Antimicrobial Active Packaging Research Articles

Humidity and pH dual-responsive smart nanofiber antimicrobial packaging

Smart antimicrobial active packaging, capable of responsive release of antimicrobial agents under environmental stimuli, has garnered widespread attention in recent years. This study developed an intelligent active packaging, Cin@PVA/CS-Cin nanofiber films via electrospinning, that exhibits dual-stimuli responsiveness for the release of cinnamaldehyde (Cin) antimicrobial agent. This packaging can respond by releasing Cin in a high-humidity environment during fruit storage to inhibit microbial proliferation. Additionally, in the event of Botrytis cinerea colonization causing a pH decrease, it can further respond by releasing Cin to prevent more fruits from being colonized. Experimental results proved that the Cin@PVA/CS-Cin nanofiber film exhibits excellent humidity and pH responsive capabilities for Cin release, along with outstanding pH-responsive antibacterial and antifungal activity. The preservation experiment on strawberries has confirmed that the film effectively extends the shelf life of strawberries. The enhanced stability and improved antimicrobial performance of this more intelligent multi-responsive antimicrobial active packaging hold significant importance for its practical application in complex environments.

Polydopamine-immobilized lysozyme for the fabrication of antibacterial films and its application in the preservation of fresh pork

Immobilized antibacterial packaging provides a long-term fresh-keeping effect for food. This study prepared a novel antimicrobial active packaging film by grafting lysozyme with polydopamine (PDA). XPS, ATR-FTIR, and SEM confirmed that PDA and lysozyme were immobilized on PE film. The mechanism may be that PDA (rich in catechol and quinone groups) undergo amide and Schiff base reactions with lysozyme. The modified film's barrier properties (UV, water vapor, oxygen transmittance) and antibacterial function significantly improved. Afterward, the pork was packed with the films (4 °C, 10 d) and monitored for freshness. The films significantly reduced the total viable count and total volatile basic nitrogen of pork and increased the shelf life by 3 days. In summary, this novel immobilized technique can be applied effectively for film modification and enhancing food preservation performance.

Designing antimicrobial active packaging films based on chitosan plus fungus comb ethyl acetate extract from Indo-Malayan termite mounds

Abstract. Witasari LD, Lizar DP, Florencia OM, Ramadhan A, Fiana NAO, Supriyadi S, Pratiwi SUT, Nandika D, Karlinasari L, Arinana A, Batubara I, Santoso D, Rachmayanti Y, Firmansyah D, Sudiana IK, Hertanto DM, Rachmayanti Y, Firmansyah D. 2023. Designing antimicrobial active packaging films based on chitosan plus fungus comb ethyl acetate extract from Indo-Malayan termite mounds. Biodiversitas 24: 5947-5955. Antimicrobial active packaging systems incorporate antimicrobial compounds into polymer films, i.e., chitosan, thus suppress spoilage microorganism growth in foods. Chitosan films itself cannot prevent microbial growth, thus other antimicrobial agent must be added. Fungus comb extract from Indo-Malayan termite (Macrotermes gilvus (Hagen, 1858)) mounds is a potential active organic antimicrobial compound, which can be incorporated into chitosan films. The purpose of this study was to develop and characterize active packaging films based on chitosan plus an antimicrobial fungus comb ethyl acetate extract. Films contained 1% chitosan and fungus comb ethyl acetate extract (0.5, 1, 2, and 5% w/v). Notably, films containing 2 and 5% extracts inhibited Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), but not fungi. Films plus 2% extract showed a thickness, tensile strength, and strain of 0.13 mm, 2.15 MPa, and 32.55%, respectively. Films had a moisture content of 0.26%, water solubility of 2.68%, swelling property of 2.37%, and water vapor permeability (WPV) of 3.31×10?10 g.m?1s?1.Pa?1. They displayed smooth morphology but no new functional groups. Thus, chitosan plus 2% of fungus comb ethyl acetate extract can be used in antimicrobial active packaging films for food application. It could be applied as a green alternative to prolong the shelf-life of food products.

Carbon dot/g-C3N4-mediated self-activated antimicrobial nanocomposite films for active packaging applications

A novel carbon dot/g-C3N4 nanocomposite (CCN) exhibiting enhanced photocatalytic activity was developed and used as a photoactive nanofiller to construct corn starch/carboxymethyl cellulose (CS/CMC)-based functional films. The morphologies and structures of the CCN-CS/CMC composite films were investigated with scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The effects of the CCN on the physicochemical properties and antibacterial activities of the films were analyzed. The properties of the films were optimized with the addition of CCN (0.20 mg/mL), and the tensile strength of the film was increased to 11.9 MPa and the water contact angle was increased to 103.39°. The optimal active film showed > 99.9 % antibacterial efficiencies against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus under visible light and prolonged the shelf lives of bananas for more than four days compared to the 4-day shelf life of the control. This work provides a novel route for developing antimicrobial active packaging.

Influence of different gamma radiation doses on the physical, chemical and thermal properties of antimicrobial active packaging of poly (butylene adipate co-terephthalate) (PBAT) films additivated with orange essential oil

Influence of different gamma radiation doses on the physical, chemical and thermal properties of antimicrobial active packaging of poly (butylene adipate co-terephthalate) (PBAT) films additivated with orange essential oil

Application of Ag/Tannic acid-FeIII nanocomposite as multifunctional bacteriostatic to enhance the performance of chitosan/gelatin/polyvinyl alcohol complex films

As the demand for food quality and safety continues to rise, antimicrobial active packaging materials with good mechanical and barrier properties have received urgent attention from the food industry. In this study, three types of Ag/tannic acid-FeIII ion nanocomposites (TFA) were synthesized using an in-situ method and incorporated into a chitosan/gelatin/polyvinyl alcohol complex film (CF) to produce multifunctional and highly cross-linked active films. The impact of TFA prepared through three different methods on the microstructure and functional properties of the CF were investigated. The structure of the TFA-loaded films was investigated to confirm the strong intermolecular interactions between the polymers and TFA. The TFA established multidimensional physical interactions and cross-linked the polymers, thereby enhancing the mechanical properties of the CF and providing excellent antioxidant activity and photothermal effects. Under 808 nm near-infrared laser irradiation, the TFA-loaded films displayed potent antibacterial performance against both S. aureus and E. coli bacteria. This study demonstrated that the nanocomposite prepared via ascorbic acid reduction (TFAV) given the highest comprehensive performance rating to the film. It can be utilized not only for conventional food packaging but also as a continuous sterilization strategy for meat products storage due to its photothermal antibacterial functionality.

New active packaging based on encapsulated carvacrol, with emphasis on its odour masking strategies

New active polyethylene packaging with both antioxidant and antimicrobial properties was designed and produced using three different concentrations of encapsulated carvacrol. Films containing 10%, 20% and 30% of active capsules showed strong antioxidant activity as hydroxyl (OH·) radical scavengers, while only films containing 30% capsules showed anti-Salmonella enterica activity. Storage of active packaging rolls in sealed aluminium bags maintained both the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the films for up to 9 months. Two strategies were used to control or eliminate the strong odour of the developed packaging materials: odour masking spray and multilayer packaging. Migration tests were carried out to assess the safety of packaging. The most successful strategy was the development of two active multilayer packaging materials (polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/adhesive/active low density polyethylene (LDPE) with 10% capsules and aluminium/adhesive/active LDPE with 10% capsules) which reduced the oxidation of packaged crisps stored at 60 °C for 30 days by up to 45%, measured as malonaldehyde using the TBARS assay. In addition, the packaging materials did not affect the organoleptic properties of the stored crisps as determined by sensory analysis. These results show that this novel bifunctional (antioxidant and antimicrobial) active packaging can protect fatty foods from oxidation processes while preserving their organoleptic properties.

Vapor Phase Antimicrobial Active Packaging Application of Chitosan Capsules Containing Clove Essential Oil for the Preservation of Dry Cakes

Vapor Phase Antimicrobial Active Packaging Application of Chitosan Capsules Containing Clove Essential Oil for the Preservation of Dry Cakes

Biotransformation of banana peel waste into bacterial nanocellulose and its modification for active antimicrobial packaging using polyvinyl alcohol with in-situ generated silver nanoparticles

The present study explored the banana peel waste extract (E-BPW) as economic BNC production using a static intermittent fed-batch (SIFB) strategy, which supported about 9.24 ± 0.31 g L−1 with HS medium. BNC matrix was further loaded with polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and silver nitrate by simple immersion and analyzed for suitable capacity for an antimicrobial active packaging system. Using coconut shell extract as a reducing agent, a green route was exercised for the in-situ generation of AgNPs inside the BNC and PVOH matrix. The parameters’ level and effect were studied statistically using a complete factorial design. PVOH-incorporated BNC matrix improved mechanical behavior while moisture content and WVTR decreased. The BNC/PVOH/AgNPs films exhibited maximum inhibition zone widths of approximately 17 ± 0.5 mm against E. coli and 14 ± 0.0 mm against S. aureus. Investigation of pure BNC, BNC/PVOH/AgNPs bionanocomposite films was done by using advanced analytical techniques. Bionanocomposite films also showed excellent mechanical strength, thermal properties, and sensory evaluation results due to the reinforcing effect of PVOH and AgNPs on the BNC matrix. Overall, the present findings supported the use of EBPW for BNC production and the possibility of PVOH/BNC/AgNPs bionanocomposite films as an active antimicrobial packaging system.

PH and amylase dual stimuli-responsive electrospinning membrane for smart releasing thymol to control melon Rhizopus stolonifer

Antimicrobial active packaging was limited by the inability to release the antimicrobial agents at the required location, required time, and required quantity. Hence, it is necessary to develop smart release active packaging material that can on-demand release antimicrobial agents according to the storage microenvironment. In this work, a pH and amylase dual responsive release membrane (THY@PLA-COS-DAS) was designed by grafting dialdehyde starch (DAS) onto positively charged chitosan oligosaccharide-modified electrospinning porous poly (lactic acid) (PLA) nanofiber via Schiff base bond. The dialdehyde starch as the smart gatekeeper for on-demand releasing thymol had not only glycosidic bonds that could be hydrolyzed by amylase but also Schiff base bonds that formed with PLA-COS and were sensitive to acidic pH. And the cumulative release rate confirmed that the THY@PLA-COS-DAS could respectively release 78.1% and 98.6% of thymol after 120 h at pH 5.0 or 2 mg/mL glucoamylase conditions. More importantly, the secretion assay demonstrated that Rhizopus stolonifer (R. stolonifer) could secrete acid and amylase, which respectively facilitate the breaking of Schiff base bond and glycosidic bond, thus allowing smart release thymol in response to changes in the storage microenvironment. Meanwhile, THY@PLA-COS-DAS showed a 94.5% inhibition rate against R. stolonifer. More importantly, the biocompatible THY@PLA-COS-DAS could considerably maintain the melon's appearance and hardness compared with the control group. Thus, this pH and amylase dual responsive release nanofiber membrane achieved the sustainable on-demand release of antimicrobial agents to cost-effectively inhibit spoilage microorganisms and had significant potential in innovative antimicrobial active packaging materials.

Encapsulation of tea polyphenols into high amylose corn starch composite nanofibrous film for active antimicrobial packaging

Starch-based composite nanofibrous films loaded with tea polyphenols (TP) were successfully fabricated through electrospinning high amylose corn starch (HACS) with aid of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), referred as HACS/PVA@TP. With the addition of 15 % TP, HACS/PVA@TP nanofibrous films exhibited enhanced mechanical properties and water vapor barrier capability, and their hydrogen bonding interactions were further evidenced. TP was slowly released from the nanofibrous film and followed Fickian diffusion mechanism, which achieved the controlled sustained release of TP. Interesting, HACS/PVA@TP nanofibrous films effectively improved antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and prolonged the shelf life of strawberry. HACS/PVA@TP nanofibrous films showed superior antibacterial function by by destroying cell wall and cytomembrane, and degrading existing DNA fragments, stimulating excessive intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Our study demonstrated that the functional electrospun Starch-based nanofibrous films with enhanced mechanical properties and superior antimicrobial activities were potential for the application in active food packaging and relative areas.

Characterization, Thermal Stability and Antimicrobial Evaluation of the Inclusion Complex of Litsea cubeba Essential Oil in Large-Ring Cyclodextrins (CD9-CD22).

Food safety issues are becoming increasingly important as a result of contamination with foodborne pathogenic bacteria. Plant essential oil is a safe and non-toxic natural antibacterial agent that can be used to develop antimicrobial active packaging materials. However, most essential oils are volatile and require protection. In the present study, LCEO and LRCD were microencapsulated through coprecipitation. The complex was investigated using GC-MS, TGA, and FT-IR spectroscopy. According to the experimental results, it was found that LCEO entered the inner cavity of the LRCD molecule and formed a complex with LRCD. LCEO had a significant and broad-spectrum antimicrobial effect against all five microorganisms tested. At 50 °C, the microbial diameter of the essential oil and its microcapsules showed the least change, indicating that this essential oil has high antimicrobial activity. In research on microcapsule release, LRCD has proven to be a perfect wall material for controlling the delayed release of essential oil and extending the duration of antimicrobial activity. LRCD effectively extends antimicrobial duration by encasing LCEO, thus improving its heat stability and antimicrobial activity. The results presented here indicate that LCEO/LRCD microcapsules can be further utilized in the food packaging industry.

Production of nanocellulose from corn husk for the development of antimicrobial biodegradable packaging film

Packaging is a potential way of keeping food products safe from various environmental pollutants, and biological, chemical, & physical deterioration. Hence, the demand for an effective antimicrobial active packaging material is increasing tremendously to improve the shelf-life of food products. Thus, we extracted nanocellulose from corn husks and developed a eugenol-incorporated biodegradable antimicrobial active packaging film. The extracted nanocellulose showed a particle size of 149.67 ± 3.56 nm and an overall surface charge of −20.2 mV ± 0.76 V. The film casting method is one of the promising methods to fabricate biodegradable films using plant-based biopolymers. Therefore, different concentrations of eugenol (0.5–5 % v/v) were incorporated to formulate the functional film (FF0.5-FF5) by employing the casting process. FF exhibited comparable tensile strength as compared to the control film (CF), however, FF5 showed the least tensile strength (85 MPa). Based on the mechanical characterization, the FF3 film sample was further selected for characterization. The morphological evaluation revealed that the surface of the film was smooth and non-porous with reduced moisture content and density. The film exhibited high thermal stability as the degradation occurred above 400 °C, indicating the strong hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl groups of the film. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed the existence of -COOH vibration and COC stretching groups of cellulose and eugenol. The antimicrobial studies showed high efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus followed by Salmonella typhmurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria. Overall, eugenol-incorporated nanocellulose-based biodegradable packaging film could be an excellent candidate as an alternative to active packaging material and provide an opportunity for the efficient utilization of corn husk.

항균, 항진균 및 항바이러스 액티브 패키징의 최근 연구 동향

Since the COVID-19 crisis, the use of disposable packaging materials and delivery services, which raise environmental and social issues with waste disposal, has significantly increased. Antimicrobial active packaging has emerged as a viable solution for extending the shelf-life of foods by minimizing microbial growth and decomposition. In this review article, we provide a comprehensive overview of current research trends in antimicrobial active film and coating published over the last five years. First, we introduced various polymer materials such as film and coating that are used in active packaging. Next, various types of antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral) packaging including essential oil, extracts, biological material, metal, and nanoparticles were introduced and their activities and mechanisms were discussed. Finally, the current challenges and prospects were discussed. Overall, this review provides insights into the recent advancements in antimicrobial active packaging research and highlights the potential of the technology to enhance food safety and quality.

Novel Bacteriophage-Based Food Packaging: An Innovative Food Safety Approach

Research and development on innovative packaging materials have advanced significantly to safeguard packaged food against microbial contamination and oxidation. Active packaging has recently developed as a practical approach to reducing oxidation and microbiological growth in packaged goods, extending their shelf life and protecting consumers from potential harm. Active food packaging includes O2, CO2 scavengers, moisture absorbers, U. V. barriers, and antimicrobial agents. Various antimicrobial agents, such as nitrates and benzoic acids, are incorporated into food packaging formulations. Consumers demand natural antimicrobials over chemical/synthetic ones, such as bacteriocins, bacteriophages, and essential oils. Bacteriophages (viruses) have emerged as a feasible option for decontaminating and eliminating infections from food sources. Most importantly, these viruses can target specific foodborne pathogens without harming helpful bacteria or infecting humans and livestock. Fortifying bacteriophages into food packaging films will not only kill specific food microorganisms but has also evolved as a new weapon to combat antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) issues. The present review summarises recent developments in active antimicrobial packaging focused particularly on bacteriophage food packaging applications and advantages, drawbacks, and future trends for active food packaging.

Antimicrobial Active Packaging Containing Nisin for Preservation of Products of Animal Origin: An Overview

The preservation of food represents one of the greatest challenges in the food industry. Active packaging materials are obtained through the incorporation of antimicrobial and/or antioxidant compounds in order to improve their functionality. Further, these materials are used for food packaging applications for shelf-life extension and fulfilling consumer demands for minimal processed foods with great quality and safety. The incorporation of antimicrobial peptides, such as nisin, has been studied lately, with a great interest applied to the food industry. Antimicrobials can be incorporated in various matrices such as nanofibers, nanoemulsions, nanoliposomes, or nanoparticles, which are further used for packaging. Despite the widespread application of nisin as an antimicrobial by directly incorporating it into various foods, the use of nisin by incorporating it into food packaging materials is researched at a much smaller scale. The researchers in this field are still in full development, being specific to the type of product studied. The purpose of this study was to present recent results obtained as a result of using nisin as an antimicrobial agent in food packaging materials, with a focus on applications on products of animal origin. The findings showed that nisin incorporated in packaging materials led to a significant reduction in the bacterial load (the total viable count or inoculated strains), maintained product attributes (physical, chemical, and sensorial), and prolonged their shelf-life.

Polyethylene with MoS2 nanoparticles toward antibacterial active packaging

AbstractMolybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoparticles, obtained from liquid phase exfoliation in the presence of chitosan, were melt mixed with a linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrix to produce novel antimicrobial active packaging materials. The LLDPE/MoS2 composites presented exfoliated nanoparticles forming aggregates that are well dispersed in the polymer matrix. These 2D‐layered MoS2 nanoparticles at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 3.0 wt% rendered several functionalities to the LLDPE, as for example an antimicrobial behavior against Salmonella typhi and Listeria monocytogenes bacteria that can be explained not only by the photoactivity of the filler but also by changes in the composite surface. For instance, the composites presented a reduction in the water contact angle (i.e., an increased hydrophilicity) and relevant changes in the surface topography (i.e., reduced roughness) as compared with pure LLDPE. Regarding the barrier properties, while MoS2 dramatically increased the water vapor permeation (WVP) of the polymer matrix, until 15 times for composite with 3.0 wt% of filler, the oxygen permeation decreased around 25%. All these novel functionalities in the nanocomposites were obtained without significantly affecting the tensile mechanical properties of the pure LLDPE matrix. These results show that MoS2 is a promising filler for the development of antibacterial active packaging films with behaviors as similar as other 2D‐layered fillers such as graphene derivatives.

Selective antimicrobial food packaging of composite poly(lactic acid) cobalt-citrate films

Food spoilage is a well-known subject in worldwide research, involving a plethora of approaches linked to physical and chemical processes. Poised to develop active antimicrobial packaging materials addressing the specific issue, a composite film was prepared from biocompatible-biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA), incorporating a bioinorganic hybrid metal-organic Co(II)-citrate (Co-cit) complex. The fabricated PLA-(Co-cit) film retained its physicochemical profile as attested to through FT-IR, UV-Visible, SEM, DSC, TGA, nanofocus-confocal microscopy, weight variation, moisture, bending, and mechanical tests, thus justifying further investigation in antimicrobial potency biological experiments. Testing involved Gram-positive/Gram-negative bacteria, revealing a well-defined antimicrobial profile, with clear specificity toward Listeria monocytogenes, thereby asserting proof of concept on the design of such materials. Collectively, the work sets the stage for development of materials conforming to demands of active packaging and employing physicochemically well-defined hybrid metal-organic species, bearing bacteria-specific antimicrobial properties, ultimately contributing to the maintenance of integrity and extension of shelf-life for foods.

Antimicrobial active packaging based on PVA/Starch films incorporating basil leaf extracts

The current work focuses on the development of PVA/starch films incorporated basil leaf water extract as an antimicrobial agent. The mechanical properties, contact angle studies, antimicrobial, and packaging studies were conducted. All films after the addition of basil leaf extracts maintained the tensile strengths and were comparable to neat PVA/starch films. The antimicrobial tests showed excellent inhibition against the two tested pathogens- S. aureus and E. coli. The packaging films developed were tested for the storage of fresh green chillies for 7 days, and it showed that the chillies wrapped in films containing basil extract resulted in better maintenance of freshness compared to unpacked ones. The results of the current work suggest that these films developed can be successfully used for the packaging of delicate vegetables and fruits.

Bio-responsive composite liposomes against Campylobacter jejuni in vitro and its application in chicken preservation

The infection of Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) in food can cause huge economic and health costs, and liposomes based on biological switch is a promising antibacterial strategy. In this study, a bio-responsive composite liposome was designed with silk fibroin and L-fucose (FLPs) based on the chemotaxis and protease of C. jejuni, and Litsea cubeba essential oil as antibacterial agent. The oil encapsulation and protein mosaic rates of the composite liposome were 70.6 ± 0.5% and 47.9 ± 1.0%, respectively. The in vitro release experiment verified that the release rates of essential oil from the liposome exceeded 95% at 5 days. Furthermore, FLPs possessed excellent antibacterial activity, the inhibition zone was 23.5 mm and 20% (v/v) of the composite liposomes could inactivate 99% C. jejuni. Moreover, laser scanning confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy images confirmed the antimicrobial activity of FLPs was better than that of other liposomes, and it could attach to bacteria well. Sprayed liposomes revealed sustained ability of retarding bacterial reproduction within 5 days with the refrigerated chicken meat inoculated with C. jejuni, and had no impact on the color and texture of the food. Hence, the bio-responsive composite liposome has a promising application in inhibiting C. jejuni growth in food. Industrial relevanceIn this study, the composite liposome with high encapsulation efficiency shows significant and sustained antibacterial activity, and has no negative effects on the color and texture of chicken meat. The findings of this study will facilitate the development and application of liposomes as active antimicrobial packaging in food industry.