Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.8
5.6
Journals
IJMS
Special Issues
Bio-Based Materials for Packaging
ijms-logo
Submit to IJMS Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Bio-Based Materials for Packaging

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Macromolecules".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2021) | Viewed by 25193

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Raffaele Porta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80126 Naples, Italy
Interests: industrial enzymology; food biotechnology; hydrocolloid films for food coatings or wrappings.
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Prospero Di Pierro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80126 Naples, Italy
Interests: food biochemistry; food packaging by active/intelligent coatings; nanocomposites.
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mohammed Sabbah

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7 Nablus, Palestine
Interests: nutrition biochemistry; food technology; biopolymers and biodegradable materials.

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in food chemistry, technology, and biotechnology have allowed us to tune new methodologies useful for addressing major safety and environmental concerns regarding food and non-food packaging materials. Due to the deficiencies of oil resources and waste management issues, recent research trends are switching from synthetic-oil-based plastics to biomass-derived non-environmentally harmful polymers. The extremely long degradation period of conventional plastics results in persistent contamination and a huge environmental impact. In addition, the presence of various contaminants in the plastics, as well as their possible migration inside the packaged products, is a further reason to replace them with biodegradable and/or edible materials. Therefore, the development of new “bio-plastics”, produced from sustainable and renewable resources, is a great challenge both in science and industry. Numerous biopolymers—including different carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, or their composites—are increasingly being proposed as alternatives to conventional petroleum-derived plastics. These biopolymers are applied in various combinations to provide unique properties that ensure the safety and quality of specific packed food and non-food products,. However, although some of these biomaterials are widely available on the market, there are a number of drawbacks related to both their performance and price that hinder their widespread commercial use. The main restrictions range from their instability and poor mechanical properties to their high permeability to gas and water vapor.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles and review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts to produce bio-based materials able to coat or wrap specific products. We are particularly interested in articles describing new modalities to obtain new materials from renewable biomass sources; the preparation of new coatings and wrappings endowed with properties tailored for specific applications; the development of new processes and strategies to improve packaging; and new insights and challenges in packaging research, applications, and commercialization. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • developments in polysaccharide-, protein-, and lipid-based materials;
  • recent advances in the characterization of new polysaccharide-based, protein-based, and composite materials;
  • the latest technologies for recycling industrial biopolymer by-products into packaging;
  • the development of specific biodegradable/edible coatings or wrappings containing active ingredients (flavors, colorants, antioxidants, antimicrobials, etc.) and/or nanoparticles; and
  • current marketing aspects of biopolymers as food packaging materials.

Prof. Dr. Raffaele Porta
Prof. Dr. Prospero Di Pierro
Dr. Mohammed Sabbah
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biopolymers
  • bio-based materials
  • biodegradable materials
  • edible films
  • packaging

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

5 pages, 1140 KiB  
Editorial
Bio-Based Materials for Packaging
by Raffaele Porta, Mohammed Sabbah and Prospero Di Pierro
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(7), 3611; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23073611 - 25 Mar 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2479
Abstract
Plastic pollution is currently one of the most pressing environmental problems, especially in countries with a low recycling rate that is mainly due to the insufficient collection of plastic waste [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Materials for Packaging)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

20 pages, 4928 KiB  
Article
New Active Packaging Based on Biopolymeric Mixture Added with Bacteriocin as Active Compound
by Camila Ramão Contessa, Gabriela Silveira da Rosa and Caroline Costa Moraes
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(19), 10628; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms221910628 - 30 Sep 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2510
Abstract
The objective of this work was to develop a chitosan/agar-agar bioplastic film incorporated with bacteriocin that presents active potential when used as food packaging. The formulation of the film solution was determined from an experimental design, through the optimization using the desirability function. [...] Read more.
The objective of this work was to develop a chitosan/agar-agar bioplastic film incorporated with bacteriocin that presents active potential when used as food packaging. The formulation of the film solution was determined from an experimental design, through the optimization using the desirability function. After establishing the concentrations of the biopolymers and the plasticizer, the purified bacteriocin extract of Lactobacillus sakei was added, which acts as an antibacterial agent. The films were characterized through physical, chemical, mechanical, barrier, and microbiological analyses. The mechanical properties and water vapor permeability were not altered by the addition of the extract. The swelling property decreased with the addition of the extract and the solubility increased, however, the film remained intact when in contact with the food, thus allowing an efficient barrier. Visible light protection was improved by increased opacity and antibacterial capacity was effective. When used as Minas Frescal cream cheese packaging, it contributed to the increase of microbiological stability, showing a reduction of 2.62 log UFC/g, contributing a gradual release of the active compound into the food during the storage time. The film had an active capacity that could be used as a barrier to the food, allowing it to be safely packaged. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Materials for Packaging)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3014 KiB  
Article
Lignin/Carbohydrate Complex Isolated from Posidonia oceanica Sea Balls (Egagropili): Characterization and Antioxidant Reinforcement of Protein-Based Films
by Seyedeh Fatemeh Mirpoor, Odile Francesca Restaino, Chiara Schiraldi, Concetta Valeria L. Giosafatto, Francesco Ruffo and Raffaele Porta
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(17), 9147; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22179147 - 24 Aug 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2763
Abstract
A lignin fraction (LF) was extracted from the sea balls of Posidonia oceanica (egagropili) and extensively dialyzed and characterized by FT-IR and NMR analyses. LF resulted water soluble and exhibited a brownish-to-black color with the highest absorbance in the range of 250–400 nm, [...] Read more.
A lignin fraction (LF) was extracted from the sea balls of Posidonia oceanica (egagropili) and extensively dialyzed and characterized by FT-IR and NMR analyses. LF resulted water soluble and exhibited a brownish-to-black color with the highest absorbance in the range of 250–400 nm, attributed to the chromophore functional groups present in the phenylpropane-based polymer. LF high-performance size exclusion chromatography analysis showed a highly represented (98.77%) species of 34.75 kDa molecular weight with a polydispersity index of 1.10 and an intrinsic viscosity of 0.15. Quantitative analysis of carbohydrates indicated that they represented 28.3% of the dry weight of the untreated egagropili fibers and 72.5% of that of LF. In particular, eight different monosaccharides were detected (fucose, arabinose, rhamnose, galactose, glucose, xylose, glucosamine and glucuronic acid), glucuronic acid (46.6%) and rhamnose (29.6%) being the most present monosaccharides in the LF. Almost all the phenol content of LF (113.85 ± 5.87 mg gallic acid eq/g of extract) was water soluble, whereas around 22% of it consisted of flavonoids and only 10% of the flavonoids consisted of anthocyanins. Therefore, LF isolated from egagropili lignocellulosic material could be defined as a water-soluble lignin/carbohydrate complex (LCC) formed by a phenol polymeric chain covalently bound to hemicellulose fragments. LCC exhibited a remarkable antioxidant activity that remained quite stable during 6 months and could be easily incorporated into a protein-based film and released from the latter overtime. These findings suggest egagropili LCC as a suitable candidate as an antioxidant additive for the reinforcement of packaging of foods with high susceptibility to be deteriorated in aerobic conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Materials for Packaging)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 31304 KiB  
Article
Low-Cost Biobased Coatings for AM60 Magnesium Alloys for Food Contact and Harsh Environment Applications
by Beatrice Mangolini, Mattia Lopresti, Eleonora Conterosito, Giuseppe Rombolà, Luca Palin, Valentina Gianotti and Marco Milanesio
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(9), 4915; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22094915 - 06 May 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4074
Abstract
Low-cost, environmentally friendly and easily applicable coating for Mg alloys, able to resist in real world conditions, are studied. Coatings already used for other metals (aluminum, steel) and never tested on Mg alloy for its different surface and reactivity were deposited on AM60 [...] Read more.
Low-cost, environmentally friendly and easily applicable coating for Mg alloys, able to resist in real world conditions, are studied. Coatings already used for other metals (aluminum, steel) and never tested on Mg alloy for its different surface and reactivity were deposited on AM60 magnesium alloys to facilitate their technological applications, also in presence of chemically aggressive conditions. A biobased PA11 powder coating was compared to synthetic silicon-based and polyester coatings, producing lab scale samples, probed by drop deposition tests and dipping in increasingly aggressive, salty, basic and acid solutions, at RT and at higher temperatures. Coatings were analyzed by SEM/EDX to assess their morphology and compositions, by optical and IR-ATR microscopy analyses, before and after the drop tests. Migration analyses from the samples were performed by immersion tests using food simulants followed by ICP-OES analysis of the recovered simulant to explore applications also in the food contact field. A 30 μm thick white lacquer and a 120 μm PA11 coating resulted the best solutions. The thinner siliconic and lacquer coatings, appearing brittle and thin in the SEM analysis, failed some drop and/or dipping test, with damages especially at the edges. The larger thickness is thus the unique solution for edgy or pointy samples. Finally, coffee cups in AM60 alloy were produced, as real word prototypes, with the best performing coatings and tested for both migration by dipping, simulating also real world aging (2 h in acetic acid at 70° and 24 h in hot coffee at 60 °C): PA11 resulted stable in all the tests and no migration of toxic metals was observed, resulting a promising candidate for many real world application in chemically aggressive environments and also food and beverage related applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Materials for Packaging)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 7227 KiB  
Article
Influence of a Natural Plant Antioxidant on the Ageing Process of Ethylene-norbornene Copolymer (Topas)
by Anna Masek and Angelika Plota
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(8), 4018; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22084018 - 13 Apr 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2252
Abstract
In the field of polymer technology, a variety of mainly synthetic additives are used to stabilize the materials during processing. However, natural compounds of plant origin can be a green alternative to chemicals such as synthetic polyphenols. An analysis of the effect of [...] Read more.
In the field of polymer technology, a variety of mainly synthetic additives are used to stabilize the materials during processing. However, natural compounds of plant origin can be a green alternative to chemicals such as synthetic polyphenols. An analysis of the effect of hesperidin on the aging behavior of ethylene-norbornene copolymer was performed. The evaluation of changes in the tested samples was possible by applying the following tests: determination of the surface energy and OIT values, mechanical properties analysis, colour change measurements, FT-IR and TGA analyses. The obtained results proved that hesperidin can be effectively used as natural stabilizer for polymers. Furthermore, as a result of this compound addition to Topas-silica composites, their surface and physico-mechanical properties have been improved and the resistance to aging significantly increased. Additionally, hesperidin can act as a dye or colour indicator and only few scientific reports describe a possibility of using flavonoids to detect changes in products during their service life, e.g., in food packaging. In the available literature, there is no information about the potential use of hesperidin as a stabilizer for cycloolefin copolymers. Therefore, this approach may contribute not only to the current state of knowledge, but also presents an eco-friendly solution that can be a good alternative to synthetic stabilizers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Materials for Packaging)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2618 KiB  
Article
Effects of Candelilla and Carnauba Wax Incorporation on the Functional Properties of Edible Sodium Caseinate Films
by Sabina Galus, Margaux Gaouditz, Hanna Kowalska and Frédéric Debeaufort
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(24), 9349; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21249349 - 08 Dec 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3211
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of candelilla (CAN) or carnauba wax (CAR) incorporation on functional properties of edible sodium caseinate (CAS) films. Glycerol and Tween-80 were used as the plasticizer and the emulsifier, respectively. The results showed that [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of candelilla (CAN) or carnauba wax (CAR) incorporation on functional properties of edible sodium caseinate (CAS) films. Glycerol and Tween-80 were used as the plasticizer and the emulsifier, respectively. The results showed that the incorporation of waxes increased film opacity, total color differences (∆E), and mechanical resistance and reduced film lightness, water vapor permeability (WVP), and elongation at break. Scanning electron microscopy showed heterogeneous structure of emulsion films with regular distribution of lipid particles. A different internal arrangement was observed as a function of the film composition with both layered and incorporated film structure. Films containing candelilla wax exhibited more regular lipid reorganization, which resulted in better water vapor barrier efficacy and mechanical resistance in comparison to control films. The presence of Tween-80 resulted in better dispersion of lipid particles in film-forming solutions and lower water solubility, lightness, film opacity, and water vapor permeability, whereas the total color differences (∆E) were significantly larger and the improvement in mechanical properties was also achieved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Materials for Packaging)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

20 pages, 1697 KiB  
Review
Novel Bio-Based Materials and Applications in Antimicrobial Food Packaging: Recent Advances and Future Trends
by Chunming Tan, Fei Han, Shiqi Zhang, Pinglan Li and Nan Shang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(18), 9663; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22189663 - 07 Sep 2021
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 6404
Abstract
Food microbial contamination not only poses the problems of food insecurity and economic loss, but also contributes to food waste, which is another global environmental problem. Therefore, effective packaging is a compelling obstacle for shielding food items from outside contaminants and maintaining its [...] Read more.
Food microbial contamination not only poses the problems of food insecurity and economic loss, but also contributes to food waste, which is another global environmental problem. Therefore, effective packaging is a compelling obstacle for shielding food items from outside contaminants and maintaining its quality. Traditionally, food is packaged with plastic that is rarely recyclable, negatively impacting the environment. Bio-based materials have attracted widespread attention for food packaging applications since they are biodegradable, renewable, and have a low carbon footprint. They provide a great opportunity to reduce the extensive use of fossil fuels and develop food packaging materials with good properties, addressing environmental problems and contributing significantly to sustainable development. Presently, the developments in food chemistry, technology, and biotechnology have allowed us to fine-tune new methodologies useful for addressing major safety and environmental concerns regarding packaging materials. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the development and potential for application of new bio-based materials from different sources in antimicrobial food packaging, including carbohydrate (polysaccharide)-based materials, protein-based materials, lipid-based materials, antibacterial agents, and bio-based composites, which can solve the issues of both environmental impact and prevent foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms. In addition, future trends are discussed, as well as the antimicrobial compounds incorporated in packaging materials such as nanoparticles (NPs), nanofillers (NFs), and bio-nanocomposites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Materials for Packaging)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop