Chitosan Based Biodegradable Composite for Antibacterial Food Packaging Application

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Food Science

Background:

• Growing environmental concerns drive demand for biodegradable packaging alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.
• Chitosan, a biopolymer, offers biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antimicrobial properties, making it promising for food packaging applications.
• Standard chitosan films require enhancement for active packaging functionalities to improve food preservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review chitosan composites for active food packaging applications.
• To summarize the use of active compounds like essential oils and phenolic compounds integrated with chitosan.
• To explore composites of chitosan with polysaccharides and nanoparticles for enhanced food packaging.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific publications on chitosan-based composites for active packaging.
• Analysis of studies detailing the incorporation of active compounds (essential oils, phenolics) into chitosan matrices.
• Examination of research on chitosan composites with polysaccharides and nanoparticles for food preservation.

Main Results:

• Chitosan composites demonstrate significant potential for active food packaging by improving storage conditions.
• Incorporation of essential oils, phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, and nanoparticles enhances the functional properties of chitosan films.
• These composites effectively inhibit microbial growth, extending the shelf life of packaged food products.

Conclusions:

• Chitosan composites are effective in developing advanced biodegradable food packaging with active properties.
• The selection of appropriate composite materials is crucial for optimizing shelf life and functional qualities.
• This review provides insights for developing novel biodegradable food packaging solutions using chitosan-based materials.