Thermoplastic starch (TPS) polymers were reviewed in this article. This review was categorized into the following studies: the role of starch as a thermoplastic polymer, transformation and melting mechanisms, plasticization and plasticizers, reactive extrusion (REX) and modifications, retrogradation, biodegradability, filler and blenders, and nano‐particle incorporation in thermoplastic starch. This categorization allows us to understand the developments in this field in recent years and shows that the major challenges in the future are reducing sensitivity to moisture and retarding retrogradation of the thermoplastic matrix. Moreover, nano‐particles such as clay can be used in TPS matrices to overcome these disadvantages.

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SummaryCollagen isolated from the ribbon jellyfi sh (Chrysaora sp.) was hydrolysed using three diff erent proteases (i.e. trypsin, alcalase and Protamex) to obtain bioactive peptides. Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity and antioxidant activities (i.e. ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity) of the peptides were measured and compared, and the eff ect of the duration of hydrolysis on the bioactivity (ACE inhibitory and antioxidant activities) of peptides was also evaluated. FRAP activity was the highest in Protamex-induced (25-27 mM) and trypsin-induced hydrolysates (24-26 mM) at 7 and 9 h, respectively. Conversely, hydrolysates produced by trypsin for 1 and 3 h showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activities (94 and 92 %, respectively). Trypsin-induced hydrolysates (at 3 h) also showed the highest ACE inhibitory activity (89 %). The peptide sequences with the highest activities were identifi ed using tandem mass spectrometry, and the results show that the hydrolysates had a high content of hydrophobic amino acids as well as unique amino acid sequences, which likely contribute to their biological activities.

Effects of nano-kaolin incorporation into semolina films on the physical, mechanical, thermal, barrier and antimicrobial properties of the resulting bio-nanocomposite films were investigated. The properties included crystal structure (by X-ray diffraction), mechanical resistance, color, Fourier transform infrared spectra, decomposition temperature, water-vapor permeability (WVP), oxygen permeability (OP), and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Kaolin was incorporated into biofilms at various amounts (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 %, w/w total solid). All films were plasticized with 50 % (w/w total solid) combination of sorbitol/glycerol at 3:1 ratio. The incorporation of nanokaolin into semolina films decreased OP and WVP. The moisture content and water solubility of the films were found to decrease by nanokaolin reinforcement, and mechanical properties of films were improved by increasing nanokaolin concentration. Tensile strength and Young's modulus increased from 3.41 to 5.44 MPa and from 63.12 to 136.18, respectively, and elongation-at-break decreased. The films did not exhibit UV absorption. In conclusion, nanokaolin incorporation enhanced the barrier and mechanical properties of semolina films, indicating the potential application of these bio-nanocomposites in food-product packaging.