Development of biodegradable multifunctional zein-curcumin-quercetin-chondroitin sulfate nanoparticles with cold plasma-modified chitosan-based active film for tilapia preservation

Cold plasma (CP) modification, combined with nanotechnology, has demonstrated significant potential for enhancing the performance of bio-based packaging films. In this study, zein-curcumin-quercetin-chondroitin sulfate nanoparticles (ZCQC NPs) were incorporated into a chitosan film and modified by CP (0, 10, 30, 50 kV) to enhance the physicochemical properties, bioactivity, and preservation ability of the chitosan-based film. Fourier transforms infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses confirmed the presence of hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions between the NPs and chitosan, as well as their good compatibility. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that CP treatment synergistically enhanced the thermal stability of NPs-incorporated composite films. The incorporation of CP and NPs enhanced the film's mechanical strength, hydrophobicity, and barrier performance synergistically. Among them, the CP-C-NPs 30 kV film exhibited lower water vapor permeability (1.33 ± 0.15 g/m·d) and oxygen permeability (4.16 ± 0.27 × 10 −6  g/m·d·Pa), along with excellent antioxidant and antibacterial properties. More importantly, the CP-C-NPs 30 kV film significantly reduced the total viable count (13.64 % compared to the control) and the degree of lipid oxidation (TBARS value decreased by 42.86 %) in packaged fish, extending the shelf life at 4 °C to 8 days, which was twice that of ordinary packaging film. This study not only reveals the synergistic enhancement mechanism of CP modification on the performance of active packaging materials but also provides new strategies for developing efficient food preservation materials.