Influence of Genipin Crosslinking on the Properties of Chitosan-Based Films

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Chitosan is a promising environment friendly active polymer packaging material due to its biodegradability, exceptional film forming capacity, great mechanical strength, appropriate barrier property along with intrinsic antioxidant and antimicrobial features. Bifunctional reagent was used for producing water insoluble chitosan films. Biopolymeric films crosslinked by Genipin (Gp), which is a reagent of natural origin, should have high potential in food packaging. The influence of the ratio of functional groups in the chitosan-Gp system on film absorption in the visible and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum, sorption, physical, and mechanical properties of the films has been studied. The degree of chitosan crosslinking in the films obtained from solutions containing Gp was estimated using the experimental data on film swelling and water vapor sorption isotherms. It is demonstrated that crosslinking with genipin improves swelling, water resistance, and mechanical properties of the films.