Model-Based Active Food Packaging: Materials-Transport Coupling for State-Dependent Mobility Maps, Right-Sized...

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Active food packaging has evolved from static barriers to dynamic systems controlling active compound release.
• Existing reviews often categorize by material or function, lacking an integrated design perspective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce an integrated design framework for programmable active food packaging.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of current advancements and future directions in active packaging technology.

Main Methods:

• The review synthesizes information on programmable mass transfer principles and design levers.
• It analyzes various carrier types, architectures, and active functions (e.g., oxygen scavenging, antimicrobial).
• Emphasis is placed on developing operating-window parameter maps and safety-by-design strategies.

Main Results:

• Programmable mass transfer relies on controlling active loading, carrier affinity, layer properties, and package geometry.
• The framework incorporates state-dependent mobility maps, dosing strategies, and transferability criteria.
• Key considerations include retortability, safety, and circularity within a scale-up roadmap.

Conclusions:

• An integrated design framework enables precise control over active packaging performance.
• Future advancements require mechanistic models, data-driven surrogates, and in-pack sensing for robust, scalable solutions.
• Safety-by-design and recyclability are crucial for next-generation active food packaging.