Electrospinning of sustainable polymers from biomass for active food packaging

Abstract

Recent advances in active food packaging have been driven by the integration of electrospun materials, exploiting their inherent advantages. Electrospun materials can be easily functionalized with antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and sensory additives, as well as ethylene scavengers and CO₂ emitters making them ideal for active food packaging. However, it's worth noting that certain electrospun materials utilized in this context are derived from petroleum-based synthetic polymers, which may raise environmental concerns post-usage. In this regard, the use of sustainable polymers for electrospun food packaging materials can address problems like waste generation and the environmental impact of traditional synthetic, petroleum-based polymers. Central to this transition is the utilization of biomass-derived polymers sourced from renewable sources like plants, algae, microorganisms, and wastes. Sustainable polymers, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA), starch, cellulose and derivatives, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), chitosan, gelatin, and zein have emerged as key sustainable players in active food packaging. This review provides a comprehensive overview of electrospun materials of sustainable polymers derived from biomass for the development of active food packaging films. The review begins with a brief description of the fundamentals and process for active food packaging and electrospinning, followed by a detailed examination of the applications of electrospun materials for active food packaging, categorized by polymer type and bioactivity. Finally, the review concludes with current challenges and provides insights into future perspectives in this area.