Development of New Multilayer Active Packaging Films with Controlled Release Property Based on Polypropylene/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)/Polypropylene Incorporated with Tea Polyphenols

Abstract

The polypropylene/poly(vinyl alcohol)/polypropylene (PP/PVA/PP) multilayer active films with controlled release property were developed, of which the intermediate PVA layer was incorporated with 4% (w/w) tea polyphenols (TP) and the microporous PP films with different pore size were used as the internal controlled release layer. The SEM results showed that each layer of these films was agglutinated tightly. With increasing pore size from 171.05 to 684.03 µm, there were little effect on the films’ color and opacity, the tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (EAB) decreased slightly, the gas barrier (O2 and water vapor) property of the film reduced faintly, the time of achieving the release equilibrium in 50% ethanol decreased from 75 hours to 30 hours. The diffusion coefficient for the films increased with the increase of pore size, from 2.06 × 10−11 cm2/s to 8.06 × 10−11 cm2/s, suggesting that the release rate of TP increased as the pore size increased. The results were indicated that its release rate could be controlled by adjusting the size of pore. The films also exhibited different antioxidant activities due to their different release profiles of TP. It showed promise for developing the controlled release active packaging film based on this concept. Practical Application Controlled release packaging is propitious to extension of food shelf life. The microporous polypropylene films with different pore size used as the internal layer of polypropylene/poly(vinyl alcohol)/polypropylene (PP/PVA/PP) multilayer active films was proved that the release rate of tea polyphenols in the intermediate PVA layer released from the films into the food simulant can be controlled by adjusting the size of pore in this study. It showed a good prospect for using microporous or perforation‐mediated film as the internal layer of multilayer film to develop the controlled release active packaging film for food packaging.

Trends in Bioactive Multilayer Films: Perspectives in the Use of Polysaccharides, Proteins, and Carbohydrates with Natural Additives for Application in Food Packaging

“…Another example is proposed by [ 11 ] who produced active bilayer films using cassava starch and polyvinyl acetate (PVA) as biopolymers. In addition, other biopolymers are often used to develop this type of material, such as gelatin, potato starch, zein, and soy protein isolate [ 15 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Fabrication of polyvinyl alcohol-starch controlled release active film incorporated with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin/lemongrass oil emulsion for large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) preservation

“…The film samples (500 mg) were immersed into 100 mL of 10% Eth at 25°C. The amount of LMO in the 500 mg of film samples was determined similarly according to Chen et al (2019). The supernatants were extracted periodically, and examined at 417 nm using a UV-vis spectrophotometer.…”

Recent Advances and Applications in Starch for Intelligent Active Food Packaging: A Review

“…The antibacterial activity of starch-based film was positively correlated with the loading of nanoparticles, and the antibacterial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus was stronger than Gram-negative Escherichia coli . Chen and Li [ 121 ] prepared composite films by in-situ reduction using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and starch as reductants and stabilizers. The results showed that ACS film had apparent antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli .…”