Biodegradable laminated poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/grasshopper protein-based multilayer films coated with chitosan/beeswax/baicalein for active packaging

• A grasshopper protein-based active packaging was made via multilayer technique. • The construction of coating on film surface improved its hydrophobicity and WVP. • The multilayer film showed a good biodegradation rate in four weeks. • Baicalein proved to be an effective antibacterial agent in active packaging. A biodegradable multilayer film was fabricated through hot-pressing, utilizing poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) as the barrier layer and grasshopper protein-based ternary blends as the core material, with a chitosan/beeswax/baicalein coating constructed on the surface of laminated film to achieve good antibacterial property. The test results revealed that the laminated film exhibited exceptional mechanical performance, including a tensile strength of 11.18 MPa and an elongation at break of 458.6% with barrier properties significantly improved. Finally, the inner surface of multilayer film showed good hydrophobicity (the maximum water contact angle was 111.7°) and antibacterial activity on S. aureus and E. coli. after introduction of chitosan/beeswax/baicalein coating. Moreover, the multilayer film exhibited good soil degradation rate within four weeks. This study confirmed the potential application value of grasshopper protein-based film for active packaging and proved that multilayer film technique was an excellent means to enhance physicochemical properties of natural biopolymers.