Based on the findings of the current study, incorporation of ZMO
into the gelatin films caused a significant decrease in swelling and
water uptake and increase in solubility and water vapor permeability
of the films, dose-dependently. Incorporation of ZMO into
gelatin films caused a significant decrease in tensile strength, increase
in elongation at break, decrease in Young’s modulus of the
films, dose-dependently. SEM observations indicate that ZMO were
well dispersed in the film matrix and good adhesion between them
was obtained which lead to decrease in the tensile strength and
increase in water vapor transmission. The gelatin/ZMO films also
exhibited excellent antioxidant and antibacterial properties against
both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Thus, acceptable
physico-mechanical properties and water binding capacity with
strong antioxidant and antibacterial effects make gelatin films
grafted with ZMO as a suitable antioxidative/antimicrobial active
packaging material.