Incorporation of T4 bacteriophage in electrospun fibres

Abstract

Aims: Antibacterial food packaging materials, such as bacteriophage-activated electrospun fibrous mats, may address concerns triggered by waves of bacterial food contamination. To address this, we investigated several efficient methods for incorporating T4 bacteriophage into electrospun fibrous mats. Methods and Results: The incorporation of T4 bacteriophage using simple suspension electrospinning led to more than five orders of magnitude decrease in bacteriophage activity. To better maintain bacteriophage viability, emulsion electrospinning was developed where the T4 bacteriophage was preencapsulated in an alginate reservoir via an emulsification process and subsequently electrospun into fibres. This resulted in an increase in bacteriophage viability, but there was still two orders of magnitude drop in activity. Using a coaxial electrospinning process, full bacteriophage activity could be maintained. In this process, a core/shell fibre structure was formed with the T4 bacteriophage being directly incorporated into the fibre core. The core/shell fibre encapsulated bacteriophage exhibited full bacteriophage viability after storing for several weeks at +4°C. Conclusions: Coaxial electrospinning was shown to be capable of encapsulating bacteriophages with high loading capacity, high viability and long storage time. Significance and Impact of the Study: These results are significant in the context of controlling and preventing bacterial infections in perishable foods during storage.

Bioactive Applications for Electrospun Fibers

“…Coaxial electrospinning was successfully used to encapsulate T4 phage by locating it in the core of the fibers and therefore protected from rapid dehydration by the outer-layer polymer sheath. 113 Once in aqueous buffer medium, a rapid release of T4 phage was observed (100% after 30 min), which was attributed to the high hydrophilicity of PEO that rapidly dissolves in water. An increase in PEO molecular weight resulted in increased fiber diameter and slower release rate.…”

“…In particular, the inner layer of the meat packaging material, which is in contact with the food surface has to be redesigned to provide better food safety and in a way that it extends the shelf life of food produces inhibiting the growth of pathogens on meat surface. 113 Food borne illnesses causes a large economic burden particularly for the industry of processed and packaged food due to increased controls and a greater awareness of consumers. The need to introduce novel disinfection systems and to protect surfaces such as membranes and packaging materials also comes from the necessity of avoiding harmful disinfection byproducts produced by conventional disinfection techniques.…”

“…117 An innovative application proposed the use of bacteriophages encapsulated in electrospun fibers. 113,118 Bacteriophages are viruses that can kill prokaryotes and that have already been used for species-specific control of bacteria during different phases of food production and storage. The possibility of using phages to reduce the concentration of bacterial pathogens gained general attention since the introduction of a Listeria monocytogenes-specific phage preparation approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2006.…”

Electrospinning of nanofibers: Potentials and perspectives for active food packaging

“…Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the composite mats was improved as the content of organic rectorite was increased, which was expected to be developed in the field of food packaging. Korehei and Kadla () compared three different electrospinning techniques (that is, solution electrospinning, emulsion electrospinning, and coaxial electrospinning) used for incorporating T4 bacteriophage into the electrospun fibers. The activity of the bacteriophage was dramatically improved when pre‐encapsulated in an alginate reservoir with the aid of an emulsification process and subsequently encapsulated into the emulsion‐based electrospun fibers.…”

A review on electrospun polymer nanostructures as advanced bioactive platforms

“…Virus, adenovirus, and bacteriophages have been successfully encapsulated in PVP , PCL , PEO , and PVA . For instance, electrospun nanofibers containing bacteriophage were prepared using aqueous suspensions of M13 bacteriophage and PVP .…”