Bioactive mesoporous nano-silica/potato starch films against molds commonly found in post-harvest white mushrooms.

Cinnamon essential oil (CEO) was successfully loaded into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs). To protect and preserve post-harvest white mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) from CNRMA 03.0371 strain (Mucor circinelloides) and FJ09 species (Mucor sp.), MSNP-CEO/potato starch films were prepared by a casting method to develop a functional packaging design. The cooperation of MSNPs-CEO markedly enhanced the tensile strength and physical properties of films. MSNPs-CEO appeared to be more evenly distributed in the films by scanning electron microscopy analysis. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed that inter-molecular interactions were formed between MSNPs-CEO and potato starch. In addition, the in vitro release rate of CEO in the MSNPs from the films was investigated to improve its antimicrobial activity against the CNRMA 03.0371 strain and the FJ09 species commonly found in post-harvest white mushrooms stored at 4 °C. The MSNP-CEO/potato starch films showed better antimicrobial activity against FJ09 species than against CNRMA 03.0371 strain. Image 1 • Cinnamon essential oil (CEO) was successfully embedded into MSNPs. • Compared with MSNPs, MSNPs-CEO was more evenly distributed in the potato starch films. • Inter-molecular interactions were formed between MSNPs-CEO and potato starch. • The MSNP-CEO/potato starch films showed antimicrobial activity against molds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]