title: Effects of chitin nano-whiskers on the antibacterial and physicochemical properties of maize starch films.
abstract: We investigated the effects of chitin nano-whiskers (CNWs) on the antibacterial and physiochemical properties of maize starch-based films. The microstructures, crystalline structures, and thermal, mechanical and barrier properties of the nanocomposite films were characterized by using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric, differential scanning calorimeter, and texture profile analysis. The tensile strength of the maize starch films increased from 1.64MPa to 3.69MPa (P<0.05) after CNW reinforcement with up to 1%. The water vapor permeability of the nanocomposite films decreased from 5.32×10(-12) to 2.22×10(-12)gm(-1)s(-1)Pa(-1) with the CNW content increasing from 0% to 2%. The onset temperature, peak temperature and the gelatinization enthalpy of the films containing CNWs were higher than those of the pure starch films. Furthermore, the nanocomposite films exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive Listeria monocytogenes but not against Gram-negative Escherichia coli.
authors.affiliation: School of Food Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province 266109, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: School of Food Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province 266109, China.
authors.forename: Shuangling
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Food Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province 266109, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: School of Food Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province 266109, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Food Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province 266109, China.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: School of Food Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province 266109, China. Electronic address: phdsun@163.com.
authors.forename: Qingjie
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002686:Chitin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002686:Chitin; D013213:Starch
keywords: Antibacterial activity; Chitin nano-whiskers; Maize starch film; Mechanical properties