Novel bioactive films integrated with Pickering emulsion of ginger essential oil for food packaging application

Biocomposite films based on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) added ginger essential oil (GEO) via Pickering emulsion (PE) method were fabricated and applied for preservation of bread. The films were assessed for their physicochemical, morphological, mechanical, thermal, antioxidant, and microbial properties. SEM imaging indicated encapsulation of GEO spherical droplets into PE. The films exhibited lower tensile strength, higher elongation at break, and thickness after adition of GEO PE. ATR/FT-IR spectroscopy demonstrated the formation of some interaction between polymer matrix and GEO PE. Packaging of bread slices with GEO integrated biocomposite films extended the shelf life of bread from 4 to 30 days. Remarkably, the GEO-loaded CMC/PVOH films showed excellent UV and light barrier properties, high antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, which make them suitable for food packaging application.