In situ preparation of natamycin and trans-cinnamic acid loaded polycaprolactone/ethyl cellulose nanofibers on mangoes via handheld microfluidic-blow-spinning for freshness preservation

Abstract

Mangoes are nutritious but perishable fruits. The in situ packaging of fruit surfaces with nanofibers is a promising study for fruit preservation. Polycaprolactone/ethyl cellulose (PCL/EC) nanofibrous films loaded with natamycin (Nata) and trans-cinnamic acid (tCA) (PCL/EC/Nt-p) were prepared in situ on the surface of mangoes using handheld microfluidic-blow-spinning (MBS) to enhance mango storage quality. The results show that the PCL/EC/Nt-p nanofibers had an average diameter of 321.82 ± 10.06 nm and displayed a smooth and uniform morphology. The lower Young’s modulus facilitated easy peeling of the nanofibrous films from the mangoes surface with less force before consumption. In addition, the PCL/EC/Nt-p nanofibrous film had an ideal hydrophobicity and water vapor transmission rate, which protected their structural integrity in high-humidity environments and also reduced water loss from the treated mangoes. Storage results show that the mangoes treated with PCL/EC/Nt-p nanofibrous films exhibited the smallest lesion diameter and a decay index 20 % lower than untreated mango. Moreover, after 9 days of storage, the decrease in SOD, CAT, POD, and APX antioxidant enzyme activities was delayed in the PCL/EC/Nt-p nanofibrous film treated mangoes, confirming the film’s ability to enhance antioxidant capacity and slow down metabolic processes. This study provides valuable insights to facilitate the research on in situ fruit preservation packaging, the widespread adoption of microfluidic-blow-spinning and the handheld spinning machine.