Nanoreinforced biodegradable gelatin based active food packaging film for the enhancement of shelf life of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract The major chunk of fresh farm produce in world is wasted due to improper packaging and handling. The current study focuses on tailoring of properties of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles to make them fit in active food packaging applications. A facile customized co-precipitation approach was used for synthesis of gelatin stabilized Titanium (Ti)-doped CuO nanoparticles., Their physico-chemical properties, confirmed the reduction in size of nanoparticles after doping from 92 to 94 nm for pure CuO nanoparticles to 10–13 nm for Ti-doped CuO nanoparticles with better antimicrobial activity and lower cytotoxicity against animal cells. Furthermore, Ti-doped CuO nanoparticles were found to be cream of the crop to be incorporated into gelatin based active food packaging films to achieve desired functionality, with complete decomposition into natural soil (9 days). The shelf life of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) was greatly enhanced (up to 18 days at 40 ± 3 °C) with the use of nanoreinforced active food packaging films.