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Polymers
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Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Agricultural Applications
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Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Agricultural Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 4682

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Tiziana Marino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials-National Research Council (IPCB-CNR), Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
Interests: polymer membranes; materials chemistry; material characterization; water treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Collegues,

The global agri-food sector faces a pressing need to address sustainability challenges while ensuring the safety and quality of products. The upcoming Special Issue of Polymers, entitled "Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Agricultural Applications", offers a comprehensive exploration of the innovative applications of biopolymers in these two critical domains. Biopolymers, derived from renewable sources, represent a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics, minimizing the environmental impact associated with packaging and agricultural practices. This Issue brings together a collection of scientific contributions that seek to highlight the latest advancements and challenges in biopolymer-based materials and their deployment within the agri-food sector.

This Issue covers various facets of biopolymer utilization, including biodegradable food packaging materials, active and intelligent packaging systems, edible coatings, and biopolymer-based agricultural materials. Researchers, scientists, and industry experts share their insights into the development of novel biopolymer formulations, processing techniques, and their impact on product shelf-life, safety, and sustainability. This SI issue also delves into the economic, regulatory, and consumer perception aspects, ensuring a holistic understanding of the adoption of biopolymers within these sectors.

Ultimately, we aim to stimulate dialogue among researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders, fostering innovation and sustainable practices in agri-food systems. The contributions presented here provide a valuable resource for those committed to mitigating environmental impacts, while enhancing the quality and safety of food products and agricultural operations.

Dr. Tiziana Marino
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

  • biopolymers
  • food packaging
  • biopolymeric agricultural products
  • sustainable agriculture
  • biodegradable materials

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 4591 KiB  
Article
Fabrication and Characterization of Buforin I-Loaded Electrospun Chitosan/Polyethylene Oxide Nanofibrous Membranes with Antimicrobial Activity for Food Packing Applications
by Sahar Roshanak, Hanieh Yarabbi, Jebraeil Movaffagh and Fakhri Shahidi
Polymers 2025, 17(4), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17040549 - 19 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 711
Abstract
The rising resistance of bacteria to antibiotics has driven the search for new antimicrobial agents. This study focused on encapsulating Buforin I, an antimicrobial peptide, in chitosan/polyethylene oxide (CS-PEO) nanofibers. Buforin I was loaded at a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), 10× MBC, and [...] Read more.
The rising resistance of bacteria to antibiotics has driven the search for new antimicrobial agents. This study focused on encapsulating Buforin I, an antimicrobial peptide, in chitosan/polyethylene oxide (CS-PEO) nanofibers. Buforin I was loaded at a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), 10× MBC, and 20× MBC, with assessments on morphology, thermal properties, chemical bonds, crystalline structure, mechanical strength, antimicrobial activity, and cell toxicity. Techniques like differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the effective loading of Buforin I in the nanofibers. Scanning electron microscopy showed that Buforin incorporation increased nanofiber diameters. The tensile strength peaked at 20× MBC. Microbial tests indicated that the inhibition zone for nanofibers at 20× MBC surpassed that of commercial antibiotics. Beef coated with CS-PEO nanofibers containing Buforin I demonstrated reduced pH and water activity, alongside lower weight loss during storage. Texture and color analyses revealed that the Buforin I nanofibers helped maintain beef hardness and slowed color degradation compared to control samples. Moreover, thiobarbituric acid levels and total microbial counts in the coated beef were significantly lower than controls (below 3 log CFU/g after 9 days at 4 °C). Thus, these nanofibers may serve as effective antimicrobial packaging agents to delay food spoilage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Agricultural Applications)
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21 pages, 4373 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Sustainability in PLA Membrane Preparation through the Use of Biobased Solvents
by Giovanna Gomez d’Ayala, Tiziana Marino, Yêda Medeiros Bastos de Almeida, Anna Raffaela de Matos Costa, Larissa Bezerra da Silva, Pietro Argurio and Paola Laurienzo
Polymers 2024, 16(14), 2024; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16142024 - 16 Jul 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2614
Abstract
For the first time, ultrafiltration (UF) green membranes were prepared through a sustainable route by using PLA as a biopolymer and dihydrolevoclucosenone, whose trade name is Cyrene™ (Cyr), dimethyl isosorbide (DMI), and ethyl lactate (EL) as biobased solvents. The influence of physical-chemical properties [...] Read more.
For the first time, ultrafiltration (UF) green membranes were prepared through a sustainable route by using PLA as a biopolymer and dihydrolevoclucosenone, whose trade name is Cyrene™ (Cyr), dimethyl isosorbide (DMI), and ethyl lactate (EL) as biobased solvents. The influence of physical-chemical properties of the solvent on the final membrane morphology and performance was evaluated. The variation of polymer concentration in the casting solution, as well as the presence of Pluronic® (Plu) as a pore former agent, were assessed as well. The obtained results highlighted that the final morphology of a membrane was strictly connected with the interplaying of thermodynamic factors as well as kinetic ones, primarily dope solution viscosity. The pore size of the resulting PLA membranes ranged from 0.02 to 0.09 μm. Membrane thickness and porosity varied in the range of 0.090–0.133 mm of 75–87%, respectively, and DMI led to the most porous membranes. The addition of Plu to the casting solution showed a beneficial effect on the membrane contact angle, allowing the formation of hydrophilic membranes (contact angle < 90°), and promoted the increase of pore size as well as the reduction of membrane crystallinity. PLA membranes were tested for pure water permeability (10–390 L/m2 h bar). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Agricultural Applications)
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Review

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36 pages, 4774 KiB  
Review
Exploring the Role of Advanced Composites and Biocomposites in Agricultural Machinery and Equipment: Insights into Design, Performance, and Sustainability
by Ehsan Fartash Naeimi, Kemal Çağatay Selvi and Nicoleta Ungureanu
Polymers 2025, 17(12), 1691; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17121691 - 18 Jun 2025
Viewed by 649
Abstract
The agricultural sector faces growing pressure to enhance productivity and sustainability, prompting innovation in machinery design. Traditional materials such as steel still dominate but are a cause of increased weight, soil compaction, increased fuel consumption, and corrosion. Composite materials—and, more specifically, fiber-reinforced polymers [...] Read more.
The agricultural sector faces growing pressure to enhance productivity and sustainability, prompting innovation in machinery design. Traditional materials such as steel still dominate but are a cause of increased weight, soil compaction, increased fuel consumption, and corrosion. Composite materials—and, more specifically, fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs)—offer appealing alternatives due to their high specific strength and stiffness, corrosion resistance, and design flexibility. Meanwhile, increasing environmental awareness has triggered interest in biocomposites, which contain natural fibers (e.g., flax, hemp, straw) and/or bio-based resins (e.g., PLA, biopolyesters), aligned with circular economy principles. This review offers a comprehensive overview of synthetic composites and biocomposites for agricultural machinery and equipment (AME). It briefly presents their fundamental constituents—fibers, matrices, and fillers—and recapitulates relevant mechanical and environmental properties. Key manufacturing processes such as hand lay-up, compression molding, resin transfer molding (RTM), pultrusion, and injection molding are discussed in terms of their applicability, benefits, and limits for the manufacture of AME. Current applications in tractors, sprayers, harvesters, and planters are covered in the article, with advantages such as lightweighting, corrosion resistance, flexibility and sustainability. Challenges are also reviewed, including the cost, repairability of damage, and end-of-life (EoL) issues for composites and the moisture sensitivity, performance variation, and standardization for biocomposites. Finally, principal research needs are outlined, including material development, long-term performance testing, sustainable and scalable production, recycling, and the development of industry-specific standards. This synthesis is a practical guide for researchers, engineers, and manufacturers who want to introduce innovative material solutions for more efficient, longer lasting, and more sustainable agricultural machinery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymers for Food Packaging and Agricultural Applications)
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