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This study is aimed to develop a novel edible coating based on Plantago major seed mucilage (PMSM) and Citrus limon essential oil (CLEO) to increase the shelf‐life of buffalo meat during cold storage. The CLEO was firstly isolated by the hydrodistillation method, and it contained mainly limonene (40.5%) and carene (15.4%) with remarkable antioxidant activity (55.7%, 63.8%, and 51.85% based on the DPPH‐radical scavenging, ABTS‐radical scavenging, and carotene‐linoleic acid bleaching tests, respectively) and antibacterial effect against some pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms. The CLEO (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) was then incorporated into PMSM solution to develop a novel CLEO‐loaded PMSM edible coating for improving the shelf‐life of buffalo meat. The edible coating was able to significantly reduce the progression of lipid oxidation (peroxide value) and microbial growth (total viable count, psychrotrophic bacteria, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and fungi) in buffalo meat during storage period of 10 days at 4°C in comparison with the control (noncoated sample). The meat hardness and sensory properties (i.e., odor, color, appearance, texture, and overall acceptability) were also maintained better upon edible coating applications. Based on the results, the CLEO‐rich PMSM edible coating could be applied as a new and effective preservative to improve the stability of meat products to lipid oxidation and microbial spoilage. Based on the results, the Citrus limon essential oil rich Plantago major seed mucilage edible coating could be applied as a new and effective preservative to improve the stability of meat products to lipid oxidation and microbial spoilage.

If edible coatings are proven to control deterioration reactions by preventing chemical reactions, why aren’t they more widely used in industry applications, especially in the ready-to-eat food sector? This sector is a growing and emerging market and is interesting to diverse consumer groups. The potential of edible coatings as an innovative approach for more eco-friendly packaging systems should be further investigated. This article reviews the state-of-the-art developments of edible coatings for chilled RTE (ready-to-eat) food products as an area of growing interest and innovation, with a focus on sustainability, functionality, and costs. It discusses challenges associated with the use of edible coatings as eco-friendly packaging system in RTE food sector, including compatibility with food products, processing, shelf-life, storage conditions, cost, and regulatory requirements, and emerging trends, including biodegradable and eco-friendly coatings, shelf-life extension, active and intelligent coatings, and customization and personalization opportunities. Overall, while edible coatings offer many potential benefits in the RTE food sector, there are several challenges that must be addressed to ensure their successful implementation. Research and development efforts are needed to optimize the performance and stability of coatings while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and addressing cost concerns. The potential of edible coatings as eco-friendly packaging system should be further studied to highlight the full potential of edible coatings.

Chitosan coatings enriched with Chlorella vulgaris hydrolysates were evaluated for their effectiveness in preserving rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillets during refrigerated storage at 4°C ± 1°C. Alcalase‐hydrolyzed C. vulgaris exhibited potent antioxidant activity (IC50: 0.30 mg/mL; IC80: 0.61 mg/mL). These concentrations were incorporated into chitosan coatings (designated as T3 and T4) and compared to chitosan‐coated (T2) and uncoated (T1) control fillets. TVBN values after storage were 47.87 (uncoated control), 43.02 (chitosan‐only), 36.45 (IC50), and 30.61 mg/100 g (IC80) (p > 0.05). Initial pH values across all treatments showed no significant differences (p < 0.05). Thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) values exhibited a significant increasing trend throughout the storage period (p > 0.05), and at the end of storage, the values were lower in all coated groups, including 0.99 mg MDA/kg (T2), 0.90 mg MDA/kg (T3), and 0.86 mg MDA/kg (T4), compared to 1.5 mg MDA/kg in the T1 group. PV peaked on Day 12 at 2.23 (control), 1.86 (chitosan‐only), 1.46 (IC50), and 1.00 mEq/kg (IC80) (p > 0.05). Lightness (L*) values showed a modest but significant increase during storage (p < 0.05). Although mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacterial counts rose in all samples, they remained lower in the coated groups (p > 0.05). Hydrolysate‐enriched coatings significantly delayed sensory deterioration compared to controls. Thus, chitosan coatings with C. vulgaris hydrolysate are recommended as effective antibacterial and antioxidant packaging solutions. Chitosan coatings enriched with Chlorella vulgaris hydrolysates (especially at IC80) significantly improved rainbow trout fillet preservation during refrigerated storage, reducing TVBN (30.61 vs. 47.87 mg/100 g in control), TBARS (0.86 vs. 1.5 mg MDA/kg), and PV (1.00 vs. 2.23 mEq/kg) while delaying microbial growth and sensory deterioration. The hydrolysate‐enhanced coatings outperformed chitosan‐only and uncoated controls, demonstrating potent antioxidant and antibacterial effects.

Fruits and vegetables are essential sources of nutrient and bioactive compounds that confer beneficial effects on human health. However, their short shelf-life at room temperature causes losses and waste during all phases of the supply chain and handling. In this study, a porous biodegradable sodium alginate composite fortified with Hibiscus sabdariffa L. calyx extract was fabricated by freeze-drying and evaluated for multifarious applications. Scanning electron micrograph of composite with or without extract indicated uniformly distributed porous structure, whereas contact angles of 18.47º and 34.43º for control and test composite, respectively indicated that the samples were hydrophilic. Cytotoxicity assay indicated that the composites were compatible with renal cells (Vero) and human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) , yielding a > 80% viability. Furthermore, the H. sabdariffa L. extract fortified composite delayed the spoilage of climacteric fruits during storage and showed improved human keratinocyte cells migration. The results of the blood coagulation assessment showed a dose-dependent hemostasis activity for the test composite suggesting its potential biological efficacy. Thus, the composite can be further explored as a multifarious functional stick-fresh composite for the shelf-life extension of climacteric fruits and vegetables.

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) fruit is also known as the apple of tropics, belongs to the family of genus Psidium, and is widely cultivated in tropical zones of the world. Recently, the importance of guava fruit has increased due to its inherent nutritional content, pleasant aroma, excellent flavor, and delicious taste. It is considered an excellent source of nutrients and phytochemicals. Guava is a climacteric fruit that continues to mature or ripen even after harvest, showing an increase in the rate of respiration and metabolic activities within a short period, leading to rapid senescence or spoilage of fruit. It has limitations in terms of commercialization due to short storage life after harvest and sensitivity to diseases and chilling injury during the storage period. Many postharvest technologies such as edible packaging, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), composite packaging, controlled atmosphere packaging (CAP), antimicrobial/antifungal packaging, and nano packaging have been used to retard the chilling injury and enhance the keeping quality of guava fruits during the storage period to control respiration rate, reduce weight loss, minimize lipid oxidation, and maintain organoleptic properties. However, these packaging technologies have varied effects on the internal and external quality attributes of guava fruits. This review, therefore, discusses the physiology, mechanism of ripening, oxidation, and ethylene production of guava fruits. The review also discusses the packaging technologies and their effect on the postharvest characteristics of guava fruits during the storage period.

The postharvest life of cut flowers is limited, which is a major challenge and varies greatly depending on plant varieties, cut flower stage, flower length of the harvested shoots, and storage conditions including postharvest treatments. As a result, improving the vase life and quality of cut flowers in regulating postharvest characteristics and overcoming these challenges is critical to the horticulture business. Novel engineered nanocomposites were created and tested for possible impacts on flower bud opening, postharvest life extension, longevity regulation, and preservation and enhancement of the strength and appearance of cut flowers. The experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment using a completely randomized design (CRD) with two factors. The first factor was two holding solutions (without or with sucrose at 20 gL −1 ). The second factor was 12 pulsing treatments for 24 h; distilled water as a control, 75 ppm GA 3 , multi-walled carbon nanotubes MWCNTs at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 ppm, and MWCNTs (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 ppm)/GA 3 (75 ppm) composites; each treatment had 3 replicates, for a total of 72 experimental units. In the present study, gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) was synthesized in functionalized (MWCNT/GA 3 composites) as a novel antisenescence agent, and their effect on the vase life quality of cut rose flowers Rosa hybrida cv. ‘Moonstone’ was compared by assaying several parameters critical for vase life. The adsorption of GA 3 on MWCNTs was proven by performing FTIR spectroscopy which ensures that the formation of the MWCNTs/GA3 composite preserves the nanostructure and was examined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The results revealed that sucrose in the holding solution showed a significant increase in fresh weight, flower diameter, and vase life by 10.5, 10.6, and 3.3% respectively. Applying sucrose with MWCNTs 20 ppm/GA 3 75 ppm composites or MWCNTs 20 ppm alone, was critical for the significant increase in flower opening by 39.7 and 28.7%, and longevity by 34.4 and 23.2%, respectively, and significantly increased chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll, anthocyanin, total phenolic content, and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity as compared to the control.

The C-natriuretic peptide (CNP) analog vosoritide has recently been approved for treatment of achondroplasia in children. However, the regimen requires daily subcutaneous injections in pediatric patients over multiple years. The present work sought to develop a long-acting CNP that would provide efficacy equal to or greater than that of vosoritide but require less frequent injections. We used a technology for half-life extension, whereby a drug is attached to tetra-polyethylene glycol hydrogels (tetra-PEG) by β-eliminative linkers that cleave at predetermined rates. These hydrogels—fabricated as uniform ∼60-μm microspheres—are injected subcutaneously, where they serve as a stationary depot to slowly release the drug into the systemic circulation. We prepared a highly active, stable CNP analog—[Gln6,14]CNP-38—composed of the 38 C-terminal amino acids of human CNP-53 containing Asn to Gln substitutions to preclude degradative deamidation. Two microsphere [Gln6,14]CNP-38 conjugates were prepared, with release rates designed to allow once-weekly and once-monthly administration. After subcutaneous injection of the conjugates in mice, [Gln6,14]CNP-38 was slowly released into the systemic circulation and showed biphasic elimination pharmacokinetics with terminal half-lives of ∼200 and ∼600 h. Both preparations increased growth of mice comparable to or exceeding that produced by daily vosoritide. Simulations of the pharmacokinetics in humans indicated that plasma [Gln6,14]CNP-38 levels should be maintained within a therapeutic window over weekly, biweekly, and likely, monthly dosing intervals. Compared with vosoritide, which requires ∼30 injections per month, microsphere [Gln6,14]CNP-38 conjugates—especially the biweekly and monthly dosing—could provide an alternative that would be well accepted by physicians, patients, and patient caregivers.

PurposeTypically, the high energy required to manufacture nanomaterials is weighed against the benefits transferred to a product. Adequately establishing the environmental characteristics of a product that contains nanomaterials requires a complete methodology. The objectives of this study are to draw attentions on life cycle information and to demonstrate the methodology for the scientific assessment of the environmental benefits of using a nanomaterial in a product to extend the product life and to provide a real example for the calculations of the approach.MethodsAbout 1317 products with nanomaterials in the market were analyzed to identify the outcomes of lifetime extension by the nanomaterial additions. Five life cycle elements were quantified to establish the cradle-to-gate (CTG) life cycle footprint of a product comprised of a nanomaterial. These are the following: the life cycle of the conventional product with the usual construction and without added nanomaterial, the life cycle of the nanomaterial manufactured from CTG per kilogram of nanomaterial, the amount of nanomaterial incorporated into the product, the quantitative improvement in the product performance due to the presence of the nanomaterial (such as increased lifespan), and the incremental energy and auxiliary materials (often negligible) involved in the incorporation of the nanomaterial into the conventional productResults and discussionThe primary challenge here is to have all five of the informational pieces in order to ensure that the environmental footprint of using a nanomaterial is complete. The results can be seen for the range of products with life extension via nanomaterials, ranging from 130 to 3100%. In these cases, the higher energy to manufacture the nanomaterial is more than offset by the avoidance of manufacturing non-nanoproducts multiple times over the life extension period.ConclusionsIt was found that several nanoscale inclusions in the products greatly increased many properties of the final product along with the lifetime. Increasing the lifetime of products by adding nanoscale inclusions will thus reduce environmental and health concerns, as well as the use of virgin materials, energy consumption, landfill allocations in the long term, and product marketability.

A novel portable chamber was developed to extend the shelf life of chicken breasts through a synergistic treatment of gamma irradiation and Salmide®, a sodium chlorite-based oxy-halogen. This combination successfully enhanced the shelf life by utilizing a low dosage of gamma irradiation alongside low concentrations of Salmide (200 ppm sodium chlorite). Fresh chicken breast samples were treated with gamma irradiation, then packed in ice containing Salmide within the portable chamber, and subsequently stored for 20 days in a refrigerator at 4 °C ± 1. The study investigated aerobic bacterial counts, sensory analysis, and Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) levels. Results showed that Salmide alone significantly reduced microbial counts and extended shelf life by 8 days. Gamma irradiation at 1 kGy, either alone or combined with Salmide, caused a sequential reduction in total aerobic bacterial counts by 2,3 logarithmic cycles, respectively, extending the storage period to 12 days. Furthermore, a 16 day shelf life extension was achieved with gamma irradiation at 3 kGy, either alone or in combination with Salmide, resulting in a reduction of total aerobic bacteria by 5 logarithmic cycles. This study is the first to employ Salmide in conjunction with gamma irradiation as an innovative technology in a portable chamber to enhance the safety and shelf life of chicken breasts during storage in the designed portable chamber.

Consumers’ demand for fishery products and attentiveness of seafood quality continue to grow. The perishability of mackerel species and the potential risk of foodborne illness demands adequate control of production, processing, storage and distribution to ensure post-mortem quality, safety and storage stability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing the quality changes in mackerel raw material from capture/slaughter, post-mortem handling and to storage. The main topics include effects of the muscle composition, capture/slaughter methods and handling onboard fishing vessels and at landing, e.g. bleeding. Concerning frozen storage, the literature included in this review demonstrates the importance of raw material properties, storage temperature and freezing methods for maintaining the product quality and the storage stability of mackerel. Thawing is another important aspect which requires optimization with respect to several factors e.g. raw material properties and in adaption to production and processing capacity. Since mackerel muscle contains a high amount of free histidine, temperature control through the complete supply chain is essential to prevent the formation and accumulation of toxic histamine which can lead to scombroid food poisoning. For storage stability and shelf life extension, efficiency of glazing and use of antioxidants and reduced-oxygen packaging are discussed.