Chitosan research progress for smart packaging applications: a literature review

The environmental crisis was brought on by composites made of synthetic materials that are not biodegradable. Eco-friendly replacement materials for non-biodegradable composites is biodegradable composites. The poisonous remnants are avoided because of how the environment breaks them down. Biodegradable polymers are quickly broken down by bacterial breakdown. Smart packaging has been created to enable consumers to comprehend food conditions in real-time due to the growth of new technologies and consumer desire for wholesome and safe foods. This review highlights and discusses the development, type, and direction of research progress of chitosan research in the application of smart packaging, using bibliometric analysis with time intervals from 2006 to 2023. In 2006, this research began to be developed with India, China, the United States, Iran, and Egypt as the five most influential countries. From the results of keyword analysis, it was found that in addition to studying the general characteristics of smart packaging, there are currently many developments related to smart packaging materials and the effect of adding other materials to the film. The keyword analysis also revealed the current trends and future directions of chitosan research in smart packaging applications, providing valuable insights for researchers and professionals.