Active Packaging Applications Research Articles

Carrageenan/agar-based functional film integrated with zinc sulfide nanoparticles and Pickering emulsion of tea tree essential oil for active packaging applications

A functional carrageenan/agar-based film was prepared by combining tea tree oil Pickering emulsion (PET) and zinc sulfide nanoparticles (ZnSNP). PET was formulated using tea tree essential oil stabilized with nanocellulose fibers. PET and ZnSNPs were uniformly dispersed in the binary polymer matrix and formed compatible films. The incorporation of ZnSNPs improved the mechanical strength, whereas PET slightly decreased the strength, but the combined addition of ZnSNP and PET maintained the mechanical strength with slightly improved flexibility. The addition of ZnSNP and PET, alone or in combination, slightly improved the water vapor barrier, water resistance, and thermal stability of the film. In addition, the carrageenan/agar-based composite membrane showed distinct antioxidant and antibacterial activity. The ZnSNP and PET incorporated binary composite films with enhanced physical and functional properties are likely to be used in active food packaging applications.

Nanoclay and Polystyrene Type Efficiency on the Development of Polystyrene/Montmorillonite/Oregano Oil Antioxidant Active Packaging Nanocomposite Films

Over the years, there has been an effort to extend food shelf life so as to reduce global food waste. The use of natural biodegradable materials in production procedures is more and more adopted nowadays in order to achieve cyclic economy targets and improve environmental and human health indexes. Active packaging is the latest trend for food preservation. In this work, polystyrene was mixed with natural NaMt, OrgNaMt montmorillonite, and oregano essential oil to develop a new packaging film. Strength, oxygen and water-vapour permeation, blending and homogeneity, and antimicrobial and antioxidant activity were measured as basic parameters for food packaging films characterization. Instruments such as a tensile measurement instrument, XRD, FTIR, DMA, OPA (Oxygen Permeation Analyzer), and other handmade devices were used. Results showed that polystyrene could be modified, improved, and exhibits food odour prevention characteristics in order to be used for applications on food active packaging. The material with the code name PS5OO@OrgMt qualified between the tested samples as the most promising material for food active packaging applications.

Development of poly(vinyl alcohol)/starch/ethyl lauroyl arginate blend films with enhanced antimicrobial and physical properties for active packaging

Active packaging films have emerged as alternatives to replace petroleum-based packaging materials. In this work, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/starch/ethyl lauroyl arginate (LAE) films possessing enhanced properties were prepared. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that PVA and starch were compatible, the concentrations of LAE greatly affected the structural integrity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction showed that the inclusion of LAE did not significantly affect the intermolecular interactions and crystal structures of the polymer matrix. With an increase of the LAE content, the tensile strength (TS) was slightly decreased due to the altered microstructures, the elongation at break (EB) significantly increased ascribed to the synergistic effect of acetic acid, glycerol and LAE. The values of TS and EB were 17.25 MPa and 586.08%, respectively when LAE was 10%. Active films showed good barrier properties from UV while retaining the transmittance in the visible light region. The films containing 1% of LAE exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), the inhibition zone of bacterial growth gradually expanded with increasing LAE content. This study demonstrates the potential of using LAE as the antibacterial agent for synthesizing natural-based polymeric films for active packaging applications.

Gelatin/agar-based functional film integrated with Pickering emulsion of clove essential oil stabilized with nanocellulose for active packaging applications

Highly stable nanosized Pickering emulsion (PE) was prepared using clove bud natural essential oil stabilized with nanocellulose fiber. The PE was used to prepare gelatin/agar-based functional films. The PE was compatible with the polymer matrix and was evenly dispersed in the polymer matrix. The inclusion of PE slightly improved the mechanical strength and somewhat reduced the vapor barrier properties of the gelatin/agar-based film, with no significant difference in thermal stability. The addition of PE also provided excellent UV-barrier properties without sacrificing the transparency of the film. Besides, the composite film showed potent antioxidant activities. The PE-added gelatin/agar-based films with improved physical and functional properties are likely to be used in active food packaging applications. • Pickering emulsion was prepared using clove essential oil stabilized with nanocellulose fiber. • Gelatin/agar-based bioactive film was fabricated integrated with the Pickering emulsion. • The film showed good UV protection properties with high transparency. • The mechanical properties of the gelatin/agar film have been improved. • The Pickering emulsion added gelatin/agar film showed high antioxidant activity.

TOCNC-g-PEI nanoparticle encapsulated oregano essential oil for enhancing the antimicrobial activity of cellulose nanofibril packaging films

A nanocellulose-based film with excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant activity was developed by adding Pickering emulsion which was stabilized by functionalized particles. First, TOCNC-g-PEI nanoparticles were prepared by grafting polyethyleneimine (PEI) onto TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanocrystals (TOCNCs) and used to stabilize oregano essential oil (OEO) Pickering emulsions. The contact angle of TOCNC-g-PEI nanoparticles was 79.7°, and the minimum inhibitory concentration against L.monocytogenes and E.coli was 0.50 mg/mL. Second, the emulsion droplets were stably dispersed in cellulose nanofibril (CNF) suspensions owing to the depletion stability of CNFs. Finally, the films were dried and emulsion droplets formed oil core/CNF shell microcapsules in active CNF films and completely encapsulated OEO in active CNF films. The inhibition rates of the film against L.monocytogenes and E.coli were 97.28% and 97.23%, respectively. The influence of Pickering emulsion on the active CNF films was discussed. The developed active CNF films have promising application in food preservation and active packaging.

Electrohydrodynamic processing of natural polymers for active food packaging: A comprehensive review.

The active packaging materials fabricated using natural polymers is increasing in recent years. Electrohydrodynamic processing has drawn attention in active food packaging due to its potential in fabricating materials with advanced structural and functional properties. These materials have the significant capability in enhancing food's quality, safety, and shelf-life. Through electrospinning and electrospray, fibers and particles are encapsulated with bioactive compounds for active packaging applications. Understanding the principle behind electrohydrodynamics provides fundamentals in modulating the material's physicochemical properties based on the operating parameters. This review provides a deep understanding of electrospray and electrospinning, along with their advantages and recent innovations, from food packaging perspectives. The natural polymers suitable for developing active packaging films and coatings through electrohydrodynamics are intensely focused. The critical properties of the packaging system are discussed with characterization techniques. Furthermore, the limitations and prospects for natural polymers and electrohydrodynamic processing in active packaging are summarized.

Carboxymethyl cellulose-based multifunctional film combined with zinc oxide nanoparticles and grape seed extract for the preservation of high-fat meat products

CMC-based functional films incorporated with grape seed extract (GSE, 5 wt% of CMC) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs, 1, 2, and 3 wt% of CMC) were fabricated via the solution casting method. The addition of GSE provided an excellent antioxidant activity to the CMC-based films, exhibiting nearly 95% and 25% scavenging activity against ABTS and DPPH oxidative free radicals. It also gave the film 100% UV protection. On the other hand, the addition of ZnONPs increased the mechanical and water vapor barrier properties with potent antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens, E. coli, and L. monocytogenes. High-fat beef was packaged in the CMC-based film and stored refrigerated for 15 days to investigate quality changes. The number of psychrotrophic bacteria in the meat wrapped with CMC/ZnO3%/GSE film was 5.9 Log CFU/g, within the acceptable range. In addition, the film virtually prevented lipid oxidation in the meat when refrigerated, reducing it by 88%. Therefore, the CMC/ZnO3%/GSE film can be used as a sustainable material in active packaging applications of high-fat meat products such as beef.

Preparation of pectin/agar-based functional films integrated with zinc sulfide nano petals for active packaging applications

Here we report on the robust synthesis of zinc sulfide nanoparticles (ZnSNP) using a simple one-pot reaction. The prepared ZnSNP was characterized and confirmed to be a petal-shaped nanoparticle. The ZnSNP was added to fabricate the pectin/agar-based functional composite film. The integration of ZnSNP has greatly improved the physical properties of the film, such as mechanical and UV protection properties, without significantly changing the transparency of the film. The addition of the nanofillers did not affect the film's hydrophobicity, water vapor barrier, and thermal properties. Moreover, the composite film showed intense antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogenic bacteria, E. coli and L. monocytogenes. The functional bio-nanocomposite films based on pectin/agar have high potential in active packaging applications.

Gelatin-Based Film Integrated with Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles for Active Packaging Applications

Gelatin-based multifunctional composite films were prepared by reinforcing various amounts of copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuSNP, 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 wt %), and the effect of CuSNP on the film was evaluated by analyzing its physical and antibacterial properties. CuSNP makes a compatible film with gelatin. The inclusion of CuSNP significantly enhanced the UV blocking, mechanical strength, and water vapor barrier properties of the gelatin film. The inclusion of CuSNP of 1.0 wt % or less did not affect the transparency of the gelatin film. When 2.0 wt % of CuSNP was mixed, the hydrophilicity of the gelatin film did not change noticeably, but its thermal properties slightly increased. Moreover, the gelatin/CuSNP composite film presented effective antibacterial activity against E. coli and some activity against L. monocytogenes. Gelatin/CuSNP composite films with better functional and physical properties can be used for food packaging or biomedical applications.

Mechanical and antimicrobial properties of high amylose corn starch/konjac glucomannan composite film enhanced by cinnamaldehyde/β-cyclodextrin complex

In the present research, cinnamaldehyde/β-cyclodextrin (CIN/β-CD) complex (0.5 %–3.0 %, w/v) were added into the composite film of high amylose corn starch (HAS) and konjac glucomannan (KGM) and the structural, physicochemical and bacteriostatic properties of the films were investigated. The results showed that the presence of CIN/β-CD complex decreased the crystallinity and short-range order structure of high amylose corn starch/konjac glucomannan (HAS/KGM) composite film. The CIN/β-CD complex also enhanced the polymeric interaction between the two polysaccharides, which improved the thermal ability of the composite film. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed compact and even surface and cross-section structure of the composite films when the complex addition was lower, while displayed heterogeneous aggregations of CIN/β-CD complex in the film with some pores after excessive addition of the complex. The mechanical strength of the film increased significantly from 14.51 MPa to 23.88 MPa and the water vapor resistance was improved due to the changes in skeleton structure of the composite film. The composite films exhibited obvious inhibition activity to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, which displayed a promising application in food active packaging.

Spent Coffee Grounds Extract for Active Packaging Production

The interest in searching an alternative to the condition of for spent coffee is continuously growing in the scientific community. Indeed, the high content of polyphenols, caffeine, and tannins in this residue can potentially lead to pollution for water and soil, since they show toxicity for various plants, microorganisms, and aquatic organisms. Nevertheless, these same antioxidants find wide applications in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, especially caffeine and chlorogenic acid, thanks to their ability to prevent or slow down the oxidation of the substrate.In the context of active packaging, the use of compounds recovered from spent coffee grounds is promising, since they allow extending the shelf-life of food while maintaining its sensory and nutritional properties.In this work, High Pressure and Temperature Extraction process was used to extract antioxidants from spent coffee grounds. The obtained extract was used for the fabrication of zein-based films intended for active packaging applications. Biopolymer films loaded with spent coffee grounds extract were prepared using two different techniques: solvent casting and electrospinning. Films were characterized in terms of morphology and antiradical power of the released active components.Considering the large amount of exhausted coffee produced annually and the global extension of the coffee industry, the proposed application could represent a profitable alternative to conventional waste disposal, as well as an advantage for the environment and the food industry.

Pine needles lignocellulosic ethylene scavenging paper impregnated with nanozeolite for active packaging applications

The pines needle falls approximately 2–3 ha−1 year−1 on the forest floors resulting in a considerable amount of lignocellulosic biowaste. The present study aimed to develop pine needles based lignocellulosic active paper and investigate the effect of 5, 20, and 30% (v/w) nano zeolite addition on the physical, mechanical, and microstructural property of the papers. The developed papers were characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and X-ray diffraction. As the zeolite concentration was increased from 5% to 30% in the paper, enhanced water permeability was seen from 5.18 ± 0.34 - 3.88 ± 0.33 g/cm2/day (PN/ZL 30% paper). The addition of 5% zeolite increased the tensile and burst strength from 19.53 ± 3.53 Nm/g and 3.63 ± 0.23 kg/cm2, respectively. The porosity was increased from 340 ± 20 to 1170 ± 60, and Cobb value increased from 338.3 ± 1.5- 406.7 ± 1.5 g/m2. The alterations in terms of surface microstructure in the paper with 20, 30% zeolite were noticed whereas XRD illustrated the high compatibility among the lignocellulosic network of pines and zeolite. The pine needle paper with 30% zeolite possessed remarkable ethylene scavenging properties (62%), opening a way to valorize pine needle waste for food packaging application.

Development of catechol‐functionalized chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite films incorporated with dual network coated layered clay for active packaging applications

AbstractIn order to solve the problems of traditional plastic packaging materials like poor degradability and insufficient active packaging function, this study successfully designs and synthesizes tannic acid (TA)‐titanium (Ti) dual network coated hydrotalcite‐like layered clay (LDHs@TA‐Ti) and catechol grafted chitosan (C‐CS) based on the principle of mussel bionics. And a novel idea is first put forward to fabricate LDHs@TA‐Ti/C‐CS/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite films by solution casting method. The result of infrared and thermal analysis indicate that strong interfacial interaction is formed in the nanocomposites, which leads to the limitation of molecular chain movement and the increase of glass transition temperature. Although the addition of LDHs@TA‐Ti significantly increases the crystallization temperature, the crystallinity does not change significantly. The water resistance, UV barrier, tensile strength and antibacterial properties of the final nanocomposite films are improved significantly, and all the films show good transparency in the visible range. Especially when the addition amount of LDHs@TA‐Ti reaches 1 wt%, compared with C‐CS/PVA composite film, the UV (at 300 nm) barrier property and tensile strength are increased by 36.3% and 45.1% respectively. Therefore, LDHs@TA‐Ti/C‐CS/PVA nanocomposite films show great potential as environmentally friendly active packaging films or coatings in extending the shelf life of food products.

Functional Properties of Antimicrobial Neem Leaves Extract Based Macroalgae Biofilms for Potential Use as Active Dry Packaging Applications.

Antimicrobial irradiated seaweed–neem biocomposite films were synthesized in this study. The storage functional properties of the films were investigated. Characterization of the prepared films was conducted using SEM, FT-IR, contact angle, and antimicrobial test. The macroscopic and microscopic including the analysis of the functional group and the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry test revealed the main active constituents present in the neem extract, which was used an essential component of the fabricated films. Neem leaves’ extracts with 5% w/w concentration were incorporated into the matrix of seaweed biopolymer and the seaweed–neem bio-composite film were irradiated with different dosages of gamma radiation (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 kGy). The tensile, thermal, and the antimicrobial properties of the films were studied. The results revealed that the irradiated films exhibited improved functional properties compared to the control film at 1.5 kGy radiation dosage. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, and toughness exhibited by the films increased, while the elongation of the irradiated bio-composite film decreased compared to the control film. The morphology of the irradiated films demonstrated a smoother surface compared to the control and provided surface intermolecular interaction of the neem–seaweed matrix. The film indicated an optimum storage stability under ambient conditions and demonstrated no significant changes in the visual appearance. However, an increase in the moisture content was exhibited by the film, and the hydrophobic properties was retained until nine months of the storage period. The study of the films antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (SA), and Bacillus subtilis (BS) indicated improved resistance to bacterial activities after the incorporation of neem leaves extract and gamma irradiation. The fabricated irradiated seaweed–neem bio-composite film could be used as an excellent sustainable packaging material due to its effective storage stability.

Nanocellulose functionalized with cinnamon essential oil: A potential application in active biodegradable packaging for strawberry

The COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated existing problems associated with the high consumption of plastic products and their incorrect disposal, resulting in serious social, economic, and environmental problems. The development of biodegradable packaging has been growing in recent years due to the demand for food safety and quality. This work aimed to prepare PBAT active films loaded with cellulose nanofibers (CNF) embedded with cinnamon essential oil (EO) by the wire extension method. The possible interactions between NC-EO-PBAT were investigated, and the results confirmed the EO presence that physically interacted with the PBAT matrix, altering the polymeric molecular conformations. All films showed high thermal stability, being adequate for application in the food industry. The films containing the modified-CNF showed a Fickian controlled diffusion, and the higher essential oil release was verified for lower filler contents. The modified-CNF decreased the water vapor permeability due to the oil hydrophobic oil and good filler dispersion, which impacted the film's performance as packaging for strawberries. The fruits packed in films with 0.5 wt% of modified-CNF have lower weight loss after 15 days of storage, better freshness preservation, and no fungal attack. The results indicated that the developed films improved the strawberries' qualities and have antimicrobial properties against Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes, offering a potential alternative to synthetic materials as food packaging.

Fabrication of bioactive binary composite film based on gelatin/chitosan incorporated with cinnamon essential oil and rutin

Chitosan/gelatin-based functional films were fabricated by incorporating cinnamon essential oil (CEO) and rutin for active packaging application. The functional fillers were evenly distributed in the polymer matrix and formed a film compatible with the chitosan/gelatin polymer matrix. However, the functional material did not affect the physical properties such as mechanical, thermal, and water vapor barrier properties of the film but exhibited high light transmittance with enhanced UV blocking properties. The rutin release from the composite film was evaluated using various food simulant solutions and found that rutin was released faster in acidic and alcoholic solutions. The chitosan/gelatin-based composite film showed potent antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. In addition, the combined use of CEO and rutin showed a synergistic effect of functional properties. The CEO and rutin-added chitosan/gelatin-based films with improved physical and functional properties can be used for active food packaging applications.

Antimicrobial activity of various essential oils and their application in active packaging of frozen vegetable products

Essential oils (EOs) have potential utility as clean-label food preservatives due to their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. In this study, various EOs were screened for their antimicrobial activities against Listeria grayi in vitro. The susceptibility of L. monocytogenes to select EOs was compared with that of L. grayi. The effectiveness of the selected EOs in inhibiting the growth of L. grayi on vegetable products was also investigated. The results showed that cinnamon and oregano EOs and carvacrol were effective in the vapor phase in inhibiting the growth of L. grayi as well as L. monocytogenes, with the susceptibility of L. monocytogenes to cinnamon EO being slightly higher than that of L. grayi. The packaging of green peppers with cellulose stickers impregnated with cinnamon EO at 556 μL/Lheadspace reduced the Listeria count to 1 log CFU/g after 2 days of storage as compared to 7.5 log CFU/g for controls.

Rheology of cellulose nanofibrils and silver nanowires for the development of screen-printed antibacterial surfaces

TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl)-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (T-CNF) and silver nanowires (Ag NWs) were formulated as active inks. Their rheological properties were investigated to design optimal conditions for processing by the screen-printing process, with the aim of preparing antibacterial patterns. Rheological experiments mimicking the screen-printing process were applied to different ink formulations to investigate their thixotropic and viscosity properties. The experiments conducted at 1wt% total mass content and different ratios of T-CNF/Ag NWs showed that the recovery (%), the recovery time and the viscosity are formulation dependent. A ratio 2:1 (T-CNF/Ag NWs) and total mass content of 2.5wt% were then selected to prepare an ink suitable for screen printing. Printing defects were corrected by addition of water-soluble polymer hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). The selected formulation printed on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate displayed a 67.4% antibacterial activity against E. coli in a standard contact active test, with a transparency superior to 70%, proving the promising features of the developed solution for active packaging applications.

Active biopackaging produced from by-products and waste from food and marine industries.

The agro‐food industry cannot today do without packaging to preserve and above all market its products. Plastic materials coming mainly from petrochemicals have taken a predominant place in the food packaging sector. They have become indispensable in many sectors, from fresh to frozen products, from meat and dairy products to fruit and vegetables or almost‐ready meals. Plastics are cheap, their lightness reduces transport costs, and their convenience is fundamental for out‐of‐home catering. However, plastics pose serious end‐of‐life issues. The development of materials that are more respectful of the consumer and the environment has become a major issue. In addition, the agro‐food industries generate significant quantities of waste or by‐products that are poorly or not at all recovered. However, these contain constituents that can be extracted or transformed to be compatible with packaging uses. Many molecules from waste materials are of particular interest for the development of active packaging such as biopolymers, bioactive agents, inorganic compounds, fibers, or nano‐ and micro‐objects. Providing bioactive functions such as antioxidants or antimicrobials can extend the shelf life of food while reducing the sophistication of plastic materials and thus improving their recycling. This article summarizes the main materials and constituents that can be recovered from waste and illustrates through several examples what could be the applications of such new, sustainable, and active packaging.

PLLA‐ZIF‐8 metal organic framework composites for potential use in food applications: Production, characterization and migration studies

PLLA‐15% ZIF‐8 MOF composites were fabricated by melt compounding followed by injection molding for active packaging applications. The injection‐molded discs were then converted into films by compression molding. The samples were morphological and thermally characterized. Migration studies using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry were conducted on the successful produced PLLA and PLLA‐15% MOF films incubated at 40°C for 240 h with two simulants, Simulant A: aqueous and acidic foods with 10% ethanol, and Simulant B: low and high alcoholic foods with 50% ethanol as per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines for packaging application testing. After 240 h Zn2+ ion concentrations in Simulants A and B were 354 and 166 mg L−1, respectively. Higher Zn2+ ion migration observed in Simulant A can be ascribed to the decomposition of the ZIF‐8 MOF under acidic environment. Thermo‐gravimetric studies indicated that the thermal stability of PLLA dropped from 338°C to 207°C with the addition of ZIF‐8 MOF, which may be credited to the catalytic depolymerization effect of the MOF. Due to high migration, the studied composite films are not suitable for direct food contact applications in their present form. Future work must be directed to explore how to engineer these composites for food contact applications.