Alginate-Based Edible Films and Coatings for Food Packaging Applications

The Effect of Sodium Alginate-Calcium Chloride Coating on the Quality Parameters and Shelf Life of Strawberry Cut Fruits

Strawberry fruits have a short shelf life after harvesting due the physiological factors that enhances ripening such as respiration and transpiration. Sensory properties including color, texture, odor, and flavor are the main factors that makes fresh produce appealing to consumers, and they change very rapidly upon harvest. For this reason, quality preservation is essential during post-harvest handling and storage of strawberry fruits. Quality deterioration rates are higher in strawberry fruit cuts due to the mechanical damage and the loss of their natural protective barriers, resulting in an increase in moisture loss, respiration rates, and the deterioration of their sensory properties. The effect of a sodium alginate-calcium chloride edible coating on quality preservation and shelf life extension of strawberry cut fruits stored at 4 °C was studied. Control samples had mold growth initiated after one week of storage at 4 °C, while the coated fruit samples had a mold free shelf life extension for up to 15 days. The sodium alginate-calcium chloride edible coating was effective in reducing respiration and transpiration rates and delayed the increase of the pH and soluble solid content. Furthermore, the coating delayed surface mold growth for up to 15 days and preserved the sensory properties of the cut fruits such as color and texture.

Effect of the application of an edible film with turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) on the oxidative stability of meat

The aim of this study was to develop an edible alginate-based film produced with turmeric (EFT), as an active compound, and evaluate its antioxidant capacity for application in fresh pork loin, beef loin, and chicken breast. The EFT was characterized by barrier parameters, color, and mechanical, structural, and antioxidant properties. Meat samples with and without EFT were stored at 4°C and analyzed at 2-day intervals. The meat samples with EFT showed significant differences (p < .05) in color (CIE L*a*b*) and exhibited lower TBARS values compared with those without EFT. The addition of turmeric in the film, besides affecting its physicochemical and structural properties, contributed an important antioxidant effect for the meat.

Application of Edible Alginate Films with Pineapple Peel Active Compounds on Beef Meat Preservation

Alginate-based edible films containing natural antioxidants from pineapple peel were applied in the microbial spoilage control, color preservation, and barrier to lipid oxidation of beef steaks under storage at 4 °C for five days. Different stabilization methods of pineapple peel compounds were used before incorporation into alginate films, including extracted compounds with an hydroalcoholic solvent encapsulated in microparticles, microparticles produced by spray-drying pineapple peel juice, and particles obtained by milling freeze dried pineapple peel. Bioactive films exhibited higher antioxidant activity (between 0.15 µmol to 0.35 µmol FeSO4.7H2O/g dried film) than the alginate film without these compounds (0.02 µmol FeSO4.7H2O/g dried film). Results showed that control films without active compounds had no significant effect on decreasing the microbial load of aerobic mesophilic and Pseudomonas spp., while the films containing encapsulated hydroalcoholic extract showed a significant inhibitory effect on microbial growth of meat at two days of storage. Alginate films containing peel encapsulated extract were effective for maintaining the color hue and intensity of red beef meat samples. Pineapple peel antioxidants have the potential to retard lipid oxidation in meat samples, and the possibility of incorporation of a higher amount of pineapple peel bioactive compounds in the films should be investigated.

Plant growth regulation by seed coating with films of alginate and auxin-intercalated layered double hydroxides

Auxins are a class of organic substances known as plant-growth regulators, which act on plant physiology, promoting its full development. However, due to the great instability of these substances among the diversity of crops and cultivation environments, it is necessary to seek more efficient modes of application, which lead to a homogeneous distribution and promote a sustained release according to the plants demand. Seed coating, using films containing a biodegradable polymer and auxins intercalated into layered compounds, emerges as a very promising approach to a new form of growth regulator application. Thus, the presented work had three aims: (i) the synthesis and characterization of an organic-inorganic hybrid material containing a layered double hydroxide (LDH) of zinc and aluminum and the synthetic auxin 1-naphthalenoacetic acid (ZnAl-NAA-LDH), (ii) the coating of bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with composite films produced from mixtures of alginate polymer and ZnAl-NAA-LDH, and (iii) the evaluation of the plant response by bioassays. The hybrid ZnAl-NAA-LDH was characterized by a set of analytical techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis coupled to differential scanning calorimetry and mass spectrometry, specific surface area measurement, and scanning electron microscopy. Bioassays were performed with the seeds coated with the composite film to assess the germination rate and germination speed index of the seeds, as well as biometric analyses including measurements of root area, root fresh matter, and shoot length of the plants. The bioassay performed in soil pots showed that the alginate film containing ZnAl-NAA-LDH yields an enhancement regarding root area, fresh root matter and shoot length of plants. Thus, films produced from a mixture of alginate and the hybrid material containing the growth regulator intercalated into LDH can be a viable alternative to enhance plant development, which can be included in seed management.

Edible and Functionalized Films/Coatings—Performances and Perspectives

In recent years, food packaging has evolved from an inert and polluting waste that remains after using the product toward an active item that can be consumed along with the food it contains. Edible films and coatings represent a healthy alternative to classic food packaging. Therefore, a significant number of studies have focused on the development of biodegradable enveloping materials based on biopolymers. Animal and vegetal proteins, starch, and chitosan from different sources have been used to prepare adequate packaging for perishable food. Moreover, these edible layers have the ability to carry different active substances such as essential oils—plant extracts containing polyphenols—which bring them considerable antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. This review presents the latest updates on the use of edible films/coatings with different compositions with a focus on natural compounds from plants, and it also includes an assessment of their mechanical and physicochemical features. The plant compounds are essential in many cases for considerable improvement of the organoleptic qualities of embedded food, since they protect the food from different aggressive pathogens. Moreover, some of these useful compounds can be extracted from waste such as pomace, peels etc., which contributes to the sustainable development of this industry.

The Effects of Edible Coatings on the Postharvest Quality of Citrus Fruits as Affected by Granulation

The world population is growing day-by-day, while the available natural resources for agricultural production, i.e., soil and water, are rapidly decreasing. Moreover, consumer preferences are highly affected by some quality characteristics of food products, which can be classified as external, internal, and hidden attributes. Among the internal quality attributes, granulation is a significant factor damaging the inner quality of citrus fruits and reducing the consumer attraction. The main symptoms of granulation (also known as section drying, crystallization, or scarification) in citrus are shrivelling in juice sacs due to gel formation, hardening, white colour, and low extractable juice content. A well-known result of the granulation is the reduction in soluble solid concentration (SSC), total sugar, and titratable acidity (TA). Granulation is known to affect the citrus fruit quality all over the world. Since citrus is one of the world’s most popular fruit species, it is highly important to identify and manage this physiological problem to help sustainable production throughout the world. Consumer’s preferences have also been moving towards the use of eco- and environmental-friendly alternative methods in postharvest fruit storage, including edible coatings. Edible coatings act as a barrier for the air and water transitions through the surface of fruits which results in retarding the deterioration of fruits, preventing and/or controlling the microbial decay, improving the fruit quality, and hence extending the storage duration. The mechanism of citrus fruit granulation is highly associated with the oxidative stress, and edible coatings have been reported to significantly reduce granulation and improve the quality of the fruits. In line with this information, this review article aimed to summarize the reasons, results, and managements of granulation of citrus fruits.

Modulating Alginate Hydrogels for Improved Biological Performance as Cellular 3D Microenvironments

The rational choice and design of biomaterials for biomedical applications is crucial for successful in vitro and in vivo strategies, ultimately dictating their performance and potential clinical applications. Alginate, a marine-derived polysaccharide obtained from seaweeds, is one of the most widely used polymers in the biomedical field, particularly to build three dimensional (3D) systems for in vitro culture and in vivo delivery of cells. Despite their biocompatibility, alginate hydrogels often require modifications to improve their biological activity, namely via inclusion of mammalian cell-interactive domains and fine-tuning of mechanical properties. These modifications enable the addition of new features for greater versatility and control over alginate-based systems, extending the plethora of applications and procedures where they can be used. Additionally, hybrid systems based on alginate combination with other components can also be explored to improve the mimicry of extracellular microenvironments and their dynamics. This review provides an overview on alginate properties and current clinical applications, along with different strategies that have been reported to improve alginate hydrogels performance as 3D matrices and 4D dynamic systems.

Controlling the Skin Barrier Quality through the Application of Polymeric Films Containing Microspheres with Encapsulated Plant Extract

Human skin has protective functions and it is a barrier that protects the interior of the body from harmful environmental factors and pathogen penetration. An important role of the skin is also to prevent the loss of water from the body and if the skin barrier is damaged, the amount of water emitted from the internal environment is increased. Therefore, it is crucial to recovery and maintenance of epidermal barrier integrity. The aim of the current work was to encapsulate Calendula officinalis flower extract in gelatin microspheres and then incorporation microspheres into thin polymeric films made from sodium alginate or mixture of sodium alginate and starch. Such materials may find applications in the cosmetic field for example in the preparation of masks for skin, according to the Calendula officinalis flower extract wide influence on skin condition. Thus, the release profile of this extract from the materials was tested under conditions corresponding to the skin (pH 5.4, 37 °C). The mechanical properties, surface free energy, and moisture content of obtained films were measured. To determine the barrier quality of the stratum corneum, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin color measurements were performed. The loaded microspheres were successfully incorporated into polymeric films without affecting its useful properties. Although the values of Young’s modulus and the moisture content were decreased after film modification by microspheres addition, the skin parameters were much better after application of films with microspheres. The results confirmed that obtained materials can be potentially used in cosmetics to improve the skin barrier quality.

Alginate-Edible Coatings for Application on Wild Andean Blueberries (Vaccinium meridionale Swartz): Effect of the Addition of Nanofibrils Isolated from Cocoa By-Products

Edible coatings and films are appealing strategies for the postharvest management of blueberries. In the current work, alginate and alginate/cellulose nanofibril (CNF) edible coatings crosslinked with calcium chloride were developed for application on Andean blueberry (a promissory wild blueberry). Cocoa by-products were valorized through the isolation of their CNFs, and these were incorporated in the edible coatings. Edible coating formulations were based on blends of alginate (2% w/v), CNFs (0%, 0.1%, or 0.3%), glycerol, and water. In addition, stand-alone films were prepared, and their light and water vapor barrier properties were studied before applying the coating on the fruit surface. The results show that the addition of CNFs caused a significant decrease in the transparency and the water vapor permeability of the alginate films. After applying on the Andean blueberry fruits, the alginate and alginate/CNF coatings enhanced the appearance and the firmness of the fruits. Moreover, they significantly reduced the respiration rate and the water loss of the Andean blueberries throughout the 21 days of refrigerated storage. Alginate and alginate/CNFs coatings may be considered a useful alternative for the delay of the postharvest deterioration of Andean blueberries.

Biochemical Characterization of a New Oligoalginate Lyase and Its Biotechnological Application in Laminaria japonica Degradation

Oligoalginate lyases catalyze the degradation of alginate polymers and oligomers into monomers, a prerequisite for biotechnological utilizing alginate. In this study, we report the cloning, expression and biochemical characterization of a new polysaccharide lyase (PL) family 17 oligoalginate lyase, OalV17, from the marine bacterium Vibrio sp. SY01. The recombinant OalV17 showed metal ion independent and detergent resistant properties. Furthermore, OalV17 is an exo-type enzyme that yields alginate monomers as the main product and recognizes alginate disaccharides as the minimal substrate. Site-directed mutagenesis followed by kinetic analysis indicates that the residue Arg²³¹ plays a key role in substrate specificity. Furthermore, a rapid and efficient alginate monomer-producing method was developed directly from Laminaria japonica. These results suggest that OalV17 is a potential candidate for saccharification of alginate.

Alginate-based composite materials for wound dressing application:A mini review

Alginate biopolymer has been used in the design and development of several wound dressing materials in order to improve the efficiency of wound healing. Mainly, alginate improves the hydrophilic nature of wound dressing materials in order to create the required moist wound environment, remove wound exudate and increase the speed of skin recovery of the wound. In addition, alginate can easily cross-link with other organic and inorganic materials and they can promote wound healing in clinical applications. This review article addresses the importance of alginates and the roles of derivative polymeric materials in wound dressing biomaterials. Additionally, studies on recent alginate-based wound dressing materials are discussed.

Extraction and Modification of Macroalgal Polysaccharides for Current and Next-Generation Applications

Marine macroalgal (seaweed) polysaccharides are highly promising for next-generation applications in several industries. However, despite the reported comprehensive potential of these polysaccharides, commercial products are scarce on the market. Seaweed cultivations are increasing in number and production quantity, owing to an elevated global trend of utilization interest in seaweed. The extraction of polysaccharides from seaweed generally generates low yields, but novel methods are being developed to facilitate and improve the extraction processes. Current areas of applications for seaweed polysaccharides mainly take advantage of the physicochemical properties of certain polysaccharides, such as gelling, thickening and emulsifying. However, many of the numerous bioactivities reported are still only at research level and lack clinical evidence for commercialization. It has been suggested the construction of smaller units may generate better defined molecules that are more suitable for biomedical applications. Enzymatic modification is a promising tool for the generation of more defined, targeted biomolecules. This review covers; structural differences between the most predominant marine algal polysaccharides, extraction processes, modification alternatives, as well as a summary of current and potential next-generation application areas.

The Use of Edible Films Based on Sodium Alginate in Meat Product Packaging: An Eco-Friendly Alternative to Conventional Plastic Materials

The amount of plastics used globally today exceeds a million tonnes annually, with an alarming annual growth. The final result is that plastic packaging is thrown into the environment, and the problem of waste is increasing every year. A real alternative is the use bio-based polymer packaging materials. Research carried out in the laboratory context and products tested at the industrial level have confirmed the success of replacing plastic-based packaging with new, edible or completely biodegradable foils. Of the polysaccharides used to obtain edible materials, sodium alginate has the ability to form films with certain specific properties: resistance, gloss, flexibility, water solubility, low permeability to O2 and vapors, and tasteless or odorless. Initially used as coatings for perishable or cut fresh fruits and vegetables, these sodium alginate materials can be applied to a wide range of foods, especially in the meat industry. Used to cover meat products, sodium alginate films prevent mass loss and degradation of color and texture. The addition of essential oils prevents microbial contamination with Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes, or Botrytis cinerea. The obtained results promote the substitution of plastic packaging with natural materials based on biopolymers and, implicitly, of sodium alginate, with or without other natural additions. These natural materials have become the packaging of the future.

High performance of alginate/polyvinyl alcohol composite film based on natural original melanin nanoparticles used as food thermal insulating and UV-vis block

Light is a major factor in promoting food aging and deterioration, especially for ultraviolet (UV) light. Herein, bioinspired dopamine-melanin solid nanoparticles with strong absorption at a wide range of 200-2500 nm were first incorporated into alginate/polyvinyl alcohol to fabricate film materials in this work for UV-vis block, and this also brings excellent thermal insulating properties to the materials. In addition, in order to obtain a material with excellent performance, particles of uniform size of about 100 nm are obtained by fractional centrifugation. It was found the mechanical, UV-vis block and thermal insulating properties were improved significantly compared with the control samples. This study provides a strategy to design a non-polluting, biodegradable, biocompatible film with excellent mechanical properties that can be used in UV-vis barriers and has potential applications in thermal insulating materials for food preservation.

Alginate as Promising Natural Polymer for Pharmaceutical, Food, and Biomedical Applications

Alginates are biopolymers usually obtained from brown seaweed, brown algae (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae), and bacteria (Azatobacter vineland and Pseudomonas species) belonging to the family of polycationic copolymers. They are biocompatible, biodegradable, non-antigenic, and non-toxic biopolymer with molecular mass ranges from 32,000-40,000 g/mol in commercial grades. These can be used as edible films or coatings in food industries and also some natural or chemical additives could be incorporated into them to modify their functional, mechanical, nutritional as well as organoleptic properties. Due to their high viscosity and extraordinary shear-thinning effect, they can be used as dietary fibers, thickening, gelling and stabilizing agents. Commercial alginates have vast applications in the fields of biomedical engineering, biotechnology, environmental contaminants treatments, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. Alginates can be used in wound dressings, bone regeneration, neovascularization, protein delivery, cell delivery, theranostic agents, oral drug delivery, controlled release systems, raft formulations, immobilization of biological agents and treatment of environmental contaminants. Various carrier systems can be formulated by the use of alginates like hydrogel, tablets, microcapsules, films, matrices, microspheres, liposomes, nanoparticles, beads, cochleate, floating and supersaturated drug delivery systems. This review presents a broad range of promising applications of alginates, and it can be a great interest to scientists and industries engaged in exploring its hidden potential.

Prospect of Polysaccharide-Based Materials as Advanced Food Packaging

The use of polysaccharide-based materials presents an eco-friendly technological solution, by reducing dependence on fossil resources while reducing a product's carbon footprint, when compared to conventional plastic packaging materials. This review discusses the potential of polysaccharides as a raw material to produce multifunctional materials for food packaging applications. The covered areas include the recent innovations and properties of the polysaccharide-based materials. Emphasis is given to hemicelluloses, marine polysaccharides, and bacterial exopolysaccharides and their potential application in the latest trends of food packaging materials, including edible coatings, intelligent films, and thermo-insulated aerogel packaging.

Vegetable Additives in Food Packaging Polymeric Materials

Plants are the most abundant bioresources, providing valuable materials that can be used as additives in polymeric materials, such as lignocellulosic fibers, nano-cellulose, or lignin, as well as plant extracts containing bioactive phenolic and flavonoid compounds used in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and nutraceutical industries. The incorporation of additives into polymeric materials improves their properties to make them suitable for multiple applications. Efforts are made to incorporate into the raw polymers various natural biobased and biodegradable additives with a low environmental fingerprint, such as by-products, biomass, plant extracts, etc. In this review we will illustrate in the first part recent examples of lignocellulosic materials, lignin, and nano-cellulose as reinforcements or fillers in various polymer matrices and in the second part various applications of plant extracts as active ingredients in food packaging materials based on polysaccharide matrices (chitosan/starch/alginate).

Formulation of alginate based hydrogel from brown seaweed, Turbinaria conoides for biomedical applications

Sodium Alginate (SA) is an excellent carrier in various drug delivery systems. In this study, SA was synthesized from brown seaweed, Turbinaria conoides with a yield of 31.3 ± 0.86%. The analysis of physicochemical properties of extracted alginate (ALG) determined its purity. The structural confirmations of ALG were studied through FTIR, XRD and SEM analysis. Formulation of ALG with collagen (COL) as a wound healing microfilm showed potential anti-inflammatory properties (81.3 ± 1.77%) and sustained drug release. Likewise, the ALG microbead encapsulated with an anticancer drug, Tamoxifen indicated an in vitro sustained release in the range of 62 ± 0.70% - 91 ± 0.56%. The overall swelling behavior of both the hydrogels, microfilm and microbead provides new opportunities for development of natural ALG in this therapeutic era.

Application of Edible and Biodegradable Starch-Based Films in Food Packaging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

In recent years, natural polymers such as starch have been widely considered as alternatives to plastics derived from petroleum derivatives in the production of packaging films. Currently, modified starches with new functional features are available that can be used in the production of the above mentioned films. The aim at this study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of application of edible and biodegradable starch-based films in food packaging. At first all of the studies related to our title by using some keywords (edible and biodegradable starch-based films and food packaging) searched for English databases; Google, Google scholar, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, SCOPUS and ISI web of Science during the 2010 to 2018 was run consisting a predefined inclusion and exclusion factors. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were: papers related to edible and biodegradable starch-based films and food packaging, papers were English, types of papers were original and all the papers were free full text. As a result, related to inclusion and exclusion criteria papers were found and analyses. Data were collected based on study characteristics, edible and biodegradable starch-based films, food packaging. In the initial search, 589 articles were found that after reviewing the titles and abstract articles and removing repetitive and non-related, 33 possible related articles were examined. Of these, 24 articles were omitted from the abstract because of lack of access to the original article and lack of sufficient information. Finally, 13 papers were included in the study. Due to novel research on the application of bio-degradable biofilms in the packaging industry of food, starch is one of the most promising and promising sources. Different needs in the food packaging industry for bio-films have led to the diverse sources of starch being studied, because each source has its own specific characteristics. The properties of films obtained from starch indicated the rigidity and reduced flexibility of the films. To prevent this and the corresponding effects on the film, other polymers can be used as additive compounds. Extending the use of starch structure techniques and the use of this material in combination with other materials to reduce the inherent weaknesses of this natural polymer has led to its further development in various industries, especially packaged industries. Starch is a proper substitute for polymers extracted from oil derivatives. In order to improve the characteristics of the produced films, a high number of compounds can be added to the matrix, and various variations can be applied during the processing. Optimizing conditions will produce transparent, non-odorous, non-flavored, and color-free films with improved mechanical, optical and deterrent features.

Effect of Alginate and Chitosan Edible Coating Enriched with Olive Leaves Extract on the Shelf Life of Sweet Cherries (Prunus avium L.)

Edible film coatings are widely used as a protective barrier for the reduction of transpiration and respiration, therefore reducing the ripening process in fruits and vegetables and improving their quality. The influence of chitosan 1% and alginate 3% enriched with olive leaves extract (OLE) on the quality of sweet cherries was studied. Overall, the ripening process and the increase in anthocyanins were found to be delayed with the use of coating particularly those composed of chitosan in combination with OLE. Ascorbic acid and total phenolic contents were recorded with restricted loss at the end of 20 days of storage in both chitosan- and alginate-coated samples enriched with OLE. Higher values of antioxidant activity expressed as the percentage inhibition of DPPH were reported in correlation with phytochemical content. It could be concluded that chitosan and alginate coating enriched with OLE could be efficient for prolonging the shelf life of sweet cherries.

Characterization of an Alkaline Alginate Lyase with pH-Stable and Thermo-Tolerance Property

Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) show versatile bioactivities. Although various alginate lyases have been characterized, enzymes with special characteristics are still rare. In this study, a polysaccharide lyase family 7 (PL7) alginate lyase-encoding gene, aly08, was cloned from the marine bacterium Vibrio sp. SY01 and expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified alginate lyase Aly08, with a molecular weight of 35 kDa, showed a specific activity of 841 U/mg at its optimal pH (pH 8.35) and temperature (45 °C). Aly08 showed good pH-stability, as it remained more than 80% of its initial activity in a wide pH range (4.0–10.0). Aly08 was also a thermo-tolerant enzyme that recovered 70.8% of its initial activity following heat shock treatment for 5 min. This study also demonstrated that Aly08 is a polyG-preferred enzyme. Furthermore, Aly08 degraded alginates into disaccharides and trisaccharides in an endo-manner. Its thermo-tolerance and pH-stable properties make Aly08 a good candidate for further applications.

Biopolymers for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications: Recent Advances and Overview of Alginate Electrospinning

Innovative solutions using biopolymer-based materials made of several constituents seems to be particularly attractive for packaging in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. In this direction, some progress has been made in extending use of the electrospinning process towards fiber formation based on biopolymers and organic compounds for the preparation of novel packaging materials. Electrospinning can be used to create nanofiber mats characterized by high purity of the material, which can be used to create active and modern biomedical and pharmaceutical packaging. Intelligent medical and biomedical packaging with the use of polymers is a broadly and rapidly growing field of interest for industries and academia. Among various polymers, alginate has found many applications in the food sector, biomedicine, and packaging. For example, in drug delivery systems, a mesh made of nanofibres produced by the electrospinning method is highly desired. Electrospinning for biomedicine is based on the use of biopolymers and natural substances, along with the combination of drugs (such as naproxen, sulfikoxazol) and essential oils with antibacterial properties (such as tocopherol, eugenol). This is a striking method due to the ability of producing nanoscale materials and structures of exceptional quality, allowing the substances to be encapsulated and the drugs/ biologically active substances placed on polymer nanofibers. So, in this article we briefly summarize the recent advances on electrospinning of biopolymers with particular emphasis on usage of Alginate for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.

Bio-Based Polymers with Antimicrobial Properties towards Sustainable Development

This article concisely reviews the most recent contributions to the development of sustainable bio-based polymers with antimicrobial properties. This is because some of the main problems that humanity faces, nowadays and in the future, are climate change and bacterial multi-resistance. Therefore, scientists are trying to provide solutions to these problems. In an attempt to organize these antimicrobial sustainable materials, we have classified them into the main families; i.e., polysaccharides, proteins/polypeptides, polyesters, and polyurethanes. The review then summarizes the most recent antimicrobial aspects of these sustainable materials with antimicrobial performance considering their main potential applications in the biomedical field and in the food industry. Furthermore, their use in other fields, such as water purification and coating technology, is also described. Finally, some concluding remarks will point out the promise of this theme.