Freeze-dried human milk microcapsules using gum arabic and maltodextrin: An approach to improving solubility.

Human milk (HM) is essential for newborns' food, but its low storage stability is a limiting factor so that microencapsulation may stabilize and protect compounds sensitive to degradation. This study investigated the action of maltodextrin and gum arabic on freeze-dried HM concerning its quality and solubility. Microencapsulation was evidenced by morphology, and all samples presented high encapsulation efficiency (>85 %), proving to be an efficient process.

Characterization and application of active films based on commercial polysaccharides incorporating ZnONPs.

In the face of the environmental problems caused by using food packaging composed of non-renewable sources, the aim of this study was producing a new antimicrobial film, biodegradable and with UV barrier based on commercial κ-carrageenan/starch polysaccharides loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) for the first time by casting method. Different formulations of κ-carrageenan/starch/ZnONPs were extensively characterized. The X-ray patterns displayed diffraction peaks characteristics of the crystallographic plane of ZnONPs.