Layered complexity, reorganisational ability and self-healing mechanisms of heteropolysaccharide solutions.

Heteropolysaccharides are among the most widely distributed compounds in nature, acting as both tissue building blocks and as a source of nutrients. Their physicochemical and biological properties have been studied thoroughly; however, the microstructural properties of heteropolysaccharides are still poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the micro-structural peculiarities of agarose, gum arabic, hyaluronic and alginic acids by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM). Herein, attention is paid to layered complexity of the microstructure differentiating surface, under surface, inner, and substrate interface layers. The scale and pattern of the polysaccharide's microstructure depend on the concentration, changing from lamellae to cell-like porous structures. This work provides the insight into micro- and nanoscale mechanisms of self-healing and substrate-induced reorganisation. Thus, investigation of the self-healing mechanism revealed that this diffusion-based process starts from the fibres, turning into lamellae, following by cell-like structures with smaller dimensions. Investigation of the substrate-induced reorganisation ability showed that nano-to-micro (scale) porous substrate causes reorganisation in the interface layer of the studied heteropolysaccharides. This work contributes to understanding the structural peculiarities of heteropolysaccharides by looking at them through a supramolecular, micro-level prism.

Co-Supplementation of Baobab Fiber and Arabic Gum Synergistically Modulates the In Vitro Human Gut Microbiome Revealing Complementary and Promising Prebiotic Properties.

Arabic gum, a high molecular weight heteropolysaccharide, is a promising prebiotic candidate as its fermentation occurs more distally in the colon, which is the region where most chronic colonic diseases originate. Baobab fiber could be complementary due to its relatively simple structure, facilitating breakdown in the proximal colon. Therefore, the current study aimed to gain insight into how the human gut microbiota was affected in response to long-term baobab fiber and Arabic gum supplementation when tested individually or as a combination of both, allowing the identification of potential complementary and/or synergetic effects. The validated Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®), an in vitro gut model simulating the entire human gastrointestinal tract, was used. The microbial metabolic activity was examined, and quantitative 16S-targeted Illumina sequencing was used to monitor the gut microbial composition. Moreover, the effect on the gut microbial metabolome was quantitatively analyzed. Repeated administration of baobab fiber, Arabic gum, and their combination had a significant effect on the metabolic activity, diversity index, and community composition of the microbiome present in the simulated proximal and distal colon with specific impacts on Bifidobacteriaceae and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Despite the lower dosage strategy (2.5 g/day), co-supplementation of both compounds resulted in some specific synergistic prebiotic effects, including a biological activity throughout the entire colon, SCFA synthesis including a synergy on propionate, specifically increasing abundance of Akkermansiaceae and Christensenellaceae in the distal colon region, and enhancing levels of spermidine and other metabolites of interest (such as serotonin and ProBetaine).

Incorporation of microencapsulated polyphenols from jabuticaba peel (Plinia spp.) into a dairy drink: stability, in vitro bioaccessibility, and glycemic response.

This work incorporated bioactives extracted from jabuticaba peel in the form of concentrated extract (JBE) and microencapsulated powders with maltodextrin (MDP) and gum arabic (GAP) in a dairy drink, evaluating its stability, in vitro bioaccessibility, and glycemic response. We evaluated the pH, acidity, colorimetry, total phenolics and anthocyanins, antioxidant capacity, degradation kinetics and half-life of anthocyanins, bioaccessibility, and postprandial glycemic physicochemical characteristics response in healthy individuals. The drinks incorporated with polyphenols (JBE, GAP, and MDP) and the control dairy drink (CDD) maintained stable pH and acidity over 28 days. In color, the parameter a*, the most relevant to the study, was reduced for all formulations due to degradation of anthocyanins. Phenolic and antioxidant content remained constant. In bioaccessibility, we found that after the gastrointestinal simulation, there was a decrease in phenolics and anthocyanins in all formulations. In the glycemic response, we observed that the smallest incremental areas of glucose were obtained for GAP and JBE compared to CDD, demonstrating that polyphenols reduced glucose absorption. Then, the bioactives from jabuticaba peel, incorporated into a dairy drink, showed good storage stability and improved the product's functional aspects.

Microencapsulation of highly concentrated polyphenolic compounds from purple corn pericarp by spray-drying with various biomacromolecules.

Colored corn pericarp contains unusually high amounts of industrially valuable phytochemicals, such as anthocyanins, flavanols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Polyphenols were extracted in an aqueous solution and spray-dried to produce microencapsulates using four carrier materials, namely, maltodextrin (MD), gum arabic (GA), methylcellulose (MC), and skim milk powder (SMP) at three concentrations (1, 2, and 3 %, respectively). The encapsulates were evaluated for their polyphenolic contents using spectrophotometric techniques and HPLC analyses, and their antioxidant properties were evaluated using four different assays. The physicochemical properties of encapsulates were analyzed by measuring the zeta potential (ZP), particle size distribution, water solubility index (WSI), water absorption index (WAI), and color parameters. Structural and thermal properties were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), optical profilometry, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses. Comparative analysis of structural characteristics, particle size distribution, zeta potential, WSI, WAI, and aw of the samples confirmed the successful formulation of encapsulates. The microencapsulates embedded with 1 % concentrations of MD, MC, GA, or SMP retained polyphenolic compounds and exhibited noteworthy antioxidant properties. The samples encapsulated with GA or MD (1 %) demonstrated superior physicochemical, color, and thermal properties. Comprehensive metabolomic analysis confirmed the presence of 38 phytochemicals in extracts validating the spray-drying process.

Rice proteins - Gum arabic coacervates: Effect of pH and polysaccharide concentration in oil-in-water emulsion stability.

In the context of replacing animal proteins in food matrices, rice proteins (RP) become promised because they come from an abundant plant source, are hypoallergenic, and have high digestibility and nutritional value. However, commercial protein isolates obtained by spray drying have low solubility and poor functionality, especially in their isoelectric point. One way to modify these properties is through interaction with polysaccharides, such as gum arabic (GA). Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the effects of pH and GA concentration on the interaction and emulsifying activity of RP:GA coacervates. First, the effects of pH (2.5 to 7.0) and GA concentrations (0.2 to 1.0 wt%, giving rise to RP:GA mass ratios of 1:0.2 to 1:1.0) in RP:GA blends were evaluated. The results demonstrated that biopolymers present opposite net charges at pH between 2.5 and 4.0. At pH 3.0, insoluble coacervates with complete charge neutralization were formed by electrostatic interactions, while at pH 5.0 it was observed that the presence of GA prevented the RP massive aggregation. Second, selected blends with 0.4 or 1.0 wt% of GA (RP:GA mass ratios of 1:0.4 or 1:1.0) at pH 3.0 or 5.0 were tested for their ability to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions. The emulsions were characterized for 21 days. It was observed that the GA increased the stability of RP emulsions, regardless of the pH and polysaccharide concentration. Taken together, our results show that it is possible to combine RP and GA to improve the emulsifying properties of these plant proteins at pH conditions close to their isoelectric point, expanding the possibility of implementation in food systems.

Microencapsulation of flaxseed oil in pea protein-gum arabic complex coacervates delays lipid digestion in liquid yoghurt.

Flaxseed oil coacervates were produced by complex coacervation using soluble pea protein and gum arabic as shell materials, followed by either spray or electrostatic spray drying and their incorporation to yoghurt. Three yoghurt formulations were prepared: yoghurt with spray-dried microcapsules (Y-SD); with electrospray-dried microcapsules (Y-ES); with the encapsulation ingredients added in free form (Y). The standardised semi-dynamicin vitrodigestion method (INFOGEST) was employed to study the food digestion. The structure was analysed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and particle size distribution. Protein and lipid digestion were monitored by cumulated protein/free NH2 release and cumulated free fatty acids release, respectively. Stable microcapsules were observed during gastric digestion, but there was no significant difference in protein release/hydrolysis among samples until 55 min of gastric digestion. Formulation Y showed less protein release after 74 min (40.46 %) due to the free SPP being available and positively charged at pH 2-4, resulting in interactions with other constituents of the yoghurt, which delayed its release/hydrolysis. The total release of protein and free NH2 by the end of intestinal digestions ranged between 46.56-61.15 % and 0.83-1.57 µmol/g protein, respectively. A higher release of free fatty acids from formulation Y occurred at the end of intestinal digestion, implying that coacervates promoted the delayed release of encapsulated oil. In summary, incorporating protein-polysaccharides-based coacervates in yoghurt enabled the delay of the digestion of encapsulated lipids but accelerated the digestion of protein, suggesting a promising approach for various food applications.

Effect of cevimeline and different concentration of gum arabic on parotid salivary gland function in methotrexate-induced xerostomia: a comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the effect of cevimeline and different concentrations of gum arabic on the parotid gland of rats being given xerostomia-inducing methotrexate. METHODS: One hundred twenty-five rats were divided into five equal groups of twenty-five each. The rats in Group I received basic diets, while those in Groups II, III, IV, and V received 20 mg/kg MTX as a single intraperitoneal dose on day one. Group III received 10 mg/kg CVM dissolved in saline orally and daily, and the other two groups received a 10% W/V aqueous suspension of GA. Therefore, Group IV received 2 ml/kg suspension orally and daily, while Group V received 3 ml/kg suspension orally and daily. After 9 days, the parotid glands were dissected carefully and prepared for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining as a routine histological stain and caspase-3 and Ki67 immunohistochemical staining. Quantitative data from α-Caspase-3 staining and Ki67 staining were statistically analysed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's multiple comparisons post hoc test. RESULTS: Regarding caspase-3 and Ki67 immunohistochemical staining, one-way ANOVA revealed a significant difference among the five groups. For Caspase-3, the highest mean value was for group II (54.21 ± 6.90), and the lowest mean value was for group I (15.75 ± 3.67). The other three groups had mean values of 31.09 ± 5.90, 30.76 ± 5.82, and 20.65 ± 3.47 for groups III, IV, and V, respectively. For Ki67, the highest mean value was for group I (61.70 ± 6.58), and the lowest value was for group II (18.14a ± 5.16). The other three groups had mean values of 34.4 ± 9.27, 48.03 ± 8.40, and 50.63 ± 8.27 for groups III, IV, and V, respectively. CONCLUSION: GA, rather than the normally used drug CVM, had a desirable effect on the salivary glands of patients with xerostomia.

Fabrication of biopolymer stabilized microcapsules for enhancing physicochemical stability, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of cinnamon essential oil.

The current study entails the encapsulation validity to enclose naturally occurring food preservatives, such as cinnamon essential oil (CM), within various wall materials. This approach has demonstrated enhanced encapsulated compounds' stability, efficiency, and bioactivity. The base carrier system consisted of a solid lipid (Berry wax, RW) individually blended with whey protein (WYN), maltodextrin (MDN), and gum Arabic (GMC) as wall materials. The resulting formulations were freeze-dried: WYN/RW/CM, MDN/RW/CM, and GMC/RW/CM. The study comprehensively analyzed encapsulation efficiency, morphology, crystallinity, thermal, and physiochemical properties. When RW was combined with WYN, MDN, and GMC, the microcapsule WYN/RW/CM showed the highest efficiency at 93.4 %, while the GMC/RW/CM exhibited the highest relative crystallinity at 46.54 %. Furthermore, the investigation assessed storage stability, release of bioactive compounds, and oxidative stability during storage at 4 °C/ 25 % RH ± 5 % and 25 °C/40 % RH ± 5 % for 55 days, revealing optimal stability in the WYN/RW/CM microcapsule. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity was assessed at various concentrations of microcapsules, revealing their inhibitory effect against Escherichia coli (gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive) bacteria. The WYN/RW/CM microcapsule exhibited the highest inhibition activity in both strains, reaching 40 mm. This study demonstrates that combining WYN with RW as a wall material has greater efficiency in encapsulation and potential uses in various industrial sectors.

Determination of the critical aggregation concentration in water of Gum Arabic functionalized with curcumin oxidation products by micro-scale thermophoresis approach.

Gum Arabic underwent enzymatic modification with curcumin oxidation products, prompting self-assembly in water at lower concentrations than native gum Arabic, which was fully soluble. The resulting particles displayed a narrow size distribution, suggestive of a micellization mechanism akin to Critical Micellization Concentration (CMC) in surfactants or Critical Aggregation Concentration (CAC) in polymers. Accurately determining CAC is vital for utilizing polymers in molecule encapsulation, but precise measurement is challenging, requiring multiple techniques. Initially, CAC was probed via turbidity measurements, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and isothermal calorimetric titration (ITC), yielding a range of 0.0015 to 0.01 %. Micro-scale thermophoresis (MST) was then employed for the first time to define CAC more precisely, facilitated by the intrinsic fluorescence of modified gum Arabic. Using MST, CAC was pinpointed at 0.001 % (w/v), a novel approach. Furthermore, MST revealed a low EC50 value of 0.007 % (w/t) for self-assembly, signifying uniformity among GAC sub-units and assembly stability upon dilution.

Nanoencapsulation of Oliveria decumbens Vent./basil essential oils into gum arabic/maltodextrin: Improved in vitro bioaccessibility and minced beef meat safety.

This study investigated the functional properties of freeze-dried encapsulated Oliveria decumbens Vent. (OEO) and basil (BEO) essential oils (EOs) in maltodextrin/gum arabic coating solution (1:1). Nanoencapsulated EOs were evaluated in terms of size, polydispersity, encapsulation efficiency, morphology, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities (AOA and ABA), and sensory characteristics in vitro compared to the control. The TPC (30.43 to 32.41 mg GAE/g DW) and AOA (25.97 to 26.42 %) were determined in free and encapsulated OEO, and ABA was observed, which were higher than BEO. Both free and encapsulated OEO and BEO demonstrated significant ABA against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with MIC values ranging from 0.25 to 1.25 mg/mL and MBC values ranging from 1.00 to 3.00 mg/mL. In minced meat, both free and encapsulated oils effectively reduced bacterial counts during refrigerated storage, with log reductions ranging from 1.00 to 6.48 CFU/g. Additionally, the pH and thiobarbituric acid values in meat samples were better maintained with the addition of oils. Sensory analysis showed that the encapsulated oils effectively masked their natural flavor and aroma, making them suitable for incorporation into food. Finally, OEO and BEO nanocapsules can improve the standard and safety of meat products due to their antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Microencapsulation of noni fruit extract using gum arabic and maltodextrin - Optimization, stability and efficiency.

Noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia L.) has many health-supporting compounds, but its biological extracts need protection against environmental impacts for stability and efficiency. To address this, microencapsulation is an advanced technology in food applications that require optimization of coating component and temperature regime. Gum arabic (GA) and maltodextrin (MD) were suitably combined at 2:1 ratio, which showed good and stable structure as well as successful microencapsulation efficiency of the enzymatic-ultrasonic assisted noni extract. A coating density of 20 % for the GA:MD formula was with highest performance. The heat setting of spray drying was optimized at 175 and 82 °C for inlet and outlet, respectively using response surface methodology with experimental validation of maximized TFC and TSC at 88.3 and 90.3 %, respectively. Noni microencapsulated powder was assessed via a series of reliably advanced techniques such as microscopy, spectrophotometry, diffraction, and calorimetry for structural properties. Noni powder was additionally tested for storage stability, heat exposure stability, and release efficiency in pH condition and in vitro digestive tract. Promising results were obtained with at least one year storage stability, better microcapsule stability at 60 and 100 °C, quite good release at pH 7.4, and suitable release efficiency in digestive tract simulation. These properties of microencapsulated noni powder open further scalability potential and various industrial applications.

Electrostatic spray drying: A new alternative for drying of complex coacervates.

Complex coacervation can be used for controlled delivery of bioactive compounds (i.e., flaxseed oil and quercetin). This study investigated the co-encapsulation of flaxseed oil and quercetin by complex coacervation using soluble pea protein (SPP) and gum arabic (GA) as shell materials, followed by innovative electrostatic spray drying (ES). The dried system was analyzed through encapsulation efficiency (EE) and yield (EY), morphological and physicochemical properties, and stability for 60 days. Small droplet size emulsions were produced by GA (in the first step of complex coacervation) due to its greater emulsifying activity than SPP. Oil EY and EE, moisture, and water activity in dried compositions ranged from 75.7 to 75.6, 76.0-73.4 %, 3.4-4.1 %, and 0.1-0.2, respectively. Spherical microcapsules were created with small and aggregated particle size but stable for 60 days. An amount of 8 % of quercetin remained in the dried coacervates after 60 days, with low hydroperoxide production. In summary, when GA is used as the emulsifier and SPP as the second biopolymer in the coacervation process, suitable coacervates for food applications are obtained, with ES being a novel alternative to obtain coacervates in powder, with improved stability for encapsulated compounds. As a result, this study helps provide a new delivery system option and sheds light on how the characteristics of biopolymers and the drying process affect coacervate formation.

Optimization of Hypericum Perforatum Microencapsulation Process by Spray Drying Method.

Hypericum perforatum (HP) contains valuable and beneficial bioactive compounds that have been used to treat or prevent several illnesses. Encapsulation technology offers protection of the active compounds and facilitates to expose of the biologically active compounds in a controlled mechanism. Microcapsulation of the hydroalcoholic gum arabic and maltodextrin have hot been used as wall materials in the encapsulation of HP extract. Therefore, the optimum microencapsulation parameters of Hypericum perforatum (HP) hydroalcoholic extract were determined using response surface methodology (RSM) for the evaluation of HP extract. Three levels of three independent variables were screened using the one-way ANOVA. Five responses were monitored, including total phenolic content (TPC), 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), carr index (CI), hausner ratio (HR), and solubility. Optimum drying conditions for Hypericum perforatum microcapsules (HPMs) were determined: 180 °C for inlet air temperature, 1.04/1 for ratio of maltodextrin to gum arabic (w/w), and 1.98/1 for coating to core material ratio (w/w). TPC, antioxidant activity, CI, HR, and solubility values were specified as 316.531 (mg/g GAE), 81.912%, 6.074, 1.066, and 35.017%, respectively, under the optimized conditions. The major compounds of Hypericum perforatum (hypericin and pseudohypericin) extract were determined as 4.19 µg/g microcapsule and 15.09 µg/g microcapsule, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis revealed that the mean particle diameter of the HPMs was 20.36 µm. Based on these results, microencapsulation of HPMs by spray drying is a viable technique which protects the bioactive compounds of HP leaves, facilitating its application in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.

Effect of extrusion process conditions on extrudates enriched with carotenoids encapsulated by different methods using gum arabic and vegetable fat as carriers.

Bioactive compounds into extruded foods enhance their nutritional value but they are heat and shear labile and prone to oxidation. This study was aimed to examine the impacts of distinct encapsulation methods on the stability of carotenoids under typical extrusion conditions. The study presents innovative encapsulation methods and investigates the protection efficacy of carotenoids degradation, as well as the effects on the physicochemical characteristics of carotenoid-rich products. Thus, spray drying, spray chilling, and their combination were compared based on their ability to protect carotenoids. Processing temperatures were 110 °C and 140 °C, and shear rates 500 and 2000 1/s. Carotenoid retention was determined, ß- and α-carotene retention ranged from 17 to 44 % and 18 to 48 %, respectively. Upon storage at room temperature, the carotenoid content was stable for 15 days, followed by a marked reduction after 30 days. Extrudates enriched microparticles produced by spray chilling and the combined methods exhibited higher carotenoid protection during storage. They also showed better quality attributes, notably bulk density, high water absorption index, color properties, and carotenoid retention. These findings suggest that encapsulation can protect carotenoids during extrusion, and the protection can be tailored to optimize the attributes of the final products.

Effects of catechol grafting on chitosan-based coacervation and adhesion.

In this study, we investigated detailedly the contribution of catechol in tuning the formation and adhesive properties of coacervates. We have constructed a series of catechol-grafted Chitosan (Chitosan-C), and investigated their coacervation with gum arabic (GA) and the corresponding adhesion. We demonstrate that, increasing catechol grafting ratio from 0 %-44 % impacted the coacervation moderately, while enhanced the adhesion of the coacervate up to 438 % when the catechol faction was 37 %. Further increasing the grafting ratio to 55 % led to precipitated coacervates associated with a declined adhesion. Our findings identify the optimal grafting threshold for coacervation and adhesion, providing insights into the underlying mechanism of coacervate binding. Moreover, the catechol enhancement on adhesion of coacervates tolerates different substrates and diverse polyelectrolyte pairs. The revealed principles shall be helpful for designing adhesive coacervates and boosting their applications in various industrial and biomedical areas.

A comparative study on the rheological properties of concentrated xanthan gum in combination with gum arabic or gum arabic-based emulsion.

A goal of this study is to explore the difference in rheological properties of xanthan gum (XG)-based mixtures with gum arabic (GA) or GA-based emulsion (GAE). The stability of GAE was improved by thickening with XG. The intrinsic viscosity of all mixtures decreased as GA concentration increased, implying an XG conformational transition from the disordered to the ordered form. All mixtures except for an XG-GA mixture at 6.0 % GA attained a higher consistency index value than XG alone, indicating synergistic interactions between the components. At a high GA concentration (>3.0 %), the XG-GAE mixture showed higher relative apparent viscosity values than the XG-GA mixture. All mixtures except for an XG-GA mixture at 6.0 % GA showed higher elastic modulus and lower viscous modulus values than XG alone. Consequently, all mixtures showed lower tan δ values (0.26-0.30) than XG alone (0.31). Moreover, with a high GA concentration (>1.5 %), the XG-GAE mixtures achieved lower relative tan δ values than XG-GA mixture. These results indicate that XG formed a higher weak gel-like network with GAE than GA. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the interaction between XG and GA is influenced by conformational changes in the latter in both aqueous and emulsion systems.

Cymbopogon proximus and Petroselinum crispum seed ethanolic extract/Gum Arabic nanogel emulsion: Preventing ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride-induced urolithiasis in rats.

Urolithiasis is a prevalent urological disorder that contributes significantly to global morbidity. This study aimed to assess the anti-urolithic effects of Cymbopogon proximus (Halfa Bar) and Petroselinum crispum (parsley) seed ethanolic extract /Gum Arabic (GA) emulsion, and its nanogel form against ethylene glycol (EG) and ammonium chloride (AC)-induced experimental urolithiasis in rats. Rats were divided into four groups: group 1 served as the normal control, group 2 received EG with AC in drinking water for 14 days to induce urolithiasis, groups 3 and 4 were orally administered emulsion (600 mg/kg/day) and nanogel emulsion (600 mg/kg/day) for 7 days, followed by co-administration with EG and AC in drinking water for 14 days. Urolithiatic rats exhibited a significant decrease in urinary excreted magnesium, and non-enzymic antioxidant glutathione and catalase activity. Moreover, they showed an increase in oxalate crystal numbers and various urolithiasis promoters, including excreted calcium, oxalate, phosphate, and uric acid. Renal function parameters and lipid peroxidation were intensified. Treatment with either emulsion or nanogel emulsion significantly elevated urolithiasis inhibitors, excreted magnesium, glutathione levels, and catalase activities. Reduced oxalate crystal numbers, urolithiasis promoters' excretion, renal function parameters, and lipid peroxidation while improving histopathological changes. Moreover, it decreased renal crystal deposition score and the expression of Tumer necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and cleaved caspase-3. Notably, nanogel emulsion showed superior effects compared to the emulsion. Cymbopogon proximus (C. proximus) and Petroselinum crispum (P. crispum) seed ethanolic extracts/GA nanogel emulsion demonstrated protective effects against ethylene glycol induced renal stones by mitigating kidney dysfunction, oxalate crystal formation, and histological alterations.

Self-healing hydrogel based on poly (vinyl alcohol)-poly (lysine)-gum arabic accelerates diabetic wound healing under photothermal sterilization.

Diabetic wounds are a significant clinical challenge. Developing effective antibacterial dressings is crucial for preventing wound ulcers caused by bacterial infections. In this study, a self-healing antibacterial hydrogel (polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-polylysine-gum arabic, PLG hydrogels) with near-infrared photothermal response was prepared by linking PVA and a novel polysaccharide-amino acid compound (PG) through borate bonding combined with freeze-thaw cycling. Subsequently, the hydrogel was modified by incorporating inorganic nanoparticles (modified graphene oxide (GM)). The experimental results showed that the PLGM3 hydrogels (PLG@GM hydrogels, 3.0 wt%) could effectively kill bacteria and promote diabetic wound tissue healing under 808-nm near-infrared laser irradiation. Therefore, this hydrogel system provides a new idea for developing novel dressings for treating diabetic wounds.

Examining the wound healing potential of curcumin-infused electrospun nanofibers from polyglutamic acid and gum arabic.

Advancements in medicine have led to continuous enhancements and innovations in wound dressing materials, making them pivotal in medical care. We used natural biological macromolecules, γ-polyglutamic acid and gum arabic as primary raw materials to create nanofibers laden with curcumin by blending electrostatic spinning technology in the current investigation. These nanofibers were meticulously characterized using fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Our comprehensive analyses confirmed the successful encapsulation of curcumin within the nanofiber carrier and it has uniform diameter, good water absorption and mechanical properties. Subsequently, we evaluated the antimicrobial effects of these curcumin-loaded nanofibers against Staphylococcus aureus through an oscillating flask method. We created a mouse model with acute full-thickness skin defects to further investigate the wound healing potential. We conducted various biochemical assays to elucidate the mechanism of action. The results revealed that curcumin nanofibers profoundly impacted wound healing. They bolstered the expression of TGF-ß1 and VEGF and reduced the expression of inflammatory factors, leading to an accelerated re-epithelialization process, enhanced wound contraction, and increased regeneration of new blood vessels and hair follicles. Furthermore, these nanofibers positively influenced the proportion of three different collagen types. This comprehensive study underscores the remarkable potential of curcumin-loaded nanofibers to facilitate wound healing and lays a robust experimental foundation for developing innovative, natural product-based wound dressings.

Construction of nanoparticles from blueberry anthocyanins-lecithin/gum Arabic improves lipid droplet accumulation and gut microbiota disturbance in HFD-induced obese mice.

The digestive instability of anthocyanins (ACNs) limits their application in food nutrition, especially precision nutrition. Blueberry ACNs-loaded nanoparticles (Lipo/GA-ACNs NPs) were prepared using gum arabic (GA) as the delivery carrier and liposomal vesicles (Lipo) prepared from soy lecithin as the targeting scaffold. The average particle size of the NPs was 99.4 nm, and the polydispersion index (PDI) was 0.46. The results showed that the presence of the Lipo-GA matrix enhanced the NPs' in vitro stability and antioxidant activity. In addition, the in vitro biocompatibility, uptake ability, lipid-lowering activity, and free-radical scavenging ability were improved to a certain extent. In a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model, oral administration of ACNs-LNP (LNP, liver-targeted nanoparticle) showed better effects on body weight, liver injury, and lipid droplet accumulation in the liver than ACNs. In addition, ACNs-LNP also played a role in regulating HFD-induced gut microbiota imbalance. These results provide a promising ACNs delivery strategy with the potential to be developed into a functional food that targets the liver to prevent fatty liver.