Application of Chitosan Based Materials as Edible Films and Coatings

Abstract

Chitosan is the only pseudo-natural cationic polymer and, owing to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and antimicrobial activity, combined with its cationic character, is considered as the greatest potential polymer for obtaining food packaging, especially in the form of edible films and coatings. The successful manufacture of edible films and coatings for food applications is based on specific functional properties that the biopolymer should meet for each type of food, due to the different properties of the various components (nanoparticles, lipids, plasticizers, proteins, etc.). The addition of these compounds can be beneficial in the films production, with superior functional properties and thus extend their applications. In this chapter, we highlight the application of chitosan-based materials as edible films and coatings for food protection. The manufacture, and mechanical properties and the water vapor permeability (WVP) of the films and coatings are also discussed.

Keywords: Mechanical properties, Packaging materials, Polysaccharide, Water vapor permeability.

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