MICRO-ENCAPSULATION OF VOLATILE COMPOUNDS INTO CYCLODEXTRINS: A NEW TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE POST HARVEST LOSSES

Abstract

Systems are provided for preventing post harvest fungal diseases of food systems, such as but not limited to fresh produce, such as but not limited to berries (e.g., blueberries). For example, various anti-fungal compounds can incorporated or encapsulated into cyclodextrins, such as but not limited to α, β and/or γ cyclodextrins. The encapsulated anti-fungal materials can be used alone (e.g., brought into proximity to the produce) or incorporated into film and/or packaging materials that are used in the packing and/or storing of produce. By way of a non-limiting example, the anti-fungal compounds can include volatile compounds such as but not limited to acetaldehyde, hexanal and 2E-hexenal. The cyclodextrins provide controlled release of the volatiles over a period of at least several days such that they prevent or inhibit fungal growth, including but not limited to several species of the Colletotrichum, Altermaria, Botrytis, Penicillium and/or Aspergillus genera.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 a is a graphical view of the release of hexanal from inclusion complexes (ICs) obtained from different molar relationships between CD and volatiles, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1 b is a graphical view of the release of acetaldehyde from ICs obtained from different molar relationships between CD and volatiles, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 a is a graphical view of the effectiveness of hexanal on growth of C. acutatum at 23° C., in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 b is a graphical view of the effectiveness of acetaldehyde on growth of C. acutatum at 23° C., in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 a is a graphical view of the effectiveness of hexanal on growth of A. alternata at 23° C., in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 b is a graphical view of the effectiveness of acetaldehyde on growth of A. alternata at 23° C., in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 a is a graphical view of the effectiveness of hexanal on growth of B. cinerea at 23° C., in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 b is a graphical view of the effectiveness of acetaldehyde on growth of B. cinerea at 23° C., in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 a is a graphical view of the effectiveness of ICs βCD-hexanal against C. acutatum, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 b is a graphical view of the effectiveness of βCD-acetaldehyde against A. alternata, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 c is a graphical view of the effectiveness of ICs βCD-hexanal against B. cinerea, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 a is a graphical view of the effect of PLA_βCD_acetaldehyde films against A. alternata growth, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 b is a graphical view of the effect of PLA_βCD_hexanal films against C. acutatum growth, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a graphical view of the effect of hexanal against Penicillum growth, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a graphical view of the effect of 2E-hexenal against Penicillum growth, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a graphical view of the effect of acetaldehyde against A. niger growth, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for inhibiting fungal growth on post harvest fresh produce, comprising: a volatile compound; anda cyclodextrin;wherein the volatile compound is encapsulated by the cyclodextrin.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the volatile compound is selected from the group consisting of acetaldehyde, hexanal, 2E-hexanal, and combinations thereof.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the volatile compound is selected from the group consisting of cinnamic acid, 1-methylcyclopropene, isoprene, terpenes, 2-nonanone, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, methyl jasmonate, benzaldehyde, propanal, butanal, ethanol, acetic acid, allyl-isothiocyanate, thymol, eugenol, citral, vanillin, trans-cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, salicylic acid, furfural, β-ionone, 1-nonanol, nonanal, 3-hexanone, 2-hexen-1-ol, 1-hexanol, and combinations thereof.

4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the cyclodextrin is selected from the group consisting of α cyclodextrins, β cyclodextrins, γ cyclodextrins, and combinations thereof.

5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the volatile compound exhibits anti-fungal properties.

6. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the volatile compound is released over a period of several days from the cyclodextrin.

7. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the volatile compound inhibits the growth of bacteria selected from the genus Colletotrichum, Alternaria, Botrytis, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and combinations thereof.

8. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulated volatile compound is incorporated into a biodegradable material.

9. The invention according to claim 8, wherein the biodegradable material is polylactic acid.

10. The invention according to claim 8, wherein the biodegradable material is formed into a structure selected from the group consisting of films, containers, lids, and combinations thereof.

11. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulated volatile compound is incorporated into a non-biodegradable material.

12. The invention according to claim 11, wherein the non-biodegradable material is a plastic material.

13. The invention according to claim 11, wherein the non-biodegradable material is formed into a structure selected from the group consisting of films, containers, lids, and combinations thereof.

14. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the fresh produce is berries.

15. A system for inhibiting fungal growth on post harvest fresh produce, comprising: a volatile compound selected from the group consisting of acetaldehyde, hexanal, 2E-hexanal, and combinations thereof; anda cyclodextrin, wherein the cyclodextrin is selected from the group consisting of α cyclodextrins, β cyclodextrins, γ cyclodextrins, and combinations thereof;wherein the volatile compound is encapsulated by the cyclodextrin.

16. The invention according to claim 15, wherein the volatile compound further comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of cinnamic acid, 1-methylcyclopropene, isoprene, terpenes, 2-nonanone, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, methyl jasmonate, benzaldehyde, propanal, butanal, ethanol, acetic acid, allyl-isothiocyanate, thymol, eugenol, citral, vanillin, trans-cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, salicylic acid, furfural, β-ionone, 1-nonanol, nonanal, 3-hexanone, 2-hexen-1-ol, 1-hexanol, and combinations thereof.

17. The invention according to claim 15, wherein the volatile compound exhibits anti-fungal properties.

18. The invention according to claim 15, wherein the volatile compound is released over a period of several days from the cyclodextrin.

19. The invention according to claim 15, wherein the volatile compound inhibits the growth of bacteria selected from the genus Colletotrichum, Alternaria, Botrytis, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and combinations thereof.

20. The invention according to claim 15, wherein the encapsulated volatile compound is incorporated into a biodegradable material.

21. The invention according to claim 20, wherein the biodegradable material is polylactic acid.

22. The invention according to claim 20, wherein the biodegradable material is formed into a structure selected from the group consisting of films, containers, lids, and combinations thereof.

23. The invention according to claim 15, wherein the encapsulated volatile compound is incorporated into a non-biodegradable material.

24. The invention according to claim 23, wherein the non-biodegradable material is a plastic material.

25. The invention according to claim 23, wherein the non-biodegradable material is formed into a structure selected from the group consisting of films, containers, lids, and combinations thereof.

26. The invention according to claim 15, wherein the fresh produce is berries.

27. A system for inhibiting fungal growth on post harvest fresh produce, comprising: a volatile compound selected from the group consisting of acetaldehyde, hexanal, 2E-hexanal, and combinations thereof; anda cyclodextrin, wherein the cyclodextrin is selected from the group consisting of α cyclodextrins, β cyclodextrins, γ cyclodextrins, and combinations thereof;wherein the volatile compound is encapsulated by the cyclodextrin;wherein the volatile compound exhibits anti-fungal properties;wherein the volatile compound is released over a period of several days from the cyclodextrin.

28. The invention according to claim 27, wherein the volatile compound further comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of cinnamic acid, 1-methylcyclopropene, isoprene, terpenes, 2-nonanone, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, methyl jasmonate, benzaldehyde, propanal, butanal, ethanol, acetic acid, allyl-isothiocyanate, thymol, eugenol, citral, vanillin, trans-cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, salicylic acid, furfural, β-ionone, 1-nonanol, nonanal, 3-hexanone, 2-hexen-1-ol, 1-hexanol, and combinations thereof.

29. The invention according to claim 27, wherein the volatile compound inhibits the growth of bacteria selected from the genus Colletotrichum, Alternaria, Botrytis, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and combinations thereof.

30. The invention according to claim 27, wherein the encapsulated volatile compound is incorporated into a biodegradable material.

31. The invention according to claim 30, wherein the biodegradable material is polylactic acid.

32. The invention according to claim 30, wherein the biodegradable material is formed into a structure selected from the group consisting of films, containers, lids, and combinations thereof.

33. The invention according to claim 27, wherein the encapsulated volatile compound is incorporated into a non-biodegradable material.

34. The invention according to claim 33, wherein the non-biodegradable material is a plastic material.

35. The invention according to claim 33, wherein the non-biodegradable material is formed into a structure selected from the group consisting of films, containers, lids, and combinations thereof.

36. The invention according to claim 27, wherein the fresh produce is berries.