Food nanotechnology concepts applied to pectin-based edible packaging materials

International Conference and Exhibition on Biopolymers & Bioplastics

August 10-12, 2015 San Francisco, USA

Luiz H C Mattoso

Keynote: J Material Sci Eng

Abstract :

Pectins are vegetal, dietary, solution-process able biopolymers that are promising for edible coating and biodegradable
packaging uses. Current research is showing that they play a role on the prevention of numerous diseases as well, including
diabetes and carcinogenesis. The research conducted at the LNNA of Embrapa in Brazil has demonstrated that the
potential of edible pectin films can be upgraded with nanotechnology to create new multifunctional materials for: active
packaging, exemplified by the incorporation of cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsions (the major constituent of cinnamon essential
oil) into edible pectin films; and bioactive packaging, exemplified by the reinforcement of edible pectin films by very small
brucite (a Mg2+-rich primitive clay) nanoplates. Cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsions rendered antimicrobial properties to pectin
films against foodborne pathogens, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes.
Bacterial inhibition for same cinnamaldehyde content is remarkably improved as the nanoemulsion droplet size is
reduced due to an increase in surface area. Mechanical and thermal properties of dietary pectin films were significantly improved
due to the reinforcing effect of brucite nanoplates. Furthermore, migration assays using arugula leaves confirmed that
brucite-reinforced pectin films are capable of fortifying foods with Mg dosages by migration. These findings demonstrate how
dietary pectin films can be designed for advanced food packaging applications where the packaging material itself promotes
consumer health, both by lowering preservative content and supplementing diet with target micronutrients.

Biography :

Luiz H C Mattoso has completed his PhD in Materials Engineering in 1993 from Federal University of São Carlos (Brazil). He was a visiting scientist at Université
Montpellier (France), Domaine Universitaire de Grenoble (France), and USDA (CA, USA). He is the Center Director of Embrapa Instrumentation, a Brazilian federal
research organization. He has published more than 255 papers in reputed journals and 29 book chapters, edited 9 books, won over 25 awards and distinctions, filed
14 patents, served as reviewer of 17 journals and as Editorial Board Member of Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining; Progress in Rubber, Plastics and Recycling
Technology; and Polímeros.