Recent progress in the hydrophobic modification of starch-based films

Growing public awareness of the harmful environmental impacts of plastics has sparked interest in the development of plant-based packaging materials. Because starch is a naturally occurring film-forming polymer that is accessible, plentiful, renewable, and biodegradable, it is frequently utilized for this purpose. However, natural starch's applicability for coatings and film formation is severely limited by its comparatively strong hydrophilicity. In this review, recent research progress on the hydrophobic modification of starch is discussed, including chemical, physical, and/or enzymatic modification methods. Changes in the hydrophobicity and other properties of starches caused by these modification methods are highlighted. In addition, applications of hydrophobically modified starch-based films in the food, agriculture, packaging, and pharmaceutical industries are reviewed. Finally, future development requirements and potential applications of starch-based films are emphasized. Although there has been some progress in research on starch-based film materials, these technologies often involve complex production processes and high production costs. Therefore, the development of low-cost, low-energy, safe, green, and sustainable modification methods has been expected to be widely used in the future.