Innovative Delivery Systems and Barrier Technologies for Natural Bioactives: Enhancing Food Quality and Safety

The food industry continuously seeks innovative approaches to improve product quality, safety, and shelf life. Natural bioactive compounds, such as essential oils, antioxidants, and plant extracts, have emerged as promising alternatives to synthetic additives. However, their direct incorporation into food systems presents challenges due to instability, sensitivity to environmental conditions, and potential impacts on sensory attributes. To address these limitations, novel delivery and barrier systems have been developed to enhance the stability, bioavailability, and controlled release of these compounds. A critical aspect in the design of such systems is their performance within real food matrices, which have complex compositions that can influence the structure and functionality of the delivery system. Therefore, successful incorporation of these technologies into actual food products remains a key research focus. Despite advances in this field, further studies are needed to optimize these systems and evaluate their efficacy across diverse food applications.This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, and short communications that contribute to the development and application of delivery and barrier systems for natural bioactive compounds in food systems. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:- Development and characterization of delivery systems for bioactive compounds, including nano- and microcapsules, emulsions and nanoemulsions, liposomes, biopolymer-based edible films and coatings, among others.- Evaluation of these systems in real food matrices, considering interactions with food components, effects on structure and release behavior, and matrix-induced changes in functionality.- Impact of delivery systems on food quality, including oxidative and microbial stability, sensory and physicochemical properties, and shelf-life extension.By integrating fundamental and applied research, this collection aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current advancements and remaining challenges in the field, contributing to the development of sustainable, functional, and consumer-acceptable food innovations. Topic editors: Patricia Raquel Quiroga, Valeria Nepote, Antonella Estefanía Bergesse, Mariana Larrauri Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/71994/innovative-delivery-systems-and-barrier-technologies-for-natural-bioactives-enhancing-food-quality-and-safety