The plastic sector for food packaging and medical devices is increasingly demanding new sustainable materials that ensure safety and effectively prevent microbial contamination. Ethyl cellulose (EC), a biodegradable polymer recognized as food additive E462, stands out as a promising candidate for green bioplastics. In this study, we developed a fully cellulose-based, self-standing biocomposite by combining EC plasticized with transesterified sunflower oil and bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers as a reinforcing phase. The incorporation of BC nanofibres led to improved mechanical and water barrier properties, while maintaining partial optical transparency. A key aspect of this work is the evaluation and characterization of the in situ formation of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) during the transesterification process, which imparts intrinsic antibacterial properties to the materials. For the first time, this antimicrobial activity is demonstrated in a cellulose-based composite against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, two multidrug-resistant pathogens of critical relevance in both healthcare and food safety contexts. Antibacterial tests confirmed a bactericidal effect after 4 h, with a 6-logarithm reduction in bacterial load. The resulting biocomposite exhibited a tensile strength of ~ 1000 kPa, an elongation at break of ~ 30%, and a surface roughness of ~ 400 nm. These findings highlight the potential of this fully cellulose-based material as a sustainable antibacterial and self-standing composite for packaging, where sustainability and protection from contamination are crucial.
Antibacterial cellulose composite films via in-situ transesterification of sunflower oil
Villani S.
;Narayanan A.
;Friuli M.;Kunjalukkal Padmanabhan S.;Mergola L.;Lazzoi M. R.;Del Sole R.;Vincenti L.;Rinaldi R.;Calcagnile M.;Alifano P.;Licciulli A.;Demitri C.;Sannino A.;Lamanna L.
2026-01-01
Abstract
The plastic sector for food packaging and medical devices is increasingly demanding new sustainable materials that ensure safety and effectively prevent microbial contamination. Ethyl cellulose (EC), a biodegradable polymer recognized as food additive E462, stands out as a promising candidate for green bioplastics. In this study, we developed a fully cellulose-based, self-standing biocomposite by combining EC plasticized with transesterified sunflower oil and bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers as a reinforcing phase. The incorporation of BC nanofibres led to improved mechanical and water barrier properties, while maintaining partial optical transparency. A key aspect of this work is the evaluation and characterization of the in situ formation of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) during the transesterification process, which imparts intrinsic antibacterial properties to the materials. For the first time, this antimicrobial activity is demonstrated in a cellulose-based composite against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, two multidrug-resistant pathogens of critical relevance in both healthcare and food safety contexts. Antibacterial tests confirmed a bactericidal effect after 4 h, with a 6-logarithm reduction in bacterial load. The resulting biocomposite exhibited a tensile strength of ~ 1000 kPa, an elongation at break of ~ 30%, and a surface roughness of ~ 400 nm. These findings highlight the potential of this fully cellulose-based material as a sustainable antibacterial and self-standing composite for packaging, where sustainability and protection from contamination are crucial.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
