Eugenol doped fish gelatin electrospun nanofiber film for food active packaging

Abstract An attempt has been made to develop fish gelatin-based nanofiber with 30% gelatin in acetic acid via electrospinning. And to functionalize the nanofibers as active packaging the eugenol (EEO), a plant essential oil, with or without β-cyclodextrins was encapsulated (1, 3, and 5%) by a single-needle and coaxial-electrospinning. The developed fibers in films were smooth in the range of 405–480 nm as observed by scanning electron microscopy. Attenuated Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) analysis indicated non-covalent interactions between gelatin and EEO and βCD. The melting temperatures (Tm) of films shifted to higher temperatures as tested by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) with the EEO and βCD ranging from 187 to 201 °C. Moreover, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric-reducing power (FRAP) assays indicated an increment in the antioxidant activity of EEO-doped nanofibers, with the highest activity by coaxial nanofibers (96.6%) with higher encapsulation efficiency (90.6%). The coaxial fibers having % EEO with β-CD presented better antibacterial activity than single-needle fibers, with higher effectiveness against E. coli (14 mm) than S. aureus (9.8 mm). Similarly, a strong antifungal ( A. niger ) activity was presented by coaxial-nanofiber films compared to single-needle nanofiber films. Hence, the coaxial nanofiber films doped with 5% EEO and βCD provided better antioxidant and antimicrobial properties compared to single-needle nanofiber films and could be employed as active packaging system to improve food shelf stability.