Purification and characterization of two chitosanase isoforms from the sheaths of bamboo shoots

Two thermally stable chitosanase isoforms were purified from the sheaths of chitosan-treated bamboo shoots. Isoforms A and B had molecular masses of 24.5 and 16.4 kDa and isoelectric points of 4.30 and 9.22, respectively. Using chitosan as the substrate, both isoforms functioned optimally between pH 3 and 4, and the optimum temperatures for the activities of isoforms A and B were 70 and 60 °C, respectively. The kinetic parameters K(m) and V(max) for isoform A were 0.539 mg/mL and 0.262 μmol/min/mg, respectively, and for isoform B were 0.183 mg/mL and 0.092 μmol/min/mg, respectively. Chitosans were susceptible to degradation by both enzymes and could be converted to low molecular weight chitosans between 28.2 and 11.7 kDa. Furthermore, the most susceptible chitosan substrates were 50-70 and 40-80% deacetylated for isoforms A and B, respectively. Both enzymes could also degrade chitin substrates with lower efficacy. N-Bromosuccinimide and Woodward's reagent K strongly inhibited both enzymes.     

Linolenic acid-modified chitosan for formation of self-assembled nanoparticles

Chitosan was modified by coupling with linolenic acid through the 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyyl)carbodiimide-mediated reaction. The degree of substitution was measured by 1H NMR, and it was 1.8%, i.e., 1.8 linolenic acids group per 100 anhydroglucose units. The critical aggregation concentration (CAC) of the self-aggregate of hydrophobically modified chitosan was determined by measuring the fluorescence intensity of the pyrene as a fluorescent probe. The CAC value in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution (pH 7.4) was 5 x 10(-2) mg/mL. The average particle size of self-aggregates of hydrophobically modified chitosan in PBS solution (pH 7.4) was 210.8 nm with a unimodal size distribution ranging from 100 to 500 nm. A transmission electron microscopy study showed that the formation of near spherical shape nanoparticles had enough structural integrity. The loading ability of hydrophobically modified chitosan (LA-chitosan) was investigated by using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein. Self-aggregated nanoparticles exhibited an increased loading capacity (19.85 +/- 0.04 to 37.57 +/- 0.25%) with an increasing concentration of BSA (0.1-0.5 mg/mL).     

Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of hetero-chitooligosaccharides prepared from partially different deacetylated chitosans

Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of hetero-chitooligosaccharides (hetero-COSs) prepared from partially different deacetylated chitosans was investigated. Partially deacetylated chitosans, 90, 75, and 50% deacetylated chitosan, were prepared from crab chitin by N-deacetylation with 40% sodium hydroxide solution for durations. In addition, nine kinds of hetero-COSs with relatively high molecular masses (5000-10 000 Da; 90-HMWCOSs, 75-HMWCOSs, and 50-HMWCOSs), medium molecular masses (1000-5000 Da; 90-MMWCOSs, 75-MMWCOSs, and 50-MMWCOSs), and low molecular masses (below 1000 Da; 90-LMWCOSs, 75-LMWCOSs, and 50-LMWCOSs) were prepared using an ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor system. ACE inhibitory activity of hetero-COSs was dependent on the degree of deacetylation of chitosans. 50-MMWCOSs that are COSs hydrolyzed from 50% deacetylated chitosan, the relatively lowest degree of deacetylation, exhibited the highest ACE inhibitory activity, and the IC(50) value was 1.22 +/- 0.13 mg/mL. In addition, the ACE inhibition pattern of the 50-MMWCOSs was investigated by Lineweaver-Burk plots, and the inhibition pattern was found to be competitive.     

江苏省大型沼气工程沼液理化特性分析

集约化畜禽养殖场沼气工程是一项提供清洁能源、减轻环境污染、潜力巨大的生物质能源工程。该研究采集了江苏省21个规模化养猪场和奶牛场内大型沼气工程的沼液样本,进行了氮磷钾等理化特性分析。结果表明,由厌氧反应罐排出的沼液呈中性至微碱性,还原能力较强。猪场和奶牛场沼液中总氮分别集中在400～900 mg/L和200～400 mg/L范围内,其中铵态氮占总氮量的70%以上;总磷分别集中在30～100 mg/L和300 mg/L以上,可溶性磷含量变异较大;总钾分别集中在100～500 mg/L和500 mg/L以上。沼气工程运行时间对沼液理化性状影响显著,运行时间越长系统稳定性越好。氧化塘对沼液中颗粒物、氮素和磷素有显著的削减作用,多级氧化塘处理效果更明显。     

Esterified whey proteins can protect Lactococcus lactis against bacteriophage infection. Comparison with the effect of native basic proteins and L-polylysines

Inhibitory action of basic esterified milk whey proteins [methylated (Met) or ethylated (Et) beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) and alpha-lactalbumin (ALA)], basic native proteins (chicken egg white lysozyme and calf thymus histone), and basic protein-like substances (L-polylysines) against the activity and replication of lactococcal bacteriophages (bIL66, bIL67, and bIL170) was tested. Chemical interactions of these proteins with phage DNA were determined as well as their protective effect on the growth of a laboratory plasmid-cured Lactococcus lactis subjected to an infection by the bacteriophages. All the proteins studied showed inhibitory activity against the three bacteriophages as tested by marked reduction of their lytic activities and decreasing the replication of studied phages. Histone and Met-BLG were more active toward bIL66 and bIL67, respectively, while both proteins were highly and equally active toward bIL170. Lysozyme showed lower antiviral activity. Antiviral activity of Et-BLG was a little bit lower than that observed in the case of the Met derivative. Esterified ALA also showed considerable but slightly lower antiviral activity as compared to other proteins. L-polylysines also showed an antiviral effect against the three bacteriophages studied, their influence being highly dependent on their molecular size. The best effective size of L-polylysines was in the range 15-70 kDa. Replication of bIL67 was inhibited by the presence of esterified ALA or BLG and native basic proteins. Complete inhibition of replication of bIL67 occurred when using polylysines with molecular masses in the ranges 4-15, 15-30, and 30-70 kDa, while protein-like substrates with lower molecular masses had only a slight effect. The presence of histone and Met-BLG at a concentration of 0.13 mg/mL in the incubation medium protected L. lactis against lysis when it was subjected to an infection by bIL67 (10(5) pfu/mL). The same action was achieved by l-polylysine (15-30 kDa) used at a concentration of 0.03 mg/mL in the incubation medium.     

Antioxidant capability of polysaccharides fractionated from submerge-cultured Agaricus blazei mycelia

Five polysaccharide fractions (AB-1, AB-2, AB-3, AB-4, and AB-5) were obtained after a systemic solvent extraction and precipitation of Agaricus blazei mycelia with yields of 5.20, 9.03, 2.84, 17.47, and 0.44%, respectively. Among which, AB-1 and AB-3 demonstrated great DPPH* radical scavenging ability around 85.0 and 72.0%, respectively, at a concentration of 5 mg/mL. The ferrous ion chelating powers were even more excellent at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, reaching almost over 99.65% for fractions AB-2, AB-3, and AB-4 as compared to the reference control of citric acid (35%); at a dosage of 5 mg/mL, fraction AB-1 even showed 105% in efficiency. In terms of the absolute chelating power (ACP), the mole numbers of ferrous (Fe2+) ions chelated were inversely related with the mean molecular mass of the polysaccharides in each fraction. In addition, gel permeation chromatography analysis showed that the more potent fractions were residing in those fractions with lower molecular masses, such as fractions AB-1 (757 kDa), AB-2 (887 kDa), and AB-4 (631 kDa) etc., and surprisingly, the free radical scavenging capability was also not closely correlated with the mean molecular masses, alternately being well-associated with the solubility of polysaccharides.     

Controlling molecular weight and degree of deacetylation of chitosan by response surface methodology

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used for controlling molecular weight (MW) and degree of deacetylation (DOD) of chitosan in chemical processing. In a reduced model, MW of chitosan is y = 1736166.406 - 250.745X(1)X(2) - 265.452X(2)X(3), with R( 2) = 0.86, and DOD of chitosan is y = 30.6069 + 0.3396X(1) + 0.4948X(2) + 0.0094X(3)(2), with R( 2) = 0.89. MW of chitosan depends on the crossproduct of temperature and NaOH concentration and the crossproduct of NaOH concentration and time, and DOD depends linearly on temperature and NaOH concentration, and quadratically on time. Chitosan was widely depolymerized in a range from 1,100 kDa to 100 kDa and deacetylated from 67.3 to 95.7% by NaOH alkaline treatment. MW and DOD of chitosan were drastically decreased and increased, respectively, with increase of temperature, reaction time, and NaOH concentration. Furthermore, the rate of MW decrease and DOD increase of chitosan gradually decreased with prolonged reaction time.     

壳聚糖澄清杨梅果酒的影响因素与效果评价

以旋转正交组合试验分析了果酒的pH值、含糖量及壳聚糖用量和澄清温度对杨梅果酒澄清度的影响，建立澄清度与pH值、壳聚糖用量、含糖量试验因子间的回归方程；研究确定了杨梅干酒、甜酒酒体稳定时的澄清度和壳聚糖下胶量，并分析了果酒主要理化成分的变化。试验结果表明：果酒的pH值、含糖量和壳聚糖用量对杨梅果酒澄清度的影响显著，温度的影响不显著；与以皂土澄清相比，以壳聚糖澄清杨梅果酒，澄清速度快，酒体稳定，对果酒的主要理化成分及氨基酸含量的影响较小；杨梅干酒和甜酒酒体稳定时的澄清度分别为91.4%和85.0%，适宜下胶量分别为50 mg/L和70 mg/L。     

壳聚糖对NaCl胁迫下菜用大豆结瘤固氮的影响

【目的】研究壳聚糖对盐胁迫抑制菜用大豆结瘤固氮的缓解效应,为进一步探讨壳聚糖抗逆机理提供新的线索。【方法】以蛭石为基质,以菜用大豆‘特早王’–根瘤菌共生体系为研究对象,采用人工气候箱培养,研究NaCl胁迫下壳聚糖对菜用大豆根瘤形成、生物固氮的影响。菌种为与‘特早王’共生匹配性较好的快生根瘤菌N18。接种后的植株进行如下4个处理:1)叶面喷施清水,根部浇灌无氮营养液(CK);2)叶面喷施壳聚糖水溶液,根部浇灌无氮营养液(CTS);3)叶面喷施清水,根部浇灌溶有NaCl的无氮营养液(Cl);4)叶面喷施壳聚糖水溶液,根部浇灌溶有NaCl的无氮营养液(CTS+Cl)。上述各处理施用的水或水溶液均为无菌水配制,NaCl处理的浓度为50 mol/L,CTS处理的适宜浓度为200 mg/L。接种30天后,将大豆植株取出,用清水将根部蛭石冲洗干净后,立即测定根瘤固氮酶活性、根瘤数及根瘤鲜重,然后测定根瘤豆血红蛋白含量和根系活力,最后测植株干重和全氮量。【结果】氯化钠胁迫下,植株干重显著下降,与CK相比降幅达49%,喷施壳聚糖后(CTS+Cl),降低幅度显著减小,但依然显著低于CK (P <0.05)。无盐条件下,与CK相比,壳聚糖处理(CTS)增加植株干重的效果不明显。喷施壳聚糖显著增加了菜用大豆的根瘤数、根瘤鲜重、植株含氮量、根系活力、豆血红蛋白含量及固氮酶活性(P <0.05)。NaCl胁迫显著抑制了菜用大豆的结瘤固氮作用,其中根瘤数、根瘤鲜重分别较CK下降了79%、90%,而壳聚糖处理(CTS+Cl)使菜用大豆在盐逆境下的结瘤数、根瘤鲜重、植株全氮含量、根系活力、豆血红蛋白含量及固氮酶活性等均显著回升,增幅分别达对照的29%、20%、17%、48%、19%、21%,但均显著低于CK。【结论】非NaCl胁迫下,喷施壳聚糖可以显著促进菜用大豆结瘤,提高豆血红蛋白含量及固氮酶活性,最终增加植株含氮量。在NaCl胁迫下,外源壳聚糖可以显著缓解氯化钠胁迫导致的对根系活力和结瘤固氮的影响。因此,叶面喷施壳聚糖是促进菜用大豆结瘤固氮和生长的有效措施。     

Characterization of three chitosanase isozymes isolated from a commercial crude porcine pepsin preparation

Three chitosanases designated PSC-I, PSC-II, and PSC-III were purified from commercial pepsin preparation by sequentially applying pepstatin A-agarose affinity chromotography, DEAE-Sephacel ion-exchange chromatography, Mono Q column chromatography, and Mono P chromatofocusing. With respect to chitosan hydrolysis, the optimal pHs were 5.0, 5.0, and 4.0 for PSC-I, PSC-II, and PSC-III, respectively; optimal temperatures were 40, 40, and 30 degrees C; and the Km's were 5.2, 4.0, and 5.6 mg/mL. The molecular masses of the three isozymes were approximately 40 kDa, as estimated by both gel filtration and SDS-PAGE, and the isoelectric points were 4.9, 4.6, and 4.4, respectively, as estimated by isoelectrofocusing electrophoresis. All three chitosanase isozymes showed activity toward chitosan polymer and N,N",N' "-triacetylchitotriose oligomer. Most effectively hydrolyzed were chitosan polymers that were 68-88% deacetylated.     

Characterization and quantification of proteins in lecithins

Several methods for extraction and quantification of proteins from lecithins were compared. Extraction with hexane-2-propanol-water followed by amino acid analysis is the most suitable method for isolation and quantification of proteins from lecithins. The detection limit of the method is 15 mg protein/kg lecithin, and the quantification limit is 50 mg protein/kg. The relative repeatability limits for samples containing 0-500 and 500-5000 mg protein/kg sample were 12.6 and 7.5%, respectively. The protein recovery ranged between 101 and 123%. The protein content has been determined in different kinds of lecithins. The results were as follows: standard soy lecithins (between 232 and 1338 mg/kg), deoiled soy lecithin (342 mg/kg), phosphatydylcholine-enriched soy lecithins (not detectable and 163 mg/kg), sunflower lecithins (892 and 414 mg/kg), and egg lecithin (50 mg/kg). The sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis protein patterns of the standard soy and sunflower lecithins are very similar to those of soy flour. The protein profile of the egg lecithin shows several bands with a broad range of molecular masses. The molecular masses of the main proteins of soy lecithins and soy flour have been determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and ranged from 10.5 to 52.2 kDa. Most of the major proteins from soy and sunflower lecithins identified by MALDI-MS and electrospray tandem MS belong to the 11S globulin fraction, which is one of the main fractions of soy and sunflower seeds. In addition, the seed maturation protein P34 from the 7S globulin fraction of soy proteins has also been identified in soy lecithins. This protein has been reported as the most allergenic protein in soybean.     

6-苄基腺嘌呤对大豆内部水分分布及其生长状态的影响

为研究大豆发芽过程中加入不同浓度的6-苄基腺嘌呤（6-Benzylaminopurine,6-BA）后大豆内部水分的分布及对其生长状态的影响,以中黄13为研究对象,在相同环境条件下,用浓度分别为0（对照）、1、3、5、7、9 mg/L的6-BA溶液处理大豆。利用低场核磁共振技术（Low Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance,LF-NMR）对中黄13在浸泡8 h及萌发12、24、36、48、60 h时间点的波谱信息、图像信息进行采集,同时对豆芽的生长状态进行理化指标和形态指标检测。结果显示：与其他处理组相比,浓度为3 mg/L的6-BA溶液处理的大豆的发芽周期、吸水率、平均质量、发芽率、豆芽轴长、轴径各指标表现均为最优;低浓度（1、3 mg/L）6-BA加速大豆蛋白质的水解,导致其渗透势降低,促进大豆蛋白质体吸收更多的水分,进而促使豆芽轴长变长、轴径变粗;高浓度（5、7、9 mg/L）6-BA使大豆细胞壁在细胞的渗透作用下遭到破坏,导致大豆吸水率降低,进而抑制了大豆的生长。该研究从大豆原料的预处理开始对整个加工过程进行了研究,为豆芽的生产加工提供一定的理论支持和数据参考。     

Effect of chitosan, O-carboxymethyl chitosan, and N-[(2-hydroxy-3-N,N-dimethylhexadecyl ammonium)propyl] chitosan chloride on overweight and insulin resistance in a murine diet-induced obesity

Two water-soluble chitosan derivatives, O-carboxymethyl chitosan (O-CM-chitosan) and N-[(2-hydroxy-3-N,N-dimethylhexadecyl ammonium)propyl] chitosan chloride (N-CQ-chitosan), were prepared, and the therapeutic effects of chitosan, O-CM-chitosan, and N-CQ-chitosan on insulin resistance were simultaneously evaluated by rats fed on a high-fat diet. The parameters of high-fat diet-induced rats indicated that chitosan and its two derivatives not only have low cytotoxicity but can control overnutrition by fat and achieve insulin resistance therapy. However, the results in experiment in vivo showed that the therapeutic degree varied by the molecular weight and surface charge of chitosan, O-CM-chitosan, and N-CQ-chitosan. N-CQ-chitosan with a MW of 5 × 10(4) decreased body weight, the ratio of fat to body weight, triglyceride, fasting plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin, free fatty acid, and leptin by 11, 17, 44, 46, 44, 87, and 64% and increased fecal lipid by 95%, respectively.     

Kinetic and Removal Mechanisms of Ethylbenzene from Contaminated Solutions by Chitin and Chitosan

In this study, the efficiency of chitin and chitosan toward the removal of ethylbenzene from aqueous solutions was investigated. Batch adsorption experiments of ethylbenzene-contaminated waters (5?C200 mg/L) were carried out to evaluate the removal performance. Ethylbenzene uptake was determined from the changes in concentration, as the residual concentration was measured by gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy. The results indicated that the adsorption of ethylbenzene by chitin and chitosan were in agreement with the Langmuir isotherm, for two parameters model, and Redlich?CPeterson isotherm, for three parameters model. A maximum removal percentage of 65% of ethylbenzene can be achieved using chitosan as adsorbent material. The adsorption capacity of ethylbenzene followed the order chitosan?>?chitin. The pseudo-second order rate model described best the adsorption kinetics of ethylbenzene for the two selected adsorbents. The kinetic studies also revealed that the pore diffusion is not the only rate controlling step in the removal of ethylbenzene. Overall, the study demonstrated that chitosan is a potential adsorbent for the removal of ethylbenzene at concentrations as high as 200 mg/L.     

Comparison of physicochemical, binding, and antibacterial properties of chitosans prepared without and with deproteinization process

Physicochemical, binding, and antibacterial properties of chitosans prepared without and with deproteinization (DP) process (5, 10, 15, and 30 min at 15 psi/121 degrees C) were compared. Chitosan from DP 0 min had comparable nitrogen content, lower degree of deacetylation and solubility, but higher molecular weight and viscosity than chitosans from DP 5-30 min. The latter four chitosans showed differences only in molecular weight. Deproteinization treatment resulted in slightly decreased L values and increased a and b values compared with those of DP 0 min. Chitosan from DP 0 min had comparable water and fat-binding capacity (FBC) except for chitosan from DP 15 min, which had a higher FBC but lower dye-binding capacity than those of the four chitosans from DP 5-30 min. The antibacterial activities of chitosans against seven different bacteria showed that the inhibitory effects varied with the deproteinization time and the particular bacterium.     

微酸性电解水结合壳聚糖对水蜜桃护色保鲜的效果

为了防止水蜜桃(Prunus persicaL.Batsch)采后的果肉颜色变化而严重影响其商品价值。该研究以南汇水蜜桃为材料,分别利用自制羧甲基壳聚糖复合保鲜剂,以及微酸性电解水对水蜜桃进行护色保鲜处理,并对冷藏条件下(2℃)水蜜桃果肉颜色及与颜色品质变化相关的指标进行了检测,同时还利用核磁共振成像(MRI)合成T2-MAP图研究了冷藏开始和结束后水蜜桃内部变化的规律。结果表明,在贮藏结束后,对照组果肉颜色的L*值、H*值、C*值分别是羧甲基壳聚糖复合保鲜剂和微酸性电解水处理组的85%～91%、85%～93%和114%～122%(p<0.05)。显然,羧甲基壳聚糖复合保鲜剂和微酸性电解水由于可以抑制水果自身乙烯的产生,减少水果的细胞膜透性和T2-MAP图中T2弛豫常数的变化,降低了多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性的增加速度,减少了酚类物质的累积,进而延缓了果肉的变色。另外,与仅用电解水处理相比,结合羧甲基壳聚糖处理具有较好的护色保鲜效果。通过该研究,可以为提高采后南汇水蜜桃的果肉护色保鲜效果提供参考。     

富铝性湿润富铁土中锑对小白菜的生理响应特性以及土壤酶活性的影响

High concentrations of antimony(Sb) in soils and vegetables can cause potential health risk. However, the effect of Sb on the growth and response of crops are not well known and to date, there is still no Sb limit standard for Allitic Udic Ferrisols in China. In this study, a greenhouse experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of antimony(Sb) on biomass, physiological performances,and macro- and micronutrient element concentrations of green Chinese cabbage(Brassica chinensis L.), as well as enzyme activities,in Allitic Udic Ferrisols from Hunan Province, China. Antimony was supplied at rates of 0(control), 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 mg kg-1and thus with the background value of 1.0 mg kg-1, the Sb concentrations in the treated soil samples were 1, 3, 6, 11 21, and 51 mg kg-1, respectively. The results showed the leaf biomass and ascorbic acid content of cabbage significantly(P < 0.05) decreased by 30.6% and 48.3%, respectively, and soil urease and dehydrogenase activities also significantly(P < 0.05) decreased by 33.6%and 32.5%, respectively, when soil Sb concentration was 21 mg kg-1as compared with the control. The uptake of essential nutrient elements such as Mg, Cu, and Zn by cabbage was obviously affected, while the leaf soluble sugar content slightly changed when the soil Sb concentration exceeded 21 mg kg-1. Based on cabbage physiological responses and soil enzyme activities, the permissible concentration of 21 mg kg-1for Sb in Allitic Udic Ferrisols should be recommended.     

Effects of elicitors on the production of resveratrol and viniferins in cell cultures of Vitis vinifera L. cv Italia

Methyl jasmonate, jasmonic acid and chitosan were tested as elicitors on cell suspension cultures obtained from Vitis vinifera cv Italia to investigate their effect on stilbene production. Stilbene accumulation in the callus, grown under nonelicited conditions, was also investigated. Calli and cell suspensions were obtained in a B5 culture medium supplemented with 0.2 mg L(-1) NAA and 1 mg L(-1) KIN. Stilbene determination was achieved by HPLC/DAD/MS. Whereas callus biosynthesized only piceid, cell suspensions elicited with jasmonates produced several stilbenes, mainly viniferins. In suspended cells, methyl jasmonate and jasmonic acid were the most effective in stimulating stilbene biosynthesis, whereas chitosan was less effective; in fact, the amount of stilbenes obtained with this elicitor was not significantly different from that obtained for the control cells. The maximum production of total stilbenes was at day 20 of culture with 0.970 and 1.023 mg g(-1) DW for MeJA and JA, respectively.     

甲基叔丁基醚和Cd复合作用对小麦幼苗生理指标的影响

以小麦为试验对象,通过水培试验研究不同浓度的MTBE(0,5,10,50,100,200,300,400,500mg/L)和Cd(5mg/L)复合作用对小麦幼苗叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白、抗氧化酶系统活性、MDA和游离脯氨酸含量的影响。结果表明:叶绿素含量和可溶性蛋白的含量随着MTBE浓度升高出现先增高后降低的趋势;抗氧化酶系统(SOD、POD)和游离脯氨酸的趋势是一致的,在MTBE浓度为400,500mg/L时,SOD酶活性与对照相比降低了17%,18%,POD酶活性降低了26.8%,27.8%;在MTBE浓度为200,300,400,500mg/L时,MDA含量与对照相比有显著差异(P<0.05),分别降低了27.5%,30.6%,34.9%,36.7%;游离脯氨酸的含量在MTBE浓度为200mg/L时高于对照62.3%。     

Water sensitivity, antimicrobial, and physicochemical analyses of edible films based on HPMC and/or chitosan

Several properties of chitosan films associated or not with hydroxypropylmethylcellulose polymer (HPMC) and HPMC films incorporating or not nisin and/or milk fat were studied. Nisin addition at a level of 250 microg mL-1 and likewise chitosan at 1% (w/v) concentration were efficient for total inhibiting Aspergillus niger and Kocuria rhizophila food deterioration microorganisms. HPMC and chitosan films were transparent, whereas nisin and/or fat incorporation induced a 2-fold lightness parameter increase and, consequently, involved more white films. Measurements of tensile strength, as well as ultimate elongation, showed that chitosan and HPMC initial films were elastic and flexible. High thermal treatments and additive incorporation induced less elastic and more plastic films. Water vapor transmission as far as total water desorption rates suggested that chitosan films were slightly sensitive to water. Water transfer was decreased by <60% as compared with other biopolymer films. Regarding its hydrophobic property, the capacity of fat to improve film water barrier was very limited.