Nano-chitin: Preparation strategies and food biopolymer film reinforcement and applications

Jing Liao; Yuhang Zhou; Bo Hou; Jiamin Zhang; Huihua Huang

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.120553

Nano-chitin: Preparation strategies and food biopolymer film reinforcement and applications

Carbohydr Polym. 2023 Apr 1:305:120553. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.120553. Epub 2023 Jan 6.

Authors

Jing Liao¹, Yuhang Zhou², Bo Hou², Jiamin Zhang³, Huihua Huang⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China; Meat Processing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China; Cuisine Science Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Tourism University, Chengdu 610100, China. Electronic address: liaojing1228@cdu.edu.cn.
² College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China.
³ Meat Processing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China.
⁴ School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China. Electronic address: fehhuang@scut.edu.cn.

PMID: 36737217
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.120553

Abstract

Current trends in food packaging systems are toward biodegradable polymer materials, especially the food biopolymer films made from polysaccharides and proteins, but they are limited by mechanical strength and barrier properties. Nano-chitin has great economic value as a highly efficient functional and reinforcing material. The combination of nano-chitin and food biopolymers offers good opportunities to prepare biodegradable packaging films with enhanced physicochemical and functional properties. This review aims to give the latest advances in nano-chitin preparation strategies and its uses in food biopolymer film reinforcement and applications. The first part systematically introduces various preparation methods for nano-chitin, including chitin nanofibers (ChNFs) and chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs). The nano-chitin reinforced biodegradable films based on food biopolymers, such as polysaccharides and proteins, are described in the second part. The last part provides an overview of the current applications of nano-chitin reinforced food biopolymer films in the food industry.

Keywords: Biodegradable films; Food biopolymers; Food packaging; Nano-chitin.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biopolymers / chemistry
Chitin* / chemistry
Food Packaging / methods
Nanofibers* / chemistry
Polymers

Substances

Chitin
Biopolymers
Polymers