The influence of bovine serum albumin-modified silica on the physicochemical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposites synthesized by ultrasonication technique

[Display omitted] •Surface modification of SiO2 NPs led to their uniform distribution in the matrix.•Fabrication of PVA/SiO2@BSA NCs by ultrasonication as a green and effective route.•Using ultrasound irradiation facilitates the NCs preparation.•The NCs showed better thermal and mechanical behaviors compared to the neat PVA.•The transparent NC films revealed high UV–Visible absorption. In this study, for the first time polymeric nanocomposite (NC) films of poly(vinyl alcohol)/SiO2@bovine serum albumin (PVA/SiO2@BSA) were synthesized by solution casting method under facile and fast method of sonication. In this regard, SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were modified by BSA, at room temperature by using phosphate buffer and ultrasonic-assisted method. Then, PVA/SiO2@BSA NCs were prepared by insertion of variant amount (3, 6 and 9wt%) of SiO2@BSA into the PVA matrix, under ultrasonic irradiation. The morphological traits of the NCs were surveyed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. It was detected that NPs incorporation didn’t remarkably affect the crystallinity and morphology of the NCs. TEM images indicated that the inserted NPs have good diffusions in the PVA matrix, and their embedment in the matrix significantly upgraded its thermal, optical and mechanical behaviors. The tensile strength showed more than 2-fold increase and the thermal stability exhibited about 37% enhancement that was higher, in comparison with those of the similar NCs. This showed that the prepared NCs can have potential application in food packaging.∗∗∗