Isabelle Desloges

Microfibrillated cellulose coatings as new release systems for active packaging.

In this work, a new use of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) is highlighted for high-added-value applications. For the first time, a nanoporous network formed by MFC coated on paper is used for a controlled release of molecules. The release study was carried out in water with caffeine as a model molecule. The release process was studied by means of (i) continuous, and (ii) intermittent diffusion experiments (with renewal of the medium every 10 min). The effect of the MFC was first observed for the samples impregnated in the caffeine solution. These samples, coated with MFC (coat weight of about 7 g/m(2)), released the caffeine over a longer period (29 washings compared with 16), even if the continuous diffusions were similar for both samples (without and with MFC coating). The slowest release of caffeine was observed for samples coated with the mixture (MFC+caffeine). Moreover, the caffeine was only fully released 9h after the release from the other samples was completed. This study compared two techniques for the introduction of model molecules in MFC-coated papers. The latter offers a more controlled and gradual release. This new approach creates many opportunities especially in the food-packaging field. A similar study could be carried out with an active species.

Controlled release of chlorhexidine digluconate using β-cyclodextrin and microfibrillated cellulose

This study aims to develop a high-performance delivery system using microfibrillated cellulose (MFC)-coated papers as a controlled release system combined with the well-known drug delivery agent, β-cyclodextrin (βCD). Chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX), an antibacterial molecule, was mixed with a suspension of MFC or a βCD solution or mixed with both the substances, before coating onto a cellulosic substrate. The intermittent diffusion of CHX (i.e., diffusion interrupted by the renewal of the release medium periodically) was conducted in an aqueous medium, and the release mechanism of CHX was elucidated by field emission gun-scanning electron microscopy, SEM, NMR, and Fourier transform infrared analyses. According to the literature, both βCD and MFC are efficient controlled delivery systems. This study indicated that βCD releases CHX more gradually and over a longer period of time compared to MFC, which is mainly due to the ability of βCD to form an inclusion complex with CHX. Furthermore from the release study, a complementary action when the two compounds were combined was deduced. MFC mainly affected the burst effect, while βCD primarily controlled the amount of CHX released over time. In this paper, two different types of controlled release systems are proposed and compared. Depending on the final application, the use of βCD alone would release low amounts of active molecules over time (slow delivery), whereas the combination of β-cyclodextrin and MFC would be more suitable for the release of higher amounts of active molecules over time (rapid delivery).

Active bio-based food-packaging: Diffusion and release of active substances through and from cellulose nanofiber coating toward food-packaging design

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were recently investigated for the elaboration of new functional food-packaging materials. Their nanoporous network was especially of interest for controlling the release of active species. Qualitative release studies were conducted, but quantification of the diffusion phenomenon observed when the active species are released from and through CNF coating has not yet been studied. Therefore, this work aims to model CNF-coated paper substrates as controlled release system for food-packaging using release data obtained for two model molecules, namely caffeine and chlorhexidine digluconate. The applied mathematical model - derived from Fickian diffusion - was validated for caffeine only. When the active species chemically interacts with the release device, another model is required as a non-predominantly diffusion-controlled release was observed. From caffeine modeling data, a theoretical active food-packaging material was designed. The use of CNFs as barrier coating was proved to be the ideal material configuration that best meets specifications.

Modeling of caffeine release from a cellulosic substrate coated with microfibrillated cellulose.

with CyA molecules [2]. Furthermore, after CyA addition, the nanoparticle exhibits improved cellular uptake and significantly increased transfection efficacy when delivering EGFP plasmids (Fig. 1b). In addition, the presence of CyA does not induce additional cytotoxicity on the transfected cells (data not shown). This study provides a facile hydrogen-bond recognition strategy to improve the efficacy of low molecular weight polymers in gene delivery.

Analysis of the Strain and Stress Fields of Cardboard Box during Compression by 3D Digital Image Correlation

Corrugated boards with small flutes appear as good alternatives to replace packaging folding boards or plastic materials due their small thickness, possibility of easy recycling and biodegradability. Boxes made up of these materials have to withstand significant compressive loading conditions during transport and storage. In order to evaluate their structural performance, the box compression test is the most currently performed experiment. It consists in compressing an empty container between two parallel plates at constant velocity. Usually it is observed that buckling phenomena are localized in the box panels, which bulge out during compression [1]. At the maximum recorded compression force, the deformation localises around the box corners where creases nucleate and propagate. This maximum force is defined as the quasi-static compression strength of the box. The prediction of such strength is the main topic of interest of past and current research works. For example, the box compression behaviour of boxes was studied by Mc Kee et al. [2] and Urbanik [3], who defined semi-empirical formula to predict the box compression strength, as well as by Beldie et al. [4] and Biancolini et al. [5] by finite element simulations. But comparisons of these models with experimental results remain rather scarce and limited.