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Polymeric Materials for Food Packaging: Fundamentals and Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 1011

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Food Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, 57400 Sindos, Greece
Interests: thermal analysis; chemical thermodynamics; polymers; gels; porous materials; fibers; composites; supercritical fluids; pharmaceutics; wastewater treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ι serve as Guest Editor for a Special Issue entitled “Polymeric Materials for Food Packaging: Fundamentals and Applications” in the journal Polymers of the publisher MDPI.

Food packaging is a major factor influencing the quality and safety of foods. Currently, polymer-based materials are widely used as food packaging materials and in many cases outperform other candidate materials such as metals and glass. However, the development of a reliable food packaging material is a challenging task due to its interdisciplinary nature.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a forum for discussing issues regarding the fundamentals and applications of the field of food packaging, with a focus on polymer-based materials.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

  • Development and characterization of polymeric materials for food packaging;
  • Thermal, mechanical, antimicrobial, transport (e.g. diffusion coefficient, permeability), and surface properties of polymeric materials;
  • Polymer composites;
  • Food preservation studies;
  • Food–polymer interactions;
  • Migration from packaging to food;
  • Deterioration of organoleptic characteristics due to packaging;
  • Recycling and utilization of food packaging made of polymeric materials.

I cordially invite you to submit a manuscript (original research article, communication, or review) to this Special Issue.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Costas Tsioptsias
Guest Editor

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. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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

  • polymeric materials
  • food packaging
  • polymer composites
  • antimicrobial properties
  • transport properties (diffusion/permeability)
  • food-polymer interactions
  • migration (packaging to food)
  • recycling (polymer packaging)
  • organoleptic characteristics
  • food preservation

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1998 KiB  
Article
Antifungal Action of Edible Coating Comprising Artichoke-Mediated Nanosilver and Chitosan Nanoparticles for Biocontrol of Citrus Blue Mold
by Mousa Abdullah Alghuthaymi
Polymers 2025, 17(12), 1671; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17121671 - 16 Jun 2025
Viewed by 385
Abstract
Citrus fruits are major economic and nutritional crops that are sometimes subjected to serious attacks by many fungal phytopathogens after harvesting. In this study, we focus on the structures of potential antifungal nanocomposites from artichoke leaf extract (Art), Art-mediated nanosilver (AgNPs), and their [...] Read more.
Citrus fruits are major economic and nutritional crops that are sometimes subjected to serious attacks by many fungal phytopathogens after harvesting. In this study, we focus on the structures of potential antifungal nanocomposites from artichoke leaf extract (Art), Art-mediated nanosilver (AgNPs), and their nanoconjugates with chitosan nanoparticles (Cht) to eradicate the blue mold fungus (Penicillium italicum) and preserve oranges during storage via nanocomposite-based edible coatings (ECs). The biosynthesis and conjugation of nanomaterials were verified using UV and infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, electron microscopy (TEM and SEM) analysis, and DLS assessments. Art could effectually biosynthesize/cap AgNPs with a mean size of 10.35 nm, whereas the average size of Cht was 148.67 nm, and the particles of their nanocomposites had average diameters of 203.22 nm. All nanomaterials/composites exhibited potent antifungal action toward P. italicum isolates; the Cht/Art/AgNP nanocomposite was the most effectual, with an inhibition zone of 31.1 mm and a fungicidal concentration of 17.5 mg/mL, significantly exceeding the activity of other compounds and the fungicide Enilconazole (24.8 mm and 25.0 mg/mL, respectively). The microscopic imaging of P. italicum mycelia treated with Cht/Art/AgNP nanocomposites emphasized their action for the complete destruction of mycelia within 24 h. The orange (Citrus sinensis) fruit coatings, with nanomaterial-based ECs, were highly effectual for preventing blue mold development and preserved fruits for >14 days without any infestation signs; when the control infected fruits were fully covered with blue mold, the infestation remarks covered 12.4%, 5.2%, and 0% of the orange coated with Cht Art/AgNPs and Cht/Art/AgNPs. The constructed Cht/Art/AgNP nanocomposites have potential as effectual biomaterials for protecting citrus fruits from fungal deterioration and preserving their quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials for Food Packaging: Fundamentals and Applications)
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Review

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52 pages, 3535 KiB  
Review
Agricultural Waste-Derived Biopolymers for Sustainable Food Packaging: Challenges and Future Prospects
by Thivya Selvam, Nor Mas Mira Abd Rahman, Fabrizio Olivito, Zul Ilham, Rahayu Ahmad and Wan Abd Al Qadr Imad Wan-Mohtar
Polymers 2025, 17(14), 1897; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17141897 - 9 Jul 2025
Viewed by 467
Abstract
The widespread use of conventional plastic in food packaging has raised serious environmental issues due to its persistence and poor biodegradability. With growing concerns over plastic pollution and its long-term ecological impact, researchers are increasingly turning to natural, renewable sources for sustainable alternatives. [...] Read more.
The widespread use of conventional plastic in food packaging has raised serious environmental issues due to its persistence and poor biodegradability. With growing concerns over plastic pollution and its long-term ecological impact, researchers are increasingly turning to natural, renewable sources for sustainable alternatives. Agricultural waste, often discarded in large quantities, offers a valuable resource for producing biodegradable polymers. This review discusses the environmental burden caused by traditional plastics and explores how agricultural residues such as rice husks, corn cobs, and fruit peels can be converted into eco-friendly packaging materials. Various types of biopolymers sourced from agricultural waste, including cellulose, starch, plant and animal-based proteins, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and polylactic acid (PLA), are examined for their properties, benefits, and limitations in food packaging applications. Each material presents unique characteristics in terms of biodegradability, mechanical strength, and barrier performance. While significant progress has been made, several challenges remain, including cost-effective production, material performance, and compliance with food safety regulations. Looking ahead, innovations in material processing, waste management integration, and biopolymer formulation could pave the way for widespread adoption. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current developments and future directions in the use of agricultural waste for sustainable packaging solutions, comparing their biodegradability and performance to conventional plastics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials for Food Packaging: Fundamentals and Applications)
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