Abstract
The design of multilayer systems is an innovative strategy to improve physical properties of biodegradable polymers and introduce functionality to the materials through the incorporation of an active compound into some of these layers. In this work, a trilayer film based on a sandwich of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers (PCLé) containing quercetin (Q) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) between extruded polylactic acid (PLA) films was designed with the purpose of improving thermal and barrier properties and affording antioxidant activity to packaged foods. PCLé was successfully electrospun onto 70 µm-thick extruded PLA film followed by the assembling of a third 25 µm-thick commercial PLA film through hot pressing. Optical, morphological, thermal, and barrier properties were evaluated in order to study the effect of PCL layer and the addition of Q and CNC. Bilayer systems obtained after the electrospinning process of PCL onto PLA film were also evaluated. The release of quercetin from bi- and trilayer films to food simulants was also analyzed. Results evidenced that thermal treatment during thermo-compression melted PCL polymer and resulted in trilayer systems with barrier properties similar to single PLA film. Quercetin release from bi- and trilayer films followed a similar profile, but achieved highest value through the addition of CNC.
Highlights
Nowadays, concerns from a waste management point of view due to the substantial increase in the use of plastics has resulted in a strong research interest in the development of biodegradable materials as a good strategy to minimize the environmental impact of petroleum-based materials, principally used for food packaging applications [1,2]
A trilayer film based on a sandwich of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers (PCLé) containing quercetin (Q) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) between extruded polylactic acid (PLA) films was designed with the purpose of improving thermal and barrier properties and affording antioxidant activity to packaged foods
Concerns from a waste management point of view due to the substantial increase in the use of plastics has resulted in a strong research interest in the development of biodegradable materials as a good strategy to minimize the environmental impact of petroleum-based materials, principally used for food packaging applications [1,2]
Summary
Concerns from a waste management point of view due to the substantial increase in the use of plastics has resulted in a strong research interest in the development of biodegradable materials as a good strategy to minimize the environmental impact of petroleum-based materials, principally used for food packaging applications [1,2]. Bilayer systems based on electrospun fibers of PHB and PLA blends containing catechin onto poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) compressed molded film have been developed and presented antioxidant activity in a fatty food simulant [25] The novelty of this present work is the combination of electrospinning and hotpressing techniques using polycaprolactone electrospun fibers as a vehicle to incorporate the antioxidant compound and nanocellulose. A trilayer system based on electrospun fibers of polycaprolactone (PCL) containing quercetin (Q), as a powerful antioxidant agent, and CNC between extruded PLA layers has been developed in order to improve the water vapor barrier and provide some protection to food against oxidative processes. The use of electrospinning for the development of active biodegradable packaging materials with a multilayer structure is complex, because, in most cases, there is no good adhesion between the electrospun layer and the substrate. PCL is a synthetic biodegradable semicrystalline polyester with low melting point (approximately 60 ◦C) and glass transition temperature (approximately −60 ◦C); its mechanical and barrier properties make it an interesting polymer to be added in multilayer systems [31,32,33]
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