Modeling the lysozyme release kinetics from antimicrobial films intended for food packaging applications

The aim of this work is to develop a mathematical model to predict the lysozyme release kinetics from crosslinked polyvinylalcohol (PVOH) into an aqueous solution. The model was developed by taking into account both the diffusion of water molecules into the polymeric film and the counter-diffusion of the incorporated antimicrobial agent from the film into the aqueous solution. In particular, it was considered that the lysozyme release from a swelling polymer could be regarded as "anomalous diffusion" with moving boundary conditions. The water sorption kinetics of 4 films, differing for the degree of crosslink, were determined at ambient temperature (25 degreesC). The results obtained by fitting the model to the experimental data are satisfactory.