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The effect of polymer/plasticiser ratio in film forming solutions on the properties of chitosan films

Publication . Fundo, Joana; Galvis-Sanchez, Andrea C.; Delgadillo, Ivonne; Silva, Cristina L. M.; Quintas, Mafalda A. C.

In this work physical-chemical properties of chitosan/ glycerol film forming solutions (FFS) and the resulting films were analysed. Solutions were prepared using different concentrations of plasticising agent (glycerol) and chitosan. Films were produced by solvent casting and equilibrated in a controlled atmosphere. FFS water activity and rheological behaviour were determined. Films water content, solubility, water vapour and oxygen permeabilities, thickness, and mechanical and thermal properties were determined. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was also used to study the chitosan/glycerol interactions. Results demonstrate that FFS chitosan concentration influenced solutions consistency coefficient and this was related with differences in films water retention and structure. Plasticiser addition led to an increase in films moisture content, solubility and water vapour permeability, water affinity and structural changes. Films thermo-mechanical properties are significantly affected by both chitosan and glycerol addition. FTIR experiments confirm these results.

2015Journal article

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Relationship between molecular mobility, microstructure and functional properties in chitosan/glycerol films

Publication . Fundo, Joana; Carvalho, Alexandra; Feio, Gabriel; Silva, Cristina L. M.; Quintas, Mafalda A.C.

Foods are partially crystalline partially amorphous systems. Edible films are considered good models for food systems due to their interesting physical properties, quite straightforward matrices, and easy reproduction. Chitosan is a semicrystalline biopolymer, biocompatible, biodegradable, with antimicrobial activity and filmogenic properties, thoroughly used in edible films' studies. This work aims to investigate the relationship between chitosan films' molecular relaxation time, their microstructure (crystallinity) and functional properties. Analyses were carried out using data on chitosan/glycerol films prepared with different polymer/plasticisant concentrations. Results demonstrate that there is a relationship between macroscopic properties and water and glycerol relaxation times. Moreover, results show that while water is free in the matrix, glycerol is linked to the chitosan polymeric chains, decreasing intermolecular attractions and increasing free volume, thus facilitating molecular migration. Also the data analysis reveals the usefulness of NMR and molecular mobility studies in the matrix for characterisation and development of polymeric structures. Industrial relevance: NMR spectroscopy is currently one of the key methods for food characterisation. Foodstuff is a complex matrix including many different compounds with different chemical structures, concentrations, solubility, properties and nutritional values. From a fundamental perspective, foods are mainly edible and digestible biopolymers that are partially crystalline/partially amorphous and thus edible films, specifically chitosan/glycerol films can be very interesting food model systems for mobility and microstructure studies. Studies on water and solids' mobility and thermo-mechanical properties in food systems (real or model systems),are fundamental to fully attain food physical properties and stability. These studies may be extremely useful for food product and process design, safety and sensorial attributes and also for better understanding and predicting, for example, food storage stability conditions.

2015Journal article

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Molecular dynamics and structure in physical properties and stability of food systems

Publication . Fundo, Joana F.; Quintas, Mafalda A. C.; Silva, Cristina L. M.

Physical properties and stability are critical for delivering safe and healthy food to the consumers and thus is a theme that attracts food scientists for a long time. Recently, literature suggests that stability can be fully grasped only if food molecular dynamics and structure are taken into consideration, i.e. an appropriate understanding of the behaviour of food products requires knowledge of its composition, structure and molecular dynamics, through the three-dimensional arrangement of the various structural elements and their interactions. Food systems behaviour is strongly dependent on the water molecular dynamics. Understanding changes in location and mobility of water represents a significant step in food stability knowledge, since water "availability" profoundly influences the chemical, physical and microbiological quality of foods. Nuclear magnetic resonance has been presented as a powerful technique to investigate water dynamics and physical structures of foods through analysis of nuclear magnetisation relaxation times, because it provides information on molecular dynamics of different components in dense complex systems. The application of this technique may be very useful in predicting food systems physicochemical changes, namely texture, viscosity or water migration. This paper aims at reviewing some of the main aspects related to food physical properties and stability, and the role of water in these properties. More specifically, this paper intends to contribute to a deeper understanding of the relationship of molecular constituents-structure-function of food systems, contributing to the development of foods with improved functionality.

2015Journal article

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NMR water transverse relaxation time approach to understand storage stability of fresh-cut ‘Rocha’ pear

Publication . Fundo, Joana; Galvis-Sanchez, Andrea; Madureira, Ana Raquel; Carvalho, Alexandra; Feio, Gabriel; Silva, Cristina L. M.; Quintas, Mafalda

Fresh-cut fruit is an important segment in fruit market due to the increasing demand for healthy/ convenient foods. However, processing promotes a decrease in fruits stability with faster physiological and microbiological deteriorations. Food stability is strongly attributed to its molecular dynamics and “water availability”. Understanding changes in water location/mobility is of utmost importance, since water dynamics profoundly influences physic-chemical and microbiological quality of foods. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) is a methodology used to study the food constituents' molecular dynamics. The aim of this study is to use NMR to evaluate changes in water mobility that occurred in fresh-cut pear tissues during storage, by measuring the transverse relaxation time (T2) parameter. Results showed the existence of three water classes in the cells after processing, with T2 values of 10 ms, 187 ms and 3s for cellular wall, cytoplasm and vacuole, respectively. Also, the obtained results demonstrated that T2 was affected by processing and storage. Moreover, a relationship between T2, microstructure and the quality parameters was established. T2, maximum value increased with pear hardness as well as water activity. On the contrary, a decrease in total colour difference (TCD) was found with T2. Results demonstrate the usefulness of the application of NMR relaxometry in food studies.

2016Journal article

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Fresh-cut pear quality during storage: a NMR study of water transverse relaxation time

Publication . Fundo, Joana; Carvalho, Alexandra; Feio, Gabriel; Silva, Cristina L.M.; Quintas, Mafalda A. C.

Fresh-cut fruits have become an important food market segment due to increasing demand for fresh, healthy and convenient foods. However, processing fruits promotes a decrease in its stability with a faster physiological deterioration, biochemical changes and microbial degradation. Recently, food stability is strongly attributed to molecular dynamics and “water availability”. Understanding cooperatively changes in location and mobility of water is particularly important, considering that water dynamics profoundly influences physicochemical and microbiological quality of foods. The aim of this study was to use nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) as a tool to evaluate storage fresh-cut fruit quality. Recently, NMR has evolved to become a powerful methodology to probe the molecular dynamics of food constituents, which in turns is a fundamental parameter to determine the dynamic properties of food components and contributes to food degradation reactions comprehension. In this work fresh-cut pear transverse relaxation time (T2) was measured for a period of 7 days of storage at 5 °C. The relationship between the obtained values, microstructure and quality parameters was investigated. In general, results show the existence of one class of water fluidity in the system, the one present in cells after processing. T2, a measure of this fluidity, is affected by the processing and storage time. Also, it is possible to find a relationships between T2 and the quality parameters: total colour difference (TCD), firmness and aw. T2 increases with aw, while it decreases with TCD and firmness. These results highlight the usefulness of NMR methodology application in food science

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