Controlled-release delivery compositions for extending the life of perishable goods and methods of production and use thereof

1 . A controlled-release delivery composition for extending life of at least one produce item, wherein the controlled-release delivery composition comprises:

at least one volatile shelf-life extending agent, wherein the at least one volatile shelf-life extending agent is selected from the group consisting of an antimicrobial, an immunostimulatory compound, an ethylene inhibitor, and combinations thereof; and

at least one matrix, wherein the at least one matrix is in a substantially solid or semi-solid physical state, wherein the at least one matrix is selected from the group consisting of an emulsifier, a wax, a polymer, and combinations thereof,

wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of monoglycerides, diglycerides, fatty acids, fatty acid salts, fatty alcohols, lecithin, glycerol, sterols, and combinations thereof,

wherein the wax is a beeswax, a lanolin, a Carnauba wax, a Candelilla wax, a Bayberry wax, a soy wax, or a combination thereof,

wherein the polymer is a polysaccharide or a synthetic polymer,

wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of cellulose, pectin, chitosan, chitin, alginate, starch, carrageenan agar, shellac, hyaluronic acid, inulin, lignin, and combinations thereof,

wherein the synthetic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polylactic acid, polyethylene terephthalate, ABS, silicones, polyethylene glycols, poly-vinylacetate, poly-caprolactone, nylon, PVC, and combinations thereof;

wherein the at least one volatile shelf-life extending agent is contained within the at least one matrix and released from the at least one matrix at a controlled rate; and

wherein the controlled-release delivery composition is designed for positioning on at least a portion of at least one surface of the at least one produce item or for positioning within a container in which the at least one produce item is disposed.

2 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one matrix has a solid physical state.

3 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one matrix has a semisolid physical state.

4 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one matrix is a combination of a polysaccharide and an emulsifier.

5 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one matrix is polyethylene glycol.

6 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one antioxidant selected from the group consisting of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, thiols, tocopherol, catechins, anthocyanins, polyphenols, resveratrol, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and combinations thereof.

7 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one solvent or thinning agent, wherein the at least one solvent or thinning agent is selected from the group consisting of polar solvent, water, oil, and combinations thereof.

8 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 7 , wherein at least one of:

the polar solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, glycerol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, 1,3-butylene glycol, glyceryl diacetate, glyceryl triacetate, glyceryl tributyrate, triethyl citrate, and combinations thereof; and

the oil is selected from the group consisting of canola oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, walnut oil, coconut oil, soybean oil, palm oil, hydrogenated oils, paraffins oil, peanut oil, almond oil, sesame oil, safflower oil, and combinations thereof.

9 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one release-rate modifying agent, wherein the release-rate modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium salts, potassium salts, magnesium salts, calcium salts, ferrous fumurate, iron pyrophosphate, ferrous sulfate, ferrous fluconate, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium sulfate, guanidinium chloride, macrocycles, and combinations thereof.

10 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 9 , wherein at least one of:

the sodium salts are selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, sodium iodide, sodium iodate, sodium fluoride, sodium nitrite, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium metasilicate, sodium aluminosilicate, sodium malate, sodium acetate, sodium tartarate, sodium citrate, and combinations thereof;

the potassium salts are selected from the group consisting of potassium chloride, potassium iodide, dipotassium phosphate, and combinations thereof;

the magnesium salts are selected from the group consisting of magnesium chloride, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, and combinations thereof; and/or

the calcium salts are selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, calcium silicate, calcium aluminosilicate, calcium sulfate, tricalcium phosphate, and combinations thereof.

11 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 9 , wherein the at least one release-rate modifying agent comprises at least one of the sodium salts, the potassium salts, the magnesium salts, or the calcium salts, and wherein the at least one release-rate modifying agent is combined with at least one ceramic in powder form.

12 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 11 , wherein the at least one ceramic in powder form is selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, zeolite, clay, titanium oxide, silicon dioxide, and combinations thereof.

13 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 12 , wherein the clay is selected from the group consisting of bentonite, montmorillonite, illite, vermiculite, talc, and combinations thereof.

14 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 9 , wherein the macrocycles is selected from the group consisting of alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin, gamma-cyclodextrin, muscone, civetone, crown ether, and combinations thereof.

15 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 1 , wherein the controlled-release delivery composition has a microstructure selected from the group consisting of an amorphous microstructure, semicrystalline microstructure, microemulsion microstructure, microporous microstructure, mesoporous microstructure, fibrous microstructure, foam microstructure, particle microstructure, and combinations thereof.

16 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 15 , wherein at least one of: the microemulsion microstructure is selected from the group consisting of micelles, vesicles, cylindrical microstructures, sheet microstructures, and gyroid microstructures;

the microporous microstructure is selected from the group consisting of an anodized aluminum, porous activated carbon, or combinations thereof;

the mesoporous microstructure comprises a silica gel;

the fibrous microstructure is selected form a group consisting of paper, felt, linen, and combinations thereof;

the foam microstructure is selected from the group consisting of a cork, expanded polystyrene, and combinations thereof; and/or

the particle microstructure is selected from the group consisting of a wax microcrystal, ceramic microcrystal, and combinations thereof, and wherein the particle microstructure is positioned within the at least one matrix.

17 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one bonding material disposed on a lower surface of the at least one matrix for releasably attaching the controlled-release delivery composition to the at least one produce item.

18 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 1 , further comprising a porous packaging in which the at least one matrix containing the at least one volatile shelf-life extending agent is disposed, wherein the at least one volatile shelf-life extending agent can diffuse through the porous packaging.

19 . A controlled-release delivery composition for extending life of at least one produce item, wherein the controlled-release delivery composition comprises:

at least one volatile shelf-life extending agent, wherein the at least one volatile shelf-life extending agent is selected from the group consisting of an antimicrobial, an immunostimulatory compound, an ethylene inhibitor, and combinations thereof;

at least one antioxidant selected from the group consisting of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, thiols, tocopherol, catechins, anthocyanins, polyphenols, resveratrol, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and combinations thereof;

at least one release-rate modifying agent selected from the group consisting of sodium salts, potassium salts, magnesium salts, calcium salts, ferrous fumurate, iron pyrophosphate, ferrous sulfate, ferrous fluconate, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium sulfate, guanidinium chloride, macrocycles, and combinations thereof; and

at least one matrix, wherein the at least one matrix is in a substantially solid or semi-solid physical state, wherein the at least one matrix is selected from the group consisting of an emulsifier, a wax, a polymer, and combinations thereof,

wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of monoglycerides, diglycerides, fatty acids, fatty acid salts, fatty alcohols, lecithin, glycerol, sterols, and combinations thereof,

wherein the wax is a beeswax, a lanolin, a Carnauba wax, a Candelilla wax, a Bayberry wax, a soy wax, or a combination thereof,

wherein the polymer is a polysaccharide or a synthetic polymer,

wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of cellulose, pectin, chitosan, chitin, alginate, starch, carrageenan agar, shellac, hyaluronic acid, inulin, lignin, and combinations thereof

wherein the synthetic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polylactic acid, polyethylene terephthalate, ABS, silicones, polyethylene glycols, poly-vinylacetate, poly-caprolactone, nylon, PVC, and combinations thereof,

wherein the at least one volatile shelf-life extending agent, the at least one antioxidant, and the at least one release-rate modifying agent are contained within the at least one matrix, and

wherein the at least one volatile shelf-life extending agent is released from the at least one matrix at a controlled rate; and

wherein the controlled-release delivery composition is designed for positioning on at least a portion of at least one surface of the at least one produce item or for positioning within a container in which the at least one produce item is disposed.

20 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 19 , further comprising at least one bonding material disposed on a lower surface of the at least one matrix for releasably attaching the controlled-release delivery composition to the at least one produce item.

21 . The controlled-release delivery composition of claim 19 , further comprising a porous packaging in which the at least one matrix containing the at least one volatile shelf-life extending agent is disposed, wherein the at least one volatile shelf-life extending agent can diffuse through the porous packaging.