Research Progress on the Preparation of Bio-Based Aerogels and their Application in Food

Bio-based aerogel is a lightweight, porous and high specific surface area nanomaterial prepared from natural biomacromolecules, which has shown great potential for application in the food field in recent years. Bio-based aerogels exhibit excellent adsorption, sustained release, and biocompatibility. In this paper, the preparation methods of bio-based aerogels, including the types of raw materials, the mechanism of the sol-gel method and the drying process are systematically reviewed. The physical and functional properties of bio-based aerogels are discussed. The applications of bio-based aerogels in food preservation mats, food freshness indication labels, nutrient delivery carriers, and fat in artificial meat substitutes are summarized. In addition, the challenges of bio-based aerogels in terms of large-scale production, food safety and consumer acceptance are discussed, and the future development of bio-based aerogels in functional food and industrial production are prospected.