Antibacterial poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films grafted with electrospun PLA/allyl isothiocyanate fibers for food packaging

Abstract

ABSTRACT Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) fibers of submicron sizes encapsulating allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) (P f A) were made and electrospun onto the surfaces of PLA films. SEM examination confirmed the fusion of the two phases to form a bilayered fiber‐grafted film after the film underwent air blowing and water washing to remove the nongrafted fibers. The fiber‐grafted PLA films (P f A‐ g ‐film) retain the mechanical properties of PLA. The release of AITC from the fibers was temperature dependent. At temperatures lower than 4°C, the incorporated AITC remained within the fibers without losing activity; at room temperature, AITC released in a sustained manner over weeks. The release of AITC was also dependent on its initial concentration in the PLA electrospinning solution; samples with more AITC incorporated showed a higher release rate. P f A‐ g ‐films significantly inhibited the growth of Listeria innocua and Escherichia coli k12 when tested on package foods. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133 , 42475.