Fabrication and characterization of natural polyphenol and ZnO nanoparticles loaded protein-based biopolymer multifunction electrospun nanofiber films, and application in fruit preservation

[Display omitted] •Polyphenol and ZnO loaded protein-based films were prepared by electrospinning.•Zein/Gelatin fibers were incorporated with proanthocyanidins/gallic acid and ZnO.•Nanofiber films had high hydrophobicity, antioxidant and antifungal properties.•Composite nanofiber films demonstrated active food preservation efficiency. To extend the shelf life of sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) and considering the environmental problems caused by traditional packaging materials, novel Zein/Gelatin-proanthocyanidins-zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZE/GE-PC-ZnO) and Zein/Gelatin-gallic acid-zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZE/GE-GA-ZnO) protein-based composite nanofiber films were prepared by electrospinning. According to the results, ZE/GE-PC-ZnO and ZE/GE-GA-ZnO films' contact angles were higher than those of Zein/Gelatin film by 28.91% and 21.27%, and their antioxidant activities were 5 and 9 times higher, respectively. Moreover, ZE/GE-PC-ZnO film showed good inhibitory activity against B. cinerea. On the eleventh day of the cherry packaging test, compared to unwrapped cherries, the losses of weight and firmness of wrapped fruit were reduced by more than 20% and 60%, respectively. Respiration time was delayed by 5 days, and the peak of ethylene release was decreased by nearly half. In conclusion, these two nanofiber films were viable packaging materials that fulfilled global strategies for green development.