Innovative Analogs of Unpasteurized Kombucha Beverages: Comparative Analysis of Mint/Nettle Kombuchas, Considering Their Health-Promoting Effect, Polyphenolic Compounds and Chemical Composition.

Increasing demand for functional beverages is attracting consumers' attention and driving research to expand our knowledge of fermentation using symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) and demonstrate the health effects of consuming kombucha. The objective of this study was to develop innovative recipes for unpasteurized mint/nettle kombucha analogs, and to compare the products obtained under varying conditions in terms of chemical composition, bioactive polyphenols and health-promoting activity. Four variants of kombucha beverages (K1-K4), differing in the addition of sucrose and fermentation temperature, were formulated. The fermentation process provided data indicating the increase of antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and anticholinergic properties, while a decrease in antioxidant capacity was observed. The content of polyphenolics was the highest on the seventh day of fermentation. A higher fermentation temperature and a larger amount of sucrose accelerated the fermentation process, which may be crucial for shortening the production time of kombucha drinks.

Isovaleryl Sucrose Esters from Atractylodes japonica and Their Cytotoxic Activity.

Cancer represents one of the most significant health challenges currently facing humanity, and plant-derived antitumour drugs represent a prominent class of anticancer medications in clinical practice. Isovaleryl sucrose esters, which are natural constituents, have been identified as having potential antitumour effects. However, the mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, 12 isovaleryl sucrose ester components, including five new (1-5) and seven known compounds (6-12), were isolated from the roots of Atractylodes japonica. The structures of the compounds were elucidated using 1D and 2D-NMR spectroscopy, complemented by HR-ESI-MS mass spectrometry. The cytotoxic activities of all the compounds against human colon cancer cells (HCT-116) and human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) were also evaluated using the CCK8 assay. The results demonstrated that compounds 2, 4, and 6 were moderately inhibitory to HCT-116 cells, with IC50 values of 7.49 ± 0.48, 9.03 ± 0.21, and 13.49 ± 1.45 µM, respectively. Compounds 1 and 6 were moderately inhibitory to A549, with IC50 values of 8.36 ± 0.77 and 7.10 ± 0.52 µM, respectively. Molecular docking revealed that compounds 1-9 exhibited a stronger affinity for FGFR3 and BRAF, with binding energies below -7 kcal/mol. Compound 2 exhibited the lowest binding energy of -10.63 kcal/mol to FGFR3. We screened the compounds with lower binding energies, and the protein-ligand complexes already obtained after molecular docking were subjected to exhaustive molecular dynamics simulation experiments, which simulated the dynamic behaviour of the molecules in close proximity to the actual biological environment, thus providing a deeper understanding of their functions and interaction mechanisms. The present study provides a reference for the development and use of iso-valeryl sucrose esters in the antitumour field.

Head-to-Head Comparison of Caco-2 Transwell and Gut-on-a-Chip Models for Assessing Oral Peptide Formulations.

Oral delivery of potent peptide drugs provides key formulation challenges in the pharmaceutical industry: stability, solubility, and permeability. Intestinal permeation enhancers (PEs) can overcome the low oral bioavailability by improving the drug permeability. Conventional in vitro and ex vivo models for assessing PEs fail to predict efficacy in vivo. Here, we compared Caco-2 cells cultured in the conventional static Transwell model to a commercially available continuous flow microfluidic Gut-on-a-Chip model. We determined baseline permeability of FITC-Dextan 3 kDa (FD3) in Transwell (5.3 ± 0.8 × 10-8 cm/s) vs Chip (3.2 ± 1.8 × 10-7 cm/s). We screened the concentration impact of two established PEs sodium caprate and sucrose monolaurate and indicated a requirement for higher enhancer concentration in the Chip model to elicit equivalent efficacy e.g., 10 mM sodium caprate in Transwells vs 25 mM in Chips. Fasted and fed state simulated intestinal fluids (FaSSIF/FeSSIF) were introduced into the Chip and increased basal FD3 permeability by 3-fold and 20-fold, respectively, compared to 4-fold and 4000-fold in Transwells. We assessed the utility of this model to peptides (Insulin and Octreotide) with PEs and observed much more modest permeability enhancement in the Chip model in line with observations in ex vivo and in vivo preclinical models. These data indicate that microfluidic Chip models are well suited to bridge the gap between conventional in vitro and in vivo models.

Unveiling the formation capacity of multicomponent oleogels: Performance of lecithin interacting with monostearate derivatives.

Oleogels have been explored as fat substitutes due to their healthier composition compared to trans and saturated fats, also presenting interesting technological perspectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the compositional perspective of multicomponent oleogels. Structuring ability of lecithin (LEC) (20 or 90 wt% of phosphatidylcholine - PC) combined with glycerol monostearate (GMS), sorbitan monostearate (SMS) or sucrose monostearate (SAC) in sunflower oil was evaluated from oleogels properties. The thermal and rheological properties, microstructure and stability of the oleogels were affected by the difference in the chemical composition of LEC and the ratio between LEC and different surfactants. Interestingly, low-phosphatidylcholine LEC (L20) performed better, although systems formed with reduced amounts of LEC tended to be softer (LEC-GMS) and present high oil holding capacity (LEC-SMS). The mixtures of LEC and monostearate-based surfactants showed different behaviors, depending on the surfactant polar head. In LEC-GMS systems, LEC hindered the self-assembly of GMS in sunflower oil, compromising mechanical properties and increasing oil release. When combined with SMS, LEC acted as a crystal habit modifier of SMS, forming a more homogeneous microstructure and producing stronger oleogels with greater oil binding capacity. However, above the threshold concentration, LEC prevented SMS self-assembly, resulting in a weaker gel. A positive interaction was found in LEC-SAC formulations in specific ratios, since SAC cannot act as a single oleogelator. Results show the impact of solubility balance played by LEC and fatty-acid derivatives surfactant when combined and used as oleogelators. This knowledge can contribute to a rational perspective in the preparation and modulation of the properties of edible oleogels.

Colyophilized Sugar-Polymer Dispersions for Enhanced Processing and Storage Stability.

Sucrose and trehalose pharmaceutical excipients are employed to stabilize protein therapeutics in a dried state. The mechanism of therapeutic protein stabilization is dependent on the sugars being present in an amorphous solid-state. Colyophilization of sugars with high glass transition polymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and poly(vinylpyrrolidone vinyl acetate) (PVPVA), enhances amorphous sugar stability. This study investigates the stability of colyophilized sugar-polymer systems in the frozen solution state, dried state postlyophilization, and upon exposure to elevated humidity. Binary systems of sucrose or trehalose with PVP or PVPVA were lyophilized with sugar/polymer ratios ranging from 2:8 to 8:2. Frozen sugar-PVPVA solutions exhibited a higher glass transition temperature of the maximally freeze-concentrated amorphous phase (Tg') compared to sugar-PVP solutions, despite the glass transition temperature (Tg) of PVPVA being lower than PVP. Tg values of all colyophilized systems were in a similar temperature range irrespective of polymer type. Greater hydrogen bonding between sugars and PVP and the lower hygroscopicity of PVPVA influenced polymer antiplasticization effects and the plasticization effects of residual water. Plasticization due to water sorption was investigated in a dynamic vapor sorption humidity ramping experiment. Lyophilized sucrose systems exhibited increased amorphous stability compared to trehalose upon exposure to the humidity. Recrystallization of trehalose was observed and stabilized by polymer addition. Lower concentrations of PVP inhibited trehalose recrystallization compared to PVPVA. These stabilizing effects were attributed to the increased hydrogen bonding between trehalose and PVP compared to trehalose and PVPVA. Overall, the study demonstrated how differences in polymer hygroscopicity and hydrogen bonding with sugars influence the stability of colyophilized amorphous dispersions. These insights into excipient solid-state stability are relevant to the development of stabilized biopharmaceutical solid-state formulations.

Sucrose-Powered Liposome Nanosensors for Urinary Glucometer-Based Monitoring of Cancer.

Timely detection of early-stage cancer holds immense potential in enhancing prognostic outcomes. There is an increasing desire for versatile tools to enable simple, sensitive, and cost-effective cancer detection. By exploiting the extraintestinal metabolic inertness and efficiency renal clearance of sucrose, we designed a liposome nanosensor using sucrose as a messenger to convert tumor-specific esterase activity into glucose meter readout, enabling economical and sensitive urinalysis for cancer detection in point-of-care testing (POCT). Our results demonstrate that the nanosensors exhibited significant signal differences between tumor-bearing and healthy mice in both orthotopic and metastatic tumor models. Additionally, efficient elimination of the nanosensors through the hepatobiliary pathway was observed with no significant toxicity. Such a non-invasive diagnostic modality significantly assists in personalized pharmacological treatment and follow-up efficacy assessment. We envision that this modular liposome nanosensor platform might be applied for economically detecting diverse diseases via a simple urinary test.

Exploring the formation pathway and antioxidant properties of the sugar-smoking pigment 5-GGMF.

The present study aimed to elucidate the pathway of pigment formation and identify the source of antioxidant activity during sugar smoking. Building upon previous research, this investigation replicated the sucrose cleavage process involved in sugar-smoking through model reactions to obtain distinct model reaction products. The products were analyzed using various techniques such as ultraviolet-visible spectrometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The findings revealed that the pyrolysis of sucrose at 330 °C yielded glucose and fructose, with fructose pyrolysis producing significantly more 5-HMF than glucose. Moreover, the antioxidant capacity of 5-HMF was found to make a substantial contribution. The primary source of 5-HMF was identified as fructose resulting from the cleavage of sucrose at 330 °C, while the primary pathway for the formation of the sugar-smoking pigment 5-GGMF was attributed to the intermolecular dehydration of 5-HMF and glucose at 150 °C.

An investigation of excipients for a stable Orf viral vector formulation.

The Orf virus (ORFV) is a promising candidate for vector vaccines as well as for immunomodulatory and oncolytic therapies. However, few publications are available on its infectivity degradation or on suitable additives for prolonging its viral stability. In this study, the non-supplemented ORFV itself showed a very high stability at storage temperatures up to 28 °C, with a linear titer loss of 0.10 log infectious particles per day at 4 °C over a period of five weeks. To prolong this inherent stability, thirty additives, i.e., detergents, sugars, proteins, salts, and buffers as well as amino acids, were tested for their time- and temperature-dependent influence on the ORFV infectivity. A stabilizing effect on the infectivity was identified for the addition of all tested proteins, i.e., gelatine, bovine serum albumin, and recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA), of several sugars, i.e., mannitol, galactose, sucrose, and trehalose, of amino acids, i.e., arginine and proline, of the detergent Pluronic F68, and of the salt Na2SO4. The infectivity preservation was especially pronounced for proteins in liquid and frozen formulations, sugars in frozen state, and arginine und Pluronic in liquid formulations at high storage temperatures (37 °C). The addition of 1% rHSA with and without 5% sucrose was evaluated as a very stable formulation with a high safety profile and economic validity at storage temperatures up to 28 °C. At increased temperatures, the supplementation with 200 mM arginine performed better than with rHSA. In summary, this comprehensive data provides different options for a stable ORFV formulation, considering temperature, storage time, economic aspects, and downstream processing integrity.

Enhancement of debitterness, water-solubility, and neuroprotective effects of naringin by transglucosylation.

Naringin found in citrus fruits is a flavanone glycoside with numerous biological activities. However, the bitterness, low water-solubility, and low bioavailability of naringin are the main issues limiting its use in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Herein, a glucansucrase from isolated Leuconostoc citreum NY87 was used for trans-α-glucosylattion of naringin by using sucrose as substrate. Two naringin glucosides (O-α-D-glucosyl-(1'''' → 6″) naringin (compound 1) and 4'-O-α-D-glucosyl naringin (compound 2)) were purified and determined their structures by nuclear magnetic resonance. The optimization condition for the synthesis of compound 1 was obtained at 10 mM naringin, 200 mM sucrose, and 337.5 mU/mL at 28 °C for 24 h by response surface methodology method. Compound 1 and compound 2 showed 1896- and 3272 times higher water solubility than naringin. Furthermore, the bitterness via the human bitter taste receptor TAS2R39 displayed that compound 1 was reduced 2.9 times bitterness compared with naringin, while compound 2 did not express bitterness at 1 mM. Both compounds expressed higher neuroprotective effects than naringin on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells treated with 5 mM scopolamine based on cell viability and cortisol content. Compound 1 reduced acetylcholinesterase activity more than naringin and compound 2. These results indicate that naringin glucosides could be utilized as functional material in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. KEY POINTS: • A novel O-α-D-glucosyl-(1 → 6) naringin was synthesized using glucansucrase from L. citreum NY87. • Naringin glucosides improved water-solubility and neuroprotective effects on SH-SY5Y cells. • Naringin glucosides showed a decrease in bitterness on bitter taste receptor 39.

Toxicological and pharmacokinetic properties of sucralose-6-acetate and its parent sucralose: in vitro screening assays.

The purpose of this study was to determine the toxicological and pharmacokinetic properties of sucralose-6-acetate, a structural analog of the artificial sweetener sucralose. Sucralose-6-acetate is an intermediate and impurity in the manufacture of sucralose, and recent commercial sucralose samples were found to contain up to 0.67% sucralose-6-acetate. Studies in a rodent model found that sucralose-6-acetate is also present in fecal samples with levels up to 10% relative to sucralose which suggest that sucralose is also acetylated in the intestines. A MultiFlow® assay, a high-throughput genotoxicity screening tool, and a micronucleus (MN) test that detects cytogenetic damage both indicated that sucralose-6-acetate is genotoxic. The mechanism of action was classified as clastogenic (produces DNA strand breaks) using the MultiFlow® assay. The amount of sucralose-6-acetate in a single daily sucralose-sweetened drink might far exceed the threshold of toxicological concern for genotoxicity (TTCgenotox) of 0.15 µg/person/day. The RepliGut® System was employed to expose human intestinal epithelium to sucralose-6-acetate and sucralose, and an RNA-seq analysis was performed to determine gene expression induced by these exposures. Sucralose-6-acetate significantly increased the expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer with greatest expression for the metallothionein 1 G gene (MT1G). Measurements of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and permeability in human transverse colon epithelium indicated that sucralose-6-acetate and sucralose both impaired intestinal barrier integrity. Sucralose-6-acetate also inhibited two members of the cytochrome P450 family (CYP1A2 and CYP2C19). Overall, the toxicological and pharmacokinetic findings for sucralose-6-acetate raise significant health concerns regarding the safety and regulatory status of sucralose itself.

Selection of cryoprotectants for freezing and freeze-drying of gold nanoparticles towards further uses in various applications.

Recently, cryopreservation of AuNPs without aggregation has been attempted to improve their long-term stability. This study investigated criteria to select cryoprotectants for AuNPs using a variety of materials, including sugar (sucrose), surfactant (Tween 20), polymers (polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)), and biopolymer (pectin). For cryoprotective performance, UV-vis spectroscopy reveals the potential of all cryoprotectants for preventing citrate-capped AuNPs (cit-AuNPs) from irreversible aggregation under freezing. While sucrose, PVP, and pectin were more suitable than Tween 20 and PVA as cryoprotectants for lyophilization of AuNPs with the maintained redispersability. For storage and further use, Luria-Bertani agar plate, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicate impacts of the cryoprotectant coexisted with AuNPs after resuspension and imply that washing of the restored AuNPs is encouraged. Otherwise, running the restored AuNPs through applications, such as functionalization, protein conjugation, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), without washing the cryoprotectant could lead to inaccurate results. This study also serves as a guideline for a comprehensive practice flow of AuNP handling, encompassing the synthesis step, cryopreservation, and use after resuspension.

Natural Products from Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii (Mast.) Makino: A Review on Their Structural Analysis, Quality Control, Pharmacology, and Pharmacokinetics.

The calyxes and fruits of Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii (Mast.) Makino (P. alkekengi), a medicinal and edible plant, are frequently used as heat-clearing and detoxifying agents in thousands of Chinese medicine prescriptions. For thousands of years in China, they have been widely used in clinical practice to treat throat disease, hepatitis, and bacillary dysentery. This systematic review summarizes their structural analysis, quality control, pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics. Furthermore, the possible development trends and perspectives for future research studies on this medicinal plant are discussed. Relevant information on the calyxes and fruits of P. alkekengi was collected from electronic databases, Chinese herbal classics, and Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Moreover, information was collected from ancient documents in China. The components isolated and identified in P. alkekengi include steroids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, nucleosides, terpenoids, megastigmane, aliphatic derivatives, organic acids, coumarins, and sucrose esters. Steroids, particularly physalins and flavonoids, are the major characteristic and bioactive ingredients in P. alkekengi. According to the literature, physalins are synthesized by the mevalonate and 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate pathways, and flavonoids are synthesized by the phenylpropanoid pathway. Since the chemical components and pharmacological effects of P. alkekengi are complex and varied, there are different standards for the evaluation of its quality and efficacy. In most cases, the analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet detection. A pharmacological study showed that the crude extracts and isolated compounds from P. alkekengi had extensive in vitro and in vivo biological activities (e.g., anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, immunosuppressive, antibacterial, anti-leishmanial, anti-asthmatic, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidative, anti-malarial, anti-Alzheimer's disease, and vasodilatory). Moreover, the relevant anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor mechanisms were elucidated. The reported activities indicate the great pharmacological potential of P. alkekengi. Similarly, studies on the pharmacokinetics of specific compounds will also contribute to the progress of clinical research in this setting.

Gallic Acid Mitigates 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Formation while Enhancing or Preserving Browning and Antioxidant Activity Development in Glucose/Arginine and Sucrose/Arginine Maillard Model Systems.

The current trend of lowering 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) dietary exposure is challenging since its formation is parallel with the development of food color, flavor and aroma. We aimed to investigate the effect of gallic acid (GA) addition on 5-HMF formation, color development and antioxidant activity (AA) in a series of Maillard Reaction (MR) model systems. The effects of GA addition on browning and AA development were not uniform for all model systems, but always occurred in the same direction, indicating that these phenomena were interconnected. GA mitigated 5-HMF development in four of the nine tested systems, possibly by preventing the oxidation of MR intermediates. Correlation analysis indicated that when GA addition mitigated 5-HMF formation, browning was either promoted or not affected. The proposed strategy was effective for glucose/arginine and sucrose/arginine systems, since GA mitigated 5-HMF formation (49% and 54%, respectively) in addition to increasing color development and antioxidant activity.

Preventive effects of black soybean polyphenols on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in three different mouse models.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its advanced stage, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), are a major health issue throughout the world. Certain food components such as polyphenols are expected to possess preventive effects on NAFLD and NASH. In this study, the preventive effects of black soybean polyphenols were examined by using three NAFLD/NASH animal models. In a choline-deficient and L-amino acid-defined high-fat diet-induced NASH model, the intake of black soybean polyphenols decreased oxidative stress, but failed in attenuating liver injury and decreasing the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). In a Western diet with sucrose and fructose containing sweetened water-induced NAFLD model, black soybean polyphenols suppressed hepatic lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, aminotransferase activities in the plasma, inflammatory cytokine expression, and α-SMA expression accompanied by modulation of lipid metabolism. In a combination of Western diet and carbon tetrachloride model, black soybean polyphenols also suppressed hepatic lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, aminotransferase activities in the plasma, and α-SMA expression. In conclusion, black soybean is an attractive food for the prevention of NAFLD and NASH due to its strong antioxidant activity.

Quantification and cytotoxicity of degradation products (chloropropanols) in sucralose containing e-liquids with propylene glycol and glycerol as base.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have gained increasing popularity in recent years, mostly because they are supposed to be less harmful than regular cigarettes. Therefore, it is highly imperative to investigate possible noxious effects to protect the consumers. E-liquids consist of propylene glycol, glycerol, aroma compounds and sweeteners. One of these sweeteners is a chlorinated version of sucrose, namely sucralose. The aim of this work was to investigate degradation products of sucralose in the presence of propylene glycol and glycerol at different temperatures of commercially available e-cigarettes. Chemical analysis and biological tests were simultaneously performed on e-liquid aerosol condensates. The results of the chemical analysis, which was executed by employing GC-MS/GC-FID, demonstrated high amounts of various chloropropanols. The most abundant one is extremely toxic, namely 3-chloropropane-1,2-diol, which can be detected at concentrations ranging up to 10,000 mg/kg. Furthermore, a cytotoxicity investigation of the condensates was performed on HUVEC/Tert2 cells in which metabolic activity was determined by means of resazurin assay. The cellular metabolic activity significantly decreased by treatment with e-liquid aerosol condensate. Due to the results of this study, we advise against the use of sucralose as sweetener in e-liquids.

Uncovering the multi-level response of Glycine max L. to the application of allelopathic biostimulant from Levisticum officinale Koch.

The interest expressed by the agriculture in the category of innovative biostimulants is due to the intensive search for natural preparations. Our study is the first ever to report a complex approach to the use of allelopathic extracts from Levisticum officinale Koch. roots in soybean cultivation, includes analyses of morphological observations, and analyses of biochemical indicators. Hot method of aqueous extraction was applied. The extracts were administered via foliar application and soil treatment. Lovage extracts had high contents of polyphenolic compounds and rich micro- and macroelemental composition. The infusions did not contain gibberellic acid and indole-3-acetic acid but the abscisic acid and saccharose, glucose, and fructose were found. The extracts modified soybean plant physiology, as manifested by changes in biometric traits. Plants responded positively by increased yield. Seeds from the treated plants had higher contents of micro- and macroelements, as well as total concentrations of lipids (with a slight decrease in protein content). In addition, they featured changes in their amino acid profile and fatty acid composition. The application of allelopathic biostimulant caused increased concentrations of isoflavones and saponins. The natural biostimulants from Levisticum officinale may become a valuable tool in the sustainable agriculture.

Encapsulation of ginger oleoresin in co-crystallized sucrose: development, characterization and storage stability.

Ginger oleoresin was emulsified with gum acacia and encapsulated in a sucrose matrix by co-crystallization. The increased void space and surface area of sucrose provided a porous base for the incorporation of oleoresin. This co-crystallization led to modification from crystalline to irregular agglomerates, as evident from X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Hygroscopicity, water sorption isotherms and water activity demonstrated changes due to the change in crystallinity of sucrose. The active components such as [6]-, [8]- and [10]-gingerols and [6]-shogaol were quantified by HPLC. The encapsulation efficiency of [6]-gingerol was 45.59%. The storage kinetics at different relative humidity levels and temperatures indicated [6]-gingerol to be the most stable among the gingerols studied. A temperature of 25 °C and relative humidity of 33% proved to be the best storage conditions for the ginger flavoured sugar cubes. Thus, co-crystallization for the encapsulation of ginger oleoresin serves a dual purpose, i.e., protection and a mode of delivering a spicy flavour.

One-step preparation of photoclick method for embolic microsphere synthesis and assessment for transcatheter arterial embolization.

Vascular embolization is a well-known therapeutic treatment against hepatocellular carcinoma. However, existing embolic agents require complex synthesis, toxic organic solvents and sometimes produce only low yields. In this study, a novel photopolymerization technique, which addresses these issues, was used to prepare embolic microspheres successfully from the sucrose multi-allyl ether monomer in one step. Compared to the preparation of such microspheres always involved in multiple steps or complicated conditions, we obtained the microspheres used photoclick method in a soft template with simple, economic and feasible procedure. This work focuses on the synthesis of new materials by conducting a photopolymerzation in the presence of the sucrose monomer and the photoinitiator. Then, the embolic microspheres obtained were characterized by morphology assay, degradation, and swelling test. Cell experiments showed that the microspheres had good biocompatibility. Rabbit embolizations showed that the microspheres had long-term embolic effects. It is manifested that one-step preparation of photoclick method hold great potential and competitiveness of being used in preparation embolic microspheres in clinic.

Effects of concentrations, temperature, pH and co-solutes on the rheological properties of mucilage from Dioscorea opposita Thunb. and its antioxidant activity.

The mucilage from Dioscorea opposita (DOM) dispersions presented shear-thinning behaviour that well fitted to the Power Law model. The effects of different concentrations (2%-10% w/v), temperatures (25-80 °C), pH (3.0-9.0), freeze-thaw conditions (thawed at 25 °C and 4 °C), co-salts (KCl and CaCl2) and co-sugars (sucrose, fructose and mannose) on the rheological properties were investigated. Generally, higher concentrations, neutral pH, Ca2+ and sugars increased the viscosity of DOM, while increasing temperature (25-65 °C) had opposite effects. The results suggested that cross-linked networks exist in DOM, and viscosity changes may be related to the ionisation of carboxyl groups, structural changes and enhancement/reduction of molecular interactions. Particularly, Ca2+ could interact with uronic acids of two or more polysaccharide molecules, modify the network-structure through cross-linking with carboxyl groups, and enhance the stronger carboxylate-cation2+-carboxylate interactions. Therefore, DOM is suitable for food applications as thickening or gelling agents in aqueous solutions.

Effect of Sucrose Esterified Fatty Acid Moieties on the Crystal Nanostructure and Physical Properties of Water-in-oil Palm-based Fat Blends.

The effects of sucrose ester of fatty acid (SEF) on the nanostructure and the physical properties of water-in-oil (W/O)-type emulsified semisolid fats were investigated. Model emulsions including palm-based semisolid fats and fully hydrogenated rapeseed oils with 0.5% SEF or fractionated lecithin, were prepared by rapidly cooling crystallization using 0.5% monoacylglycerol as an emulsifier. The SEFs used in this study were functionalized with various fatty acids, namely, lauric, palmitic, stearic, oleic, and erucic acids. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) was used to observe the sizes of the solvent- extracted nanoplatelets. The solid fat content (SFC), oil migration value, and storage elastic modulus were also determined. The average crystal size, which was measured in length, of the fat blends with SEFs containing saturated fatty acids (namely, palmitic and stearic acids) was smaller than that of the SEFs containing unsaturated fatty acids (namely, oleic and erucic acids). The effects exerted by these fatty acid moieties on the spherulite size in the corresponding bulk fat blends were observed via polarized microscopy (PLM). The results suggest that nanostructure formation upon the addition of SEF ultimately influenced these aggregated microstructures. Generally, smaller platelets resulted in higher SFC in the fat phase, and a high correlation between the SFC and the G' values in W/O emulsion fats was observed (R2 = 0.884) at 30°C. In contrast, the correlation was low at 10℃. Furthermore, samples with larger nanocrystals had a higher propensity for oil migration. Thus, the addition of SEF regulated the fat crystal nanostructure during nucleation and crystal growth, which could ultimately influence the physical properties of commercially manufactured fat products such as margarine.