Cellulose based microcapsules with binary phase change core for dual-functional thermal buffering and responsive...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Food Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Frozen foods require uninterrupted cold chains to maintain quality and prevent contamination.
• Current packaging solutions lack active protection against temperature fluctuations and microbial growth during cold chain interruptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multifunctional smart packaging film (CCMP) with integrated thermal management and antimicrobial properties.
• To engineer cellulose-based microcapsules (CA@CM) for co-encapsulating phase-change material (PCM) and cinnamaldehyde (CA).

Main Methods:

• Interfacial polymerization was used to create cellulose-based microcapsules (CA@CM).
• The microcapsules were designed to encapsulate both a phase-change material (PCM) core and cinnamaldehyde (CA).
• The developed CCMP films were tested for thermal stability, mechanical properties, antimicrobial activity, and performance in simulated cold chain interruption assays.

Main Results:

• The CCMP films exhibited thermal stability, mechanical robustness, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against tested food-spoilage microorganisms.
• The composite films demonstrated significant latent heat absorption capacity (85.37 J/g) and low thermal conductivity (1.07 W/mK).
• Simulated assays showed CCMP films delayed ice cream melting by 30 min during temperature excursions, maintaining structural integrity.

Conclusions:

• The developed CCMP smart packaging offers active thermal buffering and on-demand antimicrobial release, enhancing food safety during cold chain disruptions.
• This smart film technology shows promise for improving the quality and shelf-life of frozen foods.
• The integration of PCM and natural antimicrobials in a cellulose-based matrix represents an innovative approach to food packaging.