{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,21]],"date-time":"2026-01-21T09:46:38Z","timestamp":1768988798094,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,11]],"date-time":"2022-02-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1644537600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100009043","name":"University of Patras","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["F.K. 81541"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["F.K. 81541"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100009043","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Molecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Today, the use of natural biodegradable materials in the production processes is more and more adopted by industry to achieve cyclic economy targets and to improve environmental and human health indexes. Active packaging is the latest trend for food preservation. In this work, nanostructures were prepared by incorporation of thyme oil with natural natrium-montmorillonite and organo-montmorillonite with two different techniques, direct impregnation and the green evaporation\u2013adsorption process. Such nanostructures were mixed with poly-L-lactic-acid for the first time via an extrusion molding process to develop a new packaging film. Comparisons of morphological, mechanical, and other basic properties for food packaging were carried out via XRD, FTIR, TG, SEM\/EDS, oxygen and water vapor permeation, and antimicrobial and antioxidant activity for the first time. Results showed that poly-L-lactic-acid could be modified with clays and essential oils to produce improved active packaging films. The final product exhibits food odor prevention characteristics and shelf-life extension capabilities, and it could be used for active packaging. The films based on OrgMt clay seems to be more promising, while the thyme oil addition improves their behavior as active packaging. The PLLA\/3%TO@OrgMt and PLLA\/5%TO@OrgMt films were qualified between the tested samples as the most promising materials for this purpose.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules27041231","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,13]],"date-time":"2022-02-13T20:34:45Z","timestamp":1644784485000},"page":"1231","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":20,"title":["Performance of Thyme Oil@Na-Montmorillonite and Thyme Oil@Organo-Modified Montmorillonite Nanostructures on the Development of Melt-Extruded Poly-L-lactic Acid Antioxidant Active Packaging Films"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"27","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3585-9045","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aris E.","family":"Giannakas","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Patras, 30100 Agrinio, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9475-9354","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Constantinos E.","family":"Salmas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Material Science & Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0918-7759","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Areti","family":"Leontiou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Food Technology, Department of Business Administration of Agricultural and Food Enterprises, University of Patras, 30100 Agrinio, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Dimitrios","family":"Moschovas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Material Science & Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Maria","family":"Baikousi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Material Science & Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3863-858X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eleni","family":"Kollia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1069-8014","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vasiliki","family":"Tsigkou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Anastasios","family":"Karakassides","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Material Science & Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6203-9942","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Apostolos","family":"Avgeropoulos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Material Science & Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3450-5969","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Charalampos","family":"Proestos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"803","DOI":"10.1126\/science.297.5582.803","article-title":"Biodegradable Polymers for the Environment","volume":"297","author":"Gross","year":"2002","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1720","DOI":"10.1016\/j.progpolymsci.2013.05.010","article-title":"Multifunctional Nanostructured PLA Materials for Packaging and Tissue Engineering","volume":"38","author":"Armentano","year":"2013","journal-title":"Prog. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"760","DOI":"10.1016\/j.polymertesting.2013.03.016","article-title":"Characterization of PLA-Limonene Blends for Food Packaging Applications","volume":"32","author":"Arrieta","year":"2013","journal-title":"Polym. Test."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gerometta, M., Rocca-Smith, J.R., Domenek, S., and Karbowiak, T. (2019). Physical and Chemical Stability of PLA in Food Packaging. Reference Module in Food Science, Elsevier.","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-08-100596-5.22471-2"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"94","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fpsl.2018.12.002","article-title":"A New Active Nanocomposite Film Based on PLA\/ZnO Nanoparticle\/Essential Oils for the Preservation of Refrigerated Otolithes Ruber Fillets","volume":"19","author":"Ghanbarzadeh","year":"2019","journal-title":"Food Packag. Shelf Life"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107336","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compositesb.2019.107336","article-title":"PLA\/Organoclay Bionanocomposites Impregnated with Thymol and Cinnamaldehyde by Supercritical Impregnation for Active and Sustainable Food Packaging","volume":"176","author":"Villegas","year":"2019","journal-title":"Compos. Part B Eng."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1201","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jfda.2018.06.011","article-title":"Prospects of Using Nanotechnology for Food Preservation, Safety, and Security","volume":"26","author":"Bajpai","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Food Drug Anal."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Giannakas, A.E., and Leontiou, A.A. (2018). Montmorillonite Composite Materials and Food Packaging. Composites Materials for Food Packaging, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.","DOI":"10.1002\/9781119160243.ch1"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/09276440.2019.1600972","article-title":"A Review on Innovations in Polymeric Nanocomposite Packaging Materials and Electrical Sensors for Food and Agriculture","volume":"27","author":"Idumah","year":"2020","journal-title":"Compos. Interfaces"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"461","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eurpolymj.2015.08.018","article-title":"Polymer\/Clay Nanocomposite Films as Active Packaging Material: Modeling of Antimicrobial Release","volume":"71","author":"Rivas","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur. Polym. J."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fpsl.2015.08.004","article-title":"Antioxidant Polyethylene Films Based on a Resveratrol Containing Clay of Interest in Food Packaging Applications","volume":"6","author":"Busolo","year":"2015","journal-title":"Food Packag. Shelf Life"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Giannakas, A. (2020). Na-Montmorillonite Vs. Organically Modified Montmorillonite as Essential Oil Nanocarriers for Melt-Extruded Low-Density Poly-Ethylene Nanocomposite Active Packaging Films with a Controllable and Long-Life Antioxidant Activity. Nanomaterials, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/nano10061027"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"87108","DOI":"10.1039\/C5RA16583K","article-title":"Novel LDPE\/Halloysite Nanotube Films with Sustained Carvacrol Release for Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity","volume":"5","author":"Shemesh","year":"2015","journal-title":"RSC Adv."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112186","DOI":"10.1016\/j.colsurfb.2021.112186","article-title":"Montmorillonite with Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents, Packaging, Repellents, and Insecticides: An Overview","volume":"209","author":"Trigueiro","year":"2022","journal-title":"Colloids Surf. B Biointerfaces"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106335","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clay.2021.106335","article-title":"An Overview of Clay-Polymer Nanocomposites Containing Bioactive Compounds for Food Packaging Applications","volume":"216","author":"Cheikh","year":"2022","journal-title":"Appl. Clay Sci."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S103","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tifs.2008.09.011","article-title":"Active and Intelligent Food Packaging: Legal Aspects and Safety Concerns","volume":"19","author":"Dainelli","year":"2008","journal-title":"Trends Food Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"612","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lwt.2008.02.015","article-title":"Tensile, Water Vapor Barrier and Antimicrobial Properties of PLA\/Nanoclay Composite Films","volume":"42","author":"Rhim","year":"2009","journal-title":"LWT-Food Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ramos, M., Fortunati, E., Beltr\u00e1n, A., Peltzer, M., Cristofaro, F., Visai, L., Valente, A.J.M., Jim\u00e9nez, A., Kenny, J.M., and Garrig\u00f3s, M.C. (2020). Controlled Release, Disintegration, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties of Poly (Lactic Acid)\/Thymol\/Nanoclay Composites. Polymers, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym12091878"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Oliver-Ortega, H., Tresserras, J., Julian, F., Alcal\u00e0, M., Bala, A., Espinach, F.X., and M\u00e9ndez, J.A. (2021). Nanocomposites Materials of PLA Reinforced with Nanoclays Using a Masterbatch Technology: A Study of the Mechanical Performance and Its Sustainability. Polymers, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym13132133"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"362","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clay.2017.06.018","article-title":"A Novel Method for the Preparation of Inorganic and Organo-Modified Montmorillonite Essential Oil Hybrids","volume":"146","author":"Giannakas","year":"2017","journal-title":"Appl. Clay Sci."},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"e14327","article-title":"The Effect of Different Preparation Methods on the Development of Chitosan\/Thyme Oil\/Montmorillonite Nanocomposite Active Packaging Films","volume":"44","author":"Giannakas","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Food Proc. Preserv."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Giannakas, A.E., Salmas, C.E., Karydis-Messinis, A., Moschovas, D., Kollia, E., Tsigkou, V., Proestos, C., Avgeropoulos, A., and Zafeiropoulos, N.E. (2021). Nanoclay and Polystyrene Type Efficiency on the Development of Polystyrene\/Montmorillonite\/Oregano Oil Antioxidant Active Packaging Nanocomposite Films. Appl. Sci., 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/app11209364"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6441","DOI":"10.1021\/ma2006624","article-title":"Crystal Structure Analysis of Poly(l-Lactic Acid) \u03b1 Form On the Basis of the 2-Dimensional Wide-Angle Synchrotron X-Ray and Neutron Diffraction Measurements","volume":"44","author":"Wasanasuk","year":"2011","journal-title":"Macromolecules"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.9734\/CSJI\/2017\/39534","article-title":"Preparation and Characterization of Poly(L-Lactic Acid)\/Chitosan\/Microcrystalline Cellulose Blends","volume":"21","author":"Hosen","year":"2017","journal-title":"Chem. Sci. Int. J."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"282","DOI":"10.1016\/j.supflu.2010.05.017","article-title":"Novel 3D Scaffolds of Chitosan\u2013PLLA Blends for Tissue Engineering Applications: Preparation and Characterization","volume":"54","author":"Duarte","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Supercrit. Fluids"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1322","DOI":"10.1002\/app.33179","article-title":"Properties and Thermal Degradation Kinetics of Polystyrene\/Organoclay Nanocomposites Synthesized by Solvent Blending Method: Effect of Processing Conditions and Organoclay Loading","volume":"120","author":"Krishna","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Appl. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13191","DOI":"10.1016\/j.matpr.2018.02.310","article-title":"A Simple Sonication Assisted Solvent Blending Route for Fabrication of Exfoliated Polystyrene (PS)\/Clay Nanocomposites: Role of Various Clay Modifiers","volume":"5","author":"Pugazhenthi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Mater. Today Proc."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Salmas, C.E., Giannakas, A.E., Baikousi, M., Kollia, E., Tsigkou, V., and Proestos, C. (2021). Effect of Copper and Titanium-Exchanged Montmorillonite Nanostructures on the Packaging Performance of Chitosan\/Poly-Vinyl-Alcohol-Based Active Packaging Nanocomposite Films. Foods, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/foods10123038"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.1016\/j.porgcoat.2016.10.017","article-title":"Development of Active Packaging Film Made from Poly (Lactic Acid) Incorporated Essential Oil","volume":"103","author":"Qin","year":"2017","journal-title":"Prog. Org. Coat."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3915","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eurpolymj.2008.10.001","article-title":"Preparation, Characterization and Water Barrier Properties of PS\/Organo-Montmorillonite Nanocomposites","volume":"44","author":"Giannakas","year":"2008","journal-title":"Eur. Polym. J."}],"container-title":["Molecules"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1420-3049\/27\/4\/1231\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T22:18:00Z","timestamp":1760134680000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1420-3049\/27\/4\/1231"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,11]]},"references-count":30,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,2]]}},"alternative-id":["molecules27041231"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/molecules27041231","relation":{},"ISSN":["1420-3049"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1420-3049","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,11]]}}}