Biopolymers for Nano-Enabled Packaging of Foods

Abstract

Packaging will extend the shelf life of the product by protecting it from physical, chemical, and biological agents. Biopolymer based packaging materials have become popular in recent times due to their easy disposability and environment-friendly nature, though they have lower resistance to breakage and weak water barrier properties compared to synthetic polymers. Biopolymers are mainly based on polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and polyhydroxyalkanoates. However, few polymers are chemically synthesized from monomers of biological origin. Biopolymer derivatives will have added advantages for packaging applications. Nanoparticles can be incorporated into biopolymers to obtain improved, active, and intelligent (smart) food packaging systems. However, safety of these packaging materials should be evaluated before using them in food sector. In this chapter, role of biopolymers in food packaging, applications of nanotechnology