Fresh-cut watermelon is appreciated for its taste, flavor, and juiciness. However, there are challenges in maintaining the freshness since fresh-cut processing of fruits promotes faster deterioration. Our objective was to determine the effectiveness of multilayered antimicrobial edible coating on the shelf-life of fresh-cut watermelon while keeping its original attributes for longer, without affecting its sensory properties. A set of solutions containing sodium alginate (0.5, 1, 2% w/w), beta-cyclodextrin, trans-cinnamaldehyde (antimicrobial agent), pectin, and calcium lactate were used as coating systems for fresh-cut watermelon cylinders. The samples were coated by the layer-by-layer dipping technique and stored at 4 degrees C for 15 days. Results were analyzed individually for each quality attribute evaluated, and the best concentration among the solutions to improve each attribute was found. Watermelon quality was measured in terms of texture, color, juice leakage (weight loss), oBrix, and pH. Microbiological analysis consisted of total coliforms, yeasts and molds, aerobics, and psychrotrophs. A consumer test was carried out (~ 40 panelists) to support the objective quality data. Panelists scored the samples using a 9-point hedonic scale. Uncoated samples served as controls. Quality tests were conducted at days 1, 3, 7, 12, and 15 of storage. Sensory tests showed high acceptance (P < 0.05) of the coated samples when compared to the controls. Quality attributes, particularly texture (firmness) and juice leakage (weight loss) were enhanced (P < 0.05) by the coating. Microbiological analysis demonstrated that alginate-based edible coating has a huge effect against microbial growth. 1% sodium alginate coating provided better preservation in terms of quality parameters, microbiological growth, and sensory acceptance. These results indicate that different ratios between solutions present a significant variation for each quality attribute measured in this study; and the thickness of the coating as well as the amount of antimicrobial are critical for shelf-life extension of fresh-cut watermelon. Hence, application of an alginate based multilayered edible coating has tremendous potential to enhance microbial quality and extend the shelf-life of fresh-cut watermelon.

The dissolution profile of orally delivered drugs can be controlled through the use of osmotically controlled drug delivery devices. The most commonly used device is the osmotic tablet, which is essentially a tablet core that is coated with a rate-limiting semipermeable membrane. The feasibility of applying a coating onto a tablet using dense gas techniques was studied. Two different coating materials, polymethymethacrylate (PMMA, Mw = 120,000 g/mol) and cellulose acetate (CA, 39.8 wt% acetyl content) were applied onto an 8 mm osmotic tablet core using the Gas Anti-solvent (GAS) process. For PMMA, the pressurisation rate, coating temperature and volumetric expansion of up to 250% had minimal effect on the coating quality. The concentration, solvent type and the use of polyethylene glycol (Mw = 200 g/mol) had a more pronounced effect on the coating. The coating process was optimised to apply a smooth and uniform coating with a 50 ??m thickness. For CA, the pressurisation rate and the coating temperature had little effect on the coating that was applied. The process was more sensitive to a change in the concentration of the solution and the volumetric expansion that was used. It was found that the concentration could not be increased too much without affecting the coating quality. A CA coating was applied onto a PMMA-coated tablet using the optimised conditions. The thickness in the tablet coating increased by 10 ??m. Dissolution tests of the uncoated and coated tablets were carried out. The CA coatings were found to be insufficient in limiting the rate of water entering the tablet and performed similarly to an uncoated tablet core. The PMMA coatings were found to limit the rate of delivery of the model drug. However, variations in the PMMA coatings resulted in an inconsistent delivery profile across batches. The tablets coated with both PMMA and CA had a delivery rate in between that of uncoated and PMMA-coated tablets, indicating that the application of the second coating had compromised the initial PMMA coating.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 1998. / Title from document title page. "November 13, 1998." Document formatted into pages; contains x, 121 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 105-110).

Thesis (M.S.)--California Polytechnic State University, 2009. / The letter x is subscripted in the title. Title from PDF title page; viewed on October 23, 2009. Major professor: Dr. Richard Savage. "Presented to the faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo." "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree [of] Master of Science in Materials Engineering." "September 2009." Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-121). Also available on microfiche.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xxi, 282 p.; also includes graphics (some col.). Includes bibliographical references (p. 262-282).

Thesis (doctoral)--Helsinki University of Technology, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rutgers University, 2007. / "Graduate Program in Ceramic and Materials Science and Engineering." Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-50).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2007. / "Graduate Program in Public Health." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 191-198.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2005. / Typescript. Released for public view from 10 November 2008. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 136-146.