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With plastic packaging posing severe risk on ecosystem, there is a crucial need for the development of sustainable and eco-friendly packaging materials for food preservation. This work aims to develop cucumber peel extract imbued into dragon fruit peel pectin films for meat packaging. The cucumber peel extract and dragon fruit peel pectin were obtained by via the environmentally benign microwave-assisted method. Incorporation of cucumber peel extract led to an enhancement in the density and thickness of the pectin thin films. In addition to improving the tensile strength, antioxidant potential, and opacity of the films, the water-barrier properties were also augmented. Trials on chicken meat indicated lower pH changes, weight loss, and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) values during the refrigerated storage tenure. Thus, our work paves the path for the design of a sustainable packaging for meat and simultaneously addresses the valorization of fruit peel wastes. Highlights * Dragon fruit peel pectin, cucumber peel extract obtained by microwave method. * Peel extract-imbued pectin thin films were fabricated using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as plasticizer. * Addition of peel extract enhanced the density and opacity of films. * Films have good tensile strength, water-barrier, and antioxidant properties. * Chicken meat packaging suggested lower pH, weight loss, and TVB-N values. KEYWORDS cucumber peel extract, dragon fruit peel pectin, meat packaging, packaging film, 1 | INTRODUCTION With the global population escalating at an alarming rate, the demand for food supply is inevitable. This demand will eventually be followed by the uphill task of [...]

To design a controlled delivery device for the potent glucocorticoid dexamethasone; smart hydrogels composed of carboxymethyl starch, and sodium alginate are fabricated and exposed to tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) cold plasma treatment using oxygen as an oxidant gas. Surface hydrophobization ensuing from plasma treatment is evidenced from FTIR and water contact angle analyses. It is also observed that the water uptake capacity of TEOS‐plasma modified hydrogel is much lower than the pristine hydrogel. The release studies of dexamethasone illustrated a slower release from TEOS‐plasma treated hydrogel in simulated intestinal fluid that conformed to the oral delivery of the drug to the colon. The preliminary kinetics of drug release demonstrated that TEOS‐plasma influenced the polymer chain relaxation thereby leading to a slower rate of drug release. The cytocompatibility studies on MCF‐7 cells clearly depicted that plasma treatment of the hydrogels does not evoke any detrimental effects on the cellular viability. Lastly, the in vitro degradation studies of the hydrogels in lysozyme solution demonstrated their good degradation behavior. Overall, the findings of this study implied that the TEOS‐plasma modified hydrogel could be explored as potential biomaterial for the oral controlled delivery of dexamethasone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart hydrogels comprising carboxymethyl guar gum and polyvinyl alcohol (CMGG/PVA) were fabricated using tetraethyl orthosilicate as crosslinker. The hydrogels were subjected to nonthermal plasma (NTP) treatment using nitrogen and ammonia mixture. An improvement in surface wettability ensuing from NTP-treatment was evident. Topographical studies revealed surface nanotexturing while the bulk attributes remained undeterred. An insignificant ageing effect was observed upon exposure to air for 20 days which indicated the high stability of the NTP-modified hydrogels. The hydrogels displayed higher swellability in intestinal pH than gastric pH. Appreciable biofilm eradication features against E. coli were observed from the NTP-modified hydrogels. Hemolytic assessment confirmed their compatibility with human blood cells. Release profiles from the hydrogels validated the controlled delivery of anticancer drug chrysin to the intestine. Pristine hydrogels were found to be cytocompatible whereas chrysin-loaded hydrogels displayed a strong inhibitory effect on MCF-7 cells. Additionally, the hydrogels were found to be biodegradable. Thus, N2 and NH3 plasma modified CMGG/PVA hydrogels are potent towards diverse biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]