Molecular and structural characteristics of cod gelatin films modified with EDC and TGase

Film-forming ability of collagen hydrolysate extracted from leather solid wastes with chitosan

Discharges of huge quantities of leather solid wastes by leather industries and the increased use of synthetic packaging films have raised serious concerns on account of their environmental impacts. The paper focuses on the development and characterization of potential environmentally friendly composite films using collagen hydrolysate (CH) extracted from leather solid wastes and chitosan (C) to assess the feasibility of producing polymeric materials suitable for applications in packaging and wrapping purposes. Solid collagen-based protein hydrolysate was extracted from chromium-tanned leather wastes and analyzed to determine its chemical properties. With the goal of improving the physico-chemical performance of CH, three types of composite films (CH75/C25, CH50/C50, CH25/C75) were prepared with increasing concentrations of C, and some of their physical and functional properties were characterized. The results indicated that the addition of C caused increase (p < 0.05) in the thickness, tensile strength (TS), elasticity modulus (EM), and water vapor permeability (WVP), leading to stronger films as compared with CH film, but significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the elongation at break (EAB) and solubility of films (p < 0.05). The light barrier measurements present low values of transparency at 600 nm of the CH/C films, indicating that the films are very transparent and they have excellent barrier properties against UV light. The structural properties investigated by FTIR and DSC showed total miscibility between both polymers. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that CH/C composite films showed a compact homogeneous structure. These results demonstrate the potential application of CH/C composite films in packaging industry.

Advances in bio-nanocomposite materials for food packaging: a review

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to acquaint the readers with recent developments in biopolymer-based food packaging materials like natural biopolymers (such as starches and proteins), synthetic biopolymers (such as poly lactic acid), biopolymer blending and nanocomposites grounded on natural and synthetic biopolymers. This paper is an attempt to draw the readers towards the advantages and attributes of new era polymers to diminish the usage of traditional non-biodegradable polymers.

Design/methodology/approach

Plastic packaging for food and associated applications is non-biodegradable and uses up valuable and treasured non-renewable petroleum products. With the current focus on researching alternatives to petroleum, research is progressively being channelized towards the development of biodegradable food packaging, thereby reducing adverse impact on the environment.

Findings

Natural biopolymer-based nanocomposite packaging materials seem to have a scintillating future for a broad range of applications in the food industry, including advanced active food packaging with biofunctional attributes. The present review summarizes the scientific information of various packaging materials along with their attributes, applications and the methods for production.

Originality/value

This is an apropos review as there has been a recent renewed concern in research studies, both in the industry and academe, for development of new generation biopolymer-based food packaging materials, with possible applications in many areas.

Adsorption of Water to Collagen as Studied Using Infrared (IR) Microspectroscopy Combined with Relative Humidity Control System and Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Infrared (IR) microspectroscopy combined with a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) together with an original relative humidity (RH) control system has been developed for studying water adsorption on a collagen film. The adsorbed water weights measured by QCM are almost similar for wetting and drying processes at 28 ℃, indicating that the collagen film is close to the water adsorption/desorption equilibria. A broad OH + NH stretching band area (3000-3700 cm^-1) in the IR spectra of the collagen film increased linearly with the adsorbed weight until about 1.2 μg/8.0 μg dry collagen film at relative humidity (RH) = 40%, while at higher RH (60%, 80%), the band area deviates from the linear trend to the lower side, due to viscoelasticity and others. The OH + NH band can be simulated by four Gaussian components at 3440, 3330, 3210, and 3070 cm^-1 with the relatively constant band areas of 3330 and 3070 cm^-1 components due to amide A and B (NH) for increasing and decreasing RH. Bound water (3210 cm^-1 component: short H bond) constitutes around 70% of total water (3440 + 3210 cm^-1 band areas) at RH = 4.9% but decreases to 23% at RH = 80.3%, where free water (3440 cm^-1 component: long H bond) becomes dominant over 70%. The peak shifts of C=O stretching (Amide I) and N-H bending (Amide II) can be understood by increasing hydrogen bonding of water molecules (bound water) bound to peptides at lower RH. The higher wavenumber shifts of CH stretching can be due to the loose binding of water molecules (free water) to aliphatic chains on the collagen surface, especially at higher RH. The present combined QCM-IR method is useful for studying amounts and natures of water adsorbing on biomolecules.

Development and characterization of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) skin gelatin-protein isolate blend films

In the present study, cuttlefish skin gelatin (CSG) and protein isolate (CSPI) blend films were prepared and their physicochemical and antioxidant properties were characterized. CSG (4%, w/v) was blended with CSPI (3%, w/v) at different ratios and 15% of glycerol (w/w, plasticizer/polymer dry matter). Results showed that increasing of CSPI content induced lower lightness but higher redness, yellowness and color difference values compared to CSG film. In addition, CSPI film had the lowest tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (EAB) values. The FTIR spectra of blend films showed a shift in the position of peaks related to the amide-I group, suggesting that they were involved in the interaction between the biopolymers. The structural properties evaluated by DSC showed a total miscibility between both polymers. This result was also confirmed by the SEM study, revealing a compact and homogenous structure in the blend films. Moreover, the water contact angle decreased in blend films, especially for those having higher proportion of CSPI. The antioxidant activity of films was markedly favored by the CSPI incorporation. Therefore, CSPI addition into gelatin matrix allowed to improve the blend films properties, mainly governed by the CSG/CSPI ratio.

Molecular interactions in gelatin/chitosan composite films

Gelatin and chitosan were mixed at different mass ratios in solution forms, and the rheological properties of these film-forming solutions, upon cooling, were studied. The results indicate that the significant interactions between gelatin and chitosan promote the formation of multiple complexes, reflected by an increase in the storage modulus of gelatin solution. Furthermore, these molecular interactions hinder the formation of gelatin networks, consequently decreasing the storage modulus of polymer gels. Both hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions are formed between gelatin and chitosan, as evidenced by the shift of the amide-II bands of polymers. X-ray patterns of composite films indicate that the contents of triple helices decrease with increasing chitosan content. Only one glass transition temperature (T_g) was observed in composite films with different composition ratios, and it decreases gradually with an increase in chitosan proportion, indicating that gelatin and chitosan have good miscibility and form a wide range of blends.

Structuring of composite hydrogel bioadhesives and its effect on properties and bonding mechanism

Bioadhesives are polymeric hydrogels that can adhere to a tissue after crosslinking and are an essential element in nearly all surgeries worldwide. Several bioadhesives are commercially available. However, none of them are ideal. The main limitation of current tissue adhesives is the tradeoff between biocompatibility and mechanical strength, especially in wet hemorrhagic environments. Our novel bioadhesives are based on the natural polymers gelatin (coldwater fish) and alginate, crosslinked by carbodiimide (EDC). Two types of hemostatic agents with a layered silicate structure, montmorillonite (MMT) and kaolin, were loaded in order to improve the sealing ability in a hemorrhagic environment. The effect of the adhesive's components on its mechanical strength was studied by three different methods - burst strength, lap shear and compression. The viscosity, gelation time and structural features of the adhesive were also studied. A qualitative model that describes the effect of the bioadhesive's parameters on the cohesive and adhesive strength was developed. A formulation based on 400mg/mL gelatin, 10mg/mL alginate and 20mg/mL EDC was found as optimal, enabling a burst strength of 387mmHg. Incorporation of kaolin increased the burst strength by 25% due to microcomposite structuring, whereas MMT increased the burst strength by 50% although loaded in a smaller concentration, due to nano-structuring effects. This research clearly shows that the incorporation of kaolin and MMT in gelatin-alginate surgical sealants is a very promising novel approach for improving the bonding strength and physical properties of surgical sealants for use in hemorrhagic environments.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The current manuscript focuses on novel bioadhesives, based on natural polymers and loaded with hemostatic agents with a layered silicate structure, in order to improve the sealing ability in hemorrhagic environment. Such composite bioadhesives have not been developed and studied before. The effect of the adhesive's components on its mechanical strength was studied by three different methods, as well as the physical properties and structural features. Thorough understanding of these unique biomaterials resulted in a qualitative model which describes the effect of the bioadhesive's parameters on the cohesive and adhesive strength. Thus, structure-property-function relationships are presented. Structuring of the composite bioadhesives and its effect of the properties and bonding mechanism, are expected to be of high interest to Acta readership.

Effect of transglutaminase on properties of tilapia scale gelatin films incorporated with soy protein isolate

The effect of transglutaminase (TGase) on the properties of tilapia scale gelatin films in the presence of soy protein isolate (SPI) was investigated. When 3% TGase was added into gelatin films, the total soluble matter and protein solubility of films were decreased from 89.36% and 92.78% to 35.83% and 40.05%, respectively, and the decline was promoted by adding 5% SPI. The strength of the films was increased by adding 1% TGase irrespective of SPI addition, but decreased when the TGase concentration was further raised. No obvious colour change was observed in the films with or without TGase and SPI. Based on the results of SDS-PAGE, DSC and SEM, it was revealed that the movement of low molecular weight hydrophilic protein was depressed by the cross-linking network structure induced by TGase and SPI during film drying, indicating that adding SPI is essential to improve the thermal stability and water resistance properties of TGase-induced gelatin films.

Effect of Transglutaminase and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic Acid on the Properties of Film from Tilapia Skin Gelatin

The effect of modification with transglutaminase (TGase) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid (ferulic acid) on properties of tilapia skin gelatin film (TSGF) was researched. The results showed that the peroxide inhibition of modified TSGF increased from 14.7% to 62.0% and 52.1%, when concentrations of TGase and ferulic acid were 0.20 or 1.0 mg·mL-1. At the same time, the WVP coefficients were lower about 24.2% and 20.6%, respectively. The solubility of TSGF decreased with the increase in concentration of TGase and ferulic acid. As the formation of hydrogen bonds in the structure of the film, the amide A band was shifted towards higher wave numbers after modification.

A simple route to fabricate controllable and stable multilayered all-MWNTs films and their applications for the detection of NADH at low potentials

This study demonstrates a polyelectrolyte-free method to fabricate controllable and stable all-MWNTs films via a covalent layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition. Aminated MWNTs and carboxylated MWNTs were prepared by surface functionalization, allowing the incorporation of MWNTs into highly tunable thin films through the formation of covalent amide bonds. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis demonstrated the formation of covalent linkages between MWNTs layers. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) were used to characterize the assembly process. Electrochemical studies indicated that the all-MWNTs film possessed a remarkable electrocatalytic activity toward dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) at relatively low potentials, without the need for redox mediators. The film thickness and the amount of assembled MWNTs were readily adjusted by simply changing the number of cycles in the LBL assembly process, which also effectively tuned the electrocatalytic activity of the film toward NADH. The film constructed with four bilayers showed a high sensitivity of 223.8μA mM(-1)cm(-2) and a detection limit of 1.5μM, with a fast response of less than 3s. Furthermore, the all-MWNTs film also showed good selectivity and excellent stability for the determination of NADH.