Multifunctional active packaging film based on seaweed polysaccharides and carboxymethyl chitosan for enhanced food...

Seaweed polysaccharides have garnered significant research interest owing to their distinctive bioactivities and remarkable film-forming properties. Nevertheless, previous studies have failed to fully exploit or effectively integrate the unique characteristics of various seaweed-derived polysaccharides. In this study, enzyme-assisted polysaccharides extracted from Undaria pinnatifida (PUPPS-0.25) and Sargassum pallidum (CSPPS-0.05) were prepared and incorporated with carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) to develop a novel active packaging film with multifunctional properties. Incorporating 0.25% CSPPS-0.05 into the film matrix resulted in complete ultraviolet blocking ability, along with significantly enhanced antioxidant and anti-glycation activities. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed that the interactions among PUPPS-0.25, CMCS, and CSPPS-0.05 contributed to improved structural cohesion and functional performance of the composite films. The optimized composite film exhibited superior physical mechanical strength (19.75 MPa) and water vapor barrier properties (8.07 g·mm·m^-2·d^-1·kPa^-1). When applied to strawberry preservation, the film effectively suppressed microbial growth, reduced weight loss, delayed nutrient degradation, and extended shelf life to over 7 days. Furthermore, incorporating 0.25% CSPPS enhanced advanced glycation end-products inhibitory activity to 29.30%, marking an 83.58% improvement. This research provided new insights into the application of marine polysaccharides in food packaging and proposed an innovative strategy for the development of next-generation active packaging materials.