Research background. The presence of Yersinia enterocolitica on raw food products raised the concern of yersiniosis as most of the berries were consumed raw. This event is a challenging issue for food safety division since it could raise foodborne diseases among humans. Thus, it is crucial to implement an effective sanitation before the packaging process.
Experimental approach. This study was aimed to synthesize and characterize thymol-loaded polyvinyl alcohol (Thy/PVA) nanoparticles sanitizer for postharvest treatment of blueberries. Thy/PVA nanoparticles were characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic approaches, prior to the analyses of antimicrobial properties.
Results and conclusions. On average, the diameter size of the nanoparticles was 84.7 nm, with a surface charge of -11.73 mV. Based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) observation, the Thy/PVA nanoparticles have notably shifted on the frequency at 3275.70, 2869.66, 1651.02 and 1090.52 cm-1. A rapid burst was observed at the first h of release study, and 74.9 % of thymol was released from PVA nanoparticles. The largest inhibition zone was displayed by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), followed by Y. enterocolitica and Salmonella typhi. However, amongst these bacteria, the inhibition and killing of Y. enterocolitica required a lower concentration of Thy/PVA nanoparticles. The treatment has successfully reduced the bacterial load of Y. enterocolitica on blueberries by 100 %.
Novelty and scientific contribution. Thymol is a plant-based chemical with no reported adverse effects to humans. In this study, the use of nanotechnology has improved the stability and physicochemical properties of thymol by using PVA as encapsulant. This nanoparticles-based sanitizer could potentially promote the postharvest microbiological safety of raw berries, which may become an alternative practice of food safety.