Furcellaran: An innovative biopolymer in the production of films and coatings

Abstract

Seaweed is a prominent source of polysaccharides with extraction processes properly established, allowing to employ them in several areas. Among all the types of biopolymers obtained from seaweed, furcellaran has gained notoriety in recent years. This is due to its abundance, water solubility and outstanding film-forming abilities. Despite still being little studied, in several works, remarkable advances in terms of improving properties of furcellaran-based films have been described in the literature. However, there are still numerous research opportunities to be explored regarding the improvement of material properties. Therefore, the objective of this review is to highlight the innovative method in preparation, characterization and performance of furcellaran-based films as food packaging. This is the first study in which current results in the area are presented. Initially, it concerns biopolymer chemical and extraction insights. In addition, a comprehensive description of the advances in film properties is outlined (from mechanical to active/intelligent responses). Ultimately, challenges and future prospects are also discussed.

Keywords: Biopolymer; Edible film; Food packaging; Material properties; Polysaccharide.