Preparation and characterization of biodegradable gelatine and starch films embedding cerium oxide nanoparticles stabilized by PLGA micelles for antibiofilm applications

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs) have been widely investigated for numerous applications due to their redox activity, free radical scavenging property, and biofilm inhibition. Here we describe a new antibiofilm system based on CeO2NPs protected and stabilised by PLGA micelles embedded in two different biodegradable and biocompatible films. CeO2NPs were synthesised following the W/O microemulsion method and subsequently encapsulated in PLGA micelles according to the single emulsion/solvent procedure. All formulations (free NPs, empty micelles and loaded micelles) were incorporated in gelatine and starch films aimed at food packaging use. The chemical and physical characterizations of the NPs and micelles solutions were carried out by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Blank films and films incorporating micelles and NPs were also characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and by XPS. Antibacterial experiments were also performed to investigate the system viability for the final use.