Poly(vinyl) alcohol crosslinked composite packaging film containing gold nanoparticles on shelf life extension of banana

In this work, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and graphene oxide (GO) were successfully incorporated separately into the poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) crosslinked composite films. Glyoxal and/or glutaraldehyde (GA) were employed as a crosslinking agent in film fabrication. Through the analytical approach, the success in imparting the crosslink toward PVA by which the relative transmittance intensity of the hydroxyl group is subsided to a greater extent has verified by the FTIR analysis. The dispersion of AuNPs and GO in the PVA crosslinked composites have improved the mechanical or physical properties (tensile strength, Young's modulus value, water vapor transmission rate, water solubility) and making them promising candidates for food packaging application. The outcome of the agar disk diffusion test reveals that AuNPs incorporated PVA crosslinked composite film possess a greater capability with the formation of the larger inhibition zone to prevent the microbial contamination than GO-PVA crosslinked composite film. Banana shelf life has qualitatively improved with PVA-glyoxal-AuNPs composite film for food preservation and affirmed the uses in food packaging applications.