Encapsulation Of Oil Research Articles

Encapsulation of black soldier fly larvae oil in zein ultrafine fibers via electrospinning: Characterization and antioxidant properties.

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) have several advantages, such as rapid growth and sustainable production. The electrospinning encapsulation shows promise for encapsulating oils, as it does not use high temperatures, preventing degradation. This study analyzed the incorporation of oil (15, 30, and 45% w/w) from BSFL into fibers by electrospinning using zein (20 and 25% w/v). The results demonstrated that BSFL has a predominance of lauric acid. The morphology of fibers with 25% zein showed a ribbon shape, whereas beads were formed in fibers with 20% zein. The infrared showed bands that indicated successful encapsulation. Thermal properties show an interaction between the oil and zein, which decreases the mass loss of generated fibers. The contact angle showed that the addition of oil influenced the increase in the hydrophobicity of the fibers. Fibers showed high encapsulation efficiency (>91%), and antioxidants was higher in fibers with 45% oil.

Encapsulation of thyme essential oil in dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles: Enhanced antimycotic properties and ROS-mediated inhibition mechanism.

Dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSNs) have emerged as promising nanocarriers due to their unique three-dimensional structure and tunable pore characteristics. This study investigates the potential of DMSNs to deliver thyme essential oil (TEO) for enhanced antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum (F. oxysporum), a major plant pathogen. DMSNs were successfully synthesized and characterized, followed by the encapsulation of TEO within their porous structure. The resulting TEO@DMSNs composites exhibited significant antifungal activity against F. oxysporum, with inhibition rates reaching 70%, indicating an effective crop protection with a dose-dependent effect. The enhanced antifungal efficacy of TEO@DMSNs compared to free TEO is attributed to the sustained release of TEO and the synergistic effect of the nanocarrier itself. In-depth mechanism investigations revealed that TEO@DMSNs likely disrupted the fungal cell membrane, leading to leakage of cellular contents and ultimately cell death. Moreover, DMSNs and TEO@DMSNs were found to be safe for plant growth, demonstrating their potential as environmentally friendly antifungal agents. This study provides valuable insights into the design and development of advanced nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery and disease management in agriculture.

Potential of cyclodextrin-based formulations of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oils in the control of the date moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Pyralidae)

ABSTRACT Recently essential oils (EOs) encapsulation is experiencing growing applications in agricultural and agri-food sector. Encapsulation is reported as safe environmental technology leading to a reduction of conventional insecticides use. This study concerns the assessment of fumigant toxicity and persistence of Rosmarinus officinalis EO encapsulated in two cyclodextrins β-CD and HP-β-CD against larvae of the date moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae. The retention capacity, encapsulation efficacy, loading capacity and release behavior of the two inclusion complexes were investigated. Results showed that two studied CDs had in important retention capacity. Additionally, the encapsulation within CDs delayed the release of rosemary EO bioactive components; which explains the effectiveness of the encapsulated rosemary EO in CDs against E. ceratoniae fifth instars larvae. Furthermore, the encapsulation in the two CDs improved the persistence of the insecticidal toxicity. This study supports the use of cyclodextrins, mainly HP-β-CD, in the date industry for the control of insect pests.

Encapsulation of thyme essential oil (Thymus vulgaris) in chia mucilage (Salvia hispanica L.) and its application in fresh pork sausage

This study evaluated the application of thyme essential oil (TEO) encapsulated in chia mucilage in meat sausages as a partial or total substitute for sodium nitrate and nitrite. We assessed three capsules produced with different concentrations of TEO (3.5 %, 7.5 %, and 10 %) in terms of encapsulation efficiency, antioxidant activity, thermal properties, morphology, and antimicrobial activity. Compared to the other concentrations, the 10 % TEO capsules demonstrated higher encapsulation efficiency (98.25 %), antioxidant activity (25.53 %), minimum inhibitory concentrations (0.028 for Escherichia coli and 0.34 for Staphylococcus aureus), thermal stability, and efficacy in inhibiting S. aureus. The oil concentration did not influence capsule yield. We evaluated the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of different fresh pork sausage formulations: preservatives only (FC), half the concentration of preservatives with the addition of TEO (F1), TEO only (F2), and no preservatives or TEO (F3). The F2 formulation exhibited reduced acidity, peroxide index, and p-anisidine content compared to formulations F1 and F3. Formulations F1 and F2 showed an increased a* parameter (redness) during storage. The F2 formulation exerted microbiological control over coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, E. coli, mesophilic aerobic bacteria, and Salmonella. We concluded that chia mucilage-encapsulated thyme essential oil represents a promising substitute for nitrates and nitrites in meat products.

Fabrication of 3D-printed thyme and cinnamon essential oils in γ-cyclodextrin encapsulates/sodium alginate-methylcellulose antimicrobial films with a core-shell structure

In this work, we report the encapsulation of thyme and cinnamon essential oils in γ-cyclodextrin (GCD) wall material and thereafter assess their properties so that they can be used in developing hydrogel bioink suitable for 3D printing of antimicrobial films. Encapsulation efficacy above 90 % demonstrated inhibitory and bactericidal activities of encapsulated oils against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Typherium. A customized core and shell film was fabricated using GCD/EO as a core layer and selected hydrocolloid blends as the shell layer by a coaxial 3D printing process. An apparent viscosity below 100 Pa.s facilitates the printing of the hydrogel in good shape. The developed films were characterized for their printability and microstructural properties. The incorporation of cross-linkers enhances the mechanical and optical properties of printed films. This work guides the selection of GCD to encapsulate thyme and cinnamon essential oils as antimicrobial agents to inhibit pathogens in the developed films.

Development of a fish oil–nanoemulsion gel as a drug-delivery system to prevent capsular contracture

Capsular contracture, a significant complication of breast-implant surgery, causes pain and deformation following the formation of a tight capsule around an implant. Current surgical and non-surgical treatment options are invasive, expensive, and typically administered for prolonged periods, potentially leading to side effects. To address these challenges, we developed a novel fish oil-encapsulated, poloxamer-based nanoemulsion gel with omega-3 (ω3) as the primary active component (NE-ω3 gel; N3G). This formulation can be injected during surgery, reducing the need for prolonged administration of medications and minimizing associated side effects. N3G was prepared through a two-step process involving the emulsification of fish oil followed by gelation with poloxamer to create a thermoreversible gel. Dynamic light-scattering analysis confirmed a uniform distribution of nanoemulsion particles, which had a mean diameter of 287 ± 8.599 nm and a PDI of 0.29 ± 0.047. FTIR and DSC analyses validated the encapsulation of fish oil within poloxamer micelles. Drug-release analysis demonstrated that more than 96% of fish oil was released within 10 h. In in vivo experiments, rats (n = 30) were divided into three groups: a negative control group (G1), a positive control group receiving fish oil (G2), and an experimental group with implants coated with N3G (G3). G3 exhibited a 21.2% reduction in capsular thickness compared to G1 and a 5.6% reduction compared to G2. In addition, significant decreases in fibrosis and myofibroblast counts were observed in G3. These results, supported by histological and gene expression analyses, highlight the effectiveness of N3G in reducing inflammation and fibrosis. This study underscores the therapeutic potential of N3G for capsular contracture, based on its persistence, thermoreversibility, and improved dosing and storage characteristics.

Methods for assessing the self-healing properties of asphalt concrete

The article presents the results of a study of the ability of asphalt concrete to independently restore the state of the structure or improve the operational state of the material. The quality indicators that reflect the degree of efficiency of the developed self-healing technology are: the degree of restoration of the operational state of the structure; timeliness of initiation of the self-healing process; the speed of the restoration process, as well as the durability of the operational state after self-healing. The article formulates requirements for new methods for testing the self-healing ability of materials with encapsulated modifiers. It is shown that the self-healing efficiency is significantly higher for asphalt concretes with encapsulated AR polymer than for SMA, which used encapsulated oil. With the optimal content of encapsulated oil, the loss of strength of asphalt concrete samples during repeated compression is 1.4 times less, and for encapsulated AR polymer it is 1.6–2.1 times less. For SMA with encapsulated oil, the failure rate is 1.05, and with encapsulated AR polymer 1.7. The coefficient values reflect that the achievement of the critical value of the strength limit for asphalt concrete with encapsulated AR polymer occurs later by 61.9% than for asphalt concrete with encapsulated oil. The speed of the self-healing process of asphalt concrete using encapsulated oil is 10% faster than asphalt concrete without capsules, and with the use of encapsulated AR polymer – by 23%.

In Situ Encapsulation of Atomically Precise Nanoclusters in Reticular Frameworks via Mechanochemical Synthesis.

The combination of atomically precise nanoclusters (APNCs) and reticular frameworks is promising for generating component-specific nanocomposites with emergent properties. However, traditional liquid-phase synthesis often hampers this potential by damaging APNCs and limiting combination diversity. Here, mechanochemical synthesis to explore the encapsulation of diverse oil- and water-soluble APNCs within various reticular frameworks is employed, establishing a database of 21 unique APNC-framework combinations, including metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent-organic frameworks (COFs), hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs), and multivariate MOFs. These framework coatings not only spatially immobilize APNCs but also secure their structures, preventing aggregation and degradation while enhancing stability and activity. Encapsulating Au25 in HOFs resulted in a remarkable 315-fold increase in catalytic activity compared to Au25 homogeneous catalyst, highlighting the framework's crucial role in catalytic enhancement. The mechanochemical synthesis strategy facilitates tailored support screening, catering to specific needs, and shows promise for developing multifunctional systems, including enzyme-APNC@frameworks material for cascade reactions.

Plant-based flaxseed oil microcapsules fabricated from coacervation of gluten at oil droplet surface: Microstructure, oxidation stability, and oil digestion control.

This study aimed to develop microcapsules with wheat gluten-coated oil droplets to enhance the oxidation stability and control the digestibility of flaxseed oil. The microcapsules were fabricated using a three-step procedure: (i) flaxseed oil was homogenized with an alkaline gluten solution to form oil-in-water emulsions containing small gluten-coated oil droplets (320-400nm); (ii) the pH of these emulsions was then neutralized to facilitate the deposition of gluten around the oil droplets, thereby forming a thick layer; (iii) a flaxseed oil microcapsule powder was then prepared by spray drying. During the microcapsule formation, intermolecular interactions, including hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds, were involved in the coacervation of gluten at the emulsion surface. The resultant microcapsules with a multiple-core structure had external diameters of 4-26µm and encapsulation efficiencies of 90%-94%. The microencapsulated oil powders contained a relatively high flaxseed oil content (60%-80%). Among them, the sample with 60% oil content demonstrated the best stability in resisting oil droplet coalescence; thus, it exhibited a higher lipolysis rate and extent during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. A 30-day accelerated storage study showed that encapsulation of the flaxseed oil improved its resistance to oxidation. These findings suggest that the pH-deposition method can successfully produce microencapsulated polyunsaturated lipids using all plant-derived ingredients, which may facilitate their use in new plant-based foods through a green and sustainable approach.

Role of Herbal Essential Oil in Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review

Cancer of the cervix is a disease that is ubiquitous and frequently severe, and it affects women all over the world. Conventional treatment methods, which include surgical procedures, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, have been shown to dramatically enhance survival rates; nevertheless, these methods are frequently accompanied with adverse effects and difficulties that might have an influence on the quality of life of a patient. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the utilisation of essential oils in the cancer treatment and management of cervical cancer. This review offers a comprehensive investigation into the function that various essential oils play in the development of cervical cancer. It also includes insights into the possible advantages of these oils as well as the body of research that has been conducted on them. Additionally, the analysis dives into the future directions and issues that will be faced in this developing industry, with a particular focus on advancements in delivery methods and interesting research areas. For the purpose of enhancing the anticancer qualities of essential oils, the encapsulation of essential oils with solid lipid nanoparticles, the nanoemulsification of essential oils, or the combining of essential oils with conventional treatments have all demonstrated promising results. This review attempts to provide a comprehensive viewpoint, balancing the potential of these natural therapies with the obstacles and issues that need to be addressed. As the employment of essential oils in the treatment or management of cervical cancer continues to develop, this study will attempt to provide a comprehensive perspective. The study will attempt to strike a balance between the potential of these natural treatments and the obstacles and issues that need to be addressed.

Octenylsuccinated alginate as a delivery agent for encapsulation of bergamot essential oil: Preparation, functional properties and release behavior

This study evaluate the effect of succinylation of sodium alginate (ALG) by octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) and its effect on the bergamot essential oil (BEO)-loaded ALG beads. The physico-chemical, antioxidant, antibacterial, and in vitro release properties of BEO-loaded ALG beads were assessed. The presence of BEO in alginate beads was assessd using Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments. The higher amount of BEO in modified alginate beads at higher degree of substitution (DS) has been confirmed. Accordingly, it was discovered that the DS has notable effects on encapsulation efficiency (EE), loading capacity (LC) of beads, so that the values of EE and LC were about 31–75 % and 19–45 %, respectively, when the DS value of ALG was 0.00–0.022. Besides, BEO-loaded beads prepared using high DS, exhibited higher total phenolic compound (TPC = 21.101 mg garlic acid/g brad), good antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging activity ≈ 69 %) and antibacterial properties (against E. coli and S. aureus). In vitro release analysis showed the initial fast release followed by a slow-release. OSA modification slowed down the release rate of bergamot essential oil from alginate beads. Also, the release of BEO from the beads followed Fickian diffusion.

Bio-Pesticidal Potential of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Loaded with Thyme and Rosemary Essential Oils against Common Ornamental Flower Pests

The encapsulation of essential oils (EOs) in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) represents a modern and sustainable approach within the agrochemical industry. This research evaluated the colloidal properties and insecticidal activity of NLCs loaded with thyme essential oil (TEO-NLC) and rosemary essential oil (REO-NLC) against three common arthropod pests of ornamental flowers: Frankliniella occidentalis, Myzus persicae, and Tetranychus urticae. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified the major chemical constituents of the EOs, with TEO exhibiting a thymol chemotype and REO exhibiting an α-pinene chemotype. NLCs were prepared using various homogenization techniques, with high shear homogenization (HSH) providing the optimal particle size, size distribution, and surface electrical charge. A factorial design was employed to evaluate the effects of EO concentration, surfactant concentration, and liquid lipid/solid lipid ratio on the physicochemical properties of the nanosuspensions. The final TEO-NLC formulation had a particle size of 347.8 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.182, a zeta potential of −33.8 mV, an encapsulation efficiency of 71.9%, and a loading capacity of 1.18%. The REO-NLC formulation had a particle size of 288.1 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.188, a zeta potential of −34 mV, an encapsulation efficiency of 80.6%, and a loading capacity of 1.40%. Evaluation of contact toxicity on leaf disks showed that TEO-NLC exhibited moderate insecticidal activity against the western flower thrips and mild acaricidal activity against the two-spotted spider mite, while REO-NLC demonstrated limited effects. These findings indicate that TEO-NLCs show potential as biopesticides for controlling specific pests of ornamental flowers, and further optimization of the administration dosage could significantly enhance their effectiveness.

The complex coacervation of gum Arabic and krill protein isolate and their application for Antarctic krill oil encapsulation

Antarctic krill oil (AKO) possesses potent bioactivities but has limited applications in the food industry due to its poor stability, strong off-flavor, and low bioavailability of contained astaxanthin. In this study, Antarctic krill protein isolate (AKPI) was separated from processing by-product of krill and utilized as a novel wall material via complexing it with gum Arabic (GA) to improve the limitations of AKO. The strong complex coacervation reaction between AKPI and GA was occurred at the pH of 3.8 and the ratioAKPI-to-GA of 3:1, while electrostatic interaction and hydrogen-bond interaction were determined to be the main driving forces of such reaction. The ratiowall-to-core was confirmed as 1:0.75 after comprehensively assessing the effect of AKO content on the various properties of AKPI-GA coacervated microcapsules, while the wall material concentration and pH were optimized at 1 % and 3.8, respectively. The obtained solid AKO microcapsules exhibited the encapsulation efficiency of 80.22 %. AKPI-GA coacervated microcapsules extremely masked the odor of AKO and achieved the controlled-release of AKO in the gastrointestinal tract. Meanwhile, the encapsulated AKO displayed higher astaxanthin retention and oxidative stability compared with non-encapsulated AKO during storage.

Encapsulation of Essential Oils Using Complex Coacervation: A Study on Microcapsule Formation and Efficiency

Encapsulation by Coacervation is a process used to create microcapsules. Coacervation is a process that has been used in the food and pharmaceutical industry to produce microspheres with an active ingredient, such as drugs, flavors or fragrances encapsulated by them. It is common in pharmacies, food preparation, cosmetics, and agriculture. This phase separation process is called Coacervation, where a colloidal (in this case polymer) solution will separate into two distinct liquid phases: a Polymer-rich phase, which we refer to as the coacervate, and the other is known as Polymer-poor or solvent-based. This can be accomplished by varying the temperature or pH of a non-solvent being introduced. In this study, essential oils of lemon and eucalyptus were encapsulated by the complex coacervation process using gum Arabic, gelatin, and chitosan as wall materials. Glutaraldehyde was used as a cross-linking agent in the methodology. FT-IR and GC characterized the essential oils used. The microcapsules were analyzed using a digital microscope, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis. Conclusively, microcapsules were formed in spherical form. Encapsulation efficiencies were obtained between 75-78%. In conclusion, microencapsulated essential oils offer a technology that makes essential oils more effective, long-lasting, and customized. These advantages reveal their widespread impact, offering various uses for a variety of industries and applications.

Evaluation of gum arabic and gelatine coacervated microcapsule morphology and core oil encapsulation efficiency by combining the spreading coefficient and two component surface energy theory

Microcapsules containing various flavour/fragrance oils with different properties were fabricated using gelatine and gum arabic by complex coacervation. The surface properties (surface polarity and the spreading coefficients) of core oils were investigated in order to evaluate their effects on the capsule morphology and encapsulation efficiency based on a spreading coefficient and two component surface energy theory. Contact angles, interfacial tensions, and surface polarities were measured, and results were discussed with respect to the internal structure as well as encapsulation efficiency of different oil microcapsules. The thermodynamic spreading coefficients theory did not give an exactly accurate prediction of capsule morphology using high molecular weight biopolymer as the wall material in this work. Notwithstanding, the morphology predictions for different oil microcapsules are holistically consistent with the values of their encapsulation efficiency. Also, it has been found that the encapsulation efficiency increased with the decreasing surface polarity of the core oil holistically.

Encapsulation of lemongrass essential oil by bilayer liposomes based on pectin, gum Arabic, and carrageenan: Characterization and application in chicken meat preservation

The volatile characteristics of lemongrass essential oil (LO) have seriously hindered its further application, and encapsulation it with multilayer modified liposomes may be an effective strategy to improve this dilemma. This study selected chitosan (CH) and three anionic polymers, pectin (P) / gum arabic (GA) / carrageenan (C), as the first and second coating polymers to modify nano liposomes (NL) by layer-by-layer electrostatic deposition, obtaining three bilayer liposomes, P-CH-NL, GA-CH-NL, and C-CH-NL as high-quality stabilized carriers of LO. The bilayer liposomes showed a dense membrane structure ranging from 110 to 150 nm uniformly, with good antioxidant properties. All bilayer liposomes had good stability during 28-day storage at 4 °C, while C-CH-NL performed relatively better inferred by smaller changes of size, PDI and Zeta potential. The total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) values of fresh chicken meat and a total number of bacterial colonies (TBC) experiments showed that GA-CH-NL and C-CH-NL could better retard the increase of volatile salt base nitrogen. All bilayer liposomes could delay the time for the total bacterial count to exceed 6 log CFU/g (from 7 days to 10 / 12 days). Therefore, the bilayer liposomes P-CH-NL, GA-CH-NL, and C-CH-NL may be promising natural preservatives for food products.

Oxidative Stability of Fish Oil-Loaded Nanocapsules Produced by Electrospraying Using Kafirin or Zein Proteins as Wall Materials.

The encapsulation of fish oil by monoaxial electrospraying using kafirin or zein proteins as hydrophobic wall materials was investigated. Kafirin resulted in spherical fish oil-loaded nanocapsules (>50% of capsules below 1 µm), whereas zein led to fish oil-loaded nanocapsules with non-spherical morphology (>80% of capsules below 1 µm). Both hydrophobic encapsulating materials interacted with fish oil, successfully entrapping the oil within the protein matrix as indicated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy results. FTIR also suggested hydrogen bonding between fish oil and the proteins. Trapped radicals in the encapsulation matrix that were detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), indicated oxidation during electrospraying and storage. Results from isothermal (140 °C) differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) denoted that the encapsulation of fish oil by electrospraying using both kafirin or zein as wall materials protected fish oil from oxidation. In particular, the zein-based nanocapsules were 3.3 times more oxidatively stable than the kafirin-based nanocapsules, which correlates with the higher oil encapsulation efficiency found for zein-based capsules. Thus, this study shows that kafirin might be considered a hydrophobic wall material for the encapsulation of fish oil by electrospraying, although it prevented lipid oxidation to a lower extent when compared to zein.

Efficacy of Pogostemon cablin essential oil loaded chitosan nanoemulsion as novel coating agent for inhibition of potato sprouting and maintenance of storage quality

Application of synthetic compounds to inhibit potato sprouting is a major challenge in the storage conditions. The replacement of synthetic compounds by essential oils for inhibition of potato sprouting is of current research hotspot. This is the first time investigation on encapsulation of Pogostemon cablin essential oil into chitosan nanoemulsion (Ne-PCEO) and its application as coating agent for anti-sprouting activity of potato tubers. The Ne-PCEO was characterized through SEM, DLS, FTIR, and XRD assay along with controlled delivery of PCEO. The Ne-PCEO coating inhibited in-vivo potato sprouting and regulated gibberellins (GA3) and aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) content along with impediment of respiration rate over 90 days of storage at 25 ± 2 °C (RH ∼ 70 %). The Ne-PCEO coating also prevented the weight loss, starch degradation, and increased the reducing sugar content of tubers without affecting the sensory qualities (p < 0.05), which strongly recommends its potential application as novel anti-sprouting coating agent for maintenance of potato storage quality.

Sustainable antimicrobial functionalization of cotton with lavender oil and jackfruit latex

In recent years, functional antimicrobial fabric materials have been in high demand in the health sector due to the impact of COVID-19. Considering the increasing demand, the availability of natural, environmentally friendly, and non-toxic products is limited. In this study, a facile, eco-friendly method for the preparation of antimicrobial functional cotton fabric is proposed. At first, scoured and bleached cotton fabric is treated with chitosan, followed by encapsulation of lavender essential oil (LEO) with the addition of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (jackfruit) latex gum as a binder. For the encapsulation and optimization of LEO and jackfruit latex gum (JLG) performance, four variations of these material’s quantity were utilized. Among all the studied samples, we found that the most efficient inhibition of bacterial growth was induced in both gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) cultures. Among the samples, the chitosan-treated fabric with LEO and JLG added, named TG-5 (refers to LEO of 3 mL and JLG of 5 mL), showed the most impactful bacteria reduction. It demonstrates the most effective antibacterial reduction of 92.5% and 56.8% for E. coli and S. aureus bacterium cultures, respectively. The field emission scanning electron microscope illustrates and validates the morphology and addition of the prepared samples, while Fourier transform infrared is employed to identify the chemical bonding and chemical compounds of the functionalized materials. Therefore, the new combination of lavender oil and latex gum of jackfruit as an antimicrobial finishing agent can be the replacement of synthetic chemicals for cotton fabric functionalization in medical textiles.

Effect of Different Porous Size of Porous Inorganic Fillers on the Encapsulation of Rosemary Essential Oil for PLA-Based Active Packaging.

Essential oils are interesting active additives for packaging manufacturing as they can provide the final material with active functionalities. However, they are frequently volatile compounds and can be degraded during plastic processing. In this work Rosmarinus officinalis (RO) essential oil was encapsulated into Diatomaceous earth (DE) microparticles and into Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and further used to produce eco-friendly active packaging based on polylactic acid (PLA). PLA-based composites and nanocoposites films based on PLA reinforced with DE + RO and HNTs + RO, respectively, were developed by melt extrusion followed by cast-film, simulating the industrial processing conditions. As these materials are intended as active food packaging films, the obtained materials were fully characterized in terms of their mechanical, thermal and structural properties, while migration of antioxidant RO was also assessed as well as the compostability at laboratory scale level. Both DE and HNTs were able to protect the Rosmarinus officinalis (RO) from thermal degradation during processing, allowing to obtain films with antioxidant properties as demonstrated by the antioxidant assays after the materials were exposed for 10 days to a fatty food simulant. The results showed that incorporating Rosmarinus officinalis encapsulated in either DE or HNTs and the good dispersion of such particles into the PLA matrix strengthened its mechanical performance and sped up the disintegration under composting conditions of PLA, while allowing to obtain films with antioxidant properties of interest as antioxidant active food packaging materials.