Structure–Property Relationships in Bioactive Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Films Incorporating Natural Phenolic Additives for Sustainable Active Packaging
7 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Sciences, Technical University of Cluj Napoca, Victoriei 76, 430072 Baia Mare, Romania
- 2Faculty of Food Technology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Franje Kuhača 18, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
- 3Department of Materials Chemistry, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, P.O. Box 660, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- 4Nanostructured Materials and Bio-Nano-Interface Center, Interdisciplinary Research Institute on Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, 42, Treboniu Laurian, 400271 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 5Faculty of Physics, Babes-Bolyai University, M. Kogălniceanu 1, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 6Institute for Research-Development-Innovation in Applied Natural Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, Fântânele 30, 400327 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 7Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Victor Babeș 8, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate bioactive poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films incorporating three chemically distinct naturally phenolic additives—aronia extract (A), apple peel extract (AP), and rutin (R)—as individual functional modifiers for active packaging applications. Here, we studied how the chemical nature of these phenolic compounds influenced the physicochemical characteristics, structure, release behavior, and functional properties of the PVA matrix. The FTIR, SEM, AFM and XPS analyses revealed intermolecular interactions between the hydroxyl groups from the PVA matrix and the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups from phenolic compounds, a high degree of miscibility between them, as well as uniform dispersion of polyphenols in the PVA matrix. XRD analysis indicated the ability of phenolic compounds to change the PVA film’s crystallinity. The films showed very low permeability to castor oil and the UV-Vis light barrier property of the film modified with aronia extract was 47% higher as compared to the reference film. The phenolic compounds improved the antioxidant activity of the reference film by about 90% and inhibited the growth of Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. The modified films proved their functionality by keeping the quality of the butter packed for 43 days, demonstrating their potential as active packaging materials.
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BibTeX
@article{pop2026structureproperty,
title = {{Structure–Property Relationships in Bioactive Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Films Incorporating Natural Phenolic Additives for Sustainable Active Packaging}},
author = {Lucica Maria Pop and Lidija Jakobek and Camelia Nicula and Alexandra Maria Uivarasan and Zorica Vosgan and Monica Liliana Marian and Goran Drazic and Klara Magyari and Marieta Muresan-Pop and Ioan Botiz and Milica Todea and Lucian Baia and Cristina Mihali and Claudia Butean and Lucia Mihalescu and Oana Mare-Rosca and Monica Tarau and Ionela Traistaru Marcu and Adrian Matei Cosma and Doina Boitor Hontau and Anca Peter},
journal = {Polymers},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/polym18202519},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2519},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Structure–Property Relationships in Bioactive Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Films Incorporating Natural Phenolic Additives for Sustainable Active Packaging
AU - Lucica Maria Pop
AU - Lidija Jakobek
AU - Camelia Nicula
AU - Alexandra Maria Uivarasan
AU - Zorica Vosgan
AU - Monica Liliana Marian
AU - Goran Drazic
AU - Klara Magyari
AU - Marieta Muresan-Pop
AU - Ioan Botiz
AU - Milica Todea
AU - Lucian Baia
AU - Cristina Mihali
AU - Claudia Butean
AU - Lucia Mihalescu
AU - Oana Mare-Rosca
AU - Monica Tarau
AU - Ionela Traistaru Marcu
AU - Adrian Matei Cosma
AU - Doina Boitor Hontau
AU - Anca Peter
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Polymers
DO - 10.3390/polym18202519
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2519
AB - This study aimed to investigate bioactive poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films incorporating three chemically distinct naturally phenolic additives—aronia extract (A), apple peel extract (AP), and rutin (R)—as individual functional modifiers for active packaging applications. Here, we studied how the chemical nature of these phenolic compounds influenced the physicochemical characteristics, structure, release behavior, and functional properties of the PVA matrix. The FTIR, SEM, AFM and XPS analyses revealed intermolecular interactions between the hydroxyl groups from the PVA matrix and the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups from phenolic compounds, a high degree of miscibility between them, as well as uniform dispersion of polyphenols in the PVA matrix. XRD analysis indicated the ability of phenolic compounds to change the PVA film’s crystallinity. The films showed very low permeability to castor oil and the UV-Vis light barrier property of the film modified with aronia extract was 47% higher as compared to the reference film. The phenolic compounds improved the antioxidant activity of the reference film by about 90% and inhibited the growth of Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. The modified films proved their functionality by keeping the quality of the butter packed for 43 days, demonstrating their potential as active packaging materials.
SN - 2073-4360
ER -