CHAPTER 10: Electrospinning in the Packaging Industry

This chapter reviews the most recent developments and latest trends in packaging applications involving electrospun ultrathin fibers, focusing on their technological impact and potential scale-up and market introduction. It also gathers promising results for the development of functional multilayer packaging structures based on transparent nanostructured coatings and interlayers with enhanced passive properties for extending the protection and shelf life of food products. Furthermore, this chapter describes the development of active technologies, such as antimicrobials, antioxidants and oxygen scavengers, the encapsulation and controlled released of bioactive ingredients in a wide range of biopolymer matrices, and also the generation of smart packaging systems with the capacity to inform and monitor the conditions and quality of the packaged products.