Preparation and characteristics of mechanical and functional properties of starch/Plantago psyllium seeds mucilage films

The aim of the present study was to reinforce starch-based films with psyllium mucilage in order to obtain natural, edible, and biodegradable films with improved mechanical and functional properties. The rheological properties of film-forming solutions can be controlled by the concentration levels of added mucilage. The addition of mucilage reduced the decomposition of the system, which made these films more thermally stable. Those starch-mucilage films were sufficiently transparent and exhibited a low aqueous solubility and as shown in SEM images of such films spherical particles appeared in the structure, probably microcapsules. The addition of mucilage did see an improvement in the mechanical properties of those films, especially at a higher concentration of starch (4% rather than 3%).