Properties of antimicrobial plastics containing traditional food preservatives

Traditional food preservatives, sodium benzoate, sodium nitrite, potassium sorbate and sodium lactate, were incorporated into synthetic plastics, low‐density polyethylene (LDPE), poly(maleic acid‐co‐olefine), polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), aimed at producing antimicrobial packaging material for foodstuffs. The study was undertaken on plaques (thickness 2 mm) and films (thickness 70–120 µm), whose antimicrobial test results clearly differed. Plaques containing 15% sodium nitrite inhibited both Aspergillus niger and Bacillus subtilis, whereas the same concentration of sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate had activity only against B. subtilis. Sodium lactate‐containing samples did not have any antimicrobial activity and none of the samples inhibited Escherichia coli. Antimicrobial substances added into PS and PET produced the strongest activities; however, due to the brittle structure of these materials, they were not tested further. Thus, more thorough tests for antimicrobial activity, migration and oxygen and water vapour permeability were carried out using LDPE films with 2.5–15% sodium benzoate and sodium nitrite. The effects of both substances on permeability properties were negligible. Although the total migration into food simulants measured from the films in many cases exceeded the limit value of 10 mg/dm², no antimicrobial activity was observed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Use of antimicrobial methylcellulose films to control Staphylococcus aureus during storage of Kasar cheese

Olive leaf extract (OLE) (Olea europaea L.) is a natural product that has antimicrobial effect on many food pathogens. In this study, methylcellulose (MC) based antimicrobial films containing 0.5–3% (w/v) OLE and glycerol (1.6%, v/v) were produced. The effects of OLE amount on the water vapour permeability (WVP), mechanical and antimicrobial properties of the films were investigated. The films were effective against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). The OLE in the film solution caused a decrease in WVP and elongation (E), and an increase in tensile strength (TS). The MC films containing 1.5% (w/v) OLE were applied on Kasar cheese slices inoculated with S. aureus. The count of S. aureus decreased 0.68 and 1.22 log cycle at the 7th and 14th days, respectively. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

真空镀银抗菌包装薄膜的研究

通过真空镀膜的技术将Ag蒸镀在PET、CPP、PE、PA薄膜上,然后用于包装鲜牛肉,以此延长鲜牛肉的货价寿命.讨论了经该抗菌薄膜包装的鲜牛肉储存期间各项理化指标及感观品质的变化,并研究了该抗菌薄膜的抗菌效果和物理指标.结果表明经这种材料包装后的鲜牛肉的挥发性盐基氮(TVB-N)明显下降,感观品质提高;该抗菌薄膜的杀菌率达到99%以上,与未经过包装的鲜牛肉相比,该材料使鲜牛肉的货架寿命延长了3倍.     

Potency evaluation of a dermaseptin S4 derivative for antimicrobial food packaging applications

Antimicrobial packaging is part of the broader area of active packaging, in which the package absorbs/releases different compounds during the product's storage and plays a major role in maintaining quality, extending shelf‐life and improving the product's safety. Antimicrobial packages are capable of inhibiting the detrimental effects of spoiling microorganisms in food products. There has been very great interest in antimicrobial packaging in recent years and many such packaging materials have been proposed, some of which containing synthetic additives and others natural additives. In the present study, antimicrobial materials containing the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) dermaseptin K₄K₂₀‐S4, which shows cytolytic activity in vitro against a broad spectrum of pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, protozoa, yeast and filamentous fungi, were investigated. The study was aimed at evaluating the potency of this AMP as an antimicrobial agent for antimicrobial food packaging in two forms: (a) an aqueous solution of AMP was applied onto a polyethylene shrink‐wrapping film; (b) the AMP was incorporated in a corn starch‐based coating and applied directly onto the foodstuff (fresh cucumbers). Of these two versions, the latter has shown a greater efficiency against moulds and aerobic bacteria, even at lower surface concentrations of AMP (4.5µg/dm² vs. 3.5–3.8µg/dm²) in the coating. While in the first version the AMP had slowed down the growth of microorganisms only slightly, incorporation of AMP into the coating caused a reduction in their concentration practically to zero. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of Antifungal Activity of Antimicrobial Agents on Cheddar Cheese

The antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger of the antimicrobial (AM) agents linalool, carvacrol and thymol incorporated in the coatings of starch‐based films was investigated. The activity was initially determined on a solid medium using the modified microatmosphere method and then examined on Cheddar cheese. On the solid media, all the AM films demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect against A. niger growth. The inhibitory effect of the AM films containing 2.38% (w/w) AM agents is reflected by the colony diameters that were 29.3, 25.4 and 21.3 mm for linalool, carvacrol and thymol, respectively, at 25°C after 7 days incubation compared with the control sample where the colony diameter was 85.3 mm. The AM films containing 2.38% (w/w) linalool, carvacrol or thymol reduced the population of A. niger on the surface of Cheddar cheese by 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 log CFU/g, respectively, after 35 days of storage at 15°C. The results suggest that starch‐based film coated with an AM agent has the potential for being used as a fungicidal packaging system. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and evaluation of antimicrobial natamycin‐incorporated film in gorgonzola cheese conservation

Conservation of food products depends on product quality and packaging suitability. The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate the antimicrobial efficiency of natamycin‐incorporated film in the production process of Gorgonzola cheese. It aims to optimize the production process and increase shelf‐life and food safety for the consumer. Films with different concentrations of natamycin were produced and tested in Gorgonzola cheeses to evaluate its efficiency against Penicillium roqueforti on the cheese surface. Films with 2 and 4% natamycin presented satisfactory results for fungus inhibition and the amount of natamycin released to the cheese was below that allowed by the legislation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and evaluation of an edible antimicrobial film based on yam starch and chitosan

Edible antimicrobial films are an innovation within the biodegradable active packaging concept. They have been developed in order to reduce and/or inhibit the growth of microorganisms on the surface of foods. This study developed an edible antimicrobial film based on yam starch (Dioscorea alata) and chitosan and investigated its antimicrobial efficiency on Salmonella enteritidis. A solution of yam starch (4%) and glycerol (2%) was gelatinized in a viscoamilograph and chitosan added at concentrations of 1%, 3% and 5%. Films with and without chitosan were produced by the cast method. To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the films, two suspensions of S. enteritidis were used in BHI medium, corresponding to counts of 2 × 10⁸ and 1.1 × 10⁶ CFU/ml. The suspensions (50 ml) were poured into flasks. The films were cut into 5 × 5 and 5 × 10 cm rectangles to be used at ratios of 1 : 1 (1 cm²/ml microorganism suspension) and 2 : 1 (2 cm²/ml). The film 30 µm thick on average. As a control, pure chitosan at an amount corresponding to that contained in the 3% and 5% films (5 × 10 cm) was added to flasks containing the microorganism suspension. Also, flasks containing only a suspension of S. enteritidis were used as control. The suspensions, in flasks, were kept at 37°C in a waterbath with agitation. Suspension aliquots were removed every hour for reading the optic density (OD₅₉₅) and plating onto PCA medium. The results showed that chitosan has a bactericidal effect upon S. enteritidis. Films treated with chitosan at different concentrations showed similar antimicrobial efficiency, in addition to being dependent on diffusion. The chitosan‐treated films caused a reduction of one to two log cycles in the number of microorganisms, whereas the pure chitosan presented a reduction of four to six log cycles compared with the control and starch film. The films showed good flexibility. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of alginate and zein films as a carrier of natamycin to increase the shelf life of kashar cheese

The aim of this study was to develop alginate and zein films containing natamycin, a natural antifungal agent, in order to limit/prevent the mould growth on the surface of kashar cheeses. The films were prepared by casting, and characterized in terms of antimicrobial and mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation-at-break, and elastic modulus), and their morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mechanical properties of the zein films were found to be weaker than the alginate films. SEM analysis indicated that alginate films have a more regular structure than zein films, and a more homogenous distribution was observed at lower concentrations of natamycin. The antifungal activities of both films increased as the natamycin concentration (100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 ppm) increased; however, alginate films exhibited relatively high antifungal activity. The effects of films on the shelf life of kashar cheeses inoculated with Aspergillus niger and Penicillium camemberti were investigated during their storage under refrigerator conditions for 45 days. At high-natamycin concentrations, zein films showed higher antifungal activity against both fungi at the end of the storage period.     

Antimicrobial activity of glucose oxidase‐immobilized plasma‐activated polypropylene films

Antimicrobial enzyme, glucose oxidase (GOX), was covalently immobilized onto amino‐ and carboxyl‐plasma‐activated biorientated polypropylene films (BOPP) via glutaraldehyde and carbodiimide chemistries. N₂‐plasma + NH₃ and N₂‐plasma + CO₂ treatments were utilized to create amino (1.1 nmol/cm²) and carboxyl (0.9 nmol/cm²) groups densities onto the surface of BOPP films. GOX‐immobilized onto amino‐activated BOPP films using 2.5% glutaraldehyde produced higher enzymatic activities than GOX‐immobilized by 0.4% carbodiimide. Further immobilizations were carried out with glutaraldehyde as the coupling agent at temperatures of 4–75°C at pH 5.6 and 7.2. 10 s treatment was sufficient to immobilize GOX at high temperatures in both pH conditions, producing enzymatically active films which remained active over 30 days of storage. GOX covalently immobilized onto BOPP films completely inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and substantially inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis; thus, they may have great potential to be exploited in various antimicrobial packaging film applications. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Properties of polysaccharide‐coated polypropylene films as affected by biopolymer and plasticizer types

Plasticized polysaccharide coatings on polypropylene (PP) film were prepared to evaluate the optical and tensile properties of the resulting coated films, as affected by biopolymer and plasticizer types, in order to develop a novel film structure of biopolymer coatings on common plastics intended for food packaging applications. Composite structures of PP film coated with several kinds of polysaccharides (MC, HPMC, chitosan, κ ‐carrageenan, dextrin) and plasticizers (PG, glycerol, PEG, sucrose, sorbitol) were obtained through a simple casting method. High glossy surfaces were observed on the coated films with chitosan and κ ‐carrageenan, with the sucrose‐plasticized chitosan coating giving the highest gloss of 142.7 GU. Biopolymers, but no plasticizers, exerted noticeable influence on the colour of the coated films. Chitosan‐ and κ ‐carrageenan‐coated PP films also showed greater transparency, tensile strength and elongation than the other coated films. Nisin‐incorporated κ ‐carrageenan coatings on PP film exhibited significant bacterial growth inhibition against Lactobacillus plantarum . The results suggest that coatings based on chitosan and κ ‐carrageenan with proper plasticizers possess excellent visual and mechanical characteristics and have great potential for acting efficiently as antimicrobial agent carriers in active packaging systems. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

气调性包装材料的制备及其性能研究

采用单体六甲基二硅氮烷(HMDS)和氧气作为反应气体,采用等离子体增强化学沉积的方法在壳聚糖、PET等基材上沉积薄膜。在薄膜的制备工艺中,改变各种工艺参数制备了阻隔薄膜,通过分析沉积薄膜厚度、傅里叶红外光谱、水蒸气和氧气的透过率,探讨了薄膜性能的变化。实验证明:等离子体输入功率以及单体的比例对薄膜的选择透过性有很大的影响,利用这种工艺可以很好地改善薄膜的气体透过性。最后对薄膜的选择透过性的机理进行了初步的探讨。     

Evaluation of the potential of functionalised calcium carbonate as carrier for essential oils with regard to antimicrobial packaging applications

Functionalised calcium carbonates (FCCs) are inorganic mineral-based particles with a high porosity and extended surface area consisting of hydroxyapatite and calcium carbonate crystal structures. Therefore, FCCs have a high potential to be used as a carrier for active substances such as essential oils (EOs), which are well known for their antimicrobial activities, and control their release in antimicrobial packaging applications. In this study, different EOs were loaded on FCCs, and their antimicrobial activities were studied against Listeria innocua in in vitro tests and in food tests using sliced cooked chicken breast. FCCs loaded with thyme or oregano EO (10 wt%) showed the highest reduction in microbial load in in vitro tests at 37°C (≥8.6 log cfu/filter) as well as at 7°C after 6 days (≥7.0 log cfu/filter for thyme EO and 6.5 log cfu/filter for oregano EO). However, in food tests, FCC loaded with either EO did not show any significant antimicrobial activity. FCCs loaded with cinnamon or rosemary EO (10 wt%) did not show any significant antimicrobial activity in in vitro tests. On the other hand, they showed a significant reduction in microbial load (1.7 log cfu/g for cinnamon and 2 log cfu/g for rosemary) in food tests. Differences in antimicrobial activities in in vitro and food tests are probably due to the interaction of the components of the EOs and the components of the food such as fat and proteins.     

Antimicrobial Activity of Natural Agents against Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The antimicrobial (AM) activity of starch‐based films coated with linalool, carvacrol or thymol against Saccharomyces cerevisiae in vitro and/or inoculated on the surface of Cheddar cheese was investigated. In solid medium using the agar diffusion method and in experiments involving the inoculation of the microorganism on the surface of Cheddar cheese, all the films containing these AM agents in coatings demonstrated an inhibitory effect against S. cerevisiae. The results suggest that the overall inhibitory effect of linalool, carvacrol or thymol increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with the concentration of each of the AM agents in the film coating and that the response is linear in the concentration range of 1 to 5% (w/w) of the AM agent. Thymol had the highest AM efficacy followed by carvacrol, whereas linalool had the lowest efficacy amongst the three systems. The zones of inhibition in the agar diffusion test method at 25°C for S. cerevisiae were found to be 7.6, 7.1 and 6.1 mm for thymol, carvacrol and linalool at 1% (w/w) loading and 13.2, 12.2 and 11.2 mm at 5% (w/w) loading of the AM agents, respectively. The death rates of S. cerevisiae on Cheddar cheese wrapped in films coated with thymol, carvacrol and linalool and stored for up to 28 days at 15°C were found to be 0.044, 0.043 and 0.038 per day at 1% (w/w) loading and 0.077, 0.073 and 0.063 per day at 5% (w/w) loading of the AM agents, respectively. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of an antimicrobial dental resin adhesive containing zinc methacrylate

This study evaluates the effect of zinc methacrylate (ZM) on the degree of conversion (DC), cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity (AA) of an experimental resin. Tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate was used as the experimental resin and it was photo activated using camphoroquinone and ethyl 4-dimethylamine benzoate. Additionally, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10, 20 and 30 wt% of ZM was added to the various experimental resins. The DC was accessed by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy. For cytotoxicity, immortalized mouse fibroblasts were exposed to the experimental resin extracts. An MTT assay was used to access the cytotoxicity. The AA against Streptococcus mutans UA159 was accessed by the agar diffusion method. An improvement in the DC in all concentrations of ZM was observed. The greater the amount of ZM on the experimental resin, the less the cytotoxicity was provoked. Three ZM concentrations showed AA that exhibited various inhibition growth zones with 10, 20 (10 mm) and 30 wt% (15 mm).     

Incorporation of organic acids turns classically brittle zein films into flexible antimicrobial packaging materials

This study aimed to turn classically brittle zein films into flexible antimicrobial ones by the use of lactic (LA), malic (MA) and tartaric acids (TA). The most effective plasticizer was LA (400% elongation at break [EB] at 4%), while MA (189% EB at 4.5%) and TA (68% EB at 5%) showed moderate and limited plasticizing effects, respectively. The LA- and MA-loaded films maintained their flexibility during 30-day storage at 4°C or 25°C. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis suggested that the plasticization of LA and MA could be related to secondary structural changes in zein such as increased α-helix and random coils (mainly by MA) and spaced/modified intermolecular (only by LA) and intramolecular (mainly by MA) β-sheets. Atomic force and scanning electron microscopy showed that LA and MA gave more homogenous and smoother films than TA. Films with LA showed the highest water vapour permeability followed by those of control, MA- and TA-loaded films. Films with 3%–4% LA or MA formed clear zones on Listeria innocua and Klebsiella pneumonia, but only films with LA formed clear zones on Escherichia coli. All OA-loaded films gave unclear zones on Staphylococcus aureus in disc-diffusion tests, but this bacterium was inactivated rapidly in antimicrobial tests based on surface inoculation tests. LA is the best OA to develop flexible antimicrobial films from zein, an industrial by-product that films could not have been utilized as a widespread packaging material due to their brittleness.     

Preparation and characterization of polypropylene/sodium propionate (PP/SP) composite films for bread packaging application

To prolong the shelf life of bread, polypropylene/sodium propionate (PP/SP) composite films were prepared via a melt‐extrusion process. To investigate the feasibility of using PP/SP composite films as a bread packaging material, their chemical structure, morphology, mechanical properties, barrier properties against water, surface properties, and antimicrobial properties were investigated. A storage test for bread was also conducted. The mechanical and thermal stability of the PP/SP composite films enhanced with increasing SP content. Compared with pure PP, the PP/SP composites had increased hydrophilicity that increased with increasing SP content. These composite films showed enhanced antimicrobial activity against both Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive microorganisms. This was due to the interaction of SP and water originating from the bread, which modifies the pH of the bread and causes destruction of the cellular structures of fungi and also reduces the growth rate of bacteria. The enhanced thermal, mechanical, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties achieved by the addition of SP can be beneficial for maintaining the freshness of bread and prolonging its shelf life.     

Use of Allyl Isothiocyanate‐containing Sachets to Reduce Aspergillus flavus Sporulation in Peanuts

Peanuts are oilseed crops that are frequently infected by fungi (including Aspergillus flavus) that may produce aflatoxin, a highly carcinogenic mycotoxin. Conventional food packaging techniques can only prevent aflatoxin production to a certain extent. Therefore, the development of novel active packaging strategies to control post‐harvest sporulation by A. flavus is important. Essential oils from plants have antimicrobial potential, and one of the most powerful components is allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), the major component of mustard essential oil. Here, we aimed to evaluate the antifungal effect of AITC against A. flavus, develop an AITC‐containing sachet to control A. flavus sporulation in peanuts and quantify residual AITC in grains and package headspaces during a 90 day period. Diffusion and volatile susceptibility tests showed the in vitro effectiveness of AITC at 0.215 ppb against A. flavus. Because in vitro and real food assays may provide distinct antimicrobial efficiencies due to different compositions, sachets incorporated with AITC were stored with peanuts for 90 days at 25°C. A 10‐fold reduction in A. flavus survival was observed in 1 week, and after 60 days, survival was reduced by 4.81 log cycles. No residual AITC was detected in grains throughout the storage period, whereas volatile AITC within the package headspaces decreased with time: 92.4% of volatile AITC was reduced within the first 15 days, and AITC was no longer detected after 30 days. We proved that AITC retards A. flavus sporulation and that sachets are a promising delivery system for AITC to act as an antimicrobial agent for peanuts. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

抗菌食品包装研究进展

综述了抗菌高分子食品包装的原理、检测方法、相关法规以及未来的发展方向,并对各种抗菌技术作了详细的论述。指出开发新型生物活性抗菌剂,通过物理、化学方法改性高分子使之具有杀菌能力,尤其是纳米抗菌技术的应用,将是抗菌包装最具前景的发展方向。     

无机抗菌剂在包装材料中的应用

介绍了无机抗菌剂的种类、材料抗菌机理和特点,且详细论述了抗菌材料的制备方法及其在包装材料中的应用前景。