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Engineering Mechanically Strong and Bioactive Gelatin-Based Supramolecular Plastics via Hydrogen Bonding and Coordination Interactions for Food Packaging
Summary
Scientists created a new food packaging material made from gelatin (a natural protein) combined with plant fibers and a plant-based antioxidant, designed to replace traditional plastic wrap. This bio-based film is strong, keeps food fresher longer (tested successfully on blueberries), fights bacteria, and breaks down naturally instead of sticking around in the environment for centuries. Since it's made from natural, biodegradable ingredients, it could help reduce our reliance on conventional plastics—which shed the microplastics increasingly found in our food, water, and even our bodies.
Developing high-performance biopackaging is crucial for mitigating plastic pollution and advancing a sustainable circular economy. Guided by a supramolecular design strategy, this work presented a novel, mechanically strong, and bioactive gelatin-based composite plastic film constructed by sequentially incorporating carboxylated cellulose nanofibers (CCNF), gallic acid (GA), and Al 3+, forming a multicross-linked network. The rigid CCNF phase drastically enhanced surface hydrophobicity (water contact angle: 113.9°). GA incorporation achieved near-complete DPPH/ABTS + free radical scavenging (∼100%), validated by practical blueberry preservation, and increased elongation at break by 384%, indicating a brittle-to-ductile transition. Subsequent Al 3+ coordination further strengthened the composite film, yielding a tensile strength of 28.7 MPa and a Young’s modulus of 828 MPa. The final multicross-linked film (GCGAF) exhibited excellent thermal stability, robust gas barrier properties, notable antibacterial activity, and favorable biodegradability. This work provides an effective strategy for fabricating high-performance gelatin-based supramolecular plastics with balanced and superior properties for practical packaging applications.