Packaging materials and methods for their preparation and use

Abstract

Food packaging and methods of making and using such packaging are disclosed. Food packaging having at least one agent may be disposed within a shape memory polymer which is adapted to release the agent in response to a stimulus. Such packaging may be used, for example, to detect environmental conditions during transport or storage, maintain a temperature of the food to preserve food quality, or provide a pleasant sensory experience to a consumer.

1 . A packaging comprising:
 at least one agent disposed within a shape memory polymer adapted to release the agent in response to a stimulus,   
       wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of a salt capable of producing an exothermic reaction when dissolved in water, a salt capable of producing an endothermic reaction when dissolved in water, magnetic nanoparticles, and pressurized carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         2 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the shape memory polymer is adapted to release the agent in a burst release fashion. 
     
     
         3 .- 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the salt capable of producing an endothermic reaction when dissolved in water is selected from the group consisting of ammonium nitrate, lithium chloride, potassium chloride, ammonium nitrite, potassium thiocyanate, ammonium thiocyanate, potassium iodide, ammonium chloride, sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate, sodium acetate, sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium thiosulfate, sodium phosphate, urea, xylitol, sorbitol, glycerol, salivary amylase, lipase, maltitol, sucrose, glucose, mannose, a sugar and a carbohydrate. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the salt capable of producing an exothermic reaction when dissolved in water is selected from the group consisting of lithium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium carbonate, magnesium sulfate, calcium sulfate, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, aluminum chloride, aluminum sulfate and potassium aluminum sulfate. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the agent further comprises an essential oil selected from the group consisting of agar oil, ajwain oil, angelica root oil, anise oil, asafetida, balsam oil, basil oil, bay oil, bergamot oil, black pepper essential oil, buchu oil, birch oil, camphor, cannabis flower essential oil, caraway oil, cardamom seed oil, carrot seed oil, cedarwood oil, chamomile oil, calamus root, cinnamon oil, cistus oil, citronella oil, clary sage oil, clove oil, coriander oil, coffee, coriander, costmary oil, costus root, cranberry seed oil, cubeb, cumin oil, cypress, cypriol, curry leaf, davana oil, dill oil, elecampane, eucalyptus oil, fennel seed oil, fenugreek oil, fir, frankincense oil, galangal, galbanum, geranium oil, ginger oil, goldenrod, grapefruit oil, henna oil, helichrysum, limonene, hickory nut oil, horseradish oil, hyssop, Idaho tansy, jasmine oil, juniper berry oil, lavender oil, lemon oil, lemongrass, lime, Litsea cubeba oil, mandarin, marjoram, melaleuca, tea tree oil, Melissa oil, mint oil, mountain savory, mustard oil, mugwort oil, myrrh oil, myrtle, neem oil, neroli, nutmeg, orange oil, oregano oil, orris oil, palo santo, parsley oil, patchouli oil, perilla essential oil, pennyroyal oil, peppermint oil, petitgrain, pine oil, ravensara, red cedar, roman chamomile, rose oil, rosehip oil, rosemary oil, rosewood oil, sage oil, sassafras oil, savory oil, sandalwood oil, schisandra oil, spearmint oil, spikenard, spruce, star anise oil, tangerine, tarragon oil, thyme oil, tsuga, turmeric, valerian, vetiver oil, omega-3 oil, flaxseed oil, fish oil, tallow, tung oil, banana oil, western red cedar, wintergreen, yarrow oil, ylang-ylang and zedoary. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the shape memory polymer comprises cinnamic acid, starch, a polyetherurethane matrix, triphenylmethane leuco derivatives, azobenzene, biopolymers, poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline), poly(silsesquioxane), high impact polystyrene, cross-linked polyethylene and polyethylene/nylon 6 graft copolymer, trans-polyisoprene, cross-linked ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene-based polymers, acrylate-based polymers, polynorbornene, cross-linked polycyclooctene, epoxy-based polymers, thio-ene-based polymers, segmented polyurethane, segmented polyurethane ionomers, poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate), copolymers comprising dodecanedioic acid or sebacic acid monomers and bile acid-based polyesters, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the shape memory polymer has a shape recovery of about 100% to about 1000%. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulus comprises an increase in temperature, a decrease in temperature, ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, infrared (IR) light exposure, altering a magnetic field, pH change, change in ionic concentration, change in water concentration, change in electric field, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the shape memory polymer is adapted to undergo a shape change to release the agent in response to the stimulus. 
     
     
         13 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The packaging of  claim 12 , wherein the shape change ruptures a capsule comprising the agent, the capsule being formed from the shape memory polymer. 
     
     
         22 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the shape memory polymer is coated with an encapsulant. 
     
     
         23 . The packaging of  claim 22 , wherein the encapsulant breaks when the shape memory polymer undergoes a shape change. 
     
     
         24 . The packaging of  claim 22 , wherein the encapsulant comprises starch, poly(urea-formaldehyde), amino resin, polyamide, polyurethane, gelatin, cellulose, polyvinyl acetate, urea-resourcinol formaldehyde, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the agent is encapsulated. 
     
     
         26 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the shape memory polymer is disposed within a hydrophilic matrix, whereby the agent reacts with the hydrophilic matrix upon release from the shape memory polymer. 
     
     
         27 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method of making a packaging, the method comprising:
 disposing at least one agent within a shape memory polymer adapted to release the agent in response to a stimulus, wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of a salt capable of producing an exothermic reaction when dissolved in water, a salt capable of producing an endothermic reaction when dissolved in water and pressurized carbon dioxide.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the disposing comprises disposing the agent capable of being released from the shape memory polymer in a burst release fashion. 
     
     
         32 .- 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the disposing comprises disposing the salt capable of producing an exothermic reaction when dissolved in water being selected from the group consisting of lithium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium carbonate, magnesium sulfate, calcium sulfate, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, aluminum chloride, aluminum sulfate and potassium aluminum sulfate. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the disposing comprises disposing the salt capable of producing an endothermic reaction when dissolved in water being selected from the group consisting of ammonium nitrate, potassium chloride, ammonium nitrite, potassium thiocyanate, ammonium thiocyanate, potassium iodide, ammonium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate, sodium acetate, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, sodium thiosulfate, sodium phosphate, urea, xylitol, sorbitol, glycerol, salivary amylase, lipase, maltitol, sucrose, glucose, mannose, a sugar and a carbohydrate. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the disposing comprises disposing the agent further comprising an essential oil selected from the group consisting of agar oil, ajwain oil, angelica root oil, anise oil, asafetida, balsam oil, basil oil, bay oil, bergamot oil, black pepper essential oil, buchu oil, birch oil, camphor, cannabis flower essential oil, caraway oil, cardamom seed oil, carrot seed oil, cedarwood oil, chamomile oil, calamus root, cinnamon oil, cistus oil, citronella oil, clary sage oil, clove oil, coriander oil, coffee, coriander, costmary oil, costus root, cranberry seed oil, cubeb, cumin oil, cypress, cypriol, curry leaf, davana oil, dill oil, elecampane, eucalyptus oil, fennel seed oil, fenugreek oil, fir, frankincense oil, galangal, galbanum, geranium oil, ginger oil, goldenrod, grapefruit oil, henna oil, helichrysum, limonene, hickory nut oil, horseradish oil, hyssop, Idaho tansy, jasmine oil, juniper berry oil, lavender oil, lemon oil, lemongrass, lime, Litsea cubeba oil, mandarin, marjoram, melaleuca, tea tree oil, Melissa oil, mint oil, mountain savory, mustard oil, mugwort oil, myrrh oil, myrtle, neem oil, neroli, nutmeg, orange oil, oregano oil, orris oil, palo santo, parsley oil, patchouli oil, perilla essential oil, pennyroyal oil, peppermint oil, petitgrain, pine oil, ravensara, red cedar, roman chamomile, rose oil, rosehip oil, rosemary oil, rosewood oil, sage oil, sassafras oil, savory oil, sandalwood oil, schisandra oil, spearmint oil, spikenard, spruce, star anise oil, tangerine, tarragon oil, thyme oil, tsuga, turmeric, valerian, vetiver oil, omega-3 oil, flaxseed oil, fish oil, tallow, tung oil, banana oil, western red cedar, wintergreen, yarrow oil, ylang-ylang and zedoary. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the disposing comprises disposing within the shape memory polymer comprising cinnamic acid, starch, a polyetherurethane matrix, triphenylmethane leuco derivatives, azobenzene, biopolymers, poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline), poly(silsesquioxane), high impact polystyrene, cross-linked polyethylene and polyethylene/nylon 6 graft copolymer, trans-polyisoprene, cross-linked ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene-based polymers, acrylate-based polymers, polynorbornene, cross-linked polycyclooctene, epoxy-based polymers, thio-ene-based polymers, segmented polyurethane, segmented polyurethane ionomers, poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate), copolymers comprising dodecanedioic acid or sebacic acid monomers and bile acid-based polyesters. 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the disposing comprises disposing within the shape memory polymer having a shape recovery of about 100% to about 1000%. 
     
     
         40 .- 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising coating the shape memory polymer with an encapsulant. 
     
     
         52 .- 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising encapsulating the agent. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising disposing the shape memory polymer within a hydrophilic matrix, whereby the agent reacts with the hydrophilic matrix upon release from the shape memory polymer. 
     
     
         56 .- 87 . (canceled)