Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

A review of advancements in chitosan-essential oil composite films: Better and sustainable food preservation with biodegradable packaging

This review covers how films made from chitosan (a natural material from shellfish) combined with essential oils are being developed as biodegradable food packaging to replace conventional plastics. By reducing reliance on plastic packaging, these alternatives could help decrease the amount of microplastics that migrate into food and are ultimately consumed by people.

2024 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the Role of Chitosan in Fabricating Biodegradable Films for Functional Food Packaging: A Review

This review examines the use of chitosan — a biopolymer derived from crustacean shells — in fabricating biodegradable food packaging films, evaluating its mechanical, antimicrobial, and barrier properties as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics.

2023 Journal of Young Pharmacists 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Tuning the Properties of Xylan/Chitosan-Based Films by Temperature and Citric Acid Crosslinking Agent

This paper is not about microplastics in an environmental or health context; it describes the development of xylan-chitosan bioplastic films crosslinked with citric acid as a petroleum-free alternative packaging material, focused on material properties rather than pollution or exposure.

2024 Polymers 3 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

Insight on Incorporation of Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Substances in Biopolymer-Based Active Packaging

The study reviews the development of biopolymer-based active packaging systems that incorporate essential oils as antimicrobial agents for food preservation. Researchers discuss how these technologies can extend shelf life, reduce food waste, and improve food safety, while noting challenges around scalability and regulatory considerations.

2023 Antibiotics 50 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

Chitosan/Montmorillonite Coatings for the Fabrication of Food-Safe Greaseproof Paper

Researchers developed a non-toxic greaseproof paper coating by combining chitosan with montmorillonite clay, finding that the composite coating significantly improved oil resistance compared to chitosan alone, offering a food-safe alternative to fluorochemical-based coatings.

2021 Polymers 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Bio-Based Dual-Layer UV-Cured Oil- and Water-Resistant Paper Coating for Food Packaging Applications

Despite its title referencing bio-based paper coatings for food packaging, this paper studies how chitosan and plant-oil-derived coatings can replace fluorine-based chemicals on paper food packaging to resist water and oil — not microplastic pollution. It examines barrier performance and mechanical strength and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.

2026 International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Article Tier 2

Development and characterization of active gelatin-chitosan packaging incorporated with guava leaf extract for extending meat shelf life

Researchers developed active food packaging films made from gelatin and chitosan incorporating natural antimicrobial agents, evaluating their barrier properties, mechanical strength, and ability to extend food shelf life. The bio-based packaging showed effective antimicrobial activity and reduced food spoilage compared to untreated films.

2024 Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of Cross-Linkers on the Wash Resistance of Chitosan-Functionalized Polyester Fabrics

Researchers evaluated how different cross-linkers affect the wash resistance of chitosan-functionalized polyester textiles, finding that cross-linker chemistry determines how well the antimicrobial chitosan coating withstands repeated laundering.

2024 Polymers
Article Tier 2

Oil‐ and water‐resistant paper substrate using blends of chitosan‐graft‐polydimethylsiloxane and poly(vinyl alcohol)

Researchers developed a plastic- and fluorine-free coating approach for oil and water repellent paper substrates using blends of poly(vinyl alcohol) and chitosan-graft-polydimethylsiloxane copolymer, offering an economical alternative to conventional coatings that contribute to microplastic contamination.

2021 Journal of Applied Polymer Science 31 citations
Article Tier 2

The use of chitosan for water purification from microplastics

Researchers investigated chitosan as a sorbent for removing microplastics from water, analyzing its physicochemical properties and proposing an optimized purification method based on chitosan's sorption characteristics.

2025 Open MIND
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

PLA Films Containing Montmorillonite Nanoclay–Citronella Essential Oil Hybrids for Potential Active Film Formulation

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper characterises films made from polylactic acid (PLA) blended with montmorillonite nanoclay and citronella essential oil as a potential active food packaging material with antimicrobial properties.

2023 Macromol—A Journal of Macromolecular Research 14 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

A multifunctional biogenic films and coatings from synergistic aqueous dispersion of wood-derived suberin and cellulose nanofibers

Researchers developed multifunctional bio-based packaging films and coatings using suberin, an industrial byproduct, stabilized with amphiphilic cellulose nanofibers. The resulting materials demonstrated UV shielding and antimicrobial properties while serving as effective food packaging. The study presents a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic packaging that could help reduce microplastic pollution from packaging degradation.

2024 Carbohydrate Polymers 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of Nano-Silica and Sorbitol on the Properties of Chitosan-Based Composite Films

Chitosan composite films incorporating nano-silica and sorbitol were prepared and characterized, finding that the additives improved film flexibility and mechanical properties while maintaining biodegradability, with potential applications in food packaging.

2023 Polymers 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Preparation and characteristics of carboxymethyl cellulose-based films embedding cinnamon essential oil and their application on mutton preservation

Researchers prepared carboxymethyl cellulose-based composite films embedded with functional additives and characterized their structural, mechanical, and barrier properties, finding the films showed promise as biodegradable packaging alternatives with tunable performance characteristics.

2025 Frontiers in Nutrition 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Water- and Oil-Repellent Coating for Disposable Meal Boxes Based on Highly Deacetylated Chitosan

Researchers developed a sustainable, fluorine-free chitosan-based coating for paper meal boxes that provides water and oil resistance, offering an environmentally safer alternative to conventional petrochemical and fluorinated coatings that generate microplastics and PFAS contamination.

2025 Materials
Article Tier 2

Chitosan with Natural Additives as a Potential Food Packaging

Researchers reviewed the potential of chitosan, a natural polymer derived from chitin, as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic food packaging. Chitosan-based materials combined with natural additives show promising antimicrobial and biocompatible properties while being biodegradable. The study suggests these materials could help reduce plastic packaging waste and the associated microplastic pollution from food industry sources.

2023 Materials 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of thyme essential oil on the properties of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT)

Thyme essential oil was incorporated into poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) biodegradable films at 0-20% w/w concentrations to evaluate its effects on film properties. The essential oil improved antimicrobial activity and altered mechanical and thermal properties, with the main active component identified as o-cymene.

2024 Polímeros 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Facile Fabrication of Highly Efficient Chitosan-Based Multifunctional Coating for Cotton Fabrics with Excellent Flame-Retardant and Antibacterial Properties

Researchers developed an eco-friendly chitosan-based coating for cotton fabrics that provides both flame-retardant and antibacterial properties. The coating was created by protonating chitosan with amino trimethylene phosphonic acid in a high atom-economy process. The study demonstrates a sustainable alternative to synthetic fabric treatments that could help reduce the release of harmful microplastic fibers from conventional coated textiles.

2024 Polymers 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Advancements in Chitosan–Anthocyanin Composite Films: Sustainable Food Preservation with Biodegradable Packaging

This review covers recent progress in developing biodegradable food packaging made from chitosan (derived from shellfish) combined with anthocyanins (plant pigments), which can preserve food freshness while avoiding the microplastic contamination associated with traditional plastic packaging. These films have antibacterial and antioxidant properties and can even change color to indicate food spoilage, offering a promising alternative to single-use plastics.

2025 Foods 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Active Fish Gelatin/Chitosan Blend Film Incorporated with Guava Leaf Powder Carbon Dots: Properties, Release and Antioxidant Activity

Researchers developed active food packaging films by incorporating carbon dots derived from guava leaf powder into gelatin and chitosan blends. The films showed improved UV-blocking properties and antioxidant activity that increased with higher carbon dot content. The study presents these biodegradable films as a potential alternative to conventional plastic packaging for extending food shelf life without synthetic additives.

2024 Gels 30 citations