Conventional vs. Innovative Protocols for the Extraction of Polysaccharides from Macroalgae

The Potential of Edible Films, Sheets, and Coatings Based on Fruits and Vegetables in the Context of Sustainable Food Packaging Development

Several consumable substances, including fruit and vegetable purees, extracts, juices, and plant residue, were analyzed for their matrix-forming potential. These matrices serve as the basis for the production of edible films, sheets, and coatings that can be eaten as nutritional treats or applied to food products, thereby contributing to their overall good quality. Furthermore, this innovative approach also contributes to optimizing the performance of synthetic packaging, ultimately reducing reliance on synthetic polymers in various applications. This article explores the viability of incorporating fruits and vegetables as basic ingredients within edible films, sheets, and coatings. The utilization of fruits and vegetables in this manner becomes achievable due to the existence of polysaccharides and proteins that facilitate the formation of matrices in their makeup. Moreover, including bioactive substances like vitamins and polyphenols can impart attributes akin to active materials, such as antioxidants or antimicrobial agents. Advancing the creation of edible films, sheets, and coatings derived from fruits and vegetables holds great potential for merging the barrier and mechanical attributes of biopolymers with the nutritional and sensory qualities inherent in these natural components. These edible films made from fruits and vegetables could potentially serve as alternatives to seaweed in sushi production or even replace conventional bread, pancakes, tortillas, and lavash in the diet of people suffering from celiac disease or gluten allergy, while fruit and vegetable coatings may be used in fresh and processed food products, especially fruits and vegetables but also sweets.

Anti-Bacterial Adhesion on Abiotic and Biotic Surfaces of the Exopolysaccharide from the Marine Bacillus licheniformis B3-15

The eradication of bacterial biofilm represents a crucial strategy to prevent a clinical problem associated with microbial persistent infection. In this study we evaluated the ability of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) B3-15, produced by the marine Bacillus licheniformis B3-15, to prevent the adhesion and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 on polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride surfaces. The EPS was added at different times (0, 2, 4 and 8 h), corresponding to the initial, reversible and irreversible attachment, and after the biofilm development (24 or 48 h). The EPS (300 µg/mL) impaired the initial phase, preventing bacterial adhesion even when added after 2 h of incubation, but had no effects on mature biofilms. Without exerting any antibiotic activity, the antibiofilm mechanisms of the EPS were related to the modification of the (i) abiotic surface properties, (ii) cell-surface charges and hydrophobicity, and iii) cell-to-cell aggregation. The addition of EPS downregulated the expression of genes (lecA and pslA of P. aeruginosa and clfA of S. aureus) involved in the bacterial adhesion. Moreover, the EPS reduced the adhesion of P. aeruginosa (five logs-scale) and S. aureus (one log) on human nasal epithelial cells. The EPS could represent a promising tool for the prevention of biofilm-related infections.