Edible Biodegradable Films Incorporating Essential Oil-based Pickering Emulsions: A Review of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties

Abstract

This article reviews the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of biodegradable edible films based on Pickering emulsions containing essential oils. Edible biodegradable films incorporating essential oil-loaded Pickering emulsions are increasingly recognized as a promising option for sustainable food packaging. By incorporating essential oils into the emulsion matrix, the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of these films significantly improved. Therefore, the key properties discussed in this review include antioxidant activity, antimicrobial effectiveness, and the role of these films in extending the shelf life of food products. The results showed that the incorporation of Pickering emulsions containing essential oils significantly increased the antioxidant capacity of the films, leading to a notable reduction in oxidative degradation of food. Additionally, these films exhibited effective antimicrobial activity against various foodborne pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, which is attributed to the bioactive properties of the incorporated essential oils. The films effectively inhibited microbial growth, directly contributing to enhanced food safety. The findings highlight the great potential of Pickering emulsion-based biodegradable films as a sustainable solution for food packaging with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, ensuring longer shelf life and higher safety of packaged food products.

Keywords

• antioxidant activity
• antimicrobial
• essential oils
• edible films
• pickering emulsions