Physical and antibacterial properties of corn distarch phosphate/carboxymethyl cellulose composite films containing tea polyphenol

Antibacterial packaging films were developed by incorporating tea polyphenol (TP) into corn distarch phosphate (CDP)/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) films via solvent casting. Incorporation of TP had a great influence on the physical properties of the composite films. The prepared composite films were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and their physical properties, moisture barrier properties, and antibacterial activities were investigated. Microstructural studies revealed that the surface of the CDP/CMC/TP composite films became rough and uneven sponge-like. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared exhibited interactions between TP and CDP/CMC films matrix was caused by hydrogen bonding. Addition of TP into CDP/CMC films improved the extensibility, toughness, and moisture barrier properties of the composite films greatly. The CDP/CMC/TP composite films showed excellent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli. The CDP/CMC/TP films are promising functional packaging materials. Practical applications Tea polyphenol (TP) exhibits effective antioxidant and antibacterial properties, which can be extracted from tea. In this work, we successfully fabricated a novel antibacterial films containing TP, and improved the physical properties of the films. This study can provide a good candidate and a promising way for the development of active packaging material in food industry. Moreover, there is immense potential in the application of food preservation.