Effects of cinnamon essential oil-loaded Pickering emulsion on the structure, properties and application of chayote tuber starch-based composite films

The use of non-conventional starch sources to develop biodegradable and bioactive starch-based films have attracted increasing attention recently. In this study, a nonconventional chayote tuber starch (CTS) was func-tionalized by zein-pectin nanoparticle-stabilized cinnamon essential oil (CEO) Pickering emulsion (ZPCO) to develop a novel bioactive composite films for food packaging application. Results demonstrated that antibac-terial ZPCO featuring long-term stability was successfully obtained. FTIR and SEM analyses suggested that ZPCO have favorable dispersibility and compatibility with CTS matrix. With ZPCO increasing, the transmittance, tensile strength, and moisture content of composite films decreased, whereas their elongation at break, anti-microbial and antioxidant activities increased. ZPCO added at an appropriate level (2 %) can improve water -resistance of the films and reduce water vapor permeability. More importantly, ZPCO can achieve a slower sustained-release of CEO from composite films into food simulants. Furthermore, the composite film containing 2 % ZPCO is safe and nontoxic as proved by cell cytotoxicity test, and it can significantly prolong the shelf life of ground beef by showing the lowest total volatile base nitrogen and best acceptable sensory characteristic. Overall, the incorporation of ZPCO into CTS films offers a great potential application as a bioactive material in the food packing.