Assessment of Acrylamide Levels by Advanced Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Imprinted Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Sensor Technology and Sensory Quality in Homemade Fried Potatoes.

This study evaluated acrylamide (AA) levels and various quality parameters in homemade fried potatoes prepared in different sizes by integrating principles from the Slow Food Movement with advanced sensor technology. To this aim, a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was first developed for the determination of AA in homemade fried potatoes at low levels, and the AA levels in the samples were established. First of all, monolayer formation of allyl mercaptane on the SPR chip surface was carried out to form double bonds that could polymerize on the chip surface. AA-imprinted SPR chip surfaces modified with allyl mercaptane were prepared via UV polymerization using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a cross-linker, N,N'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator, and methacryloylamidoglutamicacid (MAGA) as a monomer. The prepared AA-imprinted and nonimprinted surfaces were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy methods. The SPR sensor indicated linearity in the range of 1.0 × 10-9-5.0 × 10-8 M with a detection limit (LOD) of 3.0 × 10-10 M in homemade fried potatoes, and the SPR sensor demonstrated high selectivity and repeatability in terms of AA detection. Additionally, the highest AA level was observed in the potato sample belonging to the T1 group, at 15.37 nM (p < 0.05), and a strong and positive correlation was found between AA levels and sensory parameters, the a* value, the ΔE value, and the browning index (BI) (p < 0.05).

L-asparaginase-mediated pH shift and carbon dot fluorescence modulation: A sensitive ratiometric method for quantifying L-asparagine in diverse potato varieties under variable storage conditions.

This study presents a novel and selective method for the determination of l-asparagine in diverse potato varieties under various storage conditions. L-asparagine levels serve as a crucial indicator for acrylamide formation, a hazardous substance in processed potato products. The fluorometric method utilized blue-emitting CDs (B-CDs), orange-emitting CDs (O-CDs), and the enzyme L-asparaginase for ratiometric detection of L-asparagine. Upon enzymatic hydrolysis of L-asparagine by L-asparaginase, liberated ammonia induced a pH increase in the reaction medium. This pH shift enhanced the fluorescence of B-CDs while simultaneously decreasing that of O-CDs, enabling sensitive and selective L-asparagine quantification. Comprehensive characterization of the CDs was performed using various spectroscopic techniques and transmission electron microscopy. The method demonstrated excellent sensitivity (LOD = 0.31 µM) and a wide linear range (1.0-50.0 µM). When the method was applied to potato samples, high recovery values (98.00-100.33 %) with low relative standard deviations (RSDs) were achieved, confirming the accuracy and precision of the method. The approach was employed to determine L-asparagine levels in three potato varieties (Lady Rosetta, Spunta, and Nicola) under different storage temperatures and durations. This method provides a valuable tool for monitoring L-asparagine content in potatoes, potentially aiding in the mitigation of acrylamide formation during processing. The robust performance and simplicity of the proposed technique make it suitable for routine analysis in both research and industrial applications within the potato industry.

Estimation of the Dietary Acrylamide Exposure of the Turkish Population: An Emerging Threat for Human Health.

Acrylamide is a contaminant formed during heat treatment that poses potential health risks and occurs naturally in foods. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate exposure from the consumption of foods containing acrylamide since dietary exposure continues throughout life. In this study, the acrylamide exposure level of people living in Türkiye is estimated. Consumption of a total of 28 foods in 9 different food groups was calculated using a deterministic model under two different scenarios. The exposure levels were evaluated in terms of carcinogenic, non-carcinogenic and neurotoxic health risks. The daily total acrylamide exposure levels of individuals aged 15 and older were determined as 58 µg/day (0.85 µg/kg bw/day) and 196 µg/day (2.80 µg/kg bw/day) for the good and bad scenarios, respectively. The highest daily acrylamide exposure in the good scenario came from brewed black tea (29%), whereas French fries (50%) were the source of highest daily acrylamide exposure in the bad scenario. According to the hazard index (HI) and margin of exposure (MOE) data, the good scenario (all food) is considered safe, while the bad scenario (all food) has potential and serious health risks. According to the carcinogenic risk (CR) data, both scenarios carry significant health risks. It is therefore important that consumers, producers and official institutions collaborate and take measures to reduce acrylamide exposure.

Developmental neurotoxicity evaluation of acrylamide based on in vitro to in vivo extrapolation by pregnancy PBTK modelling.

Acrylamide (ACR) is a known neurotoxicant that can pass the placenta and has been detected in breast milk. Some in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that ACR exposure might lead to developmental neurotoxicity (DNT). Here, we have developed a physiologically-based toxicokinetic model for a pregnant human population using PK-Sim. We performed an in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) of data collected from human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells exposed during differentiation to ACR. The developed PBTK model was successfully evaluated and predicted fetal plasma concentrations in the low nM range after exposing the model to an estimated average daily intake for pregnant women. The IVIVE showed that low concentrations of ACR (fM-nM) that induced attenuated differentiation of the SH-SY5Y neuronal cell model, were relevant for human exposure to ACR from oral intake. However, doses estimated in the IVIVE from concentrations in the µM range, were found to be unrealistic by exposure through food intake for an average daily intake. However, in case of exposure due to environmental pollution or occupational exposure, these concentrations may be reached in fetal plasma. The findings in this study raise the concern regarding ACR exposure during pregnancy as well as the relevance of testing concentrations in vitro that are several orders of magnitude higher than the predicted fetal plasma concentrations.

Combinatory Effects of Acrylamide and Deoxynivalenol on In Vitro Cell Viability and Cytochrome P450 Enzymes of Human HepaRG Cells.

Acrylamide (AA) can be formed during the thermal processing of carbohydrate-rich foods. Deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium spp., contaminates many cereal-based products. In addition to potential co-exposure through a mixed diet, co-occurrence of AA and DON in thermally processed cereal-based products is also likely, posing the question of combinatory toxicological effects. In the present study, the effects of AA (0.001-3 mM) and DON (0.1-30 µM) on the cytotoxicity, gene transcription, and expression of major cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes were investigated in differentiated human hepatic HepaRG cells. In the chosen ratios of AA-DON (10:1; 100:1), cytotoxicity was clearly driven by DON and no overadditive effects were observed. Using quantitative real-time PCR, about twofold enhanced transcript levels of CYP1A1 were observed at low DON concentrations (0.3 and 1 µM), reflected by an increase in CYP1A activity in the EROD assay. In contrast, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4 gene transcription decreased in a concentration-dependent manner after incubation with DON (0.01-0.3 µM). Nevertheless, confocal microscopy showed comparably constant protein levels. The present study provided no indication of an induction of CYP2E1 as a critical step in AA bioactivation by co-occurrence with DON. Taken together, the combination of AA and DON showed no clear physiologically relevant interaction in HepaRG cells.

Creative synthesis of pH-dependent nanoporous pectic acid grafted with acrylamide and acrylic acid copolymer as an ultrasensitive and selective riboflavin electrochemical sensor in real samples.

In current research, an innovative pectic acid was grafted with poly (acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) [PA-g-poly (AAm-co-AA)] nanoporous membrane using a free radical-mediated grafting copolymerization process. The optimized parameters for the grafting copolymerization reaction such as initiator concentration, monomer concentrations, polymerization reaction time, and temperature were studied. Additionally, the solid content, graft percentage, and conversion were calculated. The unique polymeric membrane was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal gravimetry (TG), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) supported by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The formulated novel PA-g-poly (AAm-co-AA) had a nanoporous structure with a diameter of 113 nm. pH-dependent swelling and biodegradation measurements were also studied. The electrochemical characterizations of PA-g-poly (AAm-co-AA) were conducted through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Furthermore, the screen-printed electrode (SPE) was modified with pure PA and the new generation of its grafted polymeric nanoparticles to detect and quantify the concentration of riboflavin (RF) in real samples using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques. The modified electrode showed two linear concentration ranges (0.01-80 nM) with a low detection limit (LOD) between 0.004 and 0.97 nM, demonstrating high sensitivity. Besides, the fabricated sensor exhibited more selectivity, simplicity, great reproducibility, repeatability, and good stability. Finally, the PA-g-poly (AAm-co-AA)-modified SPE based sensor was effectively used in real sample analysis of egg yolk, milk, and vitamin B2 drugs with good recovery rates.

Thymoquinone Abrogates Acrylamide-Induced Cerebellar Toxicity via Modulation of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2/Nuclear Factor Kappa B Signaling, Oxidative Neuroinflammation, and Neuroapoptosis in Rats.

Acrylamide (ACR) is an obligate human neurotoxicant ubiquitously produced and found in foods processed at high temperature. There is an increasing public health concern regarding its probable carcinogenic potential. Its prevailing toxicity mechanism is oxidative inflammation and apoptosis. Herein, we explored whether thymoquinone (TQ), a bioactive quinone in Nigella sativa seed, could mitigate ACR-induced cerebellar toxicity in rats. Our study design featured four rat groups: control, TQ (5 mg/kg bw), ACR (50 mg/kg bw), and TQ + ACR (5 mg/kg + 50 mg/kg). After 14 days of respective treatments, cerebellar homogenate was used to estimate acetylcholinesterase activity (AchE) activity, antioxidant enzymes (catalase [CAT], superoxide dismutase [SOD], and glutathione peroxidase [GPx]), malondialdehyde (MDA), inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, IL-4, and IL-10), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), caspase-3, and caspase-9. The level of DNA damage by fragmentation and histopathological lesions was also determined in the cerebellum. The rat exposure to ACR caused significant decreases in the cerebellar activities of AchE, CAT, SOD, and GPx, IL-4, IL-10, and expression of Nrf2, whereas the levels of MDA, IL-6, TNF-α, caspase-3, and caspase-9 were prominently increased compared with the control. ACR induced significant DNA fragments and cerebellar lesions when compared with the control. Contrarily, TQ treatment inhibited the depression of CAT, SOD, and GPx activities and reversed the MDA level and expression of Nrf2/NF-κB, cytokines, and caspases. These effects were confirmed by reduced DNA damage and cerebellar histopathological lesions in comparison with the ACR. TQ afforded neuroprotection via its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic mechanisms in rats.

The relationship between the deterioration of frying oil and the generation of hazards during frying.

Deep-fat frying gives food a desirable color and flavor but inevitably leads to oil deterioration and production of hazards. In this study, the simultaneous generation of multiple hazards under different frying conditions was investigated, the deterioration of frying oil was evaluated, and finally, their correlation was analyzed. The results showed that as the temperature of frying chicken wings increased from 150 to 190 °C, the levels of acrylamide (AA), heterocyclic amines (HCAs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the oil also increased proportionally. At 190 °C, the fried potato oil contained the highest AA content of 2.60 mg·kg-1, while the content of HCAs and PAHs was the highest in fried chicken wings oil, with values of 5.06 µg·kg-1 and 5.18 µg·kg-1, respectively. 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural was detected only in fried potato oil. Oil quality deteriorated gradually with increasing frying temperature and heating time, as indicated by increased acid value, carbonyl value, and levels of total polar compounds. Overall, the results indicated hazards were positively correlated with oil deterioration, suggesting that oil deterioration contributed to the generation of hazards. This work links hazards and oil deterioration, which is crucial for improving the quality and safety of fried foods, while reducing negative environmental impacts, and achieving clean production.

Quality characteristics, antioxidant activity, and acrylamide content of lotus root chips prepared using different processing methods.

Lotus root chips were prepared using five different methods (freeze-drying, microwaving, air-frying, oil-frying, and oven-baking), and their quality characteristics, bioactive substance content, and antioxidant activity were determined. The amount of acrylamide generated during manufacturing was determined. The proximate content of the chips varied depending on the manufacturing method. Based on color determination, lightness was highest in freeze-dried chips and lowest in oven-baked chips. Oil-fried chips had the highest redness, yellowness, and browning index. The total polyphenol, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activities were the highest in freeze-dried chips and the lowest in oven-baked chips. Air-fried chips had the highest (746.92 µg/g) acrylamide content, while freeze-dried chips had the lowest (1.82 µg/g). Compared to other methods, freeze-drying retained the maximum bioactive compound content and antioxidant activity, leading to the lowest acrylamide formation. These findings highlight a suitable method and provide basic data for future lotus root chip manufacturing.

Identification of a thermostable L-asparaginase from Pyrococcus yayanosii CH1 and its application in the reduction of acrylamide.

L-asparaginase (ASNase, E.C. 3.5.1.1) catalyzes the deamination of L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid and ammonia and is widely used in medicine to treat acute lymphocytic leukemia. It also has significant applications in the food industry by inhibiting acrylamide formation. In this study, we characterized a thermostable ASNase from the hyper thermophilic strain, Pyrococcus yayanosii CH1. The recombinant enzyme (PyASNase) exhibited maximal activity at pH 8.0 and 85 °C. Moreover, PyASNase demonstrated promising thermostability across temperatures ranging from 70 to 95 °C. The kinetic parameters of PyASNase for L-asparagine were a Km of 6.3 mM, a kcat of 1989s-1, and a kcat/Km of 315.7 mM-1 s-1. Treating potato samples with 10 U/mL of PyASNase at 85 °C for merely 10 min reduced the acrylamide content in the final product by 82.5%, demonstrating a high efficiency and significant advantage of PyASNase in acrylamide inhibition.

Exposure to acrylamide and increased risk of depression mediated by inflammation, oxidative stress, and alkaline phosphatase: Evidence from a nationally representative population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The health risk associated with acrylamide exposure has emerged as a significant issue of public health, attracting global attention. However, epidemiologic evidence on whether and how daily acrylamide exposure increases depression risk of the general population is unclear. METHODS: The study included 3991 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The urinary metabolites of acrylamide (N-Acetyl-S-(2-carbamoylethyl)-L-cysteine [AAMA] and N-Acetyl-S-(2-carbamoyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-L-cysteine [GAMA]) identified as reliable indicators of acrylamide exposure were examined to determine their relationships with depressive symptoms that were evaluated using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Besides, the measurements of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and biomarkers of inflammation (white blood cell [WBC] count) and anti-oxidative stress (albumin [ALB]) were conducted to investigate their mediation roles in above relationships. RESULT: AAMA, GAMA, and ΣUAAM (AAMA+GAMA) were linearly associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms. Each 2.7-fold increase in AAMA, GAMA, or ΣUAAM was associated with a 30 % (odds ratio: 1.30; 95 % confidence interval: 1.09, 1.55), 47 % (1.47; 1.16, 1.87), or 36 % (1.36; 1.13, 1.63) increment in risk of depressive symptoms, respectively. Increased WBC count (mediated proportion: 4.48-8.00 %), decreased ALB (4.88-7.78 %), and increased ALP (4.93-5.23 %) significantly mediated the associations between acrylamide metabolites and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Acrylamide exposure of the general adult population was related to increased risk of depressive symptoms, which was mediated in part by inflammation, oxidative stress, and increased ALP. Our findings provided pivotal epidemiologic evidence for depression risk increment from exposure to acrylamide.

Acrylamide and HMF occurrence and bioaccessibility in instant coffee and coffee substitutes. A study on isolated and milk-combined beverages.

This research evaluated the occurrence and bioaccessibility of acrylamide and HMF in commercial instant coffees (IC) and coffee substitutes (CS), considering both isolated consumption and combination with milk. There were no significant differences in acrylamide content between IC and CS samples (median: 589 vs. 671 µg/kg), but higher variability was reported for CS, probably due to their varied composition (roasted cereals, nuts, honey, dehydrated fruits, and/or chicory). Acrylamide level were always below the EU benchmark for each category. HMF contents were similar between both groups (1354-5127 mg/kg for IC and 735-7134 mg/kg for CS; median: 2890 vs. 2960 mg/kg), with no clear ingredient relationship. Since IC consumption by the Spanish population is ten times higher than that of CS, exposure to acrylamide and HMF was higher from IC (6.8 vs. 1.07 ng/kg body weight/day for acrylamide; 39.1 vs. 4.2 µg/kg body weight/day for HMF). The standardized in vitro gastrointestinal digestion protocol (INFOGEST) was used. The gastrointestinal process reduced the bioaccessibility of acrylamide up to 27.2 % in IC and to 22.4 % in CS, regardless of the presence of milk. HMF bioaccessibility from IC significantly dropped after the gastrointestinal digestion, whereas it greatly increased for CS. The presence of milk did not affect HMF bioaccessibility. These results highlight the importance of assessing food bioaccessibility in typical consumption scenarios, providing a holistic view and a realistic evaluation of the potential risks associated with acrylamide and HMF exposure in the diet.

Baby Foods: 9 Out of 62 Exceed the Reference Limits for Acrylamide.

Acrylamide (AA) is a contaminant resulting from the Maillard reaction and classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a probable carcinogen in Group 2A, with proven neurotoxic effects on humans. European Union (EU) Regulation No. 2017/2158 is currently in force, which establishes measures meant to reduce AA levels in food and sets reference values, but not legal limits, equal to 40 and 150 µg/kg AA in processed cereal-based foods intended for infants and young children and in biscuits and rusks, respectively. For this reason, sixty-two baby foods were analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-Q-TOF/MS) to check whether industries were complying with these values, even though AA control is not legally mandatory. In total, 14.5% of the samples exceeded the reference values; these were homogenized chicken products (211.84 ± 16.53, 154.32 ± 12.71, 194.88 ± 7.40 µg/kg), three biscuits (276.36 ± 0.03, 242.06 ± 0.78, 234.78 ± 4.53 µg/kg), a wheat semolina (46.07 ± 0.23 µg/kg), a homogenized product with plaice and potatoes (45.52 ± 0.28 µg/kg), and a children's snack with milk and cocoa (40.95 ± 0.32 µg/kg). Subsequently, the daily intake of AA was estimated, considering the worst-case scenario, as provided by the consumption of homogenized chicken products and biscuits. The results are associated with margins of exposure (MOEs) that are not concerning for neurotoxic effects but are alarming for the probable carcinogenic effects of AA.

Garlic Extract Increased Acrylamide Formation in French Fries Obtained by Different Cooking Methods.

Fried potato products are the largest dietary source of acrylamide, a potential carcinogen formed at high temperatures. Previous studies suggested that garlic powder could decrease the development of acrylamide; however, there has not been much focus on the effect of garlic extract. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of garlic extract exposure on the development of acrylamide in French fries in popular home cooking techniques such as pan-frying, air-frying, and oven-frying. Initially, the antioxidative profile, total phenolic content, and chlorogenic acid content of garlic were analyzed. Subsequently, potatoes were treated with garlic extract and fried using pan-frying, air-frying, and oven-frying techniques. Acrylamide levels were then quantified through HPLC and compared to control groups. The findings showed that garlic exposure increased the acrylamide formation in French fries obtained with air-frying (311.95 ± 0.5 µg/kg) and with oven-frying (270.32 ± 23.4 µg/kg) (p < 0.005 *). This study offers new insights into varying acrylamide formation levels in domestic practices. Unlike previous studies, this study is the first to question the effect of aqueous garlic extract exposure. Further research is required to comprehend the interaction between garlic exposure and acrylamide formation in household settings.

Tea's Characteristic Components Eliminate Acrylamide in the Maillard Model System.

This study investigated the effects of various characteristic components of tea-theaflavins, catechins, thearubigins, theasinensins, theanine, catechin (C), catechin gallate (CG), epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), gallocatechin (GC), and gallocatechin gallate (GCG)-on acrylamide formation. The results revealed that most of tea's characteristic components could significantly eliminate acrylamide, ranked from highest to lowest as follows: GC (55.73%) > EC (46.31%) > theaflavins (44.91%) > CG (40.73%) > thearubigins (37.36%) > ECG (37.03%) > EGCG (27.37%) > theabrownine (22.54%) > GCG (16.21%) > catechins (10.14%) > C (7.48%). Synergistic elimination effects were observed with thearubigins + EC + GC + CG, thearubigins + EC + CG, thearubigins + EC + GC, theaflavins + GC + CG, and thearubigins + theaflavins, with the reduction rates being 73.99%, 72.67%, 67.62%, 71.03%, and 65.74%, respectively. Tea's components reduced the numbers of persistent free radicals to prevent acrylamide formation in the model system. The results provide a theoretical basis for the development of low-acrylamide foods and the application of tea resources in the food industry.

Fabrication of thermo-responsive microcapsule pesticide delivery system from maleic anhydride-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals-stabilized pickering emulsion template.

The overuse of pesticides has shown their malpractices. Novel and sustainable formulations have consequently attracted abundant attention but still appear to have drawbacks. Here, we use a maleic anhydride-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals-stabilized Pickering emulsions template to prepare thermo-responsive microcapsules for a pesticide delivery system via radical polymerization with N-isopropyl acrylamide. The microcapsules (MACNCs-g-NIPAM) are characterized by the microscope, SEM, FTIR, XRD, TG-DTG, and DSC techniques. Imidacloprid (IMI) is loaded on MACNCs-g-NIPAM to form smart release systems (IMI@MACNCs-g-NIPAM) with high encapsulation efficiency (~88.49%) and loading capability (~55.02%). The IMI@MACNCs-g-NIPAM present a significant thermo-responsiveness by comparing the release ratios at 35°C and 25°C (76.22% vs 50.78%). It also exhibits advantages in spreadability, retention and flush resistance on the leaf surface compared with the commercial IMI water-dispersible granules (CG). IMI@MACNCs-g-NIPAM also manifest a significant advantage over CG (11.12 mg/L vs 38.90 mg/L for LC50) regarding activity tests of targeted organisms. In addition, IMI@MACNCs-g-NIPAM has shown excellent biocompatibility and low toxicity. All the benefits mentioned above prove the excellent potential of IMI@MACNCs-g-NIPAM as a smart pesticide formulation.

Acrylamide exposure, sex hormones, and pubertal status in Japanese adolescents.

Acrylamide may affect sex hormone levels and the timing of sexual maturation. The present study cross-sectionally examined interrelationship between the urinary metabolite of acrylamide exposure, serum sex hormone levels, and pubertal status in 408 Japanese adolescents aged 13-14 years. Their caregivers completed a questionnaire concerning the health status of their children, including pubertal maturation, and the lifestyles of children and parents. Pubertal status was queried by the Pubertal Development Scale. A major metabolite of acrylamide, N-acetyl-S-(2-carbamoylethyl)-cysteine (AAMA) in first-void urine samples. In male students, urinary AAMA was significantly inversely associated with testosterone, puberty stage, and facial hair growth after controlling for covariates. Serum testosterone and DHEAS were significantly positively associated with puberty stage. In female students, urinary AAMA was not associated with puberty stage, the indices, or any measured hormones. The data suggest that exposure to acrylamide may impact the pubertal development of boys through the effects on testosterone level.

Low asparagine wheat: Europe's first field trial of genome edited wheat amid rapidly changing regulations on acrylamide in food and genome editing of crops.

We review the undertaking of a field trial of low asparagine wheat lines in which the asparagine synthetase gene, TaASN2, has been knocked out using CRISPR/Cas9. The field trial was undertaken in 2021-2022 and represented the first field release of genome edited wheat in Europe. The year of the field trial and the period since have seen rapid changes in the regulations covering both the field release and commercialisation of genome edited crops in the UK. These historic developments are reviewed in detail. Free asparagine is the precursor for acrylamide formation during high-temperature cooking and processing of grains, tubers, storage roots, beans and other crop products. Consequently, work on reducing the free asparagine concentration of wheat and other cereal grains, as well as the tubers, beans and storage roots of other crops, is driven by the need for food businesses to comply with current and potential future regulations on acrylamide content of foods. The topic illustrates how strategic and applied crop research is driven by regulations and also needs a supportive regulatory environment in which to thrive.

IGF 1, BDNF, and NGF mediate the neuro-modulatory role of stem cells in acrylamide-induced hippocampal toxic changes in rats.

BACKGROUND: Acrylamide (ACR), a common industrial chemical, is a strong neurotoxic material. The hippocampus is a brain area of interest mostly affected by Alzheimer's disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) usefulness in various neurological diseases including Alzheimer's is being debated. In this work, the authors aim to explore the role of MSCs in ACR-induced hippocampal neurodegeneration and elucidate the mediating mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this purpose, ten rats served as control, another ten were injected ACR (i.p. 50 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks), and the last ten rats were injected ACR in addition to MSCs (i.p. 1 × 107 MSCs single injection). RESULTS: ACR induced neurodegenerative histopathological hippocampal changes and adversely altered hippocampal oxidative stress markers SOD, MDA, and GSH. ACR had induced hippocampal demyelination as detected by silver staining. ACR significantly (P < 0.05) up-regulated the ELISA hippocampal TNF-alpha and IL-6 and produced microglial & astrocyte activation (as tracked by Iba1 & GFAP immunohistochemistry respectively). ACR significantly reduced hippocampal PCR gene expression of IGF 1 (insulin growth factor-1), BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), and NGF (nerve growth factor). MSCs administration had mitigated all the previous deleterious changes. CONCLUSIONS: Acrylamide caused detrimental effects on the hippocampus and demonstrably altered the hippocampal architecture. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells offered a promising therapeutic role against these neurotoxic effects of acrylamide, presumably through modulation of IGF 1, BDNF, and NGF gene expressions.

Chitosan-coated probiotic nanoparticles mitigate acrylamide-induced toxicity in the Drosophila model.

Acrylamide (ACR) with its extensive industrial applications is a classified occupational hazard toxin and carcinogenic compound. Its formation in fried potatoes, red meat and coffee during high-temperature cooking is a cause for consideration. The fabrication of chitosan-coated probiotic nanoparticles (CSP NPs) aims to enhance the bioavailability of probiotics in the gut, thereby improving their efficacy against ACR-induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. Nanoencapsulation, a vital domain of the medical nanotechnology field plays a key role in targeted drug delivery, bioavailability, multi-drug load delivery systems and synergistic treatment options. Our study exploited the nanoencapsulation technology to coat Lactobacillus fermentum (probiotic) with chitosan (prebiotic), both with substantial immunomodulatory effects, to ensure the stability and sustained release of microbial load and its secondary metabolites in the gut. The combination of pre-and probiotic components, called synbiotic formulations establishes the correlation between the gut microbiota and the overall well-being of an organism. Our study aimed to develop a potent synbiotic to alleviate the impacts of heat-processed dietary toxins that significantly influence behaviour, development, and survival. Our synbiotic co-treatment with ACR in fruit flies normalised neuro-behavioural, survival, redox status, and restored ovarian mitochondrial activity, contrasting with several physiological deficits observed in the ACR-treated model.