Integrated monitoring and preservation of freshness: CMC/Anth/GNPs/CS multifunctional intelligent film for shrimp packaging
摘要
Sensitive and multifunctional smart films enable accurate monitoring and preservation of food freshness. In this study, a CMC/Anth/GNPs/CS composite film integrating food preservation and freshness indication functions was fabricated, with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CS) as the matrix, anthocyanins (Anth) extracted from purple kale as the indicator, and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) as the antimicrobial agent. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) composite films containing anthocyanins have excellent pH response properties. This remarkable colorimetric response highlights the excellent performance of anthocyanins as natural pH indicators when embedded in a polymer matrix. The incorporation of GNPs enhanced both the UV resistance and mechanical properties of the GNPs/CS freshness-preserving composite membranes. Furthermore, composite films consisting of GNPs and CS showed significant antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The antimicrobial efficiency of GNPs/CS films exceeded 98% under 10 min of light exposure, highlighting their promising utility as food packaging materials. These multifunctional films serve a dual purpose: prolonging shrimp shelf life while enabling visual freshness detection via colorimetric degradation signals. Thus, the developed intelligent film demonstrates promising applicability for both quality tracking and preservation of shrimp and similar high-protein food products.