Effect of Various Types of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) Films on Surface Free Energy and Contact Angle

Enhanced physical properties, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of bio-composite films composed from carboxymethyl cellulose and polyvinyl alcohol incorporated with broccoli sprout seed extract for butter packaging

This study investigated the development of biodegradable films made from a combination of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and purified extract of broccoli sprout seed (BSSE). The films were characterized for their color, physical properties, surface morphology, crystallinity, mechanical properties, and thermal properties. The addition of BSSE up to 1.4 % to the film matrix imparted opaque color and increased opacity up to 3.652. The films also became less moisture-absorbent 8.21 %, soluble 19.16 %, and permeable to water vapor 1.531 (× 10-10 g.m-1 s-1 pa-1). By utilizing 0.7 % from BSSE inside films, the surface of the films became smoother but became rough with higher concentrations 2.1 % of BSSE. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis showed that there was physical interaction between the BSSE extract and the PV/CM matrix. The films showed good thermal stability, and the incorporation of BSSE improved their ability to preserve the acidity, TBARS, peroxide value, and total color differences of butter during cold storage.

Preparation and Characterization of a Biodegradable Film Using Irradiated Chitosan Incorporated with Lysozyme and Carrageenan and Its Application in Crayfish Preservation

In this study, a composite film was prepared using irradiated chitosan, lysozyme, and carrageenan for crayfish preservation. First, the chitosan was degraded by gamma rays, with the best antimicrobial properties being found at 100 KGy. By using the response surface method, the components of the composite film were irradiated chitosan (CS) at 0.016 g/mL, lysozyme (LM) at 0.0015 g/mL, and carrageenan (CA) at 0.002 g/mL. When compared to the natural chitosan film, the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results demonstrated that the chemical properties of the composite film did not change with the addition of LM and CA, while the physical and antibacterial properties increased, including tensile strength (16.87 → 20.28 N), hydrophobicity (67.9 → 86.3°), and oxygen permeability (31.66 → 24.31 m³·um/m²·day·kPa). Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the films increased with the addition of LM and CA, especially for Shewanella putrefaciens: the zone of inhibition (mm) of CS, CS/LM, and CS/LM/CA was 9.97 ± 0.29, 14.32 ± 0.31, and 14.78 ± 0.21, respectively. Finally, the CS/LM/CA film could preserve crayfish for 10 days at 4 °C, whereas the polyethylene (PE) film could only preserve them for 6 days. Moreover, the composite film was excellent at inhibiting oxidative deterioration (TBARS value: 2.12 mg/kg, day10) and keeping the texture of crayfish muscle. Overall, our results suggested that the CS/LM/CA composite film produced can be applied as a biodegradable film in aquatic product packaging.

Recent progress in using zein nanoparticles-loaded nanocomposites for food packaging applications

Biopolymers are important due to their exceptional functional and barrier properties and also their non-toxicity and eco-friendly nature for various food, biomedical, and pharmaceutical applications. However, biopolymers usually need reinforcement strategies to address their poor mechanical, thermal, and physical properties as well as processability aspects. Several natural nanoparticles have been proposed as reinforcing agents for biopolymeric food packaging materials. Among them, zein nanoparticles (ZNPs) have attracted a lot of interest, being an environmentally friendly material. The purpose of the present review paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the ZNPs-loaded nanocomposites for food packaging applications, starting from the synthesis, characteristics and properties of ZNPs, to the physicochemical properties of the ZNPs-loaded nanocomposites, in terms of morphology, permeability, solubility, optical features, hydrophobic/hydrophilic behavior, structural characteristics, thermal features, and mechanical attributes. Finally, at the end of this review, some considerations about the safety issues and gastrointestinal fate of ZNPs, as well as the use of ZNPs-based nanocomposites as food packaging, are reported, taking into account that, despite the enormous benefits, nanotechnology also presents some risks associated to the use of nanometric materials.

Drug-Polymers Composite Matrix Tablets: Effect of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) K-Series on Porosity, Compatibility, and Release Behavior of the Tablet Containing a BCS Class I Drug

The purpose of this research was to see how the physicochemical properties and porosity of matrix tablets containing various types of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) K series affected the release of propranolol hydrochloride (PNL). PNL is a class I drug (high solubility and permeability) according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS), making it an excellent model drug used for studying extended-release drug products. The direct compression method was used to prepare the HPMC-based matrix tablets. PNL and the excipients were found to be compatible using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The surfaces of all the compressed HPMC-based matrix tablets were rough, with accumulated particles and small holes. The compressed HPMC-based matrix tablet porosity was also determined by using mercury porosimetry. The compressed HPMC-based matrix tablets made of low viscosity HPMC had tiny pores (diameter < 0.01 μm). The shorter polymeric chains are more prone to deformation, resulting in a small pore proportion. The compressed HPMC-based matrix tablets sustained the release of PNL for over 12 h. The release exponent values (n), which reflect the release mechanism of the drug from the tablets, ranged from 0.476 to 0.497. These values indicated that the release was governed by anomalous transport. The compressed HPMC-based matrix tablets have the potential for a sustained release of PNL.

Regulating the Physicochemical Properties of Chitosan Films through Concentration and Neutralization

Chitosan offers real potential for use in food preservation, biomedicine, and environmental applications due to its excellent functional properties, such as ease in the fabrication of large films, biocompatibility, and antibacterial properties. However, the production and application of chitosan films were limited by their strong residual acetic acid taste, weak mechanical properties, and poor water vapor barrier properties. In this study, the effects of the chitosan concentration in the film-forming solutions and the neutralization treatment on the physicochemical properties of chitosan films were examined. The results demonstrated that the chitosan concentration affected the mechanical and barrier properties of chitosan films without the neutralization treatment. This was mainly due to the low acetic acid contents in chitosan films after drying. Acetic acid acted as a plasticizer within chitosan films resulting in a looser network structure. After neutralization, the chitosan films showed improvements in properties, with little effect on the chitosan concentration in the film-forming solutions. Moreover, chitosan films after neutralization showed no residual acetic acid. Therefore, neutralization could effectively improve the performance of chitosan films.

Engineered nasal dry powder for the encapsulation of bioactive compounds

In this review, we present the potential of nasal dry powders to deliver stable bioactive compounds and their manufacture using spray-drying (SD) techniques to achieve encapsulation. We also review currently approved and experimental excipients used for powder manufacturing for specific target drugs. Polymers, sugars, and amino acids are recommended for specific actions, such as mucoadhesive interactions, to increase residence time on the nasal mucosa; for example, high-molecular weight polymers, such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, or mannitol, which protect the bioactive compounds, increase their stability, and enhance drug absorption in the nasal mucosa; and leucine, which promotes particle formation and improves aerosol performance. Teaser: XXXX.

Development and characterization of levan/pullulan/chitosan edible films enriched with ε-polylysine for active food packaging

The levan/pullulan/chitosan edible films, enriched with ε-polylysine, as an antimicrobial agent, were successfully fabricated by the casting method, and their applicability for food packaging was systematically evaluated by several analytical techniques. An increase in the levan/pullulan ratios (ranged from 0:6 to 3:3) in the films showed a decreased water solubility (from 72.21% to 26.64%) and oxygen permeability (from 48.75 × 10^-2 g·mm·m^-2·d^-1·kPa^-1 to 4.45 × 10^-2 g·mm·m^-2·d^-1·kPa^-1), and increased elongation at break (from 10.92% to 46.61%). All the films showed a strong inhibitory effect on two typical food-borne pathogens and good biodegradability in the soil. These films were employed as edible coatings on strawberries, and the storage stability was investigated by means of physical and biochemical parameters. Compared to control, the weight loss, firmness, and total soluble solids of the coated strawberries showed a downward trend. Overall, these findings suggest that the developed edible films could be a potential approach for sustainable active food packaging.

New insights on solvent implications in flow behavior and interfacial interactions of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose with cells/bacteria

The properties of polymers in solutions are affected by the solvent characteristics used in the processing stage. This work contributes to understanding the conformation changes under shear rheology of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) in different solvents. Flow behavior in a large shear rate domain provides information on establishing the proper conditions in which the polymer solutions can be processed into uniform films. It was found that HPMC/solvent interactions influence the final architecture of macromolecules in the solid phase and implicitly the organization of polar/non-polar groups at the surface. This led to variable wettability and consequently to adhesion or cohesion of HPMC with biological agents. These new findings are important in tuning surface properties as demanded in bioengineering or regenerative medicine, where it is essential to establish adequate spreading conditions at the HPMC interface with cells or bacteria.