Multi-factor protective chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol aerogel antibacterial buffer packaging

Berries, being juicy and thin-skinned, are prone to mechanical damage and microbial contamination during transportation. Therefore, developing functional cushioning packaging becomes crucial to minimize product losses. Herein, modified MXene was used to immobilize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and graft trans -2-hexenal (E2H), synthesizing MXene-NH 2 /AgNPs/E2H preservative. Subsequently, the CPMAE aerogel buffer packaging was obtained by MXene-NH 2 /AgNPs/E2H, chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol, and then using to the strawberry preservation. The physical entangling, electrostatic and hydrogen bonding between chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol, as well as the interaction with MXene-NH 2 /AgNPs/E2H endow CPMAE aerogel excellent buffering properties. Besides, only about 67.40 % of E2H and 5.80 % of AgNPs were released from the CPMAE aerogel after 7 days. Although the immobilization of MXene-NH 2 significantly reduced the release rate of AgNPs and E2H, the CPMAE aerogel still had excellent antioxidant (36.5 μg FeSO 4 /5 mg) and antimicrobial (reaches 99 %) capabilities. Moreover, these features enable the CPMAE aerogel buffer packaging to have an efficient fresh-keeping effect on strawberries and extend the storage time at 4 ℃ to 12 days. This study offers a novel approach for applying chitosan aerogel in buffer and antimicrobial packaging for berries.