Multifunctional food packaging materials: Lactoferrin loaded Cr-MOF in films-based gelatin/κ-carrageenan for food packaging applications

Plant gums in Pickering emulsions: A review of sources, properties, applications, and future perspectives

Recently, there has been an increasing research interest in the development of Pickering emulsions stabilized with naturally derived biopolymeric particles. In this regard, plant gums, obtained as plant exudates or from plant seeds, are considered promising candidates for the development of non-toxic, biocompatible, biodegradable and eco-friendly Pickering stabilizers. The main objective of this review article is to provide a detailed overview and assess the latest advances in the formulation of Pickering emulsions stabilized with plant gum-based particles. The plant gum sources, types and properties are outlined. Besides, the current methodologies used in the production of plant gum particles formed solely of plant gums, or through interactions of plant gums with proteins or other polysaccharides are highlighted and discussed. Furthermore, the work compiles and assesses the innovative applications of plant gum-based Pickering emulsions in areas such as encapsulation and delivery of drugs and active agents, along with the utilization of these Pickering emulsions in the development of active packaging films, plant-based products and low-fat food formulations. The last part of the review presents potential future research trends that are expected to motivate and direct research to areas related to other novel food applications, as well as tissue engineering and environmental applications.

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs): Advanced nanostructured materials to enhance the functional performance of food packaging materials

Zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF) materials are a class of metallic organic framework (MOF) materials that have several potential applications in the food and other industries. They consist of metal ions or clusters of metal ions coordinated with imidazole-based organic linkers, creating a three-dimensional solid structure with well-defined pores and channels. ZIFs possess several important features, including high porosity, tunable pore sizes, high surface areas, adjustable surface chemistries, and good stabilities. These characteristics make them highly versatile materials that can be used in a variety of applications, including smart and active food packaging. Based on their controllable compositions, dimensions, and pore sizes, the properties of ZIFs can be tailored for a diverse range of applications, including energy storage, sensing, separation, encapsulation, and catalysis. In this article, we focus on recent progress and potential applications of ZIFs in food packaging materials. Previous studies have shown that ZIFs can significantly improve the optical, mechanical, barrier, thermal, sustainability, and preservative properties of packaging materials. Moreover, ZIFs can be used as carriers to encapsulate, protect, and control the release of bioactive agents in packaging materials. ZIFs are capable of selectively adsorbing and releasing molecules based on their size, shape, and surface properties. These unique characteristics make them particularly suitable for smart or active food packaging applications. By selectively removing gases (such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, or ethylene) ZIFs can improve the shelf life and quality of packaged foods. In addition, they can be employed to control the growth of spoilage microorganisms and minimize oxidation reactions, thereby enhancing the freshness and extending the shelf life of foods. They may also be used to create sensors capable of detecting and indicating food spoilage. For instance, ZIFs that change color or release specific compounds when spoilage products are present can provide visual or chemical indications of food deterioration. This feature is especially valuable in ensuring the safety and quality of packaged food, as it enables consumers and retailers to easily identify spoiled products. ZIFs can be functionalized using various additives, including antioxidants, antimicrobials, pigments, and flavors, which can improve the preservative and sensory properties of packaged foods. Moreover, ZIF-based packaging materials offer sustainability benefits. Unlike traditional plastic packaging, ZIFs are biodegradable and can easily be disposed of without causing harm to the environment, thereby reducing the adverse effects of plastic waste materials. The application of ZIFs in smart/active food packaging offers exciting possibilities for enhancing the shelf life, quality, and safety of foods. With further research and development, ZIF-based packaging could become a sustainable alternative to plastic-based packaging in the food industry. An important aim of this review article is to stimulate further research on the development and application of ZIFs within food packaging materials.

Engineering pineapple peel cellulose nanofibrils with oxidase-mimic functionalities for antibacterial and fruit preservation

In this study, an antibacterial material (CNF@CoMn-NS) with oxidase-like activity was created using ultrathin cobalt‑manganese nanosheets (CoMn-NS) with a larger specific surface area grown onto pineapple peel cellulose nanofibrils (CNF). The results showed that the CoMn-NS grew well on the CNF, and the obtained CNF@CoMn-NS exhibited good oxidase-like activity. The imidazole salt framework of the CNF@CoMn-NS contained cobalt and manganese in multiple oxidation states, enabling an active redox cycle and generating active oxygen species (ROS) such as singlet molecular oxygen atoms (1O2) and superoxide radical (·O2-), resulting in the significant inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus (74.14%) and Escherichia coli (54.87%). Importantly, the CNF@CoMn-NS did not exhibit cytotoxicity. The CNF@CoMn-NS further self-assembled into a CNF@CoMn-NS paper with flexibility, stability, and antibacterial properties, which can effectively protect the wound of two varieties of pears from decay caused by microorganisms. This study demonstrated the potential of using renewable and degradable CNF as substrate combined with artificial enzymes as a promising approach to creating antibacterial materials for food preservation and even extending to textiles and biomedical applications.

Monitor the freshness of shrimp by smart halochromic films based on gelatin/pectin loaded with pistachio peel anthocyanin nanoemulsion

This paper focuses on the combination of gelatin (Gel), pectin (Pec), and Pistachio peel anthocyanins (PSAs) to develop a halochromic film for food applications (shrimp). The results of spectroscopic properties showed that the film components had proper interaction and compatibility. Furthermore, the addition of PSAs and Pec improved the thermal stability of films. The addition of Pec and PSAs significantly improved the physical properties and mechanical resistance of the films. So that, the permeability to water vapor and oxygen reduced from 2.81 to 2.74 (g‧s-1‧Pa-1‧m-1) and 5.25 to 4.70 (meq/kgO2), respectively. In addition, the strength and flexibility of halochromic film reached 0.7 MPa and 56 % compared to Gel film (0.62 MPa, and 46.96 %). Most importantly, the color changes of the smart film from cherry/pink to yellow/brown, which were proportional to the color changes of the anthocyanin solution at different pHs, were able to monitor the shrimp freshness and spoilage at room (20 °C) and refrigerated (4 °C) temperature for 14 days.

Research progress on antibacterial applications of metal-organic frameworks and their biomacromolecule composites

With the extensive use of antibiotics, resulting in increasingly serious problems of bacterial resistance, antimicrobial therapy has become a global concern. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are low-density porous coordination materials composed of metal ions and organic ligands, which can form composite materials with biomacromolecules such as proteins and polysaccharides. In recent years, MOFs and their derivatives have been widely used in the antibacterial field as efficient antibacterial agents. This review offers a detailed summary of the antibacterial applications of MOFs and their composites, and the different synthesis methods and antibacterial mechanisms of MOFs and MOF-based composites are briefly introduced. Finally, the challenges and prospects of MOFs-based antibacterial materials in the rapidly developing medical field were briefly discussed. We hope this review will provide new strategies for the medical application of MOFs-based antibacterial materials.

Methylcellulose/chitosan nanofiber-based composites doped with lactoferrin-loaded Ag-MOF nanoparticles for the preservation of fresh apple

Increasing demand for high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables has led to the development of innovative active packaging materials that exhibit controlled release of antimicrobial/antioxidant agents. In this study, composite biopolymer films consisting of methylcellulose (MC) and chitosan nanofibers (ChNF) were fabricated, which contained lactoferrin (LAC)-loaded silver-metal organic framework (Ag-MOF) nanoparticles. The results indicated that the nanoparticles were uniformly distributed throughout the biopolymer films, which led to improvements in tensile strength (56.1 ± 3.2 MPa), thermal stability, water solubility, swelling index, water vapor barrier properties (from 2.2 ± 2.1 to 1.9 ± 1.9 × 10-11 g. m/m2. s. Pa), and UV-shielding effects. The Ag-MOF-LAC2% films also exhibited strong and long-lasting antibacterial activity against E. coli (19.8 ± 5.2 mm) and S. aureus (20.1 ± 3.2 mm), which was attributed to the slow release of antimicrobial LAC from the films. The composite films were shown to maintain the fresh appearance of apples for at least seven days, which was attributed to their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Consequently, these composite films have the potential in the assembly of innovative active packaging materials for protecting fresh fruits and vegetables. However, further work is required to ensure their safety and economic viability.

ZIF-8 encapsulation improves the antifungal activity of benzaldehyde and methyl anthranilate in films

In this work, two ZIF-8-based biocomposites were obtained by entrapping the biomolecules benzaldehyde and methyl anthranilate via direct impregnation with fast encapsulation kinetics and high molecule payloads were achieved. The obtained biocomposites exhibit an enhanced antifungal activity against Penicilium expansum after integration in biopolymeric zein films in comparison with the action of free molecules, making these biomaterials promising candidates for food preservation and packaging applications.