Technological watch

Sustainable nanocomposites based on biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix and ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) functionalized with ionic liquid (IL) were prepared via bulk in-situ ring opening polymerization of ?-caprolactone (?CL). PCL-ZnONPs nanocomposite films were examined in terms of mechanical, thermal and barrier properties. The influence of ZnONPs on the potential antimicrobial effect and biodegradation of PCL-ZnONPs films was investigated. Introduction of IL-ZnONPs NPs (3.0 wt%) into PCL matrix resulted in significant decrease of water vapor permeation (46%), induced bactericidal effect against food-born pathogenic bacterium E.coli and enhanced biodegradation rate of the prepared nanocomposite film. Therefore, these materials present high application potential as active bio-packaging films, e.g. for food storage.