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Recent Advances in Functional Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Biomedical Applications

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A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Coatings for Food Technology and System".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 43075

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ruchir Priyadarshi

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Guest Editor

Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
Interests: food packaging; biopolymers; active packaging; smart packaging; bionanocomposites; nanomaterials; sustainable materials; coatings; shelf life enhancement
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Dr. Swarup Roy

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Guest Editor

Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, India
Interests: biomaterials; edible film and coatings; nanoemulsion; natural compound; active food packaging; smart packaging materials; food shelf life
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Shiv Dutt Purohit

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Guest Editor

School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
Interests: biomaterials; nanotechnology; food packaging; tissue engineering; nanocomposites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Tabli Ghosh

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Guest Editor

Department of Food Engineering and Technology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam 784028, India
Interests: food technology; food packaging; functional biopolymers

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Almost 70 years after the discovery of non-degradable synthetic plastics, humans are struggling with the problem of municipal waste disposal, increased carbon footprint, global warming, and other environmental deterioration, which necessitates the development of eco-friendly materials for versatile applications. Biopolymers derived from various natural agro-waste sources are gaining popularity in a plethora of applications such as food packaging, biomedicals, cosmetics, agriculture, waste-water treatment, textiles, electronics, and so on. Even though biopolymers are degradable and have shown immense potential as alternatives to synthetic non-degradable plastics, they lag in physicochemical and functional properties compared to their synthetic counterparts.

Nevertheless, they possess unique advantages, such as natural abundance, robust structures, hydrophilicity, water solubility, multiple active sites, self-cleaning, lightweight, mechanical flexibilities, biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, renewability, low cost, and so on. Moreover, the other properties can be ameliorated by the addition of functional materials such as nanoparticles or natural extracts. Functional biopolymer composites have been promising materials for developing environmentally friendly and sustainable food packaging and biomedical applications. However, even after more than a decade of research in this area, there are hardly any commercialized products in the market.

This Special Issue is focused on a congregation of crucial developments in the biopolymer and biomaterials research leading to their improved physicochemical and functional properties for multifaceted applications. We intend to reach the readers not only from academia, but also from industries, and provide them with the frontier advances in this research area which could facilitate commercialization. The purpose of this research topic is to promote the development of applications involving biodegradable, renewable polymers and biomaterials to various aspects touching human life directly or indirectly.

In particular, the topics of interest include but are not limited to:

Synthesis and characterization of biopolymers and biomaterials.
Extraction, utilization, and value-addition of biomaterials from waste resources.
Engineering biopolymers and biomaterials aimed at amelioration of their physicochemical and functional properties.
Applications of biomaterials in sustainable food packaging, edible packaging, and biomedical engineering.
Degradation of biomaterials and biopolymers in natural or nature-mimicking environment.

Dr. Ruchir Priyadarshi
Dr. Swarup Roy
Dr. Shiv Dutt Purohit
Dr. Tabli Ghosh
Guest Editors

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Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 172 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Biomedical Applications: Options or Obligations?

by Ruchir Priyadarshi, Swarup Roy, Shiv Dutt Purohit and Tabli Ghosh

Coatings 2022, 12(9), 1261; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12091261 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 1843

Abstract

Since the invention of synthetic plastics in the 1950s, they have inevitably dominated all other materials such as metals, glass, wood, etc [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Biomedical Applications)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

17 pages, 2552 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Plasma-Deposited Organosilicon Hydrophobic Coatings on Cellulosic Materials for Wet Packaging Applications

by Jacopo Profili, Sara Babaei, Mariam Al Rashidi, Annie Dorris, Siavash Asadollahi, Andranik Sarkissian and Luc Stafford

Coatings 2023, 13(5), 924; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13050924 - 15 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2227

Abstract

Non-toxic organosilicon coatings with hydrophobic properties were deposited on Kraft paper films using atmospheric-pressure dielectric barrier discharge. In order to assess the applicability of the plasma-deposited coating in the food packaging industry, its stability in different liquids (i.e., food simulants) was studied. Chemical analyses reveal that the food simulants, namely, de-ionized water, acetic acid, ethanol, and heptane, do not significantly alter the chemical composition or the hydrophobicity of the coatings. Based on inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy analyses, the amount of Si released from the plasma-deposited coating is less than that typically detected in tap water. Overall, the results obtained suggest that hydrophobic plasma-deposited organosilicon coatings have great potential for use in food and wet packaging applications, especially considering their environmentally friendly character. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Biomedical Applications)

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13 pages, 2425 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chitosan-Coated Packaging Papers—Strength and Thermal Stability

by Urška Vrabič-Brodnjak, Nikolay Yavorov, Veska Lasheva and Dimitrina Todorova

Coatings 2023, 13(5), 828; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13050828 - 25 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2978

Abstract

The aging of paper depends on various factors, including environmental conditions, microbiological factors and chemical composition. Chitosan-coated paper is an eco-friendly material that has potential use in various packaging applications due to its mechanical, barrier and antibacterial properties. In this study, the aging stability of chitosan-coated wood-free wrapping paper was evaluated by examining pulp and four paper samples with different quantities of chitosan. Accelerated thermal aging and dynamic thermogravimetric analysis were used to assess the aging stability, while color changes were examined to understand the impact of chitosan coating. The study found that increasing chitosan coating led to improved aging stability due to the improved crosslinking process between chitosan and paper. The coated paper samples displayed a yellowish hue after 72 h of aging, with increased strength and resistance to weight loss. TGA results indicated that the temperature of complete burning of the sample increased with increasing chitosan coating. Additionally, coated paper samples exhibited a more even surface and improved barrier properties. Overall, chitosan-coated paper is a promising material for sustainable and eco-friendly packaging, printing and wrapping applications. This study’s findings have important implications for the development of environmentally-friendly packaging materials that possess desirable mechanical and barrier properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Biomedical Applications)

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16 pages, 4974 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation, Characterization, and Application of Sodium Alginate/ε-Polylysine Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembled Edible Film

by Ruohan Bao, Xingfen He, Yifan Liu, Yuecheng Meng and Jie Chen

Coatings 2023, 13(3), 516; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13030516 - 25 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2508

Abstract

The edible film (LBL film) was prepared by layer-by-layer self-assembly technology using Sodium alginate (SA) and ε-polylysine (ε-PL) as polyanion and polycation, respectively. The self-assembly method was optimized, the mechanical and physical properties of the optimal LBL film were characterized, and its preservation effect on blueberry was explored. Results suggested that the transmittance of LBL2 film was above 85%, and the appearance was smooth and transparency consistent. We found that the structure was compact and uniform through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that LBL2 film had excellent thermal stability. And had lower water solubility and inhibitory effect on Alternaria. LBL2 films were significantly effective at inhibiting the growth of mold and maintain the firmness of postharvest blueberries. Compared with the control group, LBL2 films could prolong the shelf life of a blueberry by 1~2 days at room temperature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Biomedical Applications)

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7 pages, 1875 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Crosslinked PVA/Nanoclay Hydrogel Coating for Improving Water Vapor Barrier of Cellulose-Based Packaging at High Temperature and Humidity

by Feng Gu, Wenjing Yang, Junlong Song, Huining Xiao, Wangxia Wang and Zhaosheng Cai

Coatings 2022, 12(10), 1562; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12101562 - 16 Oct 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3891

Abstract

Improving the water vapor barrier of cellulose-based packaging in tropical conditions is very challenging for moisture-sensitive products. In this work, we developed a crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol/nanoclay (PVA/NC) hydrogel for paper surface coating. Layered NC and crosslinking can effectively improve the stability of PVA and block the flow paths of water molecules at elevated temperature and humidity. The result indicates that the crosslinked PVA/NC hydrogel coating (4 g/m²) can reduce the water vapor transmission rate of copy paper from 1861 g/m²/day to 195 g/m²/day at 38 °C (90% RH). The coated paper has an initial contact angle of 108° and can maintain hydrophobicity (>90°) under direct contact with water for three minutes. A Kit No. as high as 12 and a Cobb No. of 10 were also achieved by the coating. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Biomedical Applications)

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17 pages, 3422 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of pH-Indicative and Antimicrobial Films Based on Polyvinyl Alcohol/Starch Incorporated with Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate and Mulberry Anthocyanin for Active Packaging

by Nannan Li, Zeguang Zhou, Fuqi Wu, Yanyue Lu, Dongyang Jiang, Lei Zhong and Fengwei Xie

Coatings 2022, 12(10), 1392; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12101392 - 23 Sep 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2648

Abstract

Antibacterial and pH-responsive composite films for active food packaging were fabricated based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), cassava starch, ethyl lauroyl arginate (LAE), and mulberry anthocyanin. With the incorporation of LAE and mulberry anthocyanin, the PVA/starch blend films exhibited a less compact and more heterogeneous surface structure. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the active films were not significantly affected when the mulberry anthocyanin content was less than 20%. Moreover, the incorporation of mulberry anthocyanin effectively improved the UV barrier property of the blend films. Notably, while mulberry anthocyanin showed obvious color changes in buffer solutions with different pH values, the changes were indistinguishable for the PVA/starch/mulberry anthocyanin films. By contrast, the color changes of the PVA/starch/LAE/mulberry anthocyanin films were more noticeable, indicating the addition of LAE increased the pH sensitivity of the blend films. Furthermore, the PVA/starch/LAE/mulberry anthocyanin films efficiently inhibited the growth of both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) due to the strong antibacterial activity of LAE. According to the spoilage test, the active films containing 5% mulberry anthocyanin and 5% LAE effectively indicated and slowed down the spoilage process of dairy milk. Our results demonstrate that PVA/starch/LAE/mulberry anthocyanin films have high potential as bioactive packaging materials applied in the food industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Biomedical Applications)

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

13 pages, 2201 KiB

Open AccessReview

Novel Bacteriophage-Based Food Packaging: An Innovative Food Safety Approach

by Rajesh V. Wagh, Ruchir Priyadarshi and Jong-Whan Rhim

Coatings 2023, 13(3), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13030609 - 13 Mar 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 8287

Abstract

Research and development on innovative packaging materials have advanced significantly to safeguard packaged food against microbial contamination and oxidation. Active packaging has recently developed as a practical approach to reducing oxidation and microbiological growth in packaged goods, extending their shelf life and protecting consumers from potential harm. Active food packaging includes O₂, CO₂ scavengers, moisture absorbers, U. V. barriers, and antimicrobial agents. Various antimicrobial agents, such as nitrates and benzoic acids, are incorporated into food packaging formulations. Consumers demand natural antimicrobials over chemical/synthetic ones, such as bacteriocins, bacteriophages, and essential oils. Bacteriophages (viruses) have emerged as a feasible option for decontaminating and eliminating infections from food sources. Most importantly, these viruses can target specific foodborne pathogens without harming helpful bacteria or infecting humans and livestock. Fortifying bacteriophages into food packaging films will not only kill specific food microorganisms but has also evolved as a new weapon to combat antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) issues. The present review summarises recent developments in active antimicrobial packaging focused particularly on bacteriophage food packaging applications and advantages, drawbacks, and future trends for active food packaging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Biomedical Applications)

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21 pages, 3585 KiB

Open AccessReview

Flavor Microencapsulation for Taste Masking in Medicated Chewing Gums—Recent Trends, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

by Prerna Kaushik, Ravinder Verma, Vineet Mittal, Saurabh Bhatia, Anubhav Pratap-Singh and Deepak Kaushik

Coatings 2022, 12(11), 1656; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12111656 - 31 Oct 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4774

Abstract

Chewing gum, being a pleasant formulation, requires effective taste-masking techniques, such as encapsulation methods along with an amalgamation of flavors and sweeteners. Taste-masked medicated chewing gum offers a palatable way of administering drugs and dietary supplements to children and old-aged people. The concept of chewing gum development provides a sustained and modified release of actives through various techniques, such as microencapsulation, cyclodextrin-complexation, buffering agents, ion exchange resin, solid dispersions, effervescent agents, etc. The taste, solubility, and stability of the active ingredient are the key parameters to be kept in mind, while formulating a medicated chewing gum. Flavor microencapsulation has been used as a crucial technology in the research and food industry to control sensory performance as demonstrated by the hefty number of chewing gum patents over the years. This manuscript provides an insight into conventional and novel taste-masking techniques employed in developing palatable chewing gums. Additionally, concepts of flavor microencapsulation, its applications, polymers, and patents have been discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Biomedical Applications)

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31 pages, 1685 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Electrospinning as a Promising Process to Preserve the Quality and Safety of Meat and Meat Products

by Mohammed Gagaoua, Vânia Zanella Pinto, Gülden Göksen, Laura Alessandroni, Melisa Lamri, Amira Leila Dib and Fatma Boukid

Coatings 2022, 12(5), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12050644 - 8 May 2022

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 6751

Abstract

Fresh and processed meat products are staple foods worldwide. However, these products are considered perishable foods and their deterioration depends partly on the inner and external properties of meat. Beyond conventional meat preservation approaches, electrospinning has emerged as a novel effective alternative to develop active and intelligent packaging. Thus, this review aims to discuss the advantages and shortcomings of electrospinning application for quality and safety preservation of meat and processed meat products. Electrospun fibres are very versatile, and their features can be modulated to deliver functional properties such as antioxidant and antimicrobial effects resulting in shelf-life extension and in some cases product quality improvement. Compared to conventional processes, electrospun fibres provide advantages such as casting and coating in the fabrication of active systems, indicators, and sensors. The approaches for improving, stabilizing, and controlling the release of active compounds and highly sensitive, rapid, and reliable responsiveness, under changes in real-time are still challenging for innovative packaging development. Despite their advantages, the active and intelligent electrospun fibres for meat packaging are still restricted to research and not yet widely used for commercial products. Industrial validation of lab-scale achievements of electrospinning might boost their commercialisation. Safety must be addressed by evaluating the impact of electrospun fibres migration from package to foods on human health. This information will contribute into filling knowledge gaps and sustain clear regulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Biomedical Applications)

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18 pages, 2312 KiB

Open AccessReview

Antiviral Biodegradable Food Packaging and Edible Coating Materials in the COVID-19 Era: A Mini-Review

by Ruchir Priyadarshi, Shiv Dutt Purohit, Swarup Roy, Tabli Ghosh, Jong-Whan Rhim and Sung Soo Han

Coatings 2022, 12(5), 577; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12050577 - 24 Apr 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4707

Abstract

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019, and the catastrophe faced by the world in 2020, the food industry was one of the most affected industries. On the one hand, the pandemic-induced fear and lockdown in several countries increased the online delivery of food products, resulting in a drastic increase in single-use plastic packaging waste. On the other hand, several reports revealed the spread of the viral infection through food products and packaging. This significantly affected consumer behavior, which directly influenced the market dynamics of the food industry. Still, a complete recovery from this situation seems a while away, and there is a need to focus on a potential solution that can address both of these issues. Several biomaterials that possess antiviral activities, in addition to being natural and biodegradable, are being studied for food packaging applications. However, the research community has been ignorant of this aspect, as the focus has mainly been on antibacterial and antifungal activities for the enhancement of food shelf life. This review aims to cover the different perspectives of antiviral food packaging materials using established technology. It focuses on the basic principles of antiviral activity and its mechanisms. Furthermore, the antiviral activities of several nanomaterials, biopolymers, natural oils and extracts, polyphenolic compounds, etc., are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Biomedical Applications)

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