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Development of Active Antibacterial CEO/CS@PLA Nonwovens and the Application on Food Preservation

Summary

Researchers created special biodegradable packaging material made from corn-based plastic combined with chitosan (from crab shells) and cinnamon oil. When placed over fresh strawberries, this material killed 99.99% of harmful bacteria and significantly extended shelf life. The packaging reduced strawberry decay, weight loss, and spoilage while maintaining nutritional quality.

Background

Biodegradable antibacterial materials have emerged as promising solutions for food preservation, protecting foods from pathogenic attacks while reducing environmental pollution. Melt-blown nonwovens offer advantages over other materials including simpler fabrication, higher specific surface area, and lower cost compared to electrospun alternatives.

Objective

To develop active antibacterial polylactic acid (PLA) melt-blown nonwovens decorated with chitosan (CS) and cinnamon essential oil (CEO) for food preservation applications. The study aims to evaluate the synergistic antibacterial effects of CS and CEO combinations and test their effectiveness in preserving fresh strawberries.

Results

CEO/CS@PLA nonwovens exhibited rougher surfaces and larger fiber diameters compared to PLA controls. The optimal formulation (CEO₂/CS@PLA) achieved 99.98% antibacterial efficiency against E. coli and 99.99% against S. aureus. When applied to strawberry preservation, CEO₂/CS@PLA significantly reduced decay, weight loss, and microbial growth while maintaining higher titratable acidity and antioxidant capacity.

Conclusion

The combination of chitosan and cinnamon essential oil provides excellent synergistic antibacterial activity for PLA melt-blown nonwovens. CEO₂/CS@PLA nonwovens effectively extend the shelf life of fresh strawberries through multiple preservation mechanisms, demonstrating practical potential for biodegradable food packaging applications.
  • Published in:ACS Omega,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06024
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