Table 5.

Advantages and disadvantages of widely used materials of antimicrobial agent for food packaging industries.

Antimicrobial Agent	Advantages	Disadvantages
Silver	Act as a catalyst instead of chemically reacted with microorganisms in their destruction, and microorganism cannot resist them [141]. Eliminate the risk of genetic mutations of microorganisms due to direct use of toxins [141]. Can be combined with both degradable and nondegradable biomaterials, resulting in improving the permeability of the film, quality of the product, and mechanical properties of the coating [54,141]. Stable in very high temperature compared to other compounds [142].	Can cause particles to migrate from packaging to the food if it is used at a high level [143,144].
Titanium oxide	High stability, extensive range of antibiosis [145]. Biologically inactive, demonstrates quite low toxicity, thus low risk to human [146]. Shows no absorption or tissue storage of TiO2 and no hazardous effects for occupational workers and public health [147].	All molecular sizes of TiO2 and crystal forms (anatase and rutile) might cause phototoxicity due to reactive species (ROS) under UV radiations [147]. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide lead, which can lead to the oxidative stress pathway. This is one of the ways in which TiO2 and Ag NPs exert their toxic effects and interrupt the life cycle of Drosophila through the ROS generation enhancement and DNA damage that led to related adverse consequences [148].
Copper	Inhibits or declines bacteria, viruses, and fungi growth [141] Increases the film thermal stability and mechanical properties [141] Can inhibit survival of microorganisms [149]	Toxic, especially at the nanometre dimension [141] Nanoscale size Cu increases their reaction since the surface atoms are increased, which make them highly reactive sites, causing severe antimicrobial behavior and toxicity [141,150]
Chitosan	Water-soluble cationic polymer due to positive charge on its amino groups [151]. Polycationic, non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable [152,153,154,155]. Soluble in dilute acids in pH less than 6.0–6.5, for example, acetic acid, formic acid, lactic acid, and HCI [156] Good mechanical properties and can be consumed along with the product in the package [157,158]	Insoluble at neutral and higher pH due to the D-glucosamine [156,159]
Chitin	Renewable, biocompatible, biodegradable, and non-toxic compounds [160,161,162]. Abundant [151] Antioxidant [163]	Highly hydrophobic, thus insoluble in water and even organic solvent [151]
Lysozyme	Naturally present in avian eggs and mammalian milk [160] Cost effective [164] Showed high activity towards Gram-negative bacteria and moderately effective against Gram-positive bacteria [165]	Showed no action towards yeasts or fungi [165]