The synergistic effects of cinnamon essential oil and nano TiO2 on antimicrobial and functional properties of sago starch films

This study describes a sago starch-based film by incorporation of cinnamon essential oil (CEO) and nano titanium dioxide (TiO2-N). Different concentrations (i.e., 0%, 1%, 3%, and 5%, w/w) of TiO2-N and CEO (i.e., 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3%, v/w) were incorporated into sago starch film, and the physicochemical, barrier, mechanical, and antimicrobial properties of the bionanocomposite films were estimated. Incorporation of CEO into the sago starch matrix increased oxygen and water vapor permeability of starch films while increasing TiO2-N concentration decreased barrier properties. Moisture content also decreased from 12.96% to 8.04%, solubility in water decreased from 25% to 13.7%, and the mechanical properties of sago starch films improved. Sago starch bionanocomposite films showed excellent antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus. Results also showed that incorporation of TiO2-N and CEO had synergistic effects on functional properties of sago starch films. In summary, sago starch films incorporated with both TiO2-N and CEO shows potential application for active packaging in food industries such as fresh pistachio packaging.