నైరూప్య

Synthesis of an Active Antimicrobial Packaging Material Based On the Bio-Switch Model

Pushpa Agrawal, Amrutha Anandaraman, Shruti Ramaprasad

In response to the dynamic changes in current consumer demand and market trends, the area of active packaging is becoming increasingly significant. An antimicrobial active packaging material can be made by incorporating and immobilizing antimicrobial agents into food packaging material and applying a bio-switch concept. The lignocellulose-based film was synthesized by incorporating antimicrobial agents such as lysozyme and EDTA. The sugarcane bagasse was digested by Aspergillus tamarii, lysozyme from egg white was partially purified and, optimized concentrations of antimicrobial agents were incorporated during the casting of antimicrobial lignocellulose films. The lysozyme at 0.15-0.2 mg/ml along with 15 Mm EDTA at 0.2 v/v was incorporated into the lignocellulose films and the antimicrobial effect of the active antimicrobial lignocellulose films was tested on E. coli. Surface characterization of the developed active films indicated smooth and homogenous topography by atomic force microscopy and they showed increased hydrophobicity with the incorporation of glycerol as plasticizer. Tensile strength tests indicated increased tensile strength with the addition of glycerol and the tensile strength of the developed active packaging material was comparable to that of conventional polyethylene packaging material