Antimicrobial films made from natural raw materials exhibit good biocompatibility and biodegradability. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of wool keratin - curcumin - deep eutectic solvent (WK - CUR - DES) films as smart indicators of seafood freshness and to investigate their antibacterial effects. The antimicrobial properties of the film were tested, and the results showed that the film containing the DES of Thy-cap (thymol - caprylic acid) exhibited a bacterial inhibition rate of nearly 100% against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. The films were examined for their properties. The film has a tensile strength of up to 30 MPa and can support a weight of 500 g without breaking. Further, the color changes of films from yellow at acidic pH (3) to reddish-brown under alkaline conditions pH (11) confirmed the excellent pH sensitivity of CUR. Additionally, the films exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with a DPPH radical scavenging rate of 73.39%. All films have a light transmittance of less than 20%, providing excellent light-blocking properties. They can be used for packaging seafood, offering both antibacterial benefits and helping to reduce oxidation and spoilage of the seafood, and its pH sensitivity serves as an effective indicator for monitoring freshness.

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