Mechanical and Barrier Properties of Films Containing Bioactive Compounds with Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity

The rapid increase in the production of single-use plastics derived from petroleum for food protection and storage has generated significant concern within both the consumer sector and the food industry, primarily due to associated health hazards and environmental impacts. An emerging and promising solution involves the development of biodegradable films classified as active and intelligent, formulated from biopolymers sourced from renewable materials and enriched with bioactive compounds exhibiting antimicrobial and antioxidant functions. These films function by directly mitigating key degradation mechanisms (such as microbial proliferation and oxidative reactions involving molecular oxygen) that compromise nutritional value, sensory quality, and the safety of food consumption. Furthermore, for these packaging materials to be viable, they must exhibit specific functional and structural performance characteristics, which arise from the cohesion, interactions, and physicochemical attributes of their constituent components. This review focuses on evaluating the mechanical and barrier properties of packaging films specifically engineered for food protection, incorporating bioactive compounds with demonstrated antimicrobial and antioxidant capabilities.