Synthesis and Characterization of Antibacterial Poly{2-[(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium Chloride}/Chitosan Semi-Interpenetrating Networks for Papain Release.

Annually, thousands of individuals suffer from skin injuries resulting from trauma, surgeries, or diabetes. Inadequate wound treatment can delay healing and increase the risk of severe infections. In this context, a promising synthetic polymer with potent antimicrobial properties, Poly{2-[(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride} (PMETAC), is synthesized and crosslinked with N,N'-Methylenebis(acrylamide) (BIS) in the presence of Chitosan (CH), a natural, biocompatible polysaccharide that promotes cell regeneration and provides additional beneficial properties.

Synthesis of thermally and pH-responsive poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-based hydrogel reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals for sustained drug release.

Hydrogels are widely employed in biomedical applications due to their high swelling potential, tailored mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and ability to incorporate drugs to modify their release behavior. This study explored the synthesis of dual stimuli-responsive composite hydrogels by combining poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) with 4, 8, and 12 % (w/w) of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) through in-situ free-radical polymerization, modifying their properties for topical anti-inflammatory release. Although PDMAEMA-based hydrogels have been known for their responsiveness to pH and temperature stimuli, which are useful for modulating the release profile of drugs, their use as a matrix for anti-inflammatory topical applications remains unexplored.

A review of starch-based biocomposites reinforced with plant fibers.

Renewable and biodegradable resources have gained increasing attention as promising alternatives to synthetic plastics. Among the diverse raw materials employed in bioplastics production, starch emerges as an attractive, low-cost, and largely available source. However, the inherent properties of starch-based materials often limit their utility across various applications, necessitating strategic modifications to enhance their performance.

Limonene and its derived oligomer as bioactive additives in starch/coffee husks biocomposites for food packaging applications.

In this study, antioxidant, and antimicrobial starch-based biocomposite films reinforced with coffee husks (S/CH) were developed by incorporating either limonene (LM) (S/CH/LM) or its oligomer derivative, poly(limonene) (PLM) (S/CH/PLM), at different concentrations (5-10 % w/w of starch). Through a comprehensive assessment of film properties, morphology, and structure, a comparative analysis between the two additives was proposed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed some defects throughout the polymer matrix after additive incorporation.

Alternative flexible plastic packaging for instant coffees.

Instant coffees are consumed worldwide and their packages must protect them mainly from moisture gain. Flexible packaging stand-up pouches made by PET/Al foil/LDPE are currently used but, the look for alternative materials is interesting to replace the aluminum foil with reducing costs and focusing on sustainability. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the quality loss of freeze-dried and spray-dried (agglomerated and powder) instant coffees during 365 days at 25 °C/75% RH, packaged in five plastic structures: PET (polyethylene terephthalate)/Al (aluminum) foil/LDPE (low density polyethylene), LDPE/HDPE (high density polyethylene)/LDPE, BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene)/BOPP met (metallized)/PP, PET/PET met/LDPE and PET/BOPP met/LDPE.

Improving chitosan performance in the simultaneous adsorption of multiple polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by oligo(β-pinene) incorporation.

The occurrence of persistent organic pollutants in aquatic bodies, namely polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), has been increasingly detected. The presence of such contaminants represents a serious threat to human health due to their toxicity. Therefore, aiming to provide a novel and efficient alternative for PAHs' removal from water, the present study assesses the effect of oligo(β-pinene) blended with chitosan for the adsorption of these pollutants.

Food-Package-Processing relationships in emerging technologies: Ultrasound effects on polyamide multilayer packaging in contact with different food simulants.

In this study, the effect of ultrasound processing on the properties of two packages widely used in food products was evaluated: polyamide (PA) and polyethylene (PE) multilayer packaging. Packages composed of PE/PA/PE (Film A) and PE/PA/PE/PA/PE (Film B) were filled with aqueous and fatty food simulants and treated in an ultrasound water bath (frequency 25 kHz, volumetric power of 9.74 W/L, temperature of 25 °C, and time of 30 and 60 min).

A new nano hyperbranched β-pinene polymer: Controlled synthesis and nonviral gene delivery.

Recently, an extensive research effort has been directed toward the improvement of nonviral transfection vectors, such as polymeric materials. The macromolecular structure of polymers has a substantial effect on their transfection efficacy. In this context, the modern advances in polymer production techniques, such as the deactivation-enhanced radical atom transfer polymerization (DE-ATRP), have been fundamental for the synthesis of controlled architecture nanomaterials.

Incorporation and influence of natural gums in an alginate matrix for Serratia plymuthica immobilization and isomaltulose production.

Isomaltulose (IM) is a non-cariogenic sugar and substitute for sucrose that has been widely used in candies and soft drinks. This sugar is obtained from sucrose through enzymatic conversion, catalyzed by microbial glucosyltransferases. In this study, alternative gums, namely: gum Arabic (GA), algaroba gum (AG), and cashew gum (CG) were combined with alginate (ALG) for the immobilization of Serratia plymuthica, with the aim of improving its capability for conversion of sucrose into IM.

Double-Layered Films Based on Furcellaran, Chitosan, and Gelatin Hydrolysates Enriched with AgNPs in Yerba Mate Extract, Montmorillonite, and Curcumin with Rosemary Essential Oil.

Double-layered active films based on furcellaran (1st layer-FUR), chitosan, and gelatin hydrolysates (2nd layer-CHIT+HGEL) were successfully prepared. Bioactive ingredients were added to the 1st film layer: AgNPs, which were synthesized in situ with yerba mate extract; montmorillonite clay (MMT); and different loads of ethanolic curcumin (CUR) extract enriched with rosemary essential oil (REO). SEM images confirmed the presence of AgNPs with a size distribution of 94.

Biopolymer-Based Films from Sodium Alginate and Citrus Pectin Reinforced with SiO.

Blend films based on sodium alginate (SA) and citrus pectin (P) reinforced with different concentrations of SiO (0-10% /) were developed in this study. From the morphological (SEM) and structural (FT-IR) evaluation, it was verified that the incorporation of the reinforcing agent did not drastically modify the microstructure of the films, nor did new chemical bonds form. However, the XRD results suggested a slight reduction in the crystallinities of the blends by the incorporation of SiO.

Improving the mechanical properties and thermal stability of sodium alginate/hydrolyzed collagen films through the incorporation of SiO.

Biopolymer-based films have become leading alternatives to traditional fossil-based packaging plastics. Among the countless types of biopolymers with potential for such applications, films containing hydrolyzed collagen in their composition were scarcely explored. This study determined the effect of different loads of nano-SiO (0, 2, 6, 8 and 10% w/w of sodium alginate) in the sodium alginate (SA) and hydrolyzed collagen (HC) blend films in terms of structure, thickness, mechanical properties, and thermal stability.

O-ATRP synthesized poly(β-pinene) blended with chitosan for antimicrobial and antioxidant bio-based films production.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities are important characteristics of active film packaging designed to extend food preservation. In this study, functional bio-based films were produced using different concentrations of antioxidant poly(β-pinene) bio-oligomer synthesized via organocatalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (O-ATRP) and blended with chitosan of different molecular weights. The structural, mechanical, thermal, solubility, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of the films were investigated.

Effect of low concentrations of SiO nanoparticles on the physical and chemical properties of sodium alginate-based films.

This work investigated the effect of adding low concentrations of nano-SiO (0.5, 1.0 and 1.

Essential oils as additives in active starch-based food packaging films: A review.

The production of sustainable food packaging from renewable sources represents a prominent alternative to the use of petrochemical-based plastics. For example, starch remains one of the more closely studied replacement options due to its broad availability, low cost and significant advances in improving properties. In this context, essential oils as additives fulfil a key role in the manufacture of renewable active packaging with superior performances.

Furcellaran: An innovative biopolymer in the production of films and coatings.

Seaweed is a prominent source of polysaccharides with extraction processes properly established, allowing to employ them in several areas. Among all the types of biopolymers obtained from seaweed, furcellaran has gained notoriety in recent years. This is due to its abundance, water solubility and outstanding film-forming abilities.

Kefiran-based films: Fundamental concepts, formulation strategies and properties.

Concerns about plastic pollution have driven research into novel bio-derived and biodegradable polymers with improved properties. Among the various classes of biopolymers studied, kefiran films only have gained emphasis in recent years. Its film-forming ability and outstanding biological activities illustrate its potential for active packaging applications.