Polyethylene Films Containing Plant Extracts in the Polymer Matrix as Antibacterial and Antiviral Materials

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2021-12, Vol.22 (24), p.13438
• Main Authors: Ordon, Magdalena, Zdanowicz, Magdalena, Nawrotek, Paweł, Stachurska, Xymena, Mizielińska, Małgorzata
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; active foils; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; antibacterial properties; Antiviral activity; Antiviral Agents - chemistry; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; antiviral properties; Bacteriophage phi 6 - drug effects; Biofilms; Carbon dioxide; Chitosan - chemistry; Coatings; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Extrusion; Foils; Food Packaging - methods; Fruits; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Gram-negative bacteria; Gram-Negative Bacteria - drug effects; Gram-positive bacteria; Gram-Positive Bacteria - drug effects; Humans; Low density polyethylenes; Mechanical properties; Pandemics; PE films; Phages; Plant extracts; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Polyethylene; Polyethylene - chemistry; Polyethylene - pharmacology; Polyethylene films; Polymers; Polymers - chemistry; Pomegranate; Rosmarinus - chemistry; Rubus; SARS-Co-V2; SARS-CoV-2 - drug effects; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Shelf life; Ultraviolet radiation; Φ6 phage
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413438

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) films covered with active coatings containing mixtures of rosemary, raspberry, and pomegranate CO extracts were found to be active against selected bacterial strains that may extend the shelf life of food products. The coatings also offer antiviral activity, due to their influence on the activity of Φ6 bacteriophage, selected as a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2 particles. The mixture of these extracts could be incorporated into a polymer matrix to obtain a foil with antibacterial and antiviral properties. The initial goal of this work was to obtain active LDPE films containing a mixture of CO extracts of the aforementioned plants, incorporated into an LDPE matrix via an extrusion process. The second aim of this study was to demonstrate the antibacterial properties of the active films against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and to determine the antiviral effect of the modified material on Φ6 bacteriophage. In addition, an analysis was made on the influence of the active mixture on the polymer physicochemical features, e.g., mechanical and thermal properties, as well as its color and transparency. The results of this research indicated that the LDPE film containing a mixture of raspberry, rosemary, and pomegranate CO extracts incorporated into an LDPE matrix inhibited the growth of . This film was also found to be active against . This modified film did not inhibit the growth of and cells; however, their number decreased significantly. The LDPE active film was also found to be active against Φ6 particles, meaning that the film had antiviral properties. The incorporation of the mixture of CO extracts into the polymer matrix affected its mechanical properties. It was observed that parameters describing mechanical properties decreased, although did not affect the transition of LDPE significantly. Additionally, the modified film exhibited barrier properties towards UV radiation. Modified PE/CO extracts films could be applied as a functional food packaging material with antibacterial and antiviral properties.