Duck feather-inspired film has anti-counterfeit properties

Researchers in Chdiscourages ina have developed a non-petroleum film for packaging applications that can extend the shelf-life of foods, show when spoilage has occurred, and has fluorescent properties that could be used as an anti-counterfeit feature.

The team from Anhui Agricultural University, Jilin Agricultural University, and Jilin University describe in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules how they were inspired by the superhydrophobic properties of duck feathers to develop the 'C-CGR' film, which is made from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and gelatin.

It includes an antioxidant substance in the film matrix – a naturally-occurring, plant-derived polyphenol called resveratrol – which helps to shield food products from ultraviolet light and changes in pH and discourages microbial growth, according to the scientists. Moreover, it is entirely biodegradable, breaking down in soil in a short time with no harmful impact on the environment, they suggest.

The result is a packaging film that can extend the shelf life of beef by around two days compared to regular polyethylene (PE) film, to five days, and also changes colour when food starts to go off so spoilage can be monitored.

Meanwhile, under normal light the film is colourless and transparent but, when exposed to UV light, turns blue – a property that does not wear off with time.

"This phenomenon proves that the film has recognisable fluorescence anticounterfeiting properties under various lighting conditions, laying a strong groundwork for its use in anticounterfeiting packaging and labelling applications," write the authors of the study.

However, they caution that "the cost of the film prepared in this research is slightly greater than that of plastic film. Therefore, reducing the production cost of food packaging films will be the focus of our future work."

Photo by Ernesto Andrade on Unsplash