Development of polyion-complex hydrogels as an alternative approach for the production of bio-based polymers for food packaging applications: a review

Abstract

Development of packaging materials from renewable resources has for a long time been desirable for sustainability reasons, but with recent explosions in prices of petroleum products, this now becomes also more economically viable. This paper shows how fundamental chemistry underlying three forms of hydrogelsphysical hydrogels, chemical hydrogels, and interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN)can be integrated to produce a new family of food packaging materials from biopolymers, illustrated here using gelatin and low-methoxyl pectin as examples. Application of this technique to create hydrogels from bio-based materials offers the potential for developing novel, biodegradable packaging applications, particularly for foods, that meet the ever-increasing demands for natural and environmentally compatible materials.

Collagen- vs. Gelatine-Based Biomaterials and Their Biocompatibility: Review and Perspectives

“…Stabilization of molecular conformation and inter-helix interactions are a consequence of the existence of a highly-ordered hydration shell with water bridges linking two groups within the same or different gelatine chains. Hydrogen bond formation is responsible for the increase in denaturation temperature of the fixed tissue; when compared to the pig-skin and bovine gelatines, which have ~30% Pro and Hyp, fish gelatines possess a lesser percentage of Pro and Hyp (~20 %), the impact of which is thermal stability and shifting by 5-10°C to lower gelling and melting temperatures (Farris et al, 2009) and gel strength (Herpandy et al, 2011). Despite gelatine being one of the polymers recognized for millennia, questions about its structure and functionality are still being discussed today.…”

Development of Biopolymers as Binders for Feed for Farmed Aquatic Organisms

“…The molecular diversity of carbohydrates allows a large array of functions of great significance. In the food industry, polysaccharides play important roles as phytocolloid as well as emulsifying agents (Farris et al, 2009). Non-digestible carbohydrates are insoluble, like cellulose, or soluble, like pectin, gum, -glucan, mucilage, algal polysaccharides (Atkins, 1985;Clark & Ross-Murphy, 1987).…”

“…These amino acids are joined by amide linkage to form a linear polymer ranging from 15,000 to 250,000 Mw. Gelatin is particularly attractive for forming hydrogel packaging because it is relatively inexpensive and biodegradable, and its structure enables multiple combinations of molecular interactions (Farris et al, 2009). There are two types of gelatins which are characterized by their mode of manufacture.…”

Effect of plasticizer type and concentration on physical properties of biodegradable films based on sugar palm (arenga pinnata) starch for food packaging

“…Petroleum based plastics are dominantly used in packaging industries owing to their outstanding versatility, mechanical and barrier properties (Farris et al 2009;González and Alvarez Igarzabal 2013;Siracusa et al 2008;Tharanathan 2003). In spite of their numerous advantages, petroleum based plastics area great source of environmental pollution, as they are non-biodegradable.…”