Cationic inulin as a new surface decoration hydrocolloid for improving the stability of liposomal nanocarriers.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the cationization of inulin with Williamson's etherification method, and compare cationic inulin with unmodified inulin coatings for stabilizing nanoliposomes (NLPs). The synthetized cationic inulin was characterized by Fourier transforms infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, carbon hydrogen nitrogen (CHN) elemental analysis, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Three concentrations of inulin and cationic inulin (1, 2, and 4 mg/mL) were used for the coating of NLPs. The concentration of 4 mg/mL was found to be optimal for inulin and cationic inulin as surface coating, on the basis of particle size, zeta potential, and microstructural morphology. The lowest values of particle size (93.41 nm), polydispersity index (0.25), and negative zeta potential (-24.41 mV) were related to the coated NLPs with cationic inulin at a concentration of 4 mg/mL. The transmission electron microscopy image of the coated NLPs with cationic inulin exhibited a spherical and core-shell structure. The coated NLPs with cationic inulin showed the highest thermal stability, physical stability, and oxidative stability. In conclusion, cationic inulin coating conferred a stronger protection than the unmodified inulin coating of NLPs. The technique developed here can be applied for surface decoration of NLPs to improve their stability.

Coating of betanin and carvone Co-loaded nanoliposomes with synthesized cationic inulin: A strategy for enhancing the stability and bioavailability.

Betanin (BET) and carvone (CAR) as antioxidant and antibacterial compounds were co-loaded in the coated nanoliposomes (NLPs) with cationic inulin to improve their stability and bioavailability. A cationic inulin was successfully synthesized and used for surface coating of the NLPs. The zeta potential, particle size, and PDI values of the coated NLPs were 21.70 ± 7.00 mV, 143.5 ± 15.2 nm, and 0.35 ± 0.03 respectively. The encapsulation efficiency values of the coated NLPs for BE and CAR were 86.1 ± 3.9 and 77.2 ± 5.2 %, respectively. Electron microscopy results showed that the coated NLPs had spherical and core-shell structures. The slowest sustained release profile in the simulated gastrointestinal condition was obtained for the coated NLPs. The physical and oxidative stability of NLPs, as well as the physical stability of loaded compounds were improved by surface coating. In conclusion, the developed nanocarrier is a suitable platform to use all benefits of BET and CAR in the food industry.

Microencapsulation of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis BB-12 in pectin and sodium alginate: A comparative study on viability, stability, and structure.

The present study aimed at examining whether the microencapsulation of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis BB-12 inside hydrogels could prolong their survival in freeze-drying conditions, stored at 4℃ and in the gastrointestinal medium. Microencapsulation was performed by emulsion with a syringe, while sodium alginate and high methoxyl pectin were used as a carrier material. A relatively high efficiency of encapsulation was obtained (>92%). Z-Average and pdI in samples were not significant (p < .05). In different treatments, changes in the number of bacteria after freeze-drying, 30 days of storage, and gastrointestinal conditions, compared to each other, were significant (p < .05). However, the survival rate after a reduction during storage was higher than 106 cfu/g, indicating the suitability of the microencapsulation process. The surface of microcapsules observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) confirmed the success of encapsulation. Finally, a lower decrease in the count of microencapsulated was observed in comparison to the free cells.

Optimization of orange juice formulation through using lactose-hydrolyzed permeate by RSM methodology.

Permeate is the by-product of the process of ultrafiltration in a kind of cheese making process in which a semipermeable membrane filters the liquid. It mainly contains 4.5%-4.8% lactose and 0.44%-0.47% mineral salts which make it a safe disposal issue. This study was conducted to use permeate and its lactose as an alternative to sugar, and to use these useful permeate compounds in an optimized orange juice formulation. Milk permeate, as a waste disposal of dairy companies, was applied in lactose hydrolyzed form as the cost effective sugar and water substitution in production of orange juice. The RSM optimization method was applied for formulating beverage mixture. The heated and nonheated permeate samples were incubated with ß-glycosidase enzyme in three thermal ranges (35, 40, and 45°C), 3 time intervals (60,150, and 240 min), and 3 enzyme levels (0%, 0.1%, and 0.2%). The degree of hydrolysis was determined by MilkoScan analyzer. In the next step, optimization of orange juice was accomplished with a mixture of sugar (10%-40%) and hydrolyzed permeate (10%-40%) with specific Brix through RSM statistical design. The physicochemical properties and sensory evaluation were measured during 8 weeks of storage. At the first stage of the study, the heated sample with 0.1% enzyme density, which was incubated for 150 min at 40°C, was yielded the best result. At the second stage, which was the juice production and evaluation, the statistical analysis showed increasing trend of pH and sugar content, but density and vitamin C showed a decreasing trend during storage time (p < .05). The optimal condition was obtained in taking 35% permeate and 41 days of storage in which the values of formalin, vitamin C, and sensory tests were in the highest levels.

Optimization of grape juice deacidification using mixture of adsorbents: A case study of Pekmez.

Grape syrup (Pekmez or Dooshab) is one of the nutritious products developed through grape processing. One of the main challenges in the industrial manufacture of this product is the utilization of traditional pekmez earth for tartaric acid adsorption. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of calcium carbonate, nano-silica, alumina, and activated carbon as adsorbents and also contact time in grape juice deacidification, and to determine the effects of these adsorbents on the physicochemical properties of grape juice by using the Box-Behnken statistical design. By applying different amounts of these adsorbents in grape juice, the magnitude of acidity decrement and the physicochemical properties such as acidity, pH, transmittance, the amount of reducing sugars, formalin index, and adsorption efficiency were investigated. Data analysis showed that different mixtures of adsorbents at different concentrations had significant effects on acidity and pH of the samples but no effects on the level of reducing sugars and formalin index were observed (p > .05). According to the results, the adsorption capacity with the highest calcium carbonate content (0.7 g/100 ml) was about 88%; the maximum acidity decrements of up to 92% were achieved using the treatments containing calcium carbonate, nano-silica, and activated carbon, while alumina failed to affect the acidity of the samples. Optimum conditions were obtained in 1.27, 0.21, 0.7, and 0.07 g/100 ml alumina, nano-silica, calcium carbonate, and activated carbon, respectively, resulting pH 4.3 and acidity 0.37% in grape syrup.

Molecular imprinted polymers for the controlled uptake of sinapic acid from aqueous media.

Several unique molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were synthesized via a precipitation polymerization technique using 4-vinylpyridine as a functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker for selective separation of sinapic acid from aqueous solution. Three sets of MIPs with different functional monomer : cross-linker molar ratios at 4 : 20; 8 : 20 and 8 : 32 were prepared along with the corresponding non-templated polymers (NIPs). The MIPs and NIPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, N2 adsorption analysis, thermogravimetry, and FT-IR/solids 13C NMR spectroscopy. Batch rebinding and selectivity experiments were carried out to evaluate their adsorption performance, where the MIP prepared with a 4 : 20 monomer : cross-linker mole ratio had significantly higher affinity toward sinapic acid. Notably, all MIPs displayed greater molecular recognition with sinapic acid relative to the NIPs. Therefore, MIPs prepared by this approach represent promising advanced materials for the pre-concentration, isolation and enrichment of sinapic acid from complex food matrices or controlled removal from agricultural waste streams.

New formulation of vitamin C encapsulation by nanoliposomes: production and evaluation of particle size, stability and control release.

In the present study, the effects of different ratios of milk phospholipids, cholesterol and phytosterols (Campesterol) powder (50-100%, 0-50%, and 0-50%, respectively) and sonication time (20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 min) were investigated to produce a new formulation of nanoliposomes for encapsulation of vitamin C. The results showed that increasing the time of sonication and decreasing the ratio of phospholipid to phytosterol significantly decreased nanoliposomes' particle size (p < 0.05). The maximum encapsulation efficiency was obtained at 35 and 40 min of sonication time and 75-25 ratio of phospholipid: phytosterol. Also, reducing the sonication time in the same ratio of phospholipid/phytosterol caused to increase the controlled release. The highest stability of vitamin C during 20 days was obtained in the ratio of 75-25 (phospholipids: campesterol). The results showed a positive effect of cholesterol replacement with campesterol on encapsulation efficiency, control release and stability of vitamin C in nanoliposomes.

Physical, morphological, antimicrobial and release properties of novel MgO-bacterial cellulose nanohybrids prepared by in-situ and ex-situ methods.

MgO-bacterial cellulose (BC) nanohybrids were fabricated by in-situ synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) within BC network via two methods (the sonochemical and wet chemical). The ex-situ synthesized nanohybrid was prepared by immersing BC pellicles in the commercial MgO dispersion. The occurrence of new interactions between MgO-NPs and nanofibers was approved by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that the crystallinity index of nanofibers decreased after the formation of nanohybrid by the sonochemical in-situ method. The results of the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) indicated the formation of the small-sized NPs attached to the inner space of BC network at the in-situ synthesized nanohybrids. However, the agglomerated NPs precipitated on the surface of BC layer were observed for the ex-situ synthesized sample. The loading capacity of the ex-situ method was higher than that of the in-situ methods; but after 24 h, MgO releasing for in-situ and ex-situ synthesized nanohybrids was recorded about 16% and 28%, respectively. The antibacterial activity of the ex-situ synthesized nanohybrid against S. aureus and E. coli bacteria was more than those of both in-situ synthesized samples.

Exopolysaccharides production by Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB12: Optimization of fermentation variables and characterization of structure and bioactivities.

In this study, the most important variables (incubation temperature, fermentation time and yeast extract concentration) responsible for the exopolysaccharides (EPSs) production by Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB12 were screened. The EPSs synthesize by LA5, BB12, and their co-culture were successfully optimized and were 349.82 ±â€¯5.39, 146.83 ±â€¯3.99 and 187.02 ±â€¯1.54 mg/L, respectively. GC-MS analysis indicated that the purified EPSs are heteropolysaccharide and consisted of glucose, galactose, glucuronic acid, and xylose. The FT-IR analysis was used to investigate functional groups of purified EPSs and NMR analysis was used to study the structure of them. The DSC, TGA and DTG analysis of the extracted EPSs showed that they had high thermal stability and degradation temperature. The results of bioactivity analysis indicated that maximum DPPH and hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity were 59.30 ±â€¯1.95, 56.76 ±â€¯0.79, 62.33 ±â€¯1.02% and 59.94 ±â€¯1.68, 46.40 ±â€¯0.73, 53.54 ±â€¯0.76%, respectively for the EPSs of LA5, BB12, and their co-culture. Additionally, reducing power of the produced EPSs by LA5, BB12, and their co-culture were 1.047 ±â€¯0.001, 1.270 ±â€¯0.045 and 1.139 ±â€¯0.018, respectively. Consequently, all these results showed that the EPSs produced by LA5, BB12, and their co-culture had a high potential as natural antioxidants or bioactive additive in the food industry.

Synthesis of a molecularly imprinted polymer for the selective recognition of carmoisine (Azorubin E122) from pomegranate juice.

Since natural pigments are lost during the processing of beverages such as pomegranate juice, carmoisine, as an adulterant, is often added into the pure juice to improve color characteristics. In this study, molecularly imprinted polymers, as an adsorbent of carmoisine, were synthesized using acrylamide, methacrylic acid, and 4-vinylpyridine as functional monomers and then they were evaluated in terms of the separation and detection of carmoisine. Experiments on the batch adsorption of carmoisine 10 ppm stock solution revealed a better binding capacity for the 4-vinylpyridine-based polymer in comparison to methacrylic acid and acrylamide polymers. The complexation of carmoisine with the 4-vinylpyridine-based polymer was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The synthesized polymer exerted a high thermal degradation point and average diameter of polymer particles were obtained to be 0.2 µm by dynamic light scattering analysis. This work showed that detection of pomegranate juice adulteration with carmoisine is not necessarily difficult, time consuming or expensive with selective separation techniques such as molecularly imprinted polymers.