Shelf-life extension of meat products by cellulose acetate antimicrobial film incorporated with oregano’s essential oil

This study aimed to apply cellulose acetate (CA) films incorporated with oregano essential oil (OEO) to inhibit bacteria growth associated with spoilage of meat products (Weissella viridescens (microaerophilic) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (aerobic)) and evaluate its effect on the shelf life of vacuum-packed sliced ham (VPSH). CA films were produced using acetone solvent, adding 25, 35, 50, or 75 mg of OEO per film. Antimicrobial activity and mechanical properties of films were determined. CA films in Petri dishes showed a better antimicrobial effect against W. viridescens than P. fluorescens. As VPSH, presents a microaerophilic environment, product shelf life was determined fitting Baranyi and Roberts’ model to W. viridescens’ growth experimental data, at 8 °C. OEO did not modify films’ mechanical properties. Application of the CA film with 75 mg of OEO decreased value of W. viridescens, increased its value, resulting in a ham` shelf-life increased by eight days, demonstrating excellent application potential.

Antibacterial Activity of Biodegradable Plastic from Chromolaena odorata (Pokok Kapal Terbang) Leaves

The aim of this research project was to develop antimicrobial films from blends of C. odorata and PVA and test the films for microbial activity using broth dilution methods for Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. aureus) bacteria. The result shows that CO/PVA80 successfully inhibit the growth of target bacteria. In antibacterial activity analysis, CO/PVA80 showed 50% higher compare with pure PVA film, PVA100. Other than that, the high percentage of PVA in the blend films, the greater the thickness, Tensile Strength (TS) and Young’s Modulus (YM), while the Elongation Break (EB) of the prepared films decreased. The 0.5 mm CO/PVA80 film shows a good result in mechanical properties which is TS 6.55 MPa, YM 182 MPa and EB is 7.47%. A CO/PVA80 were show a smooth texture, lacked of macropore and good characteristic with a SEM analysis. These results suggest that CO/PVA80 films have good compatibility to form an antimicrobial film as a new material for medical application especially for wound healing.

Morphological, Structural, Thermal, Permeability, and Antimicrobial Activity of PBS and PBS/TPS Films Incorporated with Biomaster-Silver for Food Packaging Application

The development of antimicrobial film for food packaging application had become the focus for researchers and scientists. This research aims to study the characteristics and antimicrobial activity of novel biofilms made of poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) and tapioca starch (TPS) added with 1.5% or 3% of Biomaster-silver (BM) particle. In morphological examination, the incorporation of 3% BM particle was considerably good in forming well-structured PBS film. Meanwhile, the functional groups analysis revealed the 3% BM particle was effectively interacted with PBS molecular chains. The flame retard behavior of BM metal particle also helped in enhancing the thermal stability for pure PBS and PBS/TPS films. The nucleating effect of BM particles had improved the films crystallinity. Small pore size features with high barrier property for gas permeability was obtained for BM filled PBS/TPS films. From antimicrobial analysis, the BM particles possessed antimicrobial activity against three bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella Typhimurium in which PBS/TPS 3% BM film exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against all tested bacteria, however, PBS/TPS 1.5% BM film exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against E. coli only. Hence, the incorporation of BM into PBS/TPS film could be a sustainable way for developing packaging films to preserve food products.

Antimicrobial packaging and high hydrostatic pressure: Combined effect in improving the safety of coalho cheese

Active cellulose acetate films incorporated with oregano essential oil (antimicrobial film) were previously subjected to high hydrostatic pressure treatment (300 MPa/5 min (FHP1) or 400 MPa/10 min (FHP2)) and investigated for possible changes in their antimicrobial efficiency. In parallel, the efficiency of the antimicrobial films, high hydrostatic pressure (300 MPa/5 min or 400 MPa/10 min), or a combination of antimicrobial film and high hydrostatic pressure, was tested on coalho cheese, experimentally contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, stored for 21 days under refrigeration. Investigations in culture media (agar, brain–heart infusion broth, and micro-atmosphere) detected antimicrobial efficiency for all films, with or without high hydrostatic pressure, against the three bacteria. However, the data indicated that the treatment with 300 MPa/5 min may have impaired the migration of oregano essential oil from FHP1, justifying its lower efficiency in solid medium and brain–heart infusion broth. In cheese samples, the combination of antimicrobial film and 400 MPa/10 min caused greater reductions in counts for the three microorganisms, at zero time throughout the entire coalho cheese storage. Only antimicrobial film or combination (antimicrobial film and high hydrostatic pressure) were able to control microbial multiplication during the 21 days. Therefore, the results confirm that the individual use of high hydrostatic pressure (300 MPa/5 min or 400 MPa/10 min) at the level evaluated can allow bacterial multiplication during storage and that the combination of antimicrobial packaging and high hydrostatic pressure has greater potential to ensure a safer coalho cheese.