Active Chitosan Films Enriched with Yerba Mate Kombucha Infusion: Formulation and Characterization

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Food Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Growing demand for sustainable packaging alternatives to synthetic plastics.
• Chitosan as a versatile biopolymer for active packaging applications.
• Yerba mate kombucha infusion (YMK-I) as a source of bioactive compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize chitosan-based films incorporating YMK-I.
• To evaluate the physicochemical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of these novel films.
• To assess the potential of YMK-I as a solvent and functional additive in chitosan films.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of chitosan films using varying concentrations of YMK-I as a solvent.
• Characterization using rheology, FTIR-ATR, and thermal analyses (DSC/TGA).
• Assessment of antioxidant activity (radical scavenging) and antimicrobial efficacy against key foodborne pathogens (E. coli, S. aureus).

Main Results:

• YMK-I demonstrated effective solvent properties for chitosan film formation.
• Films showed significant antioxidant activity (>85% RSA) and potent antimicrobial effects (>98% inhibition).
• Incorporation of YMK-I enhanced film flexibility and altered thermal properties.

Conclusions:

• Chitosan-YMK-I films are multifunctional bio-based materials with promising active packaging potential.
• The developed films offer a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics.
• These materials show excellent antioxidant and antimicrobial capabilities for food preservation applications.