This study developed an antibacterial pad by immobilizing lysozyme (LZ) within porous cellulose through polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) cross-linking, reinforced with polylactic acid (PLA) barrier layers. The PLA-PVA/LZ pad demonstrated significantly enhanced structural properties, including a 65.52% increase in TS, a 78.88% rise in WCA, and an 87.62% reduction in water absorption. At an optimal loading of 4% LZ, the pads exhibited potent antibacterial efficacy, inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) growth by 93.93% and 86.73%, respectively. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the pad disrupted bacterial cell morphology, compromised membrane integrity, suppressed ATPase activity, and elevated AKP levels. When applied to cooked rice stored at 25 °C, the pad effectively maintained microbial counts below the detection limit for 48 h, extending shelf life by at least 12 h according to Chinese national standards.
Han et al. (Sun,) studied this question.