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Packaging and packaging technology constitute a pivotal industry deeply intertwined with our daily lives and prevalent in various settings, including grocery stores, supermarkets, restaurants, and pharmacies. The industry is constantly evolving thanks to technological advances. This article delves into the dynamic landscape of 3D printing in packaging, exploring its profound implications and potential. While this article highlights the advantages of traditional packaging approaches, it also highlights the many benefits of 3D printing technology. It describes how 3D printing enables personalization, rapid prototyping, and low-cost production, streamlining packaging design and manufacturing processes. Offering innovative solutions in design, functionality, and accessibility, the potential of 3D printing in packaging is promising.

Hydrogels, versatile materials used in various applications such as medicine, possess properties crucial for their specific applications, significantly influenced by their preparation methods. This study synthesized 18 different types of hydrogels using sodium alginate (SA) and two molecular weights of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Crosslinking agents such as aqueous solutions of calcium (Ca2+) and copper (Cu2+) ions and solutions of these ions in boric acid were utilized. The hydrogels were subjected to compression strength tests and drying kinetics analysis. Additionally, six hydrogel variants containing larger PVA particles underwent Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) post-drying. Some samples were lyophilized, and their surface morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that the choice of crosslinking method significantly impacts the physicochemical properties of the hydrogels. Crosslinking in solutions with higher concentrations of crosslinking ions enhanced mechanical properties and thermal stability. Conversely, using copper ions instead of calcium resulted in slower drying kinetics and reduced thermal stability. Notably, employing boric acid as a crosslinking agent for hydrogels containing heavier PVA molecules led to considerable improvements in mechanical properties and thermal stability.

Polyphenols are active substances against various types of viral infections. Researchers have characterized methods of how to isolate polyphenols without losing their potential to formulate pharmaceutical products. Researchers have also described mechanisms against common viral infections (i.e., influenza, herpes, hepatitis, rotavirus, coronavirus). Particular compounds have been discussed together with the plants in the biomass in which they occur. Quercetin, gallic acid and epigallocatechin are exemplary compounds that inhibit the growth cycle of viruses. Special attention has been paid to identify plants and polyphenols that can be efficient against coronavirus infections. It has been proven that polyphenols present in the diet and in pharmaceuticals protect us from viral infections and, in case of infection, support the healing process by various mechanisms, i.e., they block the entry into the host cells, inhibit the multiplication of the virus, seal blood vessels and protect against superinfection.