Preparation and Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity of Thymol Immobilized on Different Silica Nanoparticles with Application in Apple Juice

In order to diminish the application limitations of essential oils (EOs) as natural antimicrobial components in food industry, novel materials were designed and prepared by immobilization thymol derivatives on silica particles with different morphologies (hollow mesoporous nanoparticles, MCM-41, amorphous silica). The structural characteristics estimated FESEM, FT-IR, TGA, N2 adsorption-desorption, small-angle XRD, results revealed that both nanoparticles maintained orderly structures had good yield. Furthermore, antibacterial performance tests showed greatly enhanced activity against two representative foodborne bacteria (Escherichia coli Staphylococcus aureus), support was tested apple juices inoculated E. coli. MBC functionalized supports established be below 0.1 mg/mL S. aureus, which is much lower than free (0.3 0.5 respectively). addition, at a range from 0.05 0.2 mg/mL, immobilized hollow (HMSNs) can inhibit growth juice maintain sensory properties during 7 days storage.