Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Functional Nanocellulose, Alginate and Chitosan Nanocomposites Designed as Active Film Packaging Materials

Researchers formulated and characterized 25 nanocellulose-based composite films using cellulose nanocrystals, nanofibrils, and bacterial nanocellulose combined with chitosan and alginate, finding that combinations with chitosan generally provided the best mechanical and barrier properties for potential food packaging use.

2021 Polymers 114 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable materials based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly (lactic acid) (PLA) with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity for food packaging applications

Researchers developed biodegradable food packaging films by combining poly(vinyl alcohol) and polylactic acid with natural antioxidants and antimicrobials. The resulting films extended food shelf life and degraded in the environment unlike conventional plastic packaging. Replacing petroleum-based plastic food packaging with biodegradable alternatives could significantly reduce microplastic contamination from packaging waste.

2021 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Preparation of simple biodegradable, nontoxic, and antimicrobial PHB/PU/CuO bionanocomposites for safely use as bioplastic material packaging

Researchers developed biodegradable films from polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) extracted from microalgae combined with polyurethane and copper oxide nanoparticles for use as bioplastic packaging. The films showed antimicrobial activity against multiple pathogens, no cytotoxic effects on human cells, and improved mechanical and surface properties with CuO nanoparticle loading.

2023 Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Safely Dissolvable and Healable Active Packaging Films Based on Alginate and Pectin

Researchers developed active packaging films from alginate and pectin biocomposites that are safely dissolvable in water, self-healing, and exhibit mechanical properties comparable to commercial packaging films, offering a potential biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based plastics.

2019 Polymers 89 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellulose nanofibrils and silver nanoparticles enhances the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposite film

Researchers developed a biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposite film reinforced with sugarcane bagasse cellulose nanofibrils and silver nanoparticles, finding that the combination significantly improved mechanical strength and antimicrobial properties, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic food packaging.

2022 Scientific Reports 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Engineering chitosan into fully bio-sourced, water-soluble and enhanced antibacterial poly(aprotic/protic ionic liquid)s packaging membrane

Researchers designed a water-soluble, antibacterial chitosan-based packaging film using fully bio-sourced materials, addressing growing concerns about microplastic pollution from conventional packaging. The resulting membrane showed enhanced antibacterial performance while remaining environmentally benign.

2023 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) Nanocomposites: Effect of Inorganic Nanoparticles Reinforcement on Its Performance and Food Packaging Applications

This review summarized approaches to reinforcing polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic with inorganic nanoparticles — including clay, silica, and metal oxides — to improve its mechanical strength, barrier properties, and thermal stability for food packaging applications while retaining biodegradability.

2021 Molecules 125 citations
Article Tier 2

Materials

This paper reviews advances in nanocomposite and biopolymer-based food packaging materials, noting that microplastic pollution has been detected globally and is a recognized threat to ecosystem and human health. It briefly contextualises microplastics as a motivation for developing biodegradable packaging alternatives, though the primary focus is materials science rather than microplastics research per se.

2023
Article Tier 2

Multifunctional Application of Biopolymers and Biomaterials

This paper is not about microplastics; it is a broad review of multifunctional applications of biopolymers and biomaterials across medicine, packaging, and engineering.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Use of Alginates as Food Packaging Materials

This review covers the use of alginate-based materials as food packaging, examining how alginate films protect food from physical damage, oxidation, moisture, and microbial contamination. Alginates are highlighted as a natural, biodegradable polymer alternative that avoids the microplastic pollution associated with conventional synthetic food packaging.

2020 Foods 122 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoarchitectonics of Sustainable Food Packaging: Materials, Methods, and Environmental Factors.

This review examines the nanoarchitectonics of sustainable food packaging, covering how nanoscale structural and functional design of materials including biopolymers and nanocomposites affects packaging performance, barrier properties, and environmental impact.

2025 Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
Article Tier 2

Impact of the Incorporation of Nano-Sized Cellulose Formate on the End Quality of Polylactic Acid Composite Film

Researchers found that incorporating nano-sized cellulose formate fillers, including cellulose nanofibrils and nanocrystals, into polylactic acid films significantly improved mechanical strength and barrier properties while maintaining the biodegradable character of the composite, offering a path toward higher-performance sustainable packaging.

2021 Nanomaterials 25 citations
Review Tier 2

Nanohybrids with potential barrier property and antimicrobial activity for application in sustainable polymer food packaging: A mini‐review

This review examines how combining two types of nanoparticles into "nanohybrids" can create better biodegradable food packaging with antimicrobial properties and improved barrier protection. Using biodegradable polymers with these nanohybrids could reduce the reliance on petroleum-based plastics that generate persistent microplastics. The research is relevant to human health because better food packaging alternatives could help cut down on the microplastic contamination that enters the food supply.

2024 Polymers for Advanced Technologies 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Antimicrobial Effect of Chitosan Films on Food Spoilage Bacteria

Researchers evaluated the antibacterial activity of chitosan films combined with metal oxides and graphene oxide derivatives against Campylobacter jejuni and Listeria monocytogenes. The results support chitosan-based composite films as promising biodegradable alternatives to synthetic plastic food packaging with inherent antimicrobial properties.

2021 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 49 citations
Article Tier 2

An Antibacterial and Antioxidant Food Packaging Film Based on Amphiphilic Polypeptides‐Resveratrol‐Chitosan

Researchers developed a biodegradable food packaging film made from natural materials including chitosan and resveratrol that kills bacteria and prevents food spoilage. Unlike conventional plastic packaging that breaks down into microplastics, this film is made entirely from biological materials and poses no microplastic contamination risk. This type of eco-friendly alternative could help reduce the microplastics that enter the food supply through traditional plastic packaging.

2024 Small 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthesis of Biocomposite of Kappa Carrageenan and Polyvinyl Alcohol for Bioplastic

Researchers synthesized biocomposite films from kappa carrageenan and polyvinyl alcohol crosslinked with glutaraldehyde, incorporating chitosan to determine the optimal formulation based on mechanical properties and swelling behavior. The study characterized how varying the ratios of these biopolymers affected film performance, supporting development of sustainable bioplastic alternatives.

2025 The Eurasia Proceedings of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics
Article Tier 2

Chitosan as a sustainable alternative for fresh food packaging: Structural insights, modification strategies, and innovations for commercial viability

Researchers reviewed how chitosan — a natural biopolymer derived from crustacean shells — can serve as a biodegradable alternative to single-use plastic food packaging, detailing chemical modification strategies, nanocomposite reinforcement approaches, and recent advances in antimicrobial and antioxidant performance that improve its commercial viability.

2025 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of nanofibrillated cellulose on alginate and chitosan film properties as potential barrier coatings for paper food packaging

Researchers tested nanofibrillated cellulose as an additive for chitosan and alginate biopolymer films intended for food packaging applications. The study found that adding oxidized nanofibrillated cellulose improved the mechanical and barrier properties of the films, suggesting these biodegradable composites could serve as alternatives to conventional plastic packaging coatings.

2024 BioResources 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Biocomposites and Poly(lactic acid) in Active Packaging: A Review of Current Research and Future Directions

This review examines how bio-based and biodegradable materials, especially polylactic acid (PLA), are being developed as sustainable alternatives for food packaging. While these materials aim to reduce petroleum-based plastic pollution, the review notes that biodegradable plastics can still break down into microplastics during their degradation process. Understanding the full lifecycle of these alternative materials is important for determining whether they truly reduce microplastic contamination.

2024 Polymers 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Electrospun Konjac Glucomannan/Polyvinyl Alcohol Long Polymeric Filaments Incorporated with Tea Polyphenols for Food Preservations

Researchers created nanofiber films from konjac glucomannan and polyvinyl alcohol infused with tea polyphenols for food packaging. The films showed improved mechanical strength, strong antibacterial activity, and the ability to slowly release natural antioxidants, making them a promising biodegradable alternative for extending food shelf life.

2024 Foods 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent Advances in Biopolymers for Biomedical and Packaging Applications

This review examines recent advances in biopolymers -- including polysaccharides, proteins, and synthetic biopolymers -- for applications in biomedical and packaging fields. The authors highlight the appeal of biopolymers as sustainable, biodegradable, and biocompatible alternatives to conventional petroleum-based materials.

2025 The Bombay Technologist
Article Tier 2

Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of Silver Nanoparticle-Loaded Carboxymethyl Chitosan with Sulfobetaine Methacrylate Hydrogel Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications

Researchers created a new nanocomposite hydrogel by embedding silver nanoparticles within a chitosan-based material for potential biomedical uses. The material showed strong antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria while maintaining good biocompatibility with human cells. The study suggests this type of nanocomposite could be useful for wound dressing and other medical applications where infection control is important.

2024 Polymers 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhancing PolyelectrolyteStrength of Biopolymersfor Fully Recyclable and Biodegradable Plastics

Researchers developed a fully recyclable and biodegradable plastic material created through solid polyelectrolyte complexation of naturally occurring biopolymers, enhancing their polyelectrolyte strength to achieve mechanical properties competitive with conventional single-use packaging plastics. The study demonstrated that this approach addresses both the microplastic pollution problem and fossil fuel dependence while enabling end-of-life recyclability.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Polysacharide-based Materials as Support for

Researchers developed polysaccharide-based scaffolds loaded with microplastic-degrading bacteria, using sodium alginate with calcium chloride cross-linking to create biocarriers that support microorganism activity and offer a biological treatment approach for removing microplastics from wastewater.

2025 Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)