Development of nanocomposites with active principles added as nanoemulsion

• Grant number: 13/25907-9
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Engineering
• Principal researcher: Paulo José do Amaral Sobral
• Grantee: Elisabete Maria da Cruz Alexandre
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07914-8 - FoRC - Food Research Center, AP.CEPID

Abstract

In overall, the gelatin-based films present good mechanicall resistance, however it's constituted poor water vapor barrier. An alternative to improve the properties of these films could be the use of nanoparticles as charge of reinforcement, producing a material so called as nanocomposites (Lagarón et al., 2005).Moreover, it can be suggested that the films based on biopolymers reinforced with nanoparticles can be interesting for the development of active packaging, either due to the antimicrobial character, such as for the films developed for Rhim et al. (2006), either due to the control of the inside atmosphere of the packing, as a function of the nanocomposites permeability to the gas, the water vapor and the ethylene. By definition, a packing can be considered as active, when it have the property to select, to gradually liberate, to absorb or to transform a component or a gas (Gontard, 2000).But, the perfect retention of the active component in the biopolymeric matrix during the processing of films, and its controlled release during their application as food packing, can be improved if the active principle, normally non polar component can be dispersed in water as a nanoemulsion. Thus, the specific objective of this project of post-doctor is the development of nanocomposites films based on gelatin and activated with active principles applied as nanoemulsions. The post-doc candidate will collaborate in the supervision of theses in this context, and will act as a manager of the project, beyond carrying its research activities.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CRUZ ALEXANDRE, ELISABETE MARIA; LOURENCO, RODRIGO VINICIUS; QUINTA BARBOSA BITTANTE, ANA MONICA; FREITAS MORAES, IZABEL CRISTINA; DO AMARAL SOBRAL, PAULO JOSE. Gelatin-based films reinforced with montmorillonite and activated with nanoemulsion of ginger essential oil for food packaging applications. FOOD PACKAGING AND SHELF LIFE, v. 10, p. 87-96, DEC 2016. Web of Science Citations: 24.

CORONADO JORGE, MANUEL FERNANDO; ALEXANDRE, ELISABETE M. C.; CAICEDO FLAKER, CHRISTIAN HUMBERTO; QUINTA BARBOSA BITTANTE, ANA MONICA; DO AMARAL SOBRAL, PAULO JOSE. Biodegradable Films Based on Gelatin and Montmorillonite Produced by Spreading. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE, 2015. Web of Science Citations: 6.