Rafael Gavara

Bio: Rafael Gavara is an academic researcher from Spanish National Research Council. The author has contributed to research in topics: Active packaging & Food packaging. The author has an hindex of 52, co-authored 195 publications receiving 8544 citations. Previous affiliations of Rafael Gavara include University of Valencia & University of Milan.

Advances in antioxidant active food packaging

Abstract: Lipid oxidation is, together with microbial growth, the main cause of spoilage of a great variety of foods, such as nuts, fish, meats, whole milk powders, sauces and oils. It causes a loss of both sensorial and nutritional quality of foods and may even lead to the formation of toxic aldehydes. Some strategies that are commonly used to limit the extent of lipid oxidation of packaged foods are direct addition of antioxidants or packaging under modified atmospheres in which oxygen presence is limited. A novel alternative to these methods is antioxidant active packaging, whose main advantage is that it can provide sustained release of antioxidants during storage. This article reviews the latest advances in antioxidant active food packaging, with special emphasis on antioxidant release systems. The various methods for incorporating antioxidant compounds in the package, the issues to be considered in packaging design, and the various methods employed to date to evaluate the antioxidant effectiveness of active antioxidant materials are reviewed.

Bioactive packaging: turning foods into healthier foods through biomaterials

Abstract: This paper sets the bases for the creation of innovative technological developments in the production of functional foods, whose bioactive principles and actuators are devised to be contained within packaging or coating materials. Therefore, it gives rise to a novel conceptual approach to develop functional foods, while setting the roots of a new packaging technology termed as bioactive packaging, in which, a food package or coating is given the unique role of enhancing food impact over the consumer's health. The paper is purposely designed to gather some of the most potential or promising developments, which are either bioactive material concepts or which can be advantageously applied to become such. Moreover, the industrial benefits of enclosing bioactives within packaging or coating materials over their direct inclusion in foods are outlined. The technologies reviewed include novel integration technologies, micro- and nanoencapsulation and enzyme encapsulation and/or immobilization. All of these technologies are found to have excellent allies in the particular properties exhibited by biopolymers.

Metal Catalysts for Heterogeneous Catalysis: From Single Atoms to Nanoclusters and Nanoparticles.

Abstract: Metal species with different size (single atoms, nanoclusters, and nanoparticles) show different catalytic behavior for various heterogeneous catalytic reactions. It has been shown in the literature that many factors including the particle size, shape, chemical composition, metal–support interaction, and metal–reactant/solvent interaction can have significant influences on the catalytic properties of metal catalysts. The recent developments of well-controlled synthesis methodologies and advanced characterization tools allow one to correlate the relationships at the molecular level. In this Review, the electronic and geometric structures of single atoms, nanoclusters, and nanoparticles will be discussed. Furthermore, we will summarize the catalytic applications of single atoms, nanoclusters, and nanoparticles for different types of reactions, including CO oxidation, selective oxidation, selective hydrogenation, organic reactions, electrocatalytic, and photocatalytic reactions. We will compare the results o...

Silver as Antibacterial Agent: Ion, Nanoparticle, and Metal

Abstract: The antibacterial action of silver is utilized in numerous consumer products and medical devices. Metallic silver, silver salts, and also silver nanoparticles are used for this purpose. The state of research on the effect of silver on bacteria, cells, and higher organisms is summarized. It can be concluded that the therapeutic window for silver is narrower than often assumed. However, the risks for humans and the environment are probably limited.

Applications of nanotechnology in food packaging and food safety: Barrier materials, antimicrobials and sensors

Abstract: In this article, several applications of nanomaterials in food packaging and food safety are reviewed, including: polymer/clay nanocomposites as high barrier packaging materials, silver nanoparticles as potent antimicrobial agents, and nanosensors and nanomaterial-based assays for the detection of food-relevant analytes (gasses, small organic molecules and food-borne pathogens). In addition to covering the technical aspects of these topics, the current commercial status and understanding of health implications of these technologies are also discussed. These applications were chosen because they do not involve direct addition of nanoparticles to consumed foods, and thus are more likely to be marketed to the public in the short term.