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Published on: September 6, 2012
Pectin-gellan films intended for active food packaging: release kinetics of nisin and physico-mechanical
Lorena Rivera-Hernández1, Norberto Chavarría-Hernández1, Ma Del Rocío López Cuellar1
1Cuerpo Académico de Biotecnología Agroalimentaria. Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Av. Universidad km 1, Rancho Universitario, Tulancingo de Bravo, Hidalgo, CP 43600 México.
Abstract:
Films were prepared by casting 2% w/v apple pectin, 0.5% w/v low-acyl gellan and 2.2% w/v glycerol as plasticizer. Bioactive film (BF, films with 3912 International Units (IU) nisin/cm2) and control films (CF, films without nisin) were elaborated. The objective was to analyze the release kinetics of nisin from films to a food model, to determine the period of film bioactivity and potential use as antimicrobial packaging. The release of nisin from BF to a food model was determined at 5 °C and 30 °C. The release kinetics of nisin was fitted to the analytical solution of the Fick's second law for an infinite plate. The diffusion coefficients of nisin (D) were 5.22 × 10-14 and 7.36 × 10-14 m2/s for 5 °C and 30 °C, respectively. Besides, both films were characterized in their mechanical properties and gas permeabilities [oxygen (PO2) and water vapour permeability (WVP)]. The mechanical properties were reduced by the nisin incorporation, whereas PO2 was increased, and no significant effect on WVP was observed.

