Zein is renewable plant protein with valuable film-forming properties that can be used as a packaging material. It is known that the addition of natural cross-linkers can enhance a film's tensile properties. In this study, we aimed to prepare antimicrobial zein-based films enriched with monolaurin, eugenol, oregano, and thyme essential oil. Films were prepared using the solvent casting technique from ethanol solution. Their physicochemical properties were investigated using structural, morphological, and thermal techniques. Polar and dispersive components were analyzed using two models to evaluate the effects on the surface free energy values. The antimicrobial activity was proven using a disk diffusion method and the suppression of bacterial growth was confirmed via a growth kinetics study with the Gompertz function. The films' morphological characteristics led to systems with uniform distribution of essential oils or eugenol droplets combined with a flat-plated structure of monolaurin. A unique combination of polyphenolic eugenol and amphiphilic monoglyceride provided highly stretchable films with enhanced barrier properties and efficiency against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and molds. The prepared zein-based films with tunable surface properties represent an alternative to non-renewable resources with a potential application as active packaging materials.
- MeSH
- antibakteriální látky farmakologie MeSH
- antifungální látky farmakologie MeSH
- biomechanika účinky léků MeSH
- diferenciální skenovací kalorimetrie MeSH
- Escherichia coli účinky léků MeSH
- eugenol farmakologie MeSH
- laurany farmakologie MeSH
- mikroskopie atomárních sil MeSH
- monoglyceridy farmakologie MeSH
- obaly potravin * MeSH
- oleje prchavé farmakologie MeSH
- pára MeSH
- permeabilita MeSH
- povrchové vlastnosti MeSH
- smáčivost MeSH
- spektroskopie infračervená s Fourierovou transformací MeSH
- Staphylococcus aureus účinky léků MeSH
- zein farmakologie MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Pickering emulsions have been known to be promising candidates for encapsulating and delivering a wide range of bioactive compounds with antioxidant potentials. In this work, we formulated and characterized zein (ZN)/chitosan (CS) stabilized Pickering emulsion. The prepared emulsions were firstly characterized by droplet size after preparation and after storage for one month at room temperature as well as after the addition of prebiotic gum Arabic (GA). Rheological measurements were further carried out to see the behavior and stability of these emulsions after storage. Thereafter, vit-D3 was encapsulated, and the antioxidant activity of the emulsions system were evaluated. The results showed that no significant change in the mean droplet diameter of the emulsions was observed after storage for a month. This claim was further confirmed by their rheological measurements particularly, the emulsions prepared with ZN/CS ratio of 1:2 having 50% oil contents exhibited significant stability. GA addition caused a gradual increase in the droplet size up to some level, after which it led to complete destabilization of the emulsion. Finally, to protect and deliver, vit-D3 was successfully loaded in these emulsions. No significant difference in the DPPH radical scavenging activity of the vit-D3 encapsulated emulsions was observed, showing their capability as delivery vehicles irrespective of their composition.
