Novel nanocomposite films co-embedded with bioactive compounds: Synergistic barrier, antioxidant, controlled-release properties and application on food packaging.

Growing consumer and environmental concerns are driving the demand for safe, edible, and sustainable food packaging. The sustainable, ambient self-assembly process utilized renewable biopolymers and natural compounds, avoiding the high energy and toxic byproducts of conventional plastic production. This study reports, for the first time, the development of co-loaded curcumin and resveratrol nanoparticles (ZCRC NPs) fabricated via a novel combination of zein and sodium caseinate, which were subsequently incorporated into a gelatin matrix to create a multifunctional composite film. Comprehensive characterization confirmed the successful formation of ZCRC NPs with uniform spherical morphology and outstanding encapsulation efficiency for both curcumin (83.41%) and resveratrol (86.63%). Compared to conventional single-compound encapsulation systems, this dual-delivery approach enabled synergistic antioxidant activity and sustained release of both bioactive compounds. The resulting G-NPs film exhibited significantly enhanced mechanical properties, with tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young's modulus (YM) increasing by 271%, 105%, and 120%, respectively, along with superior barrier properties against oxygen and water vapor. The composite film also demonstrated excellent UV-blocking capability and sustained release behavior following first-order kinetics, while showing remarkable antioxidant activity in both DPPH and ABTS assays. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analyses revealed that hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic forces between NPs and the gelatin matrix contributed to the improved film performance. When applied to refrigerated tilapia fillets, the G-NPs film effectively suppressed lipid oxidation and protein degradation, achieving an extended shelf life of 8 days, representing a significant improvement over previously reported gelatin-based films. Correlation analysis further established significant relationships between film properties and preservation efficacy. This study presents an innovative, eco-friendly packaging material with significant potential for aquatic product preservation, offering a viable alternative to conventional plastic packaging through its unique combination of dual-bioactive NPs delivery and enhanced physicochemical performance.