Innovative chitosan-silver nanoparticles: Green synthesis, antimicrobial properties, and migration assessment for food packaging

This study investigates the green synthesis of chitosan-based silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and their application as antimicrobial coatings for food preservation. The effects of three coatings were evaluated on refrigerated tomatoes over 22 days: distilled water (control), 1 % chitosan (CH), and chitosan-based Ag NPs (Ag/CH). The synthesized Ag/CH was characterized by FT-IR, UV-vis spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, DLS, and XRD, confirming successful synthesis and a crystalline face-centered cubic structure. Antimicrobial activity, evaluated using the disk diffusion method, showed that Ag/CH coatings demonstrated superior antibacterial properties, with inhibition zones ranging from 9.19 to 11.07 mm. The Ag/CH coating effectively maintained tomato quality, with minimal changes in pH, color, and microbial counts. Although silver migration occurred, it remained within safety limits. This study addresses a gap in the literature by investigating the effects of chitosan-based silver nanoparticles on tomato quality and metal migration, demonstrating their potential as a sustainable solution for food preservation.