Cyclodextrins in Polymer-Based Active Food Packaging: A Fresh Look at Nontoxic, Biodegradable, and Sustainable Technology Trends

Using cyclodextrins (CDs) in packaging technologies helps volatile or bioactive molecules improve their solubility, to guarantee the homogeneous distribution of the complexed molecules, protecting them from volatilization, oxidation, and temperature fluctuations when they are associated with polymeric matrices. This technology is also suitable for the controlled release of active substances and allows the exploration of their association with biodegradable polymer targeting to reduce the negative environmental impacts of food packaging. Here, we present a fresh look at the current status of and future prospects regarding the different strategies used to associate cyclodextrins and their derivatives with polymeric matrices to fabricate sustainable and biodegradable active food packaging (AFP). Particular attention is paid to the materials and the fabrication technologies available to date. In addition, the use of cutting-edge strategies, including the trend of nanotechnologies in active food packaging, is emphasized. Furthermore, a critical view on the risks to human health and the associated updated legislation is provided. Some of the more representative patents and commercial products that currently use AFP are also listed. Finally, the current and future research challenges which must be addressed are discussed.

Download Full-text

Conversion of Chitin to Defined Chitosan Oligomers: Current Status and Future Prospects

Marine Drugs ◽

10.3390/md17080452 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (8) ◽

pp. 452 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Schmitz ◽

Auza ◽

Koberidze ◽

Rasche ◽

Fischer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Design Of Experiments ◽

Process Optimization ◽

Functional Properties ◽

Industrial Waste ◽

Product Yield ◽

Degree Of Polymerization ◽

Bioactive Molecules ◽

Current Status ◽

Future Prospects ◽

Chemical Production

Chitin is an abundant polysaccharide primarily produced as an industrial waste stream during the processing of crustaceans. Despite the limited applications of chitin, there is interest from the medical, agrochemical, food and cosmetic industries because it can be converted into chitosan and partially acetylated chitosan oligomers (COS). These molecules have various useful properties, including antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. The chemical production of COS is environmentally hazardous and it is difficult to control the degree of polymerization and acetylation. These issues can be addressed by using specific enzymes, particularly chitinases, chitosanases and chitin deacetylases, which yield better-defined chitosan and COS mixtures. In this review, we summarize recent chemical and enzymatic approaches for the production of chitosan and COS. We also discuss a design-of-experiments approach for process optimization that could help to enhance enzymatic processes in terms of product yield and product characteristics. This may allow the production of novel COS structures with unique functional properties to further expand the applications of these diverse bioactive molecules.

Download Full-text

New Trends in the Use of Volatile Compounds in Food Packaging

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13071053 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 1053

Author(s):

Ana Beltrán Sanahuja ◽

Arantzazu Valdés García

Keyword(s):

Volatile Compounds ◽

Food Packaging ◽

Active Agent ◽

Retention Capacity ◽

Polymeric Matrices ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Active Food Packaging ◽

High Volatility ◽

Recent Trends ◽

Packaging Industry

In the last years, many of the research studies in the packaging industry have been focused on food active packaging in order to develop new materials capable of retaining the active agent in the polymeric matrix and controlling its release into food, which is not easy in many cases due to the high volatility of the chemical compounds, as well as their ease of diffusion within polymeric matrices. This review presents a complete revision of the studies that have been carried out on the incorporation of volatile compounds to food packaging applications. We provide an overview of the type of volatile compounds used in active food packaging and the most recent trends in the strategies used to incorporate them into different polymeric matrices. Moreover, a thorough discussion regarding the main factors affecting the retention capacity and controlled release of volatile compounds from active food packaging is presented.

Download Full-text

Seaweeds to the rescue of forgotten diseases: a review

Botanica Marina ◽

10.1515/bot-2018-0071 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 62 (3) ◽

pp. 211-226 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Yolanda Freile-Pelegrín ◽

Deniz Tasdemir

Keyword(s):

Natural Products ◽

Marine Algae ◽

Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

New Drugs ◽

Bioactive Molecules ◽

Current Status ◽

Tropical Diseases ◽

Clinical Testing ◽

The World ◽

Active Substances

Abstract Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of diseases that are predominant in the poorest parts of the world affecting 1.4 billion people. The development of new drugs is urgently needed in order to combat these forgotten diseases. Natural products from marine organisms have been widely explored as a source of new bioactive molecules. However, despite their enormous potential in drug discovery, not even one seaweed-based molecule has entered pre-clinical testing for NTDs. This review gives an overview of the current status of algal natural products against NTDs. The list of compounds is by no means exhaustive, but covers the most important classes of active substances in marine algae against the most studied NTDs.

Download Full-text

Elimination of schistosomiasis in China: Current status and future prospects

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0009578 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (8) ◽

pp. e0009578

Author(s):

Wei Wang ◽

Robert Bergquist ◽

Charles H. King ◽

Kun Yang

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mass Drug Administration ◽

Health Problem ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Control Program ◽

Current Status ◽

Future Research ◽

Research Needs ◽

Future Prospects ◽

Schistosomiasis Control

Elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem among all disease-endemic countries in 2030 is an ambitious goal. Recent achievements resulting from mass drug administration (MDA) with praziquantel is promising but may need to be complemented with also other means. Schistosomiasis was highly prevalent in China before the initiation of the national schistosomiasis control program in the mid-1950s, and, at that time, the country bore the world’s highest burden of schistosomiasis. The concerted control efforts, upheld without interruption for more than a half century, have resulted in elimination of the disease as a public health problem in China as of 2015. Here, we describe the current status of schistosomiasis in China, analyze the potential challenges affecting schistosomiasis elimination, and propose the future research needs and priorities for the country, aiming to provide more universal insights into the structures needed for a global schistosomiasis elimination encompassing also other endemic regions.

Download Full-text

Development of Antibacterial Composite Films Based on Isotactic Polypropylene and Coated ZnO Particles for Active Food Packaging

Coatings ◽

10.3390/coatings6010004 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 4 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Clara Silvestre ◽

Donatella Duraccio ◽

Antonella Marra ◽

Valentina Strongone ◽

Sossio Cimmino

Keyword(s):

Stearic Acid ◽

Isotactic Polypropylene ◽

Food Packaging ◽

Composite Films ◽

Antibacterial Properties ◽

Homogeneous Distribution ◽

Surface Polarity ◽

Active Food Packaging ◽

Zno Particles ◽

Twin Screw

This study was aimed at developing new films based on isotactic polypropylene (iPP) for food packaging applications using zinc oxide (ZnO) with submicron dimension particles obtained by spray pyrolysis. To improve compatibility with iPP, the ZnO particles were coated with stearic acid (ZnOc). Composites based on iPP with 2 wt % and 5 wt % of ZnOc were prepared in a twin-screw extruder and then filmed by a calender. The effect of ZnOc on the properties of iPP were assessed and compared with those obtained in previous study on iPP/ZnO and iPP/iPPgMA/ZnO. For all composites, a homogeneous distribution and dispersion of ZnOc was obtained indicating that the coating with stearic acid of the ZnO particles reduces the surface polarity mismatch between iPP and ZnO. The iPP/ZnOc composite films have relevant antibacterial properties with respect to E. coli, higher thermal stability and improved mechanical and impact properties than the pure polymer and the composites iPP/ZnO and iPP/iPPgMA/ZnO. This study demonstrated that iPP/ZnOc films are suitable materials for potential application in the active packaging field.

Download Full-text

Phytostimulating Mechanisms and Bioactive Molecules of Trichoderma Species: Current Status and Future Prospects

Microorganisms for Sustainability - Microorganisms for Green Revolution ◽

10.1007/978-981-10-6241-4_10 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 189-214

Author(s):

Lakshmi Tewari ◽

Raj Kumar Pandey ◽

Raj Shekher Sharma ◽

Naveen Kumar ◽

Salil K. Tewari

Keyword(s):

Bioactive Molecules ◽

Current Status ◽

Future Prospects ◽

Trichoderma Species

Download Full-text

Stabilization Techniques of Essential Oils by Incorporation into Biodegradable Polymeric Materials for Food Packaging

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26206307 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (20) ◽

pp. 6307

Author(s):

Elena Stoleru ◽

Mihai Brebu

Keyword(s):

Essential Oils ◽

Food Packaging ◽

Polymeric Materials ◽

Health Food ◽

Food Preservatives ◽

Polymeric Matrices ◽

Long Term Storage ◽

Active Food Packaging ◽

Bioactive Agents

Human health, food spoilage, and plastic waste, which are three great topical concerns, intersect in the field of food packaging. This has created a trend to replace synthetic food preservatives with natural ones, to produce bio-functional food packaging, and to shift towards biodegradable polymeric materials. Among the natural bioactive agents, essential oils are gaining more and more attention in food packaging applications due to their various benefits and fewer side-effects. However, their volatility, hydrophobicity, and strong odor and taste limit the direct use in food-related applications. Fixation into polymeric matrices represents a suitable strategy to promote the benefits and reduce the drawbacks. Emulsification and electrospinning are largely used techniques for protection and stabilization of essential oils. These methods offer various advantages in active food packaging, such as controlled release, ensuring long-term performance, decreased amounts of active agents that gain enhanced functionality through increased available surface area in contact with food, and versatility in packaging design. This review focuses on creating correlations between the use of essential oils as natural additives, stabilization methods, and biodegradable polymeric matrices or substrates in developing bioactive food packaging materials. Documentation was performed via the Scopus, ScienceDirect, and PubMed databases, selecting the publications after the year 2018. Particular attention was given to the publications that tested materials on food/food pathogens to evaluate their performances in retarding spoilage. Research gaps were also identified on the topic, materials being tested mainly at short time after preparation without considering the long-term storage that usually occurs in actual practice between production and use, and insufficient research related to upscaling.

Download Full-text