Chitosan based nanocomposite films and coatings: Emerging antimicrobial food packaging alternatives

Publication date: Available online 9 January 2020Source: Trends in Food Science & TechnologyAuthor(s): Santosh Kumar, Avik Mukherjee, Joydeep DuttaAbstractBackgroundDemand for healthy and safe food with minimal use of synthetic inputs (including synthetic preservatives) is increasing rapidly. Plastic polymers being hazardous to the environment, significant efforts have been devoted to evaluate various bio-based polymers as alternatives to synthetic plastic packaging. Chitin and its deacetylated derivative, chitosan, is primarily a by-product of crustacean, fish and seafood processing and handling. Chitosan possesses antimicrobial activities and film forming property, making them attractive biopolymers for food packaging and food preservation applications applied through spraying, dipping, coating, or wrapping by films.Scope and approachThis comprehensive review of contemporary research focuses on applications of chitosan and chitosan based nanocomposites in the area of food packaging and preservation. It includes different properties and functionalities of chitosan, various blends and nanocomposites of chitosan, their fabrication techniques, and applications in shelf life extension of fruits, vegetables, meat and fish products.Key findings and conclusionsChitosan is an attractive alternative to synthetic plastics polymers due to its biodegradability, antimicrobial activity, and film forming properties. Incorporation of nanomaterials into chitosan based food-packaging systems ...

Source: Trends in Food Science and Technology - January 10, 2020 Category: Food Science Source Type: research