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Natural Polymers and Composites for Food 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 139

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Engineering and Machinery for Food Industry, Agriculture University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
Interests: polymers and biopolymers; food; rheology; food gel; food starch; hydrocolloid

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural polymers and their composites increasingly constitute the basis of modern materials used in food production or storage. The use of composite and nanocomposite materials to create new multilayer barrier packaging is a topical issue. Natural polymers are used in food as carriers for bioactive compounds (e.g., gels) or as processing aids/auxiliary materials. Given that the number of potential applications is constantly increasing, research on these materials has great potential, and their industrial application can contribute to reducing the use of typical synthetic polymers in food production and packaging.

Papers that address the applications of natural polymers and composites in the production of modern food packaging or their use as auxiliary materials in food production are particularly welcome. Research on other aspects of the use of natural polymers and composites in food processing is also encouraged.

Dr. Paweł Ptaszek
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • natural polymers
  • composites
  • food packages
  • auxiliary materials
  • carriers

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 1517 KB  
Article
An Effect of a Matrix Made of Cell Wall Polysaccharides from Apple on the Rheological Properties of Various Food Products
by Joanna Mierczyńska, Piotr Mariusz Pieczywek and Justyna Cybulska
Polymers 2025, 17(18), 2547; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17182547 (registering DOI) - 20 Sep 2025
Abstract
A texture-modifying food matrix (MPS) was obtained by micronizing apple cell polysaccharides and adding spray-dried low-methoxy pectins. This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of MPS addition on a versatile group of products, including instant soup, salad dressing, buttermilk, tomato juice, apple juice, [...] Read more.
A texture-modifying food matrix (MPS) was obtained by micronizing apple cell polysaccharides and adding spray-dried low-methoxy pectins. This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of MPS addition on a versatile group of products, including instant soup, salad dressing, buttermilk, tomato juice, apple juice, and instant kissel. The rheological properties of suspensions with two MPS concentrations added to these products were compared with those of the control. Additionally, the water holding and retention capacity, swelling capacity, and wetting angles of the MPS and its components were characterized to determine the technological properties of these products. Results show that the MPS proportionally increases viscosity and the thixotropic effect of all studied products, except buttermilk, in relation to concentration. In particular, very pronounced effects were obtained for apple, tomato juice, and salad dressing. All studied suspensions were classified as pseudoplastic fluids; the addition of MPS resulted in varying changes in pseudoplasticity, depending on the product. In summary, this study showed that MPS, as a natural and rich source of dietary fibre matrix, effectively alters rheological properties and may therefore be considered a substitute for other food additives currently used in the food industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Polymers and Composites for Food Applications)
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