The antioxidant/antimicrobial capacity and physical properties of potato starch dispersions enriched with polysorbate-thymol micelle were investigated. Results showed that potato starch have radical scavenging and antibacterial activities only in the presence of polysorbate-thymol but with lower level than polysorbate-thymol alone. The decrease in the antioxidant and antibacterial activities may be attributed to the encapsulation of thymol in the starch chain. Polysorbate-thymol caused a decrease in the particle size and viscosity and an increase in the zeta potential of the starch dispersions. Futhermore, polysorbate-thymol leads to a decrease in the tensile strength, rigidity and swelling, and an increase in the flexibility, solubility and water vapour permeability of the starch films. Atomic force microscopy revealed polysorbate-thymol micelles in the film matrix enclosed by polysaccharide crystal. Scanning electron microscope analysis indicated that polysorbate-thymol caused a coarse film microstructure with the distributed crack in the film matrix. Based on the results, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the starch-polysorbate-thymol make starch film suitable for food packaging and preservation.
