Synergistic encapsulation of thymol in porphyrin-based porous frameworks enhances the multifunctionality of chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol films for food preservation.
4 affiliations
- 1Hubei Key Laboratory for Processing and Transformation of Agricultural Products, College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, China.
- 2Huangshi Central Hospital, Huangshi, 435000, China.
- 3Hubei Huangshan Industry Group Company Limited, Xiantao, 433022, China.
- 4Hubei Huangshan Industry Technology Research Institute Company Limited, Xiantao, 433022, China.
Abstract
Significant losses from food perishability and the ecological burden of petroleum-based packaging demand innovative bio-based active solutions. Herein, we report a multifunctional chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol film incorporated with thymol-loaded porphyrinic metal-organic framework (MOF). This film is denoted as CS/PVA/PT, where PT represents PCN@Thy (i.e., PCN-224 loaded with thymol). Addressing the limitations of single-mode packaging, the synergistic encapsulation of thymol within PCN-224 acts as a dual-function booster: its porous structure ensures the sustained release of thymol, while its photodynamic effect drives continuous reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, establishing a robust synergistic antibacterial mechanism. The optimized CS/PVA/PT film incorporating 1.2 wt% PT (relative to the total mass of CS/PVA at 1:1, w/w) exhibited superior mechanical and barrier properties, alongside potent activity against bacteria (P. aeruginosa, A. hydrophila, V. parahaemolyticus) and fungi (Botrytis cinerea). Practically, the film effectively extended the shelf life of fish slices and strawberries. Importantly, the Zirconium (Zr) migration level (0.036 mg/kg) was far below the permissible limits (2 mg/kg) set by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM), confirming food contact safety. Consequently, this film holds great promise as an innovative and reliable solution for extending shelf life and mitigating food waste.
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BibTeX
@article{wang2026synergistic,
title = {{Synergistic encapsulation of thymol in porphyrin-based porous frameworks enhances the multifunctionality of chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol films for food preservation.}},
author = {Huajuan Wang and Mengni Zhou and Yeting Xu and Yan Huang and Liang Ke and Wei Xu and Yang Yi and Min Zhou},
journal = {Current research in food science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.crfs.2026.101605},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42960008},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Synergistic encapsulation of thymol in porphyrin-based porous frameworks enhances the multifunctionality of chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol films for food preservation.
AU - Huajuan Wang
AU - Mengni Zhou
AU - Yeting Xu
AU - Yan Huang
AU - Liang Ke
AU - Wei Xu
AU - Yang Yi
AU - Min Zhou
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Current research in food science
DO - 10.1016/j.crfs.2026.101605
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42960008
AB - Significant losses from food perishability and the ecological burden of petroleum-based packaging demand innovative bio-based active solutions. Herein, we report a multifunctional chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol film incorporated with thymol-loaded porphyrinic metal-organic framework (MOF). This film is denoted as CS/PVA/PT, where PT represents PCN@Thy (i.e., PCN-224 loaded with thymol). Addressing the limitations of single-mode packaging, the synergistic encapsulation of thymol within PCN-224 acts as a dual-function booster: its porous structure ensures the sustained release of thymol, while its photodynamic effect drives continuous reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, establishing a robust synergistic antibacterial mechanism. The optimized CS/PVA/PT film incorporating 1.2 wt% PT (relative to the total mass of CS/PVA at 1:1, w/w) exhibited superior mechanical and barrier properties, alongside potent activity against bacteria (P. aeruginosa, A. hydrophila, V. parahaemolyticus) and fungi (Botrytis cinerea). Practically, the film effectively extended the shelf life of fish slices and strawberries. Importantly, the Zirconium (Zr) migration level (0.036 mg/kg) was far below the permissible limits (2 mg/kg) set by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM), confirming food contact safety. Consequently, this film holds great promise as an innovative and reliable solution for extending shelf life and mitigating food waste.
SN - 2665-9271
ER -