Fabrication of antimicrobial PCL/EC nanofibrous films containing natamycin and trans-cinnamic acid by microfluidic blow spinning for fruit preservation

Fruit is susceptible to various postharvest pathogens; thus, the development of multifunctional preservation materials that can achieve the broad-spectrum inhibition of different pathogens is a current research hotspot. Here, microfluidic blow spinning was used to create a biodegradable polycaprolactone/ethyl cellulose (PCL/EC) nanofibrous film that incorporated two naturally-sourced compounds, natamycin and trans -cinnamic acid, resulting in multi-microbial inhibition. The PCL/EC-based film had a smooth and even morphology, indicating the favorable integration of PCL and EC. After the incorporation of ingredients, the film exhibited good inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , and Botrytis cinerea , and it had finer fiber diameters, higher permeability, and antioxidant properties. We further demonstrated that strawberries that were padded with the film had good resistance to Botrytis cinerea . Also, the film did not interference with the qualities of the strawberries during storage. The study demonstrates a promising application for multi-antimicrobial and bio-friendly packaging materials in postharvest fruit preservation.