Development and application of visual fish freshness indicator film incorporated with anthocyanins encapsulation by whey protein-propylene glycol alginate nanoparticles

Intelligent indicator packaging has gained increased attention in meeting the demand for reducing food waste and mitigating the risk of food poisoning. This study focused on the preparation, characteristics, and application of freshness indicator films based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and anthocyanins (ACNs)-encapsulated whey protein (WP)-propylene glycol alginate (PGA) nanoparticles. The successful encapsulation of ACNs by WP-PGA nanoparticles improved the stability of ACNs and their encapsulation efficiency (EE) reached 95.34 %. The incorporation of nanoparticles into the structure of the PVA films was justified by SEM, XRD, and ATR-FTIR, and resulted in a decrease in water vapor permeability (WVP) from 15.76 (×10−7 g·m−1·Pa−1·h−1) to 8.40 (×10−7 g·m−1·Pa−1·h−1) and an increase in scavenging rate of DPPH radical from 1.47 % to 18.92 %. The light-blocking property and mechanical properties of the films were also improved, and they showed visible color change in response to pH 2–12 and high color stability after 14 days of storage at 4 °C and 25 °C. Furthermore, the freshness indicator films underwent a noticeable transformation from rosy red to gray at bighead carp head spoilage. Therefore, the encapsulation of ACNs using WP-PGA nanoparticles provides a promising non-destructive and real-time freshness indication of aquatic products during both storage and transportation processes. •ACNs were stabilized by WP-PGA nanoparticles as a pH indicator.•Intelligent film was designed with ACNs-loaded WP-PGA nanoparticles and PVA matrix.•The incorporation of nanoparticles improved film properties by hydrogen bond.•Visible color change of PNA films were showed in the storage of bighead carp heads.•PNA films have a good potential used for fish freshness monitoring.