Active Packaging Films Made by Complex Coacervation of Tragacanth Gum and Gelatin Loaded with Curcumin; Characterization and Antioxidant Activity

Next-Generation Edible Packaging: Development of Water-Soluble, Oil-Resistant, and Antioxidant-Loaded Pouches for Use in Noodle Sauces

The development of sustainable biodegradable packaging materials is essential for enhancing food quality and shelf life while reducing plastic waste. This study explored polymer-based monolayer, composite, and bilayer films to produce water-soluble, oil-proof pouches. Single-serving seasoning oil pouches were prepared from bilayer films with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the inner and sodium alginate (SA) as the outer layer. The PVA/SA films exhibited excellent UV protection, low oil permeability (0.18 × 10-6 g·mm/mm2·day), hydrophilic surface (water contact angle < 90°), and rapid solubility in hot water (87 ± 2 °C). Incorporating curcumin, a natural antioxidant, into PVA/SA films (Cur-PVA/SA) improved thermal stability, reduced light transmittance, and decreased water vapor permeability (0.28 × 10-10 g/m·Pa·s). Curcumin release followed a biphasic diffusion model, with 94.8% released at 96 h (diffusion coefficient: 1.30 × 10-11 m2/s), ensuring prolonged antioxidant activity. The Cur-PVA/SA pouches delayed lipid oxidation more effectively, with peroxide values of 6.48 and 10.35 meq/kg after 45 days at 35 °C, respectively. The Q10 model, which is commonly used to predict the shelf life of oils based on temperature-dependent oxidation rates, estimated that the oil packaged in Cur-PVA/SA pouches would remain stable for 12 months at 23 °C. This represents a 37% longer shelf life compared to oil packaged in PVA/SA pouches without curcumin. Cur-PVA/SA pouches also reduced noodle moisture migration, limiting weight loss to 2.73% over 14 days compared to 5.80% in controls. These findings highlight their potential as eco-friendly active packaging solutions.

Development of ultrasonic-assisted gelatin-based biodegradable packaging film incorporated with turmeric extract for the shelf-life extension of chicken minced meat

This study aims to develop the gelatin-based packaging film incorporated with turmeric extract to enhance the shelf life of a minced chicken. The films were subjected to functional, morphological and physicochemical characterization. The results showed that ethanolic extract of turmeric has a higher amount of turmerone and ar-turmerone along with some other bioactive compounds. The antioxidant activity of turmeric extract (TE) was (TPC 15 ± 0.9 mg GAE/g, DPPH 87 ± 7.5 %, FRAP 4.8 ± 0.05 mmol Trolox eq/100 g, ABTS 714.48 ± 22 %). FTIR spectra showed slight changes in their amide regions with the addition of TE. XRD indicated that characteristic peak 2θ ≈ 13° in the control film and T1 while it disappeared in T2. SEM micrographs showed that the control film and T1 have uniformity, while T2 showed some irregularities. UV transmission was decreased with the addition of TE in the films as compared to control films. The physical tests of the films showed that film solubility (16 ± 2.1-26 ± 3), moisture content (10 ± 1-16.1 ± 2.2), tensile strength (8.1 ± 1.3-8.8 ± 0.9) and WVP (8.4 ± 1.5-10 ± 1.7) decreased by increasing the concentration of turmeric extract while thickness (0.038 ± 0.002-0.045 ± 0.003) and EAB (68 ± 7-71.9 ± 8) increased. Meanwhile, the films effectively inhibited the lipid oxidation and growth of microbes to extend the shelf-life of meat.

Advances in the use of nanotechnology for treating gout

Gout is a commonly occurring form of inflammatory arthritis caused by persistently elevated levels of uric acid. Its incidence rate rises with the increases of living standards and poor dietary habits, which has a considerable impact on the quality of life of the patients. Although there is a wide assortment of drugs available for the management of gout, the effectiveness and security of these drugs are limited by their poor chemical stability and insufficient targeting. Therefore, development of effective nanomedicine systems to overcome these problems and treat gout becomes a high priority. This review provides a detailed introduction research progress on developing advanced nanomedicines using polymers, hydrogel, nanocapsules, lipids, bionic vesicles, inorganic artificial organelles and electronically controlled conveyor systems carriers to improve gout therapy.

Vitamin D3 capsulation using maillard reaction complex of sodium caseinate and tragacanth gum

The encapsulation of vitamin D3 (VitD3) using the Maillard reaction complex of sodium caseinate-tragacanth gum (TG) to the production of water-soluble vitamins were studied. Spray drying was used to prepare the complex. Its physicochemical properties, stability, and release characteristics were evaluated. The results showed that containing sodium caseinate- Tragacanth gum (TG) 1 % (w/v) and VitD3 1 % (w/v) had the highest encapsulation efficiency (71 %). The resulting microcapsules showed suitable particle size, strong negative zeta potential, and good stability with spherical morphology. Thermal and spectroscopic analyses showed proper interaction between wall and core components. In vitro, release and simulated digestion studies demonstrated the ability of microcapsules to protect VitD3 under gastric conditions and provide controlled release in the intestine. This encapsulation system shows potential for enriching food with VitD3 and increasing its stability and bioavailability.

Antibacterial gelatin/tragacanth gum films containing galbanum essential oil for in vitro scratch-healing

Natural substances and bioactive agents possess great potential in wound care based on their ability to promote healing and prevent infection. This study focused on the fabrication of antibacterial wound dressings by combining gelatin (G), tragacanth gum (TG), and galbanum essential oil (GEO) as a loaded drug. TG addition resulted in more elastic and flexible films besides enabling encapsulation of the hydrophobic GEO into the biopolymeric matrix. GEO was utilized as an antibacterial and a wound-healing enhancer for open wounds such as incisions. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis revealed a porous film structure after GEO incorporation. Higher GEO concentration caused reduced swelling and slower degradation. Water vapor transfer rate varied from 596 to 894 g/m2.day, making the films suitable for wound dressings. GEO release exhibited a two-phase profile with prolonged diffusion-controlled release for a higher content of GEO. The films demonstrated dose-dependent antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and E. coli strains. Effectiveness and noteworthy application of this research were approved by scratch assay on human dermal fibroblast cells, and films with 3 % GEO showed 79.42 % wound closure, which is significantly higher than the control sample (55.15 %), indicating promoted cell migration and promising wound healing properties.

Chondroitin sulfate-modified tragacanth gum-gelatin composite nanocapsules loaded with curcumin nanocrystals for the treatment of arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease of yet undetermined etiology that is accompanied by significant oxidative stress, inflammatory responses,  and damage to joint tissues. In this study, we designed chondroitin sulfate (CS)-modified tragacanth gum-gelatin composite nanocapsules (CS-Cur-TGNCs) loaded with curcumin nanocrystals (Cur-NCs), which rely on the ability of CS to target CD44 to accumulate drugs in inflamed joints. Cur was encapsulated in the form of nanocrystals into tragacanth gum-gelatin composite nanocapsules (TGNCs) by using an inborn microcrystallization method, which produced CS-Cur-TGNCs with a particle size of approximately 80 ± 11.54 nm and a drug loading capacity of 54.18 ± 5.17%. In an in vitro drug release assay, CS-Cur-TGNCs showed MMP-2-responsive properties. During the treatment of RA, CS-Cur-TGNCs significantly inhibited oxidative stress, promoted the polarization of M2-type macrophages to M1-type macrophages, and decreased the expression of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6). In addition, it also exerted excellent anti-inflammatory effects, and significantly alleviated the swelling of joints during the treatment of gouty arthritis (GA). Therefore, CS-Cur-TGNCs, as a novel drug delivery system, could lead to new ideas for clinical therapeutic regimens for RA and GA.

Investigating the effects of chitosan/ tragacanth gum/ polyvinyl alcohol composite coating incorporated with cinnamon essential oil nanoemulsion on safety and quality features of chicken breast fillets during storage in the refrigerator

The present study investigated the effects of composite coatings made of chitosan (CS), tragacanth gum (TG), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) containing cinnamon essential oil (CEO) on the shelf-life of refrigerated chicken breast fillets. The samples were treated with different coating dispersions, and coded as: T1 (distilled water as control), T2 (blank composite coating), and T3 (composite coating containing CEO). Results showed that incorporating CEO into CS/TG/PVA coatings could significantly increase the quality of chicken fillets. The obtained results showed that after 21 days, the total microbial population of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), psychrotrophic and mesophilic bacteria in T3 samples was less than T1 and T2 samples. In addition, the highest antioxidant activity (48.04 %) and total phenolic content (TPC) values (2.458 mg gallic acid /g), the best sensory characteristics and the lowest pH (5.73), total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) (21.89 mg N/100 g), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) (1.678 mg malondialdehyde equivalent/kg) and percentage of cooking loss (30 %) were related to T3. Results disclosed that this composite coating is a promising technology to improve the shelf life of chicken fillets during storage.

Fabrication, characterization and antimicrobial activity of chitosan/tragacanth gum/polyvinyl alcohol composite films incorporated with cinnamon essential oil nanoemulsion

The aim of this investigation was to prepare and characterize active composite films made of chitosan (CS), tragacanth gum (TG), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and loaded with different concentrations of cinnamon essential oil (CEO) nanoemulsion (CEO, 2 and 4 % v/v). For this purpose, the amount of CS was fixed and the ratio of TG to PVA (90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40) was considered variable. The physical (thickness and opacity), mechanical, antibacterial and water-resistance properties of the composite films were evaluated. According to the microbial tests, the optimal sample was determined and evaluated with several analytical instruments. CEO loading increased the thickness and EAB of composite films, while decreasing light transmission, tensile strength, and water vapor permeability. All the films containing CEO nanoemulsion had antimicrobial properties, but this activity was higher against Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) than Gram-negative types (Escherichia coli (O157:H7) and Salmonella typhimurium). According to the results of attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), the interaction between the components of the composite film was confirmed. It can be concluded that the CEO nanoemulsion can be incorporated in CS/TG/PVA composite films and successfully used as active and environmentally friendly packaging.