Analysis of the hemostatic effect of preset wrapping technique for type A aortic dissection with abnormal coagulation.

Background: There are many techniques to reduce anastomotic bleeding for the total arch replacement, but hemostasis is sometimes difficult to achieve after surgery for acute dissection, especially in patients with abnormal coagulation (AC). This study aimed to investigate the hemostatic effect and early efficacy of a pre-set bovine pericardium wrapper in the right heart system shunt for total arch replacement in patients with type A aortic dissection (TAAD) and preoperative AC. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 85 patients with TAAD and AC who underwent total arch replacement between January 2018 and December 2022. The patients were divided into two groups: the preset pericardium group (n=30) and the control group (n=55). Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of Bentall surgery (ascending aorta replacement with an aortic valve artificial vessel) and cardiac arrest time. However, compared to the control group, the preset pericardium group exhibited a shorter duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and operation (P<0.001). Additionally, the preset pericardium group required fewer transfusions of blood products and hemostatic drugs (P<0.05). Moreover, the preset pericardium group had lower 24-hour postoperative mediastinal drainage volume (P<0.001), a lower proportion of bedside hemofiltration (P=0.039), and a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and stay in the intensive care unit (P=0.014). Although the preset pericardium group showed reductions in in-hospital mortality, re-exploration for bleeding, and neurologic dysfunction, these differences were not statistically significant compared to the control group. Conclusions: This study represents the first investigation into the application of the preset wrapping technique in total arch replacement for TAAD with AC. The results demonstrate that this method can reduce the duration of CPB and operation, decrease postoperative bleeding, and minimize the need for blood transfusion and hemostatic drugs. Consequently, this technique may contribute to early postoperative recovery.

Rheology and gelation of aqueous carboxymethylated curdlan solution: Impact of the degree of substitution.

Curdlan is a unique (1,3)-ß-D-glucan with bioactivity and exceptional gelling properties. By chemical functionalization such as carboxymethylation, the physicochemical properties of curdlan can be significantly tailored. However, how the carboxymethylation extent of curdlan affects its rheology and gelation characteristics has yet to be fully understood. Herein, we investigated the impact of the degree of substitution (DS, ranging from 0.04 to 0.97) on the rheological and gelation behavior of carboxymethylated curdlan (CMCD). It was found that CMCD with DS below 0.20, resembling native curdlan, still retained its gelling capability. As the DS increased beyond 0.36, there was a significant increase in its water solubility instead of gelation, resulting in transparent solutions with steady/complex viscosities adhering to the Cox-Merz rule. Moreover, CMCD with high DS demonstrated the ability to undergo in-situ gelation in the presence of metal ions, attributed to the nonspecific electrostatic binding. Additionally, in vitro cytocompatibility testing showed positive compatibility across varying DS in CMCD. This research offers a holistic understanding of the viscosifying and gelling behaviors of CMCD with varying DS, thereby fostering their practical application as thickeners and gelling agents in fields ranging from food and biomedicine to cosmetics and beyond.

NMR analysis of the side-group substituents in welan gum in comparison to gellan gum.

The physicochemical properties and applications of polysaccharides are highly dependent on their chemical structures, including the monosaccharide composition, degree of substitution, and position of substituent groups in the backbone. The occurrence of side groups or side chains in the chain backbone of polysaccharides is often an essential factor influencing their conformational and physicochemical properties. Welan gum produced by the fermentation of Sphingomonas sp. ATCC 31555 microorganisms has been widely used in food, construction, and oil drilling fields. While understanding the physicochemical properties of welan gum solution has been highly developed, there is still little information about the determination strategy of the glycosyl side groups in welan gum. In this study, the NMR method was established to quantitatively determine the substituent groups in the chain backbone of welan gum. The delicate chemical structures of welan gum obtained at different fermentation conditions were clarified. The composition and content of side substituents were also identified by high-performance liquid chromatography to confirm the accuracy of NMR analysis. The quantitative determination of substituent groups in gellan gum based on NMR analysis was also elaborated for comparison. This work provides insights for profoundly understanding the structure-function relationship of welan gum.

High-Performance, Multifunctional, and Designable Carbon Fiber Felt Skeleton Epoxy Resin Composites EP/CF-(CNT/AgBNs)x for Thermal Conductivity and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

In this work, high-performance epoxy resin (EP) composites with simultaneous excellent thermal conductivity (TC) and outstanding electromagnetic shielding properties are fabricated through the structural synergy of 1D carbon nanotubes and 2D silver-modified boron nitride nanoplates (CNT/AgBNs) to erect microscopic 3D networks on long-range carbon fiber (CF) felt skeletons. The line-plane combination of CNT/AgBNs improve the interfacical bonding involving EP and CF felts and alleviate the phonon scattering at the interface. Eventually, the TC of the EP composites is enhanced by 333% (up to 0.91 W m-1 K-1 ) with respect to EP due to the efficient and orderly transmission of phonons along the 3D pathway. Meanwhile, the unique anisotropic structure of CF felt and exceptional insulating BNs diminishes the electronic conduction between CNT and CFs, which protects the through-plane insulating properties of EP composites. Furthermore, the EP composites present favorable electromagnetic shielding properties (51.36 dB) attributed to the multiple reflection and adsorption promoted by the multiple interfaces of stacked AgBNs and heterointerface among CNT/AgBNs, CF felt and EP. Given these distinguishing features, the high-performance EP composites open a convenient avenue for electromagnetic wave (EMW) shielding and thermal management applications.

Integrated analysis of HSP20 genes in the developing flesh of peach: identification, expression profiling, and subcellular localization.

BACKGROUND: Plant HSP20s are not only synthesized in response to heat stress but are also involved in plant biotic and abiotic stress resistance, normal metabolism, development, differentiation, survival, ripening, and death. Thus, HSP20 family genes play very important and diverse roles in plants. To our knowledge, HSP20 family genes in peach have not yet been characterized in detail, and little is known about their possible function in the development of red flesh in peach. RESULTS: In total, 44 PpHSP20 members were identified in the peach genome in this study. Forty-four PpHSP20s were classified into 10 subfamilies, CI, CII, CIII, CV, CVI, CVII, MII, CP, ER, and Po, containing 18, 2, 2, 10, 5, 1, 1, 2, 1, and 2 proteins, respectively. Among the 44 PpHSP20 genes, 6, 4, 4, 3, 7, 11, 5, and 4 PpHSP20 genes were located on chromosomes 1 to 8, respectively. In particular, approximately 15 PpHSP20 genes were located at both termini or one terminus of each chromosome. A total of 15 tandem PpHSP20 genes were found in the peach genome, which belonged to five tandemly duplicated groups. Overall, among the three cultivars, the number of PpHSP20 genes with higher expression levels in red flesh was greater than that in yellow or white flesh. The expression profiling for most of the PpHSP20 genes in the red-fleshed 'BJ' was higher overall at the S3 stage than at the S2, S4-1, and S4-2 stages, with the S3 stage being a very important period of transformation from a white color to the gradual anthocyanin accumulation in the flesh of this cultivar. The subcellular localizations of 16 out of 19 selected PpHSP20 proteins were in accordance with the corresponding subfamily classification and naming. Additionally, to our knowledge, Prupe.3G034800.1 is the first HSP20 found in plants that has the dual targets of both the endoplasmic reticulum and nucleus. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a comprehensive understanding of PpHSP20s, lays a foundation for future analyses of the unknown function of PpHSP20 family genes in red-fleshed peach fruit and advances our understanding of plant HSP20 genes.

Sensory Determination of Peach and Nectarine Germplasms with Instrumental Analysis.

The flavour and mouthfeel of peaches are crucial qualities of peach germplasm resources that significantly influence consumer preferences. In this study, we utilized 212 peach germplasm resources from the Nanjing Peach Resource Repository, National Fruit Germplasm facility, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences as materials for sensory analysis, electronic nose analysis, and composition analysis via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In the sensory analysis, we divided 212 peach germplasms into three clusters based on hierarchical cluster analysis (d = 5). No.27, No.151, and No.46 emerged as the most representative of these clusters. The electronic nose was used to conduct an evaluation of the aroma profiles of the 212 peach germplasms, revealing that the primary distinguishing factors of peach aroma can be attributed to three sensors: W1S (methane), W1W (terpenes and organosulfur compounds), and W5S (hydrocarbons and aromatic compounds). The primary differences in the aromatic substances were characterized by sensors W2W (aromatic compounds, sulphur, and chlorine compounds) and W1C (aromatic benzene). The HPLC analysis indicated that the persistence of peach sensory characteristics was positively correlated with acids and sourness and negatively correlated with sweetness and the ratio of sugar to acids. The overall impression of the 212 peach germplasms revealed a negative correlation with acids, while a positive correlation was observed between the overall impression and the ratio of sugar to acids. Therefore, this study substantially contributes to the preliminary screening of the analysed specific characteristics of peach germplasms such as No.27, No.46, No.151, and No.211. These selections may provide valuable information for the potential creation of superior germplasm resources.

Correlation between interfacial layer properties and physical stability of food emulsions: current trends, challenges, strategies, and further perspectives.

Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable systems that tend to separate into two immiscible phases over time. The interfacial layer formed by the emulsifiers adsorbed at the oil-water interface plays an important role in the emulsion stability. The interfacial layer properties of emulsion droplets have been considered the cutting-in points that influence emulsion stability, a traditional motif of physical chemistry and colloid chemistry of particular significance in relation to the food science and technology sector. Although many attempts have shown that high interfacial viscoelasticity may contribute to long-term emulsion stability, a universal relationship for all cases between the interfacial layer features at the microscopic scale and the bulk physical stability of the emulsion at the macroscopic scale remains to be established. Not only that, but integrating the cognition from different scales of emulsions and establishing a unified single model to fill the gap in awareness between scales also remain challenging. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of recent progress in the general science of emulsion stability with a peculiar focus on interfacial layer characteristics in relation to the formation and stabilization of food emulsions, where the natural origin and edible safety of emulsifiers and stabilizers are highly requested. This review begins with a general overview of the construction and destruction of interfacial layers in emulsions to highlight the most important physicochemical characteristics of interfacial layers (formation kinetics, surface load, interactions among adsorbed emulsifiers, thickness and structure, and shear and dilatational rheology), and their roles in controlling emulsion stability. Subsequently, the structural effects of a series of typically dietary emulsifiers (small-molecule surfactants,proteins, polysaccharides, protein-polysaccharide complexes, and particles) on oil-water interfaces in food emulsions are emphasized. Finally, the main protocols developed for modifying the structural characteristics of adsorbed emulsifiers at multiple scales and improving the stability of emulsions are highlighted. Overall, this paper aims to comprehensively study the literature findings in the past decade and find out the commonality of multi-scale structures of emulsifiers, so as to deeply understand the common characteristics and emulsification stability behaviour of adsorption emulsifiers with different interfacial layer structures. It is difficult to say that there has been significant progress in the underlying principles and technologies in the general science of emulsion stability over the last decade or two. However, the correlation between interfacial layer properties and physical stability of food emulsions promotes revealing the role of interfacial rheological properties in emulsion stability, providing guidance on controlling the bulk properties by tuning the interfacial layer functionality.

Ameliorative effect of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) peptides on benzo(a)pyrene-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is widely consumed as a health food and a traditional medicine. However, the protective effect of dandelion bio-active peptides (DPs) against polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced blood vessel inflammation and oxidative damage is not well documented. In the current study, four novel DPs were isolated using an activity tracking method. The protective activity of the DPs against benzo(a)pyrene (Bap)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) damage was explored. The results indicated that DP-2 [cycle-(Thr-His-Ala-Trp)] effectively inhibited Bap-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) overproduction and reinforced antioxidant enzyme activity while inhibiting the production of inflammatory factors in HUVECs. Moreover, DP-2 increased NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1, heme oxygenase-1, and nuclear factor E2-releated factor 2 expression levels by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. In addition, DP-2 attenuated Bap-induced HUVEC apoptosis via the Bcl-2/Bax/cytochrome c apoptotic pathway. These results suggest that DP-2 is a promising compound for protecting HUVECs from Bap-induced inflammatory and oxidative damage.

Double - network hydrogel based on exopolysaccharides as a biomimetic extracellular matrix to augment articular cartilage regeneration.

Cartilage regeneration remains a current challenge with no satisfactory strategy in surgery. Hydrogels with structurally and biochemically biomimicking characteristics have been regarded as a promising approach for the success of cartilage regeneration. Naturally sourced hydrogels from exopolysaccharides are ideal candidates for the construction of biomimetic extracellular matrix (ECM) because of their biomimetic networks, high water content, cytocompatibility, and biodegradability. Here, an approach that integrates covalent and ionic bonds in a hydrogel system is shown to form a natural polymeric hydrogel double network (DN) for promoting the adhesion and proliferation of chondrocytes and supporting the formation of matured cartilage tissue. DN hydrogels comprised of chemically crosslinked hyaluronan (HA) and physically crosslinked gellan gum (GG) were developed for potential scaffold fabrication. Compared with HA single network (SN) hydrogel and GG SN hydrogel, the obtained HA/GG DN hydrogel with Young's modulus of 28.6 kPa exhibited adequate compressive strength (208.9 kPa) and high toughness (dissipated energy 2837 J/m3) and thus can be used as a biomimetic extracellular matrix for minimal invasively repairing cartilage. In vitro studies showed that HA/GG DN hydrogel-based ECM promoted the proliferation of chondrocytes. The HA/GG DN hydrogel significantly supported the deposition of cartilage ECM-specific sulfated glycosaminoglycan and type II collagen and facilitated the formation of cartilage tissues. In a rabbit osteochondral defect model, HA/GG DN hydrogel significantly improved cartilage regeneration. The HA/GG DN hydrogel as a biomimetic ECM is a promising candidate as a biomaterial scaffold for cartilage regeneration and repair. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The fabrication of a biomaterial scaffold as an artificial extracellular matrix (ECM) for cartilage regeneration remains a big challenge. In this work, we fabricated a double-network (DN) hydrogel based on hyaluronan and gellan gum (HA/GG) through a sequential chemical and physical cross-linking process. The HA/GG DN hydrogel exhibited high compressive strength, high toughness, stiffness, and good self-recovery property. The HA/GG DN hydrogel can support chondrocyte proliferation and new ECM deposition correlated with the enhanced mechanical properties, good cytocompatibility, and biodegradability. In vivo animal experiments demonstrated that this HA/GG DN hydrogel facilitates hyaline-like cartilage regeneration. These findings imply that the developed HA/GG DN hydrogel as a biomimetic ECM offers a hopeful new platform for cartilage tissue engineering.

Integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome reveals the molecular mechanism of chlorogenic acid synthesis in peach fruit.

As the most abundant phenolic acid in peach fruit, chlorogenic acid (CGA) is an important entry point for the development of natural dietary supplements and functional foods. However, the metabolic and regulation mechanisms underlying its accumulation in peach fruits remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the composition and content of CGAs in mature fruits of 205 peach cultivars. In peach fruits, three forms of CGA (52.57%), neochlorogenic acid (NCGA, 47.13%), and cryptochlorogenic acid (CCGA, 0.30%) were identified. During the growth and development of peach fruits, the content of CGAs generally showed a trend of rising first and then decreasing. Notably, the contents of quinic acid, shikimic acid, p-coumaroyl quinic acid, and caffeoyl shikimic acid all showed similar dynamic patterns to that of CGA, which might provide the precursor material basis for the accumulation of CGA in the later stage. Moreover, CGA, lignin, and anthocyanins might have a certain correlation and these compounds work together to maintain a dynamic balance. By the comparative transcriptome analysis, 8 structural genes (Pp4CL, PpCYP98A, and PpHCT) and 15 regulatory genes (PpMYB, PpWRKY, PpERF, PpbHLH, and PpWD40) were initially screened as candidate genes of CGA biosynthesis. Our findings preliminarily analyzed the metabolic and molecular regulation mechanisms of CGA biosynthesis in peach fruit, which provided a theoretical basis for developing high-CGA content peaches in future breeding programs.

Carotenoid Profiling of Yellow-Flesh Peach Fruit.

In this study, the carotenoid profiles and content in 132 cultivars of yellow-flesh peach having different fruit developmental periods (short, middle, and long), fruit surface indumenta (glabrous and pubescent skin), and flesh colors (yellow, golden, and orange) were investigated. We simultaneously analyzed and compared the levels of five carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, ß-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene, and ß-carotene) through high-performance liquid chromatography. Large differences in carotenoid content among germplasms were observed, with coefficients of variation ranging from 21.24% to 67.78%. The carotenoid content, from high to low, was as follows: ß-carotene > zeaxanthin > α-carotene > ß-cryptoxanthin > lutein. We screened several varieties with high carotenoid content, including zeaxanthin in 'Ruiguang2', ß-cryptoxanthin in 'NJN76' and 'TX4F244C', and ß-carotene and total carotenoids in 'Jintong7', '77-26-7', and '77-20-5'. A longer fruit developmental period was associated with greater ß-carotene accumulation but lowered the zeaxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin accumulation. The zeaxanthin, ß-carotene, and total carotenoid concentrations significantly increased as the flesh color deepened, but the lutein and α-carotene levels remained similar among the three flesh colors. The classification index of the indumenta significantly affected the ß-carotene and total carotenoid content (p < 0.05) and was higher in pubescent than glabrous skin.

Amino Acid Profiles in Peach (Prunus persica L.) Fruit.

Amino acids play an interesting and important role in the metabolism of peaches. The objectives of this study were to investigate and compare amino acid profiles in peaches at harvest for future research about the resistance effects, nutritional value of amino acids in peaches and to produce high-quality peach wine. In the study, 10 peaches and nectarines, including white, yellow and red flesh varieties, were selected for amino acid concentration and composition by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results showed sugar levels in nectarines were higher than in peaches in this study. High concentrations of total acids were found in "Tropic Prince", "Yixianhong", "NJN76" and "Hongrou1". Malic acids had the highest concentrations, compared toquinic and citric acid concentrations. Total amino acids in yellow and white flesh varieties were over 1100 µg/g FW, while red flesh varieties had total amino acids below 750 µg/g FW. Asn was the highest concentration compared to other amino acids, with the high concentration of Asn in "Tropical Prince' (3279.15 µg/g FW) and the lowest concentration in "Touxinhong" (559.60 µg/g FW). "Jinxia", "Yuhua3" and "Chengxiang" had better amino acid scores compared with others, in particularly the lowest value in the red flesh varieties. Finally, according to PCA and the heatmaps, amino acids in "Chengxiang"had evident differences to other varieties, which showed the different amino acid concentrations and composition. Overall, the results of this study highlighted three yellow flesh and one white flesh varieties that had satisfactory concentrations and components of amino acid values. In addition, amino acids were the precursors of aroma compounds, so these differences between varieties werea new way to screen the potential varieties for producing high quality peach wines with the anticipated specific characteristics.

Effective biomarkers and therapeutic targets of nerve-immunity interaction in the treatment of depression: an integrated investigation of the miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is an emotional condition that interferes with sufferers' work and daily life. Numerous studies have found that miRNAs play a significant role in the development of MDD and can be utilized as a biomarker for its diagnosis and therapy. However, there have been few studies on nerve-immunity interaction treatment for the brains of MMD patients. METHODS: The work is performed on microarray data. We analyzed the differences of miRNAs (GSE58105, GSE81152, GSE152267, and GSE182194) and mRNA (GSE19738, GSE32280, GSE44593, GSE53987, and GSE98793) in MDD and healthy samples from GEO datasets. FunRich was used to predict the transcription factors and target genes of the miRNAs, and TF and GO enrichment analyses were performed. Then, by comparing the differential expression of the anticipated target genes and five mRNAs, intersecting mRNAs were discovered. The intersecting genes were submitted to GO and KEGG analyses to determine their functions. These intersecting potential genes and pathways that linked to MDD in neurological and immunological aspects have been identified for future investigation. RESULTS: We discovered five hub genes: KCND2, MYT1L, GJA1, CHL1, and SNAP25, which were all up-regulated genes. However, in MMD, the equivalent miRNAs, hsa-miR-206 and hsa-miR-338-3p, were both down-regulated. These miRNAs can activate or inhibit the T cell receptor signal pathway, JAK-STAT and other signal pathways, govern immune-inflammatory response, neuronal remodeling, and mediate the onset and development of MMD Conclusions: The results of a thorough bioinformatics investigation of miRNAs and mRNAs in MDD showed that miR-338-3P and miR-206 might be effective biomarkers and possible therapeutic targets for the treatment of MDD via nerve-immunity interaction.

In Situ Room-Temperature Cross-Linked Highly Branched Biopolymeric Binder Based on the Diels-Alder Reaction for High-Performance Silicon Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Silicon (Si) is an auspicious anode material in next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to its exceptional theoretical gravimetric capacity, environmental friendliness, and high natural abundance. However, the practical application of Si anodes remains a "must-solve" challenge because of its drastic capacity fading that results from the inherent property of drastic volume expansion of Si during repeated lithiation and delithiation. Developing binders employed in robust electrodes has been considered an economical and practical method to affect the electrochemical performance of Si-based electrodes. Some natural polymers have demonstrated good adhesive properties with Si-active materials. However, they have limited capacity to keep the structural integrity of electrodes because the network structures solely based on weak hydrogen bonds are susceptible to deformation during cycling. Herein, we develop an in situ covalently cross-linked three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular network and apply it to the Si electrode to improve cycling performance. This network architecture is constructed using furan-modified branched arabinoxylan of corn fiber gum (CFG) and an ionically conductive cross-linker of maleimido-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) through the Diels-Alder reaction. The maleimide groups in PEG can react spontaneously with the furan groups in CFG at room temperature without any other stimulation, thus forming strong covalent bonds in the network. The cross-linked CFG-PEG binder has demonstrated robust adhesive properties with Si-active materials and the current collector. The branching of CFG and functional groups of PEG are conducive to improving the lithium-ion conductivity in the silicon anode, resulting in excellent rate performances. The Si anode with a cross-linked CFG-PEG binder exhibits superior cycling stability. As a result, an in situ cross-linking 3D network as a novel binder has a great potential for fabricating an advanced Si anode in next-generation Li-ion batteries.

Physically Cross-Linked Hyaluronan-Based Ultrasoft Cryogel Prepared by Freeze-Thaw Technique as a Barrier for Prevention of Postoperative Adhesions.

Postsurgical peritoneal adhesions are a common and serious postoperative complication after various peritoneal surgeries, such as pelvic and abdominal surgery. Various studies have shown that peritoneal adhesions can be minimized or prevented by physical anti-adhesion barriers, including membranes, knits, and hydrogels. Hydrogels have attracted great attention in preventing peritoneal adhesions because the dimensional architecture of hydrogels is similar to that of the native extracellular matrix. However, chemical cross-linkers had to be used in the preparation of chemical hydrogels, which may have problems in cytotoxicity or unwanted side effects. This fact prompts us to create alternative cross-linking methods for the development of biocompatible hydrogels as physical barriers. Herein, we report a physically cross-linked flexible hyaluronan (HA) cryogel prepared via a freeze-thaw technique as a novel anti-adhesion biomaterial for completely preventing postsurgical peritoneal adhesions. In vitro studies demonstrated that this physically cross-linked HA cryogel exhibited excellent biocompatibility, the inherently desirable biocompatibility and functionality of HA being integrally retained as much as possible. Intriguingly, the rheological properties and appropriate biodegradability of the cryogels were readily tailored and tunable by way of the gelation process. In vivo assessments suggested that the cryogel, as a physical barrier, satisfactorily prevented fibroblast penetration and attachment between the injured tissues and nearby normal organs. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism studies revealed that the HA cryogel could prevent peritoneal adhesion by inhibiting inflammatory response and modulation of the fibrinolytic system. Our results show that HA ultrasoft cryogel is a promising clinical candidate for prolonged adhesion prevention.

The effect of carboxymethylation on the macromolecular conformation of the (1 → 3)-ß -D-glucan of curdlan in water.

The chain conformational change in curdlan during carboxymethylation was investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The distributions of carboxymethyl substituents within anhydroglucose unit (AGU) of CMCD were found to follow the order of OH (6) > OH (4) > OH (2) for CMCD with a low DS and OH (6) > OH (2) > OH (4) for CMCD with relatively high DS. The increased carboxymethylation level induced the chain conformation transition of curdlan from triple helix to random coil in water. The DS of 0.25 was the critical value of chain conformation transition, below which CMCD chains were triple helices. For DS larger than 0.25, CMCD existed in the state of random coils. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding between C2 hydroxyls in AGU sustained the triple helical conformation and stiffness of the polymer chain, which weakened with the increase in DS.

Interfacial rheology, emulsifying property and emulsion stability of glyceryl monooleate-modified corn fiber gum.

The present work aims to develop novel glyceryl monooleate (GMO)-modified corn fiber gum (CFG) emulsifiers (GMO-CFG) and investigate the role of the interfacial properties on emulsion stability. GMO-CFG with different degrees of substitution (DS) were prepared, and their interfacial rheology and emulsification were appraised for potential applications in stabilizing oil/water emulsions. Various oil/water interfacial properties (i.e., adsorption kinetics, viscoelasticity, and adsorbed amount) were determined as a function of DS by using interfacial shear rheology and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring techniques. Hydrophobically modified CFG provides an increased capacity to produce fine droplets and stable emulsions. Esterification and its degree exert non-negligible effects on the critical micelle concentration, interfacial tension, interfacial adsorbed amount, and viscoelasticity of the interfacial layer. The rheological properties of the interfacial layers play an important role in macroscopic emulsion stability.

Synthesis, physicochemical properties, and health aspects of structured lipids: A review.

Structured lipids (SLs) refer to a new type of functional lipids obtained by chemically, enzymatically, or genetically modifying the composition and/or distribution of fatty acids in the glycerol backbone. Due to the unique physicochemical characteristics and health benefits of SLs (for example, calorie reduction, immune function improvement, and reduction in serum triacylglycerols), there is increasing interest in the research and application of novel SLs in the food industry. The chemical structures and molecular architectures of SLs define mainly their physicochemical properties and nutritional values, which are also affected by the processing conditions. In this regard, this holistic review provides coverage of the latest developments and applications of SLs in terms of synthesis strategies, physicochemical properties, health aspects, and potential food applications. Enzymatic synthesis of SLs particularly with immobilized lipases is presented with a short introduction to the genetic engineering approach. Some physical features such as solid fat content, crystallization and melting behavior, rheology and interfacial properties, as well as oxidative stability are discussed as influenced by chemical structures and processing conditions. Health-related considerations of SLs including their metabolic characteristics, biopolymer-based lipid digestion modulation, and oleogelation of liquid oils are also explored. Finally, potential food applications of SLs are shortly introduced. Major challenges and future trends in the industrial production of SLs, physicochemical properties, and digestion behavior of SLs in complex food systems, as well as further exploration of SL-based oleogels and their food application are also discussed.

Interfacial and emulsion characterisation of chemically modified polysaccharides through a multiscale approach.

HYPOTHESIS: The structural modification of natural emulsifiers may greatly impact their interfacial behaviours and bulk properties. The relationship between the microscopic interfacial viscoelasticity and the macroscopic emulsion stability in emulsifiers with different degrees of modification can be clarified using a multiscale approach. EXPERIMENTS: A polysaccharide emulsifier of corn fibre gum (CFG) with different octenyl succinate anhydride (OSA) contents was used to obtain a broad variety of interfacial properties. Interfacial adsorption kinetics and viscoelastic responses were measured by combining interfacial shear rheology and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, and the emulsion properties (droplet size and physical stability) at other scales were evaluated. FINDINGS: Compared with native CFG, esterified CFG formed thick interfacial films with higher elasticity and viscosity, and their corresponding emulsions showed greater stability. There exists a satisfactory correlation between interfacial rheological properties and emulsion stability. However, such a satisfactory correlation can not be established among the degree of esterification of CFG, interfacial viscoelasticity and stability since depletion flocculation might occur in the emulsion stabilized by the OSA-CFG with the highest OSA content, which induced inferior bulk stability but exerted no impact on the measured interfacial properties. We propose that the depletion flocculation is responsible for this imperfection and provide detailed explanations.

Core-shell pea protein-carboxymethylated corn fiber gum composite nanoparticles as delivery vehicles for curcumin.

Nanocomposites from plant-derived polysaccharides and proteins are green and sustainable materials that can be applied in various food and biomedical fields. In this work, we developed a novel core-shell nanocomposite from carboxymethylated corn fiber gum (CMCFG) and high nutritious pea protein (PP) for curcumin (Cur) delivery. In the preparation, PP-Cur complexes (PP-Cur) were formed at pH 7.0 and then coated by CMCFG via hydrophobic interactions to form PP-Cur-CMCFG complexes. Furthermore, the interactions between CMCFG and PP-Cur in the complexes were enhanced at pH 3.5 by electrostatic interactions. The resulting nanocomposite exhibited an excellent encapsulation performance for Cur with high Cur loading efficiency, good water dispersibility, and high chemical and thermal stability. Besides, the Cur-loaded core-shell nanocomposite also showed higher antioxidant and radical scavenging activities than Cur. Our results provide support for the use of plant-derived delivery systems as a strategy for the delivery of chemically unstable hydrophobic Cur.