Role of multiscale leaf surface topography in antimicrobial efficacy of chlorine-based sanitizers

Conventional washing and sanitizing approaches for leafy greens provide limited inactivation of bacteria on leaf surfaces. For a quantitative understanding the barriers to bacterial surfaces, this study develops numerical simulation approach based mass transport surface reaction kinetics. Two specific sections surface, i.e., local region with “macroscale” veins “microscale” contours without veins, were selected simulation. This also evaluates effectiveness novel sanitizer composition using chlorine bound yeast microcarriers. reduces nonspecific reactivity free promotes targeted binding microcarriers enhance leaf-attached bacteria. experimental validation, baby spinach macroscale inoculated 5 log CFU/cm2 E. coli treated these chlorine-based sanitizers 30 min, surviving samples enumerated by plate counting. Both results show ∼0.7 reduction treatment representing geometry. However, no significant was observed microscale In contrast, yeast-bound improved in both macro-and geometries enhanced stability bioaffinity. Overall, illustrates influences heterogeneity topography delivery systems