Synergistic effect of residual sugar on freeze-thaw stability of high internal phase emulsions using glycosylated cod protein as interface stabilizer

Nowadays, glycosylated protein seems to be one of the most effective stabilizers for preparing freeze-thaw stabile emulsion; nevertheless, few papers mentioned the relationship between the residual free sugars after the glycosylation reaction and the freeze-thaw stability of high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). Herein, glucose was used to prepare glycosylated cod proteins (GCPs). The synergistic effect was related to the grafting degree of GCP, and the amount of glucose added to prepare freeze-thaw stable HIPEs was reduced from 20% to 4% when the grafting degree of GCP increased from 0% to 31.58% (i.e. 12% GCP). This might be due to fewer ice crystals forming in water phase or less destruction of emulsion droplets by ice crystals. The obtained results in this study will allow developing freeze-thaw stable HIPEs or new frozen ingredients.

Engineering of sustainable biomaterial composites from cellulose and silk fibroin: Fundamentals and applications

This review addresses composites prepared from cellulose (Cel) and silk fibroin (SF) to generate multifunctional, biocompatible, biodegradable materials such as fibers, films and scaffolds for tissue engineering. First, we discuss briefly the molecular structures of Cel and SF. Their structural features explain why certain solvents, e.g., ionic liquids, inorganic electrolyte solutions dissolve both biopolymers. We discuss the mechanisms of Cel dissolution because in many cases they also apply to (much less studied) SF dissolution. Subsequently, we discuss the fabrication and characterization of Cel/SF composite biomaterials. We show how the composition of these materials beneficially affects their mechanical properties, compared to those of the precursor biopolymers. We also show that Cel/SF materials are excellent and versatile candidates for biomedical applications because of the inherent biocompatibility of their components.

Dissolution and regeneration of silk from silkworm Bombyx mori in ionic liquids and its application to medical biomaterials

The dissolution and regeneration of silk fibre have long been an issue for producers of silk. The high solubility of silk fibroin (SF) in ionic liquids (ILs) is a promising new avenue in silk dissolution and regeneration as it may allow for a significant reduction in operational steps required for SF regeneration and the subsequent formation of SF biomaterials. The regenerated SF solution can be prepared by dissolving directly SF in ILs without the tedious steps of degumming, dissolution and dialysis. Besides, the regenerated SF solution can simply form different SF biomaterials with the help of coagulant, and ILs can be separated from SF biomaterials easily during SF solidification. The goal of this work is to summarize the commonly used ILs for dissolving silk protein and their dissolution methods and to present the potential application of SF/ILs mixed solution in medical biomaterials.

Functional nanoparticle-decorated graphene oxide sheets as stabilizers for Pickering high internal phase emulsions and graphene oxide based foam monoliths

A facile and versatile approach was developed for the preparation of graphene oxide sheet-based Pickering high internal phase emulsions by nanoparticle decoration.