Chitosan/rice hydrolysate/curcumin composite film: Effect of chitosan molecular weight

The composite films were prepared by adding rice protein hydrolysate (RH) into chitosan (CH). Effect of four different chitosan molecular weights (MW, 0.8- 1.0, 30, 100, 300 kDa) was evaluated and curcumin was further incorporated into the film to enhance its bioactivities. With increasing MW (<100 kDa), moisture, solubility and water vapor transmission marginally decreased while tensile strength increased. Rice hydrolysate improved the film solubility and extensibility. All films showed extraordinary extensibility ranging from 180.26% to 204.08%. DSC confirmed MW did affect the thermal stability. The lower MW, the higher antioxidant activity of the CH/RH films. The 30 kDa CH/RH film exhibited higher antibacterial activity against both E. coli and S. aureus. Curcumin effectively improved both antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the CH/RH films. Hence, chitosan molecular weight must be chosen carefully according to its application and incorporation of protein hydrolysate into film would be an efficient strategy to modify film performance.