{
  "abstract": "The food-packaging sector is undergoing a major transition driven by the environmental burden associated with petroleum-based plastics and the increasing demand for sustainable alternatives. In this context, biodegradable packaging materials capable of extending food shelf life through active preservation functions have attracted considerable interest. Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer and an attractive candidate for sustainable packaging; however, it lacks intrinsic antimicrobial activity. In the present study, innovative carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-based composite films were developed by incorporating zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) and thyme essential oil (TEO) as antibacterial active agents. The obtained films exhibited strong antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, completely eliminating planktonic cell viability after 3 h of contact and producing inhibition zones of up to 30 mm. In addition to their biological performance, the composite films showed improved mechanical and functional properties. ZnO NPs appear to act as multifunctional junctions within the CMC matrix, while the dispersed TEO droplets contribute, together with the inorganic phase, to reduced water-vapor transfer. The films retained good transparency in the visible range while exhibiting UV-A transmittance below 7%, indicating enhanced light-barrier performance. Preliminary tests on soft cheese indicated shelf-life extension up to 14 days at 4 °C, while in inoculated cheese slices packed in the composite films, S. aureus was not detected from the 3rd day. Overall, these results demonstrate the potential of CMC/ZnO/TEO composite films as biodegradable active packaging materials for perishable food products.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "National Research Center for Micro and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania",
    "Research Center for Advanced Materials, Products and Processes, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania",
    "Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), University of Bucharest, Spl. Independentei 91-95, 0500957 Bucharest, Romania",
    "Academy of Romanian Scientists, Ilfov Street 3, 050044 Bucharest, Romania",
    "Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Gh. Polizu 1-7, 011061 Bucharest, Romania",
    "Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 030018 Bucharest, Romania",
    "National R&D Institute for Food Bioresources—IBA Bucharest, Dinu Vintila Street 6, 021102 Bucharest, Romania"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Ludmila Motelică",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3371-4136"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4,
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ovidiu Oprea",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8145-1094"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4,
        0
      ],
      "name": "Anton Ficai",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1777-0525"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Roxana Doina Trusca",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5029-3134"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        0
      ],
      "name": "Denisa Ficai",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-1243-6904"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Catalina-Elena Constantin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Alina Maria Holban",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1257-5042"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Gabriel Mustăţea",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8082-0951"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Elena Loredana Cirstoiu (Ungureanu)"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Carmen Curuțiu",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4608-4487"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9s700dd5bdf02.bib",
  "cited_by": 10,
  "doi": "10.3390/foods15101724",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "9s700dd5bdf02",
  "issns": [
    "2304-8158"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15101724",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2502|Nanocomposite Films for Food Packaging"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7161126653",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13206595",
  "pmid": "42195928",
  "published": "2026-05-14",
  "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9s700dd5bdf02.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:27:00Z",
      "native_id": "W7161126653",
      "source": "openalex",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15101724"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2502|Nanocomposite Films for Food Packaging",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Antibacterial Packaging for Cheese Based on Carboxymethyl Cellulose Composite with Zinc Oxide and Thyme Essential Oil",
  "title_text": "Antibacterial Packaging for Cheese Based on Carboxymethyl Cellulose Composite with Zinc Oxide and Thyme Essential Oil",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-04T13:21:19Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9s700dd5bdf02",
  "venue": "Foods",
  "versions": []
}