Recent advances in gellan gum-based films and its application in sustainable food packaging: a review

The significance of food packaging in facilitating food preservation and storage cannot be overstated. However, the prevalent use of petroleum-based plastic packaging has raised environmental concerns, necessitating the exploration of alternative biopolymer materials. Among these alternatives, polysaccharides stand out, including gellan gum. Gellan gum finds extensive application across various sectors, significantly, gellan gum exhibits potential as a material for food packaging. However, the mechanical and barrier properties of pure gellan gum films still have defects. These attributes can be improved through the incorporation of various components, including other polysaccharides, proteins, plant extracts, and nanoparticles. This study offers a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the preparation and utilization of gellan gum-based materials for food packaging, focusing particularly on the characterization of diverse composite films containing gellan gum. Furthermore, the review outlines practical applications of cemented-cryogel-based composite films and edible coatings in enhancing food preservation.