Extraction of homogeneous lignin oligomers by ozonation of Miscanthus giganteus and vine shoots in a pilot scale reactor.

Lignin, a complex phenolic polymer crucial for plant structure, is mostly used as fuel but it can be harnessed for environmentally friendly applications. This article explores ozonation as a green method for lignin extraction from lignocellulosic biomass, aiming to uncover the benefits of the extracted lignin. A pilot-scale ozonation reactor was employed to extract lignin from Miscanthus giganteus (a grass variety) and vine shoots (a woody biomass). The study examined the lignin extraction and modification of the fractions and identified the generation of phenolic and organic acids. About 48 % of lignin was successfully extracted from both biomass types. Phenolic monomers were produced, vine shoots yielding fewer monomers than Miscanthus giganteus. Ozonation generated homogeneous lignin oligomers, although their molecular weight decreased during ozonation, with vine shoot oligomers exhibiting greater resistance to ozone. Extracted fractions were stable at 200 °C, despite the low molecular weight, outlining the potential of these phenolic fractions.

Pectin-based aerogel particles for drug delivery: Effect of pectin composition on aerogel structure and release properties.

In this work, nanostructured pectin aerogels were prepared via a sol-gel process and subsequent drying under supercritical conditions. To this end, three commercially available citrus pectins and an in-house produced and enzymatically modified watermelon rind pectin (WRP) were compared. Then, the effect of pectin's structure and composition on the aerogel properties were analysed and its potential application as a delivery system was explored by impregnating them with vanillin. Results showed that the molecular weight, degree of esterification and branching degree of the pectin samples played a main role in the production of hydrogels and subsequent aerogels. The developed aerogel particles showed high specific surface areas (468-584 m2/g) and low bulk density (0.025-0.10 g/cm3). The shrinkage effect during aerogel formation was significantly affected by the pectin concentration and structure, while vanillin loading in aerogels and its release profile was also seen to be influenced by the affinity between pectin and vanillin. Furthermore, the results highlight the interest of WRP as a carrier of active compounds which might have potential application in food and biomedical areas, among others.

Stabilization of antimicrobial silver nanoparticles by a polyhydroxyalkanoate obtained from mixed bacterial culture.

The incorporation of antimicrobials into polymer matrices is a promising technology in the food packaging and biomedical areas. Among the most widely used antimicrobials, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have emerged as one of the most researched technologies to prevent microbial outbreaks. However, it is known that AgNPs are rather unstable and present patterns of agglomeration that might limit their application. In this work, AgNPs were produced by chemical reduction in suspensions of an unpurified poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) which was previously obtained from a mixed culture fermentation using a synthetic medium mimicking fermented cheese whey. The synthesis of AgNPs was carried out within the unpurified PHBV suspension (in situ) and by physical mixing (mix). The stability of crystalline and spherical nanoparticles (7±3nm) obtained in situ was found to be stable during at least 40 days. The results suggest that the unpurified PHBV appears to be a very efficient capping agent, preventing agglomeration and, thereby, stabilizing successfully the silver nanoparticles. The in situ obtained AgNP-PHBV materials were also found to exhibit a strong antibacterial activity against Salmonella enterica at low concentration (0.1-1ppm).

Evaluation of silver-infused polylactide films for inactivation of Salmonella and feline calicivirus in vitro and on fresh-cut vegetables.

There is a growing trend to develop packaging materials with an active role in guarantying that the quality and safety characteristics of packaged products will remain or improve from preparation throughout shelf-life. In the present study, 0.001-1.0 wt.% silver ions were satisfactorily incorporated into polylactide (PLA) films by a solvent casting technique. Silver migration from the films was measured by voltamperometry and then correlated with its antimicrobial efficacy against Salmonella enterica and feline calicivirus (FCV), a human norovirus surrogate, by using the Japanese industrial standard (JIS Z 2801). The PLA-silver films showed strong antibacterial and antiviral activity in vitro, with increasing effects at higher silver concentrations. Moreover, results show that FCV was less susceptible to silver than Salmonella. When films were applied on food samples, antibacterial and antiviral activity was reduced as compared to in vitro. Antimicrobial activity was very much dependent on the food type and temperature. In lettuce samples incubated at 4 °C during 6 days, 4 log CFU of Salmonella was inactivated for films with 1.0 wt.% and no infectious FCV was reported under the same conditions. On paprika samples, no antiviral effect was seen on FCV infectivity whereas films showed less antibacterial activity on Salmonella.

On the different growth conditions affecting silver antimicrobial efficacy on Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica.

Silver is known to inhibit microorganisms and therefore it is an ideal candidate for its incorporation in a wide variety of materials for food applications. However, there is still a need for understanding how silver prolonged exposure to bacterial contamination affects the bioavailability of the active silver species. In the present study, growth curves of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica were performed for 3-5 days in Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) and M9 minimal medium (M9) in the presence of silver ions and silver solutions previously in contact with the growth media. The cultivability of the bacteria under these conditions was correlated with the viability of the bacterial populations as measured by flow cytometry analysis (FC) using a LIVE/DEAD BacLight kit. It was found that, after a period where viable counts were not detected, bacterial populations recovered and were able to proliferate in most cases. The resuscitation of the cultures was explained by both the existence of a resilient fraction of bacteria in a compromised state and the parallel inactivation of the silver species. This inactivation was found to be highly influenced by time dependant chemical reactions taking place in the environment of exposure, producing differences of at least 3 fold between results for nutrient rich environments and results for limiting environments. This study points out the need for understanding these chemical interactions and bacterial mechanisms of adaptation and may have relevance in the design of silver-based antimicrobial systems for food-related applications.