Functionalized polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers with visible light-triggered antibacterial and ethylene scavenging capabilities for food packaging

In this study, the sulfonated cobalt phthalocyanine-titanium dioxide P25 (CoPcTs-P25) nanoparticles were prepared by in situ synthesis and the samples were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol was selected as the backing material and CoPcTs-P25 was added as a visible-light ethylene scavenger and bacterial inhibitor, and PVA-CA@CoPcTs-P25 nanofiber films were prepared by electrospinning. In addition, the effects on ethylene degradation, bacterial survival and biocompatibility of the composite nanofiber were also evaluated. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of PVA-CA@1.5%CoPcTs-P25 nanofibers for ethylene could reach 13.92% under visible light irradiation for 6 h. The nanofiber exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), with a remarkable inhibition rate of over 90%. This bifunctional nanofiber demonstrated a new strategy for developing packaging materials and provided a broad prospect in fruits and vegetables preservation.