Antioxidant and cell-friendly Fe2TiO5 nanoparticles for food packaging application

Abstract

An emerging technology of active packaging enables prolongation of food shelf life by limiting the oxygen transfer and the reactivity of free radicals, which both destruct food freshness. In this work, Fe2TiO5 nanoparticles were synthesized using a modified sol–gel method and evaluated as an enforcement of alginate food packaging film. Pure phase Fe2TiO5 nanoparticles had an average particle size of 44 nm and rhombohedral morphology. Fe2TiO5 nanoparticles induce no cell damage of human Caco-2 epithelial cells and show no inhibitory effect towards growth of a panel of bacterial strains, suggesting good biocompatibility. Films obtained by incorporation of Fe2TiO5 nanoparticles into alginate using the solvent casting method show no migration of iron or titanium ions from films to food simulants again suggesting their safety as a packaging material. Fe2TiO5 nanoparticles also showed strong antioxidant efficiency as determined using the DPPḢ assay, and confirmed further in a preservation test on fresh fruit.