Biopolymer-enhanced nanoemulsions for controlled release of thyme: Impact on strawberry shelf life and quality

The development of natural, edible coatings is essential for enhancing postharvest fruit preservation while reducing reliance on synthetic preservatives. In this study, a multi-functional coating combining thyme-loaded nanoemulsion (Nano-EM-Thy) with chitosan (CH) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) w...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Leila Heidary, Himan Nourbakhsh, Zahra Javanmardi, Mahmoud Koushesh Saba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266615432500167X
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850226006362685440
author Leila Heidary
Himan Nourbakhsh
Zahra Javanmardi
Mahmoud Koushesh Saba
author_facet Leila Heidary
Himan Nourbakhsh
Zahra Javanmardi
Mahmoud Koushesh Saba
author_sort Leila Heidary
collection DOAJ
description The development of natural, edible coatings is essential for enhancing postharvest fruit preservation while reducing reliance on synthetic preservatives. In this study, a multi-functional coating combining thyme-loaded nanoemulsion (Nano-EM-Thy) with chitosan (CH) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was formulated to extend the shelf life of strawberries. Water-in-oil nanoemulsions were prepared with the oil (containing medium chain triglyceride oil (MCT) with Thy), tween 80, and water (containing one or both biopolymers) at a mass ratio of 2:4:94 using a spontaneous emulsification method, achieving droplet sizes ranging from 60.45 to 106 nm. The nanoemulsion exhibited strong antimicrobial, effectively controlling Botrytis cinerea growth and maintaining fruit quality. Coatings containing Nano-EM-Thy, CH, and CMC significantly reduced weight loss (1.7 %), preserved firmness (3.6 N), and stabilized anthocyanin content over 15 days of storage at 4 °C. This composite coating extended the shelf life of strawberries by maintaining their physicochemical properties and reducing microbial spoilage, presenting a promising approach for natural postharvest preservation strategies.
format Article
id doaj-art-6b20c48b05cb4a0ca1c78a3d14f9c3d3
institution OA Journals
issn 2666-1543
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
spelling doaj-art-6b20c48b05cb4a0ca1c78a3d14f9c3d32025-08-20T02:05:12ZengElsevierJournal of Agriculture and Food Research2666-15432025-06-012110179610.1016/j.jafr.2025.101796Biopolymer-enhanced nanoemulsions for controlled release of thyme: Impact on strawberry shelf life and qualityLeila Heidary0Himan Nourbakhsh1Zahra Javanmardi2Mahmoud Koushesh Saba3Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, IranDepartment of Food Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran; Corresponding author.Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, IranDepartment of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, IranThe development of natural, edible coatings is essential for enhancing postharvest fruit preservation while reducing reliance on synthetic preservatives. In this study, a multi-functional coating combining thyme-loaded nanoemulsion (Nano-EM-Thy) with chitosan (CH) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was formulated to extend the shelf life of strawberries. Water-in-oil nanoemulsions were prepared with the oil (containing medium chain triglyceride oil (MCT) with Thy), tween 80, and water (containing one or both biopolymers) at a mass ratio of 2:4:94 using a spontaneous emulsification method, achieving droplet sizes ranging from 60.45 to 106 nm. The nanoemulsion exhibited strong antimicrobial, effectively controlling Botrytis cinerea growth and maintaining fruit quality. Coatings containing Nano-EM-Thy, CH, and CMC significantly reduced weight loss (1.7 %), preserved firmness (3.6 N), and stabilized anthocyanin content over 15 days of storage at 4 °C. This composite coating extended the shelf life of strawberries by maintaining their physicochemical properties and reducing microbial spoilage, presenting a promising approach for natural postharvest preservation strategies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266615432500167XBotrytis cinereaChitosanDecaySpontaneous nanoemulsificationEdible coating
spellingShingle Leila Heidary
Himan Nourbakhsh
Zahra Javanmardi
Mahmoud Koushesh Saba
Biopolymer-enhanced nanoemulsions for controlled release of thyme: Impact on strawberry shelf life and quality
Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Botrytis cinerea
Chitosan
Decay
Spontaneous nanoemulsification
Edible coating
title Biopolymer-enhanced nanoemulsions for controlled release of thyme: Impact on strawberry shelf life and quality
title_full Biopolymer-enhanced nanoemulsions for controlled release of thyme: Impact on strawberry shelf life and quality
title_fullStr Biopolymer-enhanced nanoemulsions for controlled release of thyme: Impact on strawberry shelf life and quality
title_full_unstemmed Biopolymer-enhanced nanoemulsions for controlled release of thyme: Impact on strawberry shelf life and quality
title_short Biopolymer-enhanced nanoemulsions for controlled release of thyme: Impact on strawberry shelf life and quality
title_sort biopolymer enhanced nanoemulsions for controlled release of thyme impact on strawberry shelf life and quality
topic Botrytis cinerea
Chitosan
Decay
Spontaneous nanoemulsification
Edible coating
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266615432500167X
work_keys_str_mv AT leilaheidary biopolymerenhancednanoemulsionsforcontrolledreleaseofthymeimpactonstrawberryshelflifeandquality
AT himannourbakhsh biopolymerenhancednanoemulsionsforcontrolledreleaseofthymeimpactonstrawberryshelflifeandquality
AT zahrajavanmardi biopolymerenhancednanoemulsionsforcontrolledreleaseofthymeimpactonstrawberryshelflifeandquality
AT mahmoudkousheshsaba biopolymerenhancednanoemulsionsforcontrolledreleaseofthymeimpactonstrawberryshelflifeandquality