Tailoring the physicochemical properties of freeze-dried buriti oil microparticles by combining inulin and gum Arabic as encapsulation agents

Impact of Buriti Oil from Mauritia flexuosa Palm Tree on the Rheological, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties of Linear Low-Density Polyethylene for Improved Sustainability

Recent advancements highlight the utilization of vegetable oils as additives in polymeric materials, particularly for replacing conventional plasticizers. Buriti oil (BO), extracted from the Amazon's Mauritia flexuosa palm tree fruit, boasts an impressive profile of vitamins, minerals, proteins, carotenoids, and tocopherol. This study investigates the impact of incorporating buriti oil as a plasticizer in linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrices. The aim of this research was to evaluate how buriti oil, a bioactive compound, influences the thermal and rheological properties of LLDPE. Buriti oil/LLDPE compositions were prepared via melt intercalation techniques, and the resulting materials were characterized through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical property testing, and contact angle measurement. The addition of buriti oil was found to act as a processing aid and plasticizer, enhancing the fluidity of LLDPE polymer chains. TGA revealed distinct thermal stabilities for buriti oil/LLDPE under different degradation conditions. Notably, buriti oil exhibited an initial weight loss temperature of 402 °C, whereas that of LLDPE was 466.4 °C. This indicated a minor reduction in the thermal stability of buriti oil/LLDPE compositions. The thermal stability, as observed through DSC, displayed a nuanced response to the oil's incorporation, suggesting a complex interaction between the oil and polymer matrix. Detailed mechanical testing indicated a marked increase in tensile strength and elongation at break, especially at optimal concentrations of buriti oil. SEM analysis showcased a more uniform and less brittle microstructure, correlating with the enhanced mechanical properties. Contact angle measurements revealed a notable shift in surface hydrophobicity, indicating a change in the surface chemistry. This study demonstrates that buriti oil can positively influence the processability and thermal properties of LLDPE, thus expanding its potential applications as an effective plasticizer.

Stability of Buriti Oil Microencapsulated in Mixtures of Azuki and Lima Bean Flours with Maltodextrin

Buriti oil (Mauritia flexuosa L.) is rich in carotenoids, mainly β-carotene, and has great value for application as a food, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic ingredient, as well as a natural pigment. Microencapsulation is a promising technique to protect compounds sensitive to degradation such as β-carotene. Materials composed of carbohydrates and proteins, such as azuki bean (Vigna angularis L.) and lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) flours, are alternative matrices for microencapsulation, which additionally provide good amounts of nutrients. In combination with maltodextrin, the flours represent a protective barrier in stabilizing lipophilic compounds such as buriti oil for subsequent spray drying. In this work, the performance of mixtures of maltodextrin with whole azuki and lima bean flours was evaluated in the microencapsulation of buriti oil. The microcapsules showed good results for solubility (>80%), hygroscopicity (~7%), encapsulation efficiency (43.52 to 51.94%), and carotenoid retention (64.13 to 77.49%.) After 77 days of storage, the microcapsules produced maintained 87.79% and 90.16% of carotenoids, indicating that the powders have high potential for application as encapsulants in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Multilayer microparticles for programmed sequential release of phenolic compounds from Eugenia stipitata: Stability and bioavailability

A co-delivery system based on multilayer microparticles was developed and characterized for the sequential release of phenolic compounds (PCs) using different encapsulation processes (spray drying: SD and drying-chilling spray: SDC) and wall materials to improve the stability and bioavailability of PCs. Samples were characterized in terms of process yield (PY%), phenolic retention efficiency (PRE%), chemical structure and crystallinity (NMR, FTIR, DXR), thermal stability (DSC and FT-IR), anti-radical capacity (ORAC and ABTS) and in vitro digestion. PRE% of samples by SD were higher (p < 0.05) than SDC due to the formation of PCs from CRF (cará-roxo flour). NMR, FTIR, DXR confirmed the presence of key components and interactions for the formation of the advanced co-delivery system. The SDC particles showed crystalline regions by XRD and were stable at ∼47 °C. All samples showed good release of PC in the intestinal phase, and antiradical capacity that reached 23.66 µmol TE g-1.

The influence of different gums compared with surfactants as encapsulating stabilizers on the thermal, storage, and low-pH stability of chlorophyllin

Sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC), with a higher stability and water solubility than chlorophyll, has limited applications in acidic products due to precipitation. We investigated the effect of pectin (PE), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), xanthan gum (XG), carrageenan gum (CG), gellan gum (GG), tragacanth gum (TG), gum Arabic (GA), and polysorbate 80 (PS80) on SCC stability in acidic model solutions (pH = 3.5). These stabilizers led to a significant reduction in particle size and zeta-potential compared to control sample. GA (33.3:1), PE (8:1), CMC (4:1), XG (1.33:1), and PS80 (0.67:1) stabilized SCC in acidic systems for 28 days. The FTIR analysis showed that mainly electrostatic and hydrogen bonds between SCC and stabilizers led to a substantial decline in particle size, improving SCC distribution and stability within acidic environment. Thus, XG and CMC could be effectively used for SCC stabilization under acidic solutions where applying PS80 surfactant is a health concern.

Strategies for improving loading of emulsion-based functional oil powder

Functional oil is type of oil that is beneficial to human health and has nutritional value, however, functional oils are rich in bioactive substances such as polyunsaturated fatty acids which are sensitive to environmental factors and are susceptible to oxidation or decomposition. Construction of emulsion-based oil powder is a promising approach for improving the stability and solubility of functional oils. However, the low effective loading of oil in powder is the main challenge limiting encapsulation technology. This manuscript focuses on reviewing the current research progress of emulsion-based functional oil powder construction and systematically summarizes the processing characteristics of emulsion-based oil powder with high payload and summarizing the strategies to enhance the payload of powder in term of emulsification and drying, respectively. The impact of emulsion formation on oil powder production is discussed from different characteristics of emulsions, including emulsion composition, emulsification methods and emulsion types. In addition, the current status of improving material loading performance by various modifications to the drying technology is discussed, including the addition of drying processing additives, changes in drying parameters and the effect of innovative technological means.

Bioproducts from Passiflora cincinnata Seeds: The Brazilian Caatinga Passion Fruit

The present work aimed to obtain bioproducts from Passiflora cincinnata seeds, the Brazilian Caatinga passion fruit, as well as to determine their physical, chemical and biological properties. The seeds were pressed in a continuous press to obtain the oil, which showed an oxidative stability of 5.37 h and a fatty profile rich in linoleic acid. The defatted seeds were evaluated for the recovery of antioxidant compounds by a central rotation experimental design, varying temperature (32-74 °C), ethanol (13-97%) and solid-liquid ratio (1:10-1:60 m/v). The best operational condition (74 °C, 58% ethanol, 1:48) yielded an extract composed mainly of lignans, which showed antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The microencapsulation of linoleic acid-rich oil through spray drying has proven to be an effective method for protecting the oil. Furthermore, the addition of the antioxidant extract to the formulation increased the oxidative stability of the product to 30% (6.97 h), compared to microencapsulated oil without the addition of the antioxidant extract (5.27 h). The microparticles also exhibited favorable technological characteristics, such as low hygroscopicity and high water solubility. Thus, it was possible to obtain three bioproducts from the Brazilian Caatinga passion fruit seeds: the oil rich in linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid), antioxidant extract from the defatted seeds and the oil microparticles added from the antioxidant extract.