An electrospun polylactic acid film containing silver nanoparticles and encapsulated Thymus daenensis essential oil: release behavior, physico-mechanical and antibacterial studies

This study was aimed to fabricate a durable antimicrobial packaging film using electrospun polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibers containing Thymus daenensis essential oil (TDO), TDO-loaded mesoporous silica vesicles (MSVs/TDO), and MSVs/TDO combined with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Functional features including mechanical properties, heat resistance, water vapor permeability (WVP), antimicrobial and release behavior of TDO and AgNPs from the nanofibers were assessed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the presence of MSVs/TDO and embedded AgNPs in nanofibers. Application of MSV/TDO along with AgNPs could reduce significantly the WVP (0.43 ± 0.04 g m −1 Pa −1 s −1 ) and control the release of the EO from the electrospun PLA films ( P