Nanostructural engineering of cellulose crystals in biomimetic polysaccharide matrix: Deciphering structure-function correlation of hydro-regulatory behavior and its functionalized design for strawberry shelf-life extension

Abstract

Multilayer films were fabricated by mimicking the structure of wheat endosperm cell walls, using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TCNFs) of varying sizes, arabinoxylan, and β-glucan. Results indicated that longer TCNFs enhanced thermal stability and mechanical properties, increasing tensile strength from 78 to 122 MPa. Longer TCNFs formed nanoporous structures facilitating water diffusion within the film network, improving hydrophilicity and breathability. In strawberry preservation tests, these films effectively inhibited color change, decay, and respiratory activity while maintaining phenolic/flavonoid content, extending shelf life to 12 days. The findings demonstrate that TCNF size modulates polysaccharide network structures, offering a biomimetic strategy for designing natural, high-performance food preservation films.