Development and Characterization of Antimicrobial PLA/PVA/Ag Nanocomposite Films for Food Packaging Applications

This study presents the fabrication and characterization of biodegradable nanocomposite films based on a Polylactic acid (PLA) matrix, incorporating Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), for active food packaging applications. PVA/Ag nanocomposites were synthesized via an ultrasound-assisted chemical reduction method before their integration into the PLA matrix using a solvent casting technique. Characterization analyses (FT-IR, SEM, TEM) confirmed the successful formation of the composite material with a relatively uniform dispersion of silver nanoparticles within the polymer matrix. The PLA/PVA/Ag film with a 1.0 wt% content (F/1.0) exhibited optimal mechanical properties, with a tensile strength of 5.77 MPa, nearly 20% higher than the neat PLA control film. Notably, the composite material demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, effectively inhibiting the growth of B. subtilis, E. coli, and S. cerevisiae in a dose-dependent manner. These findings affirm the potential of PLA/PVA/Ag films as an advanced, sustainable, and effective packaging material for the food preservation industry.