Visible light-trigged photodynamic antibacterial film with mild temperature enhancement for long-term preservation of perishable products
Wenze Wang, Yiya Ping, Liang Zhang, Jianxing Feng, Wentao Zhang, Jing Sun, Jianlong Wang
Abstract
To address the microbial spoilage of perishable products, this study developed an advanced multi-modal antibacterial packaging solution that combines bacterial capture and visible light-driven photothermal synergistic photodynamic antibacterial effects to effectively control microbial growth and prolong preservation. By innovatively combining curcumin-loaded porous hollow carbon spheres with a chitosan matrix, a composite film has been created that demonstrates exceptional visible light utilization performance through the integration of the following innovative characteristics: (i) enhanced electron dynamics that reduce the recombination of photo-generated electrons and holes; (ii) broadened absorption and reflective properties of PHC to maximize visible light utilization; (iii) improved carrier functionality that mitigates the tendency of curcumin to aggregate in water; and (iv) the excellent bacterial capture efficiency of chitosan for the short-range effectiveness of reactive oxygen species. The system achieved a high sterilization rate (99.9 %) after a short treatment with visible light (10 min) and effectively extended the shelf life of kumquats to 27 days. Furthermore, the low hemolysis rate (≤2.0 %) and high 3T3 cell viability (≥ 86 %) demonstrated the biosafety, laying the foundation for the practical application. Above all, the composite film holds great promise as a microbial control barrier, capable of efficiently utilizing visible light for antibacterial preservation of perishable products.