UV-shielding and clusteroluminogenic cellulose-based films with tuneable wettability and permeability for dually self-indicating food packaging

Abstract

Food packaging plays a vital role not only in extending the shelf-life and ensuring the safety and quality of food, but also in reducing the occurrence of food loss and waste. This study reports the generation of biocompatible and tuneable cellulose-based films, which show strong UV absorbing capacity in both UVA and UVB regions to protect the packaged food from UV degradation. By taking advantage of the process of clusterization-triggered emission, the films can indicate, by displaying changes in the intensity of luminescence, not only their properties but also the status of the packaged food. The protective and dually self-indicating capacity of the films in food packaging is demonstrated by using frozen chicken breast as a food model. Together with their negligible toxicity, good barrier properties, and high tunability, the films warrant further development as dually self-indicating materials for food packaging applications.