A novel “five birds with one stone” strategy using durian husk-derived deep eutectic extract to develop multifunctional gelatin-based films for intelligent and active food packaging

The development of biodegradable intelligent and active packaging materials is essential to simultaneously address environmental pollution and food safety concerns associated with petroleum-based plastics. In this study, a “five birds with one stone” strategy was proposed by incorporating a deep eutectic extract derived from durian husk (DHE) into a fish bone gelatin/dialdehyde konjac glucomannan (FBG/DKGM) matrix to fabricate multifunctional films. The favorable properties of DHE enable it to serve as a plasticizer and functional additive, endowing the films with enhanced mechanical, barrier, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-counterfeiting properties, simultaneously. Compared with the FBG/DKGM film, the FBG/DKGM/DHE-30% film exhibited significantly improved tensile strength and elongation at break (increased by 53.05% and 79.68%, respectively), enhanced UV-blocking capability, and reduced water vapor and oxygen permeability by 35.77% and 42.96%, respectively. Moreover, this film also displayed DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging rate above 96.86% and antibacterial efficiencies above 94.17% against E. coli and S. aureus . Notably, the film exhibited visible fluorescence under UV light, enabling its application in anti-counterfeiting packaging and real-time monitoring of fresh-cut mango freshness based on pH-responsive fluorescence changes associated with acidic gases produced during storage. Furthermore, the FBG/DKGM/DHE films and their coating solutions were successfully applied to mango preservation, effectively delaying postharvest quality deterioration and extending shelf life to 16 days at ambient conditions. Overall, this work demonstrates a sustainable and efficient strategy for developing high-performance multifunctional composite film for food packaging.