A Review of Property Enhancement Techniques for Carrageenan-based Films and Coatings

Abstract

Carrageenan, a polysaccharide extracted from marine algae, is becoming increasingly regarded as a promising renewable biomaterial that has strong potential as a substitute for conventional synthetic plastics. Materials derived from carrageenans have been widely investigated over the recent decades for use in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications through to edible films and coatings. In the area of flexible films, carrageenans suffer from limitations that are primarily a result of their inherent hydrophilicity. Considerable research efforts have been devoted to the improvement of the properties of carrageenan films in order to extend the range of suitable applications. These include blending with other polymers, the use of plasticizers, and reinforcements with nanomaterials. This review comprehensively assesses the current status of carrageenan-based film development including material characteristics and strategies to obtain desirable film properties with particular regard to real applications.

Reinforcement of Refined and Semi-Refined Carrageenan Film with Nanocellulose

“…Carrageenan-based films show some desirable properties, particularly for the development of packaging films. However, the inherent hydrophilic nature of these films is a major issue that is responsible for the poor moisture barrier properties and low water resistance of the film [18] and this is also observed in the case of other bio-based polymer films such as those derived from starch and chitosan [19]. Since good moisture and barrier properties are required to protect and maintain many packaged foods, one technique to improve these properties involves reinforcement using nanocellulose fibrils (NCFs) [20][21][22].…”

Carrageenan: Drug Delivery Systems and Other Biomedical Applications

“…Polymeric films are increasingly being investigated as a promising pharmaceutical form for drug delivery and wound dressings due to advantages, such as their portability, application form, retention time, and easy storage and stability. These films can be used for immediate or controlled release depending on the polymer composition of the formulation [ 149 , 150 ].…”

pH/temperature‐responsive poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) grafted κ‐carrageenan copolymer: Synthesis and physicochemical properties

“…[2] According to the variation of sulfate group in disaccharide repeating parts, they are called as xi-, theta-, kappa-, nu-, iota-, lambda-, and mucarrageenans. [1,3] κ-carrageenan has one sulfate group per disaccharide repeating part. Carrageenans are utilized as gelling agents and stabilizers in industrial applications, potential virus and tumor inhibitors, and anticoagulants in medicine, and in addition to these, they are used in several fields such as cosmetics, pharmacy, ceramics and coating.…”

“…Carrageenans are utilized as gelling agents and stabilizers in industrial applications, potential virus and tumor inhibitors, and anticoagulants in medicine, and in addition to these, they are used in several fields such as cosmetics, pharmacy, ceramics and coating. [3] Despite several applications, they have some disadvantages such as easiness of microbial attack, undesirable syneresis, lower water vapor barrier, lower mechanical properties, and uncontrolled swelling, which affect their gelling ability negatively. [4,5] These disadvantages may be eliminated by graft copolymerization.…”