Development of polyvinyl alcohol/β-cyclodextrin antimicrobial nanofibers for fresh mushroom packaging.

Under the optimal conditions, a crosslinked electrospun polyvinyl alcohol/cinnamon essential oil/β-cyclodextrin (CPVA-CEO-β-CD) nanofibrous films for sustained release of antimicrobials were successfully prepared. Cinnamon essential oil (CEO) can be sustainably released due to CPVA-CEO-β-CD nanofibers complex delivery systems. The chemical crosslinking and physical welding achieved simultaneously by glutaraldehyde atomization fumigation, making fibers more suitable for fresh food packaging. Nanofibrous films were characterized in terms of SEM, ATR-FTIR, DSC, water contact angle analysis and antibacterial trials. ATR-FTIR and DSC data indicated that CEO was encapsulated in a β-CD cavity and they coexisted in PVA nanofibers. The water contact angle of the crosslinked PVA nanofibrous films increased with CEO and the values were always below 90°. Crosslinked nanofibers possessed fine properties in vitro antibacterial against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Furthermore, CPVA/β-CD/CEO nanofibrous films delayed decay of mushroom during storage, indicating their potential implementation in active food packaging.