Improving nisin production by encapsulated Lactococcus lactis with starch/carboxymethyl cellulose edible films

[Display omitted] •Edible films werre prepared by embedded L. lactis in corn starch and carboxymethyl cellulose.•The addition of L. lactis improved the barrier properties of the films.•The films showed an effective antimicrobial activity after 30 days.•The films with a 1.5 % L. lactis can release 3.35 mg/mL nisin.•Antibacterial corn starch/carboxymethylcellulose/L. lactis films with excellent physical properties. In this study, Lactococcus lactis was embedded in a film of corn starch (NS) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) prepared using a casting method. At a CMC:NS ratio of 5:5, the composite film had the best comprehensive properties. Scanning electron microscopy images clearly showed that L. lactis was effectively embedded. The film with 1.5 % L. lactis showed the best performance and the lowest water vapor transmission rate (5.54 × 10−11 g/m s Pa. In addition, the edible film retained a viable count of 5.64 log CFU/g of L. lactis when stored at 4 °C for 30 days. The composite film with 1.5 % L. lactis showed the highest release of nisin (3.35 mg/mL) and good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (53.53 %) after 8 days. Therefore, this edible film is a viable alternative antimicrobial strategy for the active packaging of foods containing low moisture content.