Packaging is an essential component of the food industry as it protects foods during transportation and storage until they reach the final consumer, and is also used to communicate information and as a marketing tool. Most food packaging is made of synthetic plastics, which show advantages such as low cost and good barrier properties. Nevertheless, the need for longer shelf life under various environmental conditions requires the development of novel packaging materials with better oxygen, water, and light barrier properties. This can be achieved by the application of nanotechnology as it has been demonstrated that incorporating metal oxide nanoparticles, nanocellulose, nanoemulsions and other nanoscale materials to polymers can result in nanocomposites with enhanced properties. Nanomaterials show different physicochemical properties and enhanced reactivity compared to their bulk counterparts owing to their small size and greater surface area. In addition, nanomaterials can also be incorporated into biopolymers to develop environmentally friendly packaging with improved mechanical and barrier properties. Developing active packaging with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties also becomes possible with the incorporation of nanomaterials. Therefore, the use of nanomaterials in packaging shows promise as a tool to reduce food spoilage and waste.
This Research Topic aims to be a collection of recent advances in the development of nanocomposites for food packaging applications. Nanocomposites of interest may be developed using biopolymers or synthetic polymers. Nanomaterials may include nanoparticles of metals and metal oxides, nanocellulose, and nanoemulsions of essential oils among others. The resulting nanocomposites shall be aimed to be used for food packaging applications, and are expected to show advantages over current packaging materials, such as enhanced mechanical and barrier properties, activity against microbial growth and lipid oxidation, and increased shelf life of packaged food. Safety considerations such as potential migration of the nanomaterials from packaging into foods and potential toxicity issues are also of interest. There is currently little knowledge on the biodegradability and recyclability of packaging using nanomaterials, so it would be of interest. Furthermore, the environmental impact of nanomaterials such as their fate when microplastics are generated and potential migration of the nanomaterials to the surrounding environment is currently unknown and research on this area is encouraged.
This Research Topic welcomes submission of Original Research and Review articles on themes including (but not limited to):
* Metal nanoparticles in food packaging
* Metal oxide nanoparticles in food packaging
* Nanocellulose and other nanopolysaccharides in food packaging
* Nano and microemulsions of essential oils in food packaging
* Biopolymer-based composites for food packaging
* Nanopackaging for post-harvest purposes
* Novel nanopackaging with antimicrobial activity
* Novel nanopackaging with antioxidant activity
* Nanocoatings in food packaging
* Migration of nanomaterials from packaging into foods
* Safety issues of nanopackaging including potential toxicity
* Biodegradability, recyclability, and waste recovery of nanopackaging
* Fate of nanomaterials after packaging disposal and breakdown (i.e, microplastic generation), and potential recovery of nanomaterials
Packaging is an essential component of the food industry as it protects foods during transportation and storage until they reach the final consumer, and is also used to communicate information and as a marketing tool. Most food packaging is made of synthetic plastics, which show advantages such as low cost and good barrier properties. Nevertheless, the need for longer shelf life under various environmental conditions requires the development of novel packaging materials with better oxygen, water, and light barrier properties. This can be achieved by the application of nanotechnology as it has been demonstrated that incorporating metal oxide nanoparticles, nanocellulose, nanoemulsions and other nanoscale materials to polymers can result in nanocomposites with enhanced properties. Nanomaterials show different physicochemical properties and enhanced reactivity compared to their bulk counterparts owing to their small size and greater surface area. In addition, nanomaterials can also be incorporated into biopolymers to develop environmentally friendly packaging with improved mechanical and barrier properties. Developing active packaging with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties also becomes possible with the incorporation of nanomaterials. Therefore, the use of nanomaterials in packaging shows promise as a tool to reduce food spoilage and waste.
This Research Topic aims to be a collection of recent advances in the development of nanocomposites for food packaging applications. Nanocomposites of interest may be developed using biopolymers or synthetic polymers. Nanomaterials may include nanoparticles of metals and metal oxides, nanocellulose, and nanoemulsions of essential oils among others. The resulting nanocomposites shall be aimed to be used for food packaging applications, and are expected to show advantages over current packaging materials, such as enhanced mechanical and barrier properties, activity against microbial growth and lipid oxidation, and increased shelf life of packaged food. Safety considerations such as potential migration of the nanomaterials from packaging into foods and potential toxicity issues are also of interest. There is currently little knowledge on the biodegradability and recyclability of packaging using nanomaterials, so it would be of interest. Furthermore, the environmental impact of nanomaterials such as their fate when microplastics are generated and potential migration of the nanomaterials to the surrounding environment is currently unknown and research on this area is encouraged.
This Research Topic welcomes submission of Original Research and Review articles on themes including (but not limited to):
* Metal nanoparticles in food packaging
* Metal oxide nanoparticles in food packaging
* Nanocellulose and other nanopolysaccharides in food packaging
* Nano and microemulsions of essential oils in food packaging
* Biopolymer-based composites for food packaging
* Nanopackaging for post-harvest purposes
* Novel nanopackaging with antimicrobial activity
* Novel nanopackaging with antioxidant activity
* Nanocoatings in food packaging
* Migration of nanomaterials from packaging into foods
* Safety issues of nanopackaging including potential toxicity
* Biodegradability, recyclability, and waste recovery of nanopackaging
* Fate of nanomaterials after packaging disposal and breakdown (i.e, microplastic generation), and potential recovery of nanomaterials
