Analytical characterization of laser-generated copper nanoparticles for antibacterial composite food packaging

A new type of nanomaterial has been developed as antibacterial additive for food packaging applications. This nanocomposite is composed of copper nanoparticles embedded in polylactic acid, combining the antibacterial properties of copper nanoparticles with the biodegradability of the polymer matrix. Metal nanoparticles have been synthesised by means of laser ablation, a rising and easy route to prepare nanostructures without any capping agent in a liquid environment. As prepared, nanoparticle suspensions have been easily mixed to a polymer solution. The resulting hybrid solutions have been deposited by drop casting, thus obtaining self-standing antibacterial packages. All samples have been characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electro-thermal atomic absorption spectroscopy. Ion release data have been matched with bioactivity tests performed by Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) method (JIS Z 2801:2000) against Pseudomonas spp., a very common Gram-negative microbial group able to proliferate in processed food.