Biopolymer-Based Preservation of Perishable Products

Abstract

Disclosed herein are biopolymer-based coatings and products incorporating such coatings. Related methods and use are also provided.

1 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A product comprising a packaging item and a coating,
 wherein at least a portion of the coating is in contact with at least a portion of the packaging item;   wherein the coating comprises an amphiphilic polypeptide;   wherein a perishable item is in contact with the packaging item;   wherein the perishable item has an average shelf-life; and   wherein the average shelf-life of the perishable item in contact with the packaging item is extended compared to a reference perishable item not in contact with the packaging item.   
     
     
         59 . The product of  claim 58 , wherein the coating is on at least one side of the packaging item. 
     
     
         60 . The product of  claim 58 , wherein the coating is on at least two sides of the packaging item. 
     
     
         61 . The product of  claim 58 , wherein the coating is on only one side of the packaging item. 
     
     
         62 . The product of  claim 58 , wherein the coating is positioned between at least two layers of the packaging item. 
     
     
         63 . The product of  claim 58 , wherein the packaging item wraps the perishable item. 
     
     
         64 . The product of  claim 58 , wherein the packaging item covers the perishable item. 
     
     
         65 . The product of  claim 58 , wherein the packaging item is a bottle. 
     
     
         66 . The product of  claim 58 , wherein the packaging item is edible. 
     
     
         67 . The product of  claim 58 , wherein the coating comprises a nano- and/or micro-structure fabricated thereon or incorporated therein. 
     
     
         68 . The product of  claim 58 , wherein the coating has a water diffusivity of less than 10 −6  cm 2 /s. 
     
     
         69 . The product of  claim 58 , wherein the coating provides an oxygen permeability coefficient (Dk O2 ) of less than 10 −10  [(ml O2 •cm)/(cm•s•mmHg)]. 
     
     
         70 . The product of  claim 58 , wherein the coating further comprises an additive. 
     
     
         71 . The product of  claim 58 , wherein the product retains one or more parameters of product quality when subjected to a temperature outside a recommended temperature range, wherein the reference item does not retain the one or more parameters of product quality when subjected to the temperature. 
     
     
         72 . The product of  claim 58 , wherein the average shelf-life is increased by at least about 1.1-fold compared to the reference perishable item. 
     
     
         73 . The product of  claim 58 , wherein the coating comprises a first crystallinity degree which is higher than a second crystallinity degree, the first crystallinity degree having been produced by a treatment process to the coating after at least a portion of the coating was in contact with the packaging item; and the second crystallinity degree being a crystallinity degree of the coating prior to the treatment process. 
     
     
         74 . A product comprising a perishable item and a coating, wherein at least a portion of the coating is in contact with at least a portion of the perishable item;
 wherein the coating comprises an amphiphilic polypeptide;   wherein the perishable item has an average shelf-life; and   wherein the average shelf-life of the perishable item is extended compared to a reference perishable item that is not coated.   
     
     
         75 . The product of  claim 74 , wherein the coating has a water diffusivity of less than 10 − 6 cm 2 /s. 
     
     
         76 . The product of  claim 74 , wherein the coating provides an oxygen permeability coefficient (Dk O2 ) of less than 10 −10  [(ml O2 •cm)/(cm•s•mmHg)]. 
     
     
         77 . The product of  claim 74 , wherein the coating comprises a first crystallinity degree which is higher than a second crystallinity degree, the first crystallinity degree having been produced by a treatment process applied to the coating after at least a portion of the coating was in contact with the packaging item; and the second crystallinity degree being a crystallinity degree of the coating prior to the treatment process.