Curcumin- and quercetin-functionalized polypropylene membranes as active food packaging material

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Food Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Active agents like polyphenols are explored for antimicrobial food packaging.
• Curcumin and Quercetin offer potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Polypropylene (PP) is a cost-effective polymer ideal for packaging applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize new active food packaging materials by combining polypropylene with curcumin (Cur) or quercetin (Quer).
• To evaluate the antibacterial, reactive oxygen species generation, and anticancer activities of the developed composite membranes.

Main Methods:

• Chemical characterization using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
• Surface morphology analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
• Antibacterial assays against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
• Anticancer activity evaluation using HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of polypropylene-curcumin (PP-Cur) and polypropylene-quercetin (PP-Quer) composite membranes.
• Demonstrated antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
• Observed reactive oxygen species generation and anticancer effects of the composite membranes.

Conclusions:

• PP-Cur and PP-Quer composite membranes show potential as active packaging materials for the food industry.
• These materials offer a cost-effective solution with beneficial biological activities.
• Further research could lead to advanced smart and active food packaging solutions.