Physical and antioxidant properties of chitosan and methylcellulose based films containing resveratrol

Chitosan–Starch Films Modified with Natural Extracts to Remove Heavy Oil from Water

Chitosan films were used to remove heavy oil from connate water, deionized water, and seawater. In this research, chitosan–starch films were modified with natural extracts from cranberry, blueberry, beetroot, pomegranate, oregano, pitaya, and grape. These biodegradable, low-cost, eco-friendly materials show an important oil sorption capacity from different water conditions. It was observed that the sorption capacity has a clear correlation with the extract type, quantity, and water pH. In order to understand the physical and chemical properties of the films, they were analyzed according to their apparent density, water content, solubility, and swelling degree by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS), and the determination of surface area using the Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) method. The results indicate that chitosan–starch films modified with natural extracts can be successfully applied for environmental issues such as oil spill remedy.

Physical and Morphological Characterization of Chitosan/Montmorillonite Films Incorporated with Ginger Essential Oil

Novel bionanocomposite films of chitosan/montmorillonite (CS/MMT) activated with ginger essential oil (GEO) were produced and characterized in terms of their physical and morphological properties. The homogenization process led to a good interaction between the chitosan and the nanoparticles, however the exfoliation was diminished when GEO was incorporated. Film glass transition temperature did not statistically change with the incorporation of either MMT or GEO, however the value was slightly reduced, representing a relaxation in the polymer chain which corroborated with the mechanical and barrier properties results. Pristine chitosan films showed excellent barrier properties to oxygen with a permeability of 0.184 × 10−16 mol/m·s·Pa being reduced to half (0.098 × 10−16 mol/m·s·Pa) when MMT was incorporated. Although the incorporation of GEO increased the permeability values to 0.325 × 10−16 mol/m·s·Pa when 2% of GEO was integrated, this increment was smaller with both MMT and GEO (0.285 × 10−16 mol/m·s·Pa). Bionanocomposites also increased the UV light barrier. Thus, the produced bioplastics demonstrated their ability to retard oxidative processes due to their good barrier properties, corroborating previous results that have shown their potential in the preservation of foods with high unsaturated fat content.

Physicochemical and bioactive properties of edible methylcellulose films containing Rheum ribes L. extract

Methylcellulose (MC) polymer was used to prepare the edible films. Then, the Rheum ribes L. ethanol extract (RE) was added to the films in order to act as a natural antimicrobial agent. All the methylcellulose films were characterized for bioactivity and the physicochemical analysis were carried out to define functional group interactions between the polymer and RE. The strongest antimicrobial effect was obtained with MC films enriched with 2% (w/w) RE against to Listeria monocytogenes with 20.3 ± 2.5 mm zone diameter. In the presence of RE, the tensile strength of film decreased, whereas the extract concentration significantly increased. The elongation at break and the water vapor permeability (WVP) values of the films were found to have decreased significantly in parallel with the increase in RE content. Moreover, the increase in the concentration of RE caused an increment in the hydrophilic properties, especially contact angle values of the films.

Evaluation of the Synergistic Antioxidant Effect of Resveratrol and Zataria multiflora Boiss Essential Oil in Sodium Alginate Bioactive Films

BACKGROUND

Biodegradable films are appropriate alternatives to synthetic polymers due to their potential to enhance food safety and their function as a carrier for wide a range of food additives especially natural antioxidants.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the potential antioxidant activities of sodium alginate films containing resveratrol (RES) alone and in combination with Zataria multiflora essential oil (ZEO) using an in vitro model.

METHODS

At first, the major chemical compositions of ZEO were evaluated by GC/MS. Then, the amount of phenolic compounds of sodium alginate films were evaluated by total phenolic contents assay and antioxidant activities of films were evaluated by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. Finally, the concentrations of ZEO and RES which showed better antioxidant activities in sodium alginate films were incorporated to films in combination forms to evaluate their synergistic effects.

RESULTS

According to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis, 35 compounds of ZEO were identified and Thymol (37.94%), p-Cymene (9.50%) and 3-Carene (4.98%) were the most important compounds of essential oil, respectively. The results of the radical scavenging evaluations, showed better antioxidant activities of the films containing RES than the films containing ZEO and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Also, the combined uses of ZEO and RES into alginate films had the synergistic effects (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Therefore, it can be concluded that alginate films incorporated with the combination of ZEO and RES is the appropriate option to postpone the oxidative reactions and can be used as natural antioxidant in the food packaging industry.

Physicochemical properties of the edible films from the blends of high methoxyl apple pectin and chitosan

Chitosan (CH) and pectin (PE) are considered as promising biomaterials in developing eco-friendly films due to their film-forming, biodegradable, and non-toxic characteristics, the films from pure CH or PE have obvious defects such as poor barrier and mechanical properties. In this study, the blend films of CH and PE at varying mass ratios were characterized. Structurally, numerous small pores evenly distributed in PE film while big caves unevenly scattered in CH film. CH film is semicrystalline but PE and blend films are totally amorphous, the two individual films presented comparable values in water content and solubility to blend films. The CH film showed lower water vapor permeability and surface wettability and these parameters of the blend films decreased with CH level, the blend films exhibited high transparence as PE film did, which is much higher than that of CH film. Mechanically, the PE film presented higher values in stretchability and tensile strength than CH film. Moreover, in a different blending ratios, synergistic effects were found with several characters of the CH/PE blend film, especially in transparence and mechanical properties. These synergistic effects were ascribed to the intermolecular electrostatic interactions between CH and PE.

Physical and Antioxidant Properties of Edible Chitosan Ascorbate Films

Chitosan ascorbates with different substitution degrees were synthesized on the basis of salification of chitosan and ascorbic acid at various molar ratios in water and were successfully used to prepare antioxidative films by casting for the first time. Fourier transform infrared and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra recorded the structural characteristics of all chitosan ascorbates; meanwhile, physicochemical property and antioxidant activity of the produced chitosan ascorbate films were characterized, with chitosan acetate film serving as the control, and these properties were also measured for comparison. The results revealed that salification of chitosan with ascorbic acid not only improved the total color difference, chroma, opacity, capacity for blocking ultraviolet-visible light, and water solubility of chitosan-based films but also decreased water content, swelling degree, and water vapor permeability compared to chitosan acetate film. Also, as was expected, the antioxidant activity assays showed that incorporation of ascorbate into the chitosan matrix effectively enhanced the scavenging activity against the DPPH radical and reducing power. Cs₂Vc₈ and Cs₂Vc₆ especially exhibited the strongest scavenging capacities against the DPPH radical (EC₅₀ < 0.025 mg/mL). These findings offered a suggestion that the prepared chitosan ascorbate films can be applied as novel green oxidation-resistant materials in the food packaging industry.

Effect of Sodium Trimetaphosphate on Chitosan-Methylcellulose Composite Films: Physicochemical Properties and Food Packaging Application

Environmentally friendly food packaging currently attracts much interest. Sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) finds specialized applications in food, but it is rarely used as a crosslinking agent. In this study, STMP was used as a crosslinking agent to prepare chitosan/methylcellulose composite films. Both antibacterial and physicochemical properties of the composite film were improved by crosslinking with STMP. The crosslinked films, with good antibacterial activity (~99%), had increased tensile strength, a higher elongation at break, a lower swelling ratio and solubility, and a lower enzymatic degradation than the non-crosslinked films. Furthermore, the crosslinked films showed an excellent preservative effect on fresh-cut wax gourd after three days at room temperature. The obtained films crosslinked by STMP can be potentially applied to the food industry, such as food functional packaging, providing a novel alternative to traditional plastic packages.

Chitosan, gelatin and methylcellulose films incorporated with tannic acid for food packaging

In this work, chitosan, gelatin and methylcellulose films incorporated with tannic acid (TA) were synthesised, characterised and applied for the first time to preserve cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) and grapes (Vitis vinifera). The addition of TA at 15% (w/w) increased the transparency value of biopolymer films. The highest increment of transparency value was obtained for MC-TA film, increased from 0.572 to 4.73 A/mm. Based on antimicrobial study, the addition of TA improved the antibacterial properties of biopolymers against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The ability of films to preserve both fruits was evaluated in a 14-day preservation study. The application of biopolymer films treated with TA has decreased the weight loss and browning index of fruits, as compared to control films. A significant reduction in the weight loss of cherry tomatoes wrapped with chitosan (from 21.3 to 19.6%), gelatin (from 22.1 to 15.5%) and methylcellulose (26.2 to 20.5%) films were obtained following TA treatment. Overall, results obtained from this study highlight the effects of TA on physiochemical properties of biopolymer films and their ability to preserve fruits.

Preparation and characterization of chitosan-based antimicrobial active food packaging film incorporated with apple peel polyphenols

In the present study, apple peel polyphenols (APP) were incorporated into chitosan (CS) to develop a novel functional film. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyses were performed to study the structure, potential interaction and thermal stability of the prepared films. Physical properties including moisture content, density, color, opacity, water solubility, swelling ration and water vapor permeability were measured. The results revealed that addition of APP into CS significantly improved the physical properties of the film by increasing its thickness, density, solubility, opacity and swelling ratio whereas moisture content and water vapor permeability were decreased. Tensile strength and elongation at break of the CS-APP film with 1% APP was 16.48MPa and 13.33%, respectively, significantly lower than those for CS control film. Thermal stability of the prepared films was decreased while antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the CS-based APP film were significantly increased. CS-APP film with 0.50% APP concentration exhibited good mechanical and antimicrobial properties, indicating that it could be developed as bio-composite food packaging material for the food industry.

Enhancing the photostability and bioaccessibility of resveratrol using ovalbumin–carboxymethylcellulose nanocomplexes and nanoparticles

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of encapsulating resveratrol in ovalbumin (OVA)–carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) nanocomplexes or nanoparticles on its photostability and bioaccessibility.

Chitosan Film Containing an Iron Complex: Synthesis and Prospects for Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines (HAAs) Recognition

Hybrid organic-inorganic materials have been seen as a promising approach to produce sensors for the detection and/or recognition of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs). This work shows the synthesis of a hybrid film as a result of the incorporation of [Fe(CN)₅(NH₃)]^3- into chitosan (CS); CS-[(CN)₅Fe(NH₃)]^3-. The sensitivity of CS-[(CN)₅Fe(NH₃)]^3- toward HAA-like species was evaluated by using pyrazine (pz) as probe molecule in vapor phase by means of electrochemistry and spectroscopic techniques. The crystallinity (SEM-EDS and XRD) decrease of CS-[(CN)₅Fe(NH₃)]^3- in comparison to CS was assigned to the disturbance of the hydrogen bond network within the polymer. Such conclusion was reinforced by the water contact angle measurements. The results presented in this work indicate physical and intermolecular interactions, mostly hydrogen bond, between [Fe(CN)₅(NH₃)]^3- and CS, where the complex is likely trapped in the polymer with its sixth coordination site available for substitution reactions.

Incorporated α-amylase and starch in an edible chitosan–procyanidin complex film increased the release amount of procyanidins

The α-amylase was embedded in edible chitosan–procyanidins film, and the release of procyanidins was by starch hydrolysis.

Preparation and performance of composite films based on 2-(2-aminoethoxy) ethyl chitosan and cellulose

Bioactive films exhibiting antioxidant activity were synthesized from a novel chitosan derivative (AECs) and cellulose under an environmentally friendly process.

Antioxidant edible films based on chitosan and starch containing polyphenols from thyme extracts

The aim of this study was to analyse the antioxidant activity of different polymeric matrices based on chitosan and starch, incorporating a thyme extract (TE) rich in polyphenols. TE provided the films with remarkable antioxidant activity. When mixed with chitosan, the polyphenols interacted with the polymer chains, acting as crosslinkers and enhancing the tensile behaviour of films. The opposite effect was observed when incorporated into the starch matrix. All the films became darker, more reddish and less transparent when TE was incorporated. These colour changes were more marked in starch matrices, which suggests that TE compounds were poorly encapsulated. The use of chitosan-based matrices carrying TE polyphenols is recommended as a means of obtaining antioxidant films, on the basis of their tensile response and greater antioxidant activity, which could be associated with the development of polyphenol-chitosan interactions, contributing to a better protection of the functionality of polyphenols during film formation and conditioning.

Enhanced antioxidant activity of polyolefin films integrated with grape tannins

BACKGROUND

A natural antioxidant derived from an agro-waste of the wine industry, grape tannin, was incorporated by melt blending into three different polyolefins (high-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene and polypropylene) to introduce antioxidant functionality.

RESULTS

Significant antioxidant activity was observed at 1% tannin inclusion in all polymer blends. The antioxidant activity was observed to increase steadily with a greater concentration of grape tannins, the highest increases being seen with polypropylene. The mechanical and thermal properties of the polymer films following antioxidant incorporation were minimally altered with up to 3% grape tannins. All of the polyolefin-grape tannin films successfully passed the leachability test following USP661 standard protocol.

CONCLUSION

Superior antioxidant activity was established in polyolefin thin films by utilization of a bulk grape extract obtained from winery waste. Significant increases in antioxidant activity were seen with 1% extract inclusion. This not only demonstrates the potential for food packaging applications of the polyolefin blends, but also valorizes the agro-waste. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Characterization of a Chitosanase from Jelly Fig (Ficus awkeotsang Makino) Latex and Its Application in the Production of Water-Soluble Low Molecular Weight Chitosans

A chitosanase was purified from jelly fig latex by ammonium sulfate fractionation (50–80% saturation) and three successive column chromatography steps. The purified enzyme was almost homogeneous, as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and gel activity staining. The molecular mass of the enzyme was 20.5 kDa. The isoelectric point (pI) was <3.5, as estimated by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis on PhastGel IEF 3-9. Using chitosan as the substrate, the optimal pH for the enzyme reaction was 4.5; the kinetic parameters K_m and V_max were 0.089 mg mL^-1 and 0.69 μmol min^-1 mg^-1, respectively. The enzyme showed activity toward chitosan polymers which exhibited various degrees of deacetylation (21–94%). The enzyme hydrolyzed 70–84% deacetylated chitosan polymers most effectively. Substrate specificity analysis indicated that the enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of chitin and chitosan polymers and their derivatives. The products of the hydrolysis of chitosan polymer derivatives, ethylene glycol (EG) chitosan, carboxymethyl (CM) chitosan and aminoethyl (AE) chitosan, were low molecular weight chitosans (LMWCs); these products were referred to as EG-LMWC, CM-LMWC and AE-LMWC, respectively. The average molecular weights of EG-LMWC, CM-LMWC and AE-LMWC were 11.2, 11.2 and 8.89 kDa, respectively. All of the LMWC products exhibited free radical scavenging activities toward ABTS^•+, superoxide and peroxyl radicals.

Preparation of gelatin films incorporated with tea polyphenol nanoparticles for enhancing controlled-release antioxidant properties

Gelatin films incorporated with chitosan nanoparticles in various free/encapsulated tea polyphenol (TP) ratios were prepared in order to investigate the influence of different ratios on the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of films. The TP-containing nanoparticles were prepared by cross-linking chitosan hydrochloride (CSH) with sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin sodium (SBE-β-CD) at three different encapsulation efficiencies (EE; ∼50%, ∼80%, and ∼100%) of TP. The stability of TP-loaded nanoparticles was maintained during the film drying process from the analysis of free TP content in the redissolved film solutions. Composite films showed no significant difference in visual aspects, while the light transmittance (250-550 nm) was decreased with incorporation of TP. Nanoparticles appeared to be homogeneously dispersed within the film matrix by microstructure analysis (SEM and AFM). TP-loaded films had ferric reducing and DPPH radical scavenging power that corresponded to the EEs. Sunflower oil packaged in bags made of gelatin films embedded with nanoparticles of 80% EE showed the best oxidation inhibitory effect, followed by 100% EE, 50% EE, and free TP, over 6 weeks of storage. However, when the gelatin film was placed over the headspace and was not in contact with the oil, the free TP showed the best effect. The results indicate that sustained release of TP in the contacting surface can ensure the protective effects, which vary with free/encapsulated mass ratios, thus improving antioxidant activities instead of increasing the dosage.

Nature and consequences of non-covalent interactions between flavonoids and macronutrients in foods

Many of the potential health benefits of flavonoids have been associated with their specific chemical and biological properties including their ability to interact and bind non-covalently to macronutrients in foods. While flavonoid-protein interactions and binding have been the subject of intensive study, significantly less is understood about non-covalent interactions with carbohydrates and lipids. These interactions with macronutrients are likely to impact both the flavonoid properties in foods, such as their radical scavenging activity, and the food or beverage matrix itself, including their taste, texture and other sensorial properties. Overall, non-covalent binding of flavonoids with macronutrients is primarily driven by van der Waals interactions. From the flavonoid perspective, these interactions are modulated by characteristics such as degree of polymerization, molecular flexibility, number of external hydroxyl groups, or number of terminal galloyl groups. From the macronutrient standpoint, electrostatic and ionic interactions are generally predominant with carbohydrates, while hydrophobic interactions are generally predominant with lipids and mainly limited to interactions with flavonols. All of these interactions are involved in flavonoid-protein interactions. While primarily associated with undesirable characteristics in foods and beverages, such as astringency, negative impact on macronutrient digestibility and hazing, more recent efforts have attempted to leverage these interactions to develop controlled delivery systems or strategies to enhance flavonoids bioavailability. This paper aims at reviewing the fundamental bases for non-covalent interactions, their occurrence in food and beverage systems and their impact on the physico-chemical, organoleptic and some nutritional properties of food.