Physicochemical and transport properties of biodegradable agar films impregnated with natural semiochemical based-on hydroalcoholic garlic extract.

Biodegradable films based on agar with glycerol (GLY) as a plasticizer were developed by incorporating hydroalcoholic garlic extract (HGE) on the film surface. The effect of GLY content (0, 15, or 30 wt%) and different concentrations of HGE (0, 0.5, 1, or 1.5 μg/mL) on the physicochemical and transport properties of the films was evaluated. The optical (color and transparency), mechanical (tensile test), transport (diffusion and water vapor transmission rate), thermal (thermogravimetric analysis) structural (infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction), and morphological (scanning electron microscope) properties were analyzed. The impregnation of HGE increased the transparency values and decreased the luminosity, tensile strength, elastic modulus, and crystallinity of the agar films. The formulation of 30 wt% GLY with 1.5 μg/mL HGE, identified as 30 GLY [1.5], showed a similar thermal stability that of a neat agar film. The agar films with 30 wt% GLY showed the lowest diffusion coefficient and water vapor transmission rate, indicating that volatile compounds are slowly released. From the results the formulation 30 GLY [1.5] could be used as a film to transport and to release HGE which is supported by a biodegradable matrix and this system has a potential use as insect semiochemical for plague control.