Characterization of transparent silver loaded poly(l-lactide) films produced by melt-compounding for the sustained release of antimicrobial silver ions in food applications
Abstract In the present study, thermally stable silver complexes were produced and incorporated into a poly-( l -lactide) (PLA) matrix by melt-compounding. The effect of the different formulations on the mechanical and color properties was first evaluated. Additionally, the release of silver ions to an aqueous environment was also monitored over time by anodic stripping voltammetry and correlated with the antimicrobial performance against Salmonella enterica. The incorporation of some silver compounds with contents of 1 wt% did not affect the mechanical or optical properties of the films. The films showed a good potential for application in surface treatment and demonstrated a sustainable, …
Morphology, physical properties, silver release, and antimicrobial capacity of ionic silver-loaded poly(l-lactide) films of interest in food-coating applications
In the present study, silver ions were incorporated into a poly-(l-lactide) (PLA) matrix by a solvent casting technique using different solvents and glycerol as plasticizer. The effect of the different formulations on the morphology, thermal, mechanical and color properties were first evaluated. Additionally, a thorough study of the silver ions release to an aqueous environment was also monitored over time by anodic stripping voltammetry and correlated with the antimicrobial performance against S. enterica. The incorporation of silver contents of up to 1 wt % did not affect morphology, thermal or mechanical properties of the films. A sustainable, antibacterial effectiveness was found for th…
On the use of Persian gum for the development of antiviral edible coatings against murine norovirus of interest in blueberries.
In the last decades, berries have been identified as important vehicles for the transmission of foodborne viruses and different strategies are being explored to eliminate or reduce viral contamination in these fruits. The aim of this work was to develop novel edible coatings with antiviral properties for inactivating and reducing murine norovirus (MNV). Firstly, the effect of gelatin (G) addition on Persian gum (PG) films was studied in terms of microstructural, mechanical, optical, and water barrier properties. The following PG:G ratios were considered: 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100. Microstructure analysis revealed the compatibility of both hydrocolloids since no phase separation …
Stabilization of a nutraceutical omega-3 fatty acid by encapsulation in ultrathin electrosprayed zein prolamine.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid of the omega-3 series (omega-3), which exerts strong positive influences on human health. The target of this study was the stabilization by encapsulation of this bioactive ingredient in zein ultrathin capsules produced by electrospraying. The zein ultrathin DHA encapsulation was observed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to be more efficient against degradation under both ambient conditions and in a confined space (so-called headspace experiment). In the latter case, that more closely simulates a sealed food packaging situation, the bioactive DHA was considerably more stable. By fitting the degradation data to a specific auto-deco…
Development and Characterization of Silver-Based Antimicrobial Ethylene–Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer (EVOH) Films for Food-Packaging Applications
The use of silver as an antimicrobial in the food area has raised wide interest in recent years. In the present work, 0.001-10 wt % silver ions was satisfactorily incorporated into an ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer matrix by a solvent casting technique. The antibacterial efficacy of the composite was evaluated under laboratory conditions and in contact with some foods. The ionic compound did not affect the crystallinity or the water-induced plasticization of the materials and was homogeneously distributed across the surface and thickness of the films. When immersed in water, sorption-induced release of 50-100% of the silver ions took place in30 min. In the bacterial minimal growth …
Sustainable bioactive pectin-based films to improve fruit safety via a circular economy approach.
This work reports on the valorisation of persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) for the development of food-grade antiviral coatings against major viral foodborne pathogens, human noroviruses (NoVs) and hepatitis A virus (HAV). Initially, the antiviral activity of polyphenol-rich pectin extracts with abundant non-covalent interactions (PPN), pectin extracts enriched with intact pectin-polyphenol ester and O-glycosyl bonds (PPC) and hydro-ethanolic polyphenol-rich extracts (EPE) was compared. Higher viral reductions were found for the pectin extracts rich in polyphenols, mainly in those containing covalent pectin-polyphenol interactions. This specific extract was mixed with commercial citrus pect…
Bioactive extracts from persimmon waste: influence of extraction conditions and ripeness
In this work, a bioactive persimmon extract was produced from discarded fruits. A central composite design was used to evaluate the effect of different extraction parameters and ripeness stages of persimmon fruits on the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the resulting extracts. Significantly greater phenolic contents were obtained from immature persimmon (IP) fruits. The optimum IP extract with the conditions set by the experimental design was industrially up-scaled and its composition and functional properties were evaluated and compared with those obtained under lab-scale conditions. Both extracts contained significant protein (>20%) and phenolic contents (∼11–27 mg GA/g …
Antimicrobial beeswax coated polylactide films with silver control release capacity.
Although the application of silver based antimicrobial systems is a widespread technology, its implementation in areas such as food packaging is still challenging. The present paper describes the fabrication of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) coated with beeswax with controlled release properties for sustained antimicrobial performance. Release of silver ions from the polymers was monitored voltammetrically under various conditions (surface contact, immersion in various liquid media and at different pH values) throughout at least 7days. A higher release was noted with decreasing pH while surface release was much slower than the release when immersed in liquid medium. While uncoated films demonstrat…
Evaluation of silver-infused polylactide films for inactivation of Salmonella and feline calicivirus in vitro and on fresh-cut vegetables
There is a growing trend to develop packaging materials with an active role in guarantying that the quality and safety characteristics of packaged products will remain or improve from preparation throughout shelf-life. In the present study, 0.001-1.0 wt.% silver ions were satisfactorily incorporated into polylactide (PLA) films by a solvent casting technique. Silver migration from the films was measured by voltamperometry and then correlated with its antimicrobial efficacy against Salmonella enterica and feline calicivirus (FCV), a human norovirus surrogate, by using the Japanese industrial standard (JIS Z 2801). The PLA-silver films showed strong antibacterial and antiviral activity in vit…
Antibacterial performance of solvent cast polycaprolactone (PCL) films containing essential oils
Abstract The increase of consumer demand for higher quality and longer shelf-life in foods, while reducing the use of non-compostable packaging materials, has encouraged research on biopolymers incorporating natural antimicrobial compounds. Cinnamaldehyde (CNMA) and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) were incorporated into polycaprolactone (PCL) films by solvent casting. The release study was carried out by means of ATR and transmission FTIR spectroscopy and showed high volatility of the essential oils during the film forming process. While only negligible quantities of AITC were retained in the polymer matrix after film curing, the release of CNMA was prolonged for at least 50 h at room temperatu…
In-Depth Characterization of Bioactive Extracts from Posidonia oceanica Waste Biomass
© 2019 by the authors.
Controlled Delivery of Gentamicin Antibiotic from Bioactive Electrospun Polylactide-Based Ultrathin Fibers
The purpose of this study was to generate ultrathin fibers based on polylactide (PLA) biopolyester with antimicrobial controlled release capacity to treat bacterial infections. To achieve this objective, gentamicin antibiotic was encapsulated into pure PLA fibers, a blend of PLA–collagen and coaxial fibers containing a skin of PLA and a core of collagen using the electrospinning technique. The morphology of the gentamicin-loaded fibers and the antibiotic distribution within the fibers were examined by SEM and TEM. The drug delivery profile of the different electrospun fibers was analyzed using a spectrophotometric method. The performance for treating common possible post-surgical infections…
On the different growth conditions affecting silver antimicrobial efficacy on Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica.
Abstract Silver is known to inhibit microorganisms and therefore it is an ideal candidate for its incorporation in a wide variety of materials for food applications. However, there is still a need for understanding how silver prolonged exposure to bacterial contamination affects the bioavailability of the active silver species. In the present study, growth curves of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica were performed for 3–5 days in Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) and M9 minimal medium (M9) in the presence of silver ions and silver solutions previously in contact with the growth media. The cultivability of the bacteria under these conditions was correlated with the viability of the bacter…
Ligands affecting silver antimicrobial efficacy on Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica
Although silver is being extensively used in food or other applications as the key component to control microbial proliferation, many factors affecting its real potential are still unknown. In the present work, the presence of specific ligands or the contents in organic matter was correlated with silver speciation and its antibacterial performance. Silver was found to be only active in form of free silver ions (FSI). The presence of chloride ions produced an equilibrium of stable silver chloride complexes which were void of antimicrobial efficacy. However, even at relatively high concentrations of chlorides, a small fraction of FSI may still be present, producing a bactericidal effect with …