| Summary: | The main purpose of the current study was to propose innovative composite films based on a corn starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend (starch:PVA 40:60) and loaded with 3 different levels of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) (1, 3, and 5% <i>w</i>/<i>v</i>) to strengthen its physical, mechanical, structural, thermal and antimicrobial attributes. The synthesized CNPs were spherical with a particle size of ca. 100 nm as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs and dynamic light scattering tests. The results showed that the CNPs incorporation within the starch-PVA 40:60 films promoted a uniform surface without any considerable pores. These films were characterized by a homogeneous CNP distribution within the polymer matrix, causing a significant decrease in water vapor permeability (WVP) (e.g., from 0.41 for the control film to 0.28 g·mm/kPa·h·m<sup>2</sup> for the composite film loaded with 5% CNPs). The film solubility, transparency, glass transition and melting temperatures, and elongation at break were also reduced by increasing the CNP content from 1% to 5%, while total color and tensile strength parameters increased. The antibacterial effects of CNPs were more effective against Gram-positive bacteria (<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>) than Gram-negative bacteria (<i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Salmonella typhimurium</i>). It can be concluded that the addition of CNPs to the starch-PVA matrix could improve its functional and technological attributes for food packaging applications.
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