Sustainable and Bio-Based Food Packaging: A Review on Past and Current Design Innovations.

Food loss and waste occur for many reasons, from crop processing to household leftovers. Even though some waste generation is unavoidable, a considerable amount is due to supply chain inefficiencies and damage during transport and handling. Packaging design and materials innovations represent real opportunities to reduce food waste within the supply chain. Besides, changes in people's lifestyles have increased the demand for high-quality, fresh, minimally processed, and ready-to-eat food products with extended shelf-life, that need to meet strict and constantly renewed food safety regulations. In this regard, accurate monitoring of food quality and spoilage is necessary to diminish both health hazards and food waste. Thus, this work provides an overview of the most recent advances in the investigation and development of food packaging materials and design with the aim to improve food chain sustainability. Enhanced barrier and surface properties as well as active materials for food conservation are reviewed. Likewise, the function, importance, current availability, and future trends of intelligent and smart packaging systems are presented, especially considering biobased sensor development by 3D printing technology. In addition, driving factors affecting fully biobased packaging design and materials development and production are discussed, considering byproducts and waste minimization and revalorization, recyclability, biodegradability, and other possible ends-of-life and their impact on product/package system sustainability.

Starch Nanocomposite Films: Migration Studies of Nanoparticles to Food Simulants and Bio-Disintegration in Soil.

In this work, films containing AgNPs were obtained by different green synthesis techniques (AgNP in situ and AgNP L). The inclusion of nanoparticles in the starch matrix improved both mechanical and barrier properties. The migration of AgNPs from the nanocomposite material to three food simulants (water, 3% v/v acetic acid and 15% v/v ethanol) was studied. The experimental data were fitted by using different widely accepted mathematical models (Fickian, Ritger and Peppas, and Weibull), indicating that the AgNP migration followed a complex mechanism. The silver concentration (mg Ag per kg of simulant) that was released from the nanocomposite films was higher for the samples with AgNPs in situ than for those containing AgNP L. Likewise, the maximum release value (0.141 mg/dm2 for AgNPs in situ in acetic acid simulant) was lower than the limits proposed by the legislation (European Commission and MERCOSUR; 10 and 8 mg/dm2, respectively). The replacement of conventional plastic materials by biodegradable ones requires the evaluation of bio-disintegration tests in soil. In this sense, a period of 90 days was necessary to obtain ≥50% weight loss in both nanocomposite films. Additionally, the bio-disintegration of the samples did not contribute with phytotoxic compounds to the soil, allowing the germination of fast-growing seeds.

Biobased composites from agro-industrial wastes and by-products.

The greater awareness of non-renewable natural resources preservation needs has led to the development of more ecological high-performance polymeric materials with new functionalities. In this regard, biobased composites are considered interesting options, especially those obtained from agro-industrial wastes and by-products. These are low-cost raw materials derived from renewable sources, which are mostly biodegradable and would otherwise typically be discarded. In this review, recent and innovative academic studies on composites obtained from biopolymers, natural fillers and active agents, as well as green-synthesized nanoparticles are presented. An in-depth discussion of biobased composites structures, properties, manufacture, and life-cycle assessment (LCA) is provided along with a wide up-to-date overview of the most recent works in the field with appropriate references. Potential uses of biobased composites from agri-food residues such as active and intelligent food packaging, agricultural inputs, tissue engineering, among others are described, considering that the specific characteristics of these materials should match the proposed application.

Nanocomposite starch-based films containing silver nanoparticles synthesized with lemon juice as reducing and stabilizing agent.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNP L) synthesis using the active compounds of lemon juice was optimized. The obtained nanoparticles were included in starch-based film formulations, studying the relevant properties that condition their application in the packaging area. The optimized conditions for AgNP L' synthesis were 30 min at 90 °C, which led to the lowest nanoparticle size (5.5 nm) with the highest associated stability (ζ= -29.5 mV) up to 90 days. Nanocomposite films resulted with an orange tone that increased with AgNP L concentration (14.3-143 ppm). Water vapor permeability decreased while tensile mechanical resistance increased up to an aggregate of 71.5 ppm of AgNP L, indicating the nanoparticles' reinforcement of the polymer matrix. Besides, the citric acid content provided by lemon juice also affected the starch-based relevant film properties. Regarding antimicrobial capacity, a synergic effect between active compounds of lemon juice and silver nanoparticles was evidenced, being Salmonella spp. the most sensitive bacteria.

[Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in idiopathic capillary leak syndrome: a case report]. / Utilización de membrana de circulación extracorpórea en síndrome de leak capilar idiopático: reporte de un caso.

Introduction: Idiopathic systemic capillary leak syndrome (ISCLS) or Clarkson's disease is unusual but potentially lethal, characterized by recurrent shock incidents and anasarca secondary to idiopathic increase of capillary permeability. In such a context, the use of venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) as cardiorespiratory support is a rescue action that seeks hemodynamic stability generation until spontaneous disappearance of the capillary occurs with the objective of surpassing the complications of resorption phase. Case Report: A 42 year old patient presented ISCLS and required ECMO as hemodynamic support for 8 days. She remained 20 days in Intensive Care Unit and was given hospital release after 43 days. Conclusions: The use of ECMO in the reported case was a useful strategy in the ISCLS management as a bridge to recovery both in the leak stage and the fluid resorption phase. Notwithstanding its indication is limited to thoroughly selected patients and requires further debate between specialists about its risks and benefits.

Introducción: El Síndrome de Leak Capilar Idiopático (SLCI) o enfermedad de Clarkson es un entidad rara pero potencialmente letal, caracterizada por episodios recurrentes de shock y anasarca secundarios al aumento idiopático de la permeabilidad capilar. En este contexto, el uso de membrana de oxigenación extracorpórea (ECMO) venoarterial como soporte cardiorrespiratorio, es una medida de rescate que busca generar estabilidad hemodinámica a la espera de la desaparición espontánea del leak capilar con el fin de sortear las complicaciones de la fase de reabsorción. Caso Clínico: Se presenta el caso de un paciente un paciente de 42 años de edad que presentó SLCI y requirió ECMO durante 8 días como soporte hemodinámico. Cursó 20 días de internación en la unidad de terapia intensiva y se otorgó el alta hospitalaria luego de 43 días. Conclusiones: El uso de ECMO en el caso reportado significó una estrategia útil para el manejo del SLCI como puente a la recuperación, tanto en la etapa de leak como en la fase de reabsorción de fluidos. Sin embargo, su indicación se ve limitada a pacientes altamente seleccionados, y todavía requiere un mayor debate entre especialistas sobre los posibles riesgos y beneficios.

EXAFS and DFT study of the cadmium and lead adsorption on modified silica nanoparticles.

Silica nanoparticles of 7 nm diameter were modified with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) and characterized by CP-MAS (13)C and (29)Si NMR, FTIR, zeta potential measurements, and thermogravimetry. The particles were shown to sorb successfully divalent lead and cadmium ions from aqueous solution. Lead complexation with these silica nanoparticles was clearly confirmed by EXAFS (Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure) with synchrotron light measurements. Predicted Pb-N and Pb-C distances obtained from quantum-chemical calculations are in very good agreement with the EXAFS determinations. The calculations also support the higher APTES affinity for Pb(2+) compared to Cd(2+).