ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Fluconazole NP-Loaded PVA/Chitosan films for food packaging

Shwetarani Rajamani, Ramesh Sabu Gani, Deepak Ramesh Kasai, Anusha Ashok, Govinda Anjanayya, and Avinash Arasidaa Kamble

Department of Industrial Chemistry, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, Mangalore, India

E-mail: ramesh180769@gmail.com

Received: 7 July 2025  Accepted: 5 February 2026

Abstract:

The present work aims to prepare the fluconazole nanoparticles (FZNPs) doped PVA/chitosan composite films using solvent casting method towards food packaging applications. The prepare nanocomposite films were characterized by suing different characterization techniques such as UV, FTIR, FE-SEM, UTM, XRD and water contact angle measurement. The UV and FTIR analysis validates the formation and interaction of the composite films. The X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that the prepared films exhibit a high degree of crystallinity. The universal testing machine indicates that Ts (PCH-44.07 MPa to PCFZN-5-53.84 MPa) and Ym (1155.37 MPa to 1883.30 MPa) increased, while %Eb decreased from 21.78 to 5.41% with the increase in the concentration of FZNPs. The results of SEM demonstrated that FZNPs exhibited compatibility, uniformity, and homogeneous distribution. The measurement of water contact angle (WCA) confirmed that the prepared PCH and PCFZN composite films exhibit hydrophobic properties. The results of the antifungal test showed that the films made can inhibit the growth of microbes. The findings suggest that PCFZN composite film could be a good choice for food packaging.

Keywords: Food packaging; Mechanical; Morphological; Contact angle; Antimicrobial activity

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-026-04730-8

Chemical Papers 80 (5) 5581–5598 (2026)