Innovative smart and biodegradable packaging for margarine based on a nano composite polylactic acid/lycopene film.

In this study, polylactic acid (PLA)/titanium dioxide/lycopene (PLA/TiO2/Lyc) nano-composite film was prepared. The morphology and mechanical properties of the film were studied by SEM and texture analyser. Results showed that lycopene and TiO2 nanoparticles were distributed in the film matrix uniformly, TiO2 and lycopene increased the mechanical properties of PLA film. The PLA/TiO2/Lyc film was used to package margarine. The effect of PLA/TiO2/Lyc film, time and temperature of storage on the qualitative features of margarine were studied. Also the colour properties of PLA/TiO2/Lyc film were studied during storage period. Oxidative features (antioxidant activity, acidity number, peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid value) of margarine showed that the quality features of margarine decreased during storage, but the PLA/TiO2/Lyc film controled the oxidative factors and increased the margarine shelf life significantly (P < .05). Results also showed that the PLA/TiO2/Lyc film colour changed from red to light yellow during storage. With increasing margarine storage time, the film colour index a decreased (red colour diminished) while b increased (yellow colour increased). There were good relations between colour changes of film and oxidative parameters of margarine and storage time and storage temperature. Thus PLA/TiO2/Lyc film can be used as a visual indicator of the oxidation variations during storage of packaged margarine.