Antibacterial and slow-release properties of novel composite material based on grape extracts and palygorskite

Abstract

The abuse of antibiotics as feed additives in the poultry-farming industry has led to problems such as bacterial resistance and drug residues, posing significant threats to food safety, human health, and ecological safety. Consequently, many countries have issued regulations to prohibit or restrict in-feed antibiotics, underscoring the urgency of developing and evaluating viable alternative feed additives. In this study, a green and safe antibacterial composite material was reported by synthesizing grape pip/skin extract with natural mineral material palygorskite. The composite materials were thoroughly characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The sustained-release profiles of the plant extracts from the composite material were also investigated. The antibacterial performance of the composite material was evaluated by measuring the inhibition zone against Staphylococcus aureus. The resulting composite materials exhibited superior thermal stability and considerable sustained-release capabilities while maintaining excellent antibacterial activity equivalent to the original extracts. The successful combination of natural antibacterial ingredients with inorganic mineral material has laid the foundation for the exploration of potential alternatives to antibiotic additives in feed.