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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NanoPack (Pilot line production of functional polymer nanocomposites from natural halloysite nanotubes: demonstrating controlled release of active antimicrobials in food packaging applications.)

Teaser

Summary

NanoPack will develop and demonstrate a solution for extending food shelf life by using novel antimicrobial surfaces, applied
in active food packaging products.
It will develop, scale up and run pilot lines in operational industrial environments to
manufacture antimicrobial polymer films that are commercially feasible and accepted by retailers and consumers alike.
Harnessing the power of nanotechnology, the project will employ natural Halloysite Nanotubes (HNTs) as reliable and safe
carriers of bio-active compounds
NanoPack will minimise the amount of
preservatives required to maintain freshness, add value and assure safety to the entire supply chain.
The overall aim of NanoPack is to demonstrate and validate the feasibility and the advantages of HNTs-based antimicrobial
films in three food packaging industrial environments

Work performed

Currently we are in phase i of the project (out of four): Production
Readiness
1) HNTs surface functionalisation
2) Antimicrobial agents: combinations of synergic active essential oils will be tested for achieving
the highest anti-microbial efficacy at low concentrations
3) Process and methods for HNTs loading will be investigated in order to achieve high loading and
preliminary experiments aimed to study the compounding of the loaded HNTs, termed nanocapsules,
within polymers will be characterized focusing on achieving their uniform dispersion, characterizing the
essential oil release profiles, while maintaining anti-microbial bioactivity.

Final results

Building on lessons learned from previous attempts to industrialize and commercialize nanomaterials in food packaging
NanoPack will demonstrate, validate and pilot test antimicrobial films in flexible food packaging applications. It will address
scientific, technological, economic, safety and regulatory challenges as well as barriers in promoting industrialization and
commercialization of novel active HNTs-polymer nanocomposites, capable of tailored release of bioactive payloads.