Production and application of freeze dried biocomposite coating powders from sunflower oil and soy protein or whey protein isolates

Innovative encapsulation of Dysphania ambrosioides essential oil and α-terpinene with gum arabic and inulin: Enhancing antibacterial activity, stability, and bioavailability

Dysphania ambrosioides essential oil (EO) possesses significant antibacterial and antioxidant properties. However, its application as a food preservation agent is limited due to high volatility and instability. Given the industrial relevance of this EO, developing new products that incorporate microencapsulated D. ambrosioides EO is recommended. This study addresses these challenges by encapsulating the EO using inulin and gum arabic (IN/GA) biopolymers, known for their biocompatibility and biodegradability. We systematically evaluated the encapsulation efficiency and structural properties of the resulting microcapsules. Advanced characterization techniques, including FT-IR, SEM, and EDX, were used to analyze the chemical interactions and morphological characteristics of the microcapsules. The thermal stability of the microcapsules was assessed using TGA, while their stability and bioaccessibility were evaluated under simulated in vitro digestion conditions. The formulation (C1) used in this study demonstrated a high encapsulation efficiency (88 %). The IN/GA formulations successfully microencapsulated EO and α-terpinene, producing microcapsules with high stability (>80 %) and bioaccessibility (>40 %). These microcapsules showed controlled release during digestion and exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. These findings suggest that inulin and gum arabic are effective macromolecules for stabilizing this EO, offering valuable potential applications in the food industry.

Interaction of dairy and plant proteins for improving the emulsifying and gelation properties in food matrices: a review

A variety of variables influence food texture, two of which are gelation and emulsification. Protein interactions have an important role in influencing gelation and emulsifying properties. The utilization of plant proteins in the development of food systems is a prominent subject within the current protein transition paradigm. Plant proteins diminish gel strength compared to dairy proteins. Protein providers prefer to create their own networks rather than rely on tight ties. It may be feasible to resolve these challenges if the interactions between plant and dairy proteins are known at all sizes, from molecular to macroscopic. Therefore, the proteins and dairy proteins are the main emphasis of this review. The role of these proteins in interacting with food matrices is also discussed. Additionally, this data gives information on worldwide research trends. Finally, a glimpse into the future was discussed.

Effects of Ultrasound-Assisted Soy Lecithin Addition on Rehydration Behavior and Physical Properties of Egg White Protein Powder

This study investigated the effects of ultrasound-assisted soybean lecithin (SL) on the rehydration behavior and physical properties of egg white protein powder (EWPP) and its ability to enhance the efficacy of EWPP instant solubility. The results of rehydration, including wettability and dispersibility, indicated that ultrasound (200 W)-assisted SL (5 g/L) addition had the shortest wetting time and dispersion time, which were 307.14 ± 7.00 s and 20.95 ± 2.27 s, respectively. In terms of powder properties, the EWPP with added SL had lower lightness, moisture content and bulk density. In addition, the increase in average particle size, net negative charge, free sulfhydryl group content and surface hydrophobicity indicated that ultrasound treatment facilitated the protein structures unfolding and promoted the formation of SL-EWP complexes. Overall, our study provided a new perspective for the food industry regarding using ultrasound technology to produce instant EWPP with higher biological activity and more complete nutritional value.

Emulsification and stabilisation technologies used for the inclusion of lipophilic functional ingredients in food systems

Food industry is increasingly using functional ingredients to improve the food product quality. Lipid-containing functional ingredients are important sources of nutrients. This review examines the current state of emulsification and stabilisation technologies for incorporating lipophilic functional ingredients into food systems. Lipophilic functional ingredients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, carotenoids, and fat-soluble vitamins, offer numerous health benefits but present challenges due to their limited solubility in water-based food matrices. Emulsification techniques enable the dispersion of these ingredients in aqueous environments, facilitating their inclusion in a variety of food products. This review highlights recent advances in food emulsion formulation, emulsification methods and stabilisation techniques which, together, improve the stability and bioavailability of lipophilic compounds. The role of various emulsifiers, stabilizers, and encapsulation materials in enhancing the functionality of these ingredients is also explored. Furthermore, the review discusses different stabilisation techniques which can yield in emulsion in a solid or liquid state. By providing a comprehensive overview of current technologies, this review aims to guide future research and application in the development of functional foods enriched with lipophilic ingredients.

Physico-chemical, functional, and structural properties of un-defatted, cold and hot defatted yellow lupin protein isolates

This study investigates the structure, physico-chemical and functional properties of yellow lupin isolate protein (YLPI) obtained by different processes (conventional wet and purely aqueous fractionation) from un-defatted (YLPIU), and hot (YLPIHD) and cold (YLPICD) defatted flour. The defatting process modified the physical, structural and functional characteristics of lupin protein isolates. Indeed, a decrease of α-helix, free sulfhydryl groups amount and an increase of disulfide bond levels were observed for defatted samples, improving their emulsifying stability. The defatting process exposes the hydrophobic groups present within the YLPI, which increases total sulfhydryl content and protein surface hydrophobicity. Hot and cold defatting induced a decrease in turbidity, water-holding capacity, oil adsorption capacity, tapped and poured bulk densities. In addition, the defatting process changed the particle size of protein isolates that induced changes in their viscosity. Tryptophan spectra and protein surface hydrophobicity indicated that YLPICD and YLPIHD underwent structural conformational change during the defatting process.

Whey protein isolate-resveratrol complex as a radical scavenging foaming ingredient with increased ultraviolet stability

Functional foaming food ingredients play a vital role in preparing healthcare foods, however, the weak foamability and low photostability of ingredients severely limit their further development. Herein, whey protein isolate-resveratrol complexes (WPI-RES) were fabricated to address these challenges. Multi-spectral analysis and molecular simulation results revealed the key driving forces of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions to promote the formation of WPI-RES complexes, leading to the enhanced foamability and emulsifying properties of WPI after binding with RES. Importantly, the robust radical scavenging activity of RES within WPI was maintained under UV light irradiation compared to that of free RES as identified by DPPH assay, which was presumably due to inhibited photoisomerization of RES after binding to WPI. This work provides a promising foaming ingredient with increased ultraviolet stability and radical scavenging activity, paves the way to develop stable health-promoting foaming food products.

Effect of wall material on lipophilic functional compounds of high oleic palm oil emulsions encapsulated by Refractance Window drying

High-oleic palm oil is a food-grade oil with desirable properties, as it is characterised by having an oleic acid concentration above 50 % and a high vitamin E and provitamin A content. This study investigated the effect of different combinations of two wall materials (whey protein (WP) and Capsul®, a commercial octenyl succinic anhydride modified starch (OSA-MS)) on the concentration of provitamin A, vitamin E and oleic acid, and the physical properties of high oleic palm oil emulsions encapsulated by Refractance Window drying technology. Wall material composition significantly affected (p < 0.05) all response variables, and R2 values were above 0.75 for all responses. Phytonutrient preservation showed its highest at an OSA-MS: WP concentration ratio of 1: 3. Optimal results were achieved (minimum moisture content, water activity and hygroscopicity, and maximum encapsulation efficiency and phytonutrient preservation) at an OSA-MS concentration of 8.13 % and WP concentration of 91.87 %. Flakes were obtained as a solid structure that protects oil's phytonutrients with 94 %, 75 % and 87 % of preservation of oleic acid, vitamin E and carotenoids, respectively. It shows that the wall material combination and encapsulation technique are suitable for obtaining lipophilic functional compounds.

Constitution and reconstitution of microcapsules with high diacylglycerol oil loading capacity based on whey protein isolate / octenyl succinic anhydride starch/ inulin matrix

The aim of this study was to constitute microcapsule systems with high oil loading capacity by octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) starch, whey protein isolate (WPI) and inulin (IN) substrates to provide a new method for encapsulating diacylglycerol oil. Specifically, this study characterizes the physicochemical properties and reconstitution capacity of highly oil loading diacylglycerol microcapsules by comparing the wall encapsulation capacity of the binary wall system OSA-IN, WPI-IN and the ternary wall system WPI-OSA (1:9, 5:5, 9:1)-IN for diacylglycerol oil. It was found that WPI-OSA (5:5)-IN significantly improved the water solubility of microcapsules (86.11 %) compared to OSA-IN microcapsules, and the addition of WPI made the surface of microcapsules smoother and increased the thermal stability and solubility of microcapsules; the addition of OSA enhanced the wettability of microcapsules compared to WPI-IN. In addition, WPI-OSA (5:5)-IN microcapsules have the highest encapsulation efficiency (96.03 %), high emulsion stability after reconstitution, and the smallest droplet size (212.83 nm) after 28 d. Therefore, the WPI-OSA-IN composite system is suitable for the production of highly oil-loaded microencapsulated systems with excellent reconstitution ability to expand the application of diacylglycerol oil.

Application of Whey Protein-Based Emulsion Coating Treatment in Fresh-Cut Apple Preservation

Fresh-cut fruit requires an edible and water-resistant coating to remain fresh. This article investigated the effects of transglutaminase (TGase) and sunflower oil on the water-resistant characteristics, mechanical properties, and microstructure of a whey protein-based film. The whey protein-based emulsion coating’s preservation effect on fresh-cut apples was confirmed. According to the findings, sunflower oil (added at 1.5% w/w) could interact with β-lactoglobulin, α-lactoglobulin dimer, and β-lactoglobulin dimer to form emulsion droplets that are evenly dispersed throughout the protein film. This effect, combined with the covalent cross-linking of TGase, significantly improves the films’ microstructure, mechanical properties, and water resistance. However, too much and unevenly distributed sunflower oil (add 3% w/w) partially prevented the covalent cross-linking of TGase, reducing the elongation at the break of the composite film. In the fresh-cut apple storage experiment, the whey protein-based emulsion coating treatment significantly reduced the weight loss rate and browning index of fresh-cut apples by 26.55% and 46.39%, respectively. This was accomplished by the coating treatment significantly inhibiting the respiration rate increase, PPO and CAT activity enhancement, H2O2 production, and MDA accumulation. This research provides practical, technical, and theoretical guidance for the preservation of fresh-cut fruit.

Design and characterization of whey protein nanocarriers for thyme essential oil encapsulation obtained by freeze-drying

Innovative coating powders, based on whey protein concentrate (10-15 wt%) as native (WPC) or denatured protein (d-WPC), solely or in combination with alginate (0.75 wt%, AL), containing thyme essential oil, were produced using the freeze-drying technique. The impact of individual components (protein, alginate and oil) as well as the effect of heat-induced protein denaturation, was resolved regarding physicochemical, thermal and morphological properties of powders. High product yield (∼100%), particle size (223-257 nm), low moisture content (0.10-0.13%) and zeta potential (-19 to -25.6 mV) were determined for all samples. Strong antimicrobial activity of thyme oil nanocarriers against foodborne pathogens was demonstrated. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated enhanced thermal stability of encapsulated oil. The most specific bands of structural compounds were identified in Raman spectra of the tested formulations, but principal component analysis (PCA) on recorded spectra was necessary to show the differences between carriers of different wall materials.

Preparation and Characterization of an Electrospun Whey Protein/Polycaprolactone Nanofiber Membrane for Chromium Removal from Water

Chromium pollution represents a worldwide concern due to its high toxicity and bioaccumulation in organisms and ecosystems. An interesting material to remove metal ions from water is a whey-protein-based material elaborated by electrospinning, which is an emerging method to produce adsorbent membranes with diverse applications. The aim of this study was to prepare an adsorbent membrane of whey protein isolate (WPI) and polycaprolactone (PCL) by electrospinning to remove chromium ions from water. The adsorbent membrane was synthesized by a central composed design denaturing WPI using 2-Mercaptoethanol and mixing it with PCL to produce electrospun nanofibers. The adsorbent membrane was characterized by denaturation, Scanning Electron Microscope, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Contact Angle, Thermogravimetric Analysis, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometry. The adsorption properties of this membrane were assessed in the removal of chromium. The removal performance of the membrane was enhanced by an increase in temperature showing an endothermic adsorption process. The adsorption process of chromium ions onto the nanofiber membrane followed the Sips adsorption isotherm, while the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second kinetics where the maximum adsorption capacity was 31.0 mg/g at 30 °C and pH 2. This work provides a novel method to fabricate a hybrid membrane with amyloid-type fibrils of WPI and PCL, which is a promising adsorbent to remove heavy metal ions from water.

The Physicochemical Properties and Antioxidant Activity of Spirulina (Artrhospira platensis) Chlorophylls Microencapsulated in Different Ratios of Gum Arabic and Whey Protein Isolate

Spirulina (Artrhospira platensis) is rich in chlorophylls (CH) and is used as a potential natural additive in the food industry. In this study, the CH content was extracted from spirulina powder after ultrasound treatment. Microcapsules were then prepared at different ratios of gum Arabic (GA) and whey protein isolate (WPI) through freeze-drying to improve the chemical stability of CH. As a result, a* and C* values of the microcapsules prepared from GA:WPI ratios (3:7) were −8.94 ± 0.05 and 15.44 ± 0.08, respectively. The GA fraction increased from 1 to 9, and encapsulation efficiency (EE) of microcapsules also increased by 9.62%. Moreover, the absorption peaks of CH at 2927 and 1626 cm⁻¹ in microcapsules emerged as a redshift detected by FT-IR. From SEM images, the morphology of microcapsules changed from broken glassy to irregular porous flake-like structures when the GA ratio increased. In addition, the coated microcapsules (GA:WPI = 3:7) showed the highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity (SA_DPPH) (56.38 ± 0.19) due to low moisture content and better chemical stability through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Conclusively, GA and WPI coacervates as the wall material may improve the stability of CH extracted from spirulina.

Effect of Trehalose on the Physicochemical Properties of Freeze-Dried Powder of Royal Jelly of Northeastern Black Bee

Trehalose is known for its effect of improving the stability of freeze-dried foods. In this work, vacuum freeze-drying (VFD) technology was employed to prepare northeast black bee royal jelly into lyophilized powder and a novel method mixing trehalose into royal jelly is successfully developed to enhance the free radical scavenging ability and the nutrition stability of royal jelly lyophilized powder. The effects of different trehalose content (0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 wt.%) on the physicochemical properties of lyophilized royal jelly powder were studied. With systematic analysis, it was found that the incorporation of suitable trehalose content in lyophilized royal jelly powder can reduce the loss of the protein, total sugar, total flavone content during the VFD process and enhance the total phenolic antioxidant capacity, solubility, angle of repose, and bulk density of the royal jelly powder. Finally, lyophilized royal jelly with 0.5 wt.% trehalose is selected as the suitable addition content which exhibits the best radical scavenging ability as well as the lowest hygroscopicity. From the perspective of sensory evaluation, all royal jelly lyophilized powders with trehalose are acceptable.

Characterization and application of novel composite films based on soy protein isolate and sunflower oil produced using freeze drying method

Biocomposite films based on soy protein isolate (SPI) and sunflower oil (SO) were fabricated using freeze drying (FDM) as an innovative approach to formulate a fairly easy-to-apply way, moreover, results were compared with the classic film production method (CM). In FDM, SPI edible film solutions were prepared and dried using freeze drying, and then reconstituted to produce the films. The aim was to specify the effect of both using FDM and concentration of SO (0.05%, 0.10% and 0.15% (w/v)) on the characterization of SPI films via thermal, barrier and morphological analyzes. Reinforced mechanical and good barrier properties were achieved with FDM. By increasing SO content, an improvement of hydrophobic property of the films, a decrease in the swelling values, and a reduction in permeability was observed. The cakes which were wrapped with FDM films showed better textural results than either uncoated cake or the cakes wrapped with CM films.