Development of active packaging film containing bioactive components encapsulated in β-cyclodextrin and its application

Incorporating natural antimicrobials, such as Citral (CI) and trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC), into packaging film using a melt extrusion method is not possible because of thermal sensitivity of the compounds. Encapsulating these antimicrobials in an inclusion complex such as β-Cyclodextrin, however, can preserve their bioactive effectiveness beyond the film extrusion stage, and, in addition, possibly control their release rate afterward. This study investigated properties of an active packaging film containing bioactive components encapsulated in β-Cyclodextrin. Specifically, physical and mechanical properties of film were measured, the release rate of CI and TC from film were determined, thermal stability of β-Cyclodextrin inclusion complex of citral (β-CD-CI) and trans-cinnamaldehyde (β-CD-TC) were evaluated, and the preservative function of films enhanced with the antimicrobial complexes were verified in packaged chilled beef. The results demonstrated EVOH film containing β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex had a low diffusion coefficient and high equilibrium concentration of natural antimicrobials (CI and TC) in food simulants, and extended shelf life of beef about 4 days at 4 ± 1 °C. In general, active compounds encapsulated into β-Cyclodextrin as an inclusion complex had high thermal stability and slow release rate, which resulted in prolonging shelf life of chilled beef.