ABSTRACT
Due to the number of polyphenols with multiple biological activities, propolis has high potential to be used as an active agent in food protective films. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and characterize a sodium alginate film with ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) for its potential use as protective active packaging against filamentous fungi in ripened cheese. Three different concentrations of EEP were analyzed: 0, 5 and 10% w/v. The films obtained were characterized, assessing thermal and physicochemical properties, as well as the concentration of polyphenols in the EEP and antifungal activity of the active films. The incorporation of EEP in the films generated thermal stability with respect to the loss of mass. Total color values (ΔE) of the films were affected by the incorporation of the different concentrations of EEP, showing a decrease in luminosity (L*) of the films, while the chromatic parameters a* and b* increased in direct proportion to the EEP concentration. Antifungal activity was observed with a fungistatic mode of action, stopping the growth of the fungus in cheeses without development of filamentous molds, thus increasing the shelf life of the ripened cheese under the analytical conditions, over 30 days at room temperature. Overall, EEP can be used to prevent growth and proliferation of spoilage microorganisms in cheese.
ABSTRACT
Tetravalent titanyl phthalocyanine (TiOPc) and titanium phthalocyanine dichloride (TiCl2Pc) films were deposited via the high-vacuum thermal evaporation technique and subsequently structurally and morphologically characterized, to be later evaluated in terms of their optoelectronic behavior. The IR and UV-vis spectroscopy of the films displayed α- and ß-phase signals in TiOPc and TiCl2Pc. Additionally, the UV-vis spectra displayed the B and Q bands in the near-UV region of 270-390 nm and in the visible region between 600 and 880 nm, respectively. The films presented the onset gap (~1.30 eV) and the optical gap (~2.85 eV). Photoluminescence emission bands at 400-600 nm and 800-950 nm are present for the films. One-layer ITO/TiCl2Pc or TiOPc/Ag and two-layer ITO/PEDOT:PSS/TiCl2Pc or TiOPc/Ag planar heterojunction devices with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) deposited by the spin-coating technique were constructed. In these devices, an electrical activation energy between 0.18 and 0.21 eV and a refractive index between 1.14 and 1.44 were obtained. The devices presented a change in the J-V curves for the illuminated and darkness conditions, as much as 1.5 × 102 A/cm2, related to the device architecture and phthalocyanine ligand. The latter indicates that the films should be used for optoelectronic applications.
ABSTRACT
The aim a present study was developed methylcellulose (MC) active edible films with extracts of green apple skin, as model systems of edible coating. Active edible films were developed by incorporation of ethanolic extract of freeze-dried apple skin (EEFD) and aqueous extract of apple skin (AES) at 10, 20 and 25% (v/v) concentrations. Analysis of thermal, mechanical and functional properties was carried out. Results showed that incorporation of green apple skin extracts into MC films contribute to total phenolic content and antioxidant properties. Addition of green apple skin extracts generated shifts toward lower glass transition temperature values regarding MC films without extracts. A lower tensile strength and increased elongation at break in MC-AES films were observed. Mechanical properties of MC-EEFD films were less affected by the increase in extract concentration due to absence of the plasticizing effect of sugars present in AES. The methylcellulose films are important for actives edibles coatings with applications in the food industry.