Chitosan-based composite
films with different amounts of grapefruit seed extract (GFSE) (0.5, 1.0 and
1.5% v/v) were fabricated via solution casting technique. Experimental results showed that GFSE was
uniformly dispersed within all chitosan
film matrices. The presence of GFSE made the
films more
amorphous and tensile strength decreased, while elongation at break values increased as GFSE content
increased. Results from the measurement of light transmission revealed that increasing amounts of GFSE
(from 0.5 to 1.5% v/v) did not affect transparency of the
films. Furthermore, packaging of bread samples
with chitosan-based GFSE composite
films inhibited the proliferation of fungal growth as compared to
control samples. Hence, chitosan-based GFSE composite
films have the potential to be a useful material in
the area of food technology.