Egg white protein‑sodium alginate smart labels based on pH-driven method and nonphase change 3D printing in mackerel freshness response.

The smart labels prepared via the casting method and molten 3D printing method have a long heating time at high temperature and a dense network structure, resulting in a decrease in the color response ability of the labels. Therefore, this study uses a nonphase change foam 3D printing method with a shorter heating time to improve the color sensitivity of smart labels. By the pH driving method, the blending and pregelation of sodium alginate (Alg) can extend the drainage time of the interfacial film to the maximum extent, thus further improving the foam stability of egg white protein (EWP) and endowing the interfacial adsorption layer with better flexibility and fluidity.

Edible chitosan-based Pickering emulsion coatings: Preparation, characteristics, and application in strawberry preservation.

The long-term application of plant essential oils in food preservation coatings is limited by their poor water solubility and high volatility, despite their recognized synergistic antimicrobial effects in postharvest fruit preservation. To overcome these limitations, a Pickering emulsion loaded with thyme essential oil (TEO) was developed by utilizing hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions to induce cross-linking of chitosan particles. This novel emulsion was subsequently applied in the postharvest storage of strawberries.