LAUSR

Abstract In order to increase the stability and the release time of nisin, nisin/Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide nanoparticles (NTNs) were prepared and evaluated based on their uniform particle size dispersion (168–356 nm) and high loading rate (70–86%). The condensation reaction between 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride and hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) amide was successfully used to prepare novel live particles (NTN@LP). When the mass ratio of NTN and LP was 2:1, the bacterial viability (85.6 ± 2.11%) and grafting efficiency (68.8 ± 1.96%) of the NTN@LP were both relatively high. The hemolytic activity and in vitro cytotoxicity indicated that NTN@LP is safe to use in food. The NTN@LPs were then used as natural microbial preservatives in sausages. The pH value, water activity, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances value, and sensory evaluation of the sausages were used to assess the effect of NTN@LPs on the quality of the sausages during fermentation. NTN@LPs played an important role in reducing and decomposing biogenic amines (BAs) throughout the sausage fermentation process and displayed a strong inhibitory effect on histamine (>95%). Compared to that of the control group, the total amount of BAs in the 2:1 group was reduced by 67.90%. Tyramine content in the 2:1 NTN@LP group decreased by 78.16% compared to that in the control group, while tyramine content in the pure LP group was decreased by only 38.25%. These results indicate that NTN@LP can be potentially applied as a natural microbial preservative in the food industry.