**Author details**

*Listeria* and spores of *Bacilli* and *Clostridia*. However, a study by Lu et al. showed the formation of 3% alginate solution containing nisin‐ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) might have limited the release of nisin [88]. Lower concentration of alginate was proposed to see the effect of alginate concentration to nisin performance. Another study included silver (Ag) nanopar‐ ticles combined with Cloisite 30B in ?‐carrageenan as antimicrobial bionanocomposite films [89]. Ag nanoparticles have attracted considerable attention for packaging application for their antibacterial activities, high thermal stability, and low toxicity. Ag/clay mineral was prepared to overcome the tendency of Ag nanoparticles to agglomerate when used alone. While organically modified nanoclay exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive bacteria, Ag nanoparticles exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Gram‐negative bacteria. Thus, the combination of these two antibacterial agents helps in providing polymer packaging with strong antimicrobial properties. Shankar et al. investigated different types of Ag particles incorporated into alginate‐based films [90]. They found Ag zeolite and citrate reduced Ag nanoparticles provide better antimicrobial activity than metallic silver and laser‐

Strong antimicrobial activities can also be induced inside packaging films by plant ex‐ tracts and essential oils. Extracts of green and black tea were added into chitosan dis‐ played good antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity [91]. Natural extract from the seeds, pulps, and peel of grapefruit was also put inside carrageenan film to encourage the anti‐ bacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties [92]. However, addition of plant extracts showed decreased tensile strength and elongation at break of the packaging films. In ad‐ dition, oregano, thyme, and *Satureja hortensis* essential oils were used in carrageenan films to overcome the poor water vapor barrier and as possible substitutes for synthetic antioxi‐ dant‐antimicrobial agents to achieve oxidative and microbial stability [93, 94]. The tensile strength was lowered with increasing essential oil concentration. They suggested it hap‐ pened because of the replacement of strong polymer‐polymer interaction with oil‐polymer

Polysaccharide‐based composites are attractive biomaterials because of their chemical structure and ease of manipulation. They are easily processable and abundant in nature, forming a vast potential economical application compared to other synthetic biomaterials. Moreover, they are highly environmental friendly and nontoxic to humans and animals. Preserving the nature while taking advantage of its application leads to promising future for renewable and sustainable materials. Polysaccharide‐based composites are mainly to over‐ come the problem of low mechanical and water barrier properties of common natural poly‐ mers. Many studies have been done and successfully associated different reinforcements and fillers to polysaccharides for variety of fabrication purposes. Polysaccharide‐based composites are thus a favorable alternative to the commercial petroleum‐based polymers and highly

ablated Ag nanoparticles in alginate compared to the neat films.

recommended for renewable and sustainable composite materials.

interaction in the film network.

76 Composites from Renewable and Sustainable Materials

**4. Conclusions**

Izzati Fatimah Wahab1,2 and Saiful Izwan Abd Razak1,2\*

\*Address all correspondence to: saifulizwan@utm.my

1 IJN‐UTM Cardiovascular Engineering Centre, University of Technology, Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia

2 Faculty of Biosciences and Medical Engineering, University of Technology, Malaysia, Jo‐ hor, Malaysia
