Potential mechanisms and effects of ultrasound treatment combined with pre- and post-addition of κ-carrageenan on the gelling properties and rheological behavior of myofibrillar proteins under low-salt condition.

This study investigated the effect of ultrasound (US) combined with pre- and post-addition of κ-carrageenan (KC) on the gelling properties, structural characteristics and rheological behavior of myofibrillar proteins (MP) under low-salt conditions. The results showed that US combined with either pre- or post-addition of KC rendered higher gel strength and water holding capacity (WHC) of MP gels than those treated with US alone and added with KC alone (P < 0.05). US combined with pre-addition of KC facilitated the binding between MP and KC, which enhanced the gel strength and WHC of the mixed MP gels and significantly improved the rheological behavior of MP. This was also confirmed by the highest surface hydrophobicity, disulfide bonds and ß-sheet content of the MP gels with US combined with pre-addition of KC. Moreover, microstructural results reflected a denser structure for the pre-addition of KC in combination with US. However, US combined with post-addition of KC resulted in limited MP unfolding and relatively weak hydrophobic interactions in the composite gels, which were less effective in improving the gel properties of the MP gels. This study provides potential strategies for enhancing the gelling properties of low-salt meat products via application of US and KC.

Carrageenan-based functional films hybridized with carbon dots and anthocyanins from rose petals for smart food packaging applications.

Multifunctional smart biopolymeric films were fabricated using rose petal anthocyanin (RPA) and carrageenan (CAR) doped with rose petal-derived carbon dots (RP-CDs). Response surface-optimized RPA showed the highest total anthocyanins and radical scavenging ability. Produced RP-CD exhibited UV absorption and high fluorescence with antibacterial/antioxidant abilities. Enrichment with 2 % RP-CD and 5 % RPA in the CAR matrix results in improved physicochemical, i.e., water contact angle, water vapor permeability, and UV-blocking properties of the fabricated material. Results showed that nanocomposite films scavenged radicals better than the neat CAR films. Zeta potential, FTIR, SEM, and XPS suggested improved compatibility/stability and enhanced elemental configuration of RP-CDs/RPA additives in the CAR polymer matrix. Perishable food packaging (minced pork and shrimp) demonstrated that nanocomposite films work efficiently and non-destructively and are promising tools for monitoring real-time freshness through interpretable visual changes from red to yellow. The CAR/RP-CDs/RPA-based nanocomposite indicator films are expected to be applied as various smart packaging materials. These films possess the ability to promptly detect changes in quality, preserve the quality, and prolong the shelf life of packaged foods.

Preparation of iota-carrageenan@bentonite@4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazide ternary hydrogel for adsorption of Losartan potassium and sulfamethoxazole.

A rising quantity of drugs has been discharged into the aquatic environment, posing a substantial hazard to public health. In the current work, a novel hydrogel (i.Carr@Bent@PTC), comprised of iota-carrageenan, bentonite, and 4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazide, was successfully prepared. The introduction of 4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazide and bentonite in iota-carrageenan significantly increased the mechanical strength of iota-carrageenan hydrogel and improved its degree of swelling, which can be attributed to the hydrophilic properties of PTC and Bent. The recorded contact angle was 70.8°, 59.1°, 53.9°, and 34.6° for pristine i.Carr, i.Carr@Bent, and i.Carr@Bent@PTC, respectively. The low contact angle measurement of the Bent and PTC loaded-i.Carr hydrogel was attributed to the hydrophilic Bent and PTC. The ternary i.Carr@Bent@PTC hydrogel demonstrated broad pH adaptability and excellent adsorption capacities for sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and losartan potassium (LP), i.e., 467.61 mg. g-1 and 274.43 mg. g-1 at 298.15 K, respectively. The pseudo-first-order (PSO) model provided a better fit for the adsorption kinetics. The adsorption of SMX and LP can be better explained by employing the Sips and Langmuir isotherm models. As revealed by XPS and FTIR investigations, π-π stacking, complexation, electrostatic interaction, and hydrogen bonding were primarily involved in the adsorption mechanisms.

Chemically modified seaweed polysaccharides: Improved functional and biological properties and prospective in food applications.

Seaweed polysaccharides are natural biomacromolecules with unique physicochemical properties (e.g., good gelling, emulsifying, and film-forming properties) and diverse biological activities (e.g., anticoagulant, antioxidant, immunoregulatory, and antitumor effects). Furthermore, they are nontoxic, biocompatible and biodegradable, and abundant in resources. Therefore, they have been widely utilized in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. However, their properties and bioactivities sometimes are not satisfactory for some purposes. Modification of polysaccharides can impart the amphiphilicity and new functions to the biopolymers and change the structure and conformation, thus effectively improving their functional properties and biological activities so as to meet the requirement for targeted applications. This review outlined the modification methods of representative red algae polysaccharides (carrageenan and agar), brown algae polysaccharides (fucoidan, alginate, and laminaran), and green algae polysaccharides (ulvan) that have potential food applications, including etherification, esterification, degradation, sulfation, phosphorylation, selenylation, and so on. The improved functional properties and bioactivities of the modified seaweed polysaccharides and their potential food applications are also summarized.

Electron Beam-Supported Fabrication of Biocompatible Silver/iota-Carrageenan for Wound Healing Application.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are a potent antibacterial agent, especially when used to treat bacteria that are multidrug resistant. However, it is challenging to eliminate the hazardous reducing agents that remain in AgNPs produced by the conventional chemical reduction process. To overcome these challenges, the presented research demonstrates the fabrication of AgNPs using iota-carrageenan (ι-carra) as a carbohydrate polymer using electron beam (EB) irradiation. Well-characterized ι-carra@AgNPs have a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure with spherical morphology and an average size of 26 nm. Herein we explored the approach for fabricating ι-carra@AgNPs that is suitable for scaling up the production of nanoparticles that exhibit excellent water stability. Further, the optimized ι-carra@AgNPs exhibited considerable antibacterial activity of 40% and 30% inhibition when tested with Gram-negative Escherichia coli ATCC 43895 and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (ATCC 6538), respectively, and low cytotoxicity at 10-50 µg/mL. To establish the potential biomedical application, as proof of the concept, the ι-carra@AgNPs showed significant antibiofilm activity at 20 µg/mL and also showed 95% wound healing abilities at 50 µg/mL compared to the nontreated control groups. Electron beam assisted ι-carra@AgNPs showed significant beneficial effects against specific bacterial strains and may provide a guide for the development of new antibacterial materials for wound dressing for large-scale production for biomedical applications.

Comparative Study on Enzymatic Characteristics of Two κ-Carrageenases from Carrageenan-Degrading Bacterium Catenovulum agarivorans DS2.

κ-Carrageenase plays an important role in achieving the high-value utilization of carrageenan. Factors such as the reaction temperature, thermal stability, catalytic efficiency, and product composition are key considerations for its large-scale application. Previous studies have shown that the C-terminal noncatalytic domains (nonCDs) could influence the enzymatic properties, of κ-carrageenases, providing a strategy for exploring κ-carrageenases with different properties, especially catalytic products. Accordingly, two κ-carrageenases (CaKC16A and CaKC16B), from the Catenovulum agarivorans DS2, were selected and further characterized. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that CaKC16A contained a nonCD but CaKC16B did not. CaKC16A exhibited better enzymatic properties than CaKC16B, including thermal stability, substrate affinity, and catalytic efficiency. After truncation of the nonCD of CaKC16A, its thermal stability, substrate affinity, and catalytic efficiency have significantly decreased, indicating the vital role of nonCD in maintaining a good enzymatic property. Moreover, CaKC16A degraded κ-carrageenan to produce a highly single κ-neocarratetrose, while CaKC16B produced a single κ-neocarrabiose. CaKC16A could degrade ß/κ-carrageenan to produce a highly single desulfated κ-neocarrahexaose, while CaKC16B produced κ-neocarrabiose and desulfated κ-neocarratetrose. Furthermore, it was proposed that CaKC16A and CaKC16B participate in the B/KC metabolic pathway and serve different roles, providing new insight into obtaining κ-carrageenases with different properties.

Carrageenan/calcium alginate composite hydrogel filtration membranes for efficient cationic dye separation.

The development of biopolymer-based filtration systems for water remediation applications is an extremely fascinating area of research. In this paper, we developed a biopolymer-based filtration system using sodium alginate (NaAlg) and carrageenan (Car) for the removal of the toxic cationic dye, methylene blue (MB). The membrane's properties were assessed using FTIR, TGA, UTM, FESEM, EDS, XRD, and water uptake, revealing commendable thermomechanical stability (5.79 MPa), good hydrophilicity, and compatibility. The experimental results further revealed that lambda Car/calcium alginate (λ-Car/CaAlg) exhibited superior dye rejection (100%) and flux (11.67 L m-2 h-1) compared to kappa Car/CaAlg (κ-Car/CaAlg) (99.22% and 11.19 L m-2 h-1) and plain alginate (CaAlg) (99.63% and 9.79 L m-2 h-1). The high MB rejection rate was attributed to the sieving mechanism and electrostatic interaction. A rejection rate of 100% was achieved at an initial MB concentration of 10 mg/L, pressure of 0.1 MPa, pH of 7, and temperature of 25°C. Furthermore, the hydrogel membranes demonstrated excellent recyclability over nine cycles, indicating their potential for water treatment applications.

Development of smart colorimetric indicators for tracking kimchi freshness by loading aronia extract in agar, κ-carrageenan, and cellulose nanofiber films.

Color indicator films incorporating aronia extract powder (AEP) and biopolymers like agar, carrageenan, and cellulose nanofiber (CNF) were developed to monitor kimchi freshness. AEP-containing films showed strong UV-barrier properties, and reduced light transmittance by 99.12 % for agar, 98.86 % for carrageenan, and 98.67 % for CNF-based films. All AEP-films exhibited high sensitivity to pH changes and vapor exposure to ammonia and acetic acid. Color change notably influenced by the polymer type, particularly evident with ammonia vapor exposure, especially in the AEP/carrageenan film. The chemical structure and thermal stability of the biopolymers remained unchanged after AEP-addition. Tensile strength increased by 24.2 % for AEP/CNF but decreased by 19.4 % for AEP/agar and 24.3 % for AEP/carrageenan films. AEP-containing films displayed strong antioxidant activity, with 99 % free radical scavenging in ABTS and ~ 80 % in DPPH assays. Alkalized AEP-indicator films were more effective in detecting color changes during kimchi packaging tests. Among the labels, alkalized AEP/agar film showed the most obvious color change from green-gray (fresh kimchi, pH 5.5, acidity 0.48 %) to pale brown (optimal fermentation, pH 4.6, acidity 0.70 %), and pale violet-brown (over-fermented, pH 3.80, acidity 1.35 %). Alkalized AEP-indicator films offer promising real-time detection of packed fermented foods like kimchi.

DES-ultrasonication treatment of cellulose nanocrystals and the reinforcement in carrageenan biocomposite.

CNCs are intensively studied to reinforce biocomposites. However, it remains a challenge to homogeneously disperse the CNC in biocomposites for a smooth film surface. Mechanochemical treatment via ultrasonication in deep eutectic solvent (DES) generated a stable dispersion of CNC before incorporation into carrageenan biocomposite. Shifted peaks of choline chloride (ChCl) methylene groups to 3.95-3.98 ppm in 1H NMR indicated a formation of eutectic mixture between the hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and hydrogen bond donor (HBD) at the functional group of CH3···OH. The swelling of CNC in the DES was proven by the formation of intermolecular H-bond at a length of 2.46 Å. The use of DES contributed to a good dispersion of CNC in the solution which increased zeta potential by 43.2 % compared to CNC in deionized water. The ultrasonication amplitude and feed concentration were varied for the best parameters of a stable dispersion of CNC. The crystallinity of 1 wt% of CNC at 20 % sonication amplitude improved from 76 to 81 %. The high crystallinity of CNCDES resulted in an increase in film tensile and capsule loop strength of Carra-CNCDES by 20.7 and 19.4 %, respectively. Improved dispersion of CNCDES reduced the surface roughness of the biocomposite by 21.8 %. H-bond network in CNCDES improved the biocomposite properties for an ingenious reinforcement material.

Hydrogels based on galactomannan and κ-carrageenan containing immobilized biomolecules for in vivo thermal-burn wound treatment.

Hydrogels based on natural polysaccharides have demonstrated efficacy in epithelial recovery from cutaneous burn wounds. Here, we prepared a double-network hydrogel consisting of galactomannan (from Cassia grandis seeds) and κ-carrageenan (commercially sourced), cross-linked with CaCl2, as a matrix for immobilizing lactoferrin and/or Cramoll, aiming at its applicability as dressings for second-degree burn wounds. The formulations obtained [H - hydrogel, HL - hydrogel + lactoferrin, HC - hydrogel + Cramoll and HLC - hydrogel + lactoferrin + Cramoll] were analyzed rheologically as well as in terms of their stability (pH, color, microbial contamination) for 90 days. The burn was created with an aluminum bar (97 ± 3 °C) in the dorsal region of Wistar rats and subsequently treated with hydrogels (H, HL, HC, HLC) and control saline solution (S). The burn was monitored for 3, 7 and 14 days to evaluate the efficacy of the hydrogels in promoting wound healing. The hydrogels did not reveal significant pH or microbiological changes; there was an increase in brightness and a reduction in opacity for H. The rheological analysis confirmed the gel-like viscoelastic signature of the systems without substantial modification of the basic rheological characteristics, however HLC proved to be more rigid, due to rheological synergy when combining protein biomolecules. Macroscopic analyses confirmed centripetal healing with wound contraction: S < H < HC < HL < HLC. Histopathological analyses showed that hydrogel-treated groups reduced inflammation, tissue necrosis and fibrosis, while promoting re-epithelialization with focal acanthosis, especially in HLC due to a positive synergistic effect, indicating its potential as a promising therapy in the repair of burns.

Development of pH-responsive intelligent films based on κ-carrageenan/straw lignin and anthocyanin from Padus virginiana peel for real-time monitoring of chicken.

A series of intelligent films with pH-responsive properties were prepared using Padus virginiana peel extract (PVE) as a smart response factor, κ-carrageenan (κC) as a matrix, and complexed with rice straw lignin (SL). Following the addition of 5 mL PVE at a concentration of 430.99 mg/L, tensile strength and elongation at break of the films increased to a maximum value of 21.25 ± 0.75 MPa and 24.04 ± 0.69 %, respectively. The water vapour permeability of the films decreased with increasing PVE addition, and the minimum value was 5.85 ± 0.09 × 10-11 g m-1 s-1 Pa-1. All the films had favourable thermal stability, transparency, haze and antioxidant properties. PVE-containing films all exhibited excellent pH and ammonia response properties. The higher the humidity of the environment, the faster the ammonia response, and the films were capable of rapid discoloration at 75 % relative humidity. κC/SL-PVE5 can be used to monitor the freshness of chicken breast meat. When the total volatile basic nitrogen of chicken breast meat was increased to 14.27 mg/100 g, κC/SL-PVE5 changed from pink to greyish-yellow. In conclusion, κC/SL-PVE intelligent films hold great promise for real-time monitoring of meat freshness.

Quantitative analysis of molecular interactions in κ-carrageenan-Isovanillin biocomposite for biodegradable packaging and pharmaceutical applications using NMR, TOF-SIMS, and XPS approach.

This study explores the molecular interactions and structural changes in κ-carrageenan crosslinked with isovanillin to create a biocomposite material suitable for hard capsule and bio-degradable packaging applications. Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy revealed chemical changes in the conjugate molecule, indicating improved electronegativity due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding between κ-carrageenan and isovanillin. Time-of-flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) analysis revealed enhanced ion intensity due to intermolecular interactions, particularly between sulphate and hydrogen ions. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) study demonstrated that κ-carrageenan and isovanillin form stronger hydrogen bonds, with a shift in binding energy indicating higher electronegativity. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms that underpin the formation of the biocomposite material, as well as its potential for use in hard capsule and biodegradable packaging materials, addressing the need for sustainable alternatives in the pharmaceutical and packaging industries while also contributing to environmental conservation.

Physicochemical properties and in vitro digestion behavior of emulsion micro-gels stabilized by κ-carrageenan and whey protein: Effects of sodium alginate addition.

Emulsion micro-gels exhibit significant potential as functional ingredients for modifying food texture, replacing saturated fats, or serving as templates for the controlled release of bioactive compounds. Structural design principles are being applied more frequently to develop innovative emulsion micro-gels. In this paper, whey protein concentrate (WPC), κ-carrageenan and sodium alginate (SA) were utilized for preparing emulsion micro-gels. To reveal the regulation mechanism of the structural and physicochemical properties of emulsion micro-gels on lipid digestion, the influence of SA additions on the structural, physicochemical properties and in vitro digestion behavior of κ-carrageenan/WPC-based emulsion micro-gel were explored. The FTIR results suggest that the emulsion micro-gels are formed through non-covalent interactions. With the increase of SA addition (from 0.7 g/100 mL to 1.0 g/100 mL), the decreased mean droplet size, the increased hardness, elasticity indexes, and water holding capacity, the reduced the related peak times all indicated that the emulsion micro-gels exhibit enhanced rheological, stability, and mechanical properties. It can be concluded from the microstructure, particle size distribution of the emulsion micro-gels during simulated digestion and free fatty acid release that both κ-carrageenan/WPC-based emulsion micro-gel and κ-carrageenan/WPC/SA-based emulsion micro-gel can inhibit lipid digestion due to the ability to maintain structural stability and hindering the penetration of bile salts and lipase through the hydrogel networks. And the ability is regulated by the binding properties the gel matrix and oil droplets, which determine the structure and physicochemical properties of emulsion micro-gels. The research suggested that the structure of emulsion micro-gels can be modified to produce various lipid digestion profiles. It may be significant for certain practical application in the design of low-fat food and controlled release of bioactive agents.

Development and characterization of semi-refined iota carrageenan/fish gelatin-based biocomposite film incorporated with SiO2/ZnO nanoparticles.

Food packaging based on natural polymers from polysaccharides and proteins can be an alternative to replace conventional plastics. In the present study, semi-refined iota carrageenan (SRIC) and fish gelatin (FG) were used as polymer matrix film with different concentration ratios (0.5:1.5 %, 1.0:1.0 % and 1.5:0.5 % w/w) and SiO2-ZnO nanoparticles were incorporated as fillers with the same concentration in all formulas (0.5:1.5 % w/w carrageenan-fish gelatin). This study aimed to develop films for food packaging applications with desirable physical, mechanical, optical, chemical, and microbiological properties. The results showed that incorporating SiO2-ZnO nanoparticles significantly (p < 0.05) improved the films' elongation at break, UV-screening properties, and antimicrobial activity. Also, the films' thickness, degradability, and transparency significantly (p < 0.05) increased with the higher concentration of fish gelatin addition in the SRIC matrix polymer. The best formula was obtained on the SRIC-FG film at the ratio of 1.5:0.5 % w/w, which performed excellent antimicrobial activity. Thus, semi-refined iota carrageenan/fish gelatin-based biocomposite film incorporated with SiO2-ZnO nanoparticles can be potentially developed as eco-friendly and intelligent food packaging materials to resolve traditional plastic-related issues and prevent food waste.

An oral gel suitable for swallowing: The effect of micronization on the gel properties and microstructure of κ-carrageenan.

κ-Carrageenan (κ-Car) is an important material for preparing food gels and hydrogels. However, κ-Car gel has issues with high hardness and low water-holding capacity. Modification strategy of micronization is proposed for the first time to explore its influence on texture properties and gelling process of κ-Car gel, and to investigate the feasibility of κ-Car as a food matrix with low strength. κ-Car undergoing 60 min of micronization, the d(0.9) decreased by 79.33 %, SBET and Vtotal increased by 89.23 % and 95.27 %. The swelling rate and degree of gelling process increased significantly, and the microstructure changed from loose large pores to dense small pores resembling a "honeycomb". Importantly, the hardness of gel-60, Milk-60 and PNS-60 decreased by 72.52 %, 49.25 % and 81.37 %. In addition, WHC of gel-60, Milk-60 and PNS-60 was improved. IDDSI tests showed that κ-Car gels, milk gels and PNS gels can be categorized as level 6 (soft and bite-sized), except for PNS-60, which belongs to level 5 (crumbly and moist). Furthermore, the texture and bitter masking effect of milk gels and PNS gels were improved. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that micronization can be a novel approach to improve the gel properties of κ-Car, laying the groundwork for developing dysphagia foods.

Hydrocolloid-based nutraceutical delivery systems: Potential of κ-carrageenan hydrogel beads for sustained release of curcumin.

This study investigates the potential of κ-carrageenan hydrogel beads as a delivery system for curcumin, a bioactive compound with various health benefits. Hydrogel beads were prepared using the extrusion technique with a hypodermic needle. The encapsulation efficiency of curcumin in the κ-carrageenan hydrogel beads was found to be 74.61 ± 3.2 %. FTIR spectroscopy analysis revealed shifts in absorption peaks, indicating possible hydrogen bonding and/or ionic interactions between the polymer and salt. An increase in the melting point of curcumin, by 25 °C, in curcumin- κ-carrageenan beads suggests the heat protection offered by the carrageenan chains to curcumin molecules. The in vitro release of curcumin from the beads suggests a sustained and pH-dependent release nature. The release kinetics follow the first order and the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. The outcome offers value-added delivery systems of bioactive compounds toward developing novel food and pharmaceutical applications.

Embedded Bioprinting of Tissue-like Structures Using κ-Carrageenan Sub-Microgel Medium.

Embedded three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting utilizing a granular hydrogel supporting bath has emerged as a critical technique for creating biomimetic scaffolds. However, engineering a suitable gel suspension medium that balances precise bioink deposition with cell viability and function presents multiple challenges, particularly in achieving the desired viscoelastic properties. Here, a novel κ-carrageenan gel supporting bath is fabricated through an easy-to-operate mechanical grinding process, producing homogeneous sub-microscale particles. These sub-microgels exhibit typical Bingham flow behavior with small yield stress and rapid shear-thinning properties, which facilitate the smooth deposition of bioinks. Moreover, the reversible gel-sol transition and self-healing capabilities of the κ-carrageenan microgel network ensure the structural integrity of printed constructs, enabling the creation of complex, multi-layered tissue structures with defined architectural features. Post-printing, the κ-carrageenan sub-microgels can be easily removed by a simple phosphate-buffered saline wash. Further bioprinting with cell-laden bioinks demonstrates that cells within the biomimetic constructs have a high viability of 92% and quickly extend pseudopodia, as well as maintain robust proliferation, indicating the potential of this bioprinting strategy for tissue and organ fabrication. In summary, this novel κ-carrageenan sub-microgel medium emerges as a promising avenue for embedded bioprinting of exceptional quality, bearing profound implications for the in vitro development of engineered tissues and organs.

Self-assembly mucoadhesive beads of κ-carrageenan/sericin for indomethacin oral extended release.

Oral drug administration, especially when composed of mucoadhesive delivery systems, has been a research trend due to increased residence time and contact with the mucosa, potentially increasing drug bioavailability and stability. In this context, this study aimed to develop self-assembly mucoadhesive beads composed of blends of κ-carrageenan and sericin (κ-Car/Ser) loaded with the anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin (IND). We investigated the swelling, adhesion behaviour, and mechanical/physical properties of the beads, assessing their effects on cell viability, safety and permeation characteristics in both 2D and triple-culture model. The swelling ratio of the beads indicated pH-responsiveness, with maximum water absorption at pH 6.8, and strong mucoadhesion, increasing primarily with higher polymer concentrations. The beads exhibited thermal stability and no chemical interaction with IND, showing improved mechanical properties. Furthermore, the beads remained stable during accelerated and long-term storage studies. The beads were found to be biocompatible, and IND encapsulation improved cell viability (>70 % in both models, 79 % in VN) and modified IND permeation through the models (6.3 % for F5 formulation (κ-Car 0.90 % w/v | Ser 1.2 % w/v| IND 3.0 g); 10.9 % for free IND, p < 0.05). Accordingly, κ-Car/Ser/IND beads were demonstrated to be a promising IND drug carrier to improve oral administration while mitigating the side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.

Enhanced probiotic viability in innovative double-network emulsion gels: Synergistic effects of the whey protein concentrate-xanthan gum complex and κ-carrageenan.

In this study, the whey protein concentrate and xanthan gum complex obtained by specific pH treatment, along with κ-carrageenan (KC), were used to encapsulate Lactobacillus acidophilus JYLA-191 in an emulsion gel system. The effects of crosslinking and KC concentration on the visual characteristics, stability, mechanical properties, and formation mechanism of emulsion gels were investigated. The results of optical imaging, particle size distribution, and rheology exhibited that with the addition of crosslinking agents, denser and more homogeneous emulsion gels were formed, along with a relative decrease in the droplet size and a gradual increase in viscosity. Especially when the concentration of citric acid (CA) was 0.09 wt%, KC was 0.8 wt%, and K+ was present in the system, the double-network emulsion gel was stable at high temperatures and in freezing environments, and the swelling ratio was the lowest (9.41%). Gastrointestinal tract digestive treatments and pasteurization revealed that the probiotics encapsulated in the double-network emulsion gel had a higher survival rate, which was attributed to the synergistic cross-linking of CA and K+ biopolymers to construct the emulsion gels. Overall, this study highlights the potential of emulsion gels to maintain probiotic vitality and provides valuable insights for developing inventive functional foods.

Preparation, structural characterization, and functional attributes of zein-lysozyme-κ-carrageenan ternary nanocomposites for curcumin encapsulation.

The low water solubility and inadequate bioavailability of curcumin significantly hinder its broad biological applications in the realms of food and medicine. There is limited information currently available regarding the particle characteristics and functional capabilities of zein-lysozyme-based nanomaterials. Thereby, the primary goal of the current work is to effectively develop innovative zein-lysozyme-κ-carrageenan complex nanocomposites (ZLKC) as a reliable carrier for curcumin encapsulation. As a result, ZLKC nanoparticles showed a smooth spherical nanostructure with improved encapsulation efficiency. Fourier-transform infrared, fluorescence spectroscopy, dissociation assay, and circular dichroism analysis revealed that hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding were pivotal in the construction and durability of these composites. X-ray diffraction examination affirmed the lack of crystallinity in curcumin encapsulated within nanoparticles. The incorporation of κ-carrageenan significantly improved the physicochemical stability of ZLKC nanoparticles in diverse environmental settings. Additionally, ZLKC nanocomposites demonstrated enhanced antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, as well as sustained release characteristics. Therefore, these findings demonstrate the potential application of ZLKC nanocomposites as delivery materials for encapsulating bioactive substances.