Search Results (151)

The global food industry is facing growing pressure to enhance food safety, extend shelf life, minimize waste, and adopt environmentally sustainable packaging solution. Nanotechnology offers innovative ways to meet these demands by enabling the creation of smart and sustainable food packaging systems. Due to their unique properties, nanomaterials can significantly enhance the functional performance of packaging by boosting mechanical strength, barrier efficiency, antimicrobial activity, and responsiveness to environmental stimuli. This review provides a comprehensive overview of nanomaterials used as smart and sustainable food packaging, focusing on their role in active and intelligent packaging systems. By integrating nanomaterials like metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon-based nanostructures, and nano-biopolymers, packaging can now perform real-time sensing, spoilage detection, and traceability. These systems improve food quality management and supply chain transparency while supporting global sustainability goals. The review also discusses potential risks related to nanomaterials’ migration, environmental impact, and consumer safety, as well as the current regulatory landscape and limitations in industrial scalability. Emphasis is placed on the importance of standardized safety assessments and eco-friendly design to support responsible innovation. Overall, nano-enabled smart packaging represents a promising strategy for advancing food safety and sustainability. Future developments will require collaboration across disciplines and robust regulatory frameworks to ensure the safe and practical application of nanotechnology in food systems. Full article

Nanotechnology, as a burgeoning interdisciplinary field, has a significant application potential in food nutrition and human health due to its distinctive structural characteristics and surface effects. This paper methodically examines the recent advancements in nanotechnology pertaining to food production, functional nutrition delivery, and health intervention. In food manufacturing, nanoparticles have markedly enhanced food safety and quality stability via technologies such as antimicrobial packaging, intelligent sensing, and processing optimization. Nutritional science has used nanocarrier-based delivery systems, like liposomes, nanoemulsions, and biopolymer particles, to make active substances easier for the body to access and target. Nanotechnology offers innovative approaches for chronic illness prevention and individualized treatment in health interventions by enabling accurate nutritional delivery and functional regulation. Nonetheless, the use of nanotechnology encounters hurdles, including safety evaluations and regulatory concerns that require additional investigation. Future research should concentrate on refining the preparation process of nanomaterials, conducting comprehensive examinations of their metabolic mechanisms within the human body, and enhancing pertinent safety standards to facilitate the sustainable advancement of nanotechnology in food production, nutrition, and health. Full article

Radon anomalies have long been explored as potential geochemical precursors to seismic activity due to their responsiveness to subsurface stress variations. However, before this study, the scientific progression of this research domain had not been systematically examined through a quantitative lens. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 379 articles published between 1977 and 2025 and indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. Utilizing the Bibliometrix R-package and its Biblioshiny interface, the analysis investigates temporal publication trends, leading countries, institutions, international collaboration networks, and thematic evolution. The results reveal a marked increase in research output since 2010, with China, India, and Italy emerging as the most prolific contributors. Thematic mapping indicates a shift from conventional geochemical monitoring toward the integration of artificial intelligence techniques, such as decision trees and neural networks, for anomaly detection and predictive modeling. Notwithstanding this methodological evolution, core research themes remain centered on radon concentration monitoring and the analysis of environmental parameters. Overall, the findings highlight the coexistence of traditional and emerging approaches, emphasizing the importance of standardized methodologies and interdisciplinary collaboration. This bibliometric synthesis provides strategic insights to inform future research and strengthen the role of radon monitoring in seismic early warning systems. Full article

Biomimetic lattice structures, inspired by natural architectures such as bone, coral, mollusk shells, and Euplectella aspergillum, have gained increasing attention for their exceptional strength-to-weight ratios, energy absorption, and deformation control. These properties make them ideal for advanced engineering applications in aerospace, biomedical devices, and structural impact protection. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global research on biomimetic lattice structures published between 2020 and 2025, aiming to identify thematic trends, collaboration patterns, and underexplored areas. A curated dataset of 3685 publications was extracted from databases like PubMed, Dimensions, Scopus, IEEE, Google Scholar, and Science Direct and merged together. After the removal of duplication and cleaning, about 2226 full research articles selected for the bibliometric analysis excluding review works, conference papers, book chapters, and notes using Cite space, VOS viewer version 1.6.20, and Bibliometrix R packages (4.5. 64-bit) for mapping co-authorship networks, institutional affiliations, keyword co-occurrence, and citation relationships. A significant increase in the number of publications was found over the past year, reflecting growing interest in this area. The results identify China as the most prolific contributor, with substantial institutional support and active collaboration networks, especially with European research groups. Key research focuses include additive manufacturing, finite element modeling, machine learning-based design optimization, and the performance evaluation of bioinspired geometries. Notably, the integration of artificial intelligence into structural modeling is accelerating a shift toward data-driven design frameworks. However, gaps remain in geometric modeling standardization, fatigue behavior analysis, and the real-world validation of lattice structures under complex loading conditions. This study provides a strategic overview of current research directions and offers guidance for future interdisciplinary exploration. The insights are intended to support researchers and practitioners in advancing next-generation biomimetic materials with superior mechanical performance and application-specific adaptability. Full article

Spice by-products, often discarded as waste, represent an untapped resource for sustainable packaging solutions due to their unique, multifunctional, and bioactive profiles. Unlike typical plant residues, these materials retain diverse phytochemicals—including phenolics, polysaccharides, and other compounds, such as essential oils and vitamins—that exhibit controlled release antimicrobial and antioxidant effects with environmental responsiveness to pH, humidity, and temperature changes. Their distinctive advantage is in preserving volatile bioactives, demonstrating enzyme-inhibiting properties, and maintaining thermal stability during processing. This review encompasses a comprehensive characterization of phytochemicals, an assessment of the re-utilization pathway from waste to active materials, and an investigation of processing methods for transforming by-products into films, coatings, and nanoemulsions through green extraction and packaging film development technologies. It also involves the evaluation of their mechanical strength, barrier performance, controlled release mechanism behavior, and effectiveness of food preservation. Key findings demonstrate that ginger and onion residues significantly enhance antioxidant and antimicrobial properties due to high phenolic acid and sulfur-containing compound concentrations, while cinnamon and garlic waste effectively improve mechanical strength and barrier attributes owing to their dense fiber matrix and bioactive aldehyde content. However, re-using these residues faces challenges, including the long-term storage stability of certain bioactive compounds, mechanical durability during scale-up, natural variability that affects standardization, and cost competitiveness with conventional packaging. Innovative solutions, including encapsulation, nano-reinforcement strategies, intelligent polymeric systems, and agro-biorefinery approaches, show promise for overcoming these barriers. By utilizing these spice by-products, the packaging industry can advance toward a circular bio-economy, depending less on traditional plastics and promoting environmental sustainability in light of growing global population and urbanization trends. Full article

Domestic food waste and agro-industrial by-products (AIBPs) occurring throughout the food chain, including production, processing, and storage, have become a global sustainability concern. Interestingly, this waste and these by-products contain a significant amount of commercially vital bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and carotenoids. Remarkably, discarded by-products such as fruit and vegetable peels contain more bioactive compounds than edible pulp. Thus, valorizing this waste and these by-products for commercially vital bioactive products can solve their disposal problems and help alleviate climate change crises. Additionally, it can generate surplus revenue, significantly improving food production and processing economics. Interestingly, several bioactive extracts derived from citrus peel, carrot pomace, olive leaf, and grape seed are commercially available, highlighting the importance of agro-food waste and by-product valorization. Considering this background information, this review aims to provide holistic information on major AIBPs; recovery methods of bioactive compounds focusing on polyphenols, carotenoids, oligosaccharides, and pectin; microencapsulation of isolated bioactive for enhanced physical, chemical, and biological properties; and their commercial application. In addition, green extraction methods are discussed, which have several advantages over conventional extraction. The concept of the circular bio-economy approach, challenges in waste valorization, and future perspective are also discussed. Full article

Smart packaging not only has a preservation effect on food, but can also monitor the change of food quality in real time to ensure food safety. In this study, hollow mesoporous silica loaded with cinnamaldehyde was used as the antimicrobial agent, anthocyanin as the color developer, and nanocellulose as the film matrix, to obtain smart packaging with excellent antimicrobial activity and pH-responsive color development (CBF). Modified silica has a good regulatory characteristic on the release of cinnamaldehyde, and the cumulative release rate of cinnamaldehyde in the NH₂-HMSN@CA preservative reaches 72% after 7 days. Additionally, the film has good antibacterial properties, with inhibition rates of 82% and 92% against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. In addition, the film has good mechanical properties and water vapor permeability. In terms of pH response, the film shows excellent color rendering and good stability. Therefore, the CBF films can be applied to preservation and real-time monitoring of fruits and vegetables, meat, and other food products, which has great potential for intelligent food packaging. Full article

The packaging of perishable products, such as fruits, contributes to their preservation during storage and safe transportation. The use of suitable packaging materials contributes to forming a desirable atmosphere inside the package so that the level of respiration, transpiration, and ethylene emission can be kept low. However, it would be useful for consumers to know relevant information on the deterioration rate of different types of fruit (tree fruits, berries, stone fruits, and aggregate accessory fruits). The technology of intelligent and active packaging systems (smart packaging) enables the provision of information related to the deterioration rate of fruits to consumers and, in parallel, extends the shelf life of fruits and other plant-based foods, maintaining a high quality. Intelligent packaging systems include biosensors and gas sensors, along with microbial, freshness, and time–temperature indicators. On the other hand, the active packaging system includes the use of moisture, odor, and gas absorbers, along with antioxidant and antimicrobial agents to maintain the quality of plant-based foods and extend their shelf life. This review article aims to make an in-depth evaluation of the most relevant literature on this topic by highlighting the challenges, trends, and future directions related to different types of fruits. Full article

This study aimed to develop a green and sustainable composite polysaccharide gel with antioxidant activity and freshness-monitoring properties. Blueberry pomace was repurposed to extract anthocyanins (BA), which were incorporated into chitosan (CS)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and starch (S)/PVA matrices to prepare pH-indicating composite polysaccharide gels. The anthocyanin solution exhibited significant colorimetric responses to pH 2–14 buffer solutions. Comparative analyses revealed distinct performance characteristics: the CS/PVA-BA gel showed optimal elongation at break, low hydration (8.33 ± 0.57% water content), and potent antioxidant activity (DPPH: 73.59 ± 0.1%; ABTS: 77.47 ± 0.1%), whereas the S/PVA-BA gel demonstrated superior tensile strength and pH-responsive sensitivity. Structural characterization via FT-IR and SEM confirmed molecular compatibility between BA and polymeric matrices, with anthocyanins enhancing intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Applied to chilled beef (4 °C) freshness monitoring, the CS/PVA-BA gel exhibited color transformations from magenta-red (initial spoilage at 48 h: TVB-N > 15 mg/100 g, TVC > 4.0 lg CFU/g) to bluish-gray (advanced spoilage by day 6), correlating with proteolytic degradation metrics. These findings established a multifunctional platform for real-time food quality assessment through anthocyanin-mediated color changes in the composite gels, coupled with preservation activity, highlighting their significant potential as intelligent active packaging in the food industry. Full article

Tetra Pak packaging represents a significant advancement in the field of packaging. However, in recent decades, the emerging needs of modern consumers for high-quality foods with extended shelf life, along with the increasing concerns about food waste, have made conventional packaging inadequate. In response, packaging technologies are evolving towards smart packaging, which includes active and intelligent packaging. This innovative solution can extend products’ shelf life and contribute to the decrease in food waste, providing higher environmental and economic sustainability compared to conventional TetraPak packaging. The objective of this work is the life cycle assessment (LCA) and economic analysis of an innovative smart packaging system, which consists of an antioxidant layer (active packaging) and a chemical sensor to detect food spoilage (intelligent packaging). This study examines the potential of integrating active and intelligent components into packaging to enhance environmental performance relative to conventional Tetra Pak packaging, while also assessing the associated economic trade-offs of smart packaging adoption. The environmental footprint of the production, use and end of life of the packaging and the contained food products are examined through four use scenarios (baseline, best-case, average-case, and worst-case), considering that the application of smart packaging leads to the prevention of food waste at different rates. LCA demonstrated that the environmental performance of smart packaging is 29.17% lower in the climate change category in the average-case scenario. The economic analysis showed that smart packaging increases costs by EUR 9.28 × 10⁻², demonstrating a significant benefit with only a minimal cost increase. Therefore, the findings of this study can provide new perspectives in the rapidly evolving field of food packaging, promoting smart packaging as a viable solution for reducing food waste and improving sustainability. Full article

The use of thermochromic pigments in food packaging offers several advantages, including improved food safety, waste reduction, and temperature change monitoring. However, little is known about how chemically resilient these materials are, especially regarding optical stability, thermochromic activation, and mechanical integrity following exposure to acidic, alkaline, oil-based, and neutral food-contact environments. This study evaluates the chemical resistance, thermal cycling effects, and mechanical durability of thermochromic pigment–polymer blends. Thermochromic polymer samples were subjected to multiple chemical environments, repeated thermal cycling, and mechanical analysis to assess degradation behavior. The findings show that virgin food-grade polymer with no thermochromic pigment sustains its performance stability throughout chemical exposure with little degradation. However, thermochromic polymer blends experienced reduced thermochromic functionality. This study offers insight into how well thermochromic pigment can be incorporated into intelligent food packaging despite the limitations associated with chemical exposure. Full article

This study reports the synthesis and characterization of a novel carboxymethyl cellulose–N-fullerene–g-poly(co-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid) (CMC–N-fullerene–AMPS) hydrogel for potential application in biosensing within food packaging. The hydrogel was synthesized via free radical polymerization and characterized using FTIR, SEM, and fluorescence microscopy. FTIR analysis confirmed the successful grafting of AMPS and incorporation of N-fullerenes, indicated by characteristic peaks and a shift in the N–H/O–H stretching frequency. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the CMC–N-fullerene–AMPS hydrogel exhibited higher stability and a lower band gap energy (0.0871 eV) compared to the CMC–AMPS hydrogel, which means a high reactivity of CMC–N-fullerene–AMPS. The incorporation of N-fullerenes significantly enhanced the hydrogel’s antibacterial activity, demonstrating a 22 mm inhibition zone against E. coli and a 24 mm zone against S. aureus, suggesting potential for active food packaging applications. Critically, the hydrogel displayed a unique “turn-on” fluorescence response in the presence of bacteria, with distinct color changes observed upon interaction with E. coli (orange-red) and S. aureus (bright green). This fluorescence enhancement, coupled with the porous morphology observed via SEM (pore size 377–931 µm), suggests the potential of this hydrogel as a sensing platform for bacterial contamination within food packaging. These combined properties of enhanced antibacterial activity and a distinct, bacteria-induced fluorescence signal make the CMC–N-fullerene–AMPS hydrogel a promising candidate for developing intelligent food packaging materials capable of detecting bacterial spoilage. Full article

The development of multifunctional smart food packaging has garnered considerable attention in research. Gelatin exhibits outstanding characteristics, featuring remarkable gel strength, molecular binding affinity, excellent colloidal dispersibility, low solution viscosity, sustained dispersion stability, and significant water retention properties. Gelatin-based film is ideally suited for the developing simple, portable, and rapid pH sensors, owing to its satisfactory biocompatibility, biodegradability, biosafety, affordability, and facilitation of easy handling and usage. This paper aims to explore the challenges and opportunities relating to gelatin-based pH sensors. It begins by outlining the sources, classifications, and functional properties of gelatin, followed by an analysis of the current research landscape and future trends related to intelligent indicators and active carriers. Subsequently, potential research directions for gelatin-based pH sensors are proposed. Using a literature analysis, it can be concluded that novel gelatin-based smart packaging represents the future of food packaging. It is hoped that the paper can provide some basic information for the development and application of gelatin-based smart packaging. Full article

Curcumin exhibits antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory biological properties. Its dual functionality as both a food additive and a pH-sensitive colorant has led to extensive applications in meat products and other food systems, thereby garnering significant research interest. In recent years, curcumin-loaded active-intelligent food packaging films have emerged as a promising innovation due to their multifunctional capabilities: not only do they prevent microbial contamination and extend food shelf life, but they also enable real-time freshness monitoring through visual colorimetric responses. This paper first delineates the molecular structure and fundamental biological mechanisms of curcumin. Subsequently, it systematically reviews the strategies for curcumin incorporation (including encapsulation techniques and composite formulations) and advanced fabrication methodologies for developing active-intelligent biodegradable films. Finally, the current applications of curcumin in polymer-based smart packaging systems are critically analyzed, with prospective research directions proposed to address existing technological limitations. Full article

As the global plastic pollution crisis intensifies, the development of sustainable food packaging materials has become a priority. Starch-based films present a viable, biodegradable alternative to petroleum-derived plastics but face challenges such as poor moisture resistance and mechanical fragility. This review comprehensively examines state-of-the-art advancements in starch-based packaging, including polymer modifications, bio-nanocomposite incorporation, and innovative processing techniques that enhance functionality. Furthermore, the role of advanced analytical tools in elucidating the structure–performance relationships of starch films is highlighted. In particular, we provide an in-depth exploration of advanced characterization techniques, not only to assess starch-based food packaging but also to monitor starch retrogradation, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and iodine binding (Blue Value). We also explore cutting-edge developments in active and intelligent packaging, where starch films are functionalized with bioactive compounds for antimicrobial protection and freshness monitoring. While substantial progress has been made, critical challenges remain in upscaling these technologies for industrial production. This review provides a roadmap for future research and the industrial adoption of starch-derived packaging solutions. Full article