Novel biodegradable films made from chitosan and poly(lactic acid) with antifungal properties against mycotoxinogen strains

Composite films from chitosan and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) were prepared by solution mixing and a film casting procedure. The main objectives of this study were the elaboration and the characterization of chitosan/PLA based bio-packaging for potential food applications and the study of antifungal activity of coatings and films on three mycotoxinogen fungal strains, Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium moniliforme and Aspergillus ochraceus. The first part of the study was related to the impact of the PEG content, allowing an easy film recovery without considerably decreasing the moisture barrier properties of materials: 16.6% of plasticizer was selected. Difficulties were however encountered to produce miscible PLA and chitosan film forming solution, leading to heterogeneous films with high water sensitivity. Although composite films offer a great advantage in preventing the surface growth of mycotoxinogen strains because of their antifungal activity, the physico-chemical properties of such heterogeneous films, dramatically limit their further usage as packaging materials. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.