Mushroom polysaccharides-incorporated cellulose nanofiber films with improved mechanical, moisture barrier, and antioxidant properties

ABSTRACT Mushroom polysaccharides (MP), including white MP, brown MP, and enoki MP, were incorporated into cellulose nanofiber (CNF). Studies on thermal property, structure, crystallinity, and morphology of CNF-MP films revealed that MP was well interacted with and adsorbed onto CNF. Incorporation of MP significantly (P < 0.05) increased tensile strength and reduced water vapor permeability of CNF film. CNF-MP films possessed higher antioxidant activity than CNF only or CNF-chitosan film, and the antioxidant activity of released components from CNF-MP films immersed in water was higher than that released from films immersed in methanol. Radical scavenging activity and reducing ability were major antioxidant mechanisms of CNF-MP films. These trends were consistent with the results of total phenolics content released from films and the antioxidant activity of MP themselves. This study demonstrated CNF-MP films may be used as packaging material for preventing oxidation and/or dehydration of food during storage. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46166.