Enhancement of polycaprolactone nanofiber film performance by hydrogen bonding interactions with chitosan for food packaging

Hybrid environmentally friendly nanocomposite films were synthesized via electrospinning using polycaprolactone (PCL) and chitosan (CH). The resulting nanofiber films displayed a homogeneous fibrous microstructure with average diameters between 250-270 nm. Molecular simulation experiments revealed a progressive increase in hydrogen bonding over time. The impact of different CH concentrations on surface roughness was investigated, with results showing that PCL/CH (2 %) reduced surface roughness by 240 % compared to pure PCL film. Furthermore, the addition of CH imparted stable hydrophobic properties to the nanofiber film, with a water contact angle remaining steady at 107 degrees after 20 s. L929 cell experiments confirmed that the nanofiber film exhibits good biocompatibility. Practical application studies using blueberries demonstrated that the PCL/CH (2 %) film effectively preserved freshness at room temperature for up to 5 days. These findings indicate that PCL/CH (2 %) films hold significant potential for use in fruit packaging applications.