A series of L-arginine (L-Arg) modified starch (StMA-Arg) with antibacterial activity were prepared by esterification and ammonolysis with corn starch (St), methyl acrylate (MA) and L-Arg as raw materials.The reaction mechanism was discussed.The products were characterized by Raman spectroscopy (RAM), 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13CNMR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and the reaction conditions were optimized by single factor experiments.Subsequently, antibacterial films were prepared using StMA-Arg as raw material.The effects of L-Arg immobilization ratio (IR) on the hydrophobic properties, mechanical properties and antibacterial activity of films were investigated.The results showed that the mechanical properties of StMA-Arg film were significantly improved compared with native starch film.Meanwhile, the hydrophobicity of film was enhanced.When IR was 7.48%, StMA-Arg and its film showed obvious antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, and the bacteriostatic circle of film was small, which belonged to contact bacteriostasis.The results of weight loss experiments indicated that the weight loss rate of StMA-Arg (IR=7.48%) film was 27.90% after 40 days, which was much lower than that of native starch film (72.15%).The prepared StMA-Arg will be a potential substrate for environmental restoration material. © 2018, Editorial Office of FINE CHEMICALS. All right reserved.