Preparation and characterization of zein/gelatin electrospun film loaded with ε‐polylysine and gallic acid as tuna packaging system

In order to develop effective active packaging films for tuna preservation, zein/gelatin (ZG) composite nanofiber films loaded with ε-polylysine (PL) and gallic acid (GA) were first prepared by electrospun method. The morphology, structure, thermal stability, hydrophobicity, antibacterial and antioxidant properties of the films and application in tuna during 4°C storages were investigated.PL reduced the average diameter of ZG fibers, while GA increased it. PL/GA/ZG film possessed well-distributed fiber morphology with an average diameter of 810 ± 150 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction results showed the physical loading of PL and GA in ZG film with unchanged main chemical bonds and crystal structure. Both the addition of PL and GA reduced hydrophobicity of the ZG film, while the PL/GA/ZG film is still hydrophobic. GA enhanced thermal stability and contributed to antioxidant activity of PL/GA/ZG film. PL and GA synergetic enhanced that antibacterial activity of ZG film against Shewanella putrefaciens. PL combined with GA is more suitable for modifying ZG film than GA alone. Moreover, PL/GA/ZG film effectively inhibited total viable count, total volatile base nitrogen, fat oxidation and texture deterioration of tuna fillets at 4°C storage, and could extend the shelf life by 3 d.PL/GA/ZG nanofiber film have shown promising potential application in the preservation of aquatic products as a new antibacterial and antioxidant food packaging. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.