Surface Functionalization of Cellulose-Based Packaging with a New Antimicrobial Decapeptide: A Sustainable Solution to Improve the Quality of Meat Products

The need for renewable and eco-friendly materials is driving the increasing demand for biobased polymers for food applications, with cellulose emerging as a promising option due to its degradability and environmental sustainability. Therefore, in the present study, a strategy to obtain cellulose-based materials with antimicrobial properties was explored by using a selected antimicrobial peptide named RKT1, which was stably and efficiently tethered to cellulose films via physical adsorption, harnessing the high number of functional groups on the polymeric surface. Firstly, the peptide, identified among the previous or new projected compounds, was structurally and functionally characterized, evidencing high conformational stability under a wide range of environmental conditions and efficient antibacterial activity against the foodborne pathogens <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium, and <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> and the spoilage bacteria <i>Enterococcus</i> and <i>Pseudomonas koreensis,</i> all isolated from meat products. Moreover, in an extended application, the RKT1-activated cellulose films were tested in vivo on beef carpaccio. The results supported their effectiveness in increasing the shelf life of carpaccio by least two days without affecting its organoleptic properties. Therefore, RKT1, physically adsorbed on cellulose, still retains its activity, and the newly generated biopolymers show potential for use as a green food packaging material.