Insights into electrospun pullulan-carboxymethyl chitosan/PEO core-shell nanofibers loaded with nanogels for food antibacterial packaging

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules Vol. 233; p. 123433
• Main Authors: Duan, Mengxia, Sun, Jishuai, Yu, Shan, Zhi, Zijian, Pang, Jie, Wu, Chunhua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.04.2023
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Bass fish preservation; Chitosan - chemistry; CMCS-nisin nanogels; Coaxial electrospinning; Core-shell nanofibers; Food Packaging; Nanofibers - chemistry; Nanogels; Nisin - pharmacology; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; CMCS-nisin nanogels; Core-shell nanofibers; Coaxial electrospinning; Bass fish preservation
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123433

Nisin, a natural substance from Lactococcus lactis, displays a promising antibacterial ability against the gram-positive bacteria. However, it is susceptible to the external environment, i.e. temperature, pH, and food composition. In this study, a dual stabilization method, coaxial electrospinning, was applied to protect nisin in food packaging materials and the effect of nisin concentration on the properties of the nanofibers was investigated. The core-shell nanofibers with pullulan as a core layer and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS)/polyethylene oxide (PEO) as shell layer were prepared, and then the prepared CMCS-nisin nanogels (CNNGs) using a self-assembly method were loaded into the core layer of the nanofibers as antibacterial agents. The result revealed that the smooth surface can be observed on the nanofibers by microstructure characterization. The CNNGs-loaded nanofibers exhibited enhanced thermal stability and mechanical strength, as well as excellent antibacterial activity. Importantly, the as-formed nanofibers were applied to preserve bass fish and found that the shelf life of bass fish packed by CNNGSs with nisin at a concentration of 8 mg/mL was effectively extended from 9 days to 15 days. Taken together, the CNNGs can be well stabilized with the core-shell nanofibers, thus exerting significantly improved antimicrobial stability and bioactivity. This special structure exerts a great potential for application as food packaging materials to preserve aquatic products. •The CNNGs as antibacterial agents were prepared by a self-assembly method.•The CNNGs-loaded core-shell nanofibers were fabricated by coaxial electrospinning.•The antibacterial activity of the nanofibers extremely relied on the nisin content.•The optimized PCCP-8 could extend the shelf life of bass fish by almost double.