Biopolymer-based films are promising alternatives to conventional plastics; however, their limited mechanical strength restricts their applications in food packaging. In this study, chitosan particles (CHPs) were synthesized by ionic gelation with sodium tripolyphosphate and stabilized with Tween 80. The CHPs were incorporated into soy protein films plasticized with glycerol, processed by film casting, and evaluated for their structural and mechanical properties. FTIR and DSC analyses confirmed the presence and impact of chitosan particles within the protein matrix. Mechanical tests, according to ASTM D882, revealed that films reinforced with 0.5-1 wt% chitosan particles exhibited modifications: tensile strength increased up to 30% compared to the control, while elongation at break decreased, evidencing a reinforcement effect. These findings highlight the potential of chitosan structures to enhance the performance of soy protein films, contributing to the development of functional and biodegradable food packaging materials

The author gratefully acknowledges the support of the  Universidad de Guadalajara for providing the facilities to carry out this research. Special thanks are extended to the thesis advisors and the students who collaborated during the experimental work.