Ionic Strength of Methylcellulose-Based Films: An Alternative for Modulating Mechanical Performance and Hydrophobicity for Potential Food Packaging Application

The growing environmental concern with the inappropriate disposal of conventional plastics has driven development eco-friendly food packaging. However, intrinsic characteristics polymers a renewable origin, e.g., poor mechanical properties, continue to render their practical application difficult. For this, present work studied influence ionic strength (IS) from 0 500 mM modulate physicochemical properties methylcellulose (MC). Moreover, for protection against biological risks, Nisin-Z was incorporated into MC’s polymeric matrices, providing an active function. incorporation salts (LiCl and MgCl2) promoted increase in equilibrium moisture content polymer matrix, which turn acted as plasticizing agent. In this way, films hydrophobic surface (98°), high true strain (85%), low stiffness (1.6 mPa) can be manufactured by addition salts, modulating IS mM. Furthermore, mM, established LiCl, catalyzed antibacterial activity E. coli, conferring synergism extending hazards. Therefore, we demonstrated that control MC dispersion presents new alternative achieve Gram-negative bacteria flexibility, elasticity, hydrophobicity required various applications