Insight into recent trends in ZnO nanoparticle reinforced chitosan-based composite films for sustainable packaging: A critical review on its current status, challenges and perspective

Petroleum-based packaging is widely used in commerce, but generates non-degradable solid waste burden on earth, and consumes non-renewable fuel sources. Because the resources of the Earth are finite, a long term, rational, and sustainable solution is required. Utilising biopolymers from renewable sources and further employing in wide range of applications in a number of different industries can be a green and sustainable way to meet the demand for bio-based products while reducing the amount of garbage on Earth. One of them, and the 2nd most prevalent biopolymer after cellulose, is chitosan. Chitosan is a viable option for use in the food packaging industry because of its intrinsic antibacterial activity, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and great film forming ability. However, chitosan does have some limits, such as low strength and poor water resistance, however as nanotechnology develops, these constraints can be solved and the material's different packaging features can be improved. In comparison to other nanofillers, ZnO nanoparticles showed to be the most suited for chitosan matrix to create a revolutionary sustainable packaging material. In order to wrap fresh perishables for a longer shelf life, researchers have developed coatings and films made of biodegradable nanocomposites based on chitosan and ZnO. This review article attempts to update and summarise information on in this area. The study dives deeply into the researches in this area that utilizes chitosan as biopolymer matrix and ZnO nanoparticles as fillers to examine improvements in its barrier, mechanical, and antibacterial qualities to be further utilization as a substitute of non-sustainable fossil-based polymers or plastic packages.