Preparation of films based on reticulated fish gelatin containing garlic essential oil.

Agro-industrial co-products, such as fish gelatin, stand out for their capacity in forming biopolymeric films, being biocompatible and non-toxic; however, its hydrophilicity poses a challenge. Essential oils, rich in bioactives, attract research interest aiming to enhance the protective barrier of films and enable their application in packaging. This study produced films based on cross-linked Nile tilapia skin gelatin, incorporating garlic essential oil.