Sustainable bioactive food packaging based on electrospun zein-polycaprolactone nanofibers integrated with aster yomena extract loaded halloysite nanotubes.

Compostable zein-polycaprolactone (PZ) electrospun nanofiber integrated with different concentrations of Aster yomena extract loaded halloysite nanotubes (A. yomena-HNT) as bioactive nanofibrous food packaging is reported. SEM micrographs reveal heterogeneous nanofibers. A. yomena extract used in the study showed weak antioxidant activity with AAI and TEAC values of 0.229 and 0.346. In vitro, release profile over 7 days of A. yomena indicates a controlled, sustained, and prolonged release. The prepared nanofibers were effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The prepared composite nanofibers were rendered biocompatible and nontoxic when subjected to WST-1 and LDH assay after incubating with NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblast cell line. PZ-15 nanofiber packaging showed the best postharvest quality preservation in Black mulberry fruits after 4 days of storage at 25 °C and 85 % Rh. Moreover, the in vitro decomposition test reveals that the fabricated nanofibers decompose in the soil and do not pose as a threat to the environment.

Core/Sheath-Structured Composite Nanofibers Containing Cinnamon Oil: Their Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties and Acaricidal Effect against House Dust Mites.

This study aimed to fabricate core/sheath-structured composite nanofibers containing cinnamon oil by emulsion electrospinning and to investigate their acaricidal effect on house dust mites as well as their antibacterial and antifungal properties in relation to cinnamon oil concentration in the nanofibers. An oil-in-water emulsion, which comprised cinnamon oil and poly(vinyl alcohol) solution as oil and water phases, respectively, was used to prepare core/sheath-structured nanofibers. The morphology and the inner structure of the electrospun nanofibers were observed by scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Core/sheath-structured nanofibers containing cinnamon oil were successfully prepared by emulsion electrospinning. The composite nanofibers prepared from an emulsion containing 20 wt% of cinnamon oil exhibited a strong acaricidal effect against house dust mites (Dermatophagoides farinae). The composite nanofibers fabricated from an emulsion containing 4.29 wt% of cinnamon oil showed excellent antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and a series of fungi that can trigger respiratory- and skin-related diseases. The release profile of cinnamon oil from the core/sheath-structured nanofibers showed a continuous release of functional ingredients over 28 days. Our findings demonstrate that the use of such fibrous structures could be a promising approach for delivering naturally derived bioactive agents in a controlled way.