Molecularly imprinted hydrogels as functional active packaging materials.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Food Science
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Lipid oxidation is a major cause of food spoilage, affecting the quality and shelf life of products like butter.
• Natural antioxidants, such as ferulic acid (FA), show promise in preventing oxidation but require effective delivery systems.
• Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) offer a highly specific molecular recognition capability for targeted applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel molecularly imprinted hydrogels (MIHs) for the selective capture and controlled release of ferulic acid (FA).
• To evaluate the efficacy of FA-loaded MIHs as active packaging materials to prevent lipid oxidation in butter.
• To investigate the impact of different functional monomers on the performance of MIHs.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of MIHs using a ferulic acid surrogate (HFA) as a template, EDMA as a cross-linker, and various functional monomers (1-ALPP/HEMA or DMAEMA/HEMA).
• Evaluation of FA loading capacity and imprinting efficiency of the synthesized MIHs.
• Application of FA-loaded MIHs as active packaging for butter during cold storage, monitoring lipid oxidation via TBARs values.

Main Results:

• DMAEMA/HEMA-based MIHs demonstrated superior FA loading capacity.
• 1-ALLP/HEMA-based MIHs exhibited a higher imprinting effect.
• FA-loaded MIHs significantly reduced butter oxidation, with TBARs values approximately halved compared to unprotected butter and 25% lower than control hydrogels.

Conclusions:

• The developed MIHs are effective in loading and releasing ferulic acid, acting as potent antioxidants.
• MIHs serve as promising active packaging materials, significantly inhibiting lipid oxidation in butter and potentially extending its shelf life.
• Molecularly imprinted hydrogels represent a novel and valuable tool for the food industry, particularly in active packaging applications.