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. 2019 Sep 29;11(10):1594.
doi: 10.3390/polym11101594.

Safely Dissolvable and Healable Active Packaging Films Based on Alginate and Pectin

Maziyar Makaremi  1 , Hosnieh Yousefi  2 , Giuseppe Cavallaro  3 , Giuseppe Lazzara  4 , Calvin Bok Sun Goh  5 , Sui Mae Lee  6 , Atefeh Solouk  7 , Pooria Pasbakhsh  8
Affiliations

Safely Dissolvable and Healable Active Packaging Films Based on Alginate and Pectin

Maziyar Makaremi et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

Extensive usage of long-lasting petroleum based plastics for short-lived application such as packaging has raised concerns regarding their role in environmental pollution. In this research, we have developed active, healable, and safely dissolvable alginate-pectin based biocomposites that have potential applications in food packaging. The morphological study revealed the rough surface of these biocomposite films. Tensile properties indicated that the fabricated samples have mechanical properties in the range of commercially available packaging films while possessing excellent healing efficiency. Biocomposite films exhibited higher hydrophobicity properties compared to neat alginate films. Thermal analysis indicated that crosslinked biocomposite samples possess higher thermal stability in temperatures below 120 °C, while antibacterial analysis against E. coli and S. aureus revealed the antibacterial properties of the prepared samples against different bacteria. The fabricated biodegradable multi-functional biocomposite films possess various imperative properties, making them ideal for utilization as packaging material.

Keywords: alginate; biocomposites; degradable films; food packaging; pectin.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic diagram explaining preparation of functionalized pectin–alginate films by solution casting method.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Healing process of alginate–pectin (Alg–Pec) based samples.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Potential utilization and disposal of Alg–Pec based films.
Figure 4
Figure 4
FE-SEM micrographs of (A) crosslinked alginate, (B) pectin, (C) Alg–Pec, and (D) Alg–Pec–AA–LA biocomposite films.
Figure 5
Figure 5
FT-IR spectra of crosslinked (a) alginate, (b) pectin, (c) Alg–Pec, and (d) Alg–Pec–AA–LA films.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Water contact angle evaluation of alginate–pectin based films over time.
Figure 7
Figure 7
FE-SEM micrographs of healed Alg–Pec films. Arrows are pointing at healed regions and boundaries.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Repeated healing of alginate and alginate–pectin based biocomposites.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Features and functions of safely healable packaging materials.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curves of alginate, pectin, and their biocomposites before and after crosslinking.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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