Green-synthesized antibacterial and unidirectional water-permeable polylactic acid/ZnO composite film for enhanced preservation of perishable fruits

Preserving perishable fruits during transportation and storage is a critical challenge in modern logistics and supply chains. This study developed an antibacterial and unidirectional water-permeable tri-layered polylactic acid/ZnO composite film using green biosynthesis and electrospinning technologies to protect highly perishable non-climacteric fruits. The composite film, with encapsulated ZnO nanoparticles, exhibited exceptional antibacterial properties, achieving a 99.999 % inhibition rate against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, the film's unidirectional water permeability allowed water droplets to penetrate its surface within 1.10 s, ensuring effective moisture retention. When used to package strawberries, cherries, and grapes, the film significantly reduced decay and moisture loss, keeping strawberries fresh for 8 days and cherries and grapes for 12 days at room temperature. This polylactic acid/ZnO composite film shows great potential for enhancing the preservation of perishable fruits in packaging applications.