The objective of this study was to characterise and compare physical, mechanical and antimicrobial properties
of chitosan-based films, containing free or nanoencapsulated nettle (Urtica dioica L.) extract (NE) at
concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% w/w. Nanoliposomes were prepared using soy-lecithin by thin-film
hydration and sonication method to generate an average size of 107–136 nm with 70% encapsulation efficiency.
The information on FT-IR reflected that some new interaction have occurred between chitosan and
nanoliposomes. Despite the increasing yellowness and decreasing whiteness indexes, the nanoliposomes
incorporation improved the thermal properties and mechanical stiffness and caused to decrease water
vapour permeability (WVP), moisture uptake and water solubility. The possible antimicrobial activity of the
films containing NE-loaded nanoliposomes against Staphylococcus aureus was decreased in comparison to
free NE-incorporated films, which could be due to the inhibition effect of the encapsulation that prevents
the release of NE from the matrix.
