Research progress on anthocyanin-based intelligent pH indicator films
- 1College of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Road 120, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110161, China
- 2Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
- 332653 of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Shenyang 110163, China
Abstract
With the continuous consumer demands for the improvement of food safety, quality, and freshness preservation, food packaging technology is rapidly evolving. Although traditional packaging materials have barrier and protective functions, they lack the capability for real-time monitoring of food quality and transmitting information. Intelligent packaging, as a novel technological system, not only ensures food safety but also enables intuitive monitoring of food quality. Natural pigments represented by anthocyanins have become a cutting-edge direction in research into intelligent packaging films because of their remarkable pH sensitivity and multiple biological activities. This paper systematically reviews the chemical structure and physicochemical properties of anthocyanins, and the selection of substrate materials and film-forming mechanisms for intelligent packaging films. The functional characteristics and application examples of anthocyanin-based intelligent pH indicator films in meat products, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products are discussed. In light of research from the past five years, the advantages of being eco-friendly and enabling visual monitoring of food's freshness, and the limitations of poor stability and susceptibility to environmental interference of anthocyanin-based intelligent packaging films are analyzed in this review. Future development trends are presented, aiming to provide a reference for subsequent research and industrial applications.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026research,
title = {{Research progress on anthocyanin-based intelligent pH indicator films}},
author = {Lin Zhang and Chunxue Zhang and Xinmei Yun and Ahmed Adel Ashour and Xinyu Wang and Hui Tan and Xinyao Jiao},
journal = {Food Innovation and Advances},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.48130/fia-0026-0039},
url = {https://doi.org/10.48130/fia-0026-0039},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Research progress on anthocyanin-based intelligent pH indicator films
AU - Lin Zhang
AU - Chunxue Zhang
AU - Xinmei Yun
AU - Ahmed Adel Ashour
AU - Xinyu Wang
AU - Hui Tan
AU - Xinyao Jiao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Food Innovation and Advances
DO - 10.48130/fia-0026-0039
UR - https://doi.org/10.48130/fia-0026-0039
AB - With the continuous consumer demands for the improvement of food safety, quality, and freshness preservation, food packaging technology is rapidly evolving. Although traditional packaging materials have barrier and protective functions, they lack the capability for real-time monitoring of food quality and transmitting information. Intelligent packaging, as a novel technological system, not only ensures food safety but also enables intuitive monitoring of food quality. Natural pigments represented by anthocyanins have become a cutting-edge direction in research into intelligent packaging films because of their remarkable pH sensitivity and multiple biological activities. This paper systematically reviews the chemical structure and physicochemical properties of anthocyanins, and the selection of substrate materials and film-forming mechanisms for intelligent packaging films. The functional characteristics and application examples of anthocyanin-based intelligent pH indicator films in meat products, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products are discussed. In light of research from the past five years, the advantages of being eco-friendly and enabling visual monitoring of food's freshness, and the limitations of poor stability and susceptibility to environmental interference of anthocyanin-based intelligent packaging films are analyzed in this review. Future development trends are presented, aiming to provide a reference for subsequent research and industrial applications.
SN - 2836-774X
ER -