Active Packaging Nanofiber Films Based on Polyvinyl Alcohol‐Pullulan With Probiotics to Improve the Shelf‐Life of Chicken Fillets

ABSTRACT The increasing demand for safe and longer‐lasting food products has attracted attention in the development of active and sustainable food packaging materials. In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and pullulan (PULL) based electrospun nanofibers were used as nanocarriers for three probiotic strains– Lactobacillus acidophilus , Lactobacillus plantarum , and Lactobacillus rhamnosus – to develop an active food packaging material. Successful encapsulation of the probiotics into the PVA/PULL nanofiber structure was confirmed by scanning electron microscope, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The moisture content (MC) and thickness of the films were significantly increased with the incorporation of probiotics. However, no color change was observed with the incorporation of probiotics into the nanofibers . Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus incorporated nanofibers exhibited over 90% viability, which was considerably higher compared to the nanofibers of Lactobacillus acidophilus ( p < 0.05). The mechanical properties of the probiotic‐loaded films ranged from 5.24 ± 0.73 to 11.08 ± 2.31 MPa in tensile strength (TS), 38.2 ± 9.1 to 82.2 ± 8.9% in elongation at break (EAB), and 0.016–0.018 g·mm/m 2 ·h·kPa in water vapor permeability (WVP). Moreover, all nanofibers containing probiotics had antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , and Salmonella Typhimurium . Lactobacillus plantarum ‐incorporated nanofiber was selected for further testing with chicken fillets due to its superior viability, mechanical strength, and antimicrobial activity. The results demonstrated that Lactobacillus plantarum ‐incorporated nanofiber reduced lipid oxidation and microbial growth, extending the shelf life of chicken fillets. In conclusion, the probiotic‐incorporated PVA/PULL nanofibers present a promising approach for active food packaging applications.