Structure and antimicrobial mechanism of ɛ-polylysine–chitosan conjugates through Maillard reaction

The aim of the study was to testify the formation and antimicrobial activity of ɛ-polylysine–chitosan conjugate through Maillard reaction. The results of UV absorbance, browning index and fluorescence changes of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) between ɛ-polylysine and chitosan indicated there existed Maillard reaction between ɛ-polylysine and chitosan and the formation of their conjugate. The conjugate showed strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and beer yeast. Morphologies of E. coli and S. aureus treated with the conjugate were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results revealed that the conjugate of ɛ-polylysine and chitosan increased the permeability of the outer membrane (OM) and inner membrane (IM) and ultimately disrupted bacterial cell membranes, with the release of cellular cytoplasm.