Sustainable strategies for using natural extracts in smart food packaging.

The growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly food packaging has prompted research on innovative solutions to environmental and consumer health issues. To enhance the properties of smart packaging, the incorporation of bioactive compounds derived from various natural sources has attracted considerable interest because of their functional properties, including antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. However, extracting these compounds from natural sources poses challenges because of their complex chemical structures and low concentrations. Traditional extraction methods are often environmentally harmful, expensive and time-consuming. Thus, green extraction techniques have emerged as promising alternatives, offering sustainable and eco-friendly approaches that minimise the use of hazardous solvents and reduce environmental impact. This review explores cutting-edge research on the green extraction of bioactive compounds and their incorporation into smart packaging systems in the last 10 years. Then, an overview of bioactive compounds, green extraction techniques, integrated techniques, green extraction solvents and their application in smart packaging was provided, and the impact of bioactive compounds incorporated in smart packaging on the shelf lives of food products was explored. Furthermore, it highlights the challenges and opportunities within this field and presents recommendations for future research, aiming to contribute to the advancement of sustainable and efficient smart packaging solutions.

Functional Properties of Rye Prolamin (Secalin) and Their Improvement by Protein Lipophilization through Capric Acid Covalent Binding.

Secalin (SCL), the prolamin fraction of rye protein, was chemically lipophilized using acylation reaction by treatment with different amounts of capric acid chloride (0, 2, 4, and 6 mmol/g) to enhance its functional properties. It was shown that SCL lipophilization increased the surface hydrophobicity and the hydrophobic interactions, leading to a reduction in protein solubility and water absorption capacity and to a greater oil absorption. In addition, SCL both emulsifying capacity and stability were improved when the protein was treated with low amount of capric acid chloride. Finally, the foaming capacity of SCL markedly increased after its treatment with increasing concentrations of the acylating agent, even though the foam of the modified protein was found to be more stable at the lower level of protein acylation. Technological application of lipophilized SCL as a protein additive in food preparations is suggested.

Properties of whey protein isolate nanocomposite films reinforced with nanocellulose isolated from oat husk.

Whey protein isolate (WPI)-based composite films with varying proportions of oat husk nanocellulose (ONC) obtained from acid sulfuric hydrolysis were prepared using a solution casting method. The obtained material after each step of the isolating cellulose, morphological and crystallinity of the ONC were studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The effect of ONC content (0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5wt% of WPI) on physical, mechanical and barrier properties of the nanocomposite were then evaluated. FTIR spectroscopy indicated the progressive removal of non-cellulosic components from the oat husk. SEM images showed the mean width of ONC was about 76nm and XRD analysis revealed the crystallinity increased after acid hydrolysis. The films prepared with up to 5wt% ONC showed the highest tensile strength, Young's modulus, solubility and the lowest elongation at break and moisture content. At high level (7.5wt%), tensile strength, Young's modulus and solubility of the films decreased and elongation at break and moisture content increased due to agglomeration of the fillers. Nevertheless, film transparency and water vapor permeability decreased with ONC incorporation.