Recent advances in protein-polysaccharide based biocomposites and their potential applications in food packaging: A review

This review addresses the current trend of replacing petroleum-based polymers in food packaging with bio-based alternatives, specifically focusing on proteins and polysaccharides. While these biopolymers exhibit excellent film-forming properties and are abundant in nature, their individual use in packaging lacks ideal plastic-like characteristics, especially in terms of mechanical and barrier properties. A recent solution involves the formulation of biocomposites through the reinforcement of one biopolymer with another (e.g., protein with a polysaccharide), significantly enhancing the physical, mechanical, and barrier properties of packaging materials. The review concentrates on the integration of proteins and polysaccharides in biocomposite materials, emphasizing their potential applications in active and intelligent food packaging systems. It covers sources, manufacturing methods, interaction mechanisms, recent developments, perspectives, and opportunities. The exploration extends to practical implementations of these biocomposites in enhancing food quality, safety, and shelf life-a green technological approach contributing to the reduction of food waste and loss.

Study on the characteristics of gluten/alginate-cellulose/onion waste extracts composite film and its food packaging application

The study aimed to improve the properties of SA-CMC film by gluten (G) blends and bioactive compounds from onion waste extracts (OWEs) peel (OPE) and stalk (OSE). The applicability of film on the quality of peeled shallot onion during storage was also examined. Water barrier (0.62 g/msPa × 10^-14) and tensile strength (11.50 MPa) of G/SA-CMC film improved more than SA-CMC film (1.55 g/msPa × 10^-13 and 7.05 MPa). OPE and OSE increase the total phenolic content (43.86 and 38.35 mgGAE/g) and radical scavenging activity (88.74 and 68.30 %) of G/SA-CMC film than control (20.33 mgGAE/g and 39.20 %). Microbial load (logCFU/g) in terms of total bacterial count, yeast and mold count of shallot onion packed in OPE (5.34 and 5.21) and OSE (4.26 and 4.21) film was reduced than control (6.03 and 4.68). Thus, the G/SA-CMC/OWEs film had improved properties than SA-CMC film and can be used to store peeled onion at 4℃ for 21 days.

Nanocomposite based on restacked crystallites of β-NiS and Ppy for the determination of theophylline and uric acid on screen-printed electrodes

We synthesized calcinated β-NiS with a highly crystalline porous nature and mixed it with Ppy to prepare a nanocomposite, which exhibited high electrocatalytic activity and this was then used to detect theophylline and uric acid with high sensitivity and stability.

DNA mediated electrocatalytic enhancement of α-Fe2O3–PEDOT–C-MoS2hybrid nanostructures for riboflavin detection on screen printed electrode

A facile synthesis of DNA wrapped iron oxide nanorods and PEDOT (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)) nanospheres on carbon supported MoS₂(C-MoS₂) is reported for riboflavin (RF) sensing.