Development of a Novel Antimicrobial Electrospun Nanofiber Based on Polylactic Acid/Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Containing Pomegranate Peel Extract for Active Food Packaging

In the present study, a new active electrospun nanofiber (NF) based on polylactic acid (PLA) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) containing pomegranate peel extract (PPE) was developed as antimicrobial food packaging materials. Based on the results, by increasing the HPMC content from 5 to 20%, the solution viscosity increased and subsequently, a bead-free morphology with increasing NF diameter was observed. Therefore, PLA/HPMC NFs with ratio of 80:20 (optimal sample) were designated for delivery of PPE as the antioxidant and antibacterial agent. There was no significant change in the NF diameter by increasing the concentration of the PPE. The water contact angel (∼ 88.5°) of optimal NF decreased after increasing the concentration of the PPE (∼ 68.5°). Moreover, after the incorporation of the extract into the NFs, the thermal stability, tensile stress (7.33 MPa at dry state, and 11.54 MPa at wet state), porosity (∼ 90%), and water vapor transmission rate (∼ 278 g/mm2.24 h) were improved. The results of the antioxidant activity showed that this extract increased the antioxidant activity of NFs by about ∼ 60% in the highest concentration (10 wt%) and also inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria. In conclusion, the PLA/HPMC electrospun NFs with ratio of 80:20 containing 10% PPE can be a good candidate as the new active food packaging system.