Researchers describe the preparation and characterisation of an Aloe vera polysaccharide-based packaging film and its application in blueberry preservation.
In a new study, AVP-HMBCa-CNCs films were prepared based on Aloe vera polysaccharide (AVP), using β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate calcium (HMBCa) and nanocellulose (CNCs) as cross-linking and reinforcing agents, respectively, whose effect on freshness preservation of blueberry was investigated. HMBCa addition concentrations of 0.1 to 0.5 mg mL−1 exhibited excellent mechanical and barrier properties.
Transparent edible film
In the meantime, adding HMBCa not only improves transparency and reduces solubility, but also boosts the film’s antioxidant and antibacterial ability. In addition, AVP-0.25HMBCa-CNCs film showed excellent performance in terms of hardness, respiration rate, weight loss, relative conductivity, total soluble solids and titrable acidity of blueberry. According to the researchers, as a transparent edible film, AVP-HMBCa-CNCs film has great potential for green and food preservation.
The study has been published in Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 177, April 2023.
