Fabrication and characterization of biomimetic plant cuticles from pullulan - graphene oxide (PU-GO) and beeswax - stearic acid (BW-SA) for Citrus Limon Rosso preservation

Hongchen Wan; Da-Wen Sun; Zhiwei Zhu; Leyin Zeng

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127776

Fabrication and characterization of biomimetic plant cuticles from pullulan - graphene oxide (PU-GO) and beeswax - stearic acid (BW-SA) for Citrus Limon Rosso preservation

Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Jan;254(Pt 2):127776. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127776. Epub 2023 Oct 29.

Authors

Hongchen Wan¹, Da-Wen Sun², Zhiwei Zhu¹, Leyin Zeng¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China; Academy of Contemporary Food Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China; Engineering and Technological Research Centre of Guangdong Province on Intelligent Sensing and Process Control of Cold Chain Foods, & Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Intelligent Cold Chain Logistics Equipment for Agricultural Products, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, China.
² School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China; Academy of Contemporary Food Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China; Engineering and Technological Research Centre of Guangdong Province on Intelligent Sensing and Process Control of Cold Chain Foods, & Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Intelligent Cold Chain Logistics Equipment for Agricultural Products, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, China; Food Refrigeration and Computerized Food Technology (FRCFT), Agriculture and Food Science Centre, University College Dublin, National University of Ireland, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Electronic address: dawen.sun@ucd.ie.

PMID: 37907180
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127776

Abstract

Inspired by the natural plant cuticles, a novel strategy was proposed for the fabrication of biomimetic plant cuticles from pullulan-graphene oxide (PU-GO) and beeswax-stearic acid (BW-SA), which could serve as hydrophilic polysaccharides and hydrophobic waxes, respectively. PU-GO and PU-GO/BW-SA in different GO concentrations (0, 10, 30 and 50 μg/mL) were prepared, and their structural characteristics and basic properties were investigated. Results showed that PU-GO/BW-SA possessed a hydrophilic layer and a hydrophobic structure similar to the structure of natural plant cuticles. The incorporation of GO enhanced the barrier properties of the films and PU-GO/BW-SA showed a higher contact angle, lower tensile strength and higher barrier properties compared with PU-GO. In addition, PU-GO/BW-SA in 10 μg/mL GO concentration (PU-GO₁₀/BW-SA) possessed the lowest WVP (7.2 × 10^-7 g/(m h Pa)) and a contact angle (93.78°) similar to natural plant cuticles. Applications in Citrus Limon Rosso further proved the potential of PU-GO₁₀/BW-SA as a biomimetic plant cuticle in fruit preservation.

Keywords: Biomimetic plant cuticle; Citrus fruit; Hydrophilic polysaccharides; Hydrophobic waxes; Water loss prevention.

MeSH terms

Biomimetics
Citrus*
Waxes / chemistry

Substances

pullulan
stearic acid
beeswax
graphene oxide
Waxes