The second is binding of the positively charged AgNPs
with negatively charged bacterial cell membranes, which disrupt cell
walls and surface proteins leading to cell death (Sui et al., 2006). A third
is the penetration of AgNPs into the bacteria, which inactivates the
enzymes and produces H2O2 leading to cell death (Raffi et al., 2008).
Though the carrageenan-based nanocomposite films that each
composed of nanofiller have not exhibited antimicrobial activity
comprehensively against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative
bacteria, the antimicrobial activity of the carrageenan-based nanocomposite
film has been greatly improved by the combined use of both
AgNPs and the organoclay mineral. The carrageenan-based nanocomposite
films with strong antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive
and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria are expected to have
high potential for the application as an active antimicrobial food packaging
material.