Our colleagues and members of LCPP, young researcher Saša Kaloper, her mentors Dr. Olivija Plohl, and head of LCPP, Prof. Dr. Lidija Fras Zemljič, alongside the tight collaboration with experts from Biotechnical faculty (University of Ljubljana), Jožef Štefan Institute and University Department of Marine Studies (University of Split), have published an article on the topic of active packaging (AP) development in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules (IF: 8.2), entitled Exploring chitosan-plant extract bilayer coatings: Advancements in active food packaging via polypropylene modification.

This article exemplifies the authors’ collaborative innovation in developing AP for food, where UV-ozone activated polypropylene food films were subjected to a novel bilayer coating process combining antimicrobial primary or quaternary chitosan and bioactive natural extracts from juniper needles or blackberry leaves. The modified films were evaluated in an unprecedented approach through a detailed surface characterization and bioactivity assessments (i.e., antioxidant and antimicrobial functionalities), generating imperative knowledge in the field and providing a promising approach to improving the functionality of food packaging.

Everyone interested in our group’s scientific contribution on active food packaging can read the article at the following link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141813024031131?via%3Dihub