Effect of freezing rates on α-amylase enzymatic susceptibility, in vitro digestibility, and technological properties of starch microparticles.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of freezing rates using direct (LF: Liquid nitrogen) and indirect (RF: Cryogenic refrigerator and UF: ultra-freezer) methods at temperatures of (-20, -80, and - 196 °C) on the enzymatic susceptibility with α-amylase for microparticles. In vitro digestibility parameters and technological properties were also analyzed. Lower rates resulted in larger ice crystals, damaging the starch structure. Hydrolysis was more pronounced at slower rates RF: 0.07 °C/min and UF: 0.14 °C/min, yielding maximum values of RDS: 37.63% and SDS: 59.32% for RF. Type A crystallinity remained unchanged, with only a noted increase in crystallinity of up to 6.50% for FR. Starch pastes were classified as pseudoplastic, with RF exhibiting superior textural parameters and apparent viscosity. (RF: 7.18 J g-1 and UF: 7.34 J g-1) also showed lower values of gelatinization enthalpy. Freezing techniques were viable in facilitating the diffusion of α-amylase and reducing RS by up to 81%.

Evaluation of dual modification by high hydrostatic pressure and annealing on the physicochemical properties of bean starch.

This study investigated the physical modifications by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) at 600 MPa for 30 min/30 °C, annealing (AN) at 50 °C/24 h and the combination of both (HHP + AN and AN + HHP) applied to yellow bean starch to verify changes in morphology, X-ray diffraction, molecular order, thermal properties and pasting properties of native (NS) and modified starches. Morphological analysis showed loss of sphericity and increase in diameter with the appearance of pores on the surface after application of treatments. The AN starch showed lower values of syneresis, degree of double helix (DD), order (DO), and viscosity of the paste obtained by RVA. It exhibited a Vh-type classification with the appearance of the amylose-lipid complex. However, the gelatinization temperatures, as well as the enthalpy of gelatinization, were significantly higher. On the other hand, the starch treated with HHP showed a higher Setback (SB) value. The greatest modifications were found for the starches subjected to the combined treatments (AN + HHP) and (HHP + AN), where the order of the treatments was significant for the morpho-structural changes of yellow bean starch. According to the micrographs, the surface aspect was altered, with AN + HHP showing greater irregularities and flat yet irregular faces, as well as a larger granule diameter (147.05). The X-ray diffractogram showed a reduction in crystallinity from 28.14 % (NS) to 18.09 % (AN + HHP) and classified the starch as type "A". The double modification (HHP + AN and AN + HHP) reduced the gelatinization temperature and the enthalpy of gelatinization but had no effect on the bands of the FT-IR spectrum. There was only a reduction in the degree of order and the double helix. Finally, the treatment with AN + HHP is more effective as the gelatinization with AN facilitates the application of HHP. Both methods used are classified as physical (thermal and non-thermal), aiming to minimize environmental impacts and achieve faster and safer morpho-structural modification without leaving chemical residues in the products.

Red rice starch modification - Combination of the non-thermal method with a pulsed electric field (PEF) and enzymatic method using α-amylase.

The objective of this study was to investigate the dual modification of red rice starch using pulsed electric field (PEF) and α-amylase, focusing on morpho-structural, thermal, and viscoamylographic properties. Native starch (Control) underwent various treatments: PEF at 30 kV cm-1 (PEF30), α-amylase at 9.0 U mg-1 (AA0), and a combination of both (PEF30 + α and α + PEF30). The PEF30 + α treatment exhibited the highest degree of digestion (10.66 %) and resulted in morphological changes in the starch granules, which became elongated and curved, with an increased average diameter of 50.49 µm compared to the control. The starch was classified as type A, with a maximum reduction in crystallinity of up to 21.17 % for PEF30. The deconvolution of FT-IR bands indicated an increase in the double helix degree (DDH) for PEF30 and AA0, while the degree of order (DO) was reduced for PEF30, AA0, and PEF30 + α. DSC analysis revealed significant modifications in gelatinization temperatures, particularly for PEF30, and these changes were supported by a reduction in gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH) of up to 28.05 % for AA0. These findings indicate that both individual and combined treatments promote a decrease in starch gelatinization and facilitate the process, requiring less energy. Differences were observed between the formulations subjected to single and alternating dual treatments, highlighting the influence of the order of PEF application on the structural characteristics of starch, especially when applied before the enzymatic treatment (PEF + α). Regarding the viscoamylographic parameters, it was observed that AA0 presented higher values than the control, indicating that α-amylase enhances the firmness of the paste. The double modification with PEF + α was more effective in reducing syneresis and starch retrogradation, leading to improvements in paste properties. This study provided significant insights into the modification of red rice starch using an efficient and environmentally friendly approach.