Study of surface interactions between peptides, materials and bacteria for setting up antimicrobial surfaces and active food packaging

Active food packaging and antimicrobial surfaces are innovative solutions for increasing food-borne diseases and changes in food habits. This review describes the different methods for setting up active packaging, with specific focus on antimicrobial surfaces developed by peptide adsorption. The key elements in the study of peptide adsorption on surfaces are the peptide nature, the surface properties and the interactions between them. Nisin, a well-known peptide, was reviewed and can be considered as a model for peptide studies. Plasma surface treatments were evaluated as potential versatile tools to provide specific functional groups and various surface characteristics needed to optimize and understand the adsorption behavior. The surface characterization methods were screened and discussed in terms of their relevance to investigate the interactions between peptides and surfaces, confirm each modification step and evaluate the antimicrobial activity of surfaces. For each factor, the advantages, drawbacks, applications, and further considerations were assessed in the fields of interaction studies and active food packaging technologies.