Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42354358›Full record

ArticleGels (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Tea Tree Oil Microemulsion-Gel-Strengthened Soy Protein Isolate Composite Films: A Multifunctional Active Packaging System.

Minghang Zhao, Yulu Xie, Pengbo Wang, Xuyu Hao, Yutong Xu, Dongyang Zhao, Zhengxiong Wang, Hao Chen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Gels (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Minghang ZhaoSDU-ANU Joint Science College, Shandong University (Weihai), Weihai 264209, China.
Yulu XieCollege of Marine Sciences, Shandong University (Weihai), Weihai 264209, China.
Pengbo WangCollege of Marine Sciences, Shandong University (Weihai), Weihai 264209, China.
Xuyu HaoCollege of Marine Sciences, Shandong University (Weihai), Weihai 264209, China.
Yutong XuCollege of Marine Sciences, Shandong University (Weihai), Weihai 264209, China.
Dongyang ZhaoCollege of Marine Sciences, Shandong University (Weihai), Weihai 264209, China.
Zhengxiong WangCollege of Marine Sciences, Shandong University (Weihai), Weihai 264209, China.
Hao ChenCollege of Marine Sciences, Shandong University (Weihai), Weihai 264209, China.ORCID 0000-0001-6146-6726

Funding

Jiangnan University 1042050205243170/006Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Processing and Storage, Key Laboratory of Agro-products Quality and Safety Control in Storage and Transport Process, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, P. R. China S2024KFKT-11National Natural Science Foundation of China 32102129Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province ZR2025MS391the Open Project of Yunnan Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Personalized Food Manufacturing YNJZKF2024A01Weihai Key Laboratory of Medical Conditioning Functional Food Processing Technology WHYY20240002Yunnan Province-City Integration Project 202302AN360002
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The development of stable and efficient essential oil delivery systems remains a persistent challenge in active food packaging applications. This research aimed to develop a multi-functional soy protein isolate (SPI)-based composite gel film integrating a tea tree oil micro emulsion (TME) via a microemulsion-in-gel approach, featuring sustained antioxidant release. The TME was first optimized using pseudo-ternary phase diagrams and exhibited excellent physicochemical stability. It maintained a droplet size ranging from 10 to 13 nm, with a polydispersity index (PDI) less than 0.2 under diverse stress situations (such as dilution, heat treatment, pH change, centrifugation, and 30-day storage). Afterward, TME-SPI composite gel films containing 1 to 3% TME were fabricated through solution casting and subsequent gelation of the protein matrix. The incorporation of TME markedly improved the properties of the gel film network. It raised the opacity by around 2.5 times, boosted the elongation at break to 144% (which is three times that of the control), and distinctively enhanced both water solubility and the water vapor barrier. Importantly, the 2% TME-SPI gel film exhibited sustained antioxidant activity from within the gel matrix, retaining more than 50% of its original 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity after 72 h, significantly outperforming films containing free TTO. The microemulsion-in-gel approach was shown to be effective in creating SPI-based gel films that possess combined light-barrier characteristics, adjustable moisture resistance, improved flexibility, and extended antioxidant release. This offers a promising framework for the next generation of active food packaging. Furthermore, the composite gel films exhibited concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, with the 3% TME-SPI film achieving an 82% inhibition rate, thus experimentally validating its active packaging potential.

Indexed as

active packaginggel filmmechanical propertiessoy protein isolatesustained releasetea tree oil microemulsion

Identifiers

PMID42354358
PMCPMC13297967

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.