This work succeeded in the preparation of a nano-biocomposite material based on the use of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate nanoparticles (PHBHHx-NPs) within a scaffold of whey protein (WP) based films. The experimental conditions for PHBHHx-NPs preparation by solvent-evaporation technique were set up, and the obtained NPs characterized. Dynamic light scattering analyses showed that PHBHHx-NPs are stable, exhibiting a zeta-potential value close to −40 mV and a Z-average size of 80 nm. Morphological characterization by transmission and scanning electron microscopy confirmed nanoparticle average dimensions. The addition of PHBHHx-NPs to WP-based films improved the mechanical properties of the derived bioplastics, producing more extensible materials preserving their mechanical resistance. The grafting of PHBHHx-NPs as material fillers also enhanced the film barrier properties towards O_2, the permeability to both water vapor and CO₂ remaining unaffected.

Title

Food Hydrocolloids

Publisher

Elsevier B.V

Publisher Country

Netherlands

Indexing

Scopus

Impact Factor

8.94

Publication Type

Prtinted only

Volume

110

Year

2020

Pages

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