Federica Balestra

Dr. Federica Balestra


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

13Years (2014-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 August 2019 in Materials
Verified
Journal Article
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SCSWATHI SIRISHA NALLAN CHAKRAVARTULA
SWATHI SIRISHA NALLAN CHAKRAVARTULA
Michelina SoccioMichelina Soccio
Michelina Soccio
Nadia LottiNadia Lotti
Nadia Lotti
FBFederica Balestra
Federica Balestra
Marco Dalla RosaMarco Dalla Rosa
Marco Dalla Rosa
Valentina SiracusaValentina Siracusa
Valentina Siracusa
Edible films and coatings gained renewed interest in the food packaging sector with polysaccharide and protein blending being explored as a promising strategy to improve properties of edible films. The present work studies composite edible films in different proportions of pectin (P), alginate (A) and whey Protein concentrate (WP) formulated with a simplex centroid mixture design and evaluated for physico-chemical characteristics to understand the effects of individual components on the final film performance. The studied matrices exhibited good film forming capacity, except for whey protein at a certain concentration, with thickness, elastic and optical properties correlated to the initial solution viscosity. A whey protein component in general lowered the viscosity of the initial solutions compared to that of alginate or pectin solutions. Subsequently, a whey protein component lowered the mechanical strength, as well as the affinity for water, as evidenced from an increasing contact angle. The effect of pectin was reflected in the yellowness index, whereas alginate and whey protein affected the opacity of film. Whey protein favored higher opacity, lower gas barrier values and dense structures, resulting from the polysaccharide-protein aggregates. All films displayed however good thermal stability, with degradation onset temperatures higher than 170 °C.

1 November 2015 in Food Chemistry
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
FBFederica Balestra
Federica Balestra
Luca LaghiLuca Laghi
Luca Laghi
DSDanielle Taneyo Saa
Danielle Taneyo Saa
Andrea GianottiAndrea Gianotti
Andrea Gianotti
Pietro RocculiPietro Rocculi
Pietro Rocculi
GPGianGaetano Pinnavaia
GianGaetano Pinnavaia

21 May 2015 in Journal of Texture Studies
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
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FBFederica Balestra
Federica Balestra
GPGian Gaetano Pinnavaia
Gian Gaetano Pinnavaia
SRSantina Romani
Santina Romani

30 November 2014 in Food and Bioprocess Technology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
VGVirginia Glicerina
Virginia Glicerina
FBFederica Balestra
Federica Balestra
Marco Dalla RosaMarco Dalla Rosa
Marco Dalla Rosa
SRSantina Romani
Santina Romani