Polylactide Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes and Their Potential Application in Active and Intelligent Food Packaging

Polylactide (PLA), a biobased, biodegradable, and biocompatible thermoplastic polymer, has high modulus and strength, comparable to those of non-biodegradable poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and polystyrene (PS) and it emerges as a promising commercially available biopolymer for the development of sustainable packaging materials. Recently, the growing consideration for food quality and safety has triggered research on “active” food packaging materials, which are capable of absorbing or releasing various active agents such as antimicrobials, antioxidants, scavengers and emitters, to extend the shelf life of food. In this respect, polymeric electrospun nanofibrous films, with their large surface-to-volume ratio and porous structure, offer a suitable media for high loading and controlled release of active agents to the surrounding. Furthermore, taking advantage of their highly responsive nature, the recent studies focus on tailoring them into pH indicators, biosensors and gas sensors for so called “intelligent” food packaging.

Herein, a brief overview on the materials used in sustainable food packaging is given, followingly, electrospinning behavior of PLA is explained. Afterward, a detailed discussion on the characterization of PLA-based electrospun nanofibrous membranes with respect to their morphological, thermal, permeability and biodegradation properties is given. The following section focuses on the development of polymeric nanofibrous membranes for active and intelligent food packaging by employing functional fillers. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the limitations of electrospun nanofibrous membranes for food packaging and a brief future perspective.