Antioxidant peptides, the guardian of life from oxidative stress.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced during oxidative metabolism in aerobic organisms. Under normal conditions, ROS production and elimination are in a relatively balanced state. However, under internal or external environmental stress, such as high glucose levels or UV radiation, ROS production can increase significantly, leading to oxidative stress. Excess ROS production not only damages biomolecules but is also closely associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases, such as skin photoaging, diabetes, and cancer. Antioxidant peptides (AOPs) are naturally occurring or artificially designed peptides that can reduce the levels of ROS and other pro-oxidants, thus showing great potential in the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases. In this review, we discussed ROS production and its role in inducing oxidative stress-related diseases in humans. Additionally, we discussed the sources, mechanism of action, and evaluation methods of AOPs and provided directions for future studies on AOPs.

Understanding the nutritional benefits through plant proteins-probiotics interactions: mechanisms, challenges, and perspectives.

The nutritional benefits of combining probiotics with plant proteins have sparked increasing research interest and drawn significant attention. The interactions between plant proteins and probiotics demonstrate substantial potential for enhancing the functionality of plant proteins. Fermented plant protein foods offer a unique blend of bioactive components and beneficial microorganisms that can enhance gut health and combat chronic diseases. Utilizing various probiotic strains and plant protein sources opens doors to develop innovative probiotic products with enhanced functionalities. Nonetheless, the mechanisms and synergistic effects of these interactions remain not fully understood. This review aims to delve into the roles of promoting health through the intricate interplay of plant proteins and probiotics. The regulatory mechanisms have been elucidated to showcase the synergistic effects, accompanied by a discussion on the challenges and future research prospects. It is essential to recognize that the interactions between plant proteins and probiotics encompass multiple mechanisms, highlighting the need for further research to address challenges in achieving a comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms and their associated health benefits.

The inhibitory action of lactocin 63 on deterioration of seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus) during chilled storage.

BACKGROUND: The bacteriocins, particularly derived from lactic acid bacteria, currently exhibit potential as a promising food preservative owing to their low toxicity and potent antimicrobial activity. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of lactocin 63, produced by Lactobacillus coryniformis, in inhibiting the deterioration of Lateolabrax japonicas during chilled storage, while also investigating its underlying inhibitory mechanism. The measurement of total viable count, biogenic amines, and volatile organic compounds were conducted, along with high-throughput sequencing and sensory evaluation. RESULTS: The findings demonstrated that treatment with lactocin 63 resulted in a notable retardation of bacterial growth in L. japonicas fish fillet during refrigerated storage compared with the water-treated and nisin-treated groups. Moreover, lactocin 63 effectively maintained the microbial flora balance in the fish fillet and inhibited the proliferation and metabolic activity of specific spoilage microorganisms, particularly Shewanella, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter. Furthermore, the production of unacceptable volatile organic compounds (e.g. 1-octen-3-ol, hexanal, nonanal), as well as the biogenic amines derived from the bacterial metabolism, could be hindered, thus preventing the degradation in the quality of fish fillets and sustaining relatively high sensory quality. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide valuable theoretical support for the development and application of lactocin 63, or other bacteriocins derived from lactic acid bacteria, as potential bio-preservatives in aquatic food. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Chitosan and Whey Protein Bio-Inks for 3D and 4D Printing Applications with Particular Focus on Food Industry.

The application of chitosan (CS) and whey protein (WP) alone or in combination in 3D/4D printing has been well considered in previous studies. Although several excellent reviews on additive manufacturing discussed the properties and biomedical applications of CS and WP, there is a lack of a systemic review about CS and WP bio-inks for 3D/4D printing applications. Easily modified bio-ink with optimal printability is a key for additive manufacturing. CS, WP, and WP-CS complex hydrogel possess great potential in making bio-ink that can be broadly used for future 3D/4D printing, because CS is a functional polysaccharide with good biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-immunogenicity, and non-carcinogenicity, while CS-WP complex hydrogel has better printability and drug-delivery effectivity than WP hydrogel. The review summarizes the current advances of bio-ink preparation employing CS and/or WP to satisfy the requirements of 3D/4D printing and post-treatment of materials. The applications of CS/WP bio-ink mainly focus on 3D food printing with a few applications in cosmetics. The review also highlights the trends of CS/WP bio-inks as potential candidates in 4D printing. Some promising strategies for developing novel bio-inks based on CS and/or WP are introduced, aiming to provide new insights into the value-added development and commercial CS and WP utilization.

A Review of the Discriminant Analysis Methods for Food Quality Based on Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Pattern Recognition.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with pattern recognition technique has become an important type of non-destructive discriminant method. This review first introduces the basic structure of the qualitative analysis process based on near-infrared spectroscopy. Then, the main pretreatment methods of NIRS data processing are investigated. Principles and recent developments of traditional pattern recognition methods based on NIRS are introduced, including some shallow learning machines and clustering analysis methods. Moreover, the newly developed deep learning methods and their applications of food quality analysis are surveyed, including convolutional neural network (CNN), one-dimensional CNN, and two-dimensional CNN. Finally, several applications of these pattern recognition techniques based on NIRS are compared. The deficiencies of the existing pattern recognition methods and future research directions are also reviewed.

Preparation, Bioactivities and Applications in Food Industry of Chitosan-Based Maillard Products: A Review.

Chitosan, a biopolymer possessing numerous interesting bioactivities and excellent technological properties, has received great attention from scientists in different fields including the food industry, pharmacy, medicine, and environmental fields. A series of recent studies have reported exciting results about improvement of the properties of chitosan using the Maillard reaction. However, there is a lack of a systemic review about the preparation, bioactivities and applications in food industry of chitosan-based Maillard reaction products (CMRPs). The presence of free amino groups in chitosan allows it to acquire some stronger or new functional properties via the Maillard reaction. The present review aims to focus on the current research status of synthesis, optimization and structural identification of CMRPs. The applications of CMRPs in the food industry are also discussed according to their biological and technological properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial activities and inducing conformational changes of allergens in food. Some promising directions for future research are proposed in this review, aiming to provide theoretical guidance for the further development of chitosan and its derivatives.

Photoelectrochemical immunoassay of aflatoxin B1 in foodstuff based on amorphous TiO2 and CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) pollution is one of the most serious problems for food safety. In this paper, a split-type photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunoassay was designed for sensitive detection of AFB1 in foodstuffs by using amorphous TiO2 with all-inorganic perovskite CsPbBr3 nanocrystals (CsPbBr3/a-TiO2). The a-TiO2 layer not only improved the stability of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals, but also facilitated charge transfer, which resulted in the increasing photocurrent of the nanocomposites. Initially, a competitive-type enzyme immunoreaction was executed on a high-binding microplate between the analyte and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-labeled AFB1-bovine serum albumin (AFB1-BSA) conjugate. Accompanied by the formation of the immunocomplex, the carried ALP triggered enzymatic hydrolysis to generate ascorbic acid (AA, as an electron donor) for increasing the photocurrent of the CsPbBr3/a-TiO2-modified electrode. Coupling with the competitive enzyme immunoassay, the photocurrent of the modified electrode decreased with the increase of target AFB1 concentration in a dynamic working range from 0.01 ng mL-1 to 15 ng mL-1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.8 pg mL-1 under optimum conditions. Furthermore, the photoelectrochemical immunoassay was also utilized to detect AFB1 in peanut and corn samples, giving acceptable accuracy in comparison with the referenced AFB1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

A homogeneous electrochemical sensor for Hg2+ determination in environmental water based on the T-Hg2+-T structure and exonuclease III-assisted recycling amplification.

A simple, fast, sensitive, and homogeneous electrochemical sensor based on the T-Hg2+-T structure and exonuclease III-assisted recycling amplification has been constructed for mercury ion (Hg2+) detection. The cT and methylene blue-labeled DNA probes (MB-TDNA) were designed to contain poly T sequences, which were repulsed from the negatively charged indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode due to their abundant negative charges. Hg2+ could trigger the formation of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) between two DNA probes owing to the stable T-Hg2+-T structure. Then, Exo III specifically recognizes the cleavage of the double-stranded structure to release a methylene blue-labeled mononucleotide fragment (MB-MF). Moreover, the release of the target Hg2+ induces new hybridization and produces a large number of MB-MFs; MB-MFs are not repulsed by the negatively charged ITO electrode surface, thus producing a significant current signal. Under optimal conditions, the differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) response had a linear relationship with the logarithm of Hg2+ concentration in the range of 1.0 nM-0.5 µM, and the proposed method displayed great applicability for detecting Hg2+ in tap-water samples.

Homogeneous Electrochemical Biosensor for Melamine Based on DNA Triplex Structure and Exonuclease III-Assisted Recycling Amplification.

Abasic site (AP site) in the triplex structure can recognize specific target with high selectivity. In this study, this character was first applied to develop a simple, sensitive, and selective homogeneous electrochemical biosensor for melamine determination. The assay combines the advantage of the high selectivity of the DNA triplex structure containing an AP site to melamine and high efficiency of exonuclease (Exo) III-assisted recycling amplification. DNA-1 (T1), DNA-2 (T2), poly[dA] probe containing an AP site (8A) and methylene blue-labeled DNA probe (dMB probe) were carefully designed. Melamine can specifically locate in the AP site through hydrogen bonding interaction between thymine and melamine to make T1, T2, and 8A close to each other, therefore, forming a stable T-melamine-T DNA triplex structure. Under the optimal conditions, the differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) response had a linear relationship with the logarithm of melamine concentration in the range of 1 nM∼0.5 µM. The developed biosensor has been successfully applied to detect the migration of melamine from melamine bowl. Result showed that the migration in 4% acetic acid solvent was the largest, which is similar to that detected by high performance liquid chromatography. This homogeneous electrochemical sensor may have a potential prospect in detecting melamine in dairy products and migration of melamine from multicategory food packaging or application materials.

Three-Dimensional Scaffolds for Intestinal Cell Culture: Fabrication, Utilization, and Prospects.

The intestine is a visceral organ that integrates absorption, metabolism, and immunity, which is vulnerable to external stimulus. Researchers in the fields such as food science, immunology, and pharmacology have committed to developing appropriate in vitro intestinal cell models to study the intestinal absorption and metabolism mechanisms of various nutrients and drugs, or pathogenesis of intestinal diseases. In the past three decades, the intestinal cell models have undergone a significant transformation from conventional two-dimensional cultures to three-dimensional (3D) systems, and the achievements of 3D cell culture have been greatly contributed by the fabrication of different scaffolds. In this review, we first introduce the developing trend of existing intestinal models. Then, four types of scaffolds, including Transwell, hydrogel, tubular scaffolds, and intestine-on-a-chip, are discussed for their 3D structure, composition, advantages, and limitations in the establishment of intestinal cell models. Excitingly, some of the in vitro intestinal cell models based on these scaffolds could successfully mimic the 3D structure, microenvironment, mechanical peristalsis, fluid system, signaling gradients, or other important aspects of the original human intestine. Furthermore, we discuss the potential applications of the intestinal cell models in drug screening, disease modeling, and even regenerative repair of intestinal tissues. This review presents an overview of state-of-the-art scaffold-based cell models within the context of intestines, and highlights their major advances and applications contributing to a better knowledge of intestinal diseases. Impact statement The intestine tract is crucial in the absorption and metabolism of nutrients and drugs, as well as immune responses against external pathogens or antigens in a complex microenvironment. The appropriate experimental cell model in vitro is needed for in-depth studies of intestines, due to the limitation of animal models in dynamic control and real-time assessment of key intestinal physiological and pathological processes, as well as the "R" principles in laboratory animal experiments. Three-dimensional (3D) scaffold-based cell cultivation has become a developing tendency because of the superior cell proliferation and differentiation and more physiologically relevant environment supported by the customized 3D scaffolds. In this review, we summarize four types of up-to-date 3D cell culture scaffolds fabricated by various materials and techniques for a better recapitulation of some essential physiological and functional characteristics of original intestines compared to conventional cell models. These emerging 3D intestinal models have shown promising results in not only evaluating the pharmacokinetic characteristics, security, and effectiveness of drugs, but also studying the pathological mechanisms of intestinal diseases at cellular and molecular levels. Importantly, the weakness of the representative 3D models for intestines is also discussed.

Sorghum Prolamin Scaffolds-Based Hybrid Cultured Meat with Enriched Sensory Properties.

Cultured meat (CM) has been hailed as a sustainable future meat production technology that requires scaffolds to support cell growth. Plant proteins are the most promising raw materials for edible scaffolds but remain underutilized. In this study, kafirin, an abundant, readily available, and nonallergenic prolamin extracted from red sorghum, was explored to fabricate 3D porous sponge-like scaffolds via a simple template-leaching method. The scaffolds featured fully interconnected pores with a high porosity of approximately 84% and mechanical properties of 1.0-1.9 kPa. Porcine skeletal muscle cells (PSCs) and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) could adhere, proliferate, and differentiate on protein scaffolds. Thereafter, a hybrid CM was produced by culturing porcine ADSCs on kafirin scaffolds for 12 days, integrating plant protein-based and cell-based alternatives. The anthocyanins found in red sorghum contributed to the hybrid CM with meat-like color and antioxidative benefits. Moreover, the hybrid CM prototype demonstrated promising potential in providing higher protein content (22.9%) and unique mouthfeel and appearance characteristics, highlighting the viability of sorghum prolamin in promoting CM production.

3D Porous Edible Scaffolds from Rye Secalin for Cell-Based Pork Fat Tissue Culturing.

Cellular agriculture holds hope for a sustainable alternative to conventional meat, yet multiple technical challenges remain. These include the large-scale production of edible scaffolds and culturing methods for fat tissues, which are key to meat texture, flavor, and nutritional values. Herein. we disclose our method in the facile fabrication of sponge-like plant protein scaffolds by applying commercial sugar cubes as highly permeable templates. The prepared secalin scaffolds feature a high porosity of 85-90%, fully interconnected pores, and high water stability. The mechanical properties of scaffolds could be tuned by varying sugar-to-protein weight ratio and post-water annealing treatment. Moreover, murine preadipocytes (3T3-L1) and porcine adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) readily infiltrate, adhere, proliferate, and differentiate on the secalin scaffolds to develop a fat tissue morphology. A cultured fat tissue was produced by culturing porcine ADSCs for 12 days, which remarkably resembles conventional porcine subcutaneous adipose tissue in appearance, texture, flavor, and fatty acid profiles. The research demonstrates the great potential of sponge-like secalin scaffolds for cultured fat tissue production.

Antioxidant activity and proanthocyanidin profile of Selliguea feei rhizomes.

Proanthocyanidins from the rhizomes of Selliguea feei (PSFs) were solvent-extracted and fractionated by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography to give a 2.42% isolated yield (dry matter basis). 1H-NMR spectroscopy revealed the mean degree of polymerization (mDP) to be 2.6. 13C-NMR analysis showed typical signals for afzelechin/epiafzelechin units. Clear peaks at 76 ppm and 84 ppm indicated that both stereoisomers (afzelechin/epiafzelechin) are present. In agreement with the NMR spectra, the ESI-MS spectrum indicated that PSFs are mainly monomers to trimers consisting of afzelechin/epiafzelechin units with A-type and B-type interflavanyl linkages. A trimer was purified and identified as demethylated selligueain B. Thiolysis confirmed the structure and the thiolytic products, methyl 2-[(2R, 3R, 4S)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)chroman-4-yl]acetate (1) and 4ß-(carboxymethyl)sulphanylepiafzelechin-(2ß→O→7,4ß→8)-epiafzelechin methyl ester (2), were purified and characterized. Selligueain A, demethylated selligueain B, compounds 1 and 2 possess high antioxidant capacity at 1.18 × 104, 1.16 × 104, 0.95 × 104 and 1.29 × 104 µmol TE/g, respectively.

The state-of-the-art application of functional bacterial cellulose-based materials in biomedical fields.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a significant polysaccharide that bacteria create under specific growth conditions that exhibits high purity, high water-holding capacity, high crystallinity, strong mechanical capabilities, and high biocompatibility. Pure BC has been studied, marketed, and frequently combined with other materials to provide additional potential effects. Additionally, because of the abundance of hydroxyl groups in BC, it can be readily changed to yield derivatives or composites with improved physicochemical and functional characteristics for a variety of applications such as artificial blood vessel manufacturing, soft tissue engineering, and bone tissue engineering. In this review, state-of-the-art manufacturing, structural traits, and applications of BC are summarized, along with in situ and ex situ modification techniques and their biomedical applications. Finally, the future growth opportunities and obstacles for BC and its composites in the biological sector are anticipated.

A novel 3D printed type II silk fibroin/polycaprolactone mesh for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is one of the common diseases in middle-aged and elderly women, caused by weakened pelvic floor muscle ligament tissue support. Pelvic floor reconstruction with mesh implantation has been proven to be an effective treatment for POP. However, traditional non-degradable and inflexible pelvic floor implantation meshes have been associated with pain, vaginal infections, and the need for additional surgeries. In this study, novel meshes with pre-designed structures were fabricated with solution-based electrohydrodynamic printing (EHDP) technology, using a series of polycaprolactone/silk fibroin composites as bioinks. The PCL/SF mesh mechanical performances were particularly enhanced with the addition of silk II, leading it to obtain higher adaptability with soft tissue repair. The mesh containing SF showed more robust degradation performance in the in vitro degradation assay. Furthermore, biocompatibility tests conducted on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (NIH/3T3) revealed enhanced cell affinity. Finally, the biocompatibility and tissue repair properties of PCL/SF mesh were verified through the implantation of meshes in the muscle defect site of mice. The results demonstrated that the 3D printed PCL/SF mesh prepared by EHDP exhibits superior mechanical properties, biocompatibility, biodegradability, as well as ligament and muscle fiber repair ability. The novel implantable meshes are promising for curing POP.

Extraction, functionality, and applications of Chlorella pyrenoidosa protein/peptide.

Chlorella pyrenoidosa (C. pyrenoidosa) has been widely used in commercial food and feed production for numerous years. Its high protein content and cost-effectiveness make it an attractive source of novel protein. With a focus on sustainable development and the search for green natural products, current research is dedicated to maximizing the utilization of C. pyrenoidosa protein (CPP) and peptide. Various techniques, such as the use of ionic liquids, freeze-thawing, ultrasonication, enzyme digest, microwaving are employed in the extraction of CPP. The extracted CPP has demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and bacteriostatic properties. It can also stimulate immune regulation, prevent cardiovascular disease, protect red blood cells, and even be used in wastewater treatment. Furthermore, CPP has shown some potential in combating obesity. Additionally, CPP is being explored in three-dimensional (3D) printing applications, particularly for the creation of biological scaffolds. It is also anticipated to play a role in 3D food printing. This review aimed to supply a comprehensive summary of CPP and C. pyrenoidosa peptide extraction methods, their functions, and practical applications in various industries. By doing so, it seeks to underpin subsequent research efforts, highlight current research limitations, and identify future research directions in this field.

Label-Free Sequence-Specific Visualization of LAMP Amplified Salmonella via DNA Machine Produces G-Quadruplex DNAzyme.

Salmonella is one of four key global causes of diarrhea, and in humans, it is generally contracted through the consumption of contaminated food. It is necessary to develop an accurate, simple, and rapid method to monitor Salmonella in the early phase. Herein, we developed a sequence-specific visualization method based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for the detection of Salmonella in milk. With restriction endonuclease and nicking endonuclease, amplicons were produced into single-stranded triggers, which further promoted the generation of a G-quadruplex by a DNA machine. The G-quadruplex DNAzyme possesses peroxidase-like activity and catalyzes the color development of 2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonic acid) (ABTS) as the readouts. The feasibility for real samples analysis was also confirmed with Salmonella spiked milk, and the sensitivity was 800 CFU/mL when observed with the naked eye. Using this method, the detection of Salmonella in milk can be completed within 1.5 h. Without the involvement of any sophisticated instrument, this specific colorimetric method can be a useful tool in resource-limited areas.

3D-Printed Prolamin Scaffolds for Cell-Based Meat Culture.

Cultivating meat from muscle stem cells in vitro requires 3D edible scaffolds as the supporting matrix. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing is an emerging 3D-printing technology for fabricating ultrafine fibrous scaffolds with high precision microstructures for biomedical applications. However, edible EHD-printed scaffolds remain scarce in cultured meat (CM) production partly due to special requirements with regard to the printability of ink. Here, hordein or secalin is mixed, which are cereal prolamins extracted from barley or rye, with zein to produce pure prolamin-based inks, which exhibit favorable printability similar to common polycaprolactone ink. Zein/hordein and zein/secalin scaffolds with highly ordered tessellated structures are successfully fabricated after optimizing printing conditions. The prolamin scaffolds demonstrated good water stability and in vitro degradability due to the porous fiber surface, which is spontaneously generated by culturing muscle cells for 1 week. Moreover, mouse skeletal myoblasts (C2C12) and porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells (PSCs) can adhere and proliferate on the fibrous matrix, and a CM slice is produced by culturing PSCs on prolamin scaffolds with high tissue similarity. The upregulation of myogenic proteins shows that the differentiation process is triggered in the 3D culture, demonstrating the great potential of prolamin scaffolds in CM production.

Mixing efficiency affects the morphology and compactness of chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles.

Due to the rapid reaction kinetics, the morphology of chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles was difficult to control. We mixed chitosan and tripolyphosphate through a multi-inlet vortex mixer at different mixing efficiency and characteristic mixing time (τmix). Below a critical τmix, the aggregation of primary chitosan/TPP particles can be ceased. The corresponding aggregation time of primary particles (τagg) was dependent on the ionic strength, the degree of deacetylation and molecular weight of chitosan. Moreover, the particle compactness was estimated from the hydrodynamic diameter and the turbidity using a model based on the Mie theory. Slow and nonhomogeneous mixing led to more compact nanoparticles, while rapid and homogeneous mixing produced nanoparticles with a higher swelling ratio. Besides, the ionic strength and polymer concentration could affect the internal structure of nanoparticles. This study revealed the significance of mixing on the internal structure of chitosan/TPP nanoparticles, which could guide the preparation of other ionically-crosslinked polysaccharide colloids.

Properties and Applications of Intelligent Packaging Indicators for Food Spoilage.

Food packaging plays a vital role in the food supply chain by acting as an additional layer to protect against food contamination, but the main function of traditional conventional packaging is only to isolate food from the outside environment, and cannot provide related information about food spoilage. Intelligent packaging can feel, inspect, and record external or internal changes in food products to provide further information about food quality. Importantly, intelligent packaging indicators will account for a significant proportion of the food industry's production, with promising application potential. In this review, we mainly summarize and review the upcoming progress in the classification, preparation, and application of food packaging indicators. Equally, the feasibility of 3D printing in the preparation of intelligent food packaging indicators is also discussed in detail, as well as the limitations and future directions of smart food packaging. Taken together, the information supported in this paper provides new insights into monitoring food spoilage and food quality.