# Preparation and Characterization of Carvacrol-Loaded PLA Nanofibers by the Solution Blow-Spinning Method for the Long Shelf-Life of Chicken Breast Meat

## TL;DR

This study creates antimicrobial nanofibers using carvacrol and PLA to extend the shelf life of chicken breast meat.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the preparation and characterization of carvacrol-loaded PLA nanofibers using the solution blow-spinning method for food preservation.

## Key findings

- PLA nanofibers loaded with 10-30% carvacrol showed antibacterial effects against E. coli and S. aureus.
- Packaging with PLA/C nanofibers significantly reduced bacterial growth in chicken breast meat stored at +4 °C.
- SEM and TGA confirmed the structural and thermal properties of the nanofibers.

## Abstract

Using natural active
packaging materials in food preservation is
a healthy and safe method. Chicken meat is one of the foods in which
microorganisms grow rapidly and so has a short shelf life. Extending
the shelf life of food is also important for the economy. Packaging
with biodegradable antimicrobial materials can reduce the rate of
microorganism growth. In material studies on antimicrobial essential
oils, carvacrol is generally used, and it is one of the most effective
antimicrobial compounds of the Origanum onites species. Polylactic
acid (PLA) is a biodegradable, natural polymer and a food-compatible
biopolymer that is economical to produce. In this study, PLA nanofibers
loaded with carvacrol (PLA/C) at 10, 20, and 30% (v/w) were produced
by the solution blow-spinning method (SBS), and their antibacterial
effects against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were measured by the
disk diffusion method. Chicken breast meat samples packaged with PLA/C
nanofibers were stored at +4 °C for 7 days, and the increase
in total aero-mesophilic bacteria values was determined as 5 ×
105, 5 × 104, 5 × 103,
and 4 × 103 cfu/g for PLA/C, respectively. All processes
were analyzed in triplicate, and the consistency of the results was
tested at 5%. PLA/C nanofiber was characterized by scanning electron
microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric
analysis (TGA). Nanofiber diameters in SEM images were between 1.01
and 3.21 μm. According to TGA data, the nanofiber showed degradation
at 378.21 °C.