Layer-by-layer immobilization of lysozyme-chitosan-organic rectorite composites on electrospun nanofibrous mats for pork preservation

Negatively charged electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) fibrous mats were modified with multilayers of the positively charged lysozyme (LY)-chitosan (CS)-organic rectorite (OREC) composites and the negatively charged sodium alginate (ALG) via layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly technique. The morphology and antibacterial activity of the resultant samples were investigated by regulating the number of deposition bilayers, the composition of coating bilayers and the outermost layer. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images indicated that the average diameter of LY-CS-OREC/ALG film coating was larger than that of LY-CS/ALG film coating. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results implied that LY and OREC were successfully deposited on CA fibers. The LBL structured fibrous mats with the addition of OREC could enhance the degree of inhibition against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. (LY-CS-OREC/ALG)(10.5) film coating with the best antibacterial activity, selected for preserving pork for 21 days, could extend the shelf-life of pork for about 3 days. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.