ABSTRACT
The use of biopolymers allows the production of attractive materials known as polymeric vehicles of bioactive compounds, possibly applicable in the food industry, such as edible coatings, edible films, and microspheres. Among the main advantages of the polymeric vehicles are the abilities to withstand the adverse conditions (i.e., through the digestive tract when consumed, temperature, mechanic stress) as well as to maintain their viability and/or bioactivity. Regarding edible films and edible coating, the use of biopolymers allow the development of biodegradable materials that have several advantages such as good barrier effect against transporting gases. These polymeric vehicles can gain various functional properties depending on the bioactive compounds added, such as antimicrobial properties, viability maintenance, oxygen and carbon dioxide barriers, and protection against physical damages when applied in food products. This chapter summarizes the role of bioactive compounds to improve nanomechanical properties and functionality of polymeric vehicles by means of microscopy and nanoindentation techniques, and different applications of characterization of polymeric vehicles with bioactive compound used in food science are described.
