Printing ethanol pomegranate extract in films by inkjet technology

Abstract

Abstract This work aimed to use a printing technique for the incorporation of ethanol mesocarp of pomegranate extract (EMPE) into carboxymethylcellulose films obtained by tape-casting to produce oral films with natural active compounds. The EMPE was evaluated in relation to the concentration of phenolic compounds and the potential use as an ink solution (surface tension and viscosity). The substrates were printed with 1–4 layers and the films were characterized in terms of color parameters, surface pH, disintegration time, atomic force microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, in vitro release and stability of the phenolic compounds for 196 days. The EMPE presented ideal characteristics in relation to surface tension and viscosity for use as a printing solution and concentration of phenolic compounds was 51.3\u202f±\u202f1.2\u202fmg galic acid/mL of extract. In addition, it showed great affinity with the films of carboxymethylcellulose. The films with 2, 3 and 4 printing layers showed more stability of the phenolic compounds and no changes were observed in the surface pH of the films. The disintegration time was