Effective strategies of sustained release and retention enhancement of essential oils in active food packaging films/coatings

Due to environmental issues caused by plastic packaging and growing consumer demand for fresh and safe food, there is a growing interest in antibacterial active food packaging films/coatings containing plant essential oils (EO). For the effective use of EO-incorporated active films/coatings, EO must be effectively integrated encap-sulated in active films/coatings, and the integrated encapsulated EO must be released from active films/coatings slowly during storage to exhibit antibacterial effects more durable. Recently, several promising strategies have been proposed to improve the sustained release and retention enhancement of EO in active films/coatings, including particle encapsulation, nanoemulsion, Pickering emulsions, multilayer system, and electrospinning technology. This article reviewed the latest technologies of sustained release and retention enhancement stra-tegies for encapsulating EO in active films/coatings. The advantages and disadvantages of these sustained release and retention enhancement strategies and their practical applications in food preservation are also introduced.

Automated summary

Due to environmental concerns and consumer demand, there is a growing interest in antibacterial active food packaging containing plant essential oils. Effective encapsulation and slow release strategies are crucial for maximizing the antibacterial effects of the oils. Current research is focused on improving sustained release and retention enhancement of essential oils in active food packaging materials.