Preparation and Characterization of Ferulic Acid Wheat Gluten Nanofiber Films with Excellent Antimicrobial Properties

In this study, composite nanofiber films comprising polyvinyl alcohol, wheat gluten, and glucose (PWG) were fabricated using electrospinning, followed by crosslinking via Maillard crosslinking. Various mass concentrations of ferulic acid (FA) were incorporated into PWG films. The results indicated that the average diameter of the FA-PWG films decreased from 449 nm to 331 nm as the concentration of FA increased, until reaching a concentration of 12%; after which, a significant increase in diameter was observed. The subsequent Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results suggested that FA was distributed in the sample films in an amorphous form through hydrogen and ester bonds. Additionally, release experiments and antimicrobial tests on the FA-PWG sample films showed the good controlled release of FA and excellent anti-Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus activity of this film. These findings all indicate that the FA-PWG nanofiber film is a potential candidate for active food packaging.