Nanostructured Materials for Food Packaging Applications (Micro and Nano Technologies)

Nanostructured Materials for Food Packaging Applications brings together the latest advances in the preparation of nanostructured materials with the required properties and performance for food packaging applications. The book begins by summarizing the state-of-the-art, opportunities, challenges and solutions in terms of materials for packaging, while also introducing the polymers and fillers in use, their general characteristics and modifications. This is followed by detailed coverage of characterization techniques, fabrication methods and the possibilities for fully green nanoscale materials. The subsequent chapters focus on specific nanomaterials and nanocomposites for food packaging, covering a broad range of materials, methods, and properties.

The final chapters highlight functionalized nanomaterials, intelligent and smart packaging systems, kinetic studies, modelling and simulation, safety assessment, and lifecycle assessment of food packaging materials. This book will be of interest to researchers and advanced students across nanotechnology, polymer science, films, barriers, coatings, packaging, food science, chemistry, and materials science, as well as scientists, engineers, and R&D professionals.

Dr. Jissy Jacob is currently working as a Senior Researcher at Mahatma Gandhi University. Her research interests are in the field of biopolymer based nanocomposites for food packaging applications. She is working toward the development of mesoporous materials from sustainable resources, via green synthesis process and fabrication of several biopolymer composites, with improved mechanical, thermal, and gas barrier properties. Her research articles are published in reputed journals.

Prof. Ilaria Cacciotti is a Full Professor of materials science and technology at the Niccolò Cusano University, Rome, Italy. She is an expert on synthesis, processing, and characterization of biocompatible nanostructured materials, particularly for applications in the biomedical, environmental, and agri-food sectors, including bioceramics, biopolymers, and composites. Prof. Cacciotti is the Coordinator of the Research and Projects Committee, as well as a member of the Italian Interuniversity Consortium on Materials Science and Technology (INSTM), Associazione Italiana d'Ingegneria dei Materiali (AIMAT), Società Italiana dei Biomateriali (SIB), Center for Regenerative Medicine (CIMER), International Association of Advanced Materials, and Italian Digital Biomanufacturing Network (IDBN). She is a reviewer for more than 100 peer-review journals, a member of the editorial board on several international journals, and serves on various grant review committees. She has published more than 150 peer-reviewed research papers, more than 10 book chapters, more than 190 conference proceedings, and more than 30 monographic volumes. She is inventor of 8 patents and has delivered several invited, keynote, and plenary lectures at national and international conferences and meetings. Her significant research endeavors have earned her multiple awards and recognition in her field.

Dr. Sabu Thomas (Ph.D.) is the Director of the School of Energy Materials, School of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology of Mahatma Gandhi University, India. He received his Ph. D. in 1987 in Polymer Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, India. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, London, and a member of the American Chemical Society. He has been ranked no.1 in India about the number of publications (most productive scientists). Prof. Thomas's research group specialized areas of polymers which includes Polymer blends, Fiber filled polymer composites, Particulate-filled polymer composites and their morphological characterization, Ageing and degradation, Pervaporation phenomena, sorption and diffusion, Interpenetrating polymer systems, Recyclability and reuse of waste plastics and rubbers, Elastomer cross-linking, Dual porous nanocomposite scaffolds for tissue engineering, etc. Prof. Thomas's research group has extensive exchange programs with different industries, research, and academic institutions all over the world and is performing world-class collaborative research in various fields. Professors Centre is equipped with various sophisticated instruments and has established state-of-the-art experimental facilities which cater to the needs of researchers within the country and abroad. His H Index- 133, Google Citations- 86424, Number of Publications- 1300, and Books-160.