Development of cinnamon essential oil-loaded PBAT/thermoplastic starch active packaging films with different release behavior and antimicrobial activity

The poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/thermoplastic starch (PBAT/TPS) active packaging films containing cinnamon essential oil (CEO) were fabricated by melting blending and extrusion casting method. The effects of TPS content (0 %, 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 % and 50 %) on the properties of the films and their application in largemouth bass preservation were studied. As TPS content increased from 0 % to 50 %, the water vapor permeability increased from 7.923 x 10-13 (g center dot cm/(cm2 center dot s center dot Pa)) to 23.967 x 10-13 (g center dot cm/(cm2 center dot s center dot Pa)), the oxygen permeability decreased from 8.642 x 10-11 (cm3 center dot m/(m2 center dot s center dot Pa)) to 3.644 x 10-11 (cm3 center dot m/(m2 center dot s center dot Pa)), the retention of CEO in the films increased. The release rate of CEO from the films into food simulant (10 % ethanol) accelerated with increasing TPS. The films exhibited different antibacterial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, and S. putrefaciens. It was closely related with the release behavior of the CEO. The films containing CEO could efficiently inhibit the decomposition of protein and the growth of microorganisms in largemouth bass. It showed that the higher TPS in the films, the better inhibitory effect. This study provided a new idea for developing PBAT/ TPS active films with different release behavior of active agents and different antibacterial activity for food packaging.