Migration kinetic of silver from polylactic acid nanocomposite film into acidic food simulant after different high-pressure food processing.

The migration study of nano-Ag migration from polylactic acid (PLA) films was studied. Samples treated by high-pressure food processing (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 MPa pressure) were soaked in acetic acid solution and incubated at 20 °C for 90 days. At the end of storage, nano-Ag particles (AgNPs) migration from the PLA/AgNPs composite film treated under 200 MPa high pressure was the lowest. However, AgNPs migration was accelerated under 400 MPa high pressure. High-pressure processing (200 MPa) could cause denser structure and higher crystallinity degree in films than other treatments. Lower amount of AgNPs induced a decline in the intensity of specific characteristic peaks. The diffraction peak intensity of α-crystal for the film sample treated with 400 MPa was the lowest on day 60. The crystallization index of the PLA matrix changed with different high-pressure processing. The result indicated that appropriate high-pressure food processing could effectively suppress AgNPs migration from PLA-based film while contacting with acidic acid food simulant. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The release of nanoparticles from food packaging material is a very important matter when the migration is concerned with regulatory and toxicity issues. The study described the migration kinetic of AgNPs from PLA nanocomposite film into acidic food simulant after different high-pressure food processing. The results indicated that the PLA/AgNPs nanocomposite film was safe for acidic food after high-pressure treatment.