Antimicrobial Packaging Research Articles

Development and Characterization of Pectin-Based Antimicrobial Packaging Films Containing Nanoemulsified Trans-Cinnamaldehyde

In this study, an antimicrobial plant-based film was developed using pectin which is incorporated by different percentages of nanoemulsified trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC). The nanoemulsion of TC was incorporated into pectin to form films containing TC at concentrations of 5.00%, 3.33%, 2.50% and 2.00% (w/w). The nanoemulsion of TC was formed by using soybean lecithin as an emulsifier and had a zeta potential of −57 mV and an average size of 106 nm. The analysis showed that the addition of emulsified TC enhanced the light barrier properties, but the opacity of films increased due to the increase in light absorption, coalescence, and light-scattering phenomena. Films containing the nanoemulsion of TC exhibited reduced tensile strength and elasticity due to structural discontinuities in the film network caused by the presence of the nanoemulsion of TC, while elongation at break increased for TC concentrations of 2.50% and 2.00%. The films retained their infrared spectra, but their thermal stability decreased slightly. The incorporation of TC nanoemulsion significantly reduced the glass transition temperature, as shown by the differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The active films showed antimicrobial activity against Listeria innocua and Escherichia coli, indicating their potential for various food applications.

Poly (Lactic Acid) Cellulose Biocomposite Films as Potential Antimicrobial Food Packaging Material

Polylactic acid (PLA)-cellulose bio-composites were developed by incorporating Aloe vera (A. vera) leaf gel at ratios of 100/50 and 50/50. This study aimed to evaluate their physico-chemical, barrier, and antibacterial properties for potential application in sustainable food packaging. Different composite films were prepared and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical testing, water absorption, and Ultraviolet (UV) transmission measurements. Their antibacterial activity against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus was assessed through agar diffusion and broth dilution assays. The presence of cellulose significantly affected the properties of the composite films. The 50/50 blend exhibited better chemical resistance and barrier properties compared to the 100/50 blend, highlighting the influence of cellulose content. Both ratios demonstrated promising antibacterial activity against all three target bacteria, while the 50/50 ratio showing pronounced inhibition against E. coli. These PLA-cellulose bio-composite films, with their combined UV-protective and antibacterial properties, present a sustainable and potential alternative to conventional food packaging materials, contributing to a reduced environmental pollution.

Sophorolipid‐mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles for antimicrobial starch nanocomposite films

AbstractThis study aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles with sophorolipids (AgNP‐SL) and develop starch nanocomposite films with improved properties to be explored in food packaging applications. AgNP‐SL were spherical and highly stable, with an average size of 61.46 nm. They also demonstrated potent antibacterial action against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, revealing its promising application for antimicrobial packaging. The addition of AgNP‐SL into films resulted in color changes, which could contribute to a better UV‐barrier capacity. Nanoparticles and tartaric acid incorporation resulted in a heterogeneous matrix, suggesting chemical interactions between the compounds and the biopolymer. The nanocomposite films presented thermal stability, enhanced flexibility, and antimicrobial action against E. coli, Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, and S. aureus. The combination of AgNP‐SL and tartaric acid resulted in pronounced bactericidal properties. The results demonstrate the great potential of these nanocomposite films as an effective packaging material against foodborne pathogens.

Nanocomposites and their application in antimicrobial packaging.

The advances in nanocomposites incorporating bioactive substances have the potential to transform the food packaging sector. Different nanofillers have been incorporated into polymeric matrixes to develop nanocomposite materials with improved mechanical, thermal, optical and barrier properties. Nanoclays, nanosilica, carbon nanotubes, nanocellulose, and chitosan/chitin nanoparticles have been successfully included into polymeric films, resulting in packaging materials with advanced characteristics. Nanostructured antimicrobial films have promising applications as active packaging in the food industry. Nanocomposite films containing antimicrobial substances such as essential oils, bacteriocins, antimicrobial enzymes, or metallic nanoparticles have been developed. These active nanocomposites are useful packaging materials to enhance food safety. Nanocomposites are promising materials for use in food packaging applications as practical and safe substitutes to the traditional packaging plastics.

Nanocellulose as Sustainable Bio-Nanomaterial for Packaging and Biomedical Applications

Fibrous substrates made of cellulose like paper and paperboard are widely used in packaging. Furthermore, cellulose materials are biodegradable and completely safe for the environment. The water vapor barrier properties of paper and paperboard are limited due to the hydrophilic nature of cellulose fibrils. Paper is frequently combined with other materials, such as plastics, wax, and aluminum to improve its water barrier properties. Unfortunately, these materials lead to significant environmental problems and are difficult to recycle. Nanocellulose has shown the potential of being a substitute natural nanomaterial for creating environmentally friendly and sustainable barrier materials for a range of uses, including food packaging materials and substrates for the development of functional materials. Numerous cellulose sources can be used to create nanocellulose, which offers benefits like a high aspect ratio and tensile strength, making it useful for a variety of applications. The production of nanocellulose is done through a variety of processes. Potential biomedical applications of nanocellulose are tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound dressings, biosensors, implants and prosthetics, and nerve regeneration. Its application in these fields will result in the advancement of medical technology and the improvement of healthcare outcomes. Furthermore, biodegradable materials, barrier coatings, antimicrobial packaging, sustainable packaging solutions, smart packaging, and lightweight, high-strength packaging can all be made with nanocellulose. Nanocellulose-based packaging will improve the sustainability and efficiency of the packaging supply chain while providing environmentally friendly substitutes for conventional packaging materials.

Zein Multilayer Electrospun Nanofibers Contain Essential Oil: Release Kinetic, Functional Effectiveness, and Application to Fruit Preservation.

In this study, sequential electrospinning was employed to produce a multilayer film consisting of zein nanofibers (Z) and Zataria multiflora essential oil (ZMEO) with different layers. The layers include: Z (without ZMEO), Z1 (one layer of Z + ZMEO), Z3 (three layers of Z + ZMEO), and Z5 (five layers of Z + ZMEO). Then, the effect of this antimicrobial packaging was investigated in relation to increasing the shelf life of strawberries at 4 °C for 12 days. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the fibers demonstrated a uniform and smooth structure without any beads. The use of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that ZMEO was physically encapsulated into multilayer Z, resulting in an enhancement in thermal stability. The multilayer film showed a sustained release pattern of the encapsulated ZMEO for Z3, lasting for 90 h, and Z5, lasting for 180 h. This was in contrast to the rapid release within 50 h observed with Z film. The release kinetics for Z5 showed a good correlation with both the Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas models, while for Z1 and Z3 films, Fickian diffusion was identified as the underlying mechanism. The findings of this study indicated that the multilayer film released ZMEO through a combination of diffusion and polymeric erosion. During a 12-day period of cold storage, strawberries that were treated with Z5 showed significant preservation of their anthocyanin (32.99%), antioxidant activity (25.04%), weight loss (24.46%), titratable acidity (11.47%), firmness (29.67%), and color (10.17%) compared to the control sample. The findings indicated that the sequential electrospinning technique used to create the multilayer nanofibrous film could be used in various fields, such as bioactive encapsulation, controlled release, antimicrobial packaging, and food preservation.

Streptomyces extracellular vesicles are a broad and permissive antimicrobial packaging and delivery system.

Streptomyces are the primary source of bioactive specialized metabolites used in research and medicine, including many antimicrobials. These are presumed to be secreted and function as freely soluble compounds. However, increasing evidence suggests that extracellular vesicles are an alternative secretion system. We assessed environmental and lab-adapted Streptomyces (sporulating filamentous actinomycetes) and found frequent production of antimicrobial vesicles. The molecular cargo included actinomycins, anthracyclines, candicidin, and actinorhodin, reflecting both diverse chemical properties and diverse antibacterial and antifungal activity. The levels of packaged antimicrobials correlated with the level of inhibitory activity of the vesicles, and a strain knocked out for the production of anthracyclines produced vesicles that lacked antimicrobial activity. We demonstrated that antimicrobial containing vesicles achieve direct delivery of the cargo to other microbes. Notably, this delivery via membrane fusion occurred to a broad range of microbes, including pathogenic bacteria and yeast. Vesicle encapsulation offers a broad and permissive packaging and delivery system for antimicrobial specialized metabolites, with important implications for ecology and translation.IMPORTANCEExtracellular vesicle encapsulation changes our picture of how antimicrobial metabolites function in the environment and provides an alternative translational approach for the delivery of antimicrobials. We find many Streptomyces strains are capable of releasing antimicrobial vesicles, and at least four distinct classes of compounds can be packaged, suggesting this is widespread in nature. This is a striking departure from the primary paradigm of the secretion and action of specialized metabolites as soluble compounds. Importantly, the vesicles deliver antimicrobial metabolites directly to other microbes via membrane fusion, including pathogenic bacteria and yeast. This suggests future applications in which lipid-encapsulated natural product antibiotics and antifungals could be used to solve some of the most pressing problems in drug resistance.

Eco-friendly lignin nanocomposite films as advanced UV protective and antimicrobial sustainable packaging materials

Lignin is a renewable, biodegradable, and cost-effective biopolymer present in agri-biomass. This bioresource could be utilized as a sustainable alternative for biomaterial development. Bio-based and biodegradable polymers are ideal for sustainable polymer packaging too. In this study, lignin was extracted from wheat straw using the soda method with 18–20% yield followed by its characterization. The purified soda lignin was utilized for the synthesis of lignin nanoparticles (PNSL) and copper oxide nanoparticles (L@CuONPs) followed by their incorporation into the PVA-PEG film (PVA-PEG-PNSL-L@CuONPs nanocomposite films). The antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus megaterium, and Candida albicans of nanocomposite films reached up to 5 log reduction (∼99.999%). Furthermore, the UV protective activity of these lignin-based biodegradable nanocomposite films was validated which paves its way as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable biomaterial. Moreover, lignin-based films derived from renewable sources have potential applications in the food packaging industry because of their low cost, biocompatibility, flexibility, and transparency.

A novel antioxidant and antimicrobial food packaging based on Eudragit ®/collagen electrospun nanofiber incorporated with bitter orange peel essential oil

A novel nanofiber for potential use in food packaging was developed by blending Eudragit ® (Eu) and collagen (Co) at varying ratios. Among these blends, Eu/Co nanofiber with a 70:30 ratio was identified as the optimal composition due to its bead-free morphology, fine fiber diameter (279.6 nm), high tensile stress (6.9 MPa), desirable water contact angle (WCA) of 72.18°, low water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of 423.51 g/m2 × 24 h, and favorable porosity (65.4%). To further enhance its properties, bitter orange peel essential oil (BE) (up to 100 μL/mL) was incorporated into the optimal blend, resulting in a reduced fiber diameter (211.6 nm), increased tensile stress (8.5 MPa), and enhanced porosity (73.5%). Moreover, BE induced potential antimicrobial and antioxidant activities in the nanofibers, effectively inhibiting the growth of E. coli and S. aureus bacteria while scavenging up to 50% of DPPH radicals, respectively. Importantly, none of the nanofiber samples exhibited cytotoxicity toward Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) over a 72-h period, demonstrating their biocompatibility. These findings highlight the suitability of Eu and Co-based nanofibers enriched with bioactive compounds like BE for use in food packaging applications.

Food packaging based on biodegradable polymers from seaweeds: a systematic review

As a result of its brief lifespan, food packaging contributes significantly to environmental contamination through the rapid accumulation of plastic in the environment. In order to mitigate these impacts and provide a food packaging solution that is more environmentally sustainable, researchers have created biodegradable and biobased polymers, which are presently being introduced to the market. The current state of research regarding the incorporation of seaweed into food packaging and active packaging is summarized in this study. In order to emphasize the benefits of polysaccharides and draw attention to the constraints of current research, this study also presents a synopsis of the effects of seaweed incorporation on a range of properties, including chemical, physical, thermal, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and mechanical attributes, in addition to the release of active compounds. A multitude of polysaccharides, including those found in seaweed, have the potential to enhance the antibacterial, thermal, and mechanical properties of these polymers, among other attributes. In addition to increasing hydrophilicity and mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation at break, they suggest employing it as active packaging. This is feasible as a result of the antioxidant properties of seaweed, which inhibit lipid oxidation and decrease toxic, mutagenic, or carcinogenic free radicals, thereby extending the nutritional value and shelf life of food. Certain varieties of seaweed have exhibited the capacity to impede the proliferation of bacteria classified as gram-positive and gram-negative. Thus, their prospective application as antimicrobial packaging is indicated.

NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY INTERVENTION TO ENHANCE POST HARVEST SHELF LIFE OF FRUIT CROPS

The increasing human population creates the demand quality food for health on the globe. Moreover, there is wastage of agricultural commodities like highly perishable fruits during post-harvest management via different channel points from farms to consumers. Therefore, there is a need for some alternative, cost-effective, efficient, green and eco-friendly technology to reduce post-harvest losses of fruit crops, especially for climacteric nature. Meanwhile, nanotechnology can provide a great solution of active, smart and antimicrobial activity-based nano packaging for safe transport and less deterioration of fruit quality during the long-distance market. In the present review, cum short communication will discuss some case studies in brief with reported analysis. Moreover, the biotechnological approach of gene expression at the molecular and cellular level is add insight into delaying in ripening of fruits due to nanotechnology.

Efficiency of chitosan-based edible films loaded with nano-emulsion essential oils against coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus isolated from chicken meat

To decrease the incidence of coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus (CPSA) in chicken meat, chitosan-based films incorporated with carvacrol nano-emulsion (Ch-CNE) and rosemary nano-emulsion (Ch-RNE) were used as an ideal solution to build effective antibacterial food packaging. CPSA was isolated from fresh and frozen chicken meat by using selective media. The prepared nano-emulsions were characterised using a zeta-sizer, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and investigated for anti-CPSA activity by the agar diffusion method. The filmogenic mixture was prepared at 0.78% and 1.56% concentrations and then cast, dried, and assessed for physical and mechanical properties. CPSA was isolated from fresh and frozen chicken meat in percentages of 40% and 12%, respectively. The droplet sizes of the CNE and RNE were 54.56 and 44.98 nm, respectively, whereas those by TEM were spherically shaped with average sizes of 40.33 and 48.78 nm and polydispersity indices (PDI) of 0.32 and 0.21, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of both nano-emulsions against CPSA were 0.78% and 1.56%. Incorporated nano-emulsions with chitosan-based films did not cause a great change in the film appearance and transparency except for Ch-CNE films at 1.56%, which was significantly different in comparison with the control, and enhanced the light barrier property. Additionally, it caused significantly improved changes to the film including physical (water resistance and water vapour permeabi­lity) and mechanical (tensile strength and elongation at break) properties and significantly eradicated the CPSA inoculated in chicken meat (6 log10 CFU/cm2) on the 4th day of refrigerated storage (4±1 °C) with good organoleptic properties for 12 days. The Ch-CNE at concentration 1.56% could be considered a promising antimicrobial food packaging material with considerable beneficial packaging properties, substantial inhibition of foodborne pathogen growth, and extension of food shelf life

Application of antimicrobial nanocomposite film packaging on the postharvest quality and specific spoilage organisms of mushrooms (Russula virescens)

Application of antimicrobial nanocomposite film packaging on the postharvest quality and specific spoilage organisms of mushrooms (Russula virescens)

Pembuatan dan Karakterisasi Kertas Kemasan Berbasis Ampas Kunyit dan Jahe Merah dengan Variasi Konsentrasi Natrium Hidroksida

The production of herbal beverages such as ginger, turmeric, and other spices generates waste that is commonly discarded. The cellulose content in red ginger is about 60-80%, and in turmeric, it is 50%. The high cellulose content makes red ginger and turmeric waste suitable for use as raw materials for paper production. The objective of this research is to determine the optimum conditions for making paper based on red ginger and turmeric waste. The pulp formation process was carried out using the Semi-Mechanical Method, which involves the addition of chemical solutions and grinding, on a mixture of turmeric and red ginger waste (60:40) with variations of NaOH concentration at 8%, 10%, and 13% (w/v). The papermaking process began with refining and drying the waste, cooking the pulp, adding water and kaolin filler, and then printing. Characterization included antibacterial testing, tensile strength, and grammage. Based on the pulp characterization results at the optimum NaOH concentration of 8%, the moisture content was 8.89%, cellulose content was 49.28%, and lignin content was 9.28%. These parameters comply with the national standard (SNI) for packaging paper. The paper characterization results showed a tensile index of 2.12 Nm/gram, an antibacterial inhibition zone of 5 mm, and a grammage of 13 g/m2. This research indicates that the NaOH concentration influences the moisture, cellulose, and lignin content. Furthermore, based on the characterization results, paper made from turmeric and ginger waste has the potential to be used as antimicrobial packaging paper.

Supercritical fluid and cocrystallization technologies for designing antimicrobial food packaging PLA nanocomposite foams loaded with eugenol cocrystals with prolonged release

Searching for effective strategies to modify the release rate of essential oil derivatives is one of the main challenges in designing prolonged-release antimicrobial food packaging materials. Herein, supercritical fluid technology and cocrystallization engineering were used to develop novel eugenol (EU) prolonged-release poly (lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposite foams. Eugenol-phenazine (EU-PHE) cocrystals, produced by a solvent-free mechanochemical method, were incorporated by supercritical solvent impregnation (SSI) inside PLA nanocomposite foams with different contents of Cloisite30B® (C30B). The effect of the cocrystallization process and C30B content on the EU release kinetics and its relation with their antimicrobial activity by direct contact (anti-attachment) and release in broth culture were studied. The deposition of isolated spherical-shaped micrometric EU-PHE cocrystal particles with 0.8 µm average diameter inside the pores of PLA foams was evidenced by XRD, SEM, DSC, and TGA analyses. The release mechanism of EU and its cocrystal was defined as a quasi-Fickian diffusion process successfully described by the Korsmeyer-Peppas model with release rate constants up to 3.6-fold lower than the release rate constant of pure EU. The impregnated foam samples completely inhibited the attachment of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Enteritidis and provided prolonged antimicrobial activity in broth culture against both food-borne pathogens. This study suggests a new, environmentally friendly method for designing prolonged-release antimicrobial food packaging materials.

Preparation of photosensitive antibacterial nanocomposite film and its preservation effect on pork loin

Enhancing antimicrobial activity of food packaging is highly desirable and challenging. In this study, biodegradable and effective antibacterial nanocomposite films were prepared by incorporating self-assembled nanoparticles of the natural photosensitizer berberine and 3,4,5-methoxy cinnamic acid into the gelatin-based film matrixes. The self-assembled berberine-3,4,5-methoxycinnamic acid nanoparticles (BT NPs) exhibit aggregation-induced emission activity when exposed to visible light, resulting in enhanced antibacterial activity. With the addition of BT NPs, the nanocomposite films showed improved UV shielding ability, hydrophobicity, and water vapor transmission rate. More importantly, the nanocomposite films utilized sunlight to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thus inactivated all the inoculated Staphylococcus aureus within merely 15 min. Additionally, even under dark, NPs exhibited adequate antimicrobial activity. Finally, the antimicrobial effect of packaging tests on pork tenderloin samples was confirmed, as the total bacterial count of the samples remained below 6 log CFU/g on the 10 d. Therefore, this study offers new perspectives on the development of natural and potent antimicrobial food packaging.

Designing antimicrobial active packaging films based on chitosan plus fungus comb ethyl acetate extract from Indo-Malayan termite mounds

Abstract. Witasari LD, Lizar DP, Florencia OM, Ramadhan A, Fiana NAO, Supriyadi S, Pratiwi SUT, Nandika D, Karlinasari L, Arinana A, Batubara I, Santoso D, Rachmayanti Y, Firmansyah D, Sudiana IK, Hertanto DM, Rachmayanti Y, Firmansyah D. 2023. Designing antimicrobial active packaging films based on chitosan plus fungus comb ethyl acetate extract from Indo-Malayan termite mounds. Biodiversitas 24: 5947-5955. Antimicrobial active packaging systems incorporate antimicrobial compounds into polymer films, i.e., chitosan, thus suppress spoilage microorganism growth in foods. Chitosan films itself cannot prevent microbial growth, thus other antimicrobial agent must be added. Fungus comb extract from Indo-Malayan termite (Macrotermes gilvus (Hagen, 1858)) mounds is a potential active organic antimicrobial compound, which can be incorporated into chitosan films. The purpose of this study was to develop and characterize active packaging films based on chitosan plus an antimicrobial fungus comb ethyl acetate extract. Films contained 1% chitosan and fungus comb ethyl acetate extract (0.5, 1, 2, and 5% w/v). Notably, films containing 2 and 5% extracts inhibited Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), but not fungi. Films plus 2% extract showed a thickness, tensile strength, and strain of 0.13 mm, 2.15 MPa, and 32.55%, respectively. Films had a moisture content of 0.26%, water solubility of 2.68%, swelling property of 2.37%, and water vapor permeability (WPV) of 3.31×10?10 g.m?1s?1.Pa?1. They displayed smooth morphology but no new functional groups. Thus, chitosan plus 2% of fungus comb ethyl acetate extract can be used in antimicrobial active packaging films for food application. It could be applied as a green alternative to prolong the shelf-life of food products.

Ultrasonically functionalized chitosan-gallic acid films inactivate Staphylococcus aureus through envelope-disruption under UVA light exposure

The significant threat of foodborne pathogens contamination has continuously promoted the development of efficient antimicrobial food packaging materials. Here, an antimicrobial film was prepared with gallic acid-grafted-chitosan (CS/GA) that obtained by a two-step ultrasound method. The resultant films exhibited good transparency, improved UV barrier performance, and enhanced mechanical strength. Specifically, with the grafting of 1.2 % GA, the UV blocking ability of CS/GA film at 400 nm was significantly increased by 19.7 % and the tensile strength was nearly two times higher than that of CS film. Moreover, the CS/GA films exhibited an inspiring photoactivated bactericidal ability under 400 nm UVA light irradiation that eradicated almost 99.9 % of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) cells within 60 min. To gain more insights into the antibacterial mechanism, the treated S. aureus cells were further investigated by visualizing bacterial ultrastructure and analyzing membrane properties. The results pointed to the peptidoglycan layer as the primary action target when bacteria come into contact with CS/GA films. Afterward, the intracellular oxidative lesions, disrupted bacterial integrity, and disordered membrane functional properties collectively resulted in eventual cell death. The findings revealed the unique peptidoglycan targeting and membrane disruptive mechanisms of CS/GA films, confirming the application values in controlling foodborne pathogens.

Development and characterization of peppermint essential oil/rice husk fibre/ corn starch active biocomposite film and its performance on bread preservation

Active packaging with antimicrobial characteristics can inhibit bacterial growth and prolong the shelf life of packaged food products. Numerous attempts have been made to develop biobased eco-friendly polymer packaging films to minimize the utilization of synthetic antimicrobial packaging. However, polymer-based packaging has limited physio-mechanical properties, making it a poor candidate for packaging applications. In this study, an antimicrobial fibre-reinforced biocomposite was fabricated using rice husk fibre (RH) in the starch matrix to enhance the properties of packaging film. Peppermint essential oil (PEO), extracted from peppermint leaves, was incorporated into the film to enable antimicrobial properties. Rice husk fibre was varied from 10% to 50%, PEO ranged from 1% to 6%, and influence on various properties of biocomposite film was analysed. Developed biocomposite films were evaluated using XRD, FT-IR, SEM, water contact angle, and surface roughness. Furthermore, mechanical properties, water solubility, moisture content, colour properties, and optical barrier properties of biocomposite film were also calculated. In mechanical properties, biocomposite film that has 10% rice husk fibres, and 1% PEO showed the maximum tensile strength and elastic modulus of 2.25 MPa, and 57.4 MPa, respectively. In the biodegradability test, the degradation rate was reduced with reinforcing rice husk fibres and incorporation of PEO. The fabricated biocomposite films exhibit a zone of inhibition against Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus and B. subtilis) as well as Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and K. pneumoniae). Moreover, fabricated biocomposite was used as bread packaging and compared with synthetic and open packaging for shelf-life analysis. In observation, it was found that it has increased the shelf life of packed bread and reduced the growth of food-borne microbes in bread. This fabricated antimicrobial biocomposite is an eco-friendly packaging film that may reduce the food wastage and environmental impact of packaging materials by utilizing agricultural waste.

Calcined waste shells as a promising, eco‐friendly adsorbent, antimicrobial, food preservative, and food packaging material: A mini review

AbstractConventionally, waste shells from aquaculture are dumped as a low‐value byproduct, which deteriorates ecosystems and threatens public health. Therefore, the reuse of waste shells is a pivotal issue. Calcination (≥700°C) can thermally convert calcium carbonate (CaCO3; the main component in waste shells) into active calcium oxide (CaO). This calcined shell powder has adsorption properties, antimicrobial properties, and biocompatibility, which can be used as a functional biofiller in food packaging. Calcined shell powder is also ecofriendly and nontoxic at the concentrations required for food processing and packaging, and has been approved as a food additive in Japan. Thus, this review comprehensively discusses the calcination process, compositions, adsorption and antimicrobial properties (and the underlying mechanisms), and applications of calcined shell powder in food processing and packaging.Practical applicationsThe active ingredient of calcined shell powder is active calcium oxide (CaO), which has functional abilities such as adsorption and antimicrobial properties, and is also ecofriendly and nontoxic to humans at the concentrations required for food processing and packaging. Its application as functional filler for food preservation and packaging films, the benefits, and the related mechanisms behind was the finding of this study.