Science and Technology Production
b-Glucan, a promising polysaccharide for bio-based films developments for food contact materials and medical applications
Article
Date:
2018Publishing House and Editing Place:
BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBL LTDMagazine:
CURRENT ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, vol. 22 (pp. 1249-1254) BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBL LTDSummary *
β-glucans are naturally occurred polysaccharides of glucose units, present in the cell wall of various living organisms such as bacteria, yeast, fungus and plants, in particular cereals (oat and barley). β-glucans are considered as GRAS and are currently used as texturing agents in the food industry. In addition, their intake is related to the decrease of plasma cholesterol and stimulation of the immune system, depending on the β-glucan nature. During the last decade there has been an impressive grow on the interest on the development and use of bio-based films and packaging materials. Applications of β-glucan related to films developments are described by using isolated β-glucan or in combination with other biopolymers. Yeast cell wall, that consist of β-1,3-glucan network crosslinked to β-1,6-glucan, mannoprotein, and a small amount of chitin, are an attractive encapsulation matrix and for film forming preparations. In addition, dispersions of β-glucan from oat cultivars demonstrated to be promising films forming hydrogels, with potential to be used as biodegradable edible packaging film. The aim of this work is to review all the potentiality that β-glucans present to develop bio-based films for food contact materials and medical applications. Information provided by the agent in SIGEVAKey Words
CEREALSBIO-BASED FILMSFOOD CONTACT MATERIALYEAST CELL WALL β-GLUCANBIOPOLYMER COMBINATION