{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T10:27:16Z","timestamp":1786616836166,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"16","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786579200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Molecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Freshwater crayfish impact ecosystems and the food industry. The aim of the study was to valorize shells from the invasive crayfish, Faxonius limosus, to extract novel bioactive biopolymers and prepare biodegradable films, thereby contributing to economic and environmental sustainability. Chitin from crayfish shells was isolated and converted into chitosan through a new protocol to retain astaxanthin, with a shorter procedure, reduced use of organic solvent and energy consumption. The resulting biopolymers were used to prepare chitosan-based films. Thermal, spectroscopic, barrier properties, and surface microstructure of the biomaterials were identified. Spectrophotometric and chromatographic techniques were used on crayfish shells and biopolymers to track astaxanthin throughout the extraction and formulation processes. Crayfish chitosan film exhibited higher stiffness, enhanced thermal stability and water vapor barrier properties with respect to commercial chitosan films. 2,2\u2032-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl antioxidant assays showed that all crayfish biomaterials exhibited antioxidant activity. Astaxanthin greatly enhanced the antioxidant properties of crayfish chitosan, but chemical degradation during film processing limited this effect in the film matrices. Therefore, crayfish-derived biopolymers and films are promising for incorporation into functional foods and active packaging and support shell waste reduction, offering a viable strategy for managing and valorizing invasive species.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules31162819","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T09:31:09Z","timestamp":1786613469000},"page":"2819","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["New Active Biopolymers and Chitosan-Based Films from Non-Native Crayfish Shell"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"31","author":[{"given":"Rosa","family":"Zullo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"National Research Council-Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Corso Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania Pallanza, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6370-3980","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rosaria","family":"Lauceri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Research Council-Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Corso Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania Pallanza, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alberto","family":"Zullo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sciences and Technologies, University of Sannio, Via De Sanctis, 82100 Benevento, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4941-2789","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luigi","family":"Sorrentino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Research Council-Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (CNR-IPCB), Piazzale E. Fermi 1, 80078 Portici (Napoli), Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7534-3126","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Angela","family":"Boggero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Research Council-Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Corso Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania Pallanza, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5071-6953","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lyudmila","family":"Kamburska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Research Council-Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Corso Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania Pallanza, Italy"},{"name":"National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3627-0363","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea","family":"Lami","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Research Council-Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Corso Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania Pallanza, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7379-6087","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Silvia","family":"Zaupa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Research Council-Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Corso Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania Pallanza, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria","family":"Oliviero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Research Council-Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (CNR-IPCB), Piazzale E. 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