Polylysine-loaded bamboo shoot shell fiber film: Preparation and pork preservation application

Amid the escalating global plastic pollution crisis, the food industry urgently seeks sustainable packaging alternatives. This study developed a novel polylysine-loaded bamboo shoot shell dietary fiber composite film (PLL-DFPE), utilizing bamboo shoot shell, an agricultural byproduct, to replace conventional plastic packaging and mitigate environmental pollution. High-purity bamboo-based dietary fiber (BBDF) was extracted using optimized alkaline hydrogen peroxide and combined with polylysine (PLL) to fabricate the composite film. The film’s physicochemical properties, antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, and food preservation efficacy were systematically evaluated. The results demonstrated that the PLL-DFPE film exhibited excellent comprehensive properties: a mechanical strength of 7.16 ± 0.16 MPa, outstanding thermal stability (initial decomposition temperature at 275 °C), and water vapor barrier performance of 1.58 ± 0.23 × 10 -7 g·m -1 ·s -1 ·Pa -1 . Furthermore, the film showed significant antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus while maintaining good biocompatibility. In pork storage trials, the film effectively delayed spoilage by retaining color, pH, total volatile basic nitrogen content, and microbial levels within acceptable ranges, extending the shelf life by 4 days compared to the control group. This eco-friendly, edible packaging material not only enhances food safety and reduces waste but also promotes the valorization of bamboo shoot shells, offering a sustainable solution for food preservation.