Recent advances in kefiran polymer to produce nanofibers and films for food packaging applications

Abstract

This review aims to analyze the state of the art in using kefiran as a biopolymer to produce films and nanofibers for applications in food packaging. Due to the non-biodegradability of plastic food packaging and the problems associated with its use and disposal, more environmentally friendly alternatives have been studied. Biopolymers of plant, animal, and microbial origin have been studied as possible replacements for plastic packaging due to their biodegradable nature. In this context, microbial exopolysaccharides have gained prominence. Once the best cultivation conditions have been established, the molecules produced present consistent chemical and physical characteristics, generally superior to those of other natural biopolymers of plant and animal origin. Among these microbial exopolysaccharides, kefiran, a polysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus species in the microbiota of kefir biomass, has aroused interest in the scientific community due to its bioactive properties, such as antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, in addition to its biocompatibility and film-forming capacity and nanofibers.