Use of oxidized regenerated cellulose as bactericidal filler for food packaging applications

The packaging of food is one of the most essential parts of the food manufacturing process, since it provides sustainability for the quality and storage of food products. In this study, bactericidal materials to be used as food packaging applications were developed. Oxidized regenerated cellulose microparticles (ORCs) were synthesized and used as filler in a poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) matrix for food packaging materials. In order to examine its usage in food packaging, the water uptake, water vapor and oxygen permeability were tested. Compared to pure PCL, addition of 4 % ORC decreased 93 and 70 % of the oxygen and water permeability, respectively. In vitro bactericidal activity was indicated against gram-negative Escherichia coli and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Bactericidal activity against Listeria monocytogenes was also examined on salami to investigate the preservation and maintenance of food safety. Fifty percent of the total colony-forming units on salami was dead after 14 days of being packaged in ORC containing PCL composite material. Taken together, these results are promising for the development of ORC-containing active food packaging materials.