| In this study, zein/polylactic acid (PLA)/hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) nanofibers (NFs) were fabricated to the incorporation
of Zenian (Carum copticum) essential oil (ZO) using the electrospinning method for employing in food packaging for the first time.
The SEM images of optimal zein/PLA/HPMC/ZO NFs displayed homogeneous morphology. The average diameter of NFs ranged
between 718 ± 186 nm and 335 ± 112 nm. Antioxidant activity of ZO-loaded NFs was 68.83 ± 0.1%. The zein/PLA/HPMC/ZO NFs
showed inhibiting activity versus S. aureus (15 mm) and E. coli (8 mm) bacteria. Moreover, ZO-incorporated NFs showed better
thermal stability than zein/PLA/HPMC nanofibers without ZO. After loading of ZO, zein/PLA/HPMC NFs exhibited higher tensile
strength than those of native nanofiber, and MTT test showed no cell toxicity which indicated good biocompatibility. Overall, the
zein/PLA/HPMC/ZO NFs endorsed have good properties for application in food packaging. |