Comparative study on properties of starch films obtained from potato, corn and wheat using 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate as plasticizer

Starch biocomposites preparation by incorporating organosolv lignins from potato crop residues

Plastic wastes accumulated due to food packaging pose environmental threats. This study proposes biopolymeric films containing lignins extracted from potato crop residues (PCR) through organosolv treatment as a green alternative to non-degradable food packaging. The isolation process yielded 43.9 wt% lignins with a recovery rate of 73.5 wt% achieved under optimum conditions at 180 °C with 50 % v/v ethanol. The extracted lignins were then incorporated into a starch matrix to create biocomposite films. ATR-FTIR analysis confirmed interactions between the starch matrix and extracted lignins, and XRD analysis showed the amorphous structure of lignins, reducing film crystallinity. The addition of 1 wt% of extracted lignins resulted in a 87 % reduction in oxygen permeability, a 25 % increase in the thermal stability of the film, and a 78 % enhancement in antioxidant. Furthermore, introducing 3 wt% lignins led to the lowest water vapor transmission rate, measuring 9.3 × 10-7 kg/s·m2. Morphological studies of the films demonstrated a homogeneous and continuous structure on both the surface and cross-sectional areas when the lignins content was below 7 wt%. These findings highlight the potential of using organosolv lignins derived from potato crop residues as a promising additive for developing eco-friendly films designed for sustainable food packaging.

From micro to macro: Physical-chemical characterization of wheat starch-based films modified with PEG200, sodium citrate, or citric acid

Needing to extend the shelf-life of packaged food and the evolving consumer demands led researchers to seek innovative, eco-friendly, and biocompatible packaging solutions. Starch is among the most promising natural and renewable alternatives to non-degradable plastics. Here, we deeply study the structural features of starch films modified by adding citric acid (CA) or sodium citrate (SC) as a cross-linker and polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG200) as a plasticizer and obtained through solvent casting. The substances' influence on starch films was evaluated through Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) and Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (ss-NMR) spectroscopies. Films' macroscopic properties, such as swelling index, solubility, thermo-mechanical features, and moisture absorption, were also assessed to foresee potential applications. Proper amounts of CA, CS, and PEG200 improve film properties and inhibit starch chains' retrogradation and recrystallization. Besides, the chemical neighbourhood of nuclei observed through ss-NMR significantly changed alongside the polymer chains' mobility. The latter result indicates a different polymer chain structural organization that could justify the film's higher resistance to thermal degradation and elongation at the break. This methodological approach is effective in predicting the macroscopic behaviour of a polymeric material and could be helpful for the application of such products in food preservation.

Starch/polyvinyl alcohol with ionic liquid/graphene oxide enabled highly tough, conductive and freezing-resistance hydrogels for multimodal wearable sensors

With ever-growing demand for eco-friendly materials for wearable electronics, biopolymer-based hydrogels have drawn significant attention. As one of the most abundant and biodegradable biopolymers, starch-based hydrogels have a great potential for wearable electronics. However, mechanical fragility, low conductivity and subzero freeze restrict their applications. Here, a multifunctional hydrogel was facilely fabricated by integrating ionic liquid and graphene oxide into potato starch/polyvinyl alcohol skeleton via a green physical-crosslinking method. The abundant hydrogen-bond and electrostatic interactions endowed the hydrogel with excellent stretchability (657.5 %), strength (0.64 MPa), high conductivity (1.98 S·m-1) and good anti-freezing property (< -20 °C). Multiple characterizations and theoretical simulation (DFT) were combined to understand and confirm the interactions among different components. Taking advantage of these properties, multimodal wearable sensors were constructed for sensing tension (gauge factor: 6.04), compression (gauge factor: 3.27) and temperature (sensitivity: 0.71 %/°C), which are applied for monitoring human motion, daily-life pressure and body temperature. The sensor had a good anti-fatigue property with stable signals during 2000 cycles. Moreover, the sensor can effectively recognize handwriting and perform human-computer interaction. This work provides a promising route to develop sustainable and multifunctional biopolymer hydrogels for wearable sensors with versatile applications in human health, exercise monitors and soft robots.

Starch can act differently when combined with alginate or gellan gum to form hydrogels

Microgels were tailored by combining starches from different sources (corn, potato or phosphated) and anionic polysaccharides (gellan gum or alginate) using ionic gelation. Rheological analysis pointed out a lower consistency index for alginate-based solutions compared to the gellan-based ones and, therefore, this favored the formation of smaller droplets during the atomization process (58.74 ± 1.72 µm vs. 101.38 ± 2.71 µm). Additionally, it was noticed that the starch granule size isdirectly related to the diameter of the particle formed, both for gellan and alginate systems. The combination between starches and anionic gums still promoted an increase in the water holding capacity, probably due to the presence of additional hydrophilic groups from starch. According to the mechanical properties, starch acts differently when combined with alginate or gellan gum, considering it strengthened the biopolymeric network for the alginate-based gels increasing the stress at rupture values (except for potato starch), while it decreasedthe hardness and elasticity for gellan-based gels. Microparticles based on gellan and alginate showed high anthocyanin encapsulation efficiency (EE ≥ 80%) in all systems. In these cases, the addition of starch did not contribute to increasing this property, even though starch granules filled the gel pores. The high EE showed that the studied systems allow the encapsulation of anthocyanin and suggest possible encapsulation of other hydrophilic bioactive compounds, considering the best type of starch for each application.

Formulation and characterization of starch-based novel biodegradable edible films for food packaging

Petroleum-based plastics were widely used as packaging materials. However, plastic materials were not reusable and biodegradable, causing a severe negative impact on the environment. Edible films can be a suitable alternative to plastic films, particularly in food packaging. This research work prepared edible films containing blends of cornstarch, arrowroot powder, refined wheat flour, vinegar, and glycerol. Arrowroot powder added strength and nutritional value to the films. Glycerol, as a plasticiser, improved the flexibility of films. The combination of vinegar and glycerol increased the film's strength. The characteristic properties of prepared films, like thickness, bursting strength, moisture content, transparency, water-solubility, water vapour permeability, tensile strength, elongation, and Young's modulus, were analysed. The thermal stability of the films was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis. The films were characterised by FTIR spectroscopy, and their surface morphology was analysed by scanning electron microscopy. The prepared films exhibited excellent properties suitable for food packaging.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05803-2.

A pH-sensitive intelligent packaging film harnessing Dioscorea zingiberensis starch and anthocyanin for meat freshness monitoring

Abundant starch was isolated from Dioscorea zingiberensis C.H. Wright, a novel and underutilized industrial crop resource. In this study, an intelligent packaging film able to indicate food freshness was developed and characterized. D. zingiberensis starch (DZS) was bleached first, and its particle size, total starch content, amylose content, and gelatinization temperature were then measured. Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea Linn.) flowers were selected as the source of polyphenols, which rendered the prepared film intelligent and progressively blue-violet. SEM and FT-IR analyses showed the homogeneous dispersion of butterfly pea flower extract (BPE) in the film. The BPE-loaded film showed improved flexibility and resistance to UV and oxidation while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength and physical properties. Moreover, the film underwent a distinguishable color change from red to blue-violet and finally to green-yellow with increasing pH from 2 to 13. Similar color alteration also occurred when the film was exposed to ammonia. When the film was used to monitor the freshness of chicken stored at room temperature, it exhibited an obvious color change, implying its deterioration. Therefore, the newly developed BPE-DZS film, which was produced from readily accessible natural substances, can serve as an intelligent packaging material, indicating food freshness and prolonging shelf life.

Thermoplastic starch/polyvinyl alcohol blends modification by citric acid-glycerol polyesters

Thermoplastic starch/polyvinyl alcohol (TPS/PVA) films have limitations for being used in long-term applications due to starch retrogradation. This leads to plasticizer migration, especially when low molecular weight plasticizers such as glycerol, are used. In this work, we employed mixtures of oligomers based on glycerol citrates with higher molecular weight than glycerol as plasticizers for potato-based TPS/PVA blends obtained by melt-mixing. This constitutes an alternative to reduce plasticizer migration while keeping high swelling degree, and to provide high mechanical performance. The novelty lies in the usage of these oligomers by melt-mixing technique, aspect not deeply explored previously and that represents the first step towards industrial scalability. Prior to the blending process, oligomers mixtures were prepared with different molar ratios of citric acid (0-40 mol%) and added them. This minimizes the undesirable hydrolysis effect of free carboxylic groups on starch chains. The results demonstrated that the migration of plasticizers in TPS/PVA blends decreased by up to 70 % when the citric acid content increased. This reduction was attributed to the higher molecular weight (the majority in the range 764-2060 Da) and the 3D structure of the oligomers compared to using raw glycerol. Furthermore, the films exhibited a 150 % increase in Young's modulus and tensile strength without a reduction in elongation at break, while maintaining a high gel content, due to a moderate crosslinking.

Study of the Plasticization Effect of 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Acetate in TPS/PVA Biodegradable Blends Produced by Melt-Mixing

The first step towards the production and marketing of bioplastics based on renewable and sustainable materials is to know their behavior at a semi-industrial scale. For this reason, in this work, the properties of thermoplastic starch (TPS)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films plasticized by a green solvent, as the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([Emim⁺][Ac^-]) ionic liquid, produced by melt-mixing were studied. These blends were prepared with a different content of [Emim⁺][Ac^-] (27.5-42.5 %wt.) as a unique plasticizer. According to the results, this ionic liquid is an excellent plasticizer due to the transformation of the crystalline structure of the starch to an amorphous state, the increase in flexibility, and the drop in T_g, as the [Emim⁺][Ac^-] amount increases. These findings show that the properties of these biomaterials could be modified in the function of [Emim⁺][Ac^-] content in the formulations of TPS, depending on their final use, thus becoming a functional alternative to conventional polymers.

Advances in green solvents for production of polysaccharide-based packaging films: Insights of ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents

The problems with plastic materials and the good film-forming properties of polysaccharides motivated research in the development of polysaccharide-based films. In the last 5 years, there has been an explosion of publications on using green solvents, including ionic liquids (ILs), and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as candidates to substitute the conventional solvents/plasticizers for preparations of desired polysaccharide-based films. This review summarizes related properties and recovery of ILs and DESs, a series of green preparation strategies (including pretreatment solvents/reaction media, ILs/DESs as components, extraction solvents of bioactive compounds added into films), and inherent properties of polysaccharide-based films with/without ILs and DESs. Major reported advantages of these new solvents are high dissolving capacity of certain ILs/DESs for polysaccharides (i.e., up to 30 wt% for cellulose) and better plasticizing ability than traditional plasticizers. In addition, they frequently display intrinsic antioxidant and antibacterial activities that facilitate ILs/DESs applications in the processing of polysaccharide-based films (especially active food packaging films). ILs/DESs in the film could also be further recycled by water or ethanol/methanol treatment followed by drying/evaporation. One particularly promising approach is to use bioactive cholinium-based ILs and DESs with good safety and plasticizing ability to improve the functional properties of prepared films. Whole extracts by ILs/DESs from various byproducts can also be directly used in films without separation/polishing of compounds from the extracting agents. Scaling-up, including costs and environmental footprint, as well as the safety and applications in real foods of polysaccharide-based film with ILs/DESs (extracts) deserves more studies.

A Comprehensive Characterization of Biodegradable Edible Films Based on Potato Peel Starch Plasticized with Glycerol

Potatoes are a source of starch, which is an eco-friendly alternative to petrochemicals in plastic production. Increasing potato production also creates agricultural waste that could be converted to potato peel starch (PPS) and developed as films. A response surface method approach was employed to optimize the bioconversion of PPS (2, 4, and 6% w/v) and compared with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-based films. The microstructure analysis of PPSF showed increased thickness, decreased swelling power, water solubility, and vapor permeability, which were linked to increased molecular interactions as a function of PPS increments. However, low-starch PPSF exhibited high transparency, good mechanical properties, and thermal stability (high melting temperature), pliability, and accelerated seawater and soil biodegradation (~90%: 20 and 50 days, respectively). All films exhibited thermal stability at >100 °C and retained similar amorphous characteristics, evidenced by their flexibility, which confirmed the potential use for PPS in packaging perishable and cooled foods.

Effect of sugarcane bagasse on thermal and mechanical properties of thermoplastic cassava starch/beeswax composites

The demand for biodegradable material has been an important issue, especially in food packaging applications. Among many biodegradable materials, starch biopolymer has been recognised as a completely biodegradable material that can be produced from various plants. It is one of the richest resources that are renewable, biodegradable, and available at low cost. However, starch biopolymers are often associated with poor mechanical properties. Hence, the main objective of this study is to evaluate the mechanical and thermal characteristics of sugarcane bagasse fibre (SBF) reinforced thermoplastic cassava starch (TPCS), which was prior modified with beeswax (BW). It was found that the mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural, and impact strength have improved significantly with the incorporation of SBF loading into the TPCS/BW matrix. The highest tensile strength (12.2 MPa) and modulus (2222.6 MPa) were exhibit by sample with 20 wt% SBF loading and further increment of fibre led to decrease in the strength of the materials. The thermal properties showed that higher SBF loading resulted in improved thermal stability of the material, i.e., higher glass transition and melting temperature than the polymer matrix. Overall, SBF has shown good potential as a reinforcing material which is able to improve the functional characteristics of TPCS/BW as a new potential biodegradable material.

Reinforcement of starch film with Castanea sativa shells polysaccharides: Optimized formulation and characterization

Chestnut (Castanea sativa) shells, generated from the peeling process of the fruit, contains appreciable amounts of lignin and cellulose. In this work, a starch-based film reinforced with these polysaccharides was developed. Response Surface Methodology was employed to optimize the composition of the film with improved elongation, tensile strength, and elasticity modulus properties. The optimal film was characterized regarding structural, optical barrier and thermal properties. The optimum composition was obtained with 10% (w/w) fibers and 50% (w/w) glycerol; the elongation responses, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity reached values of 34.19%, 7.31 N and 4.15 N, respectively. The values of tension strength and modulus of elasticity were approximately 3.5 times higher than those obtained for the control film. The reinforced film was opaque and exhibited improved water solubility, UV-barrier capacity, and thermal stability compared to control. The optimized starch film based on chestnut shells fibers' has the potential to produce biodegradable food packaging with improved properties.

Octenyl Succinic Anhydride Modified Pearl Millet Starches: An Approach for Development of Films/Coatings

Pearl millet starches were modified at pH 8.0 using 3.0% octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA), and their pasting, rheological properties, and in vitro digestibility were analyzed. The degree of substitution (D.C.) of OSA-modified starches varied from 0.010 to 0.025. The amylose content decreased after modification, while the reverse was observed for swelling power. After OSA modification, the pasting viscosities (peak, trough, setback (cP)) of the modified starches increased compared to their native counterparts. G′ (storage modulus) and G″ (loss modulus) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared to their native counterparts during heating. Yield stress (σo), consistency (K), and flow behavior index (n) varied from 9.8 to 87.2 Pa, 30.4 to 91.0 Pa.s., and 0.25 to 0.47, respectively. For starch pastes, steady shear properties showed n < 1, indicating shear-thinning and pseudoplastic behavior. The readily digestible starch (RDS) and slowly digestible starch (SDS) contents decreased, while the resistant starch (R.S.) content increased. After OSA treatment, the solubility power of the starches increased; this property of OSA starches speeds up the biodegradability process for the films, and it helps to maintain a healthy environment.

Current Research and Applications of Starch-Based Biodegradable Films for Food Packaging

The use of biodegradable packaging material as an alternative to conventional petrochemical-based polymers is based on the environmental issues associated with conventional materials. This review aims to update the existing knowledge regarding the application of starch-based biodegradable films for food packaging. From the review, it was evident that starch stands out among biopolymers due to its abundance and cost effectiveness. This review is the first of its kind, having reviewed over 100 articles/publications on starch-based biodegradable films, consolidating their current state of research and their applications for food packaging; therefore, this review provides an insight into the utilization of nanomaterials to improve the shelf life of packaging of food.

Natural Polymers Used in Edible Food Packaging—History, Function and Application Trends as a Sustainable Alternative to Synthetic Plastic

In this review, a historical perspective, functional and application trends of natural polymers used to the development of edible food packaging were presented and discussed. Polysaccharides and proteins, i.e., alginate; carrageenan; chitosan; starch; pea protein, were considered. These natural polymers are important materials obtained from renewable plant, algae and animal sources, as well as from agroindustrial residues. Historically, some of them have been widely used by ancient populations for food packaging until these were replaced by petroleum-based plastic materials after World War II. Nowadays, biobased materials for food packaging have attracted attention. Their use was boosted especially because of the environmental pollution caused by inappropriate disposal of plastic packaging. Biobased materials are welcome to the design of food packaging because they possess many advantages, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility and low toxicity. Depending on the formulation, certain biopolymer-based packaging may present good barrier properties, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities Thus, polysaccharides and proteins can be combined to form diverse composite films with improved mechanical and biological behaviors, making them suitable for packaging of different food products.

Thermoplastic starch/beeswax blend: Characterization on thermal mechanical and moisture absorption properties

Cassava starch has acquired many attentions owing to its ability to be developed as thermoplastic cassava starch (TPCS) where it can be obtained in low cost, making it to be one of alternatives to substitute petroleum-based plastic. An attempt was made to investigate the thermal, mechanical and moisture absorption properties of thermoplastic cassava starch blending with beeswax (TPCS-BW) fabricated using hot moulding compression method in the range of beeswax loading from 0, 2.5, 5 to 10 wt%. Addition of beeswax has significantly reduced tensile strength, elongation and flexural strength while improving tensile modulus and flexural modulus until 5 wt% beeswax. Incorporation of 10 wt% beeswax has successfully produced the lowest value of moisture absorption and water solubility among the bio-composite which might be attributed to the beeswax's hydrophobic properties in improving water barrier of the TPCS-BW bio-composite. Furthermore, the addition of beeswax resulted in the appearance of irregular and rough fractured surface. Meanwhile, fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy presented that incorporation of beeswax in the mixture has considerably improve hydrogen bonding of blends indicating good interaction between starch and beeswax. Hence, beeswax with an appropriate loading value able to improve the functional properties of TPCS-BW bio-composite.

Physical Properties of Thermoplastic Starch Derived from Natural Resources and Its Blends: A Review

Thermoplastic starch composites have attracted significant attention due to the rise of environmental pollutions induced by the use of synthetic petroleum-based polymer materials. The degradation of traditional plastics requires an unusually long time, which may lead to high cost and secondary pollution. To solve these difficulties, more petroleum-based plastics should be substituted with sustainable bio-based plastics. Renewable and natural materials that are abundant in nature are potential candidates for a wide range of polymers, which can be used to replace their synthetic counterparts. This paper focuses on some aspects of biopolymers and their classes, providing a description of starch as a main component of biopolymers, composites, and potential applications of thermoplastics starch-based in packaging application. Currently, biopolymer composites blended with other components have exhibited several enhanced qualities. The same behavior is also observed when natural fibre is incorporated with biopolymers. However, it should be noted that the degree of compatibility between starch and other biopolymers extensively varies depending on the specific biopolymer. Although their efficacy is yet to reach the level of their fossil fuel counterparts, biopolymers have made a distinguishing mark, which will continue to inspire the creation of novel substances for many years to come.

An overview on plasticized biodegradable corn starch-based films: the physicochemical properties and gelatinization process

With increasing awareness of environmental protection, petroleum-based raw materials are continuously decreasing, which in turn necessitated the development of eco-friendly sustainable biomaterials, as alternative strategy. Starch could be an ideal substitute. Corn starch has been used as a renewable material for development of biodegradable packaging, owing to great varieties, low cost, large-scale industrial production, and good films forming properties. Unfortunately, its poor mechanical and barrier properties have limited the application of starch-based films. Thence, plasticizers were added to overcome the aforementioned pitfalls and improve the films elongation, distribution, flexibility, elasticity, and rigidity. Addition of plasticizers can change the continuity and therefore would enhance the properties of corn starch-based films. While plasticization can improve the tensile strength and percent elongation, it can reduce the water resistance in prepared films. Herein, we focused on changes of starch granules during gelatinization process, types of biodegradable films, as well as the types of modified starch with plasticizers. Furthermore, the influence of plasticizers on corn starch-based films and the physicochemical properties of various types of corn starch-based films were also addressed.

A plant-mediated synthesis of nanostructured hydroxyapatite for biomedical applications: a review

The engineering of calcium-based phosphate materials at the nanoscale gains several unique properties compared to the bulky state. The effort to scale down, e.g., from bulky state to nanoscale in order to control the morphology and improve structural properties requires the use of varying reagents that can be detrimental to the environment. A typical example of these materials is hydroxyapatite (HAp), one of the well-known calcium phosphate materials, which has a close resemblance to human bone tissue. HAp has valuable applications in catalysis, drug delivery, bone and dental implant formation, and adsorption. Hydroxyapatite-based nanomaterials synthesized through conventional routes make use of reagents that are not environmental friendly and are very costly. Since the current research trends are geared towards producing/synthesizing nanomaterials through an eco-friendly approach, there is the need to consider the techniques and reagents involved in the synthesis of HAp. This review touches on the possible replacement of such synthetic chemical reagents, synthesis routes, and toxic capping agents with plant extracts for synthesizing HAp-based nanomaterials for multi-functional applications. The influence of biomolecules from plants on synthesized HAps and the attainable mechanism during these green approaches are discussed. Viable future modifications of the methods used to obtain extracts from plants are also studied.

Pollutant emissions during the pyrolysis and combustion of starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) biodegradable films

The massive use of petroleum-based polymers and their improper waste treatment has brought on significant global environmental problems due to their non-biodegradable nature. Starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) bioplastics are suitable substitutes for conventional polymers, such as polyethylene, due to their full biodegradability and excellent mechanical properties. Knowledge of the pollutant emissions during pyrolysis and combustion of starch/PVA films is important because they can arrive at landfills mixed with conventional polymers and be thermally degraded in uncontrolled fires. On the other hand, controlled thermal treatments could result in thermal valorization of the waste. Pyrolysis and combustion experiments were carried out at 650, 750, 850 and 950 °C in a laboratory furnace. The analysis of carbon oxides, light hydrocarbons, and semivolatile compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), is shown. Experiments showed lower pollutant emissions than those found with conventional polymers, such as polyethylene and polyester, in the same equipment. Nevertheless, the pyrolysis run at 950 °C showed the highest light hydrocarbon yield (123013 mg kg^-1), but this is considerably lower than the values found for polyethylene. The main semivolatile compounds (not PAHs) emitted, with maximum yields ranging from 1351 to 4694 mg kg^-1, were benzaldehyde, phenol, indene, and acetophenone. Specifically, the total semivolatile compounds emitted after pyrolysis and combustion of starch/PVA samples represent only 38 and 50%, respectively, of those emitted with polyethylene. Further, the main PAHs were naphthalene, acenaphthylene, and phenanthrene with maximum values of 4694, 2704 and 1496 mg kg^-1, respectively. The PAH yield was considerably higher in experiments with low oxygen content.

Improving nisin production by encapsulated Lactococcus lactis with starch/carboxymethyl cellulose edible films

In this study, Lactococcus lactis was embedded in a film of corn starch (NS) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) prepared using a casting method. At a CMC:NS ratio of 5:5, the composite film had the best comprehensive properties. Scanning electron microscopy images clearly showed that L. lactis was effectively embedded. The film with 1.5 % L. lactis showed the best performance and the lowest water vapor transmission rate (5.54 × 10^-11 g/m s Pa. In addition, the edible film retained a viable count of 5.64 log CFU/g of L. lactis when stored at 4 °C for 30 days. The composite film with 1.5 % L. lactis showed the highest release of nisin (3.35 mg/mL) and good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (53.53 %) after 8 days. Therefore, this edible film is a viable alternative antimicrobial strategy for the active packaging of foods containing low moisture content.

Electroconductive starch/multi-walled carbon nanotube films plasticized by 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate

Starch/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) films were prepared by casting using an ionic liquid (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, [emim⁺][Ac^-]) as plasticizer for the first time. The effect of the MWCNT content (0.25-5 wt.%, with respect to the sum of starch and plasticizer mass) on thermal, mechanical and electroconductive behavior of the films was studied. Films containing 0.5 wt.% MWCNT showed increases of 327 % in maximum tensile strength, 2484 % in Young's modulus and 82 % in elongation at break. The significant improvements are explained by the good MWCNT dispersion in the matrix and by the effect of [emim⁺][Ac^-] as an efficient plasticizer, which leads to higher extensibility. The MWCNT/[emim⁺][Ac^-] combination have a synergistic effect on film electrical conductivity, increasing a 130% (3 wt.% MWCNT). These films, easily prepared by a "green" process, have potential applications in the packaging industry but also in the field of lithium batteries, fuel cells and dye-sensitized solar cells.