Thermo-mechanical, rheological, microstructural, and barrier properties of gum-based edible packaging: A review

• Published in: Food packaging and shelf life Vol. 38; p. 101117
• Main Authors: Ahmed, Jasim, Santhosh, R., Thakur, Rahul, Mulla, Mehraj, Sarkar, Preetam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2023
• Subjects: Amorphophallus; biodegradability; Edible films and coatings; human health; Mechanical property; Microstructure; nanoparticles; permeability; polymers; Rheology; shelf life; strength (mechanics); TGA; water vapor; xanthan gum; Edible films and coatings; Microstructure; Rheology; Mechanical property; TGA
• ISSN: 2214-2894; 2214-2894
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fpsl.2023.101117

Single-use plastics are a major threat to the environment and human health. Prioritizing sustainable and nature-derived biodegradable materials to develop edible films and coatings for food products is the current focus in packaging applications. Among such biodegradable polymers, gums obtained from plant seeds (e.g., guar and tara), plant exudates (e.g., Arabic and karaya), tubers (e.g., konjac and salep), or modern biotechnological approaches (e.g., xanthan and gellan) are important ones, and they have been the subject of recent interest in developing edible films and coatings. Because of the highly branched nature of the polymer network and their affinity for water molecules, the gum-based films have low mechanical strength and poor resistance to water vapor permeability. With a goal to improve the thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties of gum-based films, this review discusses the approaches to property improvement currently used, including plasticization, blending, and the addition of active compounds and nanoparticles. [Display omitted] •The review describes progress and perspectives in edible packaging and coatings.•The rheology of filmogenic solutions is reviewed.•Advances in the thermal property measurement of edible films have been elucidated.•The barrier and mechanical properties of edible films are discussed.