Asgher Muhammad, Qamar Sarmad Ahmad, Bilal Muhammad, Iqbal Hafiz M N
Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Food Res Int. 2020 Nov;137:109625. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109625. Epub 2020 Aug 14.
In food industry, a growing concern is the use of suitable packaging material (i.e., biodegradable coatings and films) with enhanced thermal, mechanical and barrier characteristics to prevent from contamination and loss of foodstuff. Biobased polymer resources can be used for the development of biodegradable bioplastics. To achieve this goal, biopolymers should be economic, renewable and abundantly available. Bioplastic packaging materials based on renewable biomass could be used as sustainable alternative to petrochemically-originated plastic materials. This review summarizes the recent advancements in biopolymer-based coatings and films for active food packaging applications. Microbial polymers (PHA and PLA), wood-based polymers (cellulose, hemicellulose, starch & lignin), and protein-based polymers (gelatin, keratin, wheat gluten, soy protein and whey protein isolates) were among the materials most widely exploited for the development of smart packaging films. These biopolymers are able to synthesize coatings and films with good barrier properties against food borne pathogens and the transport of gases. Biobased reinforcements e.g., plant essential oils and natural additives to bioplastic films improve oxygen barrier, antibacterial and antifungal properties. To induce the desired functionality the simultaneous utilization of different synthetic and biobased polymers in the form of composites/blends is also an emerging area of research. Nanoscale reinforcements into bioplastic packaging have also been reported to improve packaging characteristics ultimately increasing food shelf life. The development of bioplastic/biocomposite and nanobiocomposites exhibits high potential to replace nonbiodegradable materials with characteristics comparable to fossil-based plastics, additionally, giving biodegradable and compostable characteristics. The idea of utilization of renewable biomass and the implications of biotechnology can firstly reduce the burden from fossil-resources, while secondly promoting biobased economy.
在食品工业中，人们越来越关注使用具有增强的热、机械和阻隔特性的合适包装材料（即可生物降解涂层和薄膜），以防止食品受到污染和损失。生物基聚合物资源可用于开发可生物降解的生物塑料。为实现这一目标，生物聚合物应经济、可再生且大量可得。基于可再生生物质的生物塑料包装材料可用作石化来源塑料材料的可持续替代品。本综述总结了用于活性食品包装应用的基于生物聚合物的涂层和薄膜的最新进展。微生物聚合物（PHA和PLA）、木质基聚合物（纤维素、半纤维素、淀粉和木质素）以及蛋白质基聚合物（明胶、角蛋白、小麦面筋、大豆蛋白和乳清蛋白分离物）是最广泛用于开发智能包装薄膜的材料。这些生物聚合物能够合成对食源性病原体和气体传输具有良好阻隔性能的涂层和薄膜。生物基增强剂，如植物精油和生物塑料薄膜的天然添加剂，可改善氧气阻隔性、抗菌和抗真菌性能。为了诱导所需的功能，以复合材料/共混物形式同时使用不同的合成和生物基聚合物也是一个新兴的研究领域。据报道，在生物塑料包装中加入纳米级增强剂也可改善包装特性，最终延长食品保质期。生物塑料/生物复合材料和纳米生物复合材料的开发具有很高的潜力，可替代具有与化石基塑料相当特性的不可生物降解材料，此外，还具有可生物降解和可堆肥的特性。利用可再生生物质的想法和生物技术的影响，一方面可以减轻化石资源的负担，另一方面可以促进生物基经济。
