Effect of molecular weight of chitosan on the formation and properties of zein-nisin-chitosan nanocomplexes

This study evaluated the effect of molecular weight of chitosan (3 kDa,150 kDa, 400 kDa, and 600 kDa) on zein-nisin-chitosan nanocomplexes. The formation mechanism, physicochemical and antibacterial properties of the nanocomplexes (ZNC0.3, ZNC15, ZNC40, and ZNC60) were assessed. The nanocomplexes were characterized by DLS, ζ-potential, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, circular dichroism, fourier transform infrared and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The results showed that the lowest molecular weight chitosan (LMWC, 3 kDa) formed nanocomplexes with nisin and zein structurally differed from the higher molecular weights chitosan (HMWC, >3 kDa). LMWC was doped on the surface of the nanocomplexes. HMWC linked and formed a network to adsorb zein and nisin. The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration of ZNC0.3, ZNC15, ZNC40, and ZNC60 was 7.0625, 14.125, 14.125, and 28.25 μg/mL. ZNC0.3 could be a suitable nisin delivery system for its high encapsulation efficiency (85.38%) and antibacterial properties. A schematic diagram of the preparation and formation processes of zein-nisin-chitosan nanocomplexes (ZNC0.3, ZNC15, ZNC40, and ZNC60). [Display omitted]