Designing Biodegradable and Active Multilayer System by Assembling an Electrospun Polycaprolactone Mat Containing Quercetin and Nanocellulose between Polylactic Acid Films

Abstract

The design of multilayer systems is an innovative strategy to improve physical properties of biodegradable polymers and introduce functionality to the materials through the incorporation of an active compound into some of these layers. In this work, a trilayer film based on a sandwich of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers (PCLé) containing quercetin (Q) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) between extruded polylactic acid (PLA) films was designed with the purpose of improving thermal and barrier properties and affording antioxidant activity to packaged foods. PCLé was successfully electrospun onto 70 µm-thick extruded PLA film followed by the assembling of a third 25 µm-thick commercial PLA film through hot pressing. Optical, morphological, thermal, and barrier properties were evaluated in order to study the effect of PCL layer and the addition of Q and CNC. Bilayer systems obtained after the electrospinning process of PCL onto PLA film were also evaluated. The release of quercetin from bi- and trilayer films to food simulants was also analyzed. Results evidenced that thermal treatment during thermo-compression melted PCL polymer and resulted in trilayer systems with barrier properties similar to single PLA film. Quercetin release from bi- and trilayer films followed a similar profile, but achieved highest value through the addition of CNC.

Development of Active Packaging to Extend the Shelf Life of Agaricus bisporus by Using Plasma Technology

“…Relevant studies have confirmed that active multilayer films have been used for controlled release [ 29 , 30 ] and to improve the antioxidant capacity and antibacterial capacity [ 31 ] as well as the physical structure and other properties of packaging material [ 32 ], which indicates that the combination of composite polymers used in the development of food packaging is an important trend in polymer research.…”

Nanocomposites and their application in antimicrobial packaging

“…A multilayer packaging material was designed based on a sandwich of electrospun PCL fibers containing quercitin and cellulose nanocrystals between extruded PLA films. Thermal and barrier properties were not significantly improved as compared with 80 μm extruded PLA, probably due to the low thickness of PLC layer, but quercitin provides biological activities to this material ( López de Dicastillo et al, 2021 ).…”

Assessment of Polylactide as Optical Material

“…However, increasing CNC content is reported to decrease transmittance and induce yellowing 216 . T400-800 >80 % and enhanced barrier properties are achieved for CNC PLA multilayered films 217,218 , but no information on crystallinity is provided [217][218][219] . Increasing CNC content is again reported to decrease overall transparency by showing photographs but without quntification 220 .…”