Antifungal Chitosan Nanocomposites-A New Perspective for Extending Food Storage

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Food Science
• Mycology

Background:

• Chitosan, a biopolymer from chitin, possesses inherent antifungal properties.
• Food spoilage fungi like Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium expansum cause significant economic losses.
• Developing effective and sustainable antifungal agents is crucial for food preservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the antifungal efficacy of chitosan-modified films (CS:ZnO, CS:GO, CS:rGO) against Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium expansum.
• To assess the genotoxicity of these nanocomposites on human skin fibroblast and keratinocyte cell lines.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of chitosan-modified films with zinc oxide (CS:ZnO) and graphene variants (CS:GO, CS:rGO).
• Testing antifungal activity by measuring inhibition of spore germination and spore viability.
• Evaluating genotoxicity using human BJ fibroblasts and human KERTr keratinocytes.

Main Results:

• CS:ZnO nanocomposites (2:1 and 5:1 ratios) completely inhibited spore germination of both fungal strains.
• A reduction in fungal spore viability was observed after exposure to CS:Zn films.
• CS:ZnO composites showed significant DNA damage in keratinocytes but not in fibroblasts, indicating cell-specific genotoxicity.

Conclusions:

• Chitosan-based nanocomposites, particularly CS:ZnO, demonstrate strong antifungal properties against key food spoilage fungi.
• These materials present a promising, potentially safer alternative to synthetic fungicides.
• Further research into genotoxicity and application is warranted for sustainable food production and preservation.