Antimicrobial packaging has recently attracted a great deal of interest from the food industry due to the boost in consumer demand for minimally-processed, preservative-free products. Antimicrobial polymeric packaging systems can be considered an emerging technology that could have an important impact on shelf life extension and food safety. Novel polymeric-based packaging materials are continually being developed. This book collects carefully chosen examples of the most recent and relevant advances in the preparation and characterization of antimicrobial composites for food packaging applications. Different polymer nanocomposites with improved packaging properties are discussed along with their mechanisms of action. Further, future perspectives for antimicrobial polymeric nanomaterials are provided.

Antimicrobial Food Packaging takes an interdisciplinary approach to provide a complete and robust understanding of packaging from some of the most well-known international experts. This practical reference provides basic information and practical applications for the potential uses of various films in food packaging, describes the different types of microbial targets (fungal, bacteria, etc.), and focuses on the applicability of techniques to industry. Tactics on the monitoring of microbial activity that use antimicrobial packaging detection of food borne pathogens, the use of biosensors, and testing antimicrobial susceptibility are also included, along with food safety and good manufacturing practices. The book aims to curtail the development of microbiological contamination of food through anti-microbial packaging to improve the safety in the food supply chain. - Presents the science behind anti-microbial packaging and films reflecting advancements in chemistry, microbiology, and food science - Includes the most up-to-date information on regulatory aspects, consumer acceptance, research trends, cost analysis, risk analysis and quality control - Discusses the uses of natural and unnatural compounds for food safety and defense

The book "Advances in Nanocomposite Technology" contains 16 chapters divided in three sections. Section one, "Electronic Applications", deals with the preparation and characterization of nanocomposite materials for electronic applications and studies. In section two, "Material Nanocomposites", the advanced research of polymer nanocomposite material and polymer-clay, ceramic, silicate glass-based nanocomposite and the functionality of graphene nanocomposites is presented. The Human and Bioapplications section is describing how nanostructures are synthesized and draw attention on wide variety of nanostructures available for biological research and treatment applications. We believe that this book offers broad examples of existing developments in nanocomposite technology research and an excellent introduction to nanoelectronics, nanomaterial applications and bionanocomposites.

Food Packaging: Nanotechnology in the Agri-Food Industry, Volume 7, focuses on the development of novel nanobiomaterials, the enhancement of barrier performance of non-degradable and biodegradable plastics, and their fabrication and application in food packaging. The book brings together fundamental information and the most recent advances in the synthesis, design, and impact of alternative food packaging. Special attention is offered on smart materials and nanodevices that are able to detect quality parameters in packaged food, such as freshness, degradation, and contamination, etc. In addition, ecological approaches aiming to obtain bioplastics packages from waste materials are highlighted and discussed as a novel approach in modern food packaging. Nonetheless, this volume presents the advances made in biodegradable and bioactive packaging utilized for preserving flavor, nutritious ingredients, and therapeutic food compounds. - Includes fabrication techniques, such as nanofiber films, nanocoating, nanocompositing, multi-layered structures, and layer-by-layer nanoassemblies based on synthetic and bio-based polymers - Presents the latest information on new biodegradeable materials using fabrication of new high barrier plastics to enhance research - Provides examples of risk assessment for nanomaterials for food safety and the benefits of antimicrobial food packaging

This book provides an overview of the lastest developments in biobased materials and their applications in food packaging. Written by experts in their respective research domain, its thirteen chapters discuss in detail fundamental knowledge on bio based materials. It is intended as a reference book for researchers, students, research scholars, academicians and scientists seeking biobased materials for food packaging applications.

Recent developments in multifunctional and nanoreinforced polymers have provided the opportunity to produce high barrier, active and intelligent food packaging which can help ensure, or even enhance, the quality and safety of packaged foods. Multifunctional and nanoreinforced polymers for food packaging provides a comprehensive review of novel polymers and polymer nanocomposites for use in food packaging.After an introductory chapter, Part one discusses nanofillers for plastics in food packaging. Chapters explore the use of passive and active nanoclays and hidrotalcites, cellulose nanofillers and electrospun nanofibers and nanocapsules. Part two investigates high barrier plastics for food packaging. Chapters assess the transport and high barrier properties of food packaging polymers such as ethylene-norbornene copolymers and advanced single-site polyolefins, nylon-MXD6 resins and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers before going on to explore recent advances in various plastic packaging technologies such as modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), nanoscale inorganic coatings and functional barriers against migration. Part three reviews active and bioactive plastics in food packaging. Chapters investigate silver-based antimicrobial polymers, the incorporation of antimicrobial/antioxidant natural extracts into polymeric films, and biaoctive food packaging strategies. Part four examines nanotechnology in sustainable plastics with chapters examining the food packaging applications of polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposites, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), starch-based polymers, chitosan and carragenan polysaccharides and protein-based resins for packaging gluten (WG)-based materials. The final chapter presents the safety and regulatory aspects of plastics as food packaging materials.With its distinguished editor and international team of expert contributors Multifunctional and nanoreinforced polymers for food packaging proves a valuable resource for researchers in packaging in the food industry and polymer scientists interested in multifunctional and nanoreinforced materials. - Provides a comprehensive review of novel polymers and polymer nanocomposites for use in food packaging - Discusses nanofillers for plastics in food packaging including the use of passive and active nanoclays and hidrotalcites and electrospun nanofibers - Investigates high barrier plastics for food packaging assessing recent advances in various plastic packaging technologies such as modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)

Towards more sustainable packaging with biodegradable materials! The combination of the continuously increasing food packaging waste with the non-biodegradable nature of the plastic materials that have a big slice of the packaging market makes it necessary to move towards sustainable packaging for the benefit of the environment and human health. Sustainable packaging is the type of packaging that can provide to food the necessary protection conditions, but at the same type is biodegradable and can be disposed as organic waste to the landfills in order to biodegrade through a natural procedure. In this way, sustainable packaging becomes part of the circular economy. ?Sustainable Food Packaging Technology? deals with packaging solutions that use engineered biopolymers or biocomposites that have suitable physicochemical properties for food contact and protection and originate both from renewable or non-renewable resources, but in both cases are compostable or edible. Modified paper and cardboard with increased protective properties towards food while keeping their compostability are presented as well. The book also covers natural components that can make the packaging functional, e.g., by providing active protection to the food indicating food spoilage. * Addresses urgent problems: food packaging creates a lot of hard-to-recycle waste - this book puts forward more sustainable solutions using biodegradable materials * State-of-the-art: ?Sustainable Food Packaging Technology? provides knowledge on new developments in functional packaging * From lab to large-scale applications: expert authors report on the technology aspects of sustainable packaging