Performance Study of Nano/SiO2 Films and the Antimicrobial Application on Cantaloupe Fruit Shelf-Life

In the current study, novel films with chitosan/nano/SiO2/nisin films and their antimicrobial application on cantaloupe fruit shelf-life have been studied. Novel films were prepared by the addition of 1% chitosan, 1% nano silicon dioxide, and 1% nisin and freeze-dried for the performance study. Physicochemical properties such as tensile strength, optical, and thermal properties with the performance characteristics of the novel films were measured. Coated and uncoated cantaloupes with various coating solutions were stored and chilled at 4 °C in a relative humidity of 70% for up to nine days. The microbial population measurements have been detected every three days. Results show that the fourier transform infrared intensity (FTIR) of nano/SiO2 and with the addition of nisin (nano/SiO2/n) were higher than chitosan (CH) film except in the wavenumber (3150–3750 cm−1) films peaks. Novel nanofilms enhanced tensile strength as well as optical and thermal properties. XRD analysis reported two distinct peak values of 32.08 and 45.99 to correspond to nano/SiO2/n film orientation (7095) and (3316), respectively. Zeta potential values and turbidity were increased, while nano/SiO2 films decreased the hydrophobicity of the film surface by 80.07°. The coating treatments with nano/SiO2 and nano/SiO2/n both reduced the yeast and mold counts 2.49 and 1.92 log CFU/g, respectively, on day nine. In summary, chitosan/nano/SiO2/n novel film improved the functional properties of coating films, and those bio-nanocomposites are effective in food packaging.