Methods for producing new packaging designs based on photoprotective materials

摘要

Methods and apparatus for quantification of photoprotective performance of packaging concepts in an accelerated timeframe are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the apparatus includes a light source which provides a light beam that impinges upon a photoprotective material before being transmitted to a sample cell of a photosensitive entity, such as a photosensitive nutrient. In certain embodiments, the apparatus and methods can be used to generate models for the prediction of photoprotective performance values of untested materials based upon some other known qualitative or quantitative property.

主权项

1. A method for producing a packaging design comprising:
(a) providing a known homogeneous liquid sample comprising one or more known photosensitive entities at appropriate concentrations; (b) providing a cell having controlled optical properties to contain the sample at a controlled temperature between about −20° C. and about 100° C.; (c) providing a light source that generates a light beam with a controlled spectral signature between about 290 and about 1000 nm and a controlled intensity between about 0.01 and about 5 W/cm2; (d) placing the sample into the cell, rendering a sample cell; (e) placing a first test material between the light source and the sample cell, rendering a shielded sample cell, wherein the light beam impinges upon the first test material and any penetrating light impinges upon the sample cell, and wherein the first test material comprises a known quantitative or qualitative property; (f) exposing the shielded sample cell to one or more light beam intensities for one or more durations; (g) measuring changes to the one or more photosensitive entities contained within the shielded sample cell at one or more durations to generate data points; (h) using the data points to determine a photoprotective performance value of the first test material; (i) repeating steps (a)-(h) with one or more additional test materials under the same conditions to generate one or more additional photoprotective performance values; (j) utilizing the two or more photoprotective performance values to generate a model for a class of materials that relates the known qualitative or quantitative property to the photoprotective performance; (k) using the model of step (j) to identify a photoprotective performance value of a packaging material; and (l) using the packaging material in step (k) to design a package.