Application of Biocidal-Modified Biodegradable Polymers in Food Packaging and Their Impact

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Analytical Methods".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 348

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Torun, Poland
Interests: microbiological enzymes and their application potential; fungicides and bactericides in plant protection; biocides embedded in polymers; use of microorganisms in plant protection; microorganisms in various industries
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Torun, Poland
Interests: biodiversity of microorganisms; antimicrobial agents; biofilm; biodegradation; biopolymers; new application of microorganisms in polymers; gene expression
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plastic pollution has a significant impact on terrestrial life. It is likely to pose a major threat to plants and animals, and even humans. Due to their resilience, plastics have strong roots in terrestrial ecosystems as building materials and hygiene products, but most importantly as a form of packaging. For this reason, interest in biodegradable polymers has increased, particularly in the food industry. In recent years, research has focused on the development of new materials modified with natural biocidal substances. They can act as natural preservatives and can be introduced into packaging materials to protect food from spoilage. Food packaging produced on an industrial scale from materials that are difficult to degrade represents a serious environmental problem, i.e., they take many years to decompose. Biomaterials modified with natural biocidal substances can be degraded in the environment.  Biomaterials modified with natural biocides can be degraded in the natural environment (e.g., soil and water) and in anthropogenic environments. The introduction of biocidal-modified biomaterials has its consequences. It may disturb the microbial populations that play an important role in the removal of pollutants. Bioaugmentation can improve environmental quality.

Prof. Dr. Maria Swiontek-Brzezinska
Dr. Agnieszka Richert
Dr. Marlene Cran
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • food industry
  • biocidal assay
  • biocidal substances
  • packing materials
  • biodegradation
  • biodiversity
  • biomaterials

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

22 pages, 628 KiB  
Review
The Application of Natural Phenolic Substances as Antimicrobial Agents in Agriculture and Food Industry
by Katarzyna Dembińska, Ambika H. Shinde, Marcela Pejchalová, Agnieszka Richert and Maria Swiontek Brzezinska
Foods 2025, 14(11), 1893; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14111893 - 26 May 2025
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Abstract
Natural phenolic substances have emerged as promising alternatives to synthetic antimicrobials in both agriculture and the food industry, where concerns over microbial resistance and chemical residues are rising. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current literature, highlighting the potential of these [...] Read more.
Natural phenolic substances have emerged as promising alternatives to synthetic antimicrobials in both agriculture and the food industry, where concerns over microbial resistance and chemical residues are rising. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current literature, highlighting the potential of these compounds as effective antimicrobial agents. A systematic evaluation of in vitro and in vivo studies was conducted, focusing on the efficacy of various phenolic compounds against a range of pathogens. The analysis revealed that natural phenolics not only inhibit microbial growth but also enhance the shelf life and safety of food products and protect crops from disease. Moreover, although laboratory results are promising, the translation of these findings into practical applications requires further investigation. Overall, the evidence supports the potential for natural phenolic substances to serve as integral components in sustainable agriculture and food preservation strategies. Full article
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