Fabrication of bio-based hierarchically structured ethylene scavenger films via electrospraying for fruit preservation

Abstract

One-third of the global food production goes to waste, and fruits and vegetables constitute the majority of this proportion. The phytohormone ethylene is the main cause of postharvest decay of fruits and vegetables, and thus, the effective regulation of ethylene is crucial to address the global challenge of postharvest food waste. Conventional methods, such as the use of metal-based scavengers, chemical additives, and nondegradable coatings, exhibit significant health and environmental issues. Thus, in this study, we fabricated bio-based ethylene scavenger films composed of paper towel (PT) microfibers coated with zein- Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch . gum (ASKG) nanoparticles (NPs) with core-shell structures via electrospraying. After 15 days of incubation, bananas in the presence of these films exhibited a lower browning rate, higher hardness, and longer shelf life than the banana without an ethylene scavenger film. The hierarchical structure of the films endowed them with several chemical and physical characteristics advantageous to their application as ethylene scavenger films in fruit preservation. While the presence of numerous active functional groups of zein and the high specific surface area of the NPs enhanced the ethylene removal efficiency of the films, the favorable porosity, hydrophobicity, and mechanical properties of the films enhanced their longevity. Thus, the zein-ASKG NPs@PT films fabricated in this study provide an efficient, safe, and sustainable strategy for fruit preservation. One-third of the global food production goes to waste, and fruits and vegetables constitute the majority of this proportion. The phytohormone ethylene is the main cause of postharvest decay of fruits and vegetables. Thus, the development of a highly efficient, safe, and sustainable ethylene scavenger that does not affect the physicochemical and physiological characteristics of the fruit is significant in alleviating fruit waste. • Core-shell zein-ASKG NPs were coated onto a paper towel film via electrospraying. • The film exhibited favorable porosity, mechanical, and hydrophobic properties. • The film exhibited a high ethylene removal efficiency of 8.84 mg/m 3 /h. • The film effectively preserved the quality of bananas and extended their shelf lives.