Development of antifouling antibacterial polylactic acid (PLA) -based packaging and application for chicken meat preservation

Microbial contamination is the leading cause of food spoilage and food-borne disease. Here, we developed a multifunctional surface based on polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic with antifouling and antibacterial properties via a facile dual-coating approach. The surface was designed with hierarchical micro/nano-scale roughness and low surface energy. Bactericidal agent polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (PHMG) was incorporated to endow the film with bactericidal activity. The film had good superhydrophobic, antifouling and antibacterial performance, with a water contact angle of 154.3°, antibacterial efficiency against E. coli and S. aureus of 99.9 % and 99.6 %, respectively, and biofilm inhibition against E. coli and S. aureus of 63.5 % and 68.9 %, respectively. Synergistic effects of antibacterial adhesion and contact killing of bacteria contributed to the significant antibacterial performance of the film. The biobased biodegradable film was highly effective in preventing microbial growth when applied as antibacterial food packaging for poultry product, extending the shelf life of fresh chicken breast up to eight days.