Effect of different biopolymers on the stability of hesperidin-encapsulating O/W emulsions

Hesperidin nanoparticles for prostate cancer therapy: preparation, characterization and cytotoxic activity

Hesperidin, a phytochemical renowned for its therapeutic effects including anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, encounters a significant limitation in its application due to its low bioavailability and restricted solubility in water. To surmount these challenges, we employed a spontaneous emulsification method to produce hesperidin nanoparticles. These nanoparticles, averaging 197.2 ± 2.8 nm, exhibited uniform dispersion (polydispersity index: 0.13), a zeta potential (ZP) of -28 mV, encapsulation efficiency of 84.04 ± 1.3%, and demonstrated stable and controlled release across various environments. Assessment of the nanoemulsions stability revealed remarkably high stability levels. Cytotoxicity evaluations (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide, neutral red, trypan blue, and lactate dehydrogenase) indicated that cancer cell viability following treatment with hesperidin nanoemulsion was concentration and time-dependent, significantly lower compared to cells treated with free hesperidin. The colony formation assay and cell morphology evaluation further corroborated the heightened efficacy of hesperidin in its nano form compared to the free form. In summary, hesperidin nanoparticles not only exhibited more potent anticancer activity than free hesperidin but also demonstrated high biocompatibility with minimal cytotoxic effects on healthy cells. These findings underscore the potential for further exploration of hesperidin nanoparticles as an adjunctive therapy in prostate cancer therapy.

Liquid-liquid biopolymers aqueous solution segregative phase separation in food: From fundamentals to applications-A review

As a result of the spontaneous movement of molecules, liquid-liquid biopolymer segregative phase separation takes place in an aqueous solution. The efficacy of this type of separation can be optimized under conditions where variables such as pH, temperature, and molecular concentrations have minimal impact on its dynamics. Recently, interest in the applications of biopolymers and their segregative phase separation-associated molecular stratification has increased, particularly in the food industry, where these methods permit the purification of specific particles and the embedding of microcapsules. The present review offers a comprehensive examination of the theoretical mechanisms that regulate the liquid-liquid biopolymers aqueous solution segregative phase separation, the factors that may exert an impact on this procedure, and the importance of this particular separation method in the context of food science. These discussion points also address existing difficulties and future possibilities related to the use of segregative phase separation in food applications. This highlights the potential for the design of novel functional foods and the enhancement of food properties.

Films Based on Biopolymers Incorporated with Active Compounds Encapsulated in Emulsions: Properties and Potential Applications-A Review

The rising consumer demand for safer, healthier, and fresher-like food has led to the emergence of new concepts in food packaging. In addition, the growing concern about environmental issues has increased the search for materials derived from non-petroleum sources and biodegradable options. Thus, active films based on biopolymers loaded with natural active compounds have great potential to be used as food packaging. However, several lipophilic active compounds are difficult to incorporate into aqueous film-forming solutions based on polysaccharides or proteins, and the hydrophilic active compounds require protection against oxidation. One way to incorporate these active compounds into film matrices is to encapsulate them in emulsions, such as microemulsions, nanoemulsions, Pickering emulsions, or double emulsions. However, emulsion characteristics can influence the properties of active films, such as mechanical, barrier, and optical properties. This review addresses the advantages of using emulsions to encapsulate active compounds before their incorporation into biopolymeric matrices, the main characteristics of these emulsions (emulsion type, droplet size, and emulsifier nature), and their influence on active film properties. Furthermore, we review the recent applications of the emulsion-charged active films in food systems.

Research advances in citrus polyphenols: green extraction technologies, gut homeostasis regulation, and nano-targeted delivery system application

Citrus polyphenols can modulate gut microbiota and such bi-directional interaction that can yield metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) to aid in gut homeostasis. Such interaction provides citrus polyphenols with powerful prebiotic potential, contributing to guts' health status and metabolic regulation. Citrus polyphenols encompass unique polymethoxy flavonoids imparting non-polar nature that improve their bioactivities and ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Green extraction technology targeting recovery of these polyphenols has received increasing attention due to its advantages of high extraction yield, short extraction time, low solvent consumption, and environmental friendliness. However, the low bioavailability of citrus polyphenols limits their applications in extraction from citrus by-products. Meanwhile, nano-encapsulation technology may serve as a promising approach to improve citrus polyphenols' bioavailability. As citrus polyphenols encompass multiple hydroxyl groups, they are potential to interact with bio-macromolecules such as proteins and polysaccharides in nano-encapsulated systems that can improve their bioavailability. This multifaceted review provides a research basis for the green and efficient extraction techniques of citrus polyphenols, as well as integrated mechanisms for its anti-inflammation, alleviating metabolic syndrome, and regulating gut homeostasis, which is more capitalized upon using nano-delivery systems as discussed in that review to maximize their health and food applications.

Multiscale combined techniques for evaluating emulsion stability: A critical review

Emulsions are multiscale and thermodynamically unstable systems which will undergo various unstable processes over time. The behavior of emulsifier molecules at the oil-water interface and the properties of the interfacial film are very important to the stability of the emulsion. In this paper, we mainly discussed the instability phenomena and mechanisms of emulsions, the effects of interfacial films on the long-term stability of emulsions and summarized a set of systematic multiscale combined methods for studying emulsion stability, including droplet size and distribution, zeta-potential, the continuous phase viscosity, adsorption mass and thickness of the interfacial film, interfacial dilatational rheology, interfacial shear rheology, particle tracking microrheology, visualization technologies of the interfacial film, molecular dynamics simulation and the quantitative evaluation methods of emulsion stability. This review provides the latest research progress and a set of systematic multiscale combined techniques and methods for researchers who are committed to the study of oil-water interface and emulsion stability. In addition, this review has important guiding significances for designing and customizing interfacial films with different properties, so as to obtain emulsion-based delivery systems with varying stability, oil digestibility and bioactive substance utilization.

Recent developments in citrus bioflavonoid encapsulation to reinforce controlled antioxidant delivery and generate therapeutic uses: Review

Citrus fruits contain numerous antioxidative biomolecules including phenolic acids, flavonols, flavanones, polymethoxyflavones (PMFs), and their derivatives. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies thoroughly investigated the antioxidant and therapeutic potential of bioflavonoids extracted from different citrus varieties and fruit fractions. Major bioflavonoids such as hesperidin, naringin, naringenin, and PMFs, had restricted their incorporation into food and health products due to their poor solubility, chemical stability and bioavailability. Considering these limitations, modern encapsulation methodologies such as hydrogelation, liposomal interactions, emulsifications, and nanoparticles have been designed to shield bioflavonoids with improved target distribution for therapeutic enhancements. The size, durability, and binding efficiency of bioflavonoid-loaded encapsulates were acquired by the optimized chemical and instrumental parameters such as solubility, gelation, dispersion, extrusion, and drying. Bioflavonoid-enriched encapsulates have been also proven to be effective against cancer, inflammation, neurodegeneration, and various other illnesses. However, in the future, newer natural binding agents with higher binding capacity might accelerate the encapsulating potential, controlled release, and enhanced bioavailability of citrus bioflavonoids. Overall, these modern encapsulation systems are currently leading to a new era of diet-based medicine, as demand for citrus fruit-based nutritional supplements and edibles grows.

Hesperetin (citrus peel flavonoid aglycone) encapsulation using pea protein-high methoxyl pectin electrostatic complexes: complex optimization and biological activity

BACKGROUND

Orange pomace polyphenols have potential for use as nutraceutical ingredients in functional foods and beverages. However, owing to their low water solubility and bioaccessibility, they are not being utilized to their full potential. The goal of this research is to assess the impact of encapsulation on hesperetin (HT - a model orange polyphenol) water solubility, antioxidant activity, and in vitro bioaccessibility.

RESULTS

In this study, a citrus flavonoid aglycone, HT, was encapsulated within water-dispersible colloidal complexes (d = 350 ± 8 nm) formed by electrostatic attraction of pea protein isolate and high-methoxyl pectin at a mixing ratio of 1:1 (v/v) and pH 4. The maximum amount of HT that could be dispersed in water was much higher for the encapsulated form (99 ± 7 μg mL^-1 ) than the non-encapsulated form (<10 μg mL^-1 ). The radical scavenging activity of the encapsulated HT (>90%, pH 4) was much higher than the non-encapsulated form (<15% at pH 4 or 7). The in vitro bioaccessibility of encapsulated HT (27 ± 7%) was also much higher than the non-encapsulated form (<7%).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that a well-designed, biopolymer-based delivery system may improve the effective incorporation of HT, and potentially other orange pomace polyphenols, into food and beverage products. This could provide an additional high-value use for orange juicing by-products while introducing a new nutraceutical product to the food and beverage industry. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Advances in biopolymeric active films incorporated with emulsified lipophilic compounds: a review

The attention towards active films has increased due to consumer demand for high-quality foods without chemical additives. Active biopolymer-based films have shown great potential for active films by impacting food safety, acting as the carriers of various natural antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds, and decreasing environmental pollution from petrol-derived packaging materials. However, there is a wide range of challenges concerning the different characteristics of biopolymers and plasticizers, often hygroscopic/hydrophilic, compared to numerous lipophilic bioactive compounds. Therefore, recent studies have focused on applying oil-in-water emulsion-based systems to enhance the lipophilic bioactive compounds' dispersibility into the film matrix, improving their performance. It is worth emphasizing that resulting complex systems give rise to new challenges such as (i) dispersion technology of the bioactive compounds with minimum adverse effects on its bioactivities, (ii) interactions between different components of the active films, giving rise to new physicochemical properties, and (iii) the change of the diffusion properties of bioactive compounds into the active films, resulting in different release properties. These challenges are profound and critically discussed in this review, as well as the encapsulation techniques employed in preparing emulsions loaded with lipophilic bioactive compounds for the active film development. An outlook of future directions in the research, development, and application of these active films are given.

The attention towards active films has increased due to consumer demand for high-quality foods without chemical additives.

Enhancing the Stability of Asphalt Emulsion Using Environmentally Friendly Cationically Modified Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (CMHEC) at Different Concentrations and pH Values

The cationically modified hydroxyethyl cellulose (CMHEC) was synthesized successfully and applied for preparing the cationic asphalt emulsion. The apparent viscosity and phase separation of the emulsion were studied at different CMHEC concentrations and pH values. The results indicated that the apparent viscosity of the emulsion was increased with increasing CMHEC concentration, and the phase separation was significantly reduced correspondingly. In addition, the effect of pH value on the emulsion quality was involved. The apparent viscosity of the emulsion showed the tendency to decrease firstly and then increase to the minimum value at pH 2. All results indicated that CMHEC has excellent potential in the manufacture of asphalt emulsion and the research of the pH effect on the formulation of asphalt emulsion has essential significance.

High-intensity ultrasound improves the physical stability of myofibrillar protein emulsion at low ionic strength by destroying and suppressing myosin molecular assembly

The specific molecular behavior of myofibrillar proteins (MPs) in low-salt media limits the development of muscle protein-based emulsions. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of high-intensity ultrasound (HIU; 150, 300, 450, and 600 W) to improve the physical stability of MP emulsion at low ionic strength and decipher the underlying mechanism. According to the physical stability analysis, HIU pretreatment, especially at 450 W power, significantly improved the physical stability of MP emulsions, as evidenced by the reduced particle size, enhanced inter-droplet interactions, and increased uniformity of the droplet size distribution (p < 0.05). The results of interfacial protein composition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, and microscopic morphology observation of the aqueous MP suspension suggested that HIU induced the depolymerization of filamentous myosin polymers and inhibited the subsequent self-assembly behavior. These effects may facilitate protein adsorption and molecular rearrangement at the oil-water interface, forming a complete interfacial layer and, thus, droplet stabilization. Confocal laser scanning microscopy observations further confirmed these results. In conclusion, these findings provide direct evidence for the role of HIU in improving the physical stability of MP emulsions at low ionic strength.

Encapsulation and delivery of bioactive citrus pomace polyphenols: a review

Citrus pomace consists of the peel, pulp, and membrane tissues remaining after juice expression. Globally, around one million tons of citrus pomace are generated annually, which contains a variety of bioactive constituents that could be used as value-added functional ingredients in foods. However, the polyphenols in citrus pomace are not currently being utilized to their full potential, even though they can be used as nutraceuticals in functional foods and beverages. Citrus phenolics face significant roadblocks to their successful incorporation into these products. In particular, they have poor water solubility, chemical stability, and bioavailability. This review describes the diverse range of colloidal systems that have been developed to encapsulate and deliver citrus phenolics. Examples of the application of these systems for the encapsulation, protection, and delivery of polyphenols from citrus pomace are given. The use of colloidal delivery systems has been shown to improve the stability, dispersibility, and bioaccessibility of encapsulated polyphenols from citrus pomace. The selection of an appropriate delivery system determines the handling, storage, shelf life, encapsulation efficiency, dispersibility, and gastrointestinal fate of the citrus polyphenols. Furthermore, the purity, solubility, and chemical structure of the polyphenols are key factors in delivery system selection.

Effects of Molecular Weight and Degree of Esterification of Soluble Soybean Polysaccharide on the Stability of Casein under Acidic Conditions

The effects of molecular weight (MW) and degree of esterification (DE) of soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) on the stability of casein under acidic conditions were investigated. The ability of SSPS to stabilize casein was characterized by the content of SSPS–casein complex, the LUMiSizer instability index, average particle size, zeta potential, and storage experiments. The long-term storage stability of the mixtures was related to their ability to combine casein and the stability of the complexes. At the same DE, SSPSs with medium MW formed more complexes with casein than SSPSs with high or low MW; and at the same MW, SSPSs with medium or low DE formed more complexes than SPSSs with high DE. In addition, SSPSs with higher MW had a better stabilizing behavior due to the large steric repulsion between complexes. SSPSs with high MW and low DE showed the best ability to stabilize casein under acid conditions.

Potential development of non-synthetic food additives from orange processing by-products—a review

Citrus is the largest fruit crop worldwide. Meanwhile, oranges account for 60 per cent of the total, with their main application in juice production. During orange juice production, only about 50 per cent of the fresh orange weight is transformed into juice, with the remaining 50 per cent comprised of residue (peel, pulp, seeds, orange leaves and whole orange fruits that do not reach the quality requirements). With the resulting tons of orange by-products, there has been an initiative to research possible ways to reutilize and revalorize citrus waste. Orange pomace, the by-product from juicing process, is currently used to extract the essential oils for fragrance and flavor, and a majority of the waste is used as cattle feed; however, these applications do not account for all of the waste or capture all of its potential value. Meanwhile, these by-products are put into landfills at the owner’s expense, and contribute to global warming through carbon emissions. On the other hand, orange by-products still contain many useful nutraceutical components, such as dietary fiber and phytochemicals, which could be utilized for value-added ingredients and new product development. Some research approaches in this area include the production of organic fertilizers and biofuels, or the extraction of essential oils, pectins, and antioxidant compounds. There is little information in the literature and in the food industry in terms of utilizing the orange pomace directly or with some simple treatments. Orange pomace may be used for food product development as a ‘clean-label’, non-synthetic preservative, which rationalizes this review.

Contribution of soybean polysaccharides in digestion of oil-in-water emulsion-based delivery system in an in vitro gastric environment

This study aims to evaluate the effects of soy soluble polysaccharide and soy hull polysaccharide on stability and characteristics of emulsions stabilised by soy protein isolate in an in vitro gastric environment. Zeta potential and particle size were used to investigate the changes of physico-chemical and stability in the three emulsions during in vitro gastric digestion, following the order: soy protein isolate-stability emulsion < soy protein isolate-soy soluble polysaccharide -stability emulsion < soy protein isolate-soy hull polysaccharide-stability emulsion, confirming that coalescence in the soy protein isolate-stability emulsion occurred during in vitro gastric digestion. Optical microscopy and stability measurement (backscattering) also validate that addition of polysaccharide (soy soluble polysaccharide and soy hull polysaccharide) can reduce the effect of simulated gastric fluid (i.e., pH, ionic strength and pepsin) on emulsion stability, especially, soy protein isolate-soy hull polysaccharide-stability emulsion, compared with soy protein isolate-stability emulsion. This suggests that the flocculation behaviours of these emulsions in the stomach lead to a difference in the quantity of oil and the size and structure of the oil droplets, which play a significant role in emulsion digestion in the gastrointestinal tract. This work may indicate a potential application of soy hull polysaccharide for the construction of emulsion food delivery systems.