Microbial Inhibition and Migration of Nisin-incorporated Antimicrobial Polymer Coating on Paperboard

Two kinds of polymer coating (acrylic polymer and vinyl acetate ethylene copolymer) added with 5% nisin were fabricated on the paperboards and tested in their antimicrobial activity against Micrococcus flavus ATCC 10240 inoculated into water contacting the coating at $10^{\circ}C$. Vinyl acetate ethylene copolymer giving faster and higher nisin migration presented the greater reduction in the microbial count than the other coating, which endorsed that the migrated nisin is mainly responsible for the microbial inhibition or destruction. There was also a slight effect of the coating polymer itself in the microbial inhibition.