Sustained Theaflavin-Releasing Multinetwork Aerogel Absorbent Pads with Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities for Meat Preservation

Abstract Conventional meat absorbent pads remove exudate but fail to control microbial growth and oxidative spoilage. Here, we developed a multinetwork bioactive aerogel loaded with theaflavins through the synergistic assembly of gelatin, Mg2+, glycyrrhizic acid, and theaflavins. The GGM-TF0.1 aerogel, containing 0.1% theaflavins, exhibited enhanced mechanical strength, high porosity (89.42%), and excellent water absorption capacity (949.7%). It enabled the sustained release of active compounds in food microenvironments of different polarities and showed significant antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas fluorescens and Staphylococcus aureus, together with strong antioxidant performance. When applied as an absorbent pad for mutton and pork preservation, GGM-TF0.1 slowed spoilage in mutton and pork over 12 days of refrigerated storage, as reflected by lower TVC, TBARS, and TVB-N levels, delayed pH increase, reduced color deterioration, and improved visual appearance. These results demonstrate the potential of theaflavin-loaded hydrocolloid aerogels as active absorbent pads for refrigerated meat preservation.