Preparation and Application of Active Bionanocomposite Films Based on Sago Starch Reinforced with a Combination of TiO(2) Nanoparticles and Penganum harmala Extract for Preserving Chicken Fillets

The aim of this study was to develop sago starch-based bionanocomposite films containing TiO(2) nanoparticles and Penganum harmala extract (PE) to increase the shelf life of chicken fillets. First, sago starch films containing different levels of TiO(2) nanoparticles (1, 3, and 5%) and PE (5, 10, and 15%) were prepared. The barrier properties and antibacterial activity of the films against different bacteria strains were investigated. Then, the produced films were used for the chicken fillets packaging, and the physicochemical and antimicrobial properties of fillets were estimated during 12-day storage at 4 °C. The results showed that the addition of nano TiO(2) and PE in the films increased the antibacterial activity against gram-positive (S. aureus) higher than gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria. The water vapor permeability of the films decreased from 2.9 to 1.26 (×10(−11) g/m·s·Pa) by incorporating both PE and nano TiO(2). Synergistic effects of PE and nano TiO(2) significantly decreased the oxygen permeability of the sago starch films from 8.17 to 4.44 (cc.mil/m(2)·day). Application results of bionanocomposite films for chicken fillet storage at 4 °C for 12 days demonstrated that the films have great potential to increase the shelf life of fillets. The total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) of chicken fillets increased from 7.34 to 35.28 after 12 days, whereas samples coated with bionanocomposite films increased from 7.34 to 16.4. For other physicochemical and microbiological properties of chicken fillets, similar improvement was observed during cold storage. It means that the bionanocomposite films could successfully improve the shelf life of the chicken fillets by at least eight days compared to the control sample.