Almond protein as Pickering emulsion stabilizer: Impact of microgel fabrication method and pH on emulsion stability.

We evaluated the ability of almond proteins to produce Pickering emulsions (EM) stabilized by microgels (MG) fabricated by three different methods (heat treatment-HT, crosslinking with transglutaminase-TG or calcium-CA), at two pH levels (pH 3 or 7). Compared to pH 7, acidic pH significantly denatured almond proteins (ellipticity ∼0 mdeg), decreased absolute zeta potential values (10.5 to 18.

Cassava leaves as an alternative protein source: Effect of alkaline parameters and precipitation conditions on protein extraction and recovery.

Alternative protein sources have been required to meet the significant plant protein demand. Agro-industrial by-products such as leaves have considerable potential as a source of macromolecules once they are mostly discarded as waste. The current study evaluated dried cassava leaves as a protein source.

Starch can act differently when combined with alginate or gellan gum to form hydrogels.

Microgels were tailored by combining starches from different sources (corn, potato or phosphated) and anionic polysaccharides (gellan gum or alginate) using ionic gelation. Rheological analysis pointed out a lower consistency index for alginate-based solutions compared to the gellan-based ones and, therefore, this favored the formation of smaller droplets during the atomization process (58.74 ± 1.

Lentil protein: impact of different extraction methods on structural and functional properties.

Plant proteins with improved solubility, foaming, and emulsifying properties are required to meet the demand for plant-based foods. This study evaluated the influence of alkaline extraction combined with enzyme- and ultrasound-assisted extraction on lentil protein structure and functionality. Enzyme- and ultrasound-assisted extractions were not capable of increasing the protein yield compared to alkaline extraction alone.

Model infant formulas: Influence of types of whey proteins and lipid composition on the in vitro static digestion behavior.

This work aimed at evaluating the influence of types of whey proteins (lactoferrin, whey protein isolate and/or whey protein hydrolysates) and lipid composition (high oleic sunflower oil, coconut oil and/or medium chain triacylglycerols) on the behavior of model infant formulas (IFs) under simulated conditions of the infant gastrointestinal tract using an in vitro static digestion model. The physicochemical conditions of the gastric medium resulted in the aggregation of oil the droplets and partial hydrolysis of the proteins, considering whey proteins were resistant to the gastric conditions. However, after intestinal digestion the proteins from all the IFs were extensively hydrolyzed.

Lecithin-sodium caseinate self-assembled complexes as emulsifying agents in oil-in-water emulsion: Acidic medium approach.

Surfactant-polyelectrolyte complexes (SPECs) based on lecithin and sodium caseinate were produced and the effects of such binding on the physical, chemical and emulsifying properties were evaluated and compared with the two ingredients in isolation. Negative, neutral, and positive charged SPECs were obtained. Zeta potential values and size distributions of the SPECs were dependent on the mass ratio between compounds.

Stability and viability of synbiotic microgels incorporated into liquid, Greek and frozen yogurts.

The viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus when co-encapsulated with fructooligosaccharides in alginate-gelatin microgels, for incorporation into liquid, Greek, and frozen yogurts, during storage and in vitro-simulated digestion was studied. Liquid yogurt provided the highest viability for the encapsulated probiotics during storage, followed by frozen and Greek formulations when compared to free probiotics, highlighting the influence of microencapsulation, yogurt composition, and storage conditions. Addition of up to 20% of probiotic (AG) and symbiotic (AGF) microgels did not cause significant changes in the liquid and frozen yogurts' apparent viscosity (η ); however, it decreased η for the Greek yogurt, indicating that microgels can alter product acceptability in this case.

Evaluating the addition of xylooligosaccharides into alginate-gelatin hydrogels.

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are emerging prebiotic that may improve structural features of biopolymer blends. The investigation around the conformation of XOS into the matrix of alginate and gelatin clarifies the potential applications of this formulation in the food industry as texture modifiers or encapsulation systems. Structural properties verified by flow behavior, SEM, XRD, and FT-IR demonstrated that the add up to 3% XOS into the alginate-gelatin blend formed a cohesive matrix, with smaller pores and crystalline structure, confirming the potential of xylooligosaccharides hydrogels for the development of functional and synbiotic foods.

Xylo-oligosaccharide microparticles with synbiotic potential obtained from enzymatic hydrolysis of sugarcane straw.

Synbiotic formulations and microencapsulation techniques have been explored in food industries to guarantee the viability of probiotic organisms; playing an important role in microbiota balance. Microparticles of alginate, gelatin and xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) were produced by external gelation with the purpose of enhancing the survival rate of the probiotic L. acidophilus.

Biopolymer interactions on emulsion-filled hydrogels: chemical, mechanical properties and microstructure.

Bioactive carrier systems produced from natural and biodegradable compounds offer diverse applications in the food and drug sector, whether for protection, controlled delivery, texture modification or insertion of lipid compounds into aqueous systems. This study aimed to produce emulsion-filled hydrogels by sonication followed by ionic gelation, containing potato starch as the main compound (gelatinized or native), a low alginate concentration, and gelatin in the continuous phase. Emulsion-filled hydrogels were evaluated regarding chemical and physical structure, as well as morphology of hydrogels after simulated digestion.

Modulating porosity and mechanical properties of pectin hydrogels by starch addition.

The use of blends to produce hydrogels allows modulating their characteristics as mechanical properties and microstructure. This work aimed to study the properties of pectin and starch hydrogel blends. Pectin gel was homogeneous and porous, while pectin/starch blends containing 50% or more pectin exhibited denser and closer network, indicating that starch reduced the porosity of pectin network.

Emulsion-filled hydrogels for food applications: influence of pH on emulsion stability and a coating on microgel protection.

Encapsulation structures for oral administration have been widely employed by the food, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries. Emulsion-filled microgels can be used to encapsulate bioactive compounds, allowing the entrapment of lipid droplets in biopolymer networks and promoting bioactive protection. The influence of pH and biopolymer concentration on the formation and structure of emulsions was evaluated, allowing the production of emulsion-filled hydrogels with potato starch as the main compound, a low alginate concentration, and gelatin in the continuous phase.

Alginate and corn starch mixed gels: Effect of gelatinization and amylose content on the properties and in vitro digestibility.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of gelatinized and non-gelatinized corn starches with different amounts of amylose (6.62, 28.46, and 61.

Structure of gellan gum-hydrolyzed collagen particles: Effect of starch addition and coating layer.

In this work, we developed biopolymeric structures, based on electrostatic attraction, through dripping gellan gum into hydrolyzed collagen (HC), to deliver hydrophilic compounds. Moreover, we evaluated the influence of starch addition on the polymeric network as well as the coating effects promoted by an outer gellan layer. The lowest tested gellan gum concentration in the core (0.

Sonication technique to produce emulsions: The impact of ultrasonic power and gelatin concentration.

The production of food emulsions has increased the demand for processes, natural emulsifiers and stabilizers that provide reasonable stability. This study approaches the influence of parameters that affect the stability of emulsions produced by sonication, such as ultrasonic power (150, 225 and 375 W) and gelatin concentration, when producing alginate, potato starch and gelatin stabilized emulsions. The results showed that sonication reduced viscosity, surface charge and improved the interfacial properties of biopolymeric solutions.

Biopolymer gels containing fructooligosaccharides.

The influence of the addition of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) in an external gelated alginate/gelatin biopolymer matrix, was evaluated in order to produce biopolymeric structures with functional effects. Solutions were characterized regarding their rheological properties, macrogels regarding their microstructure and mechanical properties and microgels were characterized in relation to their particle size distribution and morphology. Close relationship was found between the microstructure, rheological and mechanical properties of the biopolymeric systems.

Preparation, characterization and in vitro digestibility of gellan and chitosan-gellan microgels.

Gellan microgels with potential application in delivery systems were obtained by physically cross-linked gellan gum. The microgels were produced by atomization followed by ionotropic gelation using CaCl2 (gellan/Ca) or KCl (gellan/K) as hardening agent and part of them were coated with chitosan in order to improve their resistance to gastric digestion. Size distribution, morphology and zeta potential of microgels were evaluated before and after in vitro digestion process.