Preparation and characterization of biodegradable films based on chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) incorporating selenium-immobilized graphene oxide for fruit preservation

Preparation and characterization of biodegradable films based on chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) incorporating selenium-immobilized graphene oxide for fruit preservation | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Preparation and characterization of biodegradable films based on chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) incorporating selenium-immobilized graphene oxide for fruit preservation Nguyen Ngoc Kim Tuyen, Nguyen Minh Dat, Tran Do Dat, Nguyen Huu Hieu This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9065787/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Postharvest microbial contamination and moisture loss significantly shorten the shelf life of fresh produce, creating demand for biodegradable films with integrated antibacterial function. In this study, a three-component film composed of chitosan (CTS), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and graphene oxide-based selenium (SeGO) was fabricated via solution casting. Selenium microparticles were synthesized using Psidium guajava leaf extract and anchored onto graphene oxide sheets through ex situ ultrasonication. The combined effects of CTS, PVA, and SeGO on antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli were optimized using Response Surface Methodology based on a Box–Behnken design. The optimal ratio (CTS:PVA:SeGO = 2:4:2) achieved 99.99% inhibition, consistent with the predicted value (p < 0.05). Structural and physicochemical properties were characterized by FTIR, SEM-EDS, XRD, mechanical testing, swelling, and water vapor permeability analyses. The optimized film exhibited superior antibacterial performance compared with CTS, CTS-PVA, and CTS-SeGO films. In postharvest evaluation, Manilkara zapota coated with the optimized film showed reduced weight loss and no fungal growth after 6 days of storage. These findings demonstrate the potential of CTS/PVA/SeGO films for sustainable food packaging applications. Chitosan poly(vinyl alcohol) selenium graphene oxide food preservation Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 20 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 16 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 28 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 13 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 10 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 10 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 10 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 08 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9065787","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":604998315,"identity":"8a83c879-1ff2-4a75-bf30-c793454a03fb","order_by":0,"name":"Nguyen Ngoc Kim Tuyen","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nguyen","middleName":"Ngoc Kim","lastName":"Tuyen","suffix":""},{"id":604998317,"identity":"d3c3c671-b420-4cc2-a490-4cb028b8f888","order_by":1,"name":"Nguyen Minh Dat","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nguyen","middleName":"Minh","lastName":"Dat","suffix":""},{"id":604998319,"identity":"b3189749-359a-48cf-aeea-1b5a5c65e498","order_by":2,"name":"Tran Do Dat","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tran","middleName":"Do","lastName":"Dat","suffix":""},{"id":604998321,"identity":"5df1fe77-763c-4169-9cb3-783e7080cc14","order_by":3,"name":"Nguyen Huu Hieu","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA1klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDACCR6GAwwMBwz4JWAiB4jVIjkDxEsgUgtImYHBDWK1mEv3Hjzwse2OsfHt5qebeX8wyPHdSGCTLsCjxXLOuYSDM9uemZndOWZ2myeBwVgSpGUGHi0GN3IMDvO2HbYxu5HDBtKSuOFGArMxDyEtf4FajGdAtNQTp4Wx7bCZgQRES4LBjQTGx4S0HOw598xY4kaa2c05aRKGM888bCSkxfjDj7I7hv0zkp/deGNjI893PPnAYXxa0AEoDTA2kKBhFIyCUTAKRgE2AACLyVSzrsSXGQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nguyen","middleName":"Huu","lastName":"Hieu","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-08 17:38:04","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9065787/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9065787/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":104551039,"identity":"44a4cac7-7734-4a78-91b9-1134ae615bcf","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-13 08:12:42","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1582095,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"NHHieuManuscriptCTSSeGO05.3.2026.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9065787/v1_covered_0022820e-4dfd-4959-96cd-2580680312be.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Preparation and characterization of biodegradable films based on chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) incorporating selenium-immobilized graphene oxide for fruit preservation","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"chemical-papers","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"chpa","sideBox":"Learn more about [Chemical Papers](http://link.springer.com/journal/11696)","snPcode":"11696","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/CHPA/default.aspx","title":"Chemical Papers","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Chitosan, poly(vinyl alcohol), selenium, graphene oxide, food preservation","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9065787/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9065787/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003ePostharvest microbial contamination and moisture loss significantly shorten the shelf life of fresh produce, creating demand for biodegradable films with integrated antibacterial function. In this study, a three-component film composed of chitosan (CTS), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and graphene oxide-based selenium (SeGO) was fabricated via solution casting. Selenium microparticles were synthesized using \u003cem\u003ePsidium guajava\u003c/em\u003e leaf extract and anchored onto graphene oxide sheets through ex situ ultrasonication. The combined effects of CTS, PVA, and SeGO on antibacterial activity against \u003cem\u003eEscherichia coli\u003c/em\u003e were optimized using Response Surface Methodology based on a Box\u0026ndash;Behnken design. The optimal ratio (CTS:PVA:SeGO\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2:4:2) achieved 99.99% inhibition, consistent with the predicted value (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Structural and physicochemical properties were characterized by FTIR, SEM-EDS, XRD, mechanical testing, swelling, and water vapor permeability analyses. 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