Sinapic acid-functionalized chitosan and OSA-modified corn starch composite films: Characterization and application in meat packaging

Developed OSAS/CH/SA film for active food packaging. • SA enhanced the mechanical strength and UV-barrier of the film. • Films showed high antioxidant activity and biodegradability. • 0.06 g/hg SA composite film extended pork shelf life to 7 days. The study aimed to develop an active packaging material based on octenyl succinic anhydride modified corn starch (OSAS) and chitosan (CH) incorporated with sinapic acid (SA), and to evaluate its application in pork preservation. The results demonstrated that the esterification between OSA and corn starch was achieved while preserving the crystalline structure, with a substitution degree of 0.02. Subsequently, antioxidant-active films were successfully prepared using CH and OSAS as the matrix materials (CO) with varying concentrations of SA. The physicochemical and mechanical properties of the CO/SA films were systematically characterized. SA endowed the films with superior mechanical strength, UV barrier properties, and biodegradability. The composite films exhibited significant antioxidant activity, effectively reducing lipid oxidation and microbial growth in pork, thereby enhancing meat quality. Compared with conventional polyethylene (PE) packaging, the CO/SA0.06 g/hg composite film exhibited excellent preservation capabilities, extending the shelf life of pork to 7 days. These findings suggest that the CO/SA film presents a promising alternative to traditional plastic packaging materials.