Exploring conventional and emerging dehydration technologies for slurry/liquid food matrices and their impact on porosity of powders: A comprehensive review.

The contribution of dehydration to the growing market of food powders from slurry/liquid matrices is inevitable. To overcome the challenges posed by conventional drying technologies, several innovative approaches have emerged. However, industrial implementation is limited due to insufficient information on the best-suited drying technologies for targeted products. Therefore, this review aimed to compare various conventional and emerging dehydration technologies (such as active freeze, supercritical, agitated thin-film, and vortex chamber drying) based on their fundamental principles, potential applications, and limitations. Additionally, this article reviewed the effects of drying technologies on porosity, which greatly influence the solubility, rehydration, and stability of powder. The comparison between different drying technologies enables informed decision-making in selecting the appropriate one. It was found that active freeze drying is effective in producing free-flowing powders, unlike conventional freeze drying. Vortex chamber drying could be considered a viable alternative to spray drying, requiring a compact chamber than the large tower needed for spray drying. Freeze-dried, spray freeze-dried, and foam mat-dried powders exhibit higher porosity than spray-dried ones, whereas supercritical drying produces nano-porous interconnected powders. Notably, several factors like glass transition temperature, drying technologies, particle aggregation, agglomeration, and sintering impact powder porosity. However, some binders, such as maltodextrin, sucrose, and lactose, could be applied in controlled agglomeration to enhance powder porosity. Further investigation on the effect of emerging technologies on powder properties and their commercial feasibility is required to discover their potential in liquid drying. Moreover, utilizing clean-label drying ingredients like dietary fibers, derived from agricultural waste, presents promising opportunities.

A new insight into the mechanism of the tabletability flip phenomenon.

Tabletability is an outcome of interparticulate bonding area (BA) - bonding strength (BS) interplay, influenced by the mechanical properties, size and shape, surface energetics of the constituent particles, and compaction parameters. Typically, a more plastic active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) exhibits a better tabletability than less plastic APIs due to the formation of a larger BA during tablet compression. Thus, solid forms of an API with greater plasticity are traditionally preferred if other critical pharmaceutical properties are comparable. However, the tabletability flip phenomenon (TFP) suggests that a solid form of an API with poorer tabletability may exhibit better tabletability when formulated with plastic excipients. In this study, we propose another possible mechanism of TFP, wherein softer excipient particles conform to the shape of harder API particles during compaction, leading to a larger BA under certain pressures and, hence, better tabletability. In this scenario, the BA-BS interplay is dominated by BA. Accordingly, TFP should tend to occur when API solid forms are formulated with a soft excipient. We tested this hypothesis by visualizing the deformation of particles in a model compressed tablet by nondestructive micro-computed tomography and by optical microscopy when the particles were separated from the tablet. The results confirmed that soft particles wrapped around hard particles at their interfaces, while an approximately flat contact was formed between two adjacent soft particles. In addition to the direct visual evidence, the BA-dominating mechanism was also supported by the observation that TFP occurred in the p-aminobenzoic acid polymorph system only when mixed with a soft excipient.

Synergistic combination of antimicrobial peptide and isoniazid as inhalable dry powder formulation against multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has posed a serious threat to global public health, and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged to be promising candidates to tackle this deadly infectious disease. Previous study has suggested that two AMPs, namely D-LAK120-A and D-LAK120-HP13, can potentiate the effect of isoniazid (INH) against mycobacteria. In this study, the strategy of combining INH and D-LAK peptide as a dry powder formulation for inhalation was explored. The antibacterial effect of INH and D-LAK combination was first evaluated on three MDR clinical isolates of Mycobacteria tuberculosis (Mtb). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and fractional inhibitory concentration indexes (FICIs) were determined. The combination was synergistic against Mtb with FICIs ranged from 0.25 to 0.38. The INH and D-LAK peptide at 2:1 mole ratio (equivalent to 1: 10 mass ratio) was identified to be optimal. This ratio was adopted for the preparation of dry powder formulation for pulmonary delivery, with mannitol used as bulking excipient. Spherical particles with mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of around 5 µm were produced by spray drying. The aerosol performance of the spray dried powder was moderate, as evaluated by the Next Generation Impactor (NGI), with emitted fraction and fine particle fraction of above 70 % and 45 %, respectively. The circular dichroism spectra revealed that both D-LAK peptides retained their secondary structure after spray drying, and the antibacterial effect of the combination against the MDR Mtb clinical isolates was successfully preserved. The combination was found to be effective against MDR Mtb isolates with KatG or InhA mutations. Overall, the synergistic combination of INH with D-LAK peptide formulated as inhaled dry powder offers a new therapeutic approach against MDR-TB.

Triple combination dry powder formulation of pretomanid, moxifloxacin, and pyrazinamide for treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Both latent and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) have been causing significant concern worldwide. A novel drug, pretomanid (PA-824), has shown a potent bactericidal effect against both active and latent forms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTb) and a synergistic effect when combined with pyrazinamide and moxifloxacin. This study aimed to develop triple combination spray dried inhalable formulations composed of antitubercular drugs, pretomanid, moxifloxacin, and pyrazinamide (1:2:8 w/w/w), alone (PaMP) and in combination with an aerosolization enhancer, L-leucine (20 % w/w, PaMPL). The formulation PaMPL consisted of hollow, spherical, dimpled particles (<5 µm) and showed good aerosolization behaviour with a fine particle fraction of 70 %. Solid-state characterization of formulations with and without L-leucine confirmed the amorphous nature of moxifloxacin and pretomanid and the crystalline nature of pyrazinamide with polymorphic transformation after the spray drying process. Further, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis revealed the predominant surface composition of L-leucine on PaMPL dry powder particles. The dose-response cytotoxicity results showed pyrazinamide and moxifloxacin were non-toxic in both A549 and Calu-3 cell lines up to 150 µg/mL. However, the cell viability gradually decreased to 50 % when the pretomanid concentration increased to 150 µg/mL. The in vitro efficacy studies demonstrated that the triple combination formulation had more prominent antibacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1 µg/mL against the MTb H37Rv strain as compared to individual drugs. In conclusion, the triple combination of pretomanid, moxifloxacin, and pyrazinamide as an inhalable dry powder formulation will potentially improve treatment efficacy with fewer systemic side effects in patients suffering from latent and multidrug-resistant TB.

Critical attributes of fine excipient materials in carrier-based dry powder inhalation formulations: The particle shape and surface properties.

The potential of fine excipient materials to improve the aerodynamic performance of carrier-based dry powder inhalation (DPI) formulations is well acknowledged but not fully elucidated. To improve the understanding of this potential, we studied two fine excipient materials: micronized lactose particles and silica microspheres. Inhalation formulations, each composed of a coarse lactose carrier, one of the two fine excipient materials (0.0-15.0 % w/w), and a spray-dried drug (fluticasone propionate) material (1.5 % w/w) were prepared. The physical structure, the flow behavior, the aerosolization behavior, and the aerodynamic performance of the formulations were studied. The two fine excipient materials similarly occupied carrier surface macropores. However, only the micronized lactose particles formed agglomerates and appeared to increase the tensile strength of the formulations. At 2.5 % w/w, the two fine excipient materials similarly improved drug dispersibility, whereas at higher concentrations, the micronized lactose material was more beneficial than the silica microspheres. The findings suggest that fine excipient materials improve drug dispersibility from carrier-based DPI formulations at low concentrations by filling carrier surface macropores and at high concentrations by forming agglomerates and/or enforcing fluidization. The study emphasizes critical attributes of fine excipient materials in carrier-based DPI formulations.

UV-VIS imaging-based investigation of API concentration fluctuation caused by the sticking behaviour of pharmaceutical powder blends.

Surface powder sticking in pharmaceutical mixing vessels poses a risk to the uniformity and quality of drug formulations. This study explores methods for evaluating the amount of pharmaceutical powder mixtures adhering to the metallic surfaces. Binary powder blends consisting of amlodipine and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were used to investigate the effect of the mixing order on the adherence to the vessel wall. Elevated API concentrations were measured on the wall and within the dislodged material from the surface, regardless of the mixing order of the components. UV imaging was used to determine the particle size and the distribution of the API on the metallic surface. The results were compared to chemical maps obtained by Raman chemical imaging. The combination of UV and VIS imaging enabled the rapid acquisition of chemical maps, covering a substantially large area representative of the analysed sample. UV imaging was also applied in tablet inspection to detect tablets that fail to meet the content uniformity criteria. The results present powder adherence as a possible source of poor content uniformity, highlighting the need for 100% inspection of pharmaceutical products to ensure product quality and safety.

Metabolomic analysis reveals the effect of ultrasonic-microwave pretreatment on flavonoids in tribute Citrus powder.

In this study, the ultrasonic-microwave pretreatment was defined as a processing technology in the production of tribute citrus powder, and it could increase the flavonoid compounds in the processing fruit powder. A total of 183 upregulated metabolites and 280 downregulated metabolites were obtained by non-targeted metabolomics, and the differential metabolites was mainly involved in the pathways of flavonoid biosynthesis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis. A total of 8 flavonoid differential metabolites were obtained including 5 upregulated metabolites (6"-O-acetylglycitin, scutellarin, isosakuranin, rutin, and robinin), and 3 downregulated metabolites (astragalin, luteolin, and (-)-catechin gallate) by flavonoids-targeted metabolomics. The 8 flavonoid differential metabolites participated in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathways, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis pathways, and isoflavonoid biosynthesis pathways. The results provide a reference for further understanding the relationship between food processing and food components, and also lay a basis for the development of food targeted-processing technologies.

How spray drying processing and solution composition can affect the mAbs stability in reconstituted solutions for subcutaneous injections. Part II: Exploring each protein stabilizer effect.

Despite extensive research in spray drying of biopharmaceuticals, identifying the optimal formulation composition and process conditions to minimize the various stresses a biopharmaceutical undergoes during this drying process. The current study extends previous research on investigating how spray drying processing and solution composition can affect the stability of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in reconstituted solutions for subcutaneous injections. The decoupling process stresses on a model mAb (mAb-A) compared to the effect of coupled spray-drying stresses revealed that excipients and protein concentration had a more pronounced effect on stabilizing mAb-A against shear and thermal/dehydration stresses than spray drying operating conditions. These results prompted the continuation of the study, with the aim to investigate in greater depth the effect of mAb-A concentration in the formulation designated to spray-drying and then the effect of type and the concentration of individual excipients (sugars, amino acids and surfactants). The outcomes of this investigation suggest that a general increase in the concentration of excipients, particularly surfactants, correlates with a reduction in aggregation and turbidity observed in the reconstituted spray-dried mAb-A powders. These results, contribute to the identification of a suitable composition for a spray-dried mAb-A powder that ensures robust stability of the protein in reconstituted solutions intended for subcutaneous injection. This valuable insight has important implications for advancing the development of pharmaceutical formulations with enhanced stability and efficacy.

Trace polymer coated clarithromycin spherulites: Formation mechanism, improvement in pharmaceutical properties and development of high-drug-loading direct compression tablets.

Clarithromycin (CLA) is a high dose antibiotic drug exhibiting poor flowability and tabletability, making the tablet development challenging. This study aims to develop spherulitic CLA by introducing trace amount of polymer in crystallization solution. Its formation mechanism, physicochemical properties and potential for the direct compression (DC) tablets development were also investigated. Morphological analyses and the in situ observation on crystallization process revealed that the CLA spherulites are formed by fractal branching growth from both sides of the threadlike precursor fibers. 1H NMR analysis and nucleation time monitoring indicated that the existence of hydroxypropyl cellulose in solution slowed down the crystal nucleation and growth rate by forming hydrogen bonding interactions with CLA molecules, making the system maintain high supersaturation, providing high driving forces for CLA spherulitic growth. In comparison to commercial CLA, the CLA spherulites exhibit profoundly improved flowability, tabletability and dissolution behaviors. XPS, contact angle and Raman mapping analysis confirmed the presence of a thin HPC layer on the surfaces and interior of CLA spherulitic particles, resulting in increasing powder plasticity, interparticulate bonding strength and powder wettability, thus better tabletability and dissolution performances. The improved flowability and tabletability of CLA spherulites also enabled the successful development of DC tablet formulation with a high CLA loading (82.8 wt%) and similar dissolution profiles to reference listed drug. This study provides a novel solid form of CLA with superior manufacturability for further development.

Co-spray dried inhalable composite powders of ciprofloxacin and alginate oligosaccharide as anti-biofilm therapy.

The treatment of chronic respiratory infections caused by biofilm formation are extremely challenging owing to poor drug penetration into the complex biofilm structure and high drug resistance. Local delivery of an antibiotic together with a non-antibiotic adjuvant to the lungs could often enhance the therapeutic responses by targeting different bacterial growth pathways and minimizing drug resistance. In this study, we designed new inhalable dry powders containing ciprofloxacin (CIP) and OligoG (Oli, a low-molecular-weight alginate oligosaccharide impairing the mucoid biofilms by interacting with their cationic ions) to combat respiratory bacterial biofilm infections. The resulting powders were characterized with respect to their morphology, solid-state property, surface chemistry, moisture sorption behavior, and dissolution rate. The aerosol performance and storage stability of the dry powders were also evaluated. The results showed that inhalable dry powders composed of CIP and Oli could be readily accomplished via the wet milling and spray drying process. Upon the storage under 20 ± 2 °C/20 ± 2 % relative humidity (RH) for one month, there was no significant change in the in vitro aerosol performances of the dry powders. In contrast, the dry powders became non-inhalable following the storage at 20 ± 2 °C/53 ± 2 % RH for one month due to the hygroscopic nature of Oli, which could be largely prevented by incorporation of leucine. Collectively, this study suggests that the newly developed co-spray-dried powders composed of CIP and Oli might represent a promising and alternative treatment strategy against respiratory bacterial biofilm infections.

Development of favipiravir dry powders for intranasal delivery: An integrated cocrystal and particle engineering approach via spray freeze drying.

The therapeutic potential of pharmaceutical cocrystals in intranasal applications remains largely unexplored despite progressive advancements in cocrystal research. We present the application of spray freeze drying (SFD) in successful fabrication of a favipiravir-pyridinecarboxamide cocrystal nasal powder formulation for potential treatment of broad-spectrum antiviral infections. Preliminary screening via mechanochemistry revealed that favipiravir (FAV) can cocrystallize with isonicotinamide (INA), but not nicotinamide (NCT) and picolinamide (PIC) notwithstanding their structural similarity. The cocrystal formation was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and unit cell determination through Rietveld refinement of powder X-ray analysis. FAV-INA crystalized in a monoclinic space group P21/c with a unit cell volume of 1223.54(3) Å3, accommodating one FAV molecule and one INA molecule in the asymmetric unit. The cocrystal was further reproduced as intranasal dry powders by SFD, of which the morphology, particle size, in vitro drug release, and nasal deposition were assessed. The non-porous flake shaped FAV-INA powders exhibited a mean particle size of 19.79 ± 2.61 µm, rendering its suitability for intranasal delivery. Compared with raw FAV, FAV-INA displayed a 3-fold higher cumulative fraction of drug permeated in Franz diffusion cells at 45 min (p = 0.001). Dose fraction of FAV-INA deposited in the nasal fraction of a customized 3D-printed nasal cast reached over 80 %, whereas the fine particle fraction remained below 6 % at a flow rate of 15 L/min, suggesting high nasal deposition whilst minimal lung deposition. FAV-INA was safe in RPMI 2650 nasal and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells without any in vitro cytotoxicity observed. This study demonstrated that combining the merits of cocrystallization and particle engineering via SFD can propel the development of advanced dry powder formulations for intranasal drug delivery.

Impact of dry coating lactose as a brittle excipient on multi-component blend processability.

Previous work demonstrated the benefits of dry coating fine-grade microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) for enabling direct compression (DC), a favored tablet manufacturing method, due to enhanced flowability while retaining good compactability of placebo and binary blends of cohesive APIs. Here, fine brittle excipients, Pharmatose 450 (P450, 19 µm) and Pharmatose 350 (P350, 29 µm), having both poor flowability and compactability are dry coated with silica A200 or R972P to assess DC capability of multi-component cohesive API (coarse acetaminophen, 22 µm, and ibuprofen50, 47 µm) blends. Dry coated P450 and P350 not only attained excellent flowability and high bulk density but also heightened tensile strength hence processability, which contrasts with reported reduction for dry coated ductile MCC. Although hydrophobic R972P imparted better flowability, hydrophilic A200 better enhanced tensile strength, hence selected for dry coating P450 in multi-component blends that included fine Avicel PH-105. For coarse acetaminophen blends, substantial bulk density and flowability increase without any detrimental effect on tensile strength were observed; a lesser amount of dry coated P450 was better. Increased flowability, bulk density, and tensile strength, hence enhanced processability by reaching DC capability, were observed for 60 wt% ibuprofen50, using only 18 wt% of the dry coated P450, i.e. 0.18 wt% silica in the blend.

"Milk on Ice": A detailed analysis of Ernest Shackleton's century-old whole milk powder in comparison with modern counterparts.

Whole milk powder (WMP) manufactured in New Zealand in 1907 was sent to the Antarctic continent with the Shackleton-led British Antarctic Expedition from 1907 to 1909. This powder was stored at ambient conditions at Shackleton's Hut at Cape Royds, Antarctica, for over 100 yr before a sample was collected on behalf of Fonterra by the Antarctic Heritage Trust. Having spent most of its existence both dried and in frozen storage, any deleterious reactions within the WMP would have been markedly retarded. The composition and some properties of the roller-dried Shackleton's WMP are reported along with those of 2 modern spray-dried New Zealand WMP. The Shackleton powder was less white and more yellow than the modern WMP and was composed of flakes rather than agglomerated particles, consistent with that expected of a roller-dried powder. Headspace analysis showed lipolytic and oxidative volatile compounds were present in the Shackleton WMP, indicting some deterioration of the milk either before powder manufacture or on storage of the finished product. On a moisture-free basis, the Shackleton WMP had higher protein, higher fat (with a markedly higher free fat level), higher ash, and a lower lactose level than the modern WMP. The lysine level was lower in the Shackleton WMP compared with the spray-dried powders, whereas the fatty acid composition was relatively similar. The sodium level was markedly higher in the Shackleton WMP compared with the spray-dried powder, which is probably due to the addition of an alkaline sodium salt to adjust the pH of the milk before roller drying. Lead, iron, and tin levels were markedly higher in the Shackleton WMP compared with the spray-dried powders, possibly due to the equipment used in powder manufacture and the tin-plated cases used for storage. The proteins in the Shackleton WMP were more lactosylated than in the spray-dried powders. The Shackleton WMP had a higher ratio of κ-casein A to B variants and a higher ratio of ß-lactoglobulin B to A variants than the spray-dried powders, whereas the αS1-casein, ß-casein, αS2-casein, and α-lactalbumin protein variants were similar in all powders. The total phospholipid content was markedly lower in the Shackleton WMP than the spray-dried powders, primarily due to a lower phosphatidylethanolamine concentration. The molecular species distributions within the phospholipid classes were generally similar in the 3 powders. Claims are sometimes encountered that the milk of today is different from that consumed by previous generations. However, this comparative study has shown that the Shackleton WMP was generally similar to modern WMP. Although differences in some components and properties were observed, these were attributable to the manufacturing equipment and processes used in the pioneering years of WMP manufacture.

Inhaled JAK Inhibitor GDC-0214 Nanoaggregate Powder Exhibits Improved Pharmacokinetic Profile in Rats Compared to the Micronized Form: Benefits of Thin Film Freezing.

Asthma is a common chronic disease affecting the airways in the lungs. The receptors of allergic cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13, trigger the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway, which involves the pathogenesis of asthma. GDC-0214 is a JAK inhibitor that was developed as a potent and selective target for the treatment of asthma, specifically targeting the lungs. While inhaled GDC-0214 is a promising novel treatment option against asthma, improvement is still needed to achieve increased potency of the powder formulation and a reduced number of capsules containing powder to be inhaled. In this study, high-potency amorphous powder formulations containing GDC-0214 nanoaggregates for dry powder inhalation were developed using particle engineering technology, thin film freezing (TFF). A high dose per capsule was successfully achieved by enhancing the solubility of GDC-0214 and powder conditioning. Lactose and/or leucine as excipients exhibited optimum stability and aerosolization of GDC-0214 nanoaggregates, and aerosolization of the dose was independent of air flow through the device between 2 and 6 kPa pressure drops. In the rat PK study, formulation F20, which contains 80% GDC-0214 and 20% lactose, resulted in the highest AUC0-24h in the lungs with the lowest AUC0-24h in the plasma that corresponds to a 4.8-fold higher ratio of the lung-to-plasma exposures compared to micronized crystalline GDC-0214 powder administered by dry powder inhalation. Therefore, GDC-0214 nanoaggregates produced by TFF provided an improved dry powder for inhalation that can lead to enhanced therapeutic efficacy with a lower risk of systemic toxicity.

Crystal size, a key character of lactose crystallization affecting microstructure, surface chemistry and reconstitution of milk powder.

Lactose crystallization during storage deteriorates reconstitution performance of milk powders, but the relationship between lactose crystallization and reconstitution is inexplicit. The objective of this study is to characterize crystalline lactose in the context of formulation and elucidate the complex relationship between lactose crystallization and powder functionality. Lactose in Skim Milk Powder (SMP), Whole Milk Powder (WMP) and Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) stored under 23 %, 53 % and 75 % Relative Humidity (RH) at 25  â„ƒ for four months was compared. Lactose, surface chemistry and microstructure of FFMP stored at 25 â„ƒ and 40 â„ƒ at 23 % to 75 % RH for four months were also analyzed and interpreted. At the same RH, FFMP crystallized in the same pattern as WMP. At 53 % RH, FFMP and WMP differentiated from SMP in terms of lactose morphology as well as the ratio between anhydrous α-lactose and anhydrous ß-lactose. Lactose remained amorphous at 23 % RH, crystallized predominantly to α/ß-lactose (1:4) at 40 to 58 % RH and to α-lactose monohydrate at 75 % RH. The crystallinity index was similar for all powders containing crystalline lactose. The estimated crystallite size increased from approx. 0.1 to 20 µm with increasing RH and temperature. When amorphous lactose crystallized into crystals below approx. 0.1 µm at 25 °C and 43 % RH, the microstructure and surface lipid were comparable to that of the reference powder. This powder reconstituted into a stable suspension system comparable to that of reference (well performing) powders. These results demonstrate that crystallite size is the key property linking lactose crystallization and reconstitution. Our finding thus indicates limiting crystallite size is important for maintaining desired product quality.

Effect of superfine grinding chestnut powder on the structural and physicochemical properties of wheat dough.

This study evaluated the influence of chestnut powder, produced using ball mill superfine grinding (BMSG), jet superfine grinding (JSG), and ordinary grinding (OG), on wheat flour properties. Blending wheat flour with chestnut powder resulted in a darker flour blend (3 % decline of L*), with decreased the tap density and increased water holding capacity. Adding appropriate proportion of superfine chestnut powder can bolster the mixed flour's thermal stability (15 % BMSG/JSG) and freeze-thaw stability (10 % BMSG/JSG), while significantly enhancing the anti-aging properties of flour products. The proposition of 5 % superfine BMSG/JSG did not significantly affect the tensile resistance of the dough, and even improve the dough's tensile strength. In addition, the hardness, adhesiveness, springiness and pH of fermentation increased due to the addition of chestnut powder, as supported by the dough texture analyses and fermentation characteristics findings. However, the excessive addition of chestnut powder affected the dough network's structural integrity to some extent. Further study can focus on the influencing mechanism of chestnut powder on gluten formation and related nutritional properties. Overall, this research underscores the potential of utilizing chestnut powder to enhance the nutritional and functional qualities of wheat-based products.

Cleaning of direct compression continuous manufacturing equipment through displacement of API residues by excipients.

This feasibility study evaluates a cleaning process designed to avoid the use of detergents and reduce operator exposure to the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The continuous manufacturing equipment was cleaned using excipients to displace ibuprofen residues from the system. The cleaning process was performed using 3.0 kg of Prosolv® and 3.0 kg of Tablettose® 70. The impact of different volumetric feed rates of the cleaning excipient was assessed. The displacement of API and blend residues was evaluated with in-line near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to evaluate the cleaning progress as the Prosolv® flowed through the feeder, mixer and stream sampler. In-place Raman spectra were acquired from the material sticking to detect the ibuprofen residues. The study showed that Prosolv® and Tablettose® can remove ibuprofen residues effectively from the hopper, feeder screw, mixer paddles, shaft and stream sampler. The Process Analytical Technology (PAT) system can be utilized to detect API displacement during the cleaning process. However, dismantling and manual cleaning was required to remove material sticking at the surfaces adjacent to the rotating feeder screws and mixer paddles.

Unraveling the potential of non-thermal ultrasonic contact drying for enhanced functional and structural attributes of pea protein isolates: A comparative study with spray and freeze-drying methods.

The challenge of preserving the quality of thermal-sensitive polymeric materials specifically proteins during a thermal drying process has been a subject of ongoing concern. To address this issue, we investigated the use of ultrasound contact drying (USD) under non-thermal conditions to produce functionalized pea protein powders. The study extensively examined functional and physicochemical properties of pea protein isolate (PPI) in powder forms obtained through three drying methods: USD (30 °C), spray drying (SD), and freeze drying (FD). Additionally, physical attributes such as powder flowability and color, along with morphological properties, were thoroughly studied. The results indicated that the innovative USD method produced powders of comparable quality to FD and significantly outperformed SD. Notably, the USD-PPI exhibited higher solubility across all pH levels compared to both FD-PPI and SD-PPI. Moreover, the USD-PPI samples demonstrated improved emulsifying and foaming properties, a higher percentage of random coil form (56.2 %), increased gel strength, and the highest bulk and tapped densities. Furthermore, the USD-PPI displayed a unique surface morphology with visible porosity and lumpiness. Overall, this study confirms the effectiveness of non-thermal ultrasound contact drying technology in producing superior functionalized plant protein powders, showing its potential in the fields of chemistry and sustainable materials processing.

Effect of coating material on microencapsulated phenolic compounds extracted from agroindustrial ciriguela peel residue.

BACKGROUND: Extract of ciriguela residue was microencapsulated by spray-drying and freeze-drying using maltodextrin (M), gum arabic (GA) and their mixture (50% M; 50% GA on dry basis) as encapsulating agents. Total phenolic compounds (TPC), antioxidant activity, physicochemical properties, profile of phenolic compounds by HPLC with diode-array detection and storage stability were evaluated. RESULTS: TPC content of powders ranged from 306.9 to 451.2 mg gallic acid equivalent g-1 dry powder. The spray-dried powder prepared using GA as encapsulating agent had higher TPC content and antioxidant activity, whereas the freeze-dried powder had lower moisture and water activity. Spray-dried microcapsules had spherical shape, whereas freeze-dried products had irregular structures. The profile of phenolic compounds identified in samples was similar, with rutin (342.59 and 72.92 µg g-1 ) and quercetin (181.02 and 43.24 µg g-1 ) being the major compounds in liquid and freeze-dried extracts, respectively, whereas myricetin (97.41 µg g-1 ) was predominant in spray-dried ones. Storage stability tests carried out for 45 days at 7 or 25 °C revealed no statistically significant difference in TPC. CONCLUSION: Ciriguela residue can be considered a source of TPC and used as ingredient with good antioxidant activity in the food industry. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Carriers based on dairy by-products and dehumidified-air spray drying as a novel multiple approach towards improved retention of phenolics in powders: sour cherry juice concentrate case study.

BACKGROUND: Sour cherry juice concentrate powder can serve as a modern, easy-to-handle, phenolics-rich merchandise; however, its transformation into powdered form requires the addition of carriers. In line with the latest trends in food technology, this study valorizes the use of dairy by-products (whey protein concentrate, whey, buttermilk, and mixes with maltodextrin) as carriers. A new multiple approach for higher drying yield, phenolics retention (phenolic acids, flavonols and anthocyanins) and antioxidant capacity of powders were tested as an effect of simultaneous decrease of drying temperature due to the drying air dehumidification and lower carrier content. RESULTS: Dairy-based carriers were effective for spray drying of sour cherry-juice concentrate. The drying yield was increased and retention of phenolics was higher when compared with maltodextrin. The application of dehumidified air, which enabled the drying temperature to be reduced, affected drying yield positively, and also affected particle morphology and retention of phenolics (the phenolic content was approximately 30% higher than with spray drying). CONCLUSIONS: The study proved that it is possible to apply dairy-based by-products to produce sour cherry juice concentrate powders profitably, lowering the spray-drying temperature and changing the carrier content. Dehumidified air spray drying can be recommended for the production of fruit juice concentrate powders with improved physicochemical properties. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.