Colloidal Solutions as Advanced Coatings for Active Packaging Development: Focus on PLA Systems

Abstract

Due to rising consumer demand the food packaging industry is turning increasingly to packaging materials that offer active functions. This is achieved by incorporating active compounds into the basic packaging materials. However, it is currently believed that adding active compounds as a coating over the base packaging material is more beneficial than adding them in bulk or in pouches, as this helps to maintain the physicochemical properties of the base material along with higher efficiency at the interface with the food. Colloidal systems have the potential to be used as active coatings, while the application of coatings in the form of colloidal dispersions allows for prolonged and controlled release of the active ingredient and uniform distribution, due to their colloidal/nano size and large surface area ratio. The objective of this review is to analyse some of the different colloidal solutions previously used in the literature as coatings for active food packaging and their advantages. The focus is on natural bio-based substances and packaging materials such as PLA, due to consumer awareness and environmental and regulatory issues. The antiviral concept through the surface is also discussed briefly, as it is an important strategy in the context of the current pandemic crisis and cross-infection prevention.

Efficient and Green Isolation of Keratin from Poultry Feathers by Subcritical Water

“…Keratin is a colloid-forming macromolecule. Its agglomeration with separate amino acids and other molecules (such as minerals) present in the hydrolysate can lead to the formation of multimolecular colloids [ 41 ]. To more accurately determine the particle size and charge of the prepared hydrolysate, zeta potential and particle size analyses were performed using laser diffraction.…”

Synthesis of Poly(ethylene furanoate) Based Nanocomposites by In Situ Polymerization with Enhanced Antibacterial Properties for Food Packaging Applications

“…It has been a challenge for food industries to satisfy consumers' demand for fresh and delicious food products with reliable quality and safety [1]. Active packaging systems include antimicrobial packaging, antioxidant packaging, ethylene moisture absorbers, carbon dioxide emitters, and freshness indicators [2,3]. These systems are typically prepared by incorporating different active agents (e.g., nanoparticles, biomolecules) into packaging materials, and their function involves the release of the active agents into the surrounding environment or the sorption of food-derived chemicals.…”

Bifunctional thiourea-based organocatalyst promoted kinetic resolution polymerization of racemic lactide to isotactic polylactide

“…Polylactic acid (PLA), as an environmentally friendly polymer material that could serve as an alternative to replace traditional petroleum-based plastics, has attracted widespread attention from academia to industry in recent years. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Owing to the nontoxicity and good biocompatibility and biodegradability of PLA, it has been increasingly employed in drug-controlled release materials, 8,9 orthopedic surgical fixation materials, [10][11][12][13] food packaging materials, 8,14 and tissue repair materials. 15 The material performance is highly dependent on the tacticity of PLA.…”