Binding and distribution regularity of water molecules in high-moisture textured Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) meat.

High-moisture extrusion technique with the advantage of high efficiency and low energy consumption is a promising strategy for processing Antarctic krill meat. Consequently, this study aimed to prepare high-moisture textured Antarctic krill meat (HMTAKM) with a rich fiber structure at different water contents (53 %, 57 %, and 61 %) and to reveal the binding and distribution regularity of water molecules, which is closely related to the fiber structure of HMTAKM and has been less studied. The hydrogen-bond network results indicated the presence of at least two or more types of water molecules with different hydrogen bonds. Increasing the water content of HMTAKM promoted the formation of hydrogen bonds between the water molecules and protein molecules, leading to the transition of the ß-sheet to the α-helix. These findings offer a novel viable processing technique for Antarctic krill and a new understanding of the fiber formation of high-moisture textured proteins.

A novel gelatin composite film with melt extrusion for walnut oil packaging.

Gelatin have excellent film-forming and barrier properties, but its lack of biological activity limits its application in packaging. In this study, fish gelatin incorporated with apple polyphenol/cumin essential oil composite films were successfully prepared by melt extrusion. The cross-linking existed in gelatin and apple polyphenol improved the thermal stability and oxidation resistance of the film. The synergistic effect of apple polyphenols and cumin essential oil decreased the sensitivity of the film to water, especially the water solubility decreased from 41.60 % to 26.07 %. The plasticization of essential oil nearly doubled the elongation at break while maintaining the tensile strength of the film (11.45 MPa). Furthermore, the FG-CEO-AP film can inhibit peroxide value to extend the shelf life about 20 days in the walnut oil preservation. In summary, the apple polyphenol/cumin essential oil of FG film exhibits excellent comprehensive properties and high preparation efficiency for utilization as an active packaging material.

Optimization of starch foam extrusion through PVA polymerization, moisture content control, and CMCS incorporation for enhanced antibacterial cushioning packaging.

Melt strength and moisture content are critical parameters in starch foam extrusion, as they dictate bubble expansion dynamics, which subsequently determine the foam's properties. Despite continuous advancements in the development and application of starch foams, challenges such as water resistance, mechanical strength, and antibacterial activity remain unresolved. This research investigates the influence of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymerization and moisture content on the properties of extruded foam while also exploring the potential for enhancing antimicrobial functionality by incorporating carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) into conventional starch foams. The findings underscore the significance of melt strength and intermolecular entanglements in shaping foam characteristics, confirming that bioactive components effectively improve hydrophobicity, foaming characteristics, and antibacterial capabilities. Moreover, by precisely regulating PVA polymerization and moisture content, it became feasible to optimize foam properties and achieve the desired performance. Specifically, foam with a moisture content of 12 % and a PVA polymerization degree of 1700 exhibited exceptional performance, including the highest foaming ratio of 45.62, the minimal water absorption rate of 6.31 %, and the greatest recovery rate of 88.95 %. Furthermore, increasing CMCS concentrations substantially enhances the antibacterial properties of the foam, demonstrating its potential for application in antibacterial cushioning packaging and emphasizing its versatility and practicality.

Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes Complexes.

The Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) protein complexes are DNA-binding molecular machines required to shape chromosomes into functional units and to safeguard the genome through cell division. These ring-shaped multi-subunit protein complexes, which are present in all kingdoms of life, achieve this by organizing chromosomes in three-dimensional space. Mechanistically, the SMC complexes hydrolyze ATP to either stably entrap DNA molecules within their lumen, or rapidly reel DNA into large loops, which allow them to link two stretches of DNA in cis or trans. In this chapter, the canonical structure of the SMC complexes is first introduced, followed by a description of the composition and general functions of the main types of eukaryotic and prokaryotic SMC complexes. Thereafter, the current model for how SMC complexes perform in vitro DNA loop extrusion is presented. Lastly, chromosome loop formation by SMC complexes is introduced, and how the DNA loop extrusion mechanism contributes to chromosome looping by SMC complexes in cells is discussed.

Quality characteristics and fibrous structure formation mechanism of walnut protein and wheat gluten meat analogues during high-moisture extrusion cooking process.

Blending two or more materials to create better high-moisture meat analogues has been actively studied in the food science and technology field. Walnut protein is a high-quality plant-based protein resource, yet its full potential remains underexploited. Thus, this study focused on exploring the quality characteristics and fibrous structure formation mechanism of walnut protein (WP) and wheat gluten (WG) meat analogues during high-moisture extrusion cooking process. Results showed that the optimized WP and WG-blended high-moisture meat analogues exhibited a more pronounced anisotropic and oriented fibrous structure. The blending of WP and WG can protect the molecular chains from the thermal transition, and promote the aggregation of protein molecules mainly by enhancing the interaction between hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds, increasing the apparent viscosity and forming protein subunits with larger molecular weights (>100 kDa) to stabilize the newly formed conformation. Additionally, the content of α-helix was the highest among the secondary structures. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of WG and WP to produce HMMAs with rich fibrous structures.

Tailoring enzyme modified starch through high-moisture extrusion: Unraveling structure-property relationships.

The conventional method of producing enzyme modified starch (ES) involves using a dilute starch suspension, which necessitated substantial heat expenditure for drying the product and resulted in significant energy waste. Improved extrusion cooking technology (IECT) could extrude materials under high moisture, and it is a new physical modification technology. A comprehensive investigation was undertaken to produce enzyme modified starch (ES) with varying dextrose equivalent (DE) using IECT. The study systematically explored the effects of different screw speeds on the resulting IECT-ES properties. And principal component analysis and artificial neural network analysis were used to explore the correlation between data and the synaptic weight relationships. Results indicated that Maltese cross of IECT-ES disappeared, the R1047/1022 and R995/1022 decreased to 0.7305 and 0.9012 respectively, the full width at half maximum at 480 cm-1 increased to 26.81 %, light transmittance increased to 21.20 % and DE value rose to 14.19 % at 300 rpm. The properties evolution of IECT-ES was closely related to changes in structure and conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of IECT as an alternative method for producing enzyme modified starch. The findings provide valuable insights into more energy-efficient starch modification processes.

Improving the material extrusion processing of thermoplastic olefin/graphene nanoplatelet composites through control of the morphology.

The aim of this research is to develop thermoplastic olefin (TPO) composites containing polypropylene (PP), an elastomeric ethylene-octene copolymer (EOC) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), suitable for material extrusion (MEX). A PP functionalized with amino-pyridine (PP-g-Py) was used as a compatibilizer. The composite blends had droplet-matrix morphology at compositions as high as 40 wt% EOC. Imaging by Transmission Electron Microscopy showed that the GNPs resided at the interface between the blend components. This microstructure promoted higher thermal conductivity of the TPO/GNP composite blends, as compared to the PP/GNP composite (1.54 W/m K, vs 1.3 W/m K respectively). PP/GNP composites processed by MEX exhibited inadequate interfacial fusion between the deposited strands, which resulted in severe delamination during tensile and flexural testing, and consequently poor mechanical properties. In the TPO/GNP composites containing 40 wt% EOC, the slower crystallization of the elongated EOC domains promoted interfacial adhesion between the strands, resulting in better part consolidation, more consistent mechanical properties and improved ductility compared to the PP/GNP composites.

Polymer microsphere inks for semi-solid extrusion 3D printing at ambient conditions.

Extrusion-based 3D printing methods have great potential for manufacturing of personalized polymer-based drug-releasing systems. However, traditional melt-based extrusion techniques are often unsuitable for processing thermally labile molecules. Consequently, methods that utilize the extrusion of semi-solid inks under mild conditions are frequently employed. The rheological properties of the semi-solid inks have a substantial impact on the 3D printability, making it necessary to evaluate and tailor these properties. Here, we report a novel semi-solid extrusion 3D printing method based on utilization of a Carbopol gel matrix containing various concentrations of polymeric microspheres. We also demonstrate the use of a solvent vapor-based post-processing method for enhancing the mechanical strength of the printed objects. As our approach enables room-temperature processing of polymers typically used in the pharmaceutical industry, it may also facilitate the broader application of 3D printing and microsphere technologies in preparation of personalized medicine.

Effects of phosphorylation on CsTT12 transport function: A comparative phosphoproteomic analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis in tea plants (Camellia sinensis).

Monomeric flavan-3-ols and their oligomeric forms, proanthocyanidins (PAs), are closely related to the bitterness of tea beverages. Monomeric flavan-3-ols are characteristic flavor compounds in tea. Increasing the content of PAs and anthocyanins enhances the resistance of tea plants to pathogen invasion but decreases the quality of tea beverages. MATE family transporters play a critical role in transferring monomeric flavan-3-ols and anthocyanins into vacuoles for storage or subsequent condensation into PAs. Their activities modulate the ratio of monomeric flavan-3-ols to PAs and increase anthocyanin content in tea plants. In this study, it was observed that the gene expression and protein phosphorylation level of the MATE transporter CsTT12, a vacuole-localized flavonoid transporter, were notably upregulated following exogenous sucrose treatment, promoting PA synthesis in tea plants. Further analysis revealed that overexpression of CsTT12 and CsTT12S17D significantly increased the content of anthocyanins and PAs in plants, whereas CsTT12S17A did not. In CsTT12 knockdown plants, PA's accumulation decreased significantly, while monomeric catechin content increased. Moreover, phosphorylation modification enhanced the vacuolar membrane localization of CsTT12, whereas dephosphorylation weakened its vacuolar membrane localization. This study uncovers the crucial role of phosphorylation in flavonoid biosynthesis and provides insights into balancing quality improvements and resistance enhancement.

Biobased hydrogel bioinks of pectin, nanocellulose and lysozyme nanofibrils for the bioprinting of A375 melanoma cell-laden 3D in vitro platforms.

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive types of skin cancer, and the need for advanced platforms to study this disease and to develop new treatments is rising. 3D bioprinted tumor models are emerging as advanced tools to tackle these needs, with the design of adequate bioinks being a fundamental step to address this challenging process. Thus, this work explores the synergy between two biobased nanofibers, nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and lysozyme nanofibrils (LNFs), to create pectin nanocomposite hydrogel bioinks for the 3D bioprinting of A375 melanoma cell-laden living constructs. The incorporation of LNFs (5, 10 or 15 wt%) on a Pectin-NFC suspension originates inks with enhanced rheological properties (shear viscosity and yield point) and proper shear-thinning behavior. The crosslinked hydrogels mimic the stiffness of melanoma, being stable under physiological and cell-culture conditions, and non-cytotoxic towards A375 melanoma cells. P-NFC-LNFs (10 %) reveals good printability (Pr = 0.89) and printing accuracy (51 ±â€¯2 %), and when loaded with A375 cells (3 × 106 cells mL-1) the bioink originates 3D-constructs with high cell viability (92 ±â€¯1 %) after 14 days. The potential of the constructs as in vitro models is corroborated by a drug-screening test with doxorubicin, where cells within the model displayed high sensitivity to the drug.

Dog Breed and Starch Gelatinisation Correlation in Food Digestibility and Faecal Traits.

Large dog breeds commonly produce unformed faeces. The present study hypothesised that foods for large dog breeds require higher starch gelatinisation (SG) to reduce organic matter flow to colon. Fifteen Rottweilers (Ro; 49.4 ± 6.12 kg), 18 Beagles (Be; 12.13 ± 1.75 kg) and 20 Shih-Tzus (ST; 4.62 ± 1.15 kg) were fed one of three diets, all based on the same sorghum formulation, processed to obtain three levels of SG: SG90 (91.8% SG), SG50 (50.7% SG) and SG30 (27.4% SG). Foods were provided for 23 days, and the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients, faecal production and fermentation products, Na, K and Cl apparent absorption and gastrointestinal transit time (GTT) were evaluated. Results were submitted to analysis of variance considering SG, breed and their interactions, and means compared by the Tukey test (p < 0.05). All dogs promptly ate the foods. Faeces scores were lower for Ro than for Be and ST, and lower for SG30 than SG90 (p < 0.05). Faeces pH was higher, and total short-chain fatty acids were lower for SG90 than for SG50 and SG30 (p < 0.01), regardless of breed. No diet effect was observed for GTT (p > 0.05), but it was lower for Ro (41.7 ± 6.2 h) than for ST (48.7 ± 8.6 h). The CTTAD of nutrients was lower for SG30, intermediary for SG50 and higher for SG90 (p < 0.05), and among breeds CTTAD was higher for Be than ST and Ro (p < 0.05), which did not differ from each other, except for crude protein CTTAD which was lower for Ro (p < 0.05). The apparent absorption of Na and K was higher for the SG90 treatment, and for Be in comparison with Ro and ST (p < 0.05). Food SG had a remarkable influence on Ro faeces formation and on the CTTAD in all breeds. Greater fermentation in the colon and lower protein CTTAD may be involved in Ro unformed faeces formation.

Double distal corporal anchoring stitch for lateral penile implant cylinder extrusion.

BACKGROUND: The ventral and distal aspects of the corpora cavernosa are the thinnest, increasing the likelihood of cylinder extrusion or crossover complications pertaining to inflatable penile prosthesis procedures. A double distal corporal anchoring double stitch can be used to robustly secure impending lateral extrusions and crossovers of implant cylinders. It is a novel, effective corrective measure for the uncommon complication of migrated cylinders in inflatable penile prosthesis placement. AIM: To describe the surgical indications and technique for the double distal corporal anchoring fixation stitch for lateral penile implant cylinder extrusion. METHODS: We discuss a double-stitch technique that is performed following corporoplasty and capsulotomy. A lateral incision is made subcoronally on the affected side to identify the crossover or lateral extrusion. The cylinder is repositioned properly within the native corpora to prevent further cylinder migration. Two 2-0 Ethibond sutures are threaded through the distal cylinder eyelet, and each suture is delivered through the glans with a Keith needle and tied off. An incision is made in the glans, and 1 arm of each suture is tied with the other to create a bridge between the sutures that can be positioned deep within the skin of the glans. OUTCOMES: Over the past 4 years, 66 patients with lateral cylinder extrusion underwent the double distal corporal anchoring fixation stitch procedure, with overall improved satisfaction (97%). Only 2 patients had surgical complications. One patient experienced repeated lateral extrusion of the penile implant cylinders 6 weeks following the double-anchoring stitches procedure. The second patient developed a painful suture granuloma that necessitated excision, which resolved this issue, and the penile implant cylinder remained in the proper position over a year later. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This technique ensures the secure fixation of the affected cylinders in the surgical capsule by creating a bridge between 2 sutures holding each repositioned cylinder in place, and the ensuing fibrotic reaction helps to fixate the extruded cylinder within the midglandular tissue. STRENGTH AND LIMITATIONS: This surgical technique describes the double distal corporal anchoring stitch for lateral penile implant cylinder extrusion. Further studies are warranted to validate long-term outcomes and satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The double distal corporal anchoring fixation stitch is a safe and efficacious method to secure cylinders in the proper surgical capsule during revision procedures to correct distal crossovers or laterally extruded penile prosthesis implants.

Effects of Coaxial Nozzle's Inner Nozzle Diameter on Filament Strength and Gelation in Extrusion-Based 3D Printing with In Situ Ionic Crosslinking.

This study systematically investigates the effects of the coaxial nozzle's inner nozzle diameter on the strength and gelation of filaments produced via extrusion-based 3D printing with in situ ionic crosslinking. In this system, bioink (sodium alginate solution) was extruded through the outer nozzle, and the ionic crosslinking solution (calcium chloride solution) was extruded through the inner nozzle. The outer nozzle diameter was fixed at 2.16 mm, and the inner nozzle diameter was varied among 1.19, 0.84, and 0.584 mm. The results indicate that, as the inner nozzle diameter decreased, filament strength decreased, and filament gelation became poorer. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing inner nozzle diameter for improved filament strength and gelation in extrusion-based 3D printing with in situ ionic crosslinking.

Printability Metrics and Engineering Response of HDPE/Si3N4 Nanocomposites in MEX Additive Manufacturing.

Herein, silicon nitride (Si3N4) was the selected additive to be examined for its reinforcing properties on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) by exploiting techniques of the popular material extrusion (MEX) 3D printing method. Six different HDPE/Si3N4 composites with filler percentages ranging between 0.0-10.0 wt. %, having a 2.0 step, were produced initially in compounds, then in filaments, and later in the form of specimens, to be examined by a series of tests. Thermal, rheological, mechanical, structural, and morphological analyses were also performed. For comprehensive mechanical characterization, tensile, flexural, microhardness (M-H), and Charpy impacts were included. Scanning electron microscopy (SME) was used for morphological assessments and microcomputed tomography (µ-CT). Raman spectroscopy was conducted, and the elemental composition was assessed using energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The HDPE/Si3N4 composite with 6.0 wt. % was the one with an enhancing performance higher than the rest of the composites, in the majority of the mechanical metrics (more than 20% in the tensile and flexural experiment), showing a strong potential for Si3N4 as a reinforcement additive in 3D printing. This method can be easily industrialized by further exploiting the MEX 3D printing method.

Effects of soybean insoluble dietary fiber and CaCl2 on the structure and properties of low-moisture extruded products.

BACKGROUND: Texturized vegetable protein is currently a leading alternative to animal meat. This study examined the effects of soybean insoluble dietary fiber (SIDF) (0% to 20%) and CaCl2 (0% to 1%) on the structure and properties of extruded products made from a soybean protein isolate-wheat gluten (SPI-WG) composite. RESULTS: The study showed that SIDF (4% to 8%) increased the viscosity of extruded products, enhanced their specific mechanical energy, and improved their rehydration rate and tensile strength compared with a control group. The rehydration rate of the extruded products reached a maximum value of 331.67% in the 8% SIDF, 0.5% CaCl2 groups. The addition of excess SIDF prevented the cross-linking of protein molecules to form a loose network structure. Analysis of the infrared spectrum and intermolecular forces showed that physical interactions between fibers and proteins were the dominant forces, with hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds primarily maintaining the structure of the extruded products. The addition of CaCl2 (0.5%) led to protein aggregation and further improved the rehydration and tensile strength of extruded products. CONCLUSION: Soybean insoluble dietary fiber can improve the rehydration rate and quality of extruded products. The addition of CaCl2 mitigated the weakening of the protein structure caused by excess SIDF. These results provide a basis for the improvement of the quality of low-moisture-extruded texturized vegetable protein products with a high dietary fiber concentration and a high rehydration rate. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Medial Meniscal Extrusion After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) Associated With Meniscal Repair and Preoperative Extrusion.

INTRODUCTION: The risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis remains high even after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Medial meniscal extrusion (MME) is a valuable clinical sign as an early morphological change. This study aimed to analyze MME before and after ACLR and investigate the factors affecting postoperative MME. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included patients who underwent anatomical double-bundle ACLR between January 2016 and July 2021. MME was measured using MRI preoperatively and one year postoperatively. The medial meniscus (MM) treatments were categorized into three groups: no MM injury and no repair (no injury/no repair (N/N)), MM injury but no repair (injury/no repair (I/N)), and MM injury and repair (injury/repair (I/R)). We investigated the factors influencing MME after ACLR using multiple linear regression analysis and compared MME before and after ACLR using paired t-tests. RESULTS: This study included 133 patients, of whom 90 (37 males and 53 females) were analyzed. The mean age of the patients at surgery was 27.5 years, and 41, 27, and 22 patients were assigned into N/N, I/N, and I/R groups, respectively. Preoperative MME (p<0.001) and I/R (p<0.001) had significant effects on postoperative MME in a regression analysis. Postoperative MME had greater effects than the preoperative MME in all cases (1.16 and 1.53 mm (p<0.01)) and in every MM treatment group (N/N: 1.02 and 1.32 mm (p<0.01), I/N: 1.16 and 1.44 mm (p<0.01), and I/R: 1.42 and 2.05 mm (p<0.001)). CONCLUSIONS: Larger preoperative MME and receiving MM repair were significantly associated with a larger MME after ACLR. Postoperative MME in ACLR patients was significantly greater than preoperative MME.

Catheter Exchange With Elongation of Tunnel (CEET) Procedure-A Novel Technique for Cuff Extrusion of Tunneled Dialysis Catheter: Surgical Experience and Early Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Cuff extrusion of tunneled dialysis catheter (TDC) leads to catheter dysfunction, leading to loss of vascular access and the need for new catheter. Definitive management is to remove TDC and reinsert new catheter by new venous puncture and tunnel, which may not be possible in all cases. The study evaluated the surgical experience and early outcomes of a novel "Catheter Exchange with Elongation of Tunnel (CEET)" procedure for cuff extrusion. METHODS: The retrospective study included all cases of hemodialysis with TDC with partial or complete cuff extrusion and excluded complete catheter dislodgement, tunnel infection, or any catheter related infection. All patients also underwent the CEET procedure under fluoroscopy guidance, and the clinical details and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Eleven cases of TDC cuff extrusion underwent the CEET procedure of which three (27.2%) had previous and four (36.4%) had partial cuff extrusion, and seven cases (63.6%) had short tunnel length, which likely predisposed to cuff extrusion. CEET procedure was successful in 10 cases (success rate 90.1%) with desired position of catheter tip and good blood flow. Study population was divided into early and late cuff extrusion (≥1 month). Short tunnel length was associated with late extrusion (p = 0.05), whereas premature removal of TDC anchor sutures was associated with early cuff extrusion (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: CEET procedure is a successful alternative technique for correction of cuff extrusion of TDC with good success rate. Premature removal of anchor sutures was associated with early cuff extrusion, whereas short tunnel length was associated with late cuff extrusion.

Biodegradable antimicrobial films prepared in a continuous way by melt extrusion using plant extracts as effective components.

Packaging plays an important role in delaying food spoilage. However, conventional packaging films do not have antimicrobial properties. Films with antimicrobial components are receiving growing research interest. However, many of the reported studies use conventional non-degradable polymers during film preparation, posing a significant threat to the environment and sustainable development. Furthermore, conventional inorganic antibacterial agents are commonly used during film preparation, posing a risk to food safety. In this study, antibacterial compounds were extracted from diverse plants, and then biodegradable antimicrobial films were prepared in a continuous way via the melt extrusion method. Especially, films prepared using Vernicia fordii and Phyllanthus urinaria extracts showed effective antibacterial activities against common foodborne pathogens. This study is the first to prepare antibacterial films in a continuous way using natural plant extracts as the effective components, and may shed new light on future research in preparing green antibacterial films via environment-friendly approaches.

Unraveling the impact of thermal modulation in heating and cooling dies on the fibrous structure of high-moisture meat alternatives.

We aimed to create high-moisture plant-based meat alternatives (HPMAs) that closely mimic the fibrous structure found in conventional meat. To achieve this goal, we focused on the impact of modulating the heating and cooling die temperatures during the extrusion process on the structural properties of HPMAs. The optimal temperatures for the heating and cooling dies were determined to be 160 and 50 °C, respectively, following a comprehensive analysis of various quality characteristics. These included assessments of cutting strength, texturization degree, moisture content, and microstructure. Analyzing the correlation coefficients between heating and cooling die temperatures and the quality characteristics of HPMAs revealed that modulating the cooling die temperature has a greater impact on quality characteristics than modulating the heating die temperature. The quality characteristics of HPMAs were also compared with those of boiled and sous-vide cooked chicken breasts. The optimal HPMA exhibited the most similar fibrous macro- and micro-structure to sous-vide cooked chicken breast. Consequently, our study highlights the importance of modulating the heating die and cooling die temperatures, among various process parameters of high-moisture extrusion cooking, which is crucial for producing HPMAs closely resembling conventional meat.

Sugar inclusion influences the expansion characteristics of corn starch extrudates.

Corn starch-based direct expanded products incorporated with 2% and 10% (w/w) sugar (fructose, glucose, sucrose, and xylose) were produced using a 20 mm co-rotating twin-screw extruder. The pasting and thermal properties of raw corn starch-sugar mixes were analyzed before extrusion processing. The independent variables for extrusion processing included two sugar inclusion levels (2% and 10% w/w) and two screw speeds (150 and 250 rpm). The extrudates were characterized by their initial expansion ratio (IER), expansion ratio (ER), and shrinkage. ER values were high for fructose at 2% and 150 rpm and 10% glucose and sucrose extrudates at 250 rpm. The extrudates with 2% sucrose inclusion shrunk significantly higher than the control. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of the extruded blends did not indicate the presence of any new covalent bond formed between starch and sugar post-extrusion. The interactions between sugar concentration and screw speed significantly influenced extrudate expansion characteristics. Due to their thermal and plasticizing properties, sugar inclusion (glucose, fructose, sucrose, and xylose) enhanced the extrudate expansion by altering their melt viscosity. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The findings of this study can improve the expansion characteristics of high-fiber-based extruded snacks. Ingredients high in fiber generally hinder the starch transformation during extrusion and negatively impact the expansion properties. The presence of sugar at low concentrations can improve melt properties during extrusion processing and, in turn, significantly improve the textural properties of snacks.