Production and characterization of pullulan/paper/zein laminates as active food packaging materials

Abstract

Pullulan/paper/zein laminates were developed as food packaging materials with active properties, taking advantage of the hydrophilic character of the pullulan where the rockrose essential was incorporated as a bioactive agent to be more easily released into the packaged food; paper improved the general mechanical properties of the developed materials; and the hydrophobic nature of zein improved the barrier properties of the developed materials. A cohesive microstructure without a clear boundary between the three layers was visualized by Scanning Electron Microscopy, which proves the good adhesion between them. It was found that the incorporation of rockrose essential oil significantly improves the ability of the laminates to inhibit lipid peroxidation. Thus, the potential for application of the developed laminates as new food packaging materials was confirmed, considering their ability to inhibit and/or prevent oxidation and lipid peroxidation and thereby increase the shelf life of the packaged food. The laminates also presented antimicrobial activity, specifically against Gram‐positive strains. After 7 days of storage of fresh ham slices packaged with the developed laminates, it was observed that the texture parameters (shear force and shear energy) increased significantly in pullulan/paper/zein packages with and without the incorporation of rockrose essential oil. Practical applications We produced biodegradable laminates as new food packaging materials with the potential to replace the traditional synthetic polymer packaging. The developed laminates presented antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and improved mechanical and barrier properties, which altogether will improve the shelf life of the packaged food, particularly, fresh ham. New findings or insights this research provides Pullulan/paper/zein laminates were developed and characterized, incorporating rockrose essential oil as a bioactive agent. The laminates presented good mechanical and barrier properties and shown be antioxidant and antimicrobial. The laminates were applied to package fresh ham slices.

Optimization of Whey Protein-Based Films Incorporating Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Essential Oil

“…The color coordinates (L*, a*, and b*) and transparency of the films were measured using a Color Touch 2 spectrophotometer. The measurements were carried out using an observation angle of 10° and the illuminant D65 (daylight with a UV component), taking into account a number of random places on the films [ 20 ].…”

“…To do this, test cups containing 15 g of anhydrous CaCl 2 as desiccant that had previously been dried at 105 °C were sealed with the films. The cups were then set at a temperature of 23 ± 2 °C and a relative humidity (RH) of 50 ± 5%, and the weight discrepancies were monitored every 2 h for a period of 48 h. The gradient was calculated using the linear regression’s slope of increasing weight with time [ 20 ]. The oxygen transmission rate (OTR) (cm 3 /m 2 .day) was evaluated using the equipment Labthink PERME ® OX2/23 (Labthink International, Medford, MA, USA) in accordance with ISO 15105-2:2003 [ 22 ].…”

“…For each liquid and sample, contact angles were acquired from at least six observations. Surface free energies of the films were then calculated using the Owens, Wendt, Rabel, and Kaelble empirical model (OWRK) [ 20 ].…”

“…Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) thermograms of the films were obtained using a calorimeter Netzsch DSC 204 (GWP, Munich, Germany), operating at a heating rate of 5 °C/min and a temperature range of 25 to 350 °C. Samples of the films were kept at 105 °C for 24 h prior to the study to completely evaporate the free water and establish the corresponding baselines [ 20 , 23 ].…”

Polysaccharides for Biodegradable Packaging Materials: Past, Present, and Future (Brief Review)

“…Shanmugan et al [ 193 ] reported that pullulan/graphene biocomposite coated on nanocellulose film improved the surface, barrier, and antimicrobial properties of the latter. In new research [ 194 ], the authors described the features of production of pullulan/paper/zein laminates as promising food packaging material. Another polysaccharide, hyaluronic acid, is known as a polymer used mainly in medicine, cosmetics, pharmaceutics, etc.…”