Biotechnology in Food Packaging Using Bacterial Cellulose

作者：Maryana Rogéria dos Santos, Ítalo José Batista Durval, Alexandre D’Lamare Maia de Medeiros, Cláudio José Galdino da Silva Júnior, Attílio Converti, Andréa Fernanda de Santana Costa, Leonie Asfora Sarubbo · 发表于：Foods · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.3390/foods13203327 · 被引用次数：34 · 研究领域：Advanced Cellulose Research Studies、Nanocomposite Films for Food Packaging

Food packaging, which is typically made of paper/cardboard, glass, metal, and plastic, is essential for protecting and preserving food. However, the impact of conventional food packaging and especially the predominant use of plastics, due to their versatility and low cost, bring serious environmental and health problems such as pollution by micro and nanoplastics. In response to these challenges, biotechnology emerges as a new way for improving packaging by providing biopolymers as sustainable alternatives. In this context, bacterial cellulose (BC), a biodegradable and biocompatible material produced by bacteria, stands out for its mechanical resistance, food preservation capacity, and rapid degradation and is a promising solution for replacing plastics. However, despite its advantages, large-scale application still encounters technical and economic challenges. These include high costs compared to when conventional materials are used, difficulties in standardizing membrane production through microbial methods, and challenges in optimizing cultivation and production processes, so further studies are necessary to ensure food safety and industrial viability. Thus, this review provides an overview of the impacts of conventional packaging. It discusses the development of biodegradable packaging, highlighting BC as a promising biopolymer. Additionally, it explores biotechnological techniques for the development of innovative packaging through structural modifications of BC, as well...