Enhancing the functional properties of acetylated hemicellulose films for active food packaging using acetylated nanocellulose reinforcement and polycaprolactone coating

• Published in: Food packaging and shelf life 2020-06, Vol.24, p.100481, Article 100481
• Main Authors: Mugwagwa, Lindleen. R., Chimphango, Annie F.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylated hemicellulose; Acetylated nanocellulose; Acetylation; Active packaging; Controlled release; Mango polyphenols
• ISSN: 2214-2894; 2214-2894
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fpsl.2020.100481

[Display omitted] •Nanocellulose acetylation reduce hemicellulose films migration into simulants.•High nanocellulose in hemicellulose films reduce film migration into simulants.•Acetylated hemicellulose films are suitable for fatty foods packaging.•Coated hemicellulose films properties are comparable to Low density polyethylene films.•Models can be applied to predict polyphenol release from hemicellulose films. Acetylated hemicellulose (AH)-nanocellulose (ACNC) films coated with polycaprolactone (PCL) films, were evaluated as active packaging for aqueous, alcoholic, fatty and acidic food. The effects of nanocellulose loading (0–50 %), degree of acetylation (DS) (0–2.34) and polycaprolactone coating (0.3 g/mL) on hydrophobicity and solubility of AH films in food simulants, were investigated. In addition, AH-CNC/PCL films were doped with polyphenols and their antioxidant release (temperature 5 °C–40 °C, time - 48 h) into food simulants was evaluated experimentally and by modelling (Migratest software). Increasing ACNC DS and loading, combined with a PCL coating increased films’ hydrophobicity (24.59° to 82.48°) and reduced film solubility in all the simulants (∼82.8 %). The release of polyphenols by the films was highest and best predicted using Migratest software for the fatty food simulant. Therefore, these films can be used as active packaging for fatty foods. Furthermore, Migratest modelling can be used to predict film performance during film design.