Novel procyanidins-loaded chitosan-graft-polyvinyl alcohol film with sustained antibacterial activity for food packaging

Active food packaging materials containing procyanidins (PC) exhibits outstanding antimicrobial activity, but PC is easy to be hydrolyzed by acid. A novel water-soluble chitosan (CS)-based copolymer was prepared to be used as a carrier to provide a pH-stable environment for loading PC. CS was copolymerized with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) via a coupling reagent-mediated approach. The CS-graft-PVA film exhibited a desirable PC encapsulation efficiency of over 95% and excellent long-term release sustainability, which was better than the conventional CS and CS-blend-PVA films. Moreover, CS-graft-PVA film had satisfactory mechanical properties and barrier properties, as well possessed a desirable antibacterial activity and biofilm inhibition against foodborne pathogenic microbes and spoilage bacteria. The film was also applied in the salmon muscle perseveration and showed a potential ability to prevent microorganism contamination and texture deterioration in 10 days. These results suggested that the CS-graft-PVA film has an excellent promise for future food packaging applications.

Automated summary

A novel water-soluble chitosan-based copolymer film showed excellent encapsulation efficiency and long-term release sustainability for procyanidins, along with satisfactory mechanical properties, barrier properties, antibacterial activity, and biofilm inhibition against foodborne pathogens and spoilage bacteria. It also demonstrated potential in preserving salmon muscle by preventing microbial contamination and texture deterioration over a period of 10 days, indicating promising applications in future food packaging.