Functional Properties of Edible Films from Whey Proteins: A Review

Proteins are major class of edible biodegradable biopolymers. Whey protein is one of the important protein sources. One of the potential uses of this protein is for production of biodegradable films and coatings. edible, biodegradable films and coatings, by acting as barriers to control the transfer of moisture, oxygen, carbon dioxide, lipids, and flavor compounds, can prevent quality deterioration and increase the shelf life of the food products. In addition, edible films or coatings may provide mechanical integrity and improve the handling characteristics of the food. They can be effective carriers of many functional ingredients, such as antimicrobial agents to improve safety and stability of foods, antioxidants to prevent lipid oxidation, and flavorings and pigments to improve quality of foods. in this manuscript, physico chemical properties of these films (including water vapor and oxygen barrier properties, mechanical, thermal and thermomechanical properties) were investigated.