Sustainable microwave synthesis of biodegradable active packaging films based on polycaprolactone and layered ZnO nanoparticles

•Environmentally-friendly microwave in-situ synthesis of biodegradable nanocomposite films based on polycaprolactone matrix and ZnO nanoparticles.•Modification of ZnO nanoparticles with phosphonium ionic liquid leads to homogeneous structure of nanocomposites.•Enhanced biodegradation of nanocomposite films induced by nanoparticle addition.•Suppressed growth of food-born pathogenic bacteria E. coli on film surface.•High application potential of nanocomposite films as active bio-packaging films for food storage. Sustainable nanocomposites based on biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix and ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) functionalized with ionic liquid (IL) were prepared via bulk in-situ ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone (εCL). PCL-ZnONPs nanocomposite films were examined in terms of mechanical, thermal and barrier properties. The influence of ZnONPs on the potential antimicrobial effect and biodegradation of PCL-ZnONPs films was investigated. Introduction of IL-ZnONPs NPs (3.0 wt%) into PCL matrix resulted in significant decrease of water vapor permeation (46%), induced bactericidal effect against food-born pathogenic bacterium E.coli and enhanced biodegradation rate of the prepared nanocomposite film. Therefore, these materials present high application potential as active bio-packaging films, e.g. for food storage.