Abstract
In this research, antimicrobial polysaccharide chitosan and natural extracts were used as surface coating of a plastic laminate with an integrated whey layer on the inside. The aim was to establish the biodegradable and active concept of packaging laminates. For this purpose, chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) with embedded rosemary or cinnamon extracts were synthesised and characterised. Additionally, a whey-based laminate was functionalised: i) chitosan macromolecular solution was applied as first layer and ii) cinnamon or rosemary extracts encapsulated in CSNPs were applied as upper layer (layer wise deposition). Such functionalised whey-based laminate was physicochemically characterized in terms of elemental surface composition, wettability, morphology and oxygen permeability. The antimicrobial activity was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium verrucosum. The antioxidant properties were determined using the ABTS assay. It could be shown that after functionalization of the films with the above-mentioned strategy, the wettability was improved. Furthermore, such whey-based laminates still show excellent barrier properties, good antimicrobial activity and a remarkable antioxidative activity. In addition to the improved biodegradability, this type of lamination could also have a positive effect on the shelf-life of products packaged in such structured films.
Highlights
It is estimated that around 12 million tonnes of plastic waste per year are released from waste management systems and released into the environment worldwide, with packaging materials in the majority, consumer demand and government legislation worldwide being the driving forces behind the sustainable packaging agenda [1]
The results revealed that the inhibition of S. aureus and Listeria monocytogenes was improved by the additive effect of chitosan and garlic essential oils
The hydrodynamic diameter distribution of both extract-embedded chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) dispersions revealed quite a broad size distribution, whereas a larger size distribution with less fraction of agglomerates can be identified for the CSNPs ROS (Figure 1a)
Summary
It is estimated that around 12 million tonnes of plastic waste per year are released from waste management systems and released into the environment worldwide, with packaging materials in the majority, consumer demand and government legislation worldwide being the driving forces behind the sustainable packaging agenda [1]. Advances in nanotechnology and nanomaterials have enabled the efficient development of new active and intelligent packaging systems, which can improve the freshness, and shelf-life of food, while monitoring the entire retail system (storage conditions from the place of production to the place of consumption by the final consumer) [13]. With these developments, eco-innovative food packaging materials are rapidly becoming a strategic target of the European food sector and of a research community [14]. Recent research has focused on the composition of laminates with emphasis on the effects on biodegradability, there is still very little research on the development of functional laminates
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