Antibacterial and antioxidant activity of PLA films incorporated with green synthesized ZNO nanoparticles

Abstract

Packaging protects food from environmental factors, extending shelf life and ensuring safety, but the ecological impact of plastics has driven interest in biodegradable alternatives like PLA, an FDA-approved, compostable material. This study evaluates the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of PLA films incorporated with eco-friendly, green-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles compared to conventional plastics and plain PLA films. The antibacterial activity of PLA/ZnO nanocomposite films was evaluated against E. coli and Salmonella Typhimurium, showing no significant antibacterial effects regardless of nanoparticle concentration similar to that of LDPE and neat PLA films. The antioxidant activity of PLA/ZnO nanocomposite films was evaluated using the DPPH assay, showing a significant increase with ZnO nanoparticle incorporation. The results of the study demonstrated that the addition of nanoparticles could not impart any antimicrobial activity to films and showed good radical scavenging activity after incorporation.