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Food adhesion is an important attribute that could have both positive and negative ramifications depending on the application. Yet, its quantification remains cumbersome and as a consequence adhesion models are scarce. The effect of surface roughness, free energy, and ozone treatment on adhesion of rough low linear density polyethylene films was investigated. Adhesion was measured by a 180 degrees peel strength test. The plastic films were roughened (surface roughness ratio, r, ranged from 1.00 to 1.15). Exposing the film to ozone treatment (0 to 300 s) modified its surface free energy, gamma(s) (32.4 to 37.9 mJ/m(2), respectively), and its polar component of the surface free energy, gamma(p)(s) (3.0 to 8.3 mJ/m(2), respectively). The films were coated with polyurethane capable of forming hydrogen bonds. Adhesion was found to be a function of the apparent contact angle of water, theta(ap[water]), surface roughness ratio, and surface free energy. The linear relationship between the apparent contact angle of water, theta(ap[water]), and gamma(p)(s) was incorporated in building an empirical model that quantifies peel strength as function of r and gamma(p)(s). The model showed good agreement with experimental data, especially for longer ozone exposures and rougher surfaces. The empirical model provides insight into the relationships between surface roughness, surface energy, and adhesion. Quantifying these effects could facilitate reducing biofilm forming on food equipment, antisticking treatments, or easy peel packages, or reducing food residues adhering to the food packages and consequently minimize oxidation, off flavors, and waste.

Polyclonal antibodies (PAb) were raised against an aflatoxigenic strain of Aspergillus parasiticus by using two different sources for antibody elicitation: (i) filtrate of a culture on which the fungus had been grown (ii) and two chimeric proteins, expressed in Escherichia coli as separate products, of the genes ver-1 and apa-2, which are involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis. The gene products were amplified by PCR, and each was cloned into the E. coli expression vector pGEX2T. Upon induction, the bacteria overexpressed 38-and 33-kDa chimeric proteins corresponding to the N-terminal domains of the genes ver-1 and apa-2, respectively. The chimeric proteins were isolated and affinity purified for use as antigens. The specificity of the raised antibodies was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The PAbs raised against the culture filtrate reacted with all the species of Aspergillus and Penicillium tested but not with Fusarium species or corn grain. However, the PAbs elicited against the chimeric proteins were highly specific, showing significantly higher ELISA absorbance values (A 405) against A. parasiticus and A. flavus than against the other fungi tested and the corn grain. The approach of utilizing gene products associated with aflatoxin biosynthesis for antibody production therefore appears to be feasible. Such a multiantibody system combined with the PCR technique, could provide a useful tool for the rapid, sensitive, and accurate detection of aflatoxin producers present in grains and foods.