eprintid: 18618 rev_number: 2 eprint_status: archive userid: 1 dir: disk0/00/01/86/18 datestamp: 2024-06-04 14:10:57 lastmod: 2024-06-04 14:10:57 status_changed: 2024-06-04 14:03:43 type: article metadata_visibility: show creators_name: Ab Rashid, S. creators_name: Tong, W.-Y. creators_name: Leong, C.-R. creators_name: Tan, W.-N. creators_name: Lee, C.-K. creators_name: Anuar, M.R. creators_name: Teo, S.-H. creators_name: Lazit, S.K.A. creators_name: Lim, J.-W. creators_name: Rozman, N.A.S. title: Thymol-Loaded Polymeric Nanoparticles Improve the Postharvest Microbiological Safety of Blueberries ispublished: pub keywords: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Fruits; Nanoparticles; Phenols; Salmonella; Synthesis (chemical), Blueberry; Food-safety; Microbiological safety; Polymeric nanoparticles; Post-harvest treatments; Postharvest; Property; Safety aspects; Thymol; Yersinia enterocolitica, Food safety note: cited By 0 abstract: Research background. The presence of Yersinia enterocolitica on raw food products raises the concern of yersiniosis as most of the berries are consumed raw. This is a challenging issue from the food safety aspect since it could in-crease the occurrence of foodborne diseases among humans. Thus, it is crucial to implement an effective sanitation before the packaging. Experimental approach. This study aims to synthesize and characterize thy-mol-loaded polyvinyl alcohol (Thy/PVA) nanoparticles as a sanitizer for post-harvest treatment of blueberries. Thy/PVA nanoparticles were characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic approaches, prior to the analyses of antimi-crobial properties. Results and conclusions. The diameter size of the nanoparticles was on av-erage 84.7 nm, with a surface charge of �11.73 mV. Based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurement, the Thy/PVA nanoparticles notably shifted to the frequency of 3275.70, 2869.66, 1651.02 and 1090.52 cm�1. A rapid burst was ob-served in the first hour of release study, and 74.9 thymol was released from the 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 successfully reduced the bacterial load of Y. enterocolitica on blueberries by 100 . Novelty and scientific contribution. Thymol is a plant-based chemical with-out reported adverse effects to humans. In this study, by using the nanotech-nology method of encapsulation with PVA, we improved the stability and phys-icochemical properties of thymol. This nanoparticle-based sanitizer could potentially promote the postharvest microbiological safety of raw berries, which may become an alternative practice of food safety. © 2023, University of Zagreb. All rights reserved. date: 2023 official_url: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85163784479&doi=10.17113%2fftb.61.02.23.7595&partnerID=40&md5=38f900356814e812e6952fd5ebdd5f28 id_number: 10.17113/ftb.61.02.23.7595 full_text_status: none publication: Food Technology and Biotechnology volume: 61 number: 2 pagerange: 151-159 refereed: TRUE citation: Ab Rashid, S. and Tong, W.-Y. and Leong, C.-R. and Tan, W.-N. and Lee, C.-K. and Anuar, M.R. and Teo, S.-H. and Lazit, S.K.A. and Lim, J.-W. and Rozman, N.A.S. (2023) Thymol-Loaded Polymeric Nanoparticles Improve the Postharvest Microbiological Safety of Blueberries. Food Technology and Biotechnology, 61 (2). pp. 151-159.