Gomes de Menezes, Francisco Leonardode Lima Leite, Ricardo HenriqueGomes dos Santos, Francisco KlebsonAria, Adrianus IndratMendes Aroucha, Edna Maria2023-10-132023-10-132023-09-08Gomes de Menezes FL, de Lima Leite RH, Gomes dos Santos FK, et al., (2024) TiO2 incorporated into a blend of biopolymeric matrices improves film properties and affects the postharvest conservation of papaya fruits under UV light. Food Chemistry, Volume 433, February 2024, Article number 1373870308-8146https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137387https://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/20369This work investigated the properties of chitosan-cassava starch biopolymeric films containing nanometric photoactive TiO2 particles for use in postharvest conservation of papaya fruits under UV light at a temperature of 15 ± 1 °C and a relative humidity of 90 ± 1 % for 24 days. Starch-chitosan blend films showed intermediate hydrophobicity and improved mechanical properties. The addition of 1 % TiO2 into the polymeric matrix of starch/chitosan (1:1) further improved the mechanical properties with solubility of 16.04 ± 0.41 %, visible transmittance of 31.76 ± 1.58 %, and reduced UV transmittance of more than 97 %. However, the addition of TiO2 exceeding 1 % led to the formation of agglomerates and excessive reduction in film transparency. UV exposure damaged the fruit peel and resulted in a higher weight loss. In contrast, the addition of 1 % TiO2 to the blend reduced the weight loss in light and dark by 7.12 ± 1.57 % and 5.27 ± 0.31 % respectively, and delayed fruit ripening.enAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Chitosan/cassava starch nanocompositesTiO2 nanoparticlesCarica papaya L.UV absorbing coatingsEdible fruit coatingsPostharvest quality preservationArticle