Fabrication of cellulose acetate/gelatin-eugenol core–shell structured nanofiber films for active packaging materials

Abstract

In this study, novel active materials based on cellulose acetate (CA) and gelatin (Gel) for the release of eugenol (Eg) were developed by fabricating CA/Gel-Eg core–shell structured nanofiber films using the coaxial electrospinning technique. These electrospun nanofibers were coated with a CA shell, which has excellent water stability. Eg was encapsulated on the core part of the Gel. CA/Gel-Eg fiber morphology, structure, thermal, surface wettability, mechanical, encapsulation efficiency, release profile, and biological activity were evaluated. Results showed that the Eg-loaded nanofibers had uniform fiber morphologies and average fiber diameters ranging from 302.5 to 166.6 nm. Eg could be efficiently encapsulated in nanofibers and released for 120 h. Additionally, the CA/Gel-Eg core–shell structured nanofiber films displayed good Eg dose-dependent antibacterial activity. These findings could lead to a new strategy for developing electrospun fibers with a core–shell structure for active food packaging applications.