Abstract
Active food packaging that provides antioxidant and antimicrobial protection can extend product shelf life, but adding such features to polymers often affects material performance. In this study, we developed a biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) film incorporating in situ synthesized tannic acid (TA)/zinc sulfide (ZnS) hybrid nanostructures to add antioxidant, antibacterial, and UV-shielding functions. The TA/ZnS nanohybrids were created using a green in situ co-precipitation method and evenly dispersed in the PBAT matrix to form nanocomposite films. The resulting films showed strong bioactivity, achieving 90.46% DPPH free radical scavenging and inhibition zones over 3.0 cm against both E. coli and S. aureus. They also offered about 97% UV blocking and improved moisture barrier properties, with a 40.9% decrease in water vapor permeability and a 13% increase in water contact angle (surface hydrophobicity). However, these improvements came with roughly a 30% reduction in tensile strength, highlighting a trade-off between added functionality and mechanical performance. Importantly, the composite kept enough flexibility and strength for practical applications. In conclusion, the organic–inorganic synergy between tannic acid and ZnS created a bioactive, UV-protective film that can help extend food shelf life while remaining biodegradable. This green, scalable method shows potential for sustainable next-generation active packaging.