Antimicrobial food package

Abstract

A package comprising packaging material defining an enclosed space suitable for containing an item susceptible to microbial growth or spoilage is described. An interior of the package comprises at least one antimicrobial surface bearing an ordered nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures. A packaging material in the form of a sheet or film having a first face and a second face, in which at least a portion of one of the first or second faces of the film comprises a surface bearing a nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures, is also described.

1 . A package comprising packaging material defining an enclosed space suitable for containing an item susceptible to microbial growth or spoilage, an interior of the package comprising at least one antimicrobial surface bearing an ordered nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures. 
     
     
         2 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  in which the ordered nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures is formed by self-assembly from a microphase separated block copolymer in which one of the polymers selectively incorporates a metal ion salt prior to treatment of the block copolymer to oxidise the metal ion salt and remove the polymers 
     
     
         3 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  in which the surface bearing a nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures is part of an interior surface of the packaging material 
     
     
         4 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  in which the nanoarray of nanostructures has a density on the surface of at least 1×10 8  nano structures/cm 2 . 
     
     
         5 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  in which the nanostructures have an average diameter of from 10-50 nm. 
     
     
         6 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  in which the antimicrobial surface is formed of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         7 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  and selected from a tray, a carton, a hag, a pouch, a bottle, and a wrapper. 
     
     
         8 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the antimicrobial surface bearing the ordered nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures has a surface area of at least 5 cm 2 . 
     
     
         9 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  containing an item susceptible to microbial growth or spoilage. 
     
     
         10 . A package as claimed in  claim 9  in which the item susceptible to microbial growth or spoilage is a comestible product. 
     
     
         11 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  in which at least a portion of the at least one antimicrobial surface is in contact with at least a portion of the item. 
     
     
         12 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the metal is selected from a transition metal or a lanthanide. 
     
     
         13 . A packaging material in the form of a sheet or film having a first face and a second face, in which at least a portion of one of the first or second faces of the film comprises a surface bearing an ordered nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures. 
     
     
         14 . A packaging material as claimed in  claim 13  in which the ordered nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures is formed by self-assembly from a microphase separated block copolymer in which one of the polymers selectively incorporates a metal ion salt prior to treatment of the block copolymer to oxidise the metal ion salt and remove the polymers 
     
     
         15 . A packaging material as claimed in  claim 13  in which the surface bearing a nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures is part of an interior surface of the packaging material. 
     
     
         16 . A packaging material as claimed in  claim 13  in which the nanoarray of nanostructures has a density on the surface of at least 1×108 nanostructures/cm2. 
     
     
         17 . A packaging material as claimed in  claim 13  in which the nanostructures have an average diameter of from 10-50 nm. 
     
     
         18 . A packaging material as claimed in  claim 13  in which the antimicrobial surface is formed of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         19 . A packaging material as claimed in  claim 13  and selected from a tray, a carton, a bag, a pouch, a bottle, and a wrapper. 
     
     
         20 . A packaging material as claimed in  claim 13 , in which the antimicrobial surface bearing the ordered nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures has a surface area of at least 5 cm2. 
     
     
         21 . A packaging material as claimed in  claim 13 , in which the metal is selected from a transition metal or a lanthanide. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of preventing or inhibiting microbial growth on a comestible item contained within a package, which method employs a packaging material at least part of which comprises a surface bearing a nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nano structures, the method comprising a step of partially or completely enclosing the comestible item within the packaging material to form a package such that the surface bearing the nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures is disposed on an interior of the package. 
     
     
         24 . A method of extending the shelf life of a packaged comestible item, which method employs a packaging material at least part of which comprises a surface bearing an ordered nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures, the method comprising a step of enclosing the comestible item within the packaging material to form a package such that the surface bearing the nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures is disposed on an interior of the package. 
     
     
         25 . A method of preserving a packaged comestible item, which method employs a packaging material at least part of which comprises a surface bearing a nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures, the method comprising a step of enclosing the comestible item within the packaging material to form a package such that the surface bearing the nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures is disposed on an interior of the package, wherein the surface bearing the nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures is integrally formed with the packaging material, or take the form of an insert. 
     
     
         26 - 27 . (canceled)