Development of electrospun films enriched with ethyl lauroyl arginate as novel antimicrobial food packaging materials for fresh strawberry preservation

Antimicrobial packaging based on biodegradable material is a novel strategy to ensure food safety without posing threats to the environment. In this study, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanofibers containing Ethyl-Nα-dodecanoyl-l-arginate hydrochloride (LAE) were fabricated using the electrospinning method. The microstructure, inter-molecular interaction, thermal stability, and antimicrobial properties of electrospun films were characterized. The LAE embedded nanofibers had an average diameter of 325–364 nm, which was 43.5%–49.5% thinner compared to the neat PLA nanofibers. The active films demonstrated outstanding antimicrobial capability against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, and Botrytis cinerea. The active films with LAE could also effectively extend the shelf-life of strawberries at 25°C, suggesting that PLA films incorporating with LAE could be used as an environmental-friendly antimicrobial packaging material.