Hybrid Carbon dot Nanozyme–Chitosan films for integrated antioxidant preservation and optical food spoilage sensing

Le résumé fourni par la source

The evolution of food packaging is shifting from passive containment toward multifunctional systems capable of both preserving quality and signaling freshness in real time. Recent advances in carbon dot nanozyme–chitosan films demonstrate this dual functionality by combining antioxidant activity with optical sensing of spoilage indicators. Mechanical testing revealed that chitosan–carbon dot composites exhibit superior tensile strength (up to 127 MPa) and high Young’s modulus (4715 MPa), outperforming conventional biopolymers such as alginate (18–49 MPa) and gelatin (47–85 MPa), and approaching the mechanical robustness of synthetic plastics like polystyrene (14–70 MPa; 2280–3280 MPa). These films thus provide both sustainability and mechanical stability comparable to petroleum-based materials. In parallel, optical sensing studies highlight the versatility of biopolymer–anthocyanin systems in detecting volatile amines and ammonia across diverse food matrices. For instance, LDPE–curcumin films achieved a detection limit of 0.18 μM NH 3 with sensitivity up to 0.0388 μM -1 , while cellulose acetate/MOF–dye composites responded across 1 ppb–1340 ppm NH 3 with stability exceeding 4 days. Chitosan–gelatin films enriched with betalain extracts qualitatively tracked shrimp spoilage within 48 h at 20 °C, whereas bilayer gelatin–ZnO/gellan–mulberry anthocyanin sensors-maintained signal integrity for 24 days at 25 °C. By integrating high mechanical strength with responsive optical indicators, carbon dot nanozyme–chitosan films overcome the limitations of conventional active and intelligent packaging, which typically require separate systems. This review emphasizes the structure–function relationship between heteroatom doping, surface-state engineering, and chitosan interactions in achieving enhanced barrier performance, fluorescence stability, and regulatory compliance. Emerging opportunities include green carbon dot synthesis, multilayer architectures, and machine-readable optical outputs for digital food monitoring. Collectively, these findings establish carbon dot nanozyme–chitosan films as a promising pathway toward commercialized smart packaging that ensures food quality, safety, and sustainability.

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