Freshness labels, sheets, and sachets

Abstract

Freshness-enhancing labels, sheets, and sachets are presented. In one embodiment, a sachet for preventing spoilage of fresh produce includes one or more composite materials, each of the one or more composite materials comprising one or more bioactive compounds and a carrier material, and a transfer layer surrounding the composite material and configured to enable transfer of the one or more bioactive compounds. Further, a sheet for preventing spoilage of fresh produce includes one or more composite materials, each of the one or more composite materials comprising one or more bioactive compounds and a carrier material, and a substrate configured to support the composite material, wherein the sheet is configured to transfer the one or more bioactive components onto the fresh produce.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 376,045, filed September 16, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0002] Various volatile compounds, such as essential oil compounds, are known to have antifungal activity and can help extend the shelf life of fresh produce by inhibiting spoilage.To prevent spoilage over a period of time, it is necessary for these volatile compounds to be continuously and predictably released into the environment to maintain a desired concentration in the gas phase.In addition to volatile compounds with antifungal activity, other volatile compounds, such as 1-MCP, that are used in the environment of fresh produce, such as climacteric fruits, can work together to extend the shelf life of fresh produce.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for controlling the release rate of active compounds to extend the shelf life of perishable goods. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0005] In one aspect, a sachet for preventing spoilage of fresh produce comprises one or more composite materials, each composite material comprising one or more bioactive compounds and a carrier material, and a transfer layer surrounding the composite material and configured to enable transfer of the one or more bioactive compounds.

[0006] In another aspect, a sheet for preventing spoilage of fresh produce includes one or more composite materials, each composite of the one or more composite materials comprising one or more bioactive compounds and a carrier material, and a substrate configured to hold the composite materials, wherein the sheet is configured to transfer the one or more bioactive components onto the fresh produce.

[0007] In yet another embodiment, a layer of adhesive is added to the sheet to form a label or sticker configured to be secured to the inside or outside of a container.

[0008] In yet another aspect, a system includes a container and at least one of a sachet, a sheet, a label, or a sticker described herein. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: [Figure 1A] 1 is an exemplary sachet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 1B] 1 is an exemplary sachet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 1C] 1 is an exemplary sachet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 1D] 1 is an exemplary sachet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 1E] 1 is an exemplary sachet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 1F] 1 is an exemplary sachet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 1G] 1 is an exemplary sachet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 1H] 1 is an exemplary sachet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 1I] 1 is an exemplary sachet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 1J] 1 is an exemplary sachet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 1K] 1 is an exemplary sachet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 1L] 1 is an exemplary sachet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 1M] 1 is an exemplary sachet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2A] 1 is an exemplary sachet having an adhesive backing according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2B] 1 is an exemplary sachet having an adhesive backing according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3A] 1 is an exemplary sheet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3B] 1 is an exemplary sheet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3C] 1 is an exemplary sheet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3D] 1 is an exemplary sheet according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4A] 1 is an exemplary sticker according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4B] 1 is an exemplary sticker according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4C] 1 is an exemplary sticker according to the present disclosure. [Figure 5A] 1 is an exemplary sticker according to the present disclosure. [Figure 5B] 1 is an exemplary sticker according to the present disclosure. [Figure 5C] 1 is an exemplary sticker according to the present disclosure. [Figure 5D] 1 is an exemplary sticker according to the present disclosure. [Figure 6A] 1 is an exemplary configuration of a product according to the present disclosure. [Figure 6B] 1 is an exemplary configuration of a product according to the present disclosure. [Figure 6C] 1 is an exemplary configuration of a product according to the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 1 is an exemplary container having a label according to the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 1 is an exemplary method of forming a product according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0011] Before describing in detail at least one embodiment of the presently disclosed and / or claimed inventive concept(s), it is to be understood that the presently disclosed and / or claimed inventive concept(s) is / are not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the components or steps or methodology set forth in the following description. The presently disclosed and / or claimed inventive concept(s) is / are capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0012] Unless otherwise defined herein, technical terms used in connection with the inventive concepts of this disclosure and / or claims shall have the meanings commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Further, unless otherwise required by context, singular terms shall include pluralities and plural terms shall include the singular.

[0013] All patents, published patent applications, and non-patent publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which the inventive concepts disclosed and / or claimed herein pertain. All patents, published patent applications, and non-patent publications referenced in any part of this application are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety herein to the same extent as if each individual patent or publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

[0014] All of the articles and / or methods disclosed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the articles and methods of the presently disclosed and / or claimed inventive concepts have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations can be applied to the articles and / or methods, and to the steps or arrangement of steps of the methods, described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the presently disclosed and / or claimed inventive concepts.

[0015] As utilized in accordance with the present disclosure, the following terms, unless otherwise indicated, shall be understood to have the following meanings:

[0016] The use of the word "a" or "an" when used in conjunction with the term "comprising" can mean "one," but is also consistent with the meanings of "one or more," "at least one," and "one or more." The use of the term "or" is used to mean "and / or" unless expressly indicated to refer to alternatives only when the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the present disclosure supports the definition referring only to the alternatives "and / or." Throughout this application, the term "about" is used to indicate that a value includes the inherent variation of error for the quantification device, the method used to determine the value, or the variation that exists between study subjects. For example, and not as a limitation, when the term "about" is utilized, the specified value may vary by ±12 percent, or ±11 percent, or ±10 percent, or ±9 percent, or ±8 percent, or ±7 percent, or ±6 percent, or ±5 percent, or ±4 percent, or ±3 percent, or ±2 percent, or ±1 percent. Use of the term "at least one" will be understood to include one, as well as any amount of two or more, including, but not limited to, two, three, four, five, ten, fifteen, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, one hundred, etc. The term "at least one" may extend to one hundred or one thousand or more, depending on the term with which it is accompanied; in addition, an amount of 100 / 1000 should not be considered limiting, as lower or higher limits may also provide satisfactory results. Additionally, use of the term "at least one of X, Y, and Z" will be understood to include X alone, Y alone, and Z alone, as well as any combination of X, Y, and Z. Use of ordinal terminology (i.e., "first," "second," "third," "fourth," etc.) is solely for the purpose of distinguishing two or more items and is not meant to imply, for example, any sequence or order, or importance of one item relative to another, or any additional order.

[0017] As used herein, the terms "comprising" (and any form including "comprise" and "comprises," etc.), "having" (and any form including "have" and "has," etc.), "including" (and any form including "includes" and "include," etc.), or "containing" (and any form including "contains" and "contain," etc.) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unlisted elements or method steps. As used herein, the term "or combinations thereof" refers to all permutations and combinations of the listed items preceding the term. For example, "A, B, C, or combinations thereof" is intended to include at least one of A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, or ABC, and is also intended to include BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, ACB, BAC, or CAB if order is important in a particular context. Continuing with this example, explicitly included are combinations containing one or more repeats of an item or term, such as BB, AAA, AB, BBC, AAABCCCC, CBBAAA, CABABB, etc. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that there is typically no limit to the number of items or terms in any combination, unless otherwise clear from the context.

[0018] Postharvest spoilage of fruits, vegetables, and plants is a significant cause of economic loss. Certain volatile essential oil compounds (also referred to as "bioactive compounds," "compounds," or "formulations") possess bioactive properties that help protect fresh produce from spoilage. When released into the environment in which fresh produce is stored, these bioactive compounds can reduce postharvest losses due to spoilage. Formulations can contain one or more such active compounds that inhibit spoilage by limiting microbial growth. Formulations can also contain compounds with other important functions, such as those that preserve and stabilize active compounds (e.g., antioxidants), compounds that help create desirable aroma profiles, compounds that can modulate ethylene responses, and compounds that stimulate and modulate the produce's natural defense / immune response. Finally, such ingredients can also be combined with various carriers and controlled-release matrices, such as waxes. These formulations, or composite formulation-carrier combinations, constitute platforms that perform core functions that affect biological responses.

[0019] These composite materials can be further incorporated into various integrated end products as described herein. This disclosure describes several product concepts suitable for use in retail boxes such as clamshells for containing fruit, airtight containers, salad or fruit boxes, trays, and bags such as salad or fruit bags. The term "product" should be understood to include sachets, stickers, labels, sheets, and combinations thereof as described herein.

[0020] In one aspect, a sachet for preventing spoilage of perishable goods comprises one or more composite materials, each composite of the one or more composite materials comprising one or more bioactive compounds and a carrier material. The sachet also comprises a transfer layer surrounding the composite material and configured to enable transfer of the one or more bioactive compounds.

[0021] In some embodiments, the one or more composite materials are in the form of beads, granules, powders, discs, sheets, flakes, or combinations thereof.

[0022] In some embodiments, the bioactive compound is trans-2-hexenal, trans-2-octenal, trans-2-nonenal, trans-2-decenal, trans-2-dodecenal, cuminaldehyde, citronellal, thymol, perillaldehyde, carvacrol, citral, carvone, pulegone, eugenol, bornyl acetate, 1-octanol, terpinen-4-ol, linalool, trans-anethole, trans-cinnamaldehyde, ethyl octanoate, ethyl nonanoate, ethyl decanoate, methyl octanoate, methyl nonanoate, methyl decanoate, fenchol, borneol, camphor, methyl eugenol, menthol, methyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, phenylethyl acetate, phenylacetic acid, cinnamic acid acetate), γ-octalactone, γ-decalactone, eucalyptol, geranium oil, lavender oil, thyme oil, clove oil, (-)-bornyl acetate, (-)-terpinen-4-ol, (+)-carvone, (±)-citronellal, (R)-(+)-citronellal, (S)-(-)-citronellal, (R)-(+)-pulegone, thymol, 4-allylanisole, cis-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol, citronellol , methyl trans-cinnamate, myrcene, ocimene, terpineol, 1-methyl-3-methoxy-4-isopropylbenzene, menthol, menthone, isomenthone, vanillin, geranyl formate, palmitic acid, (S)-(-)-perillaldehyde, nootkatone, hinokitiol, d-limonene, s-limonene, p-cymene, nerolidol, 3-decen-2-one, and other stereoisomers of these compounds, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the carrier material is selected from the group consisting of water, paraffin, petroleum wax, natural wax, beeswax, resin, synthetic polymer, biodegradable natural polymer, ceramic, modified cellulose, methylcellulose, surfactant, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, microporous alumina, anodized aluminum, activated carbon, zeolite, metal carboxylate, inorganic compound, and combinations thereof.

[0023] In some embodiments, the sachet further comprises a release layer, an adhesive layer configured to secure the sachet to a surface, and a backing layer configured to contact the adhesive layer. In some embodiments, the backing layer is permeable to one or more bioactive compounds. In some embodiments, the adhesive layer is mixed with or impregnated with one or more bioactive compounds. In some embodiments, the release layer may be present on one or more sides of the sachet, including the front, back, left, and / or right side of the sachet. In some embodiments, the release layer is configured to protect the adhesive layer until the sachet is ready to be applied. In some embodiments, the release layer traps the bioactive compound inside the sachet (or sheet as described herein). In such embodiments, release of the bioactive compound is initiated when the release layer is peeled and / or removed.

[0024] In another aspect, a sheet for preventing spoilage of perishable goods is disclosed that includes one or more composite materials, each composite of the one or more composite materials including one or more bioactive compounds and a carrier material, and a substrate configured to support the composite materials, wherein the sheet is configured to deliver the one or more bioactive components onto the perishable goods. In some embodiments, the sheet may include an adhesive layer. In some embodiments, the sheet may be referred to as a "label" or a "sticker." Those skilled in the art should understand that a sheet having an adhesive backing is considered a label or sticker as described herein.

[0025] In some embodiments, the one or more composite materials are coated onto a substrate. In some embodiments, the one or more composite materials at least partially impregnate a substrate. In some embodiments, the one or more composite materials are sandwiched between layers of a sheet or sachet. In some embodiments, the one or more composite materials are embedded between layers of a sheet or sachet.

[0026] In some embodiments, the sheet further comprises an adhesive layer configured to secure the sheet to the container and a release layer configured to be removed from the adhesive layer to expose the adhesive layer, hi some embodiments, the adhesive layer is mixed with or impregnated with one or more bioactive compounds.

[0027] In some embodiments, the sheet further comprises a topcoat layer configured to modify the release rate of one or more bioactive compounds. In some embodiments, the topcoat layer further comprises one or more bioactive compounds. In some embodiments, the sheet further comprises a release top layer configured to protect the adhesive layer until the sachet is ready to be applied. In some embodiments, the release top layer traps the bioactive compounds inside the sheet. In such embodiments, release of the bioactive compounds is initiated when the release layer is peeled and / or removed.

[0028] In some embodiments, the sheet is configured to be secured to the exterior of the container, hi some embodiments, the sheet further comprises a top layer configured to prevent loss of one or more bioactive ingredients to the environment.

[0029] In some embodiments, the top layer includes an image, an infographic, text, or a combination thereof.

[0030] In some embodiments, a system for preventing spoilage of fresh produce includes a sachet as described herein and a container, wherein the sachet is disposed inside the container and configured to release one or more bioactive ingredients into the container and onto the fresh produce.

[0031] In some embodiments, a system for preventing spoilage of perishable goods includes a sheet as described herein and a container configured to hold the perishable goods, wherein the sheet is disposed inside the container and configured to release one or more bioactive ingredients into the container and onto the perishable goods.

[0032] In some embodiments, a system for preventing spoilage of perishable goods is disclosed that includes a sheet described herein and a permeable container, wherein the sheet is disposed on the exterior of the permeable container and configured to release one or more bioactive compounds through the permeable container and onto the perishable goods. In some embodiments, the permeability of the container can be achieved through material selection (e.g., the chemistry of the container), thickness, and / or physical pattern (e.g., creating perforations in the container). In some embodiments, the permeable container is fully permeable, i.e., all surfaces of the container are permeable. In some embodiments, the permeable container includes less than the entire surface of the container that is permeable.

[0033] Generally, sachets, sheets, labels, or other products for preventing spoilage of perishable goods may be collectively referred to as "spoilage prevention products." These spoilage prevention products include one or more composite materials, each of the one or more composite materials including one or more bioactive compounds and a carrier material.

[0034] 1A-1M are exemplary sachets 100 according to the present disclosure. In some embodiments, a carrier active compound, as described in detail herein, is incorporated within the sachet 100, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1M.

[0035] In some embodiments, the sachet 100 comprises one or more composite materials 110 (or composite formulations), each of the one or more composite materials comprising one or more bioactive compounds and a carrier material, at least one transfer layer 105, which may be a sheet, or both.

[0036] In some embodiments, the transmission layer 105 is made from a cellulosic material, a permeable mesh, paper, plastic, or nylon. In some embodiments, the transmission layer is sealed with glue. In operation, the transmission layer contains a carrier active compound 110 (or composite formulation) and is permeable to allow the bioactive compound to transmit through the transmission layer 105.

[0037] The composite material formulation 110 may take any number of forms, including beads, granules, powders, discs, sheets, and combinations thereof, as described in more detail herein. In some embodiments, the individual pieces of the composite material formulation 110 may each contain a blend of bioactive compounds. In some embodiments, different groups of composite material formulation 110 particles may contain different groups of bioactive compounds.

[0038] In some embodiments, anti-caking or anti-agglomerating agents such as corn starch, potato starch, or other starches, cellulose powder, amylopectin, maltodextrin, silicon dioxide, magnesium silicate, calcium silicate, calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, diatomaceous earth, bentonite, and other clays are added to the granules of composite material 110 to prevent them from adhering to each other and clumping together.

[0039] In some embodiments, the sachet further comprises one or more compounds configured to offset, neutralize, or complement the scent of the one or more bioactive compounds, in some embodiments, the one or more compounds are one or more of furaneols (such as strawberry furanone, maple furanone, or caramel furanone), methyl cinnamate, methyl butyrate, propyl heptanoate, hexyl cinnamate, methyl anthranilate, methyl jasmonate, nonadienal, or a combination of compounds.

[0040] In some embodiments, the sachet 100 is a pouch or bag approximately the size of a tea bag. In some embodiments, the sachet 100 is larger, diaper-like in size. The sachet 100 is made from two sheets 105A, 105B with a space between them, or a pouch containing the composite compound 110. In some embodiments, the sachet 100 may be thicker and uneven with a slight bulge near the center. The sachet 100 may be placed in a loose, drop-in use environment. The solid compound 110 placed in the sachet may be in the form of tablets, flakes, beads, pellets, granules, powder, etc. As shown in FIG. 1B, the loose sachet 110 may then be placed in a container 160 along with fresh produce 170.

[0041] In some embodiments, the container 160 is a clamshell container as illustrated in FIG. 1B, although the container 160 may take any number of forms, including a bag, a box, a carton, or the like.

[0042] When the sachet 100 is placed in the container 160, the transfer layer (e.g., sheets 105A, 105B, or both) allows the bioactive compounds 110 in the carrier to be transferred to the perishable goods 170, thereby preserving the perishable goods, preventing contamination, retarding spoilage, etc. Figures 1C-IJ show several forms that the sachet 100 may take. In some embodiments, the permeability of the transfer layer is based on the selection of material (or transfer layer chemistry) and / or physical patterning, such as including micro-perforations.

[0043] 1C-1J, the sachet 100 can take any form or shape, including circular and rectangular. The sachet 100 can be transparent or opaque and can be made from any type of material, including plastic, paper, nylon, etc.

[0044] In some embodiments, such as shown in Figure 1K, the sachet 100 may include one or more perforated edges 1050A, 1050B.

[0045] In some embodiments, the sachet 100 may include a transfer layer 105 containing the composite material formulation 110, as shown in FIG. 1L. In some embodiments, the transfer layer 105 may be rigid. In some embodiments, the transfer layer 105 may be wet and dry formed into a rigid material, such as paper mache. In some embodiments, the sachet 100 may include a rigid transfer layer formed to fit within a container (such as container 160) or to fit within a particular shape, size, or configuration of a container. In some embodiments, the rigid sachet 100 may be designed to have a particular shape, for example to fit into a corner of the packaging into which the sachet 100 is placed. In some embodiments, the transfer layer 105 may have two layers 105A, 105B, with a space S between the two layers. In some embodiments, the space S includes a support 120. In some embodiments, the support 120 is corrugated.

[0046] Figure 1M shows a side view of a sachet 100 having two transfer layers 105A, 105B. In some embodiments, a space S exists between the two transfer layers 105A, 105B. In some embodiments, the space S is created using one or more supports 120A, 120B. In some embodiments, one or more supports 120A, 120B are wavy.

[0047] As shown in Figure 1N, in some embodiments, sachets 100A, 100B, 100C may be formed or manufactured in a roll 1000. In some embodiments, roll 1000 includes perforations (or markings) 1050A, 1050B, 1050C, 100D that define individual sachets 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D. In some embodiments, sachets 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D may be tom or cut at perforations (or markings) 1050A, 1050B, 1050C, 100D.

[0048] 2A-2B are an exemplary sachet 200 according to the present disclosure having an adhesive layer 115. In some embodiments, the sachet 200 further comprises a backing layer 105B, an adhesive layer 115, and a release layer 120, as shown in FIG.

[0049] 2A, backing layer 105B is configured to contact adhesive layer 115. In some embodiments, either sheet 105A, 105B, or a combination thereof, can be backing layer 105B. Backing layer 105B can be permeable or impermeable to bioactive compound 110. In some embodiments, backing layer 105B is made from the same material as the transfer layer (such as sheet 105A).

[0050] In some embodiments, adhesive layer 115 is an adhesive coating, an adhesive mass, or double-sided tape. In some embodiments, the adhesive may be mixed with or impregnated with one or more bioactive compounds. In such embodiments, the adhesive also functions as a carrier and controlled release matrix for bioactive compounds 110. In some embodiments, the adhesive may contain one or more compounds described herein.

[0051] In some embodiments, the release layer 120 is plastic, paper, or nylon and protects the adhesive from contamination prior to placement. In operation, a user peels back the release layer 120 and attaches the sachet 200 to the container 160, as shown in FIG. 2B. In some embodiments, the release layer may be present on one or more sides of the sachet, including the front, back, left, and / or right sides of the sachet. In some embodiments, the release layer is configured to protect the adhesive layer until the sachet is ready to be applied. In some embodiments, the release layer traps the bioactive compound inside the sachet (or sheet as described herein). In such embodiments, release of the bioactive compound is initiated when the release layer is peeled back and / or removed.

[0052] In some embodiments, the sachet 200 includes multiple topcoat layers, each configured to further affect the release rate of the bioactive compound. The topcoat layers may also function as protective layers to repel various compounds from the outside and prevent them from reaching the inner layer of the carrier containing the active compound. For example, they may function as a water, moisture, or oxygen barrier to protect the active compound from oxidative or similar damage. Furthermore, they may also help reduce the amount of light, including UV, that reaches the active compound, which may help reduce chemical degradation that can be accelerated by various wavelengths of light. In some embodiments, the topcoat layer is present on one side of the sachet, but may also be present on both sides of the sachet.

[0053] In some embodiments, the sachet 200 may further include images, infographics, text, and the like.

[0054] 3A-3D are exemplary sheets 300 according to the present disclosure. In some embodiments, carrier compound 310 is incorporated into sheet 300. In some embodiments, sheet 300 comprises multiple stacked layers that are generally flat with a generally uniform thickness. The resulting product is largely flat and much wider than it is thick. Sheet 300 can be of different sizes and can be placed loosely within the packaging above, below, between, or to the side of produce within a container.

[0055] In some embodiments, a soft layer may be further packed around the sheet 300 to cushion the co-packaged fruit from mechanical damage or bruising. Additional functional components may also be included in the pad, such as components that absorb excess moisture, absorb ethylene, decompose ethylene, or release 1-MCP to block ethylene signaling. Examples of ethylene decomposers include permanganates, such as potassium permanganate.

[0056] 3A shows an exemplary sheet 300 having a carrier composite 110 in accordance with the present technology. In some embodiments, the sheet 300 includes a substrate 305. In some embodiments, the substrate 305 has multiple layers, although the substrate may be a single layer. In some embodiments, the substrate 305 is made from paper, although the substrate 305 may take any number of forms, including plastic, nylon, or a porous material such as sponge.

[0057] In some embodiments, the sheet 300 includes one or more capping layers 315A, 315B on the top and bottom planar surfaces of the sheet 300. In operation, these capping layers 315A, 315B may prevent water damage or other degradation of the composite carrier 310, the substrate, or both. The capping layers 315A, 315B may also prevent contamination, prevent or slow the delivery of bioactive compounds in the composite 310, or assist or modify the delivery of bioactive compounds 310 in the composite.

[0058] In some embodiments, sheet 300 is a loose insert that can be placed above, below, or to the side of a product. Sheet 300 can be any size ranging from 1 cm x 1 cm up to the maximum size allowed by the package or container.

[0059] In some embodiments, the thickness of sheet 300 ranges from about 0.2 mm to about 3 mm thick. In some embodiments, multi-layer substrate 305 can range from about 1 to 3 mm thick. In some embodiments, substrate 305 further comprises padding. In some embodiments, the padding ranges from about 1 to 10 mm thick. In some embodiments, capping layers 315A, 315B are padding.

[0060] The padding may have other features, such as a cushion to protect the fruit from mechanical damage. The padding may also include other functional components, such as additional bioactive compounds. Furthermore, the outermost layer may be surrounded by a film that is permeable to all bioactive compounds that need to be transferred or delivered to the fresh product. In some embodiments, the sheets and / or sachets may include an impermeable peel layer on the outer surface that is configured to be removed to initiate the release of one or more compounds.

[0061] In some embodiments, the sheet 300, substrate 305, composition 310, padding, or a combination of components may include one or more compounds described herein.

[0062] In some embodiments, the carrier composite 310 is coated in layers on the substrate 305. In some embodiments, the carrier composites 310A, 310B, 310C, 310D are impregnated into the substrate 305, as shown in Figure 3B.

[0063] In some embodiments, the bioactive compound, the carrier, or both (in the form of composite material 310) can be absorbed (or impregnated) into substrate 305. In some embodiments, the active compound is coated and remains on the surface of substrate 305. In some embodiments, active compounds 310A, 310B, 310C, 310D can be coated on the surface but can also be impregnated into the substrate at the same time. In some embodiments, a combination of impregnation and coating can be present in a sheet, as shown in FIG. 3B. In some embodiments, each composite 310 of a plurality of composites can contain two or more bioactive compounds. In some embodiments, each composite 310 can contain a different bioactive compound than the other composites. In this manner, each composite 310 can contain a single bioactive compound or one or more blends of bioactive compounds. In some embodiments, composite material 310 is coated on substrate 305, and heat is applied to melt composite material 310, allowing composite material 310 to infiltrate the substrate. In some embodiments, the composite material 310 includes a solvent that liquefies the composite material, allowing it to wick and soak into the substrate 305. In some embodiments, the solvent then evaporates, leaving behind a more viscous (thickened) composite liquid or a solidified composite material that has soaked into the substrate 305.

[0064] In some embodiments, the sheet 300 includes multiple topcoat layers, each configured to further affect the release rate of the bioactive compound. The topcoat layers may also function as protective layers, rejecting various compounds from the outside and preventing them from reaching the inner layer of the carrier containing the active compound. For example, they may function as a water, moisture, or oxygen barrier to protect the active compound from oxidative or similar damage. Finally, they may also help reduce the amount of light, including UV, reaching the active compound, which may help reduce chemical degradation that can be accelerated by various wavelengths of light. In some embodiments, the topcoat or topcoats are located on a single side of the sheet 300, while in other embodiments, topcoats are present on both sides of the sheet.

[0065] In some embodiments, sheet 300 may be folded or otherwise manipulated to form a shape as shown in FIG. 3D. In some embodiments, sheet 300 may include a transfer layer (or carrier layer) 305 that is folded or otherwise manipulated to contain composite compound 310. In some embodiments, a sachet (such as sachet 100 described and illustrated herein) may be placed inside the folded sheet 300. In such embodiments, the folded sheet 300 may be an enclosure for the sachet. In some embodiments, one or more composite pucks may be placed inside the folded sheet 300.

[0066] 4A-4C are an exemplary sticker 400 according to the present disclosure.

[0067] In another embodiment, the composite material 410 may be incorporated into a sticker 400 (also referred to herein as a label). In such an embodiment, the sticker 400 includes a substrate 405 (or carrier layer), an adhesive layer 415, a release layer 420, a capping layer 435, and a topcoat layer 430. In some embodiments, the sticker further includes a backing layer 425.

[0068] In some embodiments, sticker 400 includes a carrier layer 405. In some embodiments, carrier layer 405 can be permeable. In some embodiments, active compound 410B is coated on the carrier layer. In other embodiments, active compound 410A is permeated into the carrier layer. In some embodiments, bioactive compounds (or composites) 410A, 410B are both permeated into and coated on carrier layer 405, as described herein.

[0069] In some embodiments, sticker 400 further includes adhesive layer 415. In some embodiments, some or all of bioactive compounds 410A, 410B may be impregnated or mixed into adhesive layer 415.

[0070] In some embodiments, the sticker 400 further includes a release layer 420 that protects the adhesive 415 and is configured to be peeled off when the sticker 400 is applied to a surface or container 160 or directly to the fruit 170.

[0071] Optionally, the sticker 400 may also include a backing layer 425 that may be permeable or impermeable to the transmission of the bioactive compounds 410A, 410B.

[0072] In some embodiments, sticker 400 further comprises one or more additional compounds described herein, in some embodiments, the one or more additional compounds are present in or on substrate 405, in adhesive 415, in backing layer 425, or some combination of locations.

[0073] In some embodiments, the sticker 400 may also include a capping layer 435. In operation, the capping layer 435 may prevent water damage or other degradation of the composite carrier 410, the substrate 405, or both. The capping layer 435 may also prevent contamination, prevent or slow the delivery of bioactive compounds in the composite 410, or assist or modify the delivery of bioactive compounds 410 in the composite.

[0074] In some embodiments, sticker 400 is made entirely from a translucent material so that when attached to translucent container 160, sticker 400 is visibly invisible.

[0075] In some embodiments, the sticker 400 further includes a topcoat layer 430. In some embodiments, the topcoat layer 430 has additional compounds dissolved or dispersed therein. In some embodiments, these can be the same bioactive compound as in the carrier layer 405, a different bioactive compound than in the carrier layer 405, or a combination. In some embodiments, the topcoat layer 430 is permeable to the bioactive compounds 410A, 410B. In operation, the topcoat layer 430 is configured to act as a physical protection or capping layer 435 as well as a diffusion barrier. In some embodiments, the topcoat layer 430 is further configured to affect the release rate (including slowing down the release rate) of the bioactive compounds 410A, 410B. The permeability of the active compounds 410A, 410B through these diffusion barrier layers can be controlled by the material properties of the diffusion barrier, the thickness of the diffusion barrier, or by including a pattern, such as small perforations, in the diffusion barrier. In some embodiments, the sticker 400 includes multiple topcoat layers 430, each configured to further affect the release rate of the bioactive compound. The topcoat layer 430 may also function as a protective layer, repelling various compounds from the outside and preventing them from reaching the inner layers of the carrier containing the active compound. For example, they may act as a moisture, humidity, or oxygen barrier to protect the active compound from oxidative or similar damage. Finally, they may also help reduce the amount of light, including UV, that reaches the active compound, helping to reduce chemical degradation that can be accelerated by various wavelengths of light.

[0076] In operation, the release layer 420 is removed to expose the adhesive. The adhesive 415 is then secured to a surface or container. In some embodiments, the adhesive layer contains one or more bioactive compounds in a sheet or sachet, and removing the release layer enables delivery of the one or more bioactive substances. In some embodiments, the release layer 420 is located on top of the sticker 400, such as on top of the topcoat layer 430. In some embodiments, the release layer 420 is located on both the bottom and top of the sticker 400. The topcoat layer 430 enables delivery of the bioactive compounds 410A, 410B to the perishable item 170. In some embodiments, the topcoat layer 430 further modifies the release mechanism of the bioactive compounds 410A, 410B, for example, by slowing the release rate of the bioactive compounds 410A, 410B.

[0077] If the label (or sticker) 400 is applied to the inside of a see-through package and the adhesive 415 used is also see-through, various artwork, graphics, or product information infographics may also be included on the label 400.

[0078] In some embodiments, sticker 400 is configured to be attached to the outside of container 160, as shown in Figure 4B. In such embodiments, the sticker may include a release layer, an adhesive layer, an optional backing layer, a carrier layer, one or more compositions including one or more bioactive ingredients, a topcoat layer, and one or more top layers.

[0079] In some embodiments, such as shown in Figure 4C, sticker 400 may be attached directly to perishable goods (such as fruit) 170. Perishable goods 170 may be contained within a container as shown and described herein, or on the outside of a container as shown in Figure 4C.

[0080] 5A-5D illustrate an exemplary sticker 500 according to the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the sticker 500 includes one or more additional top layers 530, 535. In some embodiments, the top layers 530, 535 are highly impermeable to the active compounds 510A, 510B, preventing loss to the atmosphere when the sticker 500 is placed on the outside of the container 160, as shown in FIG. 5B. In some embodiments, the top coat layers 530, 535 may also protect the label and active compounds from external elements such as light, humidity, and oxygen. In some embodiments, the top layers 530, 535 may also be labels containing infographics, logos, ingredient lists, calorie or vitamin details in the product, etc. In some embodiments, the one or more top layers 530, 535 may be formed from Mylar, PET, HDPE, metallized plastic film, or combinations thereof.

[0081] In operation, the label or sticker 500 is attached to the outside of the container 160. One or more top layers 530, 535 prevent the bioactive components 510A, 510B from transferring to the atmosphere away from the perishable item 170. The adhesive layer 515 and optional backing layer 525 may be permeable to allow transfer of the bioactive compounds 510A, 510b into the container.

[0082] In some embodiments, container 160 is translucent, as shown in Figures 5C-5D. In some embodiments, label 500 may include a letter, image, symbol, logo, etc., represented by the letter "R" in Figures 5C-5D. If container 160 is translucent, as shown in Figure 5D, the image, symbol, logo, text, etc., of the "R" may still be visible through sticker 500.

[0083] In such embodiments, container 160 may also be permeable. In some embodiments, container 160 is permeable based on one or more physical openings in the container (e.g., holes or slits configured where label or sticker 500 is attached to the container). In other embodiments, container 170 is made from a permeable material such as cellulose, PLA, polystyrene, or any other material sufficiently permeable to the active compound.

[0084] In some other embodiments, label 500 may be designed to be placed on the outside of container 160, such as on packaging material, as shown in Figures 5C-5D. In such cases, label 500 is designed to release the active ingredient into the packaging material through an adhesive.

[0085] 6A-6C are exemplary configurations of a product 600 according to the present disclosure. In some embodiments, multiple products (sachets, sheets, or labels) 600 are contained within a single container. In some embodiments, a single container 160 contains products 600 in the form of a combination of labels, sheets, sachets, or a combination thereof. FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate various configurations that multiple products 600 may have within a container 160.

[0086] In each case illustrated above, one or more products 600 may be placed in each package (container) 160. Sachets 600A, 600B are shown in Figure 6A attached to the inside of the packaging in combination with loosely placed sachets 600C, 600D, 600E, flat sheets or pads 600A, 600B are shown in Figure 6B loosely placed above and below the perishable goods 170, and flat labels 600A-600D are shown attached to the inside of the packaging 160 in Figure 6C.

[0087] 7 illustrates a configuration of label 600, where label 600 is configured to be applied to the outside of container 160. In some embodiments, label 600 is configured to transport the active compound therein through the packaging material of container 160. In some embodiments, container 160 is permeable through an array of micro-perforations within container 160. As shown in FIG. 7, in some embodiments, the top surface of label 600 acts as a diffusion barrier for the active compound to prevent loss of the compound to the atmosphere and also serves as an infographic to provide information about the product or its distributor. [Example]

[0088] In both the sheet and adhesive label structures, the bioactive-containing composite formulation is coated onto and / or impregnated into the carrier layer. The coating can be, for example, various individual bioactive components on their own, combinations thereof, composite mixtures thereof with various carrier matrices, or emulsions thereof dispersed in a matrix. These carrier matrices can include beeswax, other waxes, paraffin, hydrogels, oleogel, or mixtures thereof. Coating onto single- or multi-layer sheets can be achieved by spray coating, electrospraying, dip coating, gravure coating, etc. Sometimes, these carrier+bioactive combinations are applied in a liquid state by increasing the temperature to achieve a molten state and solidify on the substrate upon cooling. In some other embodiments, the bioactive or bioactive+carrier composite can be dissolved in a volatile solvent such as ethanol and applied in a liquid state. The solvent is then evaporated, leaving a solid coating on the surface or wicking into the porous carrier, leaving a material that solidifies in place upon solvent evaporation.

[0089] In some embodiments, the bioactive agent or composite carrier + bioactive agent formulation may also impregnate / diffuse / wick into several layers of the carrier. In this structure, the bioactive component or composite formulation containing the bioactive agent and carrier matrix may be impregnated into or coated onto one or more of the multi-layer structures.

[0090] In some embodiments, the bioactive compound or a composition containing the bioactive compound can be coated / painted directly onto a container / packaging material. These compositions can be coated onto only a portion of the container material or onto the entire container material. They can be coated onto the inside or outside of the packaging. In some embodiments, an additional coating (topcoat) or film can be applied on top of the composition coating (the function of such a topcoat layer is similar to the topcoat discussed above).

[0091] In some cases, the bioactive substances or compositions may be impregnated into the container / packaging material. For example, they may be wicked into containers made from paper / cardboard. Bioactive substances may also be impregnated into various plastics used in making these containers.

[0092] In all these cases, a similar topcoat may be added.

[0093] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more useful volatile compounds may include, but are not limited to, trans-2-hexenal, cuminaldehyde, citronellal, perilla aldehyde, thymol, carvacrol, citral, carvone, pulegone, eugenol, bornyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol, linalool, trans-anethole, trans-cinnemaldehyde, methyl eugenol, and essential oils such as geranium oil and lavender oil.It is understood by those skilled in the art that essential oils refer to oils distilled or extracted from plants.Essential oils are not necessarily true oils in the manner of lubricating vegetable oils, but they are highly mobile and exceptionally volatile. Essential oils can be complex mixtures of different organic molecules, also known as essential oil components (EOCs), including, but not limited to, monoterpenes, diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, or their oxidized forms, terpenoids, alcohols, esters, aldehydes, ketones, phenols, thiols, isothiocyanates, and alkaloids, including, but not limited to, capsaicinoids. Synthetic oils are typically made from one or more of the primary components within a particular essential oil. For example, menthol is often used as a mint substitute, and eucalyptol is used as a eucalyptus substitute. Furthermore, the chemical composition of essential oils can vary depending on the time of day, the month or season in which the oil is harvested, the environmental conditions leading up to and including essential oil harvest, the means used to extract the oil, and, for synthetic oils, the chemical composition can vary from batch to batch. Environmental conditions leading up to and including essential oil harvest include, but are not limited to, drought, excessive precipitation, etc.

[0094] Both synthetic and naturally occurring essential oils can be used for fragrance, medicinal, antiseptic, solvent, and insecticidal purposes. For example, essential oils such as methyl salicylate or thymol can be impregnated into water-insoluble resins and used to diffuse fragrant or medicinal vapors into rooms. Typical essential oils are derived from thyme, lemongrass, citrus, anise, clove, aniseed, rose, lavender, citronella, eucalyptus, peppermint, camphor, sandalwood, cinnamon leaf, cedar, almond, grape, walnut, jojoba, olive, and the like. In some embodiments, essential oils can also be derived from nuts or seeds. Essential oils are generally liquid at room temperature (20°C to 25°C). Essential oils suitable for the present disclosure are typically commercially available and preferably refined. However, in some embodiments, synthetic essential oils can be used. One or more essential oil components can be present in each essential oil.

[0095] Essential oil constituents useful in the inventive concepts of the present disclosure and claims include (-)-bornyl acetate, (-)-terpinen-4-ol, (+)-carvone, (±)-citronellal, (R)-(+)-citronellal, (S)-(-)-citronellal, (R)-(+)-pulegone, 4-allylanisole, carvacrol, cis-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol, citral, citronellol, eugenol, linalool, methyl eugenol, methyl trans cinnamal, and the like. These may include, but are not limited to, mate, myrcene, thymol, trans-anethole, trans-cinnamaldehyde, terpineol (mixture of isomers), 1-methyl-3-methoxy-4-isopropylbenzene, menthol, menthone, isomenthone, geranyl formate, palmitic acid, 4-isopropylbenzaldehyde (also known as cuminaldehyde), trans-2-hexenal, (S)-(-)-perillaldehyde, nootkatone, geranium oil, and lavender oil.

[0096] The one or more plant immunostimulatory compounds may include pinene, camphene, terpinene, terpineol, chitosan, methyl jasmonic acid, methyl salicylic acid, ethyl salicylic acid, methyl cinnamic acid, β-aminobutyric acid, fructans (inulin, levan), ethylene, harpin proteins, jasmonic acid, etc. The one or more plant immunostimulatory compounds refer to compounds that do not directly affect disease-causing organisms or alter the DNA of the treated fresh produce (except by altering the expression of various genes by up- or down-regulating them), but instead activate natural defense mechanisms in the fresh produce. Those skilled in the art will understand that plant immunostimulatory compounds may also be referred to as plant activators.

[0097] Examples of the one or more non-volatile compounds may include, but are not limited to, curcumin, chitosan, phytoalexins, phytoanticipins, one or more preservatives, and one or more antioxidants (including, but not limited to, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin C), beta-carotene, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), or UV protectants such as titanium dioxide. The one or more non-volatile compounds may have a bactericidal effect, an immunostimulatory effect, and / or prevent or slow the oxidation process in fresh produce. A bactericidal effect may reduce the infectivity of microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi that can have a spoilage effect on fresh produce. In one embodiment, a composition comprising a protective coating, one or more volatile compounds, and one or more non-volatile compounds may create a synergistic effect of increased fresh produce loss reduction compared to the fresh produce loss of the individual components. In some embodiments, two or more bioactive compounds may be included that complement each other or have a broad spectrum of action. In another embodiment, a lower concentration of one or more volatile compounds and one or more non-volatile compounds in the protective coating composition may achieve a desired biological result more quickly than a higher concentration of one or more volatile compounds and one or more non-volatile compounds not in the protective coating composition. In another embodiment, the addition of one or more antioxidants and / or one or more preservatives in the delivery system may help to maintain the effectiveness of the bioactive compound of the composition.

[0098] One or more ethylene-acting compounds useful in the inventive concepts of the present disclosure and claims may include, but are not limited to, norbornadiene, resveratrol, sodium permanganate, potassium permanganate, vanillin, activated charcoal, and 1-methylcyclopropene. The term "one or more ethylene-acting compounds" refers to ethylene absorption / adsorption compounds and compounds that inhibit ethylene production or reduce sensitivity to ethylene in fresh produce. An example of a volatile ethylene antagonist is 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). 1-MCP binds to multiple ethylene receptors in agricultural produce and blocks ethylene recognition by the multiple ethylene receptors. Blocking ethylene recognition by multiple ethylene receptors in fresh produce tends to reduce the effects of ethylene, which triggers the ripening response of fresh produce. Blocking multiple ethylene receptors in fresh produce also reduces the autocatalytic production of ethylene. 1-MCP can reduce ethylene production and desensitize fresh produce to ethylene.

[0099] In some embodiments, the one or more delivery systems comprise one or more compositions having one or more active compounds and a carrier. The carrier can be in a solid, semi-solid, liquid, or gaseous state. The carrier can act as a medium to stabilize / retain the one or more active compounds and / or a diffusion retardant to regulate the release rate of the one or more active compounds from the carrier into the environment. The carrier can be selected from the group consisting of water, paraffin, petroleum-derived wax, beeswax, plant-derived wax, rice bran wax, resin, synthetic polymer, biodegradable natural polymer, oil or fat, ceramic compound, one or more inorganic compounds, macrocyclic compounds such as cyclodextrin, surfactant, clay, fiber, fiber-like material, paper, and metal-organic framework (MOF). Macrocyclic compounds include cyclodextrin and other similar compounds with cage-like structures. The biodegradable natural polymer can be derived from natural plant or animal materials, ceramic, or inorganic compounds.In some embodiments, the carrier is paraffin, wax, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, shellac, cellulose composites, semi-permeable plastics, such as, but not limited to, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, nylon (polyamide), polyurethane, low-density polyethylene (LPDE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), perforated plastic film, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polylactic acid (PLA), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), polyacrylic acid (PAA), polyethylene oxide (polyethylene oxide, PEG), perforated or patterned metallized plastic films (the non-metallized portions are permeable to the active compound), sponges, porous materials, and combinations thereof.

[0100] In some embodiments, the carrier may have any number of structures. In some embodiments, the structure may be a wax, crystalline, resin, or oleogel structure. For example, when the carrier is a wax or oil structure, it may be formed from animal waxes (natural mixtures of wax esters and sterol esters such as beeswax or lanolin), vegetable waxes (natural mixtures of alkanes, wax esters, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and phytosterols such as carnauba wax, candelilla wax, bayberry wax, and soybean wax), natural / vegetable oils (mixtures of natural triglycerides or modified natural triglycerides such as canola oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, walnut oil, coconut oil, soybean oil, palm oil, and hydrogenated oils), petroleum-based oils and waxes (mixtures of alkanes such as paraffin oil, paraffin wax, and microcrystalline wax), and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, when the carrier has a crystalline structure, it may be formed from fatty acids (such as lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and oleic acid), fatty acid salts (such as sodium palmitate, potassium palmitate, sodium stearate, and calcium stearate), fatty alcohols (such as cetyl alcohol and cetearyl alcohol), and combinations thereof. In resinous structures, the carrier may be formed from natural resins or rosins, modified resins, and mixtures of resin acids such as pine resin or rosin, mastic rosin, and dammar rosin, hydrogenated pine rosin, glycerol esters of pine rosin, and mixtures thereof. In examples where the carrier has an oleogel structure, the carrier may include a combination of waxes, oils, crystals, and / or resins that form solids, gels, creams, or viscous liquids. In some embodiments, the ratio of the components adjusts the mechanical properties of the carrier.

[0101] In some embodiments, the carrier may have a hydrogel or gum structure, a plastic structure, or a porous solid structure. In hydrogel or gum structures, the carrier may include collagen / gelatin, silk, gluten, zein, casein, keratin (such as wool), soy protein, pea protein, sunflower protein, polysaccharides such as cellulose, modified cellulose (such as methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose), pectin, chitosan, chitin, alginate, starch, carrageenan, agar, shellac, hyaluronic acid, xanthan gum, gum arabic, guar gum, locust bean gum, mastic, gellan gum, gum including spruce gum, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the plastic structure may include polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE, LDPE, HDPE), polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyethylene terephthalate (PET, PETE), methyl cellulose (MC), ethyl cellulose (EC), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), and combinations thereof. In the porous solid structure, the carrier may include activated carbon, porous oxides (silica, alumina, titania), porous concrete mix, zeolite, clays such as bentonite and montmorillonite, paper, cellulose sponge, felt such as cellulose felt, cork, fiberglass paper, sponges such as PP sponge and PE sponge, and combinations thereof.

[0102] In some embodiments, the carrier comprises a solvent or diluent such as ethanol, glycerol, water, aqueous salt solutions, e.g., sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium carbonate, and the like, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the carrier comprises an emulsifier or humectant. In some embodiments, the emulsifier or humectant is a fatty acid (e.g., lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, etc.), a fatty acid salt (e.g., sodium palmitate, potassium palmitate, sodium stearate, calcium stearate, etc.), a fatty alcohol (e.g., cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol), a monoglyceride (e.g., glycerol monostearate, glycerol monopalmitate), a diglyceride (e.g., glycerol distearate, glycerol dipalmitate), a lecithin / phospholipid (e.g., egg lecithin, soybean lecithin, or sunflower lecithin), or a soluble or unsoluble ... cinnamate), sterols (phytosterols, cholesterol, etc.), sorbitan (sorbitan laurate, sorbitan stearate, etc.), polysorbates (polyoxyethylene sorbitan laurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan stearate, etc.), polyethylene ethers (polyethylene lauryl ether, polyethylene cetyl ether, etc.), sulfate surfactants (sodium octyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, etc.), quaternary ammonium surfactants (cetrimonium chloride, behentrimonium chloride), and combinations thereof.

[0103] In some embodiments, the carrier may be shaped as a bead or sphere, an ellipsoid, an oval, a lump, a small pancake-like shape, a short rod / cylinder shape, an irregularly shaped granule, a flat film, a thick flat layer, a thick layer with a patterned surface (such as a honeycomb shape), a powder dispersed in another matrix (e.g., a fine powder or small granules containing the active compound mixed as an inclusion in wax or paraffin, where the resulting inclusion-bearing wax is shaped into the physical embodiments described herein).

[0104] The release rate modifying mechanism of the delivery system may include one or more diffusion barriers. One or more diffusion barriers may be added to the composition to delay the overall release rate of one or more active compounds into the environment adjacent to the fresh produce. The permeability of one or more diffusion layers may be affected by the material of the one or more diffusion barriers and / or the thickness of the one or more diffusion barriers. In one embodiment, the permeability of the diffusion barrier may be modified in response to changes in temperature and humidity. Similarly, oil droplets having one or more active compounds may be suspended in an environment-dependent carrier (e.g., a polymer matrix). For example, in another embodiment, one or more diffusion barriers may be positioned adjacent to one or more carriers containing one or more compositions having active compounds to modify the release rate of the composition into the environment adjacent to the fresh produce. In another embodiment, one or more diffusion barriers may contain a second or third composition having one or more active compounds. The one or more diffusion barriers containing the second or third composition having one or more active compounds may delay the release rate of one or more active compounds and / or the second or third active compounds into the environment adjacent to the fresh produce.

[0105] In another embodiment, the release rate modifying mechanism may be based on the structure of the composition and the morphology of the carrier. The structure of the composition may include macroscopic, mesoscopic, and microscopic geometries, such as beads or granules of various sizes, small pellets with specific sizes and aspect ratios, honeycomb structures, and other multi-layered structures of the composition. The morphology of the carrier may also include, for example, various amounts of porosity. The macroscopic, mesoscopic, and microscopic geometries of the structure of the composition and the morphology of the carrier may affect the transfer and release rate of the composition into the environment of the perishable product. In one embodiment, the amount of one or more active compounds in the composition and the structure of the composition affect the release rate of the composition into the environment of one or more perishable products. In another embodiment, the release rate of one or more active compounds may be affected by the ratio of the amount of active compound in the composition to the volume of the composition, based on the structure of the composition and the morphology of the carrier. For example, the porosity of the carrier may affect the transport of the composition in a delivery system. In another embodiment, the structure of the composition and / or the morphology of the carrier may be combined into a single delivery system to achieve highly complex release profiles. For example, a delivery system comprising one or more compositions comprising one or more active ingredients and one or more carriers formed into one or more shapes suitable for releasing the composition into the environment of the fresh produce at a rapid release rate, while a delivery system comprising one or more compositions with one or more carriers formed into one or more shapes may release the composition into the environment of the fresh produce at a slower release rate.

[0106] In one embodiment, the carrier may be porous. Examples of porous carriers include, but are not limited to, mesoporous silica, anodized aluminum, sponge, foam, compressed cellulose matrix (paper), and various polymers. Porous carriers may vary in porosity, pore size distribution, tortuosity, and transport properties of one or more components of the delivery system. In one embodiment, one or more compositions may be positioned within one or more pores of the porous structure. In another embodiment, one or more compositions may be combined with a carrier, and the carrier may be positioned within one or more pores of the porous structure. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, one or more compositions combined with a carrier comprising beeswax may be positioned within one or more pores of a porous carrier comprising a mesoporous material.

[0107] In another embodiment, the microscopic morphology of the carrier may be microporous. One or more active compounds are released into the environment through the microporous structure ("pores") of the carrier. The pores may have empty spaces or contain one or more other materials, including one or more active compounds in any physical state. In one embodiment, the pore may be single, i.e., a single pore surrounded by the carrier on all sides. In another embodiment, the pores may be two or more, i.e., two or more pores may be surrounded by the carrier. In another embodiment, the pore network may be physically connected to provide one or more pore pathways positioned within the carrier. In one embodiment, the one or more pore pathways may be positioned adjacent to the environment surrounding the perishable product. Examples of carriers with a microporous structure include, but are not limited to, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, microporous alumina, and anodized aluminum with an anodized layer. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles have unique properties, such as regular pore arrangement and biocompatibility, and may be used as a controlled release mechanism. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles can be incorporated into other matrices, such as packaging and wax, to further influence the controlled-release properties. The pore characteristics in these materials can be controlled to achieve the desired controlled-release properties. One or more surfaces of mesoporous silica particle supports and microporous alumina supports can also be chemically modified to change their hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity, or to directly support compounds by chemically attaching cyclodextrin to the compounds. In one embodiment, the support can be modified by a molecular nanoimprinting process, which involves imprinting molecules into a resin and curing the compound to make the pores of the support molecular-specific.

[0108] In another embodiment, the structure of the composition may have a particle configuration such as a powder, granules, etc. The multiple particle configurations may be modified into a desired macroscopic shape such as a tablet, ball, disc, etc. In one embodiment, the macroscopic shape may be optimized to achieve a specific level of porosity between the powder / granules. The process of forming the macroscopic shape determines the surface-to-volume ratio of the individual particle configurations as well as the macroscopic shape of the multiple particle configurations. In another embodiment, the multiple particle configurations may also be formed into a macroscopic shape with one or more pores. One or more pores in the macroscopic shape may be impregnated or backfilled with a substance such as a resin, hydrogel, or viscous liquid. The substance may function as a barrier to affect the release rate of one or more active compounds from one or more pores in the macroscopic shape. In another embodiment, one or more pores may be inert and function as a scaffold. The one or more pores that function as a scaffold have a diffusion-retarding matrix positioned therein. In another embodiment, the one or more pores that function as a scaffold may be degraded and removed during processing (similar to the lost-wax process), resulting in a 3D porous network of the diffusion-retarding matrix. In one embodiment, the one or more compositions may be comprised of multiple bead particles of different sizes. A smaller bead particle configuration has a higher surface-to-volume ratio. A smaller bead particle configuration has a faster release rate for releasing one or more active compounds to reach a target gas concentration. A smaller bead particle configuration dispenses one or more compositions at a faster rate. A larger bead particle configuration, and therefore a smaller surface-to-volume ratio, may maintain a target concentration for a longer period of time. In another embodiment, the multiple bead particle configuration may be coated with one or more diffusion barriers. The one or more diffusion barriers may slow the release rate. In some embodiments, the multiple beads may range in size from 1 micron to 1 centimeter in diameter. It should be understood that if the carrier is an irregularly shaped granule, this diameter refers to the diameter of a sphere of similar size. In some embodiments, the thickness of the carrier may range from 1 micron to 1 centimeter.

[0109] 8 is a flowchart of a method 800 for manufacturing the products (sachets, sheets, stickers, and labels) described herein. In different embodiments, method 800 may include additional steps or omit some of the illustrated steps. In some embodiments, the product may include sachet 100, sachet 200, sheet 300, sticker / label 400, sticker / label 500, product 600, or combinations thereof, described herein.

[0110] In some embodiments, a substrate is formed at block 805. In some embodiments, the substrate can be the substrate described in Figure 3A. In other embodiments, the substrate is the carrier layer in Figures 4A-4B.

[0111] In block 810, an active compound (bioactive compound) is applied to a substrate. Four methods 815A, 815B, 815C, and 815D of applying the compound to a substrate are illustrated, but any suitable method of applying the compound to a substrate may be utilized. In some embodiments, the active compound or bioactive compound is compound 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, or a combination thereof.

[0112] In one embodiment, in block 815A, the active compound is dissolved in a solvent below its saturation limit or saturated or supersaturated with a solvent such as ethanol. Once dissolved, saturated, or supersaturated, the active compound and solvent mixture can be applied to a substrate in block 820A. The solvent can then be evaporated in block 825S, leaving the active compound on the substrate.

[0113] In another embodiment, at block 815B, a solid is deposited on the substrate. In some embodiments, the solid is a bioactive ingredient mixed with a carrier material described herein. In some embodiments, at block 820B, the solid is melted on the substrate by heating. At block 825B, the molten solid then resolidifies on the substrate (or within it, such as when the active compound permeates the substrate).

[0114] In some embodiments, an excess of active compound is applied onto the substrate at block 815 C. At block 820 C, a portion of the excess active compound may then be removed, such as by wiping.

[0115] Finally, in some embodiments, at block 815D, the active compound, alone or in combination with a carrier material described herein, is coated onto the substrate. In some embodiments, the active compound is coated by spraying, rolling, etc. the active compound onto the substrate. In some embodiments, the active compound is coated by dipping the substrate into the active compound.

[0116] In some embodiments, a combination of some or all of the methods 815A, 815B, 815C, 815D for applying the active compound is utilized.

[0117] Optionally, additional layers may then be added to the substrate to form the sheets or stickers described herein, including a backing layer, an adhesive layer, a release layer, a topcoat layer, a top layer, or combinations thereof.

[0118] At block 830, the substrate having the composition is applied onto or in a container or onto a perishable item (such as perishable item 160).

[0119] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure may also be applicable to a variety of items, including, but not limited to, food, textiles, appliances, household cleaning products, healthcare environments, and architectural surfaces, to preserve their integrity and prevent the presence of various fungi, molds, and other microorganisms. Such compositions may also be applied to building structures, plant components, and even clothing for their preservation.

[0120] The ideas presented here can be extended beyond the preservation of fresh produce to many other application areas. For example, other foods that may be prone to spoilage, such as aged cheeses and cured meats, can be protected using these technologies. Furthermore, because volatile antimicrobially active compounds often have species- or strain-level specificity in their spectrum of action, they can be selected to inhibit spoilage-causing organisms while not having an inhibitory effect on the growth of desirable organisms (e.g., for moldy cheeses such as Roquefort or Camembert).

[0121] Other applications may include (1) environmental sanitation, such as, but not limited to, household cleaning solutions that are safe, natural, and do not require spatial precision; (2) healthcare applications, such as, but not limited to, forming biofilms on medical devices that come into direct contact with people, such as by forming biofilm-inhibiting solutions that can function remotely; and (3) other industries that have recurring problems with fungal or bacterial growth, such as leather production, for example, veterinary services.

Claims

1. A sachet for preventing spoilage of fresh produce, one or more composite materials, each composite material of the one or more composite materials comprising one or more bioactive compounds and a carrier material; a delivery layer surrounding the composite material and configured to allow delivery of the one or more bioactive compounds.

2. 10. The sachet of claim 1, wherein the one or more composite materials are in the form of beads, granules, powder, discs, sheets, flakes, or combinations thereof.

3. The physiologically active compound may be trans-2-hexenal, trans-2-octenal, trans-2-nonenal, trans-2-decenal, trans-2-dodecenal, cuminaldehyde, citronellal, thymol, perillaldehyde, carvacrol, citral, carvone, pulegone, eugenol, bornyl acetate, 1-octanol, terpinen-4-ol, linalool, trans-anethole, trans-cinnamaldehyde, ethyl octanoate, ethyl nonanoate, ethyl decanoate, methyl octanoate, methyl nonanoate, methyl decanoate, fenchol, borneol, camphor, methyl eugenol, menthol, methyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, phenylethyl acetate, phenylacetic acid, cinnamic acid acetic acid, γ-octalactone, γ-decalactone, eucalyptol, geranium oil, lavender oil, tallow ... Clove oil, (-)-bornyl acetate, (-)-terpinen-4-ol, (+)-carvone, (±)-citronellal, (R)-(+)-citronellal, (S)-(-)-citronellal, (R)-(+)-pulegone, thymol, 4-allylanisole, cis-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol, citronellol, methyl trans-cinnamate, myrcene, ocimene, terpineol, 1 2. The sachet of claim 1, wherein the hydroxybenzoate is selected from the group consisting of 4-methyl-3-methoxy-4-isopropylbenzene, menthol, menthone, isomenthone, vanillin, geranyl formate, palmitic acid, (S)-(-)-perillaldehyde, nootkatone, hinokitiol, d-limonene, s-limonene, p-cymene, nerolidol, 3-decen-2-one, and other stereoisomers of these compounds, and combinations thereof.

4. 2. The sachet of claim 1, wherein the carrier material is selected from the group consisting of water, paraffin, petroleum wax, natural wax, beeswax, resin, synthetic polymer, biodegradable natural polymer, ceramic, modified cellulose, methylcellulose, surfactant, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, microporous alumina, anodized aluminum, activated carbon, zeolite, metal carboxylate salt, inorganic compound, and combinations thereof.

5. The sachet an adhesive layer configured to secure the sachet to a surface; a release layer attached to a first side of the adhesive layer and configured to be removed to expose the adhesive layer; 10. The sachet of claim 1, further comprising a backing layer attached to a second side of the adhesive layer configured to secure the adhesive layer to the transfer layer of the sachet.

6. 6. The sachet of claim 5, wherein the backing layer is permeable to the one or more bioactive compounds.

7. 6. The sachet of claim 5, wherein the backing layer is impermeable to the one or more bioactive compounds.

8. 6. A sachet according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive layer is mixed with or impregnated with the one or more bioactive compounds.

9. 10. The sachet of claim 1, wherein the sachet further comprises at least one top coat, one impermeable release layer, or one permeable layer, the one permeable layer being semi-permeable until triggered by environmental conditions and configured to prevent loss of the one or more biologically active compounds to the environment.

10. 10. The sachet of claim 9, wherein the at least one topcoat comprises an image, an infographic, text, or a combination thereof.

11. a sheet for preventing spoilage of fresh produce, the sheet comprising one or more composite materials, each composite of the one or more composite materials comprising one or more biologically active compounds and a carrier material; a substrate configured to hold the composite material; The sheet is configured to deliver the one or more bioactive compounds onto the fresh produce.

12. The sheet of claim 11 , wherein the one or more composite materials are coated on the substrate.

13. 12. The sheet of claim 11, wherein the one or more composite materials at least partially impregnate the substrate.

14. The one or more bioactive compounds are trans-2-hexenal, trans-2-octenal, trans-2-nonenal, trans-2-decenal, trans-2-dodecenal, cuminaldehyde, citronellal, thymol, perillaldehyde, carvacrol, citral, carvone, pulegone, eugenol, bornyl acetate, 1-octanol, terpinen-4-ol, linalool, trans-anethole, trans-cinnamal Dehyde, ethyl octanoate, ethyl nonanoate, ethyl decanoate, methyl octanoate, methyl nonanoate, methyl decanoate, fenchol, borneol, camphor, methyl eugenol, menthol, methyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, methyl jasmonate, phenylethyl acetate, phenylacetic acid, acetic acid cinnamate, γ-octalactone, γ-decalactone, eucalyptol, farnesol, geraniol, furaneol, geranium oil, la Bender oil, thyme oil, clove oil, (-)-bornyl acetate, (-)-terpinen-4-ol, (+)-carvone, (±)-citronellal, (R)-(+)-citronellal, (S)-(-)-citronellal, (R)-(+)-pulegone, thymol, 4-allylanisole, cis-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol (nerol), citronellol, methyl trans-cinnamate, myrcene, ocimene, terpineol, 1-methyl 12. The sheet of claim 11, wherein the hydroxybenzoate is selected from the group consisting of ethyl-3-methoxy-4-isopropylbenzene, menthol, menthone, isomenthone, vanillin, geranyl formate, palmitic acid, (S)-(-)-perillaldehyde, nootkatone, hinokitiol, d-limonene, s-limonene, p-cymene, terpinene, nerolidol, 3-decen-2-one, ionones, damascenone, and other stereoisomers of these compounds, and combinations thereof.

15. 12. The sheet of claim 11, wherein the carrier material is selected from the group consisting of water, paraffin, petroleum wax, natural wax, sunflower wax, carnauba wax, rice bran wax, candelilla wax, beeswax, resin, synthetic polymer, biodegradable natural polymer, ceramic, modified cellulose, methylcellulose, surfactant, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, microporous alumina, anodized aluminum, activated carbon, zeolite, metal carboxylate salt, inorganic compound, and combinations thereof.

16. The sheet is an adhesive layer configured to secure the sheet to a container; 12. The sheet of claim 11, further comprising: a release layer configured to be removed from the adhesive layer to expose the adhesive layer.

17. 17. The sheet of claim 16, wherein the adhesive layer is mixed with or impregnated with the one or more bioactive compounds.

18. The sheet is 12. The sheet of claim 11, further comprising a release layer configured to be removed from the sheet to allow release of the one or more bioactive compounds.

19. 12. The sheet of claim 11, wherein the sheet further comprises a topcoat layer configured to modify the release rate of the one or more bioactive compounds.

20. 20. The sheet of claim 19, wherein the topcoat layer further comprises the one or more bioactive compounds.

21. 17. The sheet of claim 16, wherein the sheet is configured to be secured to an outer surface of the container.

22. 12. The sheet of claim 11, wherein the sheet further comprises at least one topcoat configured to prevent loss of the one or more bioactive compounds to the environment.

23. 23. The sheet of claim 22, wherein the at least one topcoat comprises an image, an infographic, text, or a combination thereof.

24. 24. The sheet of claim 23, wherein the image, infographic, text, or combination thereof is a separate layer on top of the at least one topcoat.

25. A system for preventing spoilage of perishable goods, comprising: A sachet according to claim 1; a container; The system wherein the sachet is disposed inside the container and configured to release the one or more bioactive compounds into the container and onto the fresh food product.

26. A system for preventing spoilage of perishable goods, comprising: The sheet according to claim 11; a container configured to hold the perishable goods, wherein the sheet is positioned proximate to the container and configured to release the one or more bioactive compounds into the container and onto the perishable goods.

27. A system for preventing spoilage of perishable goods, comprising: The sheet according to claim 19; a permeable container; The system, wherein the sheet is disposed on an exterior surface of the permeable container, the sheet configured to release the one or more bioactive compounds through the permeable container and onto the fresh produce.

28. A spoilage prevention product for preventing spoilage of fresh produce, comprising: one or more composite materials, each composite material of the one or more composite materials comprising one or more bioactive compounds and a carrier material; a delivery layer surrounding the composite material and configured to allow delivery of the one or more bioactive compounds.

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