The synergistic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles and fennel essential oil on physicochemical, mechanical, and antibacterial properties of potato starch films

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a combination of zinc oxide (ZnO‐N) nanoparticles and fennel essential oil (FEO) on the functional and antimicrobial properties of potato starch films. Films based on potato starch containing a combination of ZnO‐N (1, 3, and 5%(w/w)) and FEO (1, 2, and 3% (w/w)) produced by casting method and water solubility, water absorption capacity (WAC), barrier properties, mechanical properties, color indexes, and antimicrobial activity of the films against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Aspergillus flavus were studied. The combination of ZnO‐N and FEO had a significant decreasing effect on solubility, WAC, water vapor and oxygen permeability, elongation, and L* index. These additives had an increasing impact on tensile strength, Yang's modulus, and a* and b* indexes (p < .05). By increasing the concentration of ZnO‐N and FEO, the antimicrobial activities of bionanocomposite films significantly increased (p < .05). Both ZnO‐N and FEO had a significant effect in this respect, although the effects of ZnO‐N were more significant. In conclusion, an excellent synergistic effect of ZnO‐N and FEO was observed in potato starch films.