Antioxidant chitosan-based biocomposite fabricated from crustacean shell-derived fractions

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Food Science
• Sustainable Packaging

Background:

• Crustacean exoskeletons are rich in chitin, minerals, carotenoids, and proteins, offering natural mechanical and bioactive properties.
• Chitin serves as a precursor to chitosan, providing structural integrity, while lipid fractions offer antioxidant and stabilizing functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a functional biocomposite material from shrimp shell components for packaging applications.
• To evaluate the mechanical, antioxidant, and lipid oxidation delaying properties of the developed biocomposite films.

Main Methods:

• Extraction of chitin and lipidic fractions from shrimp shells.
• Chitosan film casting with incorporated lipidic fraction and glycerol (43% chitosan, 36% lipidic fraction, 21% glycerol).
• Assessment of mechanical properties, antioxidant capacity (DPPH assay), and lipid oxidation inhibition in meat samples (MDA levels).

Main Results:

• The resulting 75 µm thick films demonstrated suitable mechanical properties for packaging.
• The biocomposite films exhibited significant antioxidant capacity, retaining over 60% DPPH radical scavenging activity after 4 weeks.
• Films containing the lipidic fraction reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels by approximately 25% in stored meat after 7 days compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• A sustainable biocomposite film was successfully fabricated from shrimp shell waste.
• The developed film possesses excellent antioxidant properties and effectively inhibits lipid oxidation, showing promise for active food packaging.