Comparison of chitosan–gelatin composite and bilayer coating and film effect on the quality of refrigerated rainbow trout

Intelligent pH-sensitive indicator based on starch-cellulose and alizarin dye to track freshness of rainbow trout fillet

A novel pH-sensitive indicator was prepared by incorporation of alizarin in a starch-cellulose paper to monitor the freshness of rainbow trout fillet. Water solubility of the fabricated indicator reduced by incorporation of alizarin, while the percentage of swelling didn't change. FTIR certified that alizarin was properly incorporated which was revealed by the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the cellulose-starch matrix. SEM and ultraviolet-visible spectrum results also demonstrated that alizarin had good compatibility with the components of the indicator. The alizarin-starch-cellulose indicator (ASC) had greater color efficiency from yellow to purple at pH 2-11 and greater color stability after two months of storage at 4 °C. It can be concluded that the color changes of ASC, from orange to reddish brown, were entirely corresponded with TVB-N contents of fish, which presents a satisfactory capability of developed indicator to identify the initiation of spoilage in the refrigerated fish fillet.

Development of antimicrobial gelatin films with boron derivatives

Food packaging technology has been advancing to provide safe and high quality food products and to minimize food waste. Moreover, there is a dire need to replace plastic materials in order to reduce environmental pollution. The aim of this study was to prepare biodegradable antimicrobial packaging films from gelatin. Boric acid, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, and sodium pentaborate were incorporated as the antimicrobial agents. Films containing boric acid and its salts showed antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as antifungal and anticandidal effects against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. The mechanical strength of the films was mostly enhanced by the addition of boron derivatives. The rheological measurements and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results suggest that boron derivatives did not interfere with the network formation during gelling. The morphology of boron-added antimicrobial films was found to be similar to the morphology of the control . In conclusion, the newly developed gelatin films containing 10% or 15% disodium octaborate (g/g gelatin) might be good candidates for biodegradable antimicrobial packaging materials.

Effects of sodium alginate coating containing Mentha spicata essential oil and cellulose nanoparticles on extending the shelf life of raw silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) fillets

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of sodium alginate (SA) coatings containing Mentha spicata essential oil (MSO; 0.5 and 1%) and cellulose nanoparticles (CN; 0.25 and 0.5%) on chemical (total volatile base nitrogen content and peroxide value), microbial (total viable count, psychrotrophic count, Pseudomonas spp., and Enterobacteriaceae), and sensory (odor, color, and overall acceptability) properties of raw silver carp fillets during 14 days of refrigerated storage. The MSO was mostly comprised of carvone (78.76%) and limonene (11.50%). SA + MSO 1% + CN 0.5% was most effective in extending the shelf life of silver carp fillets, followed by SA + MSO 1% + CN 0.25%, SA + MSO 1%, SA + MSO 0.5% + CN 0.5%, SA + MSO 0.5% + CN 0.25%, SA + MSO 0.5%, SA + CN 0.5%, SA +CN  0.25%, and SA. Incorporation of MSO 0.5% didn't have any adverse effect on odor, color, and overall acceptability of treated samples.

Composite edible films and coatings from food-grade biopolymers

The development of edible films and coatings from food-grade biopolymers has advanced significantly during the past decade. The current state-of-the-art lies in the formulation of composite edible films and coatings from such biomolecules. Composite films and coatings refer to systems where multiple biopolymers have been combined to achieve beneficial properties. Carbohydrate, protein, and lipids have been preferred for developing such systems. Binary films and coatings have been prepared from multiple combinations including protein-protein, carbohydrate-carbohydrate and protein-carbohydrate. Similarly, ternary films and coatings have been prepared from protein-protein-carbohydrate combinations. In addition, several active ingredients including antimicrobial compounds have been loaded to these systems for the preparation of functional films and coatings. Therefore, the goal of this manuscript is to review the multitude of composite systems that are currently available for food packaging purposes. In addition, we discuss the application of composite coatings to fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat and seafood as model food systems.

The combined effects of lactoperoxidase system and whey protein coating on microbial, chemical, textural, and sensory quality of shrimp (Penaeus merguiensis) during cold storage (4 ± 1°C)

Growth and reproduction of gram-negative bacteria has a pivotal role in spoilage of seafood products. In order to identify the effect of lactoperoxidase system (LPOS), an antimicrobial activity was added to whey protein solution at the levels of 0 (control group), 1.25%, 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5%. Then, the shrimp samples were coated with immersion method and stored in the refrigerator for 16 days. In this period, the microbial tests of psychrotrophic bacteria, mesophilic bacteria, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas spp., and Shewanella putrefaciens, chemical tests of total volatile basic nitrogen, thiobarbituric acid, and pH, and sensory evaluation were carried out on the days of 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16. Adding LPOS in the coating resulted in a decrease in the total specific spoilage organisms and TVB-N. There was no significant effect for the TBA test. The levels of LPOS showed a positive correlation with the acceptable measurement in the sensory evaluation.

Emerging Chitosan-Based Films for Food Packaging Applications

Recent years have witnessed great developments in biobased polymer packaging films for the serious environmental problems caused by the petroleum-based nonbiodegradable packaging materials. Chitosan is one of the most abundant biopolymers after cellulose. Chitosan-based materials have been widely applied in various fields for their biological and physical properties of biocompatibility, biodegradability, antimicrobial ability, and easy film forming ability. Different chitosan-based films have been fabricated and applied in the field of food packaging. Most of the review papers related to chitosan-based films are focusing on antibacterial food packaging films. Along with the advances in the nanotechnology and polymer science, numerous strategies, for instance direct casting, coating, dipping, layer-by-layer assembly, and extrusion, have been employed to prepare chitosan-based films with multiple functionalities. The emerging food packaging applications of chitosan-based films as antibacterial films, barrier films, and sensing films have achieved great developments. This article comprehensively reviews recent advances in the preparation and application of engineered chitosan-based films in food packaging fields.

Effect of Chitosan Edible Coating on the Biochemical and Physical Characteristics of Carp Fillet (Cyprinus carpio) Stored at -18°C

The effect of an edible coating (EC) with 1.5% chitosan as an additive, on common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fillet, was determined evaluating the biochemical, physicochemical, textural, microbiological, and nutritional characteristics periodically during its storage in the freezer (−18°C), observing a decrease in the rate of biochemical reactions related to degradation (p < 0.05), hydroperoxides content (HPC) (0.8324 nM hydroperoxides/mg of protein versus 0.5540 nM/mg with regard to the EC sample), as well as protein carbonyl content (PCC) (0.5860 nM versus 0.4743 nM of reactive carbonyl groups/mg of protein of noncoated material), keeping properties for a longer period of time, and a lower protein solubility (7.8 mg of supernatant protein/mg of total protein versus 6.8 mg/mg) and less loss of moisture (8% less, with regard to EC); for the nutritional characteristics of the fillet, lysine is the limiting aminoacid in the sample without EC, while leucine is the limiting aminoacid for the EC sample. According to microbial growth, the count was 2.2 × 10⁵ CFU/g of sample in mesophiles versus 4.7 × 10⁴ in the EC sample. The results indicate that the use of EC added with chitosan maintains the quality of the product regarding lipid and protein oxidation until fourth month of storage, maintaining moisture content without variation for at least 3 months, and inhibits microbial growth up to 2 logarithmic units, during five months of frozen storage.

Formulation, in vitro evaluation and kinetic analysis of chitosan-gelatin bilayer muco-adhesive buccal patches of insulin nanoparticles

The present study was performed to optimise the formulation of a muco-adhesive buccal patch for insulin nanoparticles (NPs) delivery. Insulin NPs were synthesised by an ionic gelation technique using N-di methyl ethyl chitosan cysteine (DMEC-Cys) as permeation enhancer biopolymer, tripolyphosphate (TPP) and insulin. Buccal patches were developed by solvent-casting technique using chitosan and gelatine as muco-adhesive polymers. Optimised patches were embedded with 3 mg of insulin-loaded NPs with a homogeneous distribution of NPs in the muco-adhesive matrix, which displayed adequate physico-mechanical properties. The drug release characteristics, release mechanism and kinetics were investigated. Data fitting to Peppas equation with a correlation coefficient indicated that the mechanism of drug release followed an anomalous transport that means drug release was afforded through drug diffusion along with polymer erosion. In vitro drug release, release kinetics, physical and mechanical studies for all patch formulations reflected the ideal characteristics of this buccal patch for the delivery of insulin NPs.

Gelatin-Based Films and Coatings for Food Packaging Applications

This review discusses the latest advances in the composition of gelatin-based edible films and coatings, including nanoparticle addition, and their properties are reviewed along their potential for application in the food packaging industry. Gelatin is an important biopolymer derived from collagen and is extensively used by various industries because of its technological and functional properties. Nowadays, a very wide range of components are available to be included as additives to improve its properties, as well as its applications and future potential. Antimicrobials, antioxidants and other agents are detailed due to the fact that an increasing awareness among consumers regarding healthy lifestyle has promoted research into novel techniques and additives to prolong the shelf life of food products. Thanks to its ability to improve global food quality, gelatin has been particularly considered in food preservation of meat and fish products, among others.

Effect of edible chitosan/clove oil films and high-pressure processing on the microbiological shelf life of trout fillets

BACKGROUND

The inhibitory effect of chitosan films with clove oil (0-50 g kg(-1) ) was evaluated on a range of ten representative food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria.

RESULTS

The most sensitive bacteria to the films was Shewanella putrefaciens and the most resistant was Aeromonas hydrophila (inhibition was apparent only at 50 g kg(-1) clove essential oil (CEO)). Films with 20 g kg(-1) CEO inhibited nine of ten of the bacteria tested. Chitosan films with 20 g kg(-1) CEO were combined with high-pressure (HPP) processing as treatments for trout fillets, and changes in physicochemical parameters and microbial load were evaluated at 4 °C over 22 days of storage. The films reduced weight loss and water activity compared to fresh and treated samples (HPP and cooking). Results showed that microbial load (total aerobic mesophilic, lactic acid bacteria and total coliform) of the trout fillets covered with chitosan films was lower than that for HPP-treated samples, and similar to cooked samples, except for coliform counts.

CONCLUSION

The use of 20 g kg(-1) CEO-chitosan films showed a further improvement in the shelf-life of trout fillets when compared to that obtained with HPP and cooking treatment.

Application of an Antimicrobial Protein Film in Beef Patties Packaging

This study was performed to apply a protein film containing a natural antimicrobial compound to meat packaging and determine quality change of meat during storage. Proteins obtained from the by-products of food processing have been utilized as biodegradable film sources. Porcine meat and bone meal (MBM) is obtained during meat processing, and proteins from the MBM can be extracted and used as a film base material. Previously, an antimicrobial MBM film containing coriander oil (CO) was prepared and its physical properties and antimicrobial activity were characterized. In this study, the antimicrobial MBM-CO film was applied to beef patties packaging, and the microbial population and the degree of lipid oxidation were determined during storage at 4℃ for 15 d. The population of inoculated E. coli O157:H7 in the samples wrapped with the MBM-CO film was 6.78 log colony forming unit (CFU)/g after 15 d of storage, whereas the control had 8.05 Log CFU/g, thus reducing the microbial population by 1.29 Log CFU/g. In addition, retardation of lipid oxidation in the patties was observed during storage for the samples packaged by the MBM-CO film, compared with the control samples. These results suggest that the MBM-CO film can be useful for enhancing the quality of beef patties during storage.

The effects of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) coating on the quality of shrimp during cold storage

Green tiger shrimp (Penaeus semisulcatus) is an important aquaculture species worldwide. Its perishable nature, however, needs preservation methods to ensure its quality and shelf life. In this study, the effects of Aloe vera coating on the quality and shelf life of shrimps during cold storage were investigated. Shrimp samples were dipped in aqueous solutions containing 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% Aloe vera gel before storage at 4 °C for 7 days. Drip loss, pH, TBA, TVB-N, and texture of both the control and treated shrimp samples were analyzed periodically. There were significant differences between coated shrimps and the control group in all parameters evaluated. Aloe vera at 75% and 100% concentrations was able to prevent lipid oxidation and drip loss properly; however, coatings containing 25% Aloe vera did not have the desired effects on these characteristics. Shrimps coated with higher concentrations of Aloe vera had better textural properties during cold storage. Results also indicated the positive effects of Aloe vera coating on the sensory quality of shrimp.