Fabrication and characterization of chitosan/gelatin/Au@Co-MOF composite films with excellent antibacterial properties for shrimp preservation.

The spoilage of shrimp is primarily caused by the rapid proliferation of microorganisms. Therefore, the development of packaging materials with active antibacterial properties is a key strategy for controlling quality deterioration. The Gold nanostars@Co-based metal-organic framework (Au@Co-MOF) nanozyme exhibited excellent oxidase-like (OXD) activity. Based on this, this study prepared antibacterial composite films containing Au@Co-MOF using a chitosan/ gelatin (CS/Gel) blend as the film-forming matrix. The incorporation of Au@Co-MOF and the composite of CS and Gel improved the mechanical, barrier, and antibacterial properties of the films. Compared with the commercial film, the CS/Gel/Au@Co-MOF (CGA) film substantially retarded the increase in total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) and total viable count (TVC), and better preserved the sensory quality of shrimp during 4 °C storage. In summary, the antibacterial packaging system developed in this study offers a promising solution for achieving efficient preservation of shrimp.