Engineering and antibacterial properties of low-density polyethylene films with incorporated epigallocatechin gallate

The antibacterial activity of low-density polyethylene/adhesive resin (10%)/epigallocatechin gallate (0.03, 0.5, 5, and 10%) extrusion cast films were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus (gram positive) and Pseudomonas sp. (gram negative) via direct contact and in solid and liquid culture media. The epigallocatechin gallate concentration in the active films was established per the in vitro antibacterial analysis of pure epigallocatechin gallate against S. aureus and Pseudomonas sp. The epigallocatechin gallate migration profile and concentration required to inhibit bacterial growth in broth were determined. In addition, the effects of epigallocatechin gallate and adhesive resin on the mechanical, color, and thermal film properties were investigated. The results indicate that pure epigallocatechin gallate inhibited the growth of both bacteria. However, only the films with 10 wt% epigallocatechin gallate (with and without adhesive resin) induced morphological changes and inhibited the growth of S. aureus (p