Antibacterial and Biodegradable Polysaccharide-Based Films for Food Packaging Applications: Comparative Study

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Materials Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• The food industry requires cost-effective, biodegradable packaging with excellent physicochemical properties for diverse applications.
• Current biodegradable options like polylactic acid (PLA) have limitations in barrier and antimicrobial performance.
• Developing novel biodegradable films is crucial for sustainable food packaging solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize biodegradable films from common polysaccharides (starch, chitosan, alginate) for food packaging.
• To enhance the properties of these films through chemical modifications and blending.
• To incorporate natural antimicrobial agents for improved food preservation.

Main Methods:

• Solution-casting of films using starch, chitosan, and alginate.
• Modification of biopolymers with glycerol, oxidized sucrose, and calcium chloride.
• Formation of starch/chitosan and starch/alginate blends.
• Incorporation of a chestnut extract for antimicrobial activity.
• Evaluation of physicochemical properties, including hydrophilicity and barrier to gases (oxygen, carbon dioxide).
• Assessment of antimicrobial efficacy against bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and yeast (Candida albicans).

Main Results:

• All modified films exhibited reduced hydrophilicity, enhancing their suitability for food packaging.
• The fabricated films demonstrated superior barrier properties to oxygen and carbon dioxide compared to polylactic acid.
• The films incorporated with chestnut extract displayed significant antimicrobial activity against tested Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and yeast.
• Blending and modification strategies effectively tailored the film properties for specific packaging needs.

Conclusions:

• Modified starch, chitosan, and alginate films, with or without chestnut extract, offer promising low-cost, biodegradable alternatives for food packaging.
• These films provide enhanced barrier and antimicrobial functionalities, potentially extending food shelf life and reducing spoilage.
• The study highlights the potential of polysaccharide-based materials and natural extracts in developing advanced, sustainable food packaging solutions.