This review was focused on describing the combination of electrospinning and cyclodextrin inclusion complexes as one of the newest alternatives for the development of food packaging materials with antimicrobial and/or antioxidant properties. The advantages of this technological combination, the routes to design the active materials, the characterization and application of such materials were reviewed. Electrospinning has allowed developing active packaging materials composed by fibrillary structures with a high ratio surface-to-volume. On the other hand, cyclodextrin inclusion complexes have maintained the properties of active compounds when they have been incorporated in packaging materials. Both methods have been recently combined and novel active food packaging materials have been obtained through three different routes. Polymeric solutions containing preformed (route 1) or in-situ formed (route 2) cyclodextrin inclusion complexes have been electrospun to obtain packaging materials. Furthermore, cyclodextrin inclusion complexes solutions have been directly electrospun (route 3) in order to produce those materials. The developed packaging materials have exhibited a high active compound loading with a long lasting release. Therefore, the protection of different foodstuff against microbial growth, oxidation and quality decay as well as the maintenance of their physical and sensory properties have been achieved when those materials were applied as active packaging.

The high accumulation of plastic waste in the environment has led to great interest in biodegradable polymers, such as polylactic acid (PLA) or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Their benefits, combined with the application of electrospinning technology, represent an innovative proposal for the food packaging industry. This article provides a comprehensive review of the latest developments of PLA- and PHA-biopolyester-based electrospun materials for food packaging applications, summarizing the reported technologies, material properties, applications, and invention patents. In addition, the legislation used to assess their biodegradability is also detailed. Electrospun packaging materials are largely developed through uniaxial, coaxial, emulsion, multiaxial, and needleless techniques. PLA- and PHA-biopolyester-based electrospun materials can be obtained as single and multilayer packaging structures, and the incorporation of natural extracts, organic compounds, and nanoparticles has become a great strategy for designing active food packaging systems. The biodegradability of electrospun materials has mainly been evaluated in soil, compost, and aquatic systems through ASTM and ISO normatives. In this review, the dependence of the biodegradation process on the polymer type, conditions, and test methods is clearly reviewed. Moreover, these biodegradable electrospun materials have shown excellent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, resulting in a great method for extending the shelf life of fruits, bread, fish, and meat products.