Optimization of Orange Peel Extract Nanoemulsions and Their Incorporation into Chitosan/Gelatin Biodegradable Films: Physicochemical and Functional Properties
- 1Coordinación de Tecnología de Alimentos de Origen Animal, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, Carretera Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas No. 46, La Victoria, Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico
- 2IPOA Research Group, Institute for Agri-Food and Agri-Environmental Research and Innovation (CIAGRO-UMH), Universidad Miguel Hernández, Ctra. Beniel km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, Alicante, Spain
Abstract
In this study, orange peel extract (OPE), obtained from Citrus sinensis processing by-products, was encapsulated in nanoemulsions and incorporated into chitosan/gelatin-based biodegradable films to enhance their functional performance. A Box–Behnken design combined with response surface methodology was employed to optimize nanoemulsion formulation. Polyphenolic profiling revealed that flavanones, particularly hesperidin and narirutin, were the predominant compounds in both the extract and the optimized nanoemulsion, with retention efficiencies exceeding 80% for major flavonoids. The incorporation of OPE-loaded nanoemulsions into chitosan/gelatin films significantly modified film structure and functionality. Nanoemulsion-containing films showed increased thickness and opacity, reduced solubility and swelling capacity, as well as enhanced UV-visible light barrier properties compared with control films. Furthermore, nanoencapsulation increased polyphenol recovery within the film matrix, preserving up to 80% of total polyphenols after film formation. Both free-extract and nanoemulsion-loaded films exhibited markedly enhanced antioxidant activity compared with control films. Release studies demonstrated that nanoemulsion incorporation promoted a more sustained and controlled release of polyphenols, with the characteristic release time more than doubling relative to films containing the non-encapsulated extract. No antibacterial activity was detected against the tested bacterial strains; this result may be attributed to the relatively low availability of antimicrobial compounds in the film matrix or their limited diffusion into the surrounding medium; nevertheless, the incorporation of OPE-loaded nanoemulsions improved stability, antioxidant performance, and controlled release behavior, highlighting the potential of nanoemulsion-assisted incorporation strategies. The developed chitosan/gelatin films containing OPE-loaded nanoemulsions represent a promising approach for the development of active biodegradable food-packaging systems.
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BibTeX
@article{penunuripacheco2026optimization,
title = {{Optimization of Orange Peel Extract Nanoemulsions and Their Incorporation into Chitosan/Gelatin Biodegradable Films: Physicochemical and Functional Properties}},
author = {Nallely Peñuñuri-Pacheco and Nuria Muñoz-Tébar and Raquel Lucas-González and Humberto González-Ríos and Martin Valenzuela-Melendres and Juana Fernández-López and Manuel Viuda-Martos},
journal = {Polymers},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/polym18202533},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2533},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Optimization of Orange Peel Extract Nanoemulsions and Their Incorporation into Chitosan/Gelatin Biodegradable Films: Physicochemical and Functional Properties
AU - Nallely Peñuñuri-Pacheco
AU - Nuria Muñoz-Tébar
AU - Raquel Lucas-González
AU - Humberto González-Ríos
AU - Martin Valenzuela-Melendres
AU - Juana Fernández-López
AU - Manuel Viuda-Martos
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Polymers
DO - 10.3390/polym18202533
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2533
AB - In this study, orange peel extract (OPE), obtained from Citrus sinensis processing by-products, was encapsulated in nanoemulsions and incorporated into chitosan/gelatin-based biodegradable films to enhance their functional performance. A Box–Behnken design combined with response surface methodology was employed to optimize nanoemulsion formulation. Polyphenolic profiling revealed that flavanones, particularly hesperidin and narirutin, were the predominant compounds in both the extract and the optimized nanoemulsion, with retention efficiencies exceeding 80% for major flavonoids. The incorporation of OPE-loaded nanoemulsions into chitosan/gelatin films significantly modified film structure and functionality. Nanoemulsion-containing films showed increased thickness and opacity, reduced solubility and swelling capacity, as well as enhanced UV-visible light barrier properties compared with control films. Furthermore, nanoencapsulation increased polyphenol recovery within the film matrix, preserving up to 80% of total polyphenols after film formation. Both free-extract and nanoemulsion-loaded films exhibited markedly enhanced antioxidant activity compared with control films. Release studies demonstrated that nanoemulsion incorporation promoted a more sustained and controlled release of polyphenols, with the characteristic release time more than doubling relative to films containing the non-encapsulated extract. No antibacterial activity was detected against the tested bacterial strains; this result may be attributed to the relatively low availability of antimicrobial compounds in the film matrix or their limited diffusion into the surrounding medium; nevertheless, the incorporation of OPE-loaded nanoemulsions improved stability, antioxidant performance, and controlled release behavior, highlighting the potential of nanoemulsion-assisted incorporation strategies. The developed chitosan/gelatin films containing OPE-loaded nanoemulsions represent a promising approach for the development of active biodegradable food-packaging systems.
SN - 2073-4360
ER -