Nano-Encapsulation of Bioactive Oils through Emulsion Polymerization as Antimicrobials and its adhesion to packaging films

Bioactive essential oil components, aldehydes, terpenes and phenols can be encapsulated into nanosized emulsified droplets. Nano-encapsulated bioactive oils emulsions were prepared by high amplitude ultrasonic homogenization with food grade ingredients. The effect of delivery system on the antimicrobial activity of different oils components, e.g., carvacrol, lemon grass and cinnamaldehyde, was investigated by determining the antimicrobial activity of three different groups of microorganisms (Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli). The incorporation of bioactive oils into nano-encapsulation emulsion resulted in a significant increase in the antimicrobial activity, which significantly depended on physicochemical properties of the delivery systems, such as emulsifier composition and the mean droplet size. A simulation for food ingredients was performed using bioactive oils in presence of different emulsifiers was performed to examine their adhesion to different hydrophobic packaging films (polypropylene, metallized polypropylene and low density polyethylene). The effect of surface hydrophobicity on the adhesion to packaging films was studied. The increased hydrophobicity increases the adhesion to packaging films.