Influence of Limonene, Ethyl Lactate, and Diethyl Adipate on the Functional Properties of Chitosan-Based Films Loaded with Fumaria officinalis L. Extract and Propolis.
6 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
- 2Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Njegoševa 12, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
- 3Military Technical Institute, Ratka Resanovića 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia.
- 4Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
- 5Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Bulevar Cara Lazara 1, 21102 Novi Sad, Serbia.
- 6Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy INEP, University of Belgrade, Banatska 31b, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia.
Abstract
The development of chitosan (CS)-based films incorporating antioxidant compounds offers a promising approach for the design of functional biobased materials. CS films containing propolis and Fumaria officinalis extract (FOE) were prepared with triglyceryl citrate (TGC) and modified with limonene, ethyl lactate (EL), or diethyl adipate (DEA); their physicochemical, release, and antioxidant properties were evaluated. EL- and DEA-containing films exhibited greater structural homogeneity than limonene-based; higher FOE concentrations increased surface heterogeneity and porosity. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the viscoelastic response depended on the additive, with CSEL retaining the highest moduli and CSL-FOE exhibiting the most pronounced softening after FOE/propolis incorporation (G'~10⁵ Pa at 100-110 °C; G″~10⁴ Pa at 120 °C). EL-based films retained the highest tensile resistance and the most balanced strength-deformability profile (stress at break: ~53.58 N/mm²; strain at break: ~14.05%); increasing FOE content reduced stress at break. Film wettability and water uptake were governed by additive and FOE concentration. The release study demonstrated sustained polyphenol delivery, with EL- and DEA-based systems showing approximately 50% release after 24 h. Antioxidant assays confirmed a time- and concentration-dependent increase in activity. The antioxidant response profiles differed among the films, with EL films showing an earlier increase in antioxidant activity, limonene films exhibiting a more gradual response, and DEA films displaying an intermediate response pattern.
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BibTeX
@article{ahmoda2026influence,
title = {{Influence of Limonene, Ethyl Lactate, and Diethyl Adipate on the Functional Properties of Chitosan-Based Films Loaded with Fumaria officinalis L. Extract and Propolis.}},
author = {Rabiea Ashowen Ahmoda and Milena Milošević and Tihomir Kovačević and Sanja Savić and Ivona Janković-Častvan and Boban Anđelković and Tamara Erceg and Aleksandra A Jovanović and Aleksandar Marinković},
journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/antiox15101265},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42939839},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Influence of Limonene, Ethyl Lactate, and Diethyl Adipate on the Functional Properties of Chitosan-Based Films Loaded with Fumaria officinalis L. Extract and Propolis.
AU - Rabiea Ashowen Ahmoda
AU - Milena Milošević
AU - Tihomir Kovačević
AU - Sanja Savić
AU - Ivona Janković-Častvan
AU - Boban Anđelković
AU - Tamara Erceg
AU - Aleksandra A Jovanović
AU - Aleksandar Marinković
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/antiox15101265
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42939839
AB - The development of chitosan (CS)-based films incorporating antioxidant compounds offers a promising approach for the design of functional biobased materials. CS films containing propolis and Fumaria officinalis extract (FOE) were prepared with triglyceryl citrate (TGC) and modified with limonene, ethyl lactate (EL), or diethyl adipate (DEA); their physicochemical, release, and antioxidant properties were evaluated. EL- and DEA-containing films exhibited greater structural homogeneity than limonene-based; higher FOE concentrations increased surface heterogeneity and porosity. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the viscoelastic response depended on the additive, with CSEL retaining the highest moduli and CSL-FOE exhibiting the most pronounced softening after FOE/propolis incorporation (G'~10⁵ Pa at 100-110 °C; G″~10⁴ Pa at 120 °C). EL-based films retained the highest tensile resistance and the most balanced strength-deformability profile (stress at break: ~53.58 N/mm²; strain at break: ~14.05%); increasing FOE content reduced stress at break. Film wettability and water uptake were governed by additive and FOE concentration. The release study demonstrated sustained polyphenol delivery, with EL- and DEA-based systems showing approximately 50% release after 24 h. Antioxidant assays confirmed a time- and concentration-dependent increase in activity. The antioxidant response profiles differed among the films, with EL films showing an earlier increase in antioxidant activity, limonene films exhibiting a more gradual response, and DEA films displaying an intermediate response pattern.
SN - 2076-3921
ER -