Incorporation of selected plant extracts into edible chitosan films and the effect on the antiviral, antibacterial and mechanical properties of the material

For his dissertation at the Ohio State University USA Collins Amankwaah sought to develop edible films and coatings that can control foodborne viruses.
Grape tea and grape seed extracts were successfully incorporated into chitosan-based edible coatings and films. The antiviral and antibacterial efficacies of the chitosan films were enhanced by the incorporation of the plant extracts. Flexible films were able to be produced with the aid of glycerol as plasticizer. However, the films were lower in tensile strength because of the added glycerol but were more elastic compared to the control film. Glycerol also caused an increase in the water vapor permeability of the films.
Click here for the dissertation (1.76 MB).

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