Fabrication and Characterization of Carrageenan/ZnO/Chitosan Composite Films

Inthis study, a high-performance carrageenan/ZnO/chitosan compositefilm (F-CA/ZnO/CS) was fabricated by the solution/dispersioncasting method and layer-by-layer method. The first layer was nano-ZnOdispersed in carrageenan solution, and the second layer was chitosandissolved in acetic acid. The morphology, chemical structure, surfacewettability, barrier properties, mechanical properties, optical properties,and antibacterial activity of F-CA/ZnO/CS were evaluatedcompared with a carrageenan film (F-CA) and carrageenan/ZnOcomposite film (F-CA/ZnO). This study revealed that theZn element in F-CA/ZnO/CS existed in the form of Zn2+ in F-CA/ZnO/CS. There existed electrostatic interactionand hydrogen bonding between CA and CS. As a result, the mechanicalstrength and transparency of F-CA/ZnO/CS were enhanced andthe water vapor transmittance of F-CA/ZnO/CS was decreasedcompared with that of F-CA/ZnO. Furthermore, the additionof ZnO and CS greatly enhanced the antibacterial activity of Escherichia coli and also had a certain inhibitoryeffect on Staphylococcus aureus. F-CA/ZnO/CS is expected to be a potential candidate materialfor food packaging, wound dressings, and various surface antimicrobialcoatings.