Publicação
Electrospinning of natural-based formulations aiming at food packaging applications
| Resumo: | Electrospinning is a low-cost technique that uses high voltage applied to polymeric solutions triggered by an electric field through a needle to form nanofibers deposited on a metallic collector, forming films for various applications. The characteristics of the solutions, processing parameters, and environmental conditions can affect the films' formation and properties. Adding active substances to polymeric solutions is also highly sought as they have good biocompatibility with natural polymers, permitting the production of nanofiber films with improved characteristics, which have great applicability in the food industry in the food packaging area. Considering cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer on the planet, the objective of this study was to use hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) a cellulose derivative, as a natural polymer, in combination with polyethylene oxide (PEO) as a copolymer, saponin (Quillaja saponin) as active substance and distilled water, as a non-toxic solvent, for nanofibers film production through electrospinning. After a literature review, the amounts of HPMC, PEO, and saponin used in the polymer solutions were defined. For the base solutions, PEO dissolved in water at 1% and 1.5% (w/v), and then three concentrations of HPMC were added in in proportions of 2%, 3%, and 3.5% (w/v), generating six formulations. After being prepared, these base solutions were electrospun, with different parameters used, and the maximum HPMC content was 3% among the solutions that were successfully electrospun. Afterward, saponin was added to base solutions, and all were successfully electrospun. The solutions and films were characterized by several analyses, such as viscosity, electrical conductivity, optical microscopy (OM), wettability, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The base solutions presented a higher apparent viscosity than those with added saponin but a lower electrical conductivity. The OM analysis showed the formation of nanofibers by the base solutions that were successfully electrospun and in all solutions that contained saponin, of which the films produced presented some circles in the OM analysis for solutions with higher concentrations of HPMC (3.5%). The wettability analysis confirms the hydrophilic properties of all films, and the FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of polymers and saponin in the films, showing the stretching of functional groups in the final produced films. In general, this work aimed to prepare films that could be applied in the food packaging area. |
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| Autores principais: | Corrêa, Larissa |
| Assunto: | Electrospinning Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose Bioactive compounds Nanofibers Functional films Food packaging |
| Ano: | 2024 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso restrito |
| Instituição associada: | Instituto Politécnico de Bragança |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Biblioteca Digital do IPB |
| Resumo: | Electrospinning is a low-cost technique that uses high voltage applied to polymeric solutions triggered by an electric field through a needle to form nanofibers deposited on a metallic collector, forming films for various applications. The characteristics of the solutions, processing parameters, and environmental conditions can affect the films' formation and properties. Adding active substances to polymeric solutions is also highly sought as they have good biocompatibility with natural polymers, permitting the production of nanofiber films with improved characteristics, which have great applicability in the food industry in the food packaging area. Considering cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer on the planet, the objective of this study was to use hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) a cellulose derivative, as a natural polymer, in combination with polyethylene oxide (PEO) as a copolymer, saponin (Quillaja saponin) as active substance and distilled water, as a non-toxic solvent, for nanofibers film production through electrospinning. After a literature review, the amounts of HPMC, PEO, and saponin used in the polymer solutions were defined. For the base solutions, PEO dissolved in water at 1% and 1.5% (w/v), and then three concentrations of HPMC were added in in proportions of 2%, 3%, and 3.5% (w/v), generating six formulations. After being prepared, these base solutions were electrospun, with different parameters used, and the maximum HPMC content was 3% among the solutions that were successfully electrospun. Afterward, saponin was added to base solutions, and all were successfully electrospun. The solutions and films were characterized by several analyses, such as viscosity, electrical conductivity, optical microscopy (OM), wettability, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The base solutions presented a higher apparent viscosity than those with added saponin but a lower electrical conductivity. The OM analysis showed the formation of nanofibers by the base solutions that were successfully electrospun and in all solutions that contained saponin, of which the films produced presented some circles in the OM analysis for solutions with higher concentrations of HPMC (3.5%). The wettability analysis confirms the hydrophilic properties of all films, and the FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of polymers and saponin in the films, showing the stretching of functional groups in the final produced films. In general, this work aimed to prepare films that could be applied in the food packaging area. |
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