The fabrication of a degradable film with high antimicrobial and antioxidant activities

Apricot kernel skin (AKS) is rich of antioxidant and antimicrobial ingredients, which might be used to prepare the degradable films with good antioxidant or antimicrobial properties. In this study, the effects of different size or loading (0, 10, 20, 30%, based on soy protein isolate) of AKS on physical properties (optical, mechanical, water vapor permeability), antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the degradable films were investigated. The results indicated that the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the films containing the ultrafine AKS powder (UP) were significantly improved. In addition, the films incorporated with 20% UP had the highest tensile strength (7.20 MPa). This approach provides a novel way to develop the degradable films with excellent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and the synthesized films show potential value in packaging applications.