A Review of Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) Based Active Food Packaging: Materials Selection, Cellulose Matrices Current Advances, Synthesis and Characterizations

ABSTRACT Food wastage is a major concern for health, agriculture, environment and beyond. The existing preservation techniques may still display shortcomings, especially on product and taste alteration. Thus, active packaging has been gaining interest as it involves the incorporation of active agents into the packaging material to extend shelf life while still maintaining pristine quality. Metal–organic framework (MOF) is among the emerging active packaging approaches involving a hybrid porous system made of metal ion and organic ligand. Usually loaded in a composite system due to self‐quenching and aggregation/agglomeration tendency, the naturally renewable cellulose (derivative) made an excellent MOF carrier. However, a systematic/comprehensive review on the extensive prospects of MOF‐doped cellulose on specifically active packaging—a topic of high importance in the food packaging field—is still lacking. This paper summarized an array of material selection of inorganic components, organic components, matrices and additives used in MOF‐based active packaging of the past decade. Focusing on the recent development of cellulose‐MOF active food packaging, the characterizations, challenges and prospective outlook were discussed afterwards. We highlighted the significance of the aforesaid aspects in accomplishing an ideal active food packaging based on MOF (with high loading yet an acceptable recyclability and toxicity limit) and cellulose‐based matrix (with both excellent porosity and mechanical strengths). This critical review is hoped to contribute as one of the guidelines in designing MOF‐cellulose active food packaging.