Abstract
In this study, biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was blended with natural antioxidant tea polyphenols (TPs) to produce PVA/TP nanofiber films by electrospinning. The effects of heat treatment and TP incorporation on the structural and physical properties of the films were then evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that the PVA/TP nanofiber film has a more compact structure and better morphology than PVA alone. In addition, the water resistance was enhanced, and the formation of hydrogen bonds between the TP and PVA molecules increased via the heat treatment. Furthermore, the mechanical, antioxygenic, and antibacterial properties of the nanofiber films were significantly improved (P < 0.05) owing to the incorporation of TP. In particular, when the mass ratio of the PVA/TP was 7:3, the elongation at break (EAB) of the film increased to 105.24% ± 2.87%, and the antioxidant value reached a maximum at 64.83% ± 5.21%. In addition, the antibacterial activity of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) increased to the maximum levels of 82.48% ± 2.12% and 86.25% ± 2.32%, respectively. In summary, our study produced a functional food packaging material that includes preservation with an acceptable bioactivity, ability to keep food fresh, and biodegradability.
Highlights
Antioxidant food packaging film has strong potential as a packing material owing to its ability to incorporate or immobilize antioxidizing agents to retard the growth of microorganisms and to improve food shelf life [1,2]
The results showed that the presence of tea polyphenols (TPs) enhanced the water resistance resistance were elucidated
The results showed that the presence of TPs enhanced the water resistance of the nanofiber films and produced a more compact network structure and better morphology after of the nanofiber films and produced a more compact network structure and better morphology after heat treatment
Summary
Antioxidant food packaging film has strong potential as a packing material owing to its ability to incorporate or immobilize antioxidizing agents to retard the growth of microorganisms and to improve food shelf life [1,2]. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a polymer with excellent properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, chemical resistance and the ability to form a film, is used as an environmentally friendly material for preparing packaging films [4]. The good water solubility and biocompatibility of PVA can be attributed to the existence of hydroxyl groups in the molecular structure. Their high water solubility makes PVA films unstable in external environments
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