indicating physical dispersion rather than chemical bonding. However, at higher loading (3 wt.%), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) revealed notable nanoparticle aggregation. Functionally, the multilayer films demonstrated markedly improved water vapor barrier properties compared to single-layer PBAT/TPS films. Migration studies showed that silver release increased with nanoparticle concentration and was significantly enhanced under acidic conditions relative to distilled water. Importantly, Ag-NP-incorporated laminates exhibited pronounced antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential of Ag-NP-enriched, starch-based multilayer laminates as next-generation active packaging systems that combine with effective microbial control.
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Promhuad et al. (2026) studied this question.
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