Non-conventional starch nanoparticles: Novel avenues towards improving sustainability of the food packaging sector

Abstract

BackgroundA promising and sustainable trend has emerged in the food packaging industry involving the integration of nanofillers into biopolymers. This novel approach seeks to enhance biodegradability and foster environmental sustainability in the packaging sector. However, growing concern over metal nanoparticle migration in food-contact materials and their potential health risks has prompted a discussion about the safe integration of nanomaterials. Nanoparticles (NPs) derived from natural biopolymers, such as starch, cellulose, chitosan, and proteins, present a promising avenue to address these concerns and enable the development of nanocomposites tailored for safe and sustainable food packaging applications. Scope and approachThis review explores the recent technological advancements in the development and application of non-conventional starch NPs (SNPs) in nanocomposite materials for food packaging. Traditionally, SNPs are derived from corn, potato, cassava, and wheat; however, untapped agricultural sources, such as tapioca, sago, arrowroot, yam, and beans, offer opportunities to diversify agricultural resources for SNPs preparation. The emphasis was on investigating synthetic routes to enhance their properties and explore their packaging applications. Key findings and conclusionsNotably, non-conventional starch from underexploited agricultural products holds potential as an alternative starch source, paving the way towards increased usage of diverse agricultural resources to promote sustainable packaging practices. Future trends include overcoming challenges, exploring non-conventional starch sources, optimizing processing routes to enhance nanoparticle properties, and expanding their applications in food packaging to sustainably meet the demands of the industry in an eco-friendly manner.