Improta Ilaria, Stanzione Mariamelia, Orlo Elena, Tescione Fabiana, Lavorgna Marino, Coqueret Xavier, Buonocore Giovanna G
Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials-CNR, P.le E. Fermi 1, 80055 Portici, Italy.
Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
Polymers (Basel). 2025 Jul 15;17(14):1939. doi: 10.3390/polym17141939.
This study investigates the combined use of electron beam irradiation (EBI) and nanotechnology to develop improved food packaging films. EBI, commonly applied for sterilization, can alter polymer microstructure, while irradiated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) offer enhanced functionality when incorporated into biopolymer matrices. Here, CNCs were irradiated with doses up to 50 kGy, leading to the formation of carboxyl and aldehyde groups, confirmed by FTIR analysis, as a consequence of the initial formation of free radicals and peroxides that may subsist in that original form or be converted into various carbonyl groups. Flexible films were obtained by incorporating pristine and EB-irradiated CNCs in an internal mixer, using minute amounts of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) to facilitate the dispersion of the filler within the polymer matrix. The resulting PLA/PEO/CNC films were evaluated for their mechanical, thermal, barrier, and antioxidant properties. The results showed that structural modifications of CNCs led to significant enhancements in the performance of the composite films, including a 30% improvement in water barrier properties and a 50% increase in antioxidant activity. These findings underscore the potential of irradiated CNCs as effective additives in biopolymer-based active packaging, offering a sustainable approach to reduce dependence on synthetic preservatives and potentially extend the shelf life of food products.
本研究探讨了电子束辐照（EBI）与纳米技术的联合应用，以开发性能更优的食品包装薄膜。EBI通常用于杀菌，可改变聚合物微观结构，而辐照纤维素纳米晶体（CNC）在掺入生物聚合物基质时具有增强的功能。在此，对CNC进行了高达50 kGy的辐照，FTIR分析证实，由于自由基和过氧化物的初始形成，导致羧基和醛基的形成，这些自由基和过氧化物可能以原始形式存在或转化为各种羰基。通过在内部混合器中加入原始的和经电子束辐照的CNC，并使用微量的聚环氧乙烷（PEO）促进填料在聚合物基质中的分散，获得了柔性薄膜。对所得的聚乳酸/聚环氧乙烷/纤维素纳米晶体薄膜的机械、热、阻隔和抗氧化性能进行了评估。结果表明，纤维素纳米晶体的结构改性导致复合薄膜的性能显著提高，包括阻水性能提高30%，抗氧化活性提高50%。这些发现强调了辐照纤维素纳米晶体作为生物聚合物基活性包装中有效添加剂的潜力，为减少对合成防腐剂的依赖并潜在延长食品保质期提供了一种可持续的方法。
