Spray coating application for the development of nanocoated antimicrobial low-density polyethylene films to increase the shelf life of chicken breast fillets

Abstract

Antimicrobial coated films were produced by an innovative method that allowed surface modification of commercial low-density polyethylene films so that well-defined antimicrobial surfaces could be prepared. A Pluronic™ surfactant and a polystyrene-polyethylene oxide block copolymer were employed to develop modified materials. The Pluronic™ surfactant provided a more readily functionalised film surface, while block copolymer provided a reactive interface which was important in providing a route to silver nanoparticles that were well adhered to the surface. Antimicrobial films containing silver were manufactured using a spray coater and the amount of silver used for coating purposes varied by the concentration of the silver precursor (silver nitrate) or the number of silver coatings applied. Potential antimicrobial activity of manufactured silver-coated low-density polyethylene films was tested against Pseudomonas fluorescens, Staphylococcus aureus and microflora isolated from raw chicken. The microbiological and physicochemical quality of chicken breast fillets wrapped with silver-coated low-density polyethylene films followed by vacuum skin packaging was also assessed during storage. Antimicrobial activity of developed silver-coated low-density polyethylene films was dependent ( p < 0.05) upon the concentrations of silver precursor and the number of silver coatings used. Better antimicrobial activity against P. fluorescens, S. aureus and chicken microflora was observed when the concentration of silver precursor was 3% and the spray coating deposition of silver was repeated four times. Use of silver-coated low-density polyethylene films extended ( p < 0.05) shelf life of chicken breast fillets and enhanced ( p < 0.05) oxidative stability compared to control films. Results indicated that silver-coated low-density polyethylene films could potentially be used as antimicrobial packaging for food applications.

Nanotechnology in Food and Plant Science: Challenges and Future Prospects

“…Additionally, chicken breast fillets were also packed with low-density polyethylene films with a silver coat using skin packaging with a vacuum upon storage. Nanocoating extends the shelf life of chicken breast fillets apart from showing antimicrobial activity and enhanced oxidative stability; thus, it is used in several food applications such as antimicrobial packaging [88].…”

Antimicrobial‐coated films as food packaging: A review

“…There is also a growing interest in making antimicrobial‐coated films using metal/metal oxide NPs. Compared to direct incorporation of metal/metal oxide NPs into polymeric films, coating of these NPs onto films have showed higher antimicrobial activity on the packaged food surface (Azlin‐Hasim et al., 2018). It is thought most of the NPs incorporated into the films are not in direct contact with the food product, and their diffusion onto the food surface is significantly limited.…”

“…Azlin-Hasim et al (2018) modified the surface of LDPE film by using a Pluronic surfactant and a polystyrene-polyethylene oxide block copolymer, then coated the activated LDPE film with AgNPs using a spray coater. The AgNPs-coated LDPE film showed similar mechanical properties compared to the neat LDPE film but had antimicrobial activity against tested bacteria and indigenous microflora on chilled chicken(Azlin-Hasim et al, 2018) Tas et al (2019). utilized halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) to encapsulate carvacrol, then deposited ten bilayers of chitosan and carvacrol loaded HNTs onto the LDPE film surface by spray coating, generating a coating thickness of 225 nm.…”

“…Azlin-Hasim et al (2018) modified the surface of LDPE film by using a Pluronic surfactant and a polystyrene-polyethylene oxide block copolymer, then coated the activated LDPE film with AgNPs using a spray coater. The AgNPs-coated LDPE film showed similar mechanical properties compared to the neat LDPE film but had antimicrobial activity against tested bacteria and indigenous microflora on chilled chicken(Azlin-Hasim et al, 2018) Tas et al (2019).…”

Development of Coated PLA Films Containing a Commercial Olive Leaf Extract for the Food Packaging Sector

“…Therefore, natural extracts, or in general, bioactive agents, are preferably produced by a non-heating method, such as surface coating. The latter is a process in which the surface of an object (i.e., onto a food surface or a polymer surface) is coated at low temperature with an active solution through layer-by-layer coating, spray coating, or bar/knife coating technique [4,5].…”