The effect of high hydrostatic pressure treatment on the molecular structure of starches with different amylose content.

The effect of high hydrostatic pressure processing (650MPa/9min) on molecular mass distribution, and hydrodynamic and structural parameters of amylose (maize, sorghum, Hylon VII) and amylopectin (waxy maize, amaranth) starches was studied. The starches were characterized by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) equipped with static light scattering and refractive index detectors and by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Significant changes were observed in molecular mass distribution of pressurized waxy maize starch. Changes in branches/branch frequency, intrinsic viscosity, and radius of gyration were observed for all treated starches. The combination of SEC and FTIR data showed that α-1,6-glycosidic bonds are more frequently split in pressurized amaranth, Hylon VII, and waxy maize starch, while in sorghum and maize starches, the α-1,4 bonds are most commonly split. Our results show that the structural changes found for pressurized starches were more strongly determined by the starch origin than by the processing applied.

In vitro release of theophylline from starch-based matrices prepared via high hydrostatic pressure treatment and autoclaving.

Recent works have demonstrated that release behavior of bioactive compounds varies with the nature of the matrix regarding its chemical composition, morphology and surface properties. Starch matrices varying in amylose content (maize, sorghum, Hylon VII) or pure amylopectin ones (waxy maize, amaranth starch), containing theophylline (10 mg, 50 mg/0.5 g of starch), were obtained via high hydrostatic pressure treatment (650 MPa/9 min) and autoclaving (120 °C/20 min). Both the treatment used and drug dose affected the theophylline release profiles from the matrices studied. The profiles of amylopectin starch matrices satisfactorily fitted with selected mathematical models, indicating a controlled theophylline release. The principal component analysis confirmed substantial differences in drug release between the amylose and amylopectin matrices. The differences in matrix morphology, internal surface area and porosity (mesopore diameter, cumulative pore volume) between the matrices studied were found to be key factors affecting the theophylline dissolution.