** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** ANTIMICROBIAL PACKAGING HAS ATTRACTED MUCH ATTENTION FROM THE FOOD INDUSTRY BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED FOOD SAFETY CONCERNS AND CONSUMER DEMAND FOR PRESERVATIVE-FREE FOOD PRODUCTS. CURRENT ANTIMICROBIAL PACKAGING SOLUTIONS FACE CHALLENGES INCLUDING HIGH COST OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS, RAPID EXHAUSTION OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS, AND THE INABILITY TO INACTIVATE A BROAD SPECTRUM OF MICROORGANISMS. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP A LOW-COST AND ROBUST ANTIMICROBIAL PACKAGING FILMS USING SINGLE ATOM CATALYSTS (SACS) THAT MIMIC NATURAL ENZYMES TO CATALYZE THE DISINFECTION OF MICROORGANISMS VIA OXIDATION. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO DESIGN AND FABRICATE SACS-BASED PACKAGING FILMS THAT PRODUCE REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES (ROS) TO INACTIVE SPOILAGE AND PATHOGENIC BACTERIA ATTACHED ON PACKAGING FILM OR CONTAINED ON FOODS. THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES ARE 1) SYNTHESIZE AND EVALUATE SACS THAT POSSESS A HIGH OXIDASE-CATALYTIC ACTIVITY AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES, 2) INCORPORATE SACS INTO BIOPOLYMER FILMS ANDSTRUCTURALIZE THE MULTILAYER AND/OR COMPOSITE SYSTEMS USING A SERIES OF BIOPLASTICS AND OTHER PACKAGING MATERIALS, AND 3) VALIDATE THE SAFETY OF FILM APPLICATION IN FOODS AND DETERMINE THE FILM'S EFFECTIVENESS IN PRESERVING FOOD QUALITY AND SUPPRESS BACTERIA GROWTH IN REAL FOOD MATRICES AT DIFFERENT STORAGE CONDITIONS. UPON COMPLETING THE OBJECTIVES, WE WILL BE WELL POSITIONED TO DEVELOP AND MANUFACTURE THE NOVEL SACS-INCORPORATED BIOPOLYMER PACKAGING TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE SAFETY, QUALITY, SHELF-LIFE OF FOOD. THUS, IT IS ALIGNED WITH THE PROGRAM AREA PRIORITY: NOVEL FOODS AND INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES (A1364). MOREOVER, THIS PROJECT BRINGS A UNIQUE COLLABORATION BETWEEN VIRGINIA TECH AND THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, AN EPSCOR INSTITUTION.