Abstract
The increasing global reliance on plastic poses serious environmental and health risks, highlighting the need for biodegradable packaging alternatives.
mucilage (OFIM) is a promising biopolymer due to its abundance and biodegradability, although its poor mechanical and barrier properties limit direct application. In this study, OFIM-based films reinforced with cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C
N
) nanoparticles at 1%, 3%, and 5% were developed for food packaging applications. The g-C
N
nanoparticles and OFIM/CNF/g-C
N
composite films were characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, XRD, and FTIR, confirming successful nanoparticle synthesis and incorporation into the biopolymer matrix. The nanocomposite films exhibited significantly improved physicochemical, mechanical, optical, and biological properties (
< 0.05). Increasing g-C
N
concentration reduced moisture content, solubility, and water vapor permeability while enhancing tensile strength, thickness, and UV-blocking capacity, with optimal overall performance at 5% g-C
N
. Antioxidant activity increased with nanoparticle concentration, as demonstrated by ABTS radical scavenging assays. Antimicrobial evaluation against
,
, and
revealed enhanced inhibition, particularly at 3% g-C
N
, attributed to improved nanoparticle dispersion and bioactive compounds in OFIM. Overall, the OFIM/CNF/g-C
N
nanocomposite films show strong potential as sustainable active food packaging materials, supporting reduced plastic use and postharvest losses in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.