Potential application of new antimicrobials biological macromolecule of CNT/ZnO-NPs based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose/shellac as packaging films.

This research aims to prepare a new antimicrobials biological macromolecule packaging film instead of petroleum-based plastic products by crosslinking the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) with shellac and loading it with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs). FTIR and XRD confirmed the successful incorporation of CNTs/ZnO-NPs into the HPMC/shellac- matrix. It was found that loading of CNTs/ZnO-NPs improved the thermal stability of the HPMC films. Different weights of ZnO-NPs (0.08-0.25 %) were loaded onto the film. The uniform distribution of ZnO-NPs within the film was confirmed using SEM, which revealed clearly that the biological macromolecule of HPMC/shellac-CNTs/ZnO-NPs was prepared. Evaluations were also conducted on the film's thickness, air permeability, tensile strength, burst strength, and Young's modulus. Tensile strength, Young's modulus, and stress at maximum load increased by 104.48, 203.19, and 86 %, respectively, when 0.125 % ZnO-NPs was added to 95 % HPMC: 5 % shellac/CNTs. Unlike HPMC films, which showed no antibacterial properties, modified films exhibited greater antibacterial activity levels against Candida albicans, B. mycoides, and E. coli. The prepared films have improved qualities compared with HPMC films, including their thermal stability, biological activity, air permeability, and tensile strength. Thus, the films composed of HPMC/shellac/CNTs-ZnO-NPs show promise as future packing components.