A Model for Mechanical Stress Limited Bacterial Growth and Resporulation in Confinement.

In this study, we propose a self-limiting growth model forBacillus subtilisspores confined within porous polyacrylamide (PA) hydrogels. We observed thatB. subtilisspores germinate into vegetative cells within the hydrogel matrix, forming spherical colonies. These colonies expand until the mechanical stress they exert on their environment surpasses the yield stress of the hydrogel, leading to formation of a nonpermeable layer that halts nutrient diffusion and forces the bacteria to resporulate. These novel observations suggest a model to explain why bacterial growth in confined environments and material interfaces may be limited, providing insight for natural phenomena and biotechnological applications involving bacterial encapsulation.

Chemically defined production of engineered cardiac tissue microspheres from hydrogel-encapsulated pluripotent stem cells.

Chemically defined, suspension culture conditions are a key requirement in realizing clinical translation of engineered cardiac tissues (ECTs). Building on our previous work producing functional ECT microspheres through differentiation of biomaterial encapsulated human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), here we establish the ability to use chemically defined culture conditions, including stem cell media (E8) and cardiac differentiation media (chemically defined differentiation media with three components, CDM3). A custom microfluidic cell encapsulation system was used to encapsulate hiPSCs at a range of initial cell concentrations and diameters in the hybrid biomaterial, poly(ethylene glycol)-fibrinogen (PF), for the formation of highly spherical and uniform ECT microspheres for subsequent cardiac differentiation. Initial microsphere diameter could be tightly controlled, and microspheres could be produced with an initial diameter between 400 and 800 µm. Three days after encapsulation, cardiac differentiation was initiated through small molecule modulation of Wnt signaling in CDM3. Cardiac differentiation occurred resulting in in situ ECT formation; results showed that this differentiation protocol could be used to achieve cardiomyocyte (CM) contents greater than 90%, although there was relatively high variability in CM content and yield between differentiation batches. Spontaneous contraction of ECT microspheres initiated between Days 7 and 10 of differentiation and ECT microspheres responded to electrical pacing up to 1.5 Hz. Resulting CMs had well-defined sarcomeres and the gap junction protein, connexin 43, and had appropriate temporal changes in gene expression. In summary, this study demonstrated the proof-of-concept to produce functional ECT microspheres with chemically defined media in suspension culture in combination with biomaterial support of microsphere encapsulated hiPSCs.

Enhancing bioactive compounds in plant-based foods: Influencing factors and technological advances.

Plant-based foods are natural sources of phytochemicals, which exhibit free radical scavenging capacity. However, the bioaccessibility of phytochemicals in foods are limited due to their poor stability and solubility within food matrix. Moreover, chemical degradation induced by processing further diminish the levels of these bioactive compounds. This review explores the impacts of thermal and non-thermal processing on fruits and vegetables, emphasizing the application of emerging technologies to enhance food quality. Innovative non-thermal technologies, which align with sustainable and environmentally friendly principles of green development, are particularly promising. Supercritical CO2 and cold plasma can be applied in extraction of phytochemicals, and these extracts also can be used as natural preservatives in food products, as well as improve the texture and sensory properties of food products, offering significant potential to advance the field of food science and technology while adhering to eco-friendly practices.

In vitro digestive system simulation and anticancer activity of soymilk fermented by probiotics and synbiotics immobilised on agro-industrial residues.

In this study, a variety of probiotic strains, including Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Limosilactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, and Bifidobacterium bifidum, were utilized for soymilk fermentation both as free cells and as synbiotics on agro-industrial residuals such as okara, whey protein, banana peels, apple pomace, sugarcane bagasse, orange peels, and lemon peels. Among these, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus emerged as the most significant strain for soymilk fermentation, exhibiting a viability of 10.47 log cfu/mL, a pH of 4.41, total acidity of 1.12%, and organic acid contents (lactic and acetic acid) of 11.20 and 7.50 g/L, respectively. As a synbiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus immobilised on okara, showed even more impressive results, with a viability of 12.98 log cfu/mL, a pH of 4.31, total acidity of 1.27%, and organic acid contents of 13.90 and 9.30 g/L, respectively. Over a 12-h fermentation period, cell viability values increased by 10.47-fold in free cells and 11.19-fold in synbiotics. Synbiotic supplementation of fermented soymilk proved more beneficial than free cells in terms of viability, acidity, and organic acid content. Furthermore, when synbiotic fermented soymilk was freeze-dried to simulate the digestive system in vitro, synbiotics and freeze-dried cells demonstrated superior gastrointestinal tract survival compared to free cells. Both the probiotic bacteria and the synbiotics exhibited cytotoxicity against colon and liver cancer cell lines, with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 41.96 to 61.52 µL/well.

Preparation and Study of the Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Nano/Micromicellar Structures Containing Chokeberry Fruit Pomace Extracts Using Egg White and Egg Yolk.

There is currently a growing interest in health-promoting foods. The beneficial effects of food on human health are actively promoted by health professionals and nutritionists. This growing awareness is influencing the increasing range of functional foods and the pursuit of more innovative solutions. Recent research indicates that spherical nanoparticles have the potential to be used as functional biomaterials in the food industry, particularly for encapsulating hydrophobic natural phytochemicals. Techniques and systems based on micro- and nano-encapsulation are of great importance in the food and pharmaceutical industries. It is of paramount importance that encapsulation materials are safe for use in food. The aim of this study was to obtain micelles containing extracts from chokeberry fruit pomace using egg yolk powder (EYP) for emulsification (as a source of lecithin) and egg white powder (EWP) for stabilisation. The structural properties of the micelles in the resulting powders were characterised using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the presence of spherical micellar structures between 500 and 1000 nm in size. The water activity and water content of the obtained powders were determined, and the thermal (DSC) and antioxidant properties were investigated. The results indicated that the powder with the micellar structures had a higher stability compared to the powder obtained by simple mixing without the use of encapsulation techniques.

Type II photoinitiators with collagen-based cyanine for cell encapsulation under green-red LED.

3D bioprinting with cell-laden materials is an emerging technique for fabricating functional tissue constructs. However, current cell-laden bioinks often lack sufficient cytocompatibility with commonly used UV-light sources. In this study, green to red photoinduced hydrogel crosslinking was obtained by introducing synthesized biosafety photoinitiators and used in light-based direct ink writing (DIW) 3D printing for enabling cell encapsulation successfully. The novel type II photointiators contain iodonium (ONI) and synthesized cyanine dyes CZBIN, TDPABIN, Col-SH-CZ, and Col-SH-TD with strong absorption in the range of 400-600 nm. Collagen-based macromolecule dyes Col-SH-CZ and Col-SH-TD showed excellent cytocompatibility. The photochemistry of these photoinitiators revealed an efficient photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process from the singlet excited states of the dyes to iodonium (ONI), facilitating the crosslinking of the biogels. L929 cells were encapsulated in Gel-MA hydrogels containing various photoinitiating systems and exposed to near-ultraviolet, green, or red LED irradiation. DIW-type 3D printing of Gel-MA bioink with L929 cells was also evaluated. The cell viability achieved with green light encapsulation reached 90 %. This novel approach offers promising prospects for bioprinting functional tissues with enhanced cytocompatibility under visible light conditions.

Characterization of integrins in cellular immunity of the oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata.

Insect hemocytes eliminate foreign substances from the hemocoel through various immune reactions. Integrins, receptor proteins present on the cell membrane, are formed as a heterodimer from α and ß subunits and are known to be involved in various immune reactions. To elucidate the role of integrins in the immunity of the lepidoptera Mythimna separata, genes encoding integrins were screened from the genome, resulting in the identification of eight α and four ß integrin genes. The expression levels of the integrin genes did not change in response to the injection of small abiotic beads undergoing phagocytosis in M. separata larvae. However, significant inductions of some integrin gene expressions were observed in hemocytes that formed capsules around large abiotic beads during encapsulation, especially in MysIntα2. Under biotic stimulation, induction of the MysIntα2 was evident after exposures to Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae), but not to Gram-positive bacteria (Micrococcus luteus). Immunostaining analysis revealed that MysIntα2 was specifically localized to hemocytes surrounding the beads during the encapsulation reaction. Furthermore, the spreading and encapsulation abilities of hemocytes were significantly inhibited by incubation with MysIntα2 antibodies. Suppression of MysIntα2 expression in M. separata larvae by injecting double-stranded RNA also resulted in a decrease in encapsulation activity. Collectively, these results indicate that MysIntα2 plays pivotal roles in the cellular immune response of M. separata, particularly during encapsulation. This likely occurs through the regulation of hemocyte spreading activity, thereby facilitating the formation of multilayered capsules around large invaders.

Control interfacial charge transfer behavior by creating surface defects on structure unit of heterojunction to drive carrier separation for enhancing photocatalytic CO2 reduction.

Controlling interfacial charge transfer behavior of heterojunction is an arduous issue to efficiently drive separation of photogenerated carriers for improving the photocatalytic activity. Herein, the interface charge transfer behavior is effectively controlled by fabricating an unparalleled VO-NiWO4/PCN heterojunction that is prepared by encapsulating NiWO4 nanoparticles rich in surface oxygen vacancies (VO-NiWO4) in the mesoporous polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) nanosheets. Experimental and theoretical investigations show that, differing with the traditional p-n junction, the direction of built-in electric field between p-type NiWO4 and n-type PCN is reversed interestingly. The strongly codirectional built-in electric field is also produced between the surface defect region and inside of VO-NiWO4 besides in the space charge region, the dual drive effect of which forcefully propels interface charge transfer through triggering Z-Scheme mechanism, thus significantly improving the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers. Moreover, the unique mesoporous encapsulation structure of VO-NiWO4/PCN heterostructure can not only afford the confinement effect to improve the reaction kinetics and specificity in the CO2 reduction to CO, but also significantly reduce mass transfer resistance of molecular diffusion towards the reaction sites. Therefore, the VO-NiWO4/PCN heterostructure demonstrates the preeminent activity, stability and reusability for photocatalytic CO2 reduction to CO reaction. The average evolution rate of CO over the optimal 10 %-VO-NiWO4/PCN composite reaches around 2.5 and 1.8 times higher than that of individual PCN and VO-NiWO4, respectively. This work contributes a fresh design approach of interface structure in the heterojunction to control charge transfer behaviors and thus improve the photocatalytic performance.

An enzymatically crosslinked collagen type II/hyaluronic acid hybrid hydrogel: A biomimetic cell delivery system for cartilage tissue engineering.

This study presents new injectable hydrogels based on hyaluronic acid and collagen type II that mimic the polysaccharide-protein structure of natural cartilage. After collagen isolation from chicken sternal cartilage, tyramine-grafted hyaluronic acid and collagen type II (HA-Tyr and COL-II-Tyr) were synthesized. Hybrid hydrogels were prepared with different ratios of HA-Tyr/COL-II-Tyr using horseradish peroxidase and noncytotoxic concentrations of hydrogen peroxide to encapsulate human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hBM-MSCs). The findings showed that a higher HA-Tyr content resulted in a higher storage modulus and a lower hydrogel shrinkage, resulting in hydrogel swelling. Incorporating COL-II-Tyr into HA-Tyr hydrogels induced a more favorable microenvironment for hBM-MSCs chondrogenic differentiation. Compared to HA-Tyr alone, the hybrid HA-Tyr/COL-II-Tyr hydrogel promoted enhanced chondrocyte adhesion, spreading, proliferation, and upregulation of cartilage-related gene expression. These results highlight the promising potential of injectable HA-Tyr/COL-II-Tyr hybrid hydrogels to deliver cells for cartilage regeneration.

Application of purple basil leaf anthocyanins-loaded alginate-carrageenan emulgel beads in gelatin-based jelly candies.

Jelly candies could be considered promising food matrices for the delivery of bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins (ACNs). In this study, gelatin-based jelly candies were fortified with free ACNs-rich purple basil leaf extract (PBLE) and PBLE-loaded emulgel beads. The interaction between free ACNs and gelatin in the jelly matrix resulted in a lower release of ACNs in the mouth (8.27 %) and gastric stage (74.44 %) compared to those of free extract (24.92 and 86.13 %), as well as some protection in the intestinal stage. The release of ACNs from the jellies enriched with PBLE-loaded emulgel beads only began in the intestinal stage and reached 66.34-70.75 % of the initial load. Compared to those of PBLE-loaded emulgel beads, the introduction of beads within the jelly matrix increased the in vitro release of ACNs. The jelly samples enriched with PBLE-loaded emulgel beads yielded higher hardness, adhesiveness, flexibility, and chewiness compared to samples with free PBLE. While the color and appearance of jellies fortified with encapsulated PBLE were impaired, they got the highest sensory acceptance scores due to the masking of the bitter taste of the free extract. ACNs-loaded emulgel beads could be a viable method for fortifying jelly candies.

In Vitro Photoselective Gene Transfection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells with Hypericin Lipopolyplexes.

The lipopolyplex, a multicomponent nonviral gene carrier, generally demonstrates superior colloidal stability, reduced cytotoxicity, and high transfection efficiency. In this study, a new concept, photochemical reaction-induced transfection, using photosensitizer (PS)-loaded lipopolyplexes was applied, which led to enhanced transfection and cytotoxic effects by photoexcitation of the photosensitizer. Hypericin, a hydrophobic photosensitizer, was encapsulated in the lipid bilayer of liposomes. The preformed nanosized hypericin liposomes enclosed the linear polyethylenimine (lPEI)/pDNA polyplexes, resulting in the formation of hypericin lipopolyplexes (Hy-LPP). The diameters of Hy-LPP containing 50 nM hypericin and 0.25 µg of pDNA were 185.6 ± 7.74 nm and 230.2 ± 4.60 nm, respectively, measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Gel electrophoresis confirmed the encapsulation of hypericin and pDNA in lipopolyplexes. Furthermore, in vitro irradiation of intracellular Hy-LPP at radiant exposures of 200, 600, and 1000 mJ/cm2 was evaluated. It demonstrated 60- to 75-fold higher in vitro luciferase expression than that in nonirradiated cells. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay supported that reduced transfection was a consequence of photocytotoxicity. The developed photosensitizer-loaded lipopolyplexes improved the transfection efficiency of an exogenous gene or induced photocytotoxicity; however, the frontier lies in the applied photochemical dose. The light-triggered photoexcitation of intracellular hypericin resulted in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to photoselective transfection in HepG2 cells. It was concluded that the two codelivered therapeutics resulted in enhanced transfection and a photodynamic effect by tuning the applied photochemical dose.

Development of an advanced separation and characterization platform for mRNA and lipid nanoparticles using multi-detector asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation.

In recent years, the use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapies has gained substantial attention in the field of drug development. In such an application, multiple LNP attributes have to be carefully characterized to ensure product safety and quality, whereas accurate and efficient characterization of these complex mRNA-LNP formulations remains a challenging endeavor. Here, we present the development and application of an online separation and characterization platform designed for the isolation and in-depth analysis of mRNAs and mRNA-loaded LNPs. Our asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation with a multi-detector (MD-AF4) method has demonstrated exceptional resolution between mRNA-LNPs and mRNAs, delivering excellent recoveries (over 70%) for both analytes and exceptional repeatability. Notably, this platform allows for comprehensive and multi-attribute LNP characterization, including online particle sizing, morphology characterization, and determination of encapsulation efficiency, all within a single injection. Furthermore, real-time online sizing by synchronizing multi-angle light scattering (MALS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) presented higher resolution over traditional batch-mode DLS, particularly in differentiating heterogeneous samples with a low abundance of large-sized particles. Additionally, our method proves to be a valuable tool for monitoring LNP stability under varying stress conditions. Our work introduces a robust and versatile analytical platform using MD-AF4 that not only efficiently provides multi-attribute characterizations of mRNA-LNPs but also holds promise in advancing studies related to formulation screening, quality control, and stability assessment in the evolving field of nanoparticle delivery systems for mRNAs.

A comprehensive review of the characterization, host interactions, and stabilization advancements on probiotics: Addressing the challenges in functional food diversification.

The demand for functional food is rising in tandem with the prevalence of chronic diseases. Probiotics play a crucial role in functional food development, yet their ability to confer health benefits to the host remains a topic of debate according to Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization requirements. The application of culturomics, innovative isolation techniques, within the realm of probiotics is increasingly deemed essential for fully harnessing the latent potential of microbial reservoirs. Nevertheless, its application remains confined predominantly to human fecal sources. Following the integration of probiogenomics, significant advancements have been made in the safety assessment of probiotics. However, the adoption of novel probiotic microorganisms has yet to match the requisite pace. Progress in research concerning host-probiotic interactions by employing omics technologies, particularly in animal models, is notable. Nonetheless, the comprehensive elucidation of mechanisms of action and human trial studies are lagging behind. Additionally, the viability of probiotics, spanning from their production as functional foods to their transit to the human colon, has markedly improved through encapsulation techniques. Nevertheless, opportunities for exploration persist regarding alternative coating materials and diverse encapsulation methodologies. Furthermore, there is a discernible transition in the domain of probiotic-based functional foods, shifting away from a primarily dairy-centric focus toward inclusion in a broader array of food categories. This comprehensive review addresses critical issues ranging from isolation sources and novel techniques to the final functional food developments. while doing so, it explores probiogenomics applications for probiotic characterization, investigations into host-probiotic interactions, and strategies for probiotic stabilization under harsh environmental conditions.

The influence of co-encapsulated L. plantarum and Silybum marianum seed extract on the physicochemical properties of synbiotic cheese during ripening.

The effect of Silybum marianum seed extract (SMSE), added freely or in co-encapsulated with L. plantarum (MT, ZH593), on cell survivability, physicochemical and textural parameters in synbiotic cheeses for 60 days at 4 °C were studied. Incorporated cheeses with free, single encapsulated, and co-encapsulated probiotic + SMSE experimented a reduction of 3.19, 1.23, and 0.76 log CFU/mL for the cell survivability and their antioxidant activity reached 15.19, 16.26, and 31.73%, respectively, at the end of the storage. Decrease in hardness, cohesiveness, and springiness of the cheese containing free probiotic + SMSE upon compression during storage revealed proteolysis pattern and pH development being the most effective agents while whey percentage and moisture loss were the most effective agents in the rest of the cheeses. Overall, microcapsules containing L. plantarum and SMSE propose an easy and efficient delivery vehicle for the transition of bio-compounds into cheese as a novel synbiotic food.

Microenvironment-Responsive Antibacterial, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antioxidant Pickering Emulsion Stabilized by Curcumin-Loaded Tea Polyphenol Particles for Accelerating Infected Wound Healing.

Multiphase Pickering emulsions, including two or more active agents, are of great importance to effectively manage complicated wounds. However, current strategies based on Pickering emulsions are still unsatisfying since they involve only stabilization by inactive particles and encapsulation of the hydrophobic drugs in the oil phase. Herein, thyme essential oil (TEO) was encapsulated in the shell of functional tea polyphenol (TP)-curcumin (Cur) nanoparticles (TC NPs) to exemplarily develop a novel Pickering emulsion (TEO/TC PE). Hydrophobic Cur was loaded with hydrophilic TP to obtain TC NPs, and under homogenization, these TC NPs adsorbed on the surface of TEO droplets to form a stable core-shell structure. Owing to such an oil-in-water (O/W) structure, the sequential release of the first Cur from pH-responsive disintegrated TC NPs and then the leaked TEO from the emulsion yielded synergetic functions of TEO/TC PE, leading to enhanced antibacterial, biofilm elimination, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. This injectable TEO/TC PE was applied to treat the infected full-thickness skin defects, and satisfactory wound healing effects were achieved with rapid angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and skin regeneration. The present TEO/TC PE constituted entirely of plant-sourced active products is biosafe and expected to spearhead the future development of novel wound dressings.

Alginate Beads with Encapsulated Bioactive Substances from Mangifera indica Peels as Promising Peroral Delivery Systems.

Since various bioactive substances are unstable and can degrade in the gastrointestinal tract, their stabilization is crucial. This study aimed to encapsulate mango peel extract (MPE) into edible alginate beads using the ionotropic gelation method for the potential oral delivery of bioactive substances. Mango peels, generally discarded and environmentally harmful, are rich in health-promoting bioactive substances. The alginate beads were examined for entrapment efficiency, particle size, morphology, thermal stability, physiochemical interactions, release profile under gastrointestinal conditions, and antibacterial efficacy. The study demonstrated the successful encapsulation of MPE with an efficiency of 63.1%. The in vitro release study showed the stability of the alginate beads in simulated gastric fluid with a maximum release of 45.0%, and sustained, almost complete release (99.4%) in simulated intestinal fluid, indicating successful absorption into the human body. In both fluids, the MPE release followed first-order kinetics. Encapsulation successfully maintained the antibacterial properties of MPE, with significant inhibitory activity against pathogenic intestinal bacteria. This is the first study on MPE encapsulation in alginate beads, presenting a promising oral delivery system for high-added-value applications in the food industry for dietary supplements, functional foods, or food additives. Their production is sustainable and economical, utilizing waste material and reducing environmental pollution.

Impact of Wall Material-to-Active Ratio in the Stability of Spray-Dried Ascorbic Acid Using Maltodextrin and Gum Arabic.

Encapsulation revolutionizes industries through enhanced stability, controlled release, and targeted performance of active ingredients. The novel aspect of this study explores the impact of the wall material-to-active (WM:A) ratio on the stability of ascorbic acid (AA) encapsulated in a maltodextrin (MD) and gum arabic (GA) blend (2:1 w/w). Microparticles were spray-dried and analyzed using SEM, TGA, DSC, thermal stability, and antioxidant activity assessments. Stability tests under different conditions revealed that a higher WM:A ratio (7:1) improved the active stability and antioxidant activity during storage, highlighting its importance in the encapsulation process. SEM analysis confirmed particles with no cracks, and the particles demonstrated excellent thermal stability up to 200 °C with minimal degradation. These findings underscore the critical role of the WM:A ratio in determining the stability of encapsulated AA within a carbohydrate matrix, offering valuable insights for advancing encapsulation technologies.

Lysosomal Activation Mediated by Endocytosis in J774 Cell Culture Treated with N-Trimethyl Chitosan Nanoparticles.

Safety and effectiveness are the cornerstone objectives of nanomedicine in developing nanotherapies. It is crucial to understand the biological interactions between nanoparticles and immune cells. This study focuses on the manufacture by the microfluidic technique of N-trimethyl chitosan/protein nanocarriers and their interaction with J774 cells to elucidate the cellular processes involved in absorption and their impact on the immune system, mainly through endocytosis, activation of lysosomes and intracellular degradation. TEM of the manufactured nanoparticles showed spherical morphology with an average diameter ranging from 36 ± 16 nm to 179 ± 92 nm, depending on the concentration of the cargo protein (0, 12, 55 µg/mL). FTIR showed the crosslinking between N-trimethyl chitosan and the sodium tripolyphosphate and the α-helix binding loss of BSA. TGA revealed an increase in the thermal stability of N-trimethyl chitosan/protein nanoparticles compared with the powder. The encapsulation of the cargo protein used was demonstrated using XPS. Their potential to improve cell permeability and use as nanocarriers in future vaccine formulations was demonstrated. The toxicity of the nanoparticles in HaCaT and J774 cells was studied, as well as the importance of evaluating the differentiation status of J774 cells. Thus, possible endocytosis pathways and their impact on the immune response were discussed. This allowed us to conclude that N-trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles show potential as carriers for the immune system. Still, more studies are required to understand their effectiveness and possible use in therapies.

Co-encapsulation of vitamin E and quercetin by soybean lipophilic proteins based on pH-shifting and ultrasonication: Focus on interaction mechanisms, structural and physicochemical properties.

This study explored the mechanism of interaction of pH-shifting combined ultrasonication and its effect on soybean lipophilic proteins (SLP) and the potential of modified SLP as the carrier for vitamin E (VE) and quercetin (QU). The spectroscopy results revealed that both VE and QU changed the SLP conformation and exposed hydrophobic groups. The loading rates of VE and QU by SLP with alkaline pH-shifting combined with ultrasonication (300 w,20 min) were 86.91% and 75.99%, respectively. According to the antioxidant analysis, with an increase in the ultrasonication power, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging capacity of the samples increased, where the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacity of sample SQV-6 were 70.90% and 63.43%, respectively. The physicochemical properties, microstructure, and stability of the SLP-VE-QU complex improved significantly. Overall, the present findings broadened the application of simple structural carriers for co-encapsulating functional factors.

Harnessing the health benefits of purple and yellow-fleshed sweet potatoes: Phytochemical composition, stabilization methods, and industrial utilization- A review.

Purple-fleshed sweet potato (PFSP) and yellow-fleshed sweet potato (YFSP) are crops highly valued for their nutritional benefits and rich bioactive compounds. These compounds include carotenoids, flavonoids (including anthocyanins), and phenolic acids etc. which are present in both the leaves and roots of these sweet potatoes. PFSP and YFSP offer numerous health benefits, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective properties. The antioxidant activity of these sweet potatoes holds significant potential for various industries, including food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics. However, a challenge in utilizing PFSP and YFSP is their susceptibility to rapid oxidation and color fading during processing and storage. To address this issue and enhance the nutritional value and shelf life of food products, researchers have explored preservation methods such as co-pigmentation and encapsulation. While YFSP has not been extensively studied, this review provides a comprehensive summary of the nutritional value, phytochemical composition, health benefits, stabilization techniques for phytochemical, and industrial applications of both PFSP and YFSP in the food industry. Additionally, the comparison between PFSP and YFSP highlights their similarities and differences, shedding light on their potential uses and benefits in various food products.