Cold atmospheric plasma-induced protein modification: Novel nonthermal processing technology to improve protein quality, functionality, and allergenicity reduction.

With the constant increase in protein demand globally, it is expedient to develop a strategy to effectively utilize protein, particularly those extracted from plant origin, which has been associated with low digestibility, poor techno-functional properties, and inherent allergenicity. Several thermal modification approaches have been developed to overcome these limitations and showed excellent results. Nevertheless, the excessive unfolding of the protein, aggregation of unfolded proteins, and irregular protein crosslinking have limited its application. Additionally, the increased consumer demand for natural products with no chemical additives has created a bottleneck for chemical-induced protein modification. Therefore, researchers are now directed toward other nonthermal technologies, including high-voltage cold plasma, ultrasound, high-pressure protein, etc., for protein modification. The techno-functional properties, allergenicity, and protein digestibility are greatly influenced by the applied treatment and its process parameters. Nevertheless, the application of these technologies, particularly high-voltage cold plasma, is still in its primary stage. Furthermore, the protein modification mechanism induced by high-voltage cold plasma has not been fully explained. Thus, this review meets the necessity to assemble the recent information on the process parameters and conditions for modifying proteins by high-voltage cold plasma and its impact on protein techno-functional properties, digestibility, and allergenicity.

A new UHPLC-HRMS metabolomics approach for the rapid and comprehensive analysis of phenolic compounds in blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, cranberry and cherry fruits.

Phenolic compounds are considered an important group of bioactive molecules that are present in abundant quantities in fruits such as berries and cherries; hence, the analysis and quantification of these compounds are of significant interest to the scientific community. The current study aimed to develop a novel analytical method using liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) for the rapid, comprehensive and simultaneous analysis of 66 phenolic compounds optimized for the selected five types of fruits commercially available in Canada. Bioactive compounds that could potentially be metabolite markers for each berry were identified. Various phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in all five selected fruits. Notably, blackberries were rich in anthocyanins such as cyanidin-3-glucoside (368.4 ± 6 µg/g), while blueberries were rich in peonidin-3-glucoside (1083 ± 9 µg/g). In addition, raspberries and cherries contained significant amounts of cyanidin-3-rutinoside, at 3156 ± 36 µg/g and 301.3 ± 2 µg/g, respectively, while cranberries contained the highest concentrations of petunidin at 829.7 ± 3 µg/g. The newly developed and validated UHPLC-HRMS method proved helpful in comprehensively analyzing phenolic compounds in blueberry, raspberry, cranberry, blackberry and cherry. Identifying and quantifying bioactives can lead to applications in neutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries by using phenolic-rich berry extracts in functional foods, supplements, or pharmaceutical products.

Underutilized Canadian wild berries as potential sources of lipophilic bioactive compounds with antihypertensive properties.

Traditional berries are small fruits and are widely distributed in the Canadian prairies. The current study investigates the lipophilic bioactive compounds such as fatty acids, phytosterols, and terpenes, and their bioactivities, such as lipid peroxidation, as well as the antihypertensive activities of fourteen underutilized Canadian wild berries. These berries include Saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia), gooseberries (Ribes hirtellum), wild grapes (Vitis riparia), blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum), redcurrants (Ribes rubrum), haskap berries (Lonicera caerulea), wild raspberries (Rubus idaeus), wild blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium), chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa), buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), highbush cranberries (Viburnum trilobum), chokecherries (Prunus virginiana), nannyberries (Viburnum lentago) and snowberries (Symphoricarpos albus). The fatty acids, phytosterols, and terpenes were identified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Lipid peroxidation and the antihypertensive activity assessed by measuring the berries' angiotensin converting enzyme 1 (ACE1) inhibitory activity were determined using in vitro methods. Notably, wild grapes exhibited the highest (p < 0.05) total fat content (7659 ± 312 µg per g DW), followed by haskap berries (4650 ± 184 µg per g DW). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were highest (p < 0.05) in wild grapes (74%). Predominant phytosterols and terpenes identified in Canadian wild berries included ß-sitosterol, isofucosterol, phytol, and α-amyrin. Saskatoon berries and gooseberries showed a distinct phytosterol and terpene profile compared to the other wild berries. Snowberries demonstrated the highest (p < 0.05) lipid peroxidation and the lowest (p < 0.05) angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE1) activity. This research provides valuable insights into the lipophilic bioactive compounds and their potential activities in vitro of the Canadian wild berries, offering a foundation for further exploration and potential applications in the context of nutraceuticals and functional foods.

Chemically tailored graphite oxide nanoparticles for improving material properties of canola protein-based films.

Canola protein obtained from canola meal, a byproduct of the canola industry, is an economical biopolymer with promising film-forming properties. It has significant potential for use as a food packaging material, though it possesses some functional limitations that need improvement. Incorporating nanomaterials is an option to enhance functional properties. This study aims to produce canola protein films by integrating GO exfoliated at several oxidation times and weight ratios to optimize mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties. Oxidation alters the C/O ratio and adds functional groups that bond with the amino/carboxyl groups of protein, enhancing the film properties. Significant improvement was obtained in GO at 60 and 120 min oxidation time and 3% addition level. Tensile strength and elastic modulus increased 200% and 481.72%, respectively, compared to control. Control films showed a 37.57 × 10-3 cm3m/m2/day/Pa oxygen permeability, and it was significantly reduced to 5.65 × 10-3 cm3m/m2/day/Pa representing a 665% reduction.

Reinforcing canola protein matrix with chemically tailored nanocrystalline cellulose improves the functionality of canola protein-based packaging materials.

Canola protein derived from the canola industry byproduct is a potent biopolymer source to develop sustainable food packaging materials, but it has limitations due to its poor mechanical and barrier properties. Nanomaterials such as nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) have shown promising potential in improving material properties. The current study aimed to enhance the functionality of canola protein-based films using TEMPO ((2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl) modified nanocrystalline cellulose (TM-NCC). TEMPO modification was performed using TEMPO/NaClO/NaBr based oxidation. Modified and unmodified nanocrystalline cellulose (U-NCC) were used at different weight ratios to prepare the films. TEMPO-mediated oxidation converted 19.61 ± 3.53 % of primary -OH groups into -COOH groups. The addition of U-NCC and TM-NCC significantly increased the tensile strength reporting the highest value of 8.36 ± 0.85 MPa for 5% TM-NCC, which was only 3.43 ± 0.66 MPa for control films. Interestingly, both U-NCC and TM-NCC enhanced the films' water barrier and thermal properties compared to control.

Antibacterial and antiviral high-performance nanosystems to mitigate new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

The increased severity of the COVID-19 infection due to new SARS-CoV-2 variants has resonated pandemic impact which made health experts to re-evaluate the effectiveness of pandemic management strategies. This becomes critical owing to the infection in large population and shortcomings in the existing global healthcare system worldwide. The designing of high-performance nanosystems (NS) with tunable performances seems to be the most efficient method to tackle infectious SARS-CoV-2 variants including recently emerged omicron mutation. In this direction, experts projects the versatile functionalized NS and their capabilities to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 propagation pathways by sensitization, antipathogenicity, photocatalysis, photothermal effects, immune response, developing efficient diagnostics assays or associated, selective biomarkers detection, and targeted drug delivery systems. To achieve these tasks, this opinion article project the importance of the fabrication of nano-enabled protective gear, masks, gloves, sheets, filtration units, nano-emulsified disinfectants, antiviral/bacterial paints, and therangostics to facilitate quarantine strategies via protection, detection, and treatment needed to manage COVID-19 pandemic in personalized manners. These functional protective high-performance antibacterial and antiviral NS can efficiently tackle the SARS-CoV-2 variants transmission through respiratory fluids and pollutants within water droplets, aerosols, air, and particulates along with their severe infection via neutralizing or eradicating the virus.

Hydrogels from feather keratin show higher viscoelastic properties and cell proliferation than those from hair and wool keratins.

Hydrogel prepared from keratin shows potential applications in tissue engineering. However, the importance of the keratin sources has not been considered. The objectives of this study were to characterize and compare the rheological (storage modulus), physical (porosity, pore size, swelling capacity, and water contact angle) and in vitro cell compatibility of hydrogel scaffolds prepared from various keratin sources. Keratins were characterized by means of their molecular weight, amino acid composition, thermal and conformational properties. Hydrogels from chicken feather keratins demonstrated substantially higher storage modulus (G') than hair and wool keratin hydrogels. However, higher swelling capacity (>3000%) was determined in hair and wool over feather keratin (1500%) hydrogels. Our results suggest that small molecular weight and ß-sheet conformation of feather keratin (~10 kDa) facilitated the self-assembly of rigid hydrogels through disulfide bond re-oxidation. Whereas, high molecular weight (10-75 kDa) stretchable α-helix conformation in hair and wool keratins resulted in weaker hydrogels. The cell cultures using fibroblasts showed the highest proliferation rate on chicken feather keratin hydrogel scaffolds. After 15 days of culture, partial breakdown of keratin fibers was observed. Results indicate that stiffer avian keratins can be used to fabricate more mechanically robust biomaterials than mammalian keratins.

Protein and Peptides for Elderly Health.

The world is aging rapidly; thus, the management of elderly health at an advanced age poses a new research challenge. The elderly is vulnerable to not only malnutrition but also hypofunction of all organs and a variety of chronic diseases such as sarcopenia, osteoporosis, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and mental problems. As the major macronutrient, food protein plays an important role in elderly health and well-being. In this chapter, the function of protein and peptide in elderly health as well as their effects on preventing aging-related disease is reviewed.

Graphite Oxide Improves Adhesion and Water Resistance of Canola Protein-Graphite Oxide Hybrid Adhesive.

Protein derived adhesives are extensively explored as a replacement for synthetic ones, but suffers from weak adhesion and water resistance. Graphite oxide (GO) has been extensively used in nanocomposites, but not in adhesives applications. The objectives of this study were to prepare functionally improved protein adhesive by exfoliating GO with different oxidation levels, and to determine the effect of GO on adhesion mechanism. GO were prepared by oxidizing graphite for 0.5, 2, and 4 h (GO-A, GO-B and GO-C, respectively). Increasing oxidation time decreased C/O ratio; while the relative proportion of C-OH, and C = O groups initially increased up to 2 h of oxidation, but reduced upon further oxidation. Canola protein-GO hybrid adhesive (CPA-GO) was prepared by exfoliating GO at a level of 1% (w/w). GO significantly increased (p < 0.05) adhesion; where GO-B addition showed the highest dry, and wet strength of 11.67 ± 1.00, and 4.85 ± 0.61 MPa, respectively. The improvements in adhesion was due to the improved exfoliation of GO, improved adhesive and cohesive interactions, increased hydrogen bonding, increased hydrophobic interactions and thermal stability of CPA-GO. GO, as we proposed for the first time is easier to process and cost-effective in preparing protein-based adhesives with significantly improved functionalities.

Purification and characterization of antioxidant peptides from enzymatically hydrolyzed chicken egg white.

Egg white is considered as a rich source of high quality proteins with various bioactive peptide fractions. Enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins can be used to release bioactive fractions and different enzymes have different abilities in releasing such bioactive fractions depending on the enzyme's site of activity on a protein. In this study, several proteases were examined for their ability to release antioxidant peptides from hen egg white and protease P was selected based on the antioxidant activity and the digestion yield of the crude protein hydrolysate. A combination of several purification steps including ultrafiltration with low molecular weight cut-off membranes, cation exchange chromatography and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography was used to purify 'protease P egg white hydrolysate'. Sixteen antioxidant peptides, which were derived from ovalbumin, ovotransferrin and cystatin were isolated from the most active fractions. Amino acid sequences of those peptides were determined using LC-MS/MS. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values of selected short chain peptides were determined using synthetic peptides. Two peptides AEERYP and DEDTQAMP (Ala-Glu-Glu-Arg-Tyr-Pro and Asp-Glu-Asp-Thr-Gln-Ala-Met-Pro) showed the highest ORAC values. The results from this study indicate that egg white is rich in antioxidant peptides which can be used as a potential source for preparing bioactive ingredients using enzymatic hydrolysis followed by purification techniques.