Development of Antimicrobial Cellulose Nanofiber-Based Films Activated with Nisin for Food Packaging Applications

Abstract

The cellulose nanofiber (CNF) is characterized by the nano-sized (fibers with a diameter between 5 and 20 nm and a length between 2 and 10 μm), flexible and cross-linked structure that confer enhanced mechanical and gas barrier properties to cellulosic fiber-based packaging materials. The purpose of this work was to develop an antimicrobial packaging film by direct mixing nisin with CNF, followed by coating it onto polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polylactic acid (PLA) films. The antimicrobial effectiveness of CNF-Nis+PE, CNF-Nis+PP, and CNF-Nis+PLA was investigated both in vitro end in ex vivo tests. In the latter case, challenge test experiments were carried out to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the coupled films of CNF-Nisin+PLA to inhibit the growth of Listeria innocua 1770 during the storage of a meat product. The films were active against the indicator microorganisms Brochothrix thermosphacta and Listeria innocua in in vitro test. Moreover, a reduction in the Listeria population of about 1.3 log cycles was observed immediately after the contact (T0) of the active films with hamburgers. Moreover, when the hamburgers were stored in active films, a further reduction of the Listeria population of about 1.4 log cycles was registered after 2 days of storage. After this time, even though an increase in Listeria load was observed, the trend of the Listeria population in hamburgers packed with active films was maintained significantly lower than the meat samples packed with control films during the whole storage period.

The Potential of Pediococcus acidilactici Cell-Free Supernatant as a Preservative in Food Packaging Materials

“…Nevertheless, exploring the potential of CFS-Pa-loaded BC as a material for food packaging requires further study with a focus on its physicochemical properties, such as water vapor permeability and mechanical properties [ 51 , 53 , 54 ]. Finally, bactericidal activity can be assessed both in vitro and in various real meat products to further prove the efficacy of CFS-Pa-loaded BC as a food packaging [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ].…”

Biodegradable Polymers and Polymer Composites with Antibacterial Properties

“…Films made from cellulose derivatives have no inherent inhibitory or antioxidant properties. Most studies are related to the development of biocomposite systems, with a cellulose-based matrix associated with an antioxidant or natural biocide [ 416 , 446 , 447 , 448 ].…”

Development of Novel Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent for Cellulose Nanofibrillation of Orange Peel via New Surface Functionalization

“…The antibacterial activity of bleached OP cellulose and selected DES-treated CNF films was tested against Gram-negative bacteria (Esherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) using the agar diffusion method. 30 A circular disc with diameter of 6 mm and thickness of 0.1−0.2 mm was cut from thin film. The thin film was prepared by dispersing 200 mg of DES-treated CNF in 50 mL of DW, homogenized for 15 min, sonicated for 20 min, and oven-dried at 40 °C for 12 h. The plates were incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. 1 H NMR were used to study the surface chemical structure of the new DESs based on glutamic and tartaric acids and the kind of their interactions.…”

“…The antibacterial activity of bleached OP cellulose and selected DES-treated CNF films was tested against Gram-negative bacteria (Esherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) using the agar diffusion method . A circular disc with diameter of 6 mm and thickness of 0.1–0.2 mm was cut from thin film.…”