High throughput electro-hydrodynamic processing in food encapsulation and food packaging applications: Viewpoint

Abstract Looking genuinely at nature, nanofibers often serve as a basic platform where either organic or inorganic components are built upon. The fiber structure exhibits, from a structural point of view, the intrinsic ability to mechanically reinforce materials but also the less well-known property of enhancing the barrier performance of polymer matrices when applied smartly. To reproduce and tailor this extraordinary nature's design, a reliable technology that is able to fabricate fiber nanostructures from a variety of materials with size and size distribution control and composition flexibility is highly desirable. In addition, if this technology could allow nanofiber shortening to achie…

Antiviral properties of silver nanoparticles against norovirus surrogates and their efficacy in coated polyhydroxyalkanoates systems

Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) have strong broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and gained increased attention for the development of AgNP based products, including medical and food applications. Initially, the efficacy of AgNP and silver nitrate (AgNO3) was evaluated for inactivating norovirus surrogates, the feline calicivirus (FCV) and the murine norovirus (MNV). These norovirus surrogates were exposed to AgNO3 and AgNP solutions for 24 h at 25 °C and then analyzed by cell-culture assays. Both AgNP and silver ions significantly decreased FCV and MNV infectivity in a dose-dependent manner between concentrations of 2.1 and 21 mg/L. Furthermore, poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (…

Corrigendum to “Influence of temperature and NaCl on the release in aqueous liquid media of aroma compounds encapsulated in edible films” [Journal of Food Engineering 108 (2012) 30–36]

On the use of Persian gum for the development of antiviral edible coatings against murine norovirus of interest in blueberries.

In the last decades, berries have been identified as important vehicles for the transmission of foodborne viruses and different strategies are being explored to eliminate or reduce viral contamination in these fruits. The aim of this work was to develop novel edible coatings with antiviral properties for inactivating and reducing murine norovirus (MNV). Firstly, the effect of gelatin (G) addition on Persian gum (PG) films was studied in terms of microstructural, mechanical, optical, and water barrier properties. The following PG:G ratios were considered: 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100. Microstructure analysis revealed the compatibility of both hydrocolloids since no phase separation …

On the use of carrageenan matrices for the development of antiviral edible coatings of interest in berries

Different film-forming dispersions (FFD) based on κ−, ι− and λ− carrageenans and green tea extract (GTE) have been developed as an innovative strategy to guarantee the food safety of blueberries and raspberries. First, the FFD were characterized (surface tension and viscosity) and the physicochemical properties (water vapour permeability-WVP-, water sorption, contact angle, mechanical properties) of the stand-alone films were evaluated. Then, the FFD were applied to refrigerated-stored raspberries and blueberries, and the antiviral activity against murine norovirus (MNV), a cultivable norovirus surrogate, and hepatitis A virus (HAV) of coated fruits was determined at refrigerated (10 °C) an…

Effect of ferulic acid and α-tocopherol antioxidants on properties of sodium caseinate edible films

Edible films, based on sodium caseinate containing three different concentrations of ferulic acid or alpha-tocopherol (20, 40 and 60 mg/g sodium caseinate), were obtained in order to evaluate the effect of these compounds on properties of the caseinate matrices. Special emphasis was placed on their effect on the films' oxygen barrier properties, which are decisive in the prevention of the oxidation of foods containing lipids. Films were characterized as to their tensile, optical and surface properties as well as their barrier properties to water vapor, oxygen and aroma compounds (n-hexanal and n-hexanol). Ferulic acid was more efficient at reducing oxygen and n-hexanal permeability than alp…

Revalorization of cellulosic wastes from Posidonia oceanica and Arundo donax as catalytic materials based on affinity immobilization of an engineered β-galactosidase

Catalytic materials obtained by enzyme immobilization have multiple potential applications in the food industry. The choice of the immobilization method and support may be critical to define the properties of the immobilized enzyme compared to the soluble form. Although the use of immobilized enzymes shows multiple advantages, their catalytic efficiency is compromised in many instances. Molecular engineering techniques have been used to generate hybrid proteins where the enzyme of interest is fused to a module with affinity to a specific biopolymer. Binding of the hybrid TmLac-CBM2 protein, in which the β-galactosidase from Thermotoga maritima is fused to a carbohydrate-binding module from …

Antiviral and antioxidant properties of active alginate edible films containing phenolic extracts

In this work, novel active edible films having antiviral activity were developed through the solvent casting method. Emulsified edible films were prepared by adding lipids into alginate films in order to improve their water vapour permeability. In addition, two natural extracts rich in phenolic compounds, specifically a green tea extract (GTE) and a grape seed extract (GSE) were used as active agents. Interestingly, incorporating GTE or GSE within the biopolymer matrix, the films exhibited significant antiviral activity against murine norovirus (MNV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) since ∼2 log reduction were recorded for the 0.75 g extract/g alginate in the film, being GTE more efficient than …

Matryoshka enzyme encapsulation: Development of zymoactive hydrogel particles with efficient lactose hydrolysis capability.

This report describes an efficient procedure for enzyme encapsulation and its application for the hydrolysis of lactose. The enzymatic material that has been developed consists of hydrogel particles (ca. 3–4 mm of diameter) composed of either alginate or an alginate-agarose combination, in which bacterial cells loaded with a thermostable β-galactosidase are embedded. The cells were rendered fully permeable to the substrate, either chromogenic p-nitrophenyl galactose or lactose, by thermal treatment at 75 °C. Hydrogel particles made of a mixture of alginate and agarose displayed high catalytic activity (i.e. 1 g of beads hydrolyze the lactose equivalent of 100 mL of milk in 15 min) and therm…

Influence of interactions on water and aroma permeabilities of ι-carrageenan–oleic acid–beeswax films used for flavour encapsulation

The objective of this work is to investigate the water and aroma barrier properties of films obtained from ι-carrageenan containing glycerol and lipids mixtures of oleic acid (OA) and beeswax (BW) used for encapsulation of active compounds. Water vapor permeability (WVP) is greatly influenced by lipid composition, encapsulated aroma compound and also relative humidity. WVP decreases when films contain encapsulated aroma compound but increases when the moisture content in the films increases. When oleic acid was the main compound of lipid phase, the plasticizing effect of water revealed through water permeability is less marked. The results of ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl hexanoate, …

Sustainable bioactive pectin-based films to improve fruit safety via a circular economy approach.

This work reports on the valorisation of persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) for the development of food-grade antiviral coatings against major viral foodborne pathogens, human noroviruses (NoVs) and hepatitis A virus (HAV). Initially, the antiviral activity of polyphenol-rich pectin extracts with abundant non-covalent interactions (PPN), pectin extracts enriched with intact pectin-polyphenol ester and O-glycosyl bonds (PPC) and hydro-ethanolic polyphenol-rich extracts (EPE) was compared. Higher viral reductions were found for the pectin extracts rich in polyphenols, mainly in those containing covalent pectin-polyphenol interactions. This specific extract was mixed with commercial citrus pect…

Interface and aroma barrier properties of iota-carrageenan emulsion–based films used for encapsulation of active food compounds

Abstract Food quality preservation requires that the initial properties of the food products be maintained by protecting them from the environment and by limiting the gain or loss of external matter. Barrier edible films can preserve food quality by controlling moisture transfer, oxygen uptake or the loss of volatile aroma compounds. Edible films made of iota-carrageenans display interesting advantages: good mechanical properties, stabilization of emulsions and reduction in oxygen transfer. Moreover, lipid globules incorporated as emulsion-based films can be the carriers for the encapsulation of active volatile molecules such as flavor compounds. Such films also enhance the barrier properti…

Bioactive extracts from persimmon waste: influence of extraction conditions and ripeness

In this work, a bioactive persimmon extract was produced from discarded fruits. A central composite design was used to evaluate the effect of different extraction parameters and ripeness stages of persimmon fruits on the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the resulting extracts. Significantly greater phenolic contents were obtained from immature persimmon (IP) fruits. The optimum IP extract with the conditions set by the experimental design was industrially up-scaled and its composition and functional properties were evaluated and compared with those obtained under lab-scale conditions. Both extracts contained significant protein (>20%) and phenolic contents (∼11–27 mg GA/g …

Influence of temperature and NaCl on the release in aqueous liquid media of aroma compounds encapsulated in edible films

This work analyses the release of n-hexanal and D-limonene from edible films, previously encapsulated in the iota-carrageenan matrix (with and without lipid). Both volatile compounds have different physicochemical properties. The effect of temperature (25 degrees C and 37 degrees C) and dissolution medium (water and 0.9% NaCl) on the release and retention of aroma compounds were studied. Hydrophobicity and wettability properties of active iota-carrageenan films were also studied and they were related with the internal and surface microstructure of films. Results highlight that D-limonene is encapsulated in the lipid phase of the films decreasing the release in the salt medium. D-limonene, t…

Antiviral activity of alginate-oleic acid based coatings incorporating green tea extract on strawberries and raspberries

Foodborne illnesses caused by the consumption of berries contaminated with human enteric viruses, namely human noroviruses (NoVs) and the hepatitis A virus (HAV), remain a significant food safety concern. The objective of this research was to investigate a food-grade edible coating composed of alginate/oleic and containing green tea extract (GTE) as an antiviral agent for the preservation of fresh strawberries and raspberries. Berries were stored at ambient (25 °C) temperature and refrigerated (10 °C) conditions. Initially, the effect of the pH of the film-forming dispersions (FFD) on their antioxidant and antiviral activity was analysed. Then, the physicochemical properties of edible algin…

Polymers and Biopolymers with Antiviral Activity: Potential Applications for Improving Food Safety

Gastroenteritis and hepatitis, caused by human noroviruses (HuNoVs) and hepatitis A virus (HAV), respectively, are the most common illnesses resulting from the consumption of food contaminated with human enteric viruses. Food-grade polymers can be tailor designed to improve food safety, either as novel food-packaging materials imparting active antimicrobial properties, applied in food contact surfaces to avoid cross-contamination, or as edible coatings to increase fresh produce's shelf life. The incorporation of antimicrobial agents into food-grade polymers can be used to control the food microbiota and even target specific foodborne pathogens to improve microbiological food safety and to e…

Microbiological and ageing performance of polyhydroxyalkanoate-based multilayer structures of interest in food packaging

Polyhydroxyalkanoates undergo crystallization during film processing and storage. In this paper, the physico–chemical ageing properties of multilayer structures based on a commercial polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and a polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate copolymer with 3% valerate content (PHBV3), containing a nanostructured zein interlayer, were analysed. The microbiological safety of the films was also evaluated by monitoring the growth of an inoculum of Listeria monocytogenes over time. Polyethyleneglycol (PEG) was added to PHBV3 films to facilitate handling as the PHBV3 mutlilayer systems (without plasticizer) cracked during film-formation. Crystallinity, thermal, mechanical, barrier and optica…

Development of enzymatically-active bacterial cellulose membranes through stable immobilization of an engineered beta-galactosidase

Enzymatically-active bacterial cellulose (BC) was prepared by non-covalent immobilization of a hybrid enzyme composed by a β-galactosidase from Thermotoga maritima (TmLac) and a carbohydrate binding module (CBM2) from Pyrococcus furiosus. TmLac-CBM2 protein was bound to BC, with higher affinity at pH 6.5 than at pH 8.5 and with high specificity compared to the non-engineered enzyme. Both hydrated (HBC) and freeze-dried (DBC) bacterial cellulose showed equivalent enzyme binding efficiencies. Initial reaction rate of HBC-bound enzyme was higher than DBC-bound and both of them were lower than the free enzyme. However, enzyme performance was similar in all three cases for the hydrolysis of 5% l…

The Schroeder paradox or how the state of water affects the moisture transfer through edible films

The objective of this work was to better understand the water permeation through edible films when water is either in its vapour or in its liquid state related to their physico-chemical properties. Film based on iota-carrageenans or sodium alginate, containing or not fat, and encapsulating or not an aroma compound (n-hexanal) have been prepared. Films were conditioned at three different relative humidities, 0%, 43% and 84%. The incorporation of the n-hexanal in both types of biopolymer modifies the mechanical properties of film matrix and has a synergistic effect when associated to fat. Increasing the moisture content induces film plasticization by decreasing the glass transition of the gly…

Active properties of edible marine polysaccharide-based coatings containing Larrea nitida polyphenols enriched extract.

The aim of this work was to develop active edible coatings based on marine polysaccharide matrices and polyphenols-enriched native plant extracts from arid and semiarid regions of Argentina. Initially, five plant extracts were characterized in terms of antioxidant, antibacterial and antiviral activity and the one with better biological properties and no toxicity or genotoxicity, Larrea nitida (Ln) extract, was incorporated into agar, alginate or agar/alginate matrices. The Ln extract-containing films were characterized in terms of physicochemical and polyphenols release performance in food simulants. The incorporation of Ln extract provided darker films, with a more saturated orange-brownis…