Polysaccharide-based films for food packaging application: the impact of carbon nanocomposites

In recent years, there has been a growing focus on the development of sustainable food packaging materials to reduce the environmental impact of using packaging made from polymers manufactured from fossil fuels. Additionally, active packaging materials have drawn increasing interest to extend food shelf life and/or to retard its deterioration, reducing food waste. Polysaccharides are an excellent and sustainable substitute for synthetic plastics derived from fossil fuels due to their inherent biodegradability, non-toxic nature, and favorable functional properties. Various strategies have been explored to enhance the mechanical and gas barrier properties of polysaccharides, making them competitive with synthetic polymers. These strategies include cross-linking, blending with other polymers, reinforcing with additives, or nanocomposites, such as carbon-based materials. Moreover, active properties (e.g., antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity) and electrical conductivity can be imparted from the carbon-based nanomaterials to the polysaccharide-based material. In this context, the effect of incorporation of carbon-based nanomaterials on polysaccharide-based film properties is reviewed.