scholarly journals Optimization of PCL Polymeric Films as Potential Matrices for the Loading of Alpha-Tocopherol by a Combination of Innovative Green Processes

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 2244
Author(s):  
Emanuela Drago ◽  
Roberta Campardelli ◽  
Iolanda De Marco ◽  
Patrizia Perego

Active food packaging represents an innovative way to conceive food packages. The innovation lies in using natural-based and biodegradable materials to produce a system intended to interact with the food product to preserve its quality and shelf-life. Compared to traditional plastics, active packaging is designed and regulated to release substances in a controlled manner, mainly antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds. Conventional technologies are not suitable for treating these natural substances; therefore, the research for innovative and green techniques represents a challenge in this field. The aim of this work is to compare two different polymeric structures: nanofibrous films obtained by electrospinning and continuous films obtained by solvent casting, to identify the best solution and process conditions for subjecting the samples to the supercritical fluids impregnation process (SFI). The supports optimized were functionalized by impregnating alpha-tocopherol using the SFI process. In particular, the different morphologies of the samples both before and after the supercritical impregnation process were initially studied, identifying the limits and possible solutions to obtain an optimization of the constructs to be impregnated with this innovative green technology in the packaging field.

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marko Radovic ◽  
Tijana Adamovic ◽  
Jelena Pavlovic ◽  
Jelena Rusmirovic ◽  
Vanja Tadic ◽  
...  

Supercritical CO2 impregnation process was used for the first time to fabricate biodegradable gelatin-chitosan (G/Ch) films containing clove oil (CO) for potential use in active food packaging. All the impregnations were carried out at moderately low temperature (40?C). Aiming to maximize CO loading in the films with acceptable morphological, structural and thermal properties, CO2 pressure, impregnation time and G:Ch mass ratio were varied. Gelatin fraction in the films of 25-50 wt.%, scCO2 pressures of 10-20 MPa and impregnation time of 2-6 h impregnation favoured the CO loading. Processing of the film with equal gelatin to chitosan mass ratio (G/Ch50:50) at 10 MPa for 2 h yielded sufficiently high loading (56 mg CO/gfilm) without an adverse effect on morphological properties. The G/Ch50:50 film was therefore chosen for structural and thermal analyses. ATR-FTIR analysis confirmed successful CO incorporation into the G/Ch50:50 and its interaction with the film. Plasticizing effect of scCO2 and CO on the film was evidenced by DSC. Incorporation of 56 mg CO/gfilm into the G/Ch50:50 didn''t affect thermal stability of the film. Beside environmental benefits, supercritical impregnation process enables fast fabrication of G/Ch bio-composite films containing CO, thermally stable to 110?C, which is suitable for most of food packaging applications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 117 ◽  
pp. 106709
Author(s):  
Cristina Cejudo Bastante ◽  
Nuno H.C.S. Silva ◽  
Lourdes Casas Cardoso ◽  
Casimiro Mantell Serrano ◽  
Enrique J. Martínez de la Ossa ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 104 ◽  
pp. 76-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrián Rojas ◽  
Daniela Cerro ◽  
Alejandra Torres ◽  
María José Galotto ◽  
Abel Guarda ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-111
Author(s):  
Heriberto A. dos Anjos ◽  
Saionara Luna ◽  
María L. Hernández-Macedo ◽  
Jorge A. López

Background: Antimicrobial and antioxidant packaging play an important role in the food industry by ensuring food quality and prolonging the product’s shelf life. Therefore, this scientific survey covers the technological domain in the active food packaging development processes and types of packaging. Methods: This paper aims to provide a review of patents and scientific publications on active packaging with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties in order to show technological advances in this field of knowledge and its applicability in the food industry. Results: The patent review indicates an increase in the number of documents deposited in recent decades regarding various types of packaging formulations, particularly active packaging to preserve foods and their shelf life. In the last few decades, the scientific publication also includes several studies concerning the development of active food packaging using natural products with antimicrobial and antioxidant proprieties. Overall, the results show the advantages of incorporating natural products into polymer matrices to develop industrial packaging, providing a safe and high-quality food product to the consumer. On the other hand, the review also highlighted lack of cooperation between inventors and companies of active packaging development. Conclusion: Further study in this regard would help provide data form research and patents on the active food-packaging field as well as economic issues, indicating the global development scenario of this innovative area.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2A) ◽  
Author(s):  
João Victor Torres de Moraes ◽  
Ricardo Luiz Calazans Luna Filho ◽  
Williams Nascimento de Siqueira ◽  
Hianna Arely Milca Fagundes Silva ◽  
Dewson Rocha Pereira ◽  
...  

Ionizing radiation has been applied in several areas of knowledge, among them the study of the radiomodifier activity of natural substances. These substances can modify the cellular response to the damage induced by the radiation. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the radiomodifier action of Pityrocarpa moniliformis extract on Biomphalaria glabrata embryos exposed to 60Co gamma radiation. Initially, toxicity tests were performed on the extract against the B. glabrata embryos for the choice of concentration that did not cause death and embryonic malformation. Then, the antioxidant activity of the P. moniliformis extract with flavonoids and phenolic compounds was evaluated by means of the ABTS method. To evaluate the radiomodifier activity of the extract, embryos were selected in the blastula stage and irradiated with 7.5 Gy in a 60Co source (gammacell-Co60). Then, the embryos were exposed for 24 h to the extract of P. moniliformis at a concentration of 250 μg/mL. The results showed that the extract of P. moniliformis presents flavonoids and enzymatic inhibition by ABTS, which demonstrates the presence of antioxidant compounds. However, the tests of the radiomodifier activity did not present radioprotective effect for embryos exposed to ionizing radiation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Razieh Niazmand ◽  
Bibi Marzieh Razavizadeh ◽  
Farzaneh Sabbagh

The physical, thermal, mechanical, optical, microstructural, and barrier properties of low-density polyethylene films (LDPE) containing ferula asafoetida leaf and gum extracts were investigated. Results showed a reduction in elasticity and tensile strength with increasing extract concentration in the polymer matrix. The melting temperature and enthalpy increased with increasing concentration of extracts. The films containing extracts had lower L∗ and a∗ and higher b∗ indices. The films containing leaf extract had more barrier potential to UV than the gum extracts. The oxygen permeability in films containing 5% of leaf and gum extracts increased by 2.3 and 2.1 times, respectively. The morphology of the active films was similar to bubble swollen islands, which was more pronounced at higher concentrations of gum and leaf extracts. FTIR results confirmed some chemical interactions of ferula extracts with the polymer matrix. At the end of day 14th, the growth rate of Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisea in the presence of the PE-Gum-5 reduced more than PE-Leaf-5 (3.7 and 2.4 logarithmic cycles, respectively) compared to the first day. Our findings showed that active LDPE films have desire thermo-mechanical and barrier properties for food packaging.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 200
Author(s):  
Celeste Cottet ◽  
Andrés G. Salvay ◽  
Mercedes A. Peltzer ◽  
Marta Fernández-García

Poly(itaconic acid) (PIA) was synthesized via conventional radical polymerization. Then, functionalization of PIA was carried out by an esterification reaction with the heterocyclic groups of 1,3-thiazole and posterior quaternization by N-alkylation reaction with iodomethane. The modifications were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), as well as ζ-potential measurements. Their antimicrobial activity was tested against different Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. After characterization, the resulting polymers were incorporated into gelatin with oxidized starch and glycerol as film adjuvants, and dopamine as crosslinking agent, to develop antimicrobial-active films. The addition of quaternized polymers not only improved the mechanical properties of gelatin formulations, but also decreased the solution absorption capacity during the swelling process. However, the incorporation of synthesized polymers increased the deformation at break values and the water vapor permeability of films. The antioxidant capacity of films was confirmed by radical scavenging ability and, additionally, those films exhibited antimicrobial activity. Therefore, these films can be considered as good candidates for active packaging, ensuring a constant concentration of the active compound on the surface of the food, increasing products’ shelf-life and reducing the environmental impact generated by plastics of petrochemical origin.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
Swarup Roy ◽  
Lindong Zhai ◽  
Hyun Chan Kim ◽  
Duc Hoa Pham ◽  
Hussein Alrobei ◽  
...  

A chitosan-based nanocomposite film with tannic acid (TA) as a cross-linker and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2) as a reinforcing agent was developed with a solution casting technique. TA and TiO2 are biocompatible with chitosan, and this paper studied the synergistic effect of the cross-linker and the reinforcing agent. The addition of TA enhanced the ultraviolet blocking and mechanical properties of the chitosan-based nanocomposite film. The reinforcement of TiO2 in chitosan/TA further improved the nanocomposite film’s mechanical properties compared to the neat chitosan or chitosan/TA film. The thermal stability of the chitosan-based nanocomposite film was slightly enhanced, whereas the swelling ratio decreased. Interestingly, its water vapor barrier property was also significantly increased. The developed chitosan-based nanocomposite film showed potent antioxidant activity, and it is promising for active food packaging.


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