Application and Safety of Edible Films in Food Packaging

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Packaging and Preservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 1267

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Interests: biomass-based nanocomposite; antibacterial materials; food storage and preservation; intelligent food packaging; 3D printing technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
Interests: biomass-based nanocomposite; structure-activity relationship; selenization modification and nutritional function evaluation of polysaccharides and peptides from natural products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor Assistant
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Zhongshan 528458, China
Interests: biomass-based nanocomposite; antibacterial materials; intelligent food packaging; intelligent drug delivery carrier; 3D printing technology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the processes of food production, storage, and sales, appropriate food packaging plays a vital role minimizing food loss and ensuring that consumers receive safe, healthy products. Effective packaging enhances the marketability and acceptability of food by preventing spoilage and maintaining freshness. Among modern packaging solutions, edible film have emerged as an important innovation in the field of food safety. These films act as protective barriers against adverse factors such as microorganisms, oxygen, and moisture through antibacterial and barrier methods, thereby extending shelf life and preventing food deterioration.

Edible film substrates are primarily derived from biological raw materials, which are characterized by natural degradability, environmental friendliness, and safety. Such biopolymers—including cellulose, chitosan, starch, sodium alginate, lignin, and hemicellulose—represent the future development trend in sustainable food packaging.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to showcase advances in edible films and coatings for food packaging based on biopolymers. In addition, it will address the safety and performance of bio-based food packaging materials. This Special Issue will focus on the innovation, optimization, and process control of various food packaging films, as well as their safety and application, to promote the development of the multi-functionality and multi-application of food packaging films.

Dr. Zhengguo Wu
Dr. Qiping Zhan
Guest Editors

Dr. Shanshan Li
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • edible film
  • food packaging
  • biological raw
  • safety and application
  • food spoilage

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 5307 KB  
Article
Chitosan-Based Aerogel Cushioning Packaging for Improving Postharvest Quality of Wax Apples
by Yujie Hou, Sitong Zhou, Shiqi Liu, Peng Jin, Yonghua Zheng and Zhengguo Wu
Foods 2026, 15(2), 192; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15020192 - 6 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 917
Abstract
Mechanical damage and microbial contamination are major challenges in the postharvest logistics of perishable fruit. In this study, two types of functionally modified chitosan-based aerogel pads were developed to enhance cushioning and preservation of wax apples. A chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (CP) aerogel was first [...] Read more.
Mechanical damage and microbial contamination are major challenges in the postharvest logistics of perishable fruit. In this study, two types of functionally modified chitosan-based aerogel pads were developed to enhance cushioning and preservation of wax apples. A chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (CP) aerogel was first optimized by adjusting solid content, CS:PVA ratio, and crosslinker concentration. The optimal formulation (2% solids, 1:1 CS: PVA, 3% glutaraldehyde) exhibited a uniform porous structure and improved compressive strength. A chitosan/montmorillonite (CM) aerogel with 5% montmorillonite (MMT) showed high porosity, low density, and excellent cyclic stability. Incorporating 10% copper nanoparticle-loaded antibacterial fibers (CuNPs-TNF) into CM aerogels yielded CM-Cu aerogels with enhanced cushioning and antimicrobial properties. Under simulated transport and cold storage conditions, all aerogel-packaged groups reduced mechanical damage and decay of wax apples. Compared to the control, the CM-Cu group showed 66% lower decay, 5% less weight loss, 6 N greater firmness, 7% less juice yield, and a 13% reduction in relative electrical conductivity. Additionally, it better preserved fruit color and total soluble solids, extending shelf life by 4 d at 20 °C. These results demonstrate the potential of chitosan-based aerogels as multifunctional packaging materials that combine mechanical protection with antimicrobial activity for perishable fruit preservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Safety of Edible Films in Food Packaging)
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