Commercial Packaging Research Articles

Photocatalytic reduction-based liquid microjunction surface sampling-mass spectrometry for rapid in situ analysis of aromatic amines originating from azo dyes in packaging papers.

A rapid in situ analytical method was developed for the detection of generated carcinogenic aromatic amines from banned azo dyes utilizing a photocatalytic reduction-based liquid microjunction surface sampling (LMJSS)-mass spectrometry (MS) system. We utilized photocatalytic reduction under UV irradiation with TiO2 as catalyst to have rapid and mild reduction of azo dyes. The reaction conditions were optimized to have complete photocatalytic reduction within 2-5min in pure methanol at room temperature. TiO2 was immobilized in the inner wall of the capillaries in the LMJSS system to achieve in situ sampling-online rapid reduction-MS detection for aromatic amines originating from azo dyes in packaging surface. The yields of in-tube photocatalytic reduction were near 100% by delivering the azo dye extracts through the capillary at 1μL/min under UV irradiation. With this design, in situ analysis was completed within 2min via direct MS detection and 7min via liquid chromatography (LC)-MS detection. The detection limits for five aromatic amines originating from four different azo dyes were in the range of 1-17mg/kg with relative standard deviations (RSDs) < 8.5%. In the application of the new method, four carcinogenic aromatic amines were detected and identified in three commercial packaging materials, and the quantitation results were comparable with those obtained by the conventional chemical reduction-LC-MS method (relative recovery, 81-121%). Moreover, due to the spatial resolution of the present method with a flow probe, MS imaging was achieved demonstrating clear azo dye patterns of a lab-made sample.

Detection of Volatiles from Raw Beef Meat from Different Packaging Systems Using Solid-Phase Microextraction GC-Accurate Mass Spectrometry.

The volatile profile of raw beef contains vital information related to meat quality and freshness. This qualitative study examines the effect of packaging system on the formation and release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from raw beef over time, relative to the packaging best before date (BBD). The three packaging systems investigated were modified atmospheric packaging, vacuum packaging, and cling-wrapped packaging. Porterhouse steak samples with the same BBD were analysed from 3 days before to 3 days after the BBD. VOCs were detected via preconcentration using solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–accurate mass quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. In total, 35 different VOCs were tentatively identified. Interestingly, there was no clear relationship of the VOCs detected between the three packaging systems, with only carbon disulphide and acetoin, both known volatiles of beef, detected in all three. This is the first study to investigate the effects of commercial packaging systems on VOC formation; it provides an understanding of the relationship of VOCs to the BBD that is essential for the development of on-pack freshness and quality sensors.

Mechanical Performance of Knitted Hollow Composites from Recycled Cotton and Glass Fibers for Packaging Applications

This research deals with the development of knitted hollow composites from recycled cotton fibers (RCF) and glass fibers (GF). These knitted hollow composites can be used for packaging of heavy weight products and components in aircrafts, marine crafts, automobiles, civil infrastructure, etc. They can also be used in medical prosthesis or in sports equipment. Glass fiber-based hollow composites can be used as an alternative to steel or wooden construction materials for interior applications. Developed composite samples were subjected to hardness, compression, flexural, and impact testing. Recycled cotton fiber, which is a waste material from industrial processes, was chosen as an ecofriendly alternative to cardboard-based packaging material. The desired mechanical performance of knitted hollow composites was achieved by changing the tube diameter and/or thickness. Glass fiber-reinforced knitted hollow composites were compared with RC fiber composites. They exhibited substantially higher compression strength as compared to cotton fiber-reinforced composites based on the fiber tensile strength. However, RC fiber-reinforced hollow composites showed higher compression modulus as compared to glass fiber-based composites due to much lower deformation during compression loading. Compression strength of both RCF- and GF-reinforced hollow composites decreases with increasing tube diameter. The RCF-based hollow composites were further compared with double-layered cardboard packaging material of similar thickness. It was observed that cotton-fiber-reinforced composites show higher compression strength, as well as compression modulus, as compared to the cardboard material of similar thickness. No brittle failure was observed during the flexural test, and samples with smaller tube diameter exhibited higher stiffness. The flexural properties of glass fiber-reinforced composites were compared with RCF composites. It was observed that GF composites exhibit superior flexural properties as compared to the cotton fiber-based samples. Flexural strength of RC fiber-reinforced hollow composites was also compared to that of cardboard packaging material. The composites from recycled cotton fibers showed substantially higher flexural stiffness as compared to double-layered cardboard material. Impact energy absorption was measured for GF and RCF composites, as well as cardboard material. All GF-reinforced composites exhibited higher absorption of impact energy as compared to RCF-based samples. Significant increase in absorption of impact energy was achieved by the specimens with higher tube thickness in the case of both types of reinforcing fibers. By comparing the impact performance of cotton fiber-based composites with cardboard packaging material, it was observed that the RC fiber-based hollow composites absorb much higher impact energy as compared to the cardboard-based packaging material. The current paper summarizes a comparative analysis of mechanical performance in the case of glass fiber-reinforced hollow composites vis-à-vis recycled cotton fiber-reinforced hollow composites. The use of recycled fibers is a positive step in the direction of ecofriendly materials and waste utilization. Their performance is compared with commercial packaging material for a possible replacement and reducing burden on the environment.

Harvest of Southern Highbush Blueberry with a Modified, Over-the-Row Mechanical Harvester: Use of Soft-Catch Surfaces to Minimize Impact Bruising

Harvest of fresh market, southern highbush blueberries (SHB) is labor intensive and costly, leading to a demand for alternative harvest methods. Recent research has shown potential for mechanically harvesting blueberries with minimal bruising by using a modified over-the-row (OTR) harvester. For two harvests, SHB cultivars Optimus and Vireo were either hand-harvested (HH) or mechanically harvested (MH) by two commercial harvesters, one unmodified with standard hard-catch surfaces (HCS) or by the other modified with soft-catch surfaces (SCS). For Harvest 1, fruit from all harvest methods were hand-sorted into the following categories: blue fruit (marketable), red fruit, green fruit and culls. Samples from each cultivar and treatment were then held at 24 °C overnight, and the following day firmness and impact bruise severity were determined. Harvest 2 had identical harvest treatments; however, the fruit were sorted on a commercial packing line prior to packing in clamshells (n = 16). A subsample was held overnight as in Harvest 1 for bruise severity rating, while the remaining fruit were stored at 1 °C for 14 days (d). Although percent marketable fruit was more affected by cultivar than harvest method, determination of bruise severity revealed the benefit of harvest with SCS over HCS for both cultivars. The former had 16–26% severe bruising, compared to 27–40% for the latter; HH had 1–4%. During storage, HH fruit remained firmer than HCS and SCS, which were similar. After 14 d, firmness for “Optimus” was 239 N (HH), 157 N (HCS and SCS) and for “Vireo” it was 189 (HH), 155 N (HCS and SCS). Fruit weight loss increased during storage (1.1–4.4%), but there was no difference due to catch plate surface. SSC, TTA and Ratio were not affected by catch surface type or storage period within cultivar. Using modifications such as “soft” catch surfaces on currently available OTR harvesters reduces impact bruise damage; however, impacts incurred during commercial packing operations can negate this effect. MH for fresh market blueberries may provide an economical alternative for blueberry growers; however, with current technology, the fruit should be utilized within a week of harvest.

Hydrodynamics of a novel 3D printed structured packing–SpiroPak

Hydrodynamic performance of an ultra low-pressure drop and high surface area, 3D printed structured packing (SpiroPak) was investigated in this study. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling combined with single-phase (dry) and irrigated (multiphase) experiments were carried out to validate the CFD modelling results. Experiments were conducted to measure the dry and wet pressure drop at a range of liquid load (0–38.2 m3/m2∙h) and F-factor (0–1.2 Pa0.5). Liquid distribution was measured using Wire Mesh Sensor (WMS) for SpiroPak and compared with a commercial and 3D printed replica of Mellpak 250X and Montzpak B1–500. The topology of the packing was analysed to calculate the specific surface area that could be available for mass transfer. It was found that the SpiroPak can have up to 50~200% more surface area per unit volume when compared with commercial packing. Experimental and modelling results showed that SpiroPak could reduce the dry pressure drop by approximately 50%. Parametric study found that reducing corrugation size to increase surface area and increasing the gap size to reduce the pressure drop were key design parameters of SpiroPak. Finally, scale-up and scale-out (tessellation) techniques were compared to determine the optimum element size for the application of SpiroPak on a large scale.

Engineering Insulin Cold Chain Resilience to Improve Global Access.

There are 150 million people with diabetes worldwide who require insulin replacement therapy, and the prevalence of diabetes is rising the fastest in middle- and low-income countries. The current formulations require costly refrigerated transport and storage to prevent loss of insulin integrity. This study shows the development of simple "drop-in" amphiphilic copolymer excipients to maintain formulation integrity, bioactivity, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics for over 6 months when subjected to severe stressed aging conditions that cause current commercial formulation to fail in under 2 weeks. Further, when these copolymers are added to Humulin R (Eli Lilly) in original commercial packaging, they prevent insulin aggregation for up to 4 days at 50 °C compared to less than 1 day for Humulin R alone. These copolymers demonstrate promise as simple formulation additives to increase the cold chain resilience of commercial insulin formulations, thereby expanding global access to these critical drugs for treatment of diabetes.

Synergistic Effects of Lauric Arginate and Peracetic Acid in Reducing Listeria monocytogenes on Fresh Apples.

Apples are naturally coated with a water-repelling hydrophobic wax layer, which may limit the antimicrobial efficacies of surface sanitizer solutions. Lauric arginate (LAE) is a cationic surfactant with antimicrobial efficacy against Listeria monocytogenes. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial and the wettability effects of LAE in enhancing anti-L. monocytogenes efficacy of peracetic acid (PAA) and further verified the optimized treatment combinations in a pilot spray-bar brush bed system. Apples after 48 h of inoculation were treated with PAA surface sanitation in combination with different concentrations of LAE at 22 or 46°C. The effectiveness of PAA with LAE solutions in decontaminating L. monocytogenes significantly increased with the increased concentration of PAA (60–80 ppm) or LAE (0.01–0.05%) or the treatment temperature (from 22 to 46°C). A 30–120-sec wash by 80 ppm PAA with 0.01 and 0.05% LAE at 22°C reduced L. monocytogenes on apples by 2.10–2.25 and 2.48–2.58 log10 CFU/apple, respectively. Including LAE in the PAA solution decreased contact angles on apple surfaces. However, the increased wettability of the sanitizer solution may not be the main contributor to the enhanced antimicrobial efficacy of the PAA solution, given that the addition of Tween 80 or Tween 85 only slightly boosted the anti-L. monocytogenes efficacy of PAA solutions though both increased the wettability of the PAA solutions. The synergistic effects of PAA and LAE were further validated in a pilot spray-bar brush bed packing system, where a 30-sec spray wash with 80 ppm PAA and 0.05% LAE at 22 and 46°C caused 1.68 and 2.08 log reduction of Listeria on fresh apples, respectively. This study provides an improved PAA process/preventive strategy for ensuring microbial food safety of fresh apples that is applicable to commercial apple packing lines.

Effect of Valley Beater Refining on Tensile Properties of Molded Pulps from Rice Straws

Rice straw, an abundant agricultural waste, is shown to be a promising resource for pulp and paper packaging manufacturing. In this study, rice straw pulps or cellulose fibers were extracted using a soda-AQ process and then the rice straw pulp slurries were refined by a Valley beater. The effect of refining time (15-60 min) on the pulp fiber characteristics was studied. It was found that both initial fiber length and width were decreased with refining time. The refined fibers became fibrillated, finer, and also more uniform in size confirmed by SEM. The pulp freeness (CSF) was reduced with increasing refining time as expected due to higher water-holding capacity of more fibrillated pulps. Then, the molded sheets were formed from the prepared rice straw pulps and examined. From tensile testing, the results indicated that the tensile properties of the molded sheets from the refined pulps were significantly enhanced (p &lt; 0.05), thanks to an increase in fibrillated fiber surface area and inter-fiber bonding degree. The Valley beater refined rice straw pulp provided the molded sheet with the highest tensile index of 51.96 ± 4.08 Nm/g which are comparable to that of the sheets prepared from PFI mill refining process. The tensile properties of the current refined sheets were also in the acceptable range for typical commercial molded pulp packaging. In addition, the freeness values of the optimal Valley beater refined pulps are relatively high (348-423 ml), implying a benefit in forming process and manufacturing of pulp products.

Experimental Study of Thermal Performance of Different Fruit Packaging Box Designs

Packaging was recently identified as an essential element in addressing the key challenge of sustainable food supply and is gaining interest among researchers. It is a central element in food quality preservation due to its role in heat and mass exchange with the external atmosphere, contributing to the preservation of food quality during storage and extending food shelf life. This work proposes three new packaging configurations with the same size but different geometry and ventilation hole sizes and geometry, that change the conditions in which the heat and mass exchange occurs, during either the cooling period of fruits, inside the cooling chamber, or during the period when the packaging is exposed to ambient conditions, outside the cooling chamber. For this purpose, packages with fruit models that replicate the properties of real fruit were subjected to a cooling process inside a cooling chamber for 8 h. Subsequently, during the heating phase, the packages were exposed to ambient conditions for 10 h. Thermal conditions were also monitored, both inside and outside the chamber. Additionally, for comparative purposes, the thermal behavior of commercial packaging was also evaluated for the same operating conditions in the cooling and heating phases. The results show that the new packages do not substantially promote the preservation of fruits in the cooling phase, but in the heating phase, they ensure an extension of the period with proper thermal conditions of up to 50% in relation to the conventional packaging. This result is particularly important since the heating phase, in which fruits are outside the storage chamber, is the period with the greatest impact on the fruits’ useful life.

Development of intelligent/active food packaging film based on TEMPO-oxidized bacterial cellulose containing thymol and anthocyanin-rich purple potato extract for shelf life extension of shrimp

An intelligent and active film was developed based on 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-oxidized bacterial cellulose (TOBC) containing thymol (THY) and anthocyanin-rich purple potato extract (ANT). The microstructure, thermal stability, water vapor permeability, mechanical property and UV protection performance of TOBC-based films were evaluated. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) results show the additions of THY and ANT bring about the uneven distribution of TOBC fibers with slightly increased surface roughness. Meanwhile, the introduction of THY and ANT could increase the thermal stability, UV protection and water vapor barrier property of TOBC with slightly decreased tensile strength. The prepared ANT exhibits a pH-sensitive activity, and it endows the fabricated TOBC/THY/ANT film with colorimetric response ability to volatile ammonia. TOBC/THY/ANT film also exhibits good antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Particular finding is that TOBC/THY/ANT film possesses simultaneously freshness real-time monitoring and good shrimp preservation abilities. The antioxidant, antibacterial and color response performances of TOBC/THY/ANT film were measured for three cycles in order to prove its recycling ability. These unique features of TOBC/THY/ANT film demonstrate the potential in commercial shrimp packaging with freshness real-time monitoring.

Online defect detection and automatic grading of carrots using computer vision combined with deep learning methods

The demand for smart automatic system in postharvest technology, particularly in the postharvest of carrot production is high. In this paper, an automatic carrot grading system was developed based on computer vision and deep learning, which can automatically inspect surface quality of carrots and grade washed carrots. Specifically, based on ShuffleNet and transfer learning, a lightweight deep learning model (CDDNet) was constructed to detect surface defects of carrots. Carrot grading methods were also proposed based on minimum bounding rectangle (MBR) fitting and convex polygon approximation. Experimental results showed that the detection accuracy of the proposed CDDNet was 99.82% for binary classification (normal and defective) and 93.01% for multi-class classification (normal, bad spot, abnormity, fibrous root), and demonstrated good performance both in time efficiency and detection accuracy. The grading accuracy of MBR fitting and convex polygon approximation was 92.8% and 95.1% respectively. This research provides a practical method for online defect detection and carrot grading, and has great application potential in commercial packing lines.

Hydrophobic, moisture resistant and biorenewable paper coating derived from castor oil based epoxy methyl ricinoleate with repulpable potential

After ban on single-use plastics, completely bio-based coating on paper is in great demand to replace the plastics liner and other organic-inorganic hybrid coating. To resolve the issues like moisture, hydrophilicty and repulpability after use, a green, sustainable and hydrophobic bio-coating material for paper substrate has been developed. In this work, silanized castor oil (SCO) and silanized methyl ricinoleate (SMR) bio-resins are synthesized by structural modifications of epoxidized castor oil through transesterification and silanization process, Subsequently, the silylated bio-resins are hydrolysed and subjected to crosslinking with cellulosic paper substrate through condensation process. The coated papers showed hydrophobicity with water contact angle (WCA) up to 97° and strongly moisture resistant (moisture content of 2–3%) nature. Scanning electron microscopy analysis with energy dispersive X-ray spectra confirms the uniform coating of SMR resin with better texture and higher degree of silane grafting. The water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) decreased by 77.5% after coating because of blockage of pores and strong bonding with the cellulosic fibers. Further the coated papers showed adequate thermal stability and better tensile strength for commercial packaging. These coatings are removed by exposing to strong alkali solution at 90 °C and the recyclability potential of the paper is confirmed for reuse. These renewable resourced and eco-friendly coating materials are found to be suitable alternative for paper packaging and other coating applications with circular economy approach.

Biodegradable packaging reinforced with plant-based food waste and by-products

• Adding PWBs into biopolymers can improve the properties of obtained packaging. • Approaches for pretreatments or fabrication can further improve packaging properties. • Gaps still exist between biodegradable and commercial plastic packaging materials. • Coordination among academia, industry and consumer is needed for future development. Use of plastic food packaging has long been debated due to its negative environmental impact. As a result of this, the need to develop sustainable and biodegradable packaging continuously grows, particularly that using plant-based materials. There is a potential to incorporate plant-based food waste or by-products (PWBs) as raw materials into biodegradable packaging for enhancement of packaging performance. While fabricating packaging with PWBs requires pretreating them for fully utilizing and maximizing their functions. Currently, such new materials are not comparable to existing commercial products, not only because of their cost-effectiveness but also due to the disconnections among researchers, manufacturers, and consumers. We provide a concise summary of the most recent advances, focusing on the approaches to using PWB components, the properties of reinforced materials, and their potential applications in biodegradable food packaging.

Low-Voltage Electrical Stimulation of Beef Carcasses Slows Carcass Chilling Rate and Improves Steak Color.

Electrical stimulation (ES) is used in beef slaughter plants to improve tenderness; however, varying levels of low-voltage ES have not been well characterized. The objective was to evaluate the influence of two levels of low-voltage ES on temperature decline, pH, glycolytic potential, and meat quality. Forty-two beef carcasses were chosen from a commercial packing facility. One side of each carcass received either 40 or 80 volts of ES for 60 s at 45 min postmortem. The paired side of each carcass did not receive ES (Control). Temperature loggers were placed in the sirloin of 12 carcasses to record temperature decline. Longissimus muscle pH was measured at 1, 12, and 24 h, and 3 d postmortem. Strip steaks were fabricated for determination of meat quality. A treatment by time interaction was observed for carcass temperature decline (p < 0.001) where ES sides stayed warmer longer than Control sides. A treatment by time interaction was observed for pH decline with Control sides exhibiting an increased pH at 1 h postmortem (p < 0.001). Instrumental color values were increased for ES compared to Control sides (p < 0.001). These results indicate ES slows carcass temperature decline, hastens initial pH decline, and improves instrumental color. Similar results were observed between the ES treatments indicating either ES level may be used to achieve similar quality characteristics.

Dark Storage of Enhanced Dark-cutting Beef in Nitrite-embedded Packaging Increased Metmyoglobin Formation upon Repackaging

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate nitrite-embedded packaging (NEP) and enhancement effects on the color of dark-cutting beef after repackaging into polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for display. From a commercial packing plant, dark-cutting beef strip loins (n = 8; pH = 6.39) and USDA Low Choice beef strip loins (normal-pH, n = 6) were collected. Bisected dark-cutting loins were randomly assigned to nonenhanced dark-cutting (DCN) and enhanced dark-cutting (DCE) with glucono delta-lactone and rosemary. Steaks (1.91 cm) sliced from nonenhanced normal-pH, DCN, and DCE loins were randomly assigned to 3, 6, or 9 d in dark storage, and DCE steaks were packaged in nitrite-embedded packaging (NEP) while normal-pH and DCN steaks packaged in vacuum packaging. At dark storage d of 3, 6, or 9, steaks were repackaged in PVC and displayed for 6 d. The instrumental color was evaluated every 12 h, and metmyoglobin formation was calculated using the ratio of reflectance of 572 nm and 525 nm. Delta E was calculated to determine the change in color over time using the change in L*, a*, and b* values from h 0 to h 12 of display. Data were analyzed using the Mixed Procedure of SAS, and least squares means were considered significant at P &amp;lt; 0.05 and separated using the PDIFF option. Metmyoglobin formation increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) within 12 h of repackaging DCE steaks held for 3 d and 6 d of dark storage. At h 12 of display, DCE steaks had significantly more metmyoglobin formation than DCN and normal-pH steaks. The DE of DCE steaks was negative, indicating a decline in color after 12 h of display, while the normal-pH and DCN steaks had a positive DE value indicative of improved surface color. Therefore, repackaging DCE steaks resulted in decreased color stability and increased metmyoglobin formation.

Migration of food contact substances into dry foods: A review

ABSTRACT A comprehensive review of the literature was performed on migration of substances from packaging materials into dry foods, specifically those with surfaces containing no free fats or oils. Historically, migration from food packaging to dry foods has been assumed to be minimal. However, several recent publications have reported concentrations of migrants into dry foods that are substantially higher than anticipated. The goal of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of recent studies that examined migration to dry foods or dry food simulants, observe and assess common migrants, and report the highest migration values. Focusing on the packaging materials and migrants that exhibit the highest migration values, this review divided the studies into two categories: 1) analysis of food products in commercial packaging taken directly from grocery store shelves, and 2) analysis of food products and food simulants in contact with packaging or other material fortified with known quantities of a migrant. Discussions include the examination of migration testing methods, viability of different food simulants, and variables that affect migration behaviour. These include the physicochemical properties of both the migrant and food (i.e. volatility, molecular size, structure, food composition and particle size) and factors pertaining to the packaging material and the environment (i.e. temperature, humidity, and the presence of a secondary barrier). Information gaps and remaining questions are also identified and discussed.

Effect of PLA Active Packaging Containing Monoterpene-Cyclodextrin Complexes on Berries Preservation.

Blackberries and raspberries are highly perishable and fragile products, which limits their shelf life. The effect of biodegradable active packaging of blackberries and raspberries containing 2.5% and 5.0% weight (wt%) of thymol or carvacrol complexed in β-cyclodextrins (β-CDs), successively added to poly (lactic acid) (PLA), and melt-processed by injection molding was evaluated under stored conditions at 4 °C for 21 days, using as reference commercial clamshell and PLA package control samples. Thus, physicochemical, headspace, microbiological, and sensory quality studies were carried out in order to compare the efficacy of the different packages. Concerning weight loss, color, and total phenolic and soluble solids content, significant differences were detected when compared with commercial clamshell packaging. The results show that the PLA packages containing thymol and carvacrol complexes maintained the color, weight, and phenolic content of berries until day 21, with a score up to 45% better compared to commercial clamshell. The headspace analysis detected 101 mg L−1 (ppm) of thymol and 35 ppm of carvacrol on the first day of refrigeration; these concentrations decreased with time. This release mechanism of carvacrol and thymol into the PLA package modified the initial atmosphere composition. After 21 days of storage, the berries had 4.25 degrees of acceptance, without adverse perception of aroma or flavor for both carvacrol and thymol compounds. A general microbial inhibition was observed for yeast and molds, which increased with the concentration of monoterpene in PLA packages, and showed an inhibition of 3.5 log units for PLA packages containing thymol, and of 3 log units for those containing carvacrol. Overall results show that PLA/β-CD-thymol 5.0% packages prolonged raspberries’ and blackberries’ shelf life by one more week at 4 °C, compared with commercial clamshell packaging.

Dextran/chitosan blend film fabrication for bio‐packaging of mushrooms ( Agaricus bisporus )

Agaricus bisporus is likely the most worldwide consumed mushroom, however, its commercial acceptability requires an attractive visual appearance for the consumer. The storage is an essential stage in controlling the physical appearance and shelf-life of the mushrooms. In this study, films based on commercial chitosan and a dextran produced by a Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain, were fabricated and then proposed to replace commercial packing materials. The dextran/chitosan blend films were evaluated according to the dextran concentration variation (from 0.0 up to 4.0% w/v dispersion), their physicochemical, mechanical and permeability characteristics, and their functionality in the bio-packaging of mushrooms. The results showed that the lowest dextran concentration (0.5% w/v dispersion) presented the best properties for tensile strength (2.32 MPa), elastic modulus (~6.54 MPa), water vapor permeability (4.09 g mm kPa−1 m−2 hr−1), and delayed spoilage time of mushrooms up to 28 days at 4°C. Our findings demonstrate that these biofilms can be a viable bio-packaging alternative for preserving fresh mushrooms. Novelty impact statement In this work, we have developed new sustainable biopolymers-based films using chitosan and dextran. The latter material was produced through biotechnological approaches using Leuconostoc mesenteroides SF3. The developed biofilms were fully characterized and later tested for the preservation of mushrooms over 28 days. Based on our findings, the application of the dextran/chitosan blend films can be viable as a bio-packaging alternative for preserving fresh mushrooms, extending their storage and quality.

Usability and Robustness of the Wixela Inhub Dry Powder Inhaler

Background: Wixela Inhub is a generic version of Advair Diskus recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Inhub inhaler delivers fluticasone propionate (FP)/salmeterol in a dry powder formulation. The goals of our studies were to demonstrate that the Inhub inhaler can be used by representative end users and confirm the robustness of the Inhub inhaler.Methods: Study 1: A nondosing usability assessment, the device orientation study, confirmed that intended users (represented by patients diagnosed with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] who were naive to dry powder inhalers and current Advair Diskus users) could use the Inhub inhaler safely and effectively. Subjects were provided with an Inhub inhaler in commercial packaging, including instructions for use, and were asked to undertake three dose simulations using the inhaler. Subjects were encouraged to interact with this new drug delivery device as they would at home. Subjects were not provided with training on the use of the device. Subjects were observed interacting with the Inhub inhaler, and those who currently use Diskus were also observed interacting with the Diskus to determine whether their mental model of the use of Diskus impacted their interaction with the Inhub device, this assessment was not a primary outcome of the study. Study 2: This is an open-label clinical study to confirm the robustness of the Inhub inhaler after at home patient use. Subjects diagnosed with asthma or COPD were provided Inhub inhaler training and subsequently self-administered 3 weeks of twice daily doses of Wixela Inhub 250 μg FP/50 μg salmeterol in the home environment. The Inhub inhalers were returned to the investigator after ∼3 weeks of outpatient use for in vitro tests on the drug remaining in each inhaler.Results: Study 1 enrolled 110 subjects, and all completed the study. Most subjects (100/110) held the Inhub inhaler in the correct orientation and of those who did not, 9 still achieved a peak inhalation flow rate of ≥30 L/min and a total inhaled volume of ≥1 L, thus meeting the requirements of the study success criteria. In Study 2, 111 pediatric, adult, and elderly subjects with asthma or COPD received the study drug. After ∼3 weeks of outpatient use of the Inhub inhaler by subjects, comprehensive in vitro testing demonstrated that the FP and salmeterol pharmaceutical performance in the Inhub inhaler was preserved.Conclusions: The majority of subjects demonstrated safe and effective use of the Inhub inhaler. In vitro testing and inspections confirmed the robustness of the Inhub inhaler after outpatient use.Clinical trial registration number: NCT02474017

Application of a new wax containing ethanol as a method to remove persimmon astringency during cold storage.

Nowadays the treatment based on applying high CO2 concentrations to fruit is the main method used in astringent persimmon prior to being commercialized, but it can cause quality problems for fruit during cold storage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a recently patented astringency removal method based on applying a new wax whose formulation includes ethanol before commercial packaging. During two seasons, three treatments were evaluated in cv. Rojo Brillante and Triumph: (1) CO2- standard treatment; (2) waxed and packed in plastic film according to the patented method; (3) packed in plastic film without any treatment. During a third season, the new method's effectiveness in removing astringency was evaluated under industrial conditions. After treatments fruit was stored at 0°C for 15, 21 and 30days before being transferred at 20°C to simulate a 5-days shelf-life. All the fruit treated with the new wax completely lost astringency after 30days at 0°C, and commercial firmness was maintained. At the end of the storage, fruit quality was substantially higher in fruit submitted to the new treatment. CO2-treated fruit, manifested internal browning after 30 storage days and shelf-life, while this disorder was not detected in waxed fruit.