article · Journal of Food Process Engineering
Food spoilage caused by microbial growth and oxidation contributes significantly to global food waste. Active food packaging films integrating natural plant polyphenols with metallic nanoparticles, including silver, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide, offer a promising remedy. Plant polyphenols contribute strong antimicrobial activity and free radical scavenging, whereas metallic nanoparticles reinforce mechanical strength, thermal stability, and microbial defence. When used together, these materials often yield additive or synergistic enhancements in antioxidant and antimicrobial performance, extending food shelf life while lessening dependence on synthetic preservatives. However, several critical hurdles remain, including the stability of bioactive compounds, potential risks associated with nanoparticle migration, environmental impacts, and regulatory compliance. Addressing these challenges requires careful optimisation of release behaviours to ensure safe, high-performing hybrid packaging designs.
Food waste caused by contamination and oxidation is an urgent global problem. Developing active packaging from natural plant extracts and nanomaterials can keep perishable goods fresh for longer without synthetic preservatives. Understanding how these components interact helps design safer, sturdier, and more sustainable packaging materials that reduce waste across the food supply chain.
The technology is targeted at food processors and packaging manufacturers seeking active films that extend food shelf life. As a review examining mechanistic frameworks alongside obstacles such as nanoparticle migration, compound stability, and regulatory approval, the underlying solutions remain largely at an early-stage research and development phase rather than near commercial deployment.
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ABSTRACT Food spoilage, which is driven largely by microbial contamination and oxidative degradation, remains a major contributor to global food waste, prompting growing interest in active food packaging materials with built‐in antimicrobial and antioxidant functions. This review examines hybrid films that combine natural polyphenols with metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) as innovative packaging solutions. Polyphenols, extracted from plant sources, exhibit strong free radical scavenging and antimicrobial properties, while MNPs such as silver (Ag), zinc oxide (ZnO), and titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) enhance mechanical strength, thermal stability, and microbial inhibition. When combined, these components frequently produce additive and, in several reported systems, synergistic improvements in antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, thereby extending shelf life and reducing reliance on synthetic additives. Challenges such as compound stability, nanoparticle migration risks, regulatory hurdles, and environmental impact are discussed, along with strategies to optimize release profiles and enhance film performance. By critically examining the mechanisms underlying polyphenol‐MNP interactions alongside the experimental evidence for their combined bioactivity, this review provides a mechanistic framework to guide the rational design of hybrid food packaging films.
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DOI: 10.1111/jfpe.70746
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