Development and characterization of PVA-Starch active films incorporated with β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex embedding lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) oil

Abstract

Lemongrass oil (LMO) was embedded into β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) by coprecipitation method to form LMO/β-CD inclusion complex and PVA-Starch active films incorporated with LMO/β-CD were developed. Encapsulation efficiency and particle size of LMO/β-CD, films’ structural, physicochemical, mechanical, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties were investigated. The encapsulation efficiency and average particle size of LMO/β-CD were 73.5 % and 9.35 μm, respectively. The SEM results showed good compatibility between PVA-Starch matrix and LMO/β-CD encapsulation. FT-IR spectra demonstrated the embedment of LMO in β-CD and the interaction between PVA-Starch and LMO/β-CD. With the increase of LMO/β-CD, the tensile strength was weakened but the percentage of elongation at break increased, the color, transparency and water vapor permeability of the films showed no significant change. The oxygen transmission rate of the film was increased when added with LMO but declined with LMO/β-CD. The films incorporated with LMO/β-CD showed good antioxidant activity and obvious antimicrobial activity against Shewanella putrefaciens, which showed an application potential in aquatic products packaging.