Title
Structure mechanical properties and antimicrobial activity of nano- ZnO/cellulose composite films
Authors
GAO SHANSHAN SONG XIAOMING WANG JIANHUA YU SHITAO CHEN FUSHAN and SUN XINYU

Received June 2, 2015
Published Volume 51 Issue 3-4 March-April
Keywords modified nano-ZnO, nano-ZnO/cellulose composite film, antimicrobial activity

Abstract
This study was aimed at developing biopolymer-based antimicrobial films for reducing environmental pollution caused by accumulation of synthetic packaging. Nano-ZnO was modified and incorporated as antimicrobial material into natural cellulose and the solvent casting method was used to prepare active nanocomposite films. Methods, such as FT-IR, AFM and XRD, were used to characterize the modified nano-ZnO and the nanocomposite films. Mechanical and antimicrobial properties of the composite films were also tested. Results showed that the modified ZnO nanoparticles possessed good dispersion in the films. When the concentration of nano-ZnO was 2.5 wt%, the composite film had the best mechanical properties, as well as significant antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. It could be concluded that the novel prepared nanocomposite films can be used as a promising material for antimicrobial packaging applications.