Recipient Organization
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
750 AGRONOMY RD STE 2701
COLLEGE STATION,TX 77843-0001
Performing Department
Biological & Agricultural Engineering
Non Technical Summary
Disruptions to the food industry require new strategies for effective interventions to minimize their effect on safety and availability of fresh food products. Research on new and polymeric materials for use in intelligent packaging offer a wide range of opportunities to reduce food safety recalls. The research will produce new knowledge on novel materials as active nanoagents.
Animal Health Component
90%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
90%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
This research program is aimed at the engineering and design of innovative uses of agricultural and biological materials. This project is divided into two specific areas of study: (1) characterization of materials for better understanding of their processability and engineering functionality, and (2) feasibility of using current and new materials in alternative applications (such as food packaging or as carriers of bioactive agents).(1) Characterization of materials for better understanding of their processability and engineering functionalityThe goal of this research is to expand current knowledge on the behavior and properties of food, agricultural, and biological materials for new and improved utilization. Specific objectives of this research are to: (1) evaluate the physical, chemical, mechanical and functional properties of a wide range of potential food-substitute materials; and (2) obtain relevant dose distribution data in selected food targets for mathematical model benchmarking. Dose will be meaured using radiochromic film and alanine dosimeters and compared to the calculated data. These data will be used to determine dose distribution uniformity within the irradiated food. Will conduct tests on e-beam and gamma to establish comparisons regarding effectiveness and safety.The outcome from this research will be critical knowledge in the area of material properties, functionality, and utilization.(2) Feasibility of using current and new materials in alternative applications (such as food packaging).The main goal of this research is to design an effective biopolymeric antimicrobial carrier film for food packaging applications. Specific objectives of this research are: (1) develop film-forming processes for top-quality performance properties using biopolymers; (2) predict the antimicrobial mechanism/kinetics and the controlled-release profile of antimicrobial substances from the film into a food product using mathematical models of diffusion; and (3) optimize carrier film design by modifying the thickness of the control layer to alter the diffusivity of antimicrobial agents (controlled release-rate).Fundamental zero and first order diffusion equations will be used to estimate the engineering parameters relevant to udnerstanding the kinetics of the process. We will use MATLAB for data simulation and model development. The outcome from this research should be a series of antimicrobial delivery systems using "green" and "natural" polymers with tailor-made properties to achieve a given effect. These systems could be widely applied for clinical uses in hospitals (as wound dressings or drug delivery systems), biological labware, biotechnology equipment, as well as food packaging. Other major positive outcomes from this effort will be reduced packaging costs, reduced overwrapping and expanded utilization of newly developed biodegradable packaging materials, which also reduce the problem of excessive waste.Polymer nanocomposite films are a method to incorporate trans-cinnamaldehyde to fresh produce packaging for antimicrobial effects. There have been increasing interesting in immobilizing nanoparticles into contact surfaces such as packaging materials, cutting boards, conveyer belts, or non-contact surfaces such as floor, walls, and curtains (Xie and Hung, 2018). Nanoparticles such as ZIF-8 have been incorporated into various materials, such as polymers (Mazloom-Jalali et al., 2020), graphene sheets (Tsoufis et al., 2018) . ZIF-8 nanocomposite films have been used for applications in gas separations (Huang and Feng, 2018; Yu et al., 2017), gas sensing (Feng et al., 2020; Jafari et al., 2019), oil-water separations (Sann et al., 2018; Yue et al., 2020), solvent filtration (Li et al., 2020; Long et al., 2020), and to reduce thermal rearrangement temperatures (Japip et al., 2019). A nanocomposite film can be developed to incorporate ZIF-8 nanoparticles that embed the antimicrobial trans-cinnamaldehyde drug. This nanocomposite film can be used as a packaging material for fresh produce and release antimicrobial drugs while on display at a grocery store, increasing the shelf life of that product.Currently petroleum-based polymer materials are commonly used for food packaging. When creating a new nanocomposite film for food packaging, we want to focus on biodegradable polymers that can be used. The ideal biodegradable packaging materials are obtained from renewable biological resources, usually called biopolymers, with excellent mechanical and barrier properties and biodegradable at the end of their life. Biopolymers have been considered as a potential environmentally friendly substitute for the use of non-biodegradable and non-renewable plastic packaging materials (Rhim et al., 2013). Furthermore, biopolymer packaging materials are excellent vehicles for incorporating a wide range of additives, such as antioxidants, antifungal agents, antimicrobials, colors, and other nutrients (Imran et al., 2010).Metal organic frameworks (MOF) are nanoparticles that are a hybrid inorganic-organic material, which are composed of metal ion clusters that are linked together by organic ligands to form a framework. Zeolitic imidazole frameworks (ZIF-8) are a MOF that is composed of zinc, creating a framework that has high porosity and enormous surface area. In addition, the porous interior framework created by ZIF-8 is hydrophobic, creating nanoparticles that entrap trans cinnamaldehyde. Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a polymer material to use to form nanocomposite films for food packaging. It has excellent biodegradable properties and film forming abilities. ZIF-8 nanoparticles with embedded trans cinnamaldehyde can be applied to the nanocomposite film through a casting method. This will create a nanocomposite film that has a uniform distribution of ZIF-8 nanoparticles embedded with trans cinnamaldehyde throughout. This nanocomposite film will be used for fresh produce packaging for direct microorganism inhibition on fresh produce.ZIF-8 nanoparticles can be embedded into nanocomposite films by casting and evaporating a polymer/solvent/nanoparticle/antimicrobial substance mixture to form a nanocomposite polymer film substrate. Different parameters in polymer film formation (e.g., mixing speed, time, pH, temperature) can change the controlled release, and physical properties of the formed polymer film. That is one of the objectives of this research.
Project Methods
The experimental work to be carried out will, whenever possible, follow all the required testing standards and methodologies, such as AACC, AOAC and ASTM. Special attention will also be paid to make sure that the testing approach is scientifically sound. The results of testing and analyses will be documented and published in scientific journals.(1) Characterization of materials for better understanding of their processability and engineering functionalityCurrent efforts at our laboratory include testing of a wide series of materials. Our research plan is to: (1) continue the identification of an appropriate set of biopolymeric materials, blend biopolymers with greatly different viscosities, examine the effect of irradiation treatment on their properties, and understand polymer morphology and degradability; (2) characterize the shear and dynamic (viscoelastic) behavior of starch-based ingredients for potential use in foods, energy and pacaging applications.Data Analysis: We will conduct steady shear and dynamic tests at a wide range of temperatures. Time-dependency will also be evaluated.(2) Feasibility of using current and new materials in alternative applications (such as food packaging).Current efforts at our laboratory include (1) modifying film barrier, structural, and mechanical properties by physical (UV, ultrasound, heat, e-beam irradiation), enzymatic, and chemical methods; (2) developing mechanical models of protein-matrix film structure to understand the relationship between structure and functionality (Puerta-Gomez and Castell-Perez, 2015); and more recently, (3) understanding the potential antimicrobial effects of natural active agents (proteins, natural oils, organic acids, flavors and nutraceuticals) on specific microorganisms, sensory properties, and quality of seasoned, precooked meats wrapped on films (this area is gaining considerable popularity as meat processors develop a variety of ready-to-heat products for quick meals with strict safety requirements) (Han, 2001).Our research plan is to: (1) investigate the effect of ionizing radiation on antimicrobial agent release rates; (2) determine whether the irradiation treatment functions as a release (anti-stick) factor or an anti-release factor into the foodstuff (Fan and Singh, 1989; Han, 2000); (3) establish whether irradiation can be the controlling factor for antimicrobial release; (4) carry out tests to predict performance of films; and (5) formulate a predictive model and a set of procedures for performance predictions.Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) will be used as the nanocomposite film structure. PVA is a biodegradable polymer with unique properties, such as excellent chemical resistance, high crystallinity, excellent film forming and hydrophilic properties (Zhang et al., 2009). It is nontoxic and has been used in the manufacturing of medicine cachets, yarn for surgery, and controllable drug delivery systems (Sarwar et al., 2018; Tang et al., 2009). Due to its hydrophilic properties, PVA tends to attract water resulting in poor stability in aqueous and organic solutions and even dissolving in water at room temperature (Ahmad et al., 2012; Erkartal et al., 2016). Additives such as MOF can be added to the PVA nanocomposite films to improve the hydrophilic properties. ZIF-8 is a MOF that is hydrophobic in nature, and is expected to aid in reducing the hydrophilicity of the PVA nanocomposite film (Erkartal et al., 2016).Data Analysis: Empirical/fundamental models or testing methodology will be used as a basis to predict film performance. Studies on these problems will provide information on the exact amount of antimicrobial agent and release rate of the antimicrobial substances required to achieve a given effect. Results from these studies will be expanded to other applications such as utensils. Methods to test the physical stability of biopolymeric matrices (natural proteins and polysaccharides) and characterize the blends will be evaluated for accuracy and reliability when compared to other standard methods (spectrophotometry)