Incorporation of lysozyme into cellulose nanocrystals stabilized β-chitosan nanoparticles with enhanced antibacterial activity.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were added to lysozyme (Lys) loaded β-chitosan (β-CS) nanoparticles (NPs) based on ionic gelation technique for enhancing their antibacterial stability. Particle size of CNCs stabilized Lys loaded low (L) and high (H) molecular weight (MW) β-CS NPs reached 140.93 and 284.03 nm with encapsulation efficacy (EE) of 59.38 and 51.23 %, respectively. CNCs stabilized Lys loaded LMW β-CS NPs with smaller particle size showed higher antibacterial activity against E. coli and L. innocua than that of LMW β-CS NPs and Lys loaded LMW β-CS NPs. Inhibition zones (IZ) of CNCs stabilized Lys loaded LMW β-CS NPs against E. coli and L. innocua were 13.29 and 15.29 mm, respectively. in vitro release study conducted at pH 4.5 and 7.4 showed that CNCs stabilized Lys loaded β-CS NPs sustained the release of Lys over 12 h. CNCs, as stabilizers and fillers, enhanced and extended antibacterial property of Lys loaded β-CS NPs through electrostatic interaction and colloidal stability. It was demonstrated that CNCs stabilized Lys loaded β-CS NPs could be used as packaging material for shelf life extension.