Anchovy oil microcapsule powders prepared using two-step complex coacervation between gelatin and sodium hexametaphosphate followed by spray drying

Effects of gelatin type and concentration on the preparation and properties of freeze-dried fish oil powders

The effects of gelatin type (porcine skin gelatin, PSG; bovine skin gelatin, BSG; fish gelatin, FG; or cold-water fish skin gelatin, CFG) and concentration on the preparation and properties of fish oil powders were investigated in this work. The oil powders were prepared using the combination method of gelatin-sodium hexametaphosphate complex coacervation with starch sodium octenyl succinate (SSOS)-aided freeze-drying. Compared with the other gelatins, CFG-with an unobvious isoelectric point, a lower molecular weight, more hydrogen bonds, and longer gel formation time-could not form complex coacervates, which are necessary to prepare oil powders. For oil powders obtained from the other gelatins, gelatin type and concentration did not have obvious effects on microscale morphologies; they did, however, have significant effects on physicochemical properties. The highest peroxide values of the oil powders were mainly dependent on the gelatins, expressed in the following manner: PSG (153 ± 5 - 168 ± 3 meq/Kg oil) < BSG (176 ± 5 - 188 ± 1 meq/Kg oil) < FG (196 ± 11 - 201 ± 22 meq/Kg oil). Acidic and neutral pH could not dissolve the complex coacervates. However, the oil powders could be quickly dissolved to form emulsion droplets in the gastric phase, and that SSOS increased coacervate stability and promoted oil digestion during the in vitro gastrointestinal process. In sum, this study contributes fundamental information to understanding the development of fish oil solid encapsulation preparations.

Wall Materials for Encapsulating Bioactive Compounds via Spray-Drying: A Review

Spray-drying is a continuous encapsulation method that effectively preserves, stabilizes, and retards the degradation of bioactive compounds by encapsulating them within a wall material. The resulting capsules exhibit diverse characteristics influenced by factors such as operating conditions (e.g., air temperature and feed rate) and the interactions between the bioactive compounds and the wall material. This review aims to compile recent research (within the past 5 years) on spray-drying for bioactive compound encapsulation, emphasizing the significance of wall materials in spray-drying and their impact on encapsulation yield, efficiency, and capsule morphology.

Current Applications of Bionanocomposites in Food Processing and Packaging

Nanotechnology advances are rapidly spreading through the food science field; however, their major application has been focused on the development of novel packaging materials reinforced with nanoparticles. Bionanocomposites are formed with a bio-based polymeric material incorporated with components at a nanoscale size. These bionanocomposites can also be applied to preparing an encapsulation system aimed at the controlled release of active compounds, which is more related to the development of novel ingredients in the food science and technology field. The fast development of this knowledge is driven by consumer demand for more natural and environmentally friendly products, which explains the preference for biodegradable materials and additives obtained from natural sources. In this review, the latest developments of bionanocomposites for food processing (encapsulation technology) and food packaging applications are gathered.

Encapsulated Microstructures of Beneficial Functional Lipids and Their Applications in Foods and Biomedicines

Beneficial functional lipids are essential nutrients for the growth and development of humans and animals, which nevertheless possess poor chemical stability because of heat/light-sensitivity. Various encapsulation technologies have been developed to protect these nutrients against adverse factors. Different microstructures are exhibited through different encapsulation methods, which influence the encapsulation efficiency and release behavior at the same time. This review summarizes the effects of preparation methods and process parameters on the microstructures of capsules at first. The mechanisms of the different microstructures on encapsulation efficiency and controlled release behavior of core materials are analyzed. Next, a comprehensive overview on the beneficial functional lipids capsules in the latest food and biomedicine applications are provided as well as the matching relationship between the microstructures of the capsules and applications are discussed. Finally, the remaining challenges and future possible directions that have potential interest are outlined. The purpose of this review is to convey the construction of beneficial functional lipids capsules and the function mechanism, a critical analysis on its current status and challenges, and opinions on its future development. This review is believed to promote communication among the food, pharmacy, agronomy, engineering, and nutrition industries.

Effect of crosslinking and drying method on the oxidative stability of lipid microcapsules obtained by complex coacervation

The crosslinking and drying method of microcapsules prepared by complex coacervation has been investigated in order to reach a better control of the oxidative stability of final powder product. Methyl...

Study on preparation and application of a multifunctional microspheric soil conditioner based on Arabic gum, gelatin, chitosan and β-cyclodextrin

All kinds of soil conditioners have been used to improve soil quality. The application of many traditional soil conditioners was limited by single performance. In this study, a novel multifunctional microspheric soil conditioner was prepared based on Arabic gum, gelatin, chitosan and β-cyclodextrin. Arabic gum and gelatin (AG-GL) microspheric carriers, which could load ferrous sulfate (FS), were synthesized via complex coagulation method. The AG-GL(FS) microspheres were covered by chitosan quaternary ammonium salt (CQAS) through single coagulation method. And β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was used as the outermost shell to improve chemical stability of the soil conditioner by saturated solution method. Finally, the novel multifunctional microspheric soil conditioner AG-GL/CQAS/β-CD-FS was obtained and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analyzer, polarizing microscope, scanning electron microscope and particle size analyzer. The novel soil conditioner shows good nutrient slowly-releasing, water retention, heavy metal ions adsorption and antibacterial performances with the particle size of 14-17 μm and high thermal decomposition temperature, which has the potential application in improving soil quality.

Investigation of enhanced oxidation stability of microencapsulated enzymatically produced tuna oil concentrates using complex coacervation

Tuna oil was selectively hydrolysed using Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase for 6 h to prepare omega-3 acylglycerol concentrate with the DHA content significantly increased from 24.9% in tuna oil to 36.3% in the acylglycerol concentrate. The acylglycerol concentrate was subsequently encapsulated into the "multi-core" microcapsules using gelatin-sodium hexametaphosphate complex coacervates as the shell material. Rancimat, Oxipres and thermogravimetric analyses all showed that the microencapsulated acylglycerol concentrate had unexpectedly improved oxidation stability, compared to those produced using tuna oil, even though the concentrated oils themselves were significantly less stable than tuna oil. The incorporation of enzymatic tuna oil acylglycerol concentrate also significantly improved the oxidation stability of microencapsulated standard refined unconcentrated tuna oil. A wide range of characteristics including lipid and fatty acid composition, oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion properties, morphology, nanomechanical strength and physicochemical stability of acylglycerol, acylglycerol oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion and final microcapsules were investigated throughout the preparation. The result suggests that high levels of monoacylglycerol (about 35%) and diacylglycerol (about 8.5%) were produced in the acylglycerol. The acylglycerol O/W emulsion exhibited significantly smaller droplet size, lower zeta-potential and higher surface hydrophobicity, which contributed to the formation of the microcapsule with a significantly smoother surface and more compact structure, finally leading to improved oxidative stability compared to those prepared from native tuna oil.

Microencapsulation of vitamin D3 by complex coacervation using carboxymethyl tara gum (Caesalpinia spinosa) and gelatin A

Vitamin D₃ plays a fundamental role in human health; however, it is highly susceptible to environmental conditions and the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, complex coacervates obtained from gelatin A and carboxymethyl tara gum (CMTG) were used as wall materials for the encapsulation of vitamin D₃ (VD₃). Zeta potential and turbidity measurements were employed to optimize the pH and ratio (gelatin A:CMTG), and the results showed that the ideal conditions for the complex coacervation were pH 4.0 and a 6:1 ratio. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) was determined as a function of the total concentration of biopolymers (TC%) and the core-to-wall ratio, and the greatest EE (80%) was achieved at a TC of 1% and a ratio of 1:2; spherical particles with an average size of 0.25 µm were obtained. The microencapsulation increased the thermal stability of VD₃, and FTIR confirmed the presence of the biopolymers and VD₃ in the capsules. An in vitro simulation showed a more pronounced release in the small intestine with a vitamin bioaccessibility of 56%. The encapsulation of bioactive lipophilic compounds by complex coacervates of gelatin A and CMTG resulted in improved stability and prolonged release during digestion.

Microencapsulated Tuna Oil Results in Higher Absorption of DHA in Toddlers

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential component for brain and visual acuity development during foetal and early postnatal life. A newly released directive under the European Commission stipulates DHA as a mandatory ingredient in infant formula. This poses challenges to manufacturers in preserving the stability and bioavailability of DHA at levels akin to human breast milk. The aims of this study were (a) to investigate the bioavailability of microencapsulated omega-3 DHA formulations in healthy toddlers compared with high DHA fish oil for a one-month period and (b) to assess the effect of DHA supplementation on children’s sleep and cry patterns. Sixty toddlers were randomly allocated to four groups: 1. unfortified formula, 2. unfortified formula plus high DHA tuna oil, 3. fortified formula with dairy-based microencapsulated high DHA tuna oil powder, and 4. fortified formula with allergenic-free microencapsulated high DHA tuna oil powder. Bioavailability was assessed from both blood and faecal fatty acid levels. The results showed an enhanced bioavailability with significantly greater concentrations of blood DHA levels in formulas with microencapsulated powders. There were no significant effects of treatment on sleep and cry patterns. Application and delivery of microencapsulated DHA tuna oil powder in toddlers’ formula provided better bioavailability of the active DHA.

Therapies from Fucoidan: New Developments

Since our last review in 2015, the study and use of fucoidan has extended in several research areas. Clinical use of fucoidan for the treatment of renal disease has become available and human safety studies have been undertaken on radiolabeled fucoidan for the purpose of imaging thrombi. Fucoidan has been incorporated into an increasing number of commercially available supplements and topical treatments. In addition, new measuring techniques are now available to assess the biologically relevant uptake of fucoidans and to assist in production. Microbiome modulation and anti-pathogenic effects are increasingly promising applications for fucoidans, due to the need for alternative approaches to antibiotic use in the food chain. This review outlines promising new developments in fucoidan research, including potential future therapeutic use.