Polysaccharide-Based Edible Gels as Functional Ingredients: Characterization, Applicability, and Human Health Benefits

A review of oleogels applications in dairy foods

The characteristics of dairy products, such as texture, color, flavor, and nutritional profile, are significantly influenced by the presence of milk fat. However, saturated fatty acids account for 65% of total milk fat. With increased health awareness and regulatory recommendations, consumer preferences have evolved toward low/no saturated fat food products. Reducing the saturated fat content of dairy products to meet market demands is an urgent yet challenging task, as it may compromise product quality and increase production costs. In this regard, oleogels have emerged as a viable milk fat replacement in dairy foods. This review focuses on recent advances in oleogel systems and explores their potential for incorporation into dairy products as a milk fat substitute. Overall, it can be concluded that oleogel can be a potential alternative to replace milk fat fully or partially in the product matrix to improve nutritional profile by mimicking similar rheological and textural product characteristics as milk fat. Furthermore, the impact of consuming oleogel-based dairy foods on digestibility and gut health is also discussed. A thorough comprehension of the application of oleogels in dairy products will provide an opportunity for the dairy sector to develop applications that will appeal to the changing consumer needs.

Gut microecology: effective targets for natural products to modulate uric acid metabolism

Gut microecology,the complex community consisting of microorganisms and their microenvironments in the gastrointestinal tract, plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and regulating various physiological and pathological processes. Recent studies have highlighted the significant impact of gut microecology on the regulation of uric acid metabolism. Natural products, including monomers, extracts, and traditional Chinese medicine formulations derived from natural sources such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, have also been investigated for their potential role in modulating uric acid metabolism. According to research, The stability of gut microecology is a crucial link for natural products to maintain healthy uric acid metabolism and reduce hyperuricemia-related diseases. Herein, we review the recent advanced evidence revealing the bidirectional regulation between gut microecology and uric acid metabolism. And separately summarize the key evidence of natural extracts and herbal formulations in regulating both aspects. In addition,we elucidated the important mechanisms of natural products in regulating uric acid metabolism and secondary diseases through gut microecology, especially by modulating the composition of gut microbiota, gut mucosal barrier, inflammatory response, purine catalyzation, and associated transporters. This review may offer a novel insight into uric acid and its associated disorders management and highlight a perspective for exploring its potential therapeutic drugs from natural products.

Natural Regenerative Hydrogels for Wound Healing

Regenerative hydrogels from natural polymers have come forth as auspicious materials for use in regenerative medicine, with interest attributed to their intrinsic biodegradability, biocompatibility, and ability to reassemble the extracellular matrix. This review covers the latest advances in regenerative hydrogels used for wound healing, focusing on their chemical composition, cross-linking mechanisms, and functional properties. Key carbohydrate polymers, including alginate, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and polysaccharide gums, including agarose, carrageenan, and xanthan gum, are discussed in terms of their sources, chemical structures and specific properties suitable for regenerative applications. The review further explores the categorization of hydrogels based on ionic charge, response to physiological stimuli (i.e., pH, temperature) and particularized roles in wound tissue self-healing. Various methods of cross-linking used to enhance the mechanical and biological performance of these hydrogels are also examined. By highlighting recent innovations and ongoing challenges, this article intends to give a detailed understanding of natural hydrogels and their potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine and improve patient healing outcomes.

Advances in Carbon Xerogels: Structural Optimization for Enhanced EDLC Performance

This review explores the recent progress on carbon xerogels (CXs) and highlights their development and use as efficient electrodes in organic electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs). In addition, this work examines how the adjustment of synthesis parameters, such as pH, polymerization duration, and the reactant-to-catalyst ratio, crucially affects the structure and electrochemical properties of xerogels. The adaptability of xerogels in terms of modification of their porosity and structure plays a vital role in the improvement of EDLC applications as it directly influences the interaction between electrolyte ions and the electrode surface, which is a key factor in determining EDLC performance. The review further discusses the substantial effects of chemical activation with KOH on the improvement of the porous structure and specific surface area, which leads to notable electrochemical enhancements. This structural control facilitates improvement in ion transport and storage, which are essential for efficient EDLC charge-discharge (C-D) cycles. Compared with commercial activated carbons for EDLC electrodes, CXs attract interest for their superior surface area, lower electrical resistance, and stable performance across diverse C-D rates, which underscore their promising potential in EDLC applications. This in-depth review not only summarizes the advancements in CX research but also highlights their potential to expand and improve EDLC applications and demonstrate the critical role of their tunable porosity and structure in the evolution of next-generation energy storage systems.

Oleogel classification, physicochemical characterization methods, and typical cases of application in food: a review

The harmful effects of trans and saturated fatty acids have attracted worldwide attention. Edible oleogels, which can structure liquid oils, are promising healthy alternatives to traditional fats. Active research on oleogels is focused on the interaction between unsaturated oils with different fatty acid compositions and low molecular weight or polymer oleogels. The unique network structure inside oleogels has facilitated their application in candies, spreads, meat, and other products. However, the micro- and macro-properties, as well as the functional properties of oleogels vary by preparation method and the system composition. This review discusses the characteristics of oleogels, serving as a reference for the application of oleogels in food products. Specifically, it (i) classifies oleogels and explains the influence of gelling factors on their gelation, (ii) describes the methods for measuring the physicochemical properties of oleogels, and (iii) discusses the current applications of oleogels in food products.

Succinic acid - A run-through of the latest perspectives of production from renewable biomass

Succinic acid (SA) production is continuously rising, as its applications in diverse end-product generation are getting broader and more expansive. SA is an eco-friendly bulk product that acts as a valuable intermediate in different processes and might substitute other petrochemical-based products due to the inner capacity of microbes to biosynthesize it. Moreover, large amounts of SA can be obtained through biotechnological ways starting from renewable resources, imprinting at the same time the concept of a circular economy. In this context, the target of the present review paper is to bring an overview of SA market demands, production, biotechnological approaches, new strategies of production, and last but not least, the possible limitations and the latest perspectives in terms of natural biosynthesis of SA.

Cardiometabolic Risk: Characteristics of the Intestinal Microbiome and the Role of Polyphenols

Cardiometabolic diseases like hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and obesity have been associated with changes in the gut microbiota structure, or dysbiosis. The beneficial effect of polyphenols on reducing the incidence of this chronic disease has been confirmed by numerous studies. Polyphenols are primarily known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but they can also modify the gut microbiota. According to recent research, polyphenols positively influence the gut microbiota, which regulates metabolic responses and reduces systemic inflammation. This review emphasizes the prebiotic role of polyphenols and their impact on specific gut microbiota components in patients at cardiometabolic risk. It also analyzes the most recent research on the positive effects of polyphenols on cardiometabolic health. While numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown the interaction involving polyphenols and gut microbiota, additional clinical investigations are required to assess this effect in people.

The current state of the art in gellan-based printing inks in tissue engineering

With the advancement of enhanced fabrication technologies, specifically 3D printing, it is now possible to build artificial tissue for personalized healing. However, inks developed from polymers often fail to meet expectations in terms of mechanical strength, scaffold integrity, and the stimulation of tissue formation. Developing new printable formulations as well as adapting existing printing methods is an essential aspect of contemporary biofabrication research. In order to push the boundaries of the printability window, various strategies have been developed employing gellan gum. This has resulted in major breakthroughs in the development of 3D hydrogels scaffolds that exhibit significant resemblance to genuine tissues and enables the fabrication of more complex systems. In light of the many uses of gellan gum, the purpose of this paper is to provide a synopsis of the printable ink designs drawing attention to the various compositions and fabrication approaches that may be used for tuning the properties of 3D printed hydrogels for tissue engineering applications. The purpose of this article is to outline the development of gellan-based 3D printing inks and to encourage research by highlighting the possible applications of gellan gum.

Phase Behavior of Aqueous Mixtures of Sodium Alginate with Fish Gelatin: Effects of pH and Ionic Strength

The phase behavior of aqueous mixtures of fish gelatin (FG) and sodium alginate (SA) and complex coacervation phenomena depending on pH, ionic strength, and cation type (Na⁺, Ca²⁺) were studied by turbidimetric acid titration, UV spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy for different mass ratios of sodium alginate and gelatin (Z = 0.01-1.00). The boundary pH values determining the formation and dissociation of SA-FG complexes were measured, and we found that the formation of soluble SA-FG complexes occurs in the transition from neutral (pH_c) to acidic (pH_φ1) conditions. Insoluble complexes formed below pH_φ1 separate into distinct phases, and the phenomenon of complex coacervation is thus observed. Formation of the highest number of insoluble SA-FG complexes, based on the value of the absorption maximum, is observed at рH_opt and results from strong electrostatic interactions. Then, visible aggregation occurs, and dissociation of the complexes is observed when the next boundary, pH_φ2, is reached. As Z increases in the range of SA-FG mass ratios from 0.01 to 1.00, the boundary values of рН_c, рH_φ1, рH_opt, and рH_φ2 become more acidic, shifting from 7.0 to 4.6, from 6.8 to 4.3, from 6.6 to 2.8, and from 6.0 to 2.7, respectively. An increase in ionic strength leads to suppression of the electrostatic interaction between the FG and SA molecules, and no complex coacervation is observed at NaCl and CaCl₂ concentrations of 50 to 200 mM.

Cellulose-Based Metallogels-Part 1: Raw Materials and Preparation

Metallogels are a class of materials produced by the complexation of polymer gels with metal ions that can form coordination bonds with the functional groups of the gel. Hydrogels with metal phases attract special attention due to the numerous possibilities for functionalization. Cellulose is preferable for the production of hydrogels from economic, ecological, physical, chemical, and biological points of view since it is inexpensive, renewable, versatile, non-toxic, reveals high mechanical and thermal stability, has a porous structure, an imposing number of reactive OH groups, and good biocompatibility. Due to the poor solubility of natural cellulose, the hydrogels are commonly produced from cellulose derivatives that require multiple chemical manipulations. However, there is a number of techniques of hydrogel preparation via dissolution and regeneration of non-derivatized cellulose of various origins. Thus, hydrogels can be produced from plant-derived cellulose, lignocellulose and cellulose wastes, including agricultural, food and paper wastes. The advantages and limitations of using solvents are discussed in this review with regard to the possibility of industrial scaling up. Metallogels are often formed on the basis of ready-made hydrogels, which is why the choice of an adequate solvent is important for obtaining desirable results. The methods of the preparation of cellulose metallogels with d-transition metals in the present state of the art are reviewed.

Plant-Based Dairy Alternatives-A Future Direction to the Milky Way

One significant food group that is part of our daily diet is the dairy group, and both research and industry are actively involved to meet the increasing requirement for plant-based dairy alternatives (PBDAs). The production tendency of PBDAs is growing with a predictable rate of over 18.5% in 2023 from 7.4% at the moment. A multitude of sources can be used for development such as cereals, pseudocereals, legumes, nuts, and seeds to obtain food products such as vegetal milk, cheese, cream, yogurt, butter, and different sweets, such as ice cream, which have nearly similar nutritional profiles to those of animal-origin products. Increased interest in PBDAs is manifested in groups with special dietary needs (e.g., lactose intolerant individuals, pregnant women, newborns, and the elderly) or with pathologies such as metabolic syndromes, dermatological diseases, and arthritis. In spite of the vast range of production perspectives, certain industrial challenges arise during development, such as processing and preservation technologies. This paper aims at providing an overview of the currently available PBDAs based on recent studies selected from the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, and Scopus. We found 148 publications regarding PBDAs in correlation with their nutritional and technological aspects, together with the implications in terms of health. Therefore, this review focuses on the relationship between plant-based alternatives for dairy products and the human diet, from the raw material to the final products, including the industrial processes and health-related concerns.

Vaccinium Species (Ericaceae): Phytochemistry and Biological Properties of Medicinal Plants

The Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) genus consists of a globally widespread and diverse genus of around 4250 species, of which the most valuable is the Vaccinioidae subfamily. The current review focuses on the distribution, history, bioactive compounds, and health-related effects of three species: cranberry, blueberry, and huckleberry. Several studies highlight that the consumption of Vaccinium spp. presents numerous beneficial health-related outcomes, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and protective effects against diabetes, obesity, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular disorders. These plants' prevalence and commercial value have enhanced in the past several years; thus, the generated by-products have also increased. Consequently, the identified phenolic compounds found in the discarded leaves of these plants are also presented, and their impact on health and economic value is discussed. The main bioactive compounds identified in this genus belong to anthocyanins (cyanidin, malvidin, and delphinidin), flavonoids (quercetin, isoquercetin, and astragalin), phenolic acids (gallic, p-Coumaric, cinnamic, syringic, ferulic, and caffeic acids), and iridoids.

Chitin-Glucan Complex Hydrogels: Physical-Chemical Characterization, Stability, In Vitro Drug Permeation, and Biological Assessment in Primary Cells

Chitin-glucan complex (CGC) hydrogels were fabricated by coagulation of the biopolymer from an aqueous alkaline solution, and their morphology, swelling behavior, mechanical, rheological, and biological properties were studied. In addition, their in vitro drug loading/release ability and permeation through mimic-skin artificial membranes (Strat-M) were assessed. The CGC hydrogels prepared from 4 and 6 wt% CGC suspensions (Na5₁*⁴ and Na5₁*⁶ hydrogels, respectively) had polymer contents of 2.40 ± 0.15 and 3.09 ± 0.22 wt%, respectively, and displayed a highly porous microstructure, characterized by compressive moduli of 39.36 and 47.30 kPa and storage moduli of 523.20 and 7012.25 Pa, respectively. Both hydrogels had a spontaneous and almost immediate swelling in aqueous media, and a high-water retention capacity (>80%), after 30 min incubation at 37 °C. Nevertheless, the Na5₁*⁴ hydrogels had higher fatigue resistance and slightly higher-water retention capacity. These hydrogels were loaded with caffeine, ibuprofen, diclofenac, or salicylic acid, reaching entrapment efficiency values ranging between 13.11 ± 0.49% for caffeine, and 15.15 ± 1.54% for salicylic acid. Similar release profiles in PBS were observed for all tested APIs, comprising an initial fast release followed by a steady slower release. In vitro permeation experiments through Strat-M membranes using Franz diffusion cells showed considerably higher permeation fluxes for caffeine (33.09 µg/cm²/h) and salicylic acid (19.53 µg/cm²/h), compared to ibuprofen sodium and diclofenac sodium (4.26 and 0.44 µg/cm²/h, respectively). Analysis in normal human dermal fibroblasts revealed that CGC hydrogels have no major effects on the viability, migration ability, and morphology of the cells. Given their demonstrated features, CGC hydrogels are very promising structures, displaying tunable physical properties, which support their future development into novel transdermal drug delivery platforms.

Soy Protein Isolate as Emulsifier of Nanoemulsified Beverages: Rheological and Physical Evaluation

The production of biologically active molecules or the addition of new bioactive ingredients in foods, thereby producing functional foods, has been improved with nanoemulsion technology. In this sense, the aim of this work was to develop nanoemulsified beverages as potential candidates for the encapsulation of bioactive compounds, whose integrity and release across the intestinal tract are controlled by the structure and stability of the interfaces. To achieve this, firstly, a by-product rich-in protein has been evaluated as a potential candidate to act as an emulsifier (chemical content, amino acid composition, solubility, ζ-potential and surface tension were evaluated). Later, emulsions with different soy protein isolate concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 wt%), pH values (2, 4, 6 and 8) and homogenization pressures (100, 120 and 140 PSI) were prepared using a high-pressure homogenizer after a pre-emulsion formation. Physical (stability via Backscattering and drop size evolution) and rheological (including interfacial analysis) characterizations of emulsions were carried out to characterize their potential as delivery emulsion systems. According to the results obtained, the nanoemulsions showed the best stability when the protein concentration was 2.0 wt%, pH 2.0 and 120 PSI was applied as homogenization pressure.

Insights on Some Polysaccharide Gel Type Materials and Their Structural Peculiarities

Global resources have to be used in responsible ways to ensure the world's future need for advanced materials. Ecologically friendly functional materials based on biopolymers can be successfully obtained from renewable resources, and the most prominent example is cellulose, the well-known most abundant polysaccharide which is usually isolated from highly available biomass (wood and wooden waste, annual plants, cotton, etc.). Many other polysaccharides originating from various natural resources (plants, insects, algae, bacteria) proved to be valuable and versatile starting biopolymers for a wide array of materials with tunable properties, able to respond to different societal demands. Polysaccharides properties vary depending on various factors (origin, harvesting, storage and transportation, strategy of further modification), but they can be processed into materials with high added value, as in the case of gels. Modern approaches have been employed to prepare (e.g., the use of ionic liquids as "green solvents") and characterize (NMR and FTIR spectroscopy, X ray diffraction spectrometry, DSC, electronic and atomic force microscopy, optical rotation, circular dichroism, rheological investigations, computer modelling and optimization) polysaccharide gels. In the present paper, some of the most widely used polysaccharide gels will be briefly reviewed with emphasis on their structural peculiarities under various conditions.

Active Films Based on Starch and Wheat Gluten (Triticum vulgare) for Shelf-Life Extension of Carrots

The use of biodegradable biopolymers with the incorporation of active ingredients has been considered as an alternative to extend the useful life of food. Therefore, the objective of this research was to develop active films based on starch and wheat gluten, containing cinnamon and turmeric essential oils by using the solvent casting method. Different film formulations were made from wheat starch, gluten, glycerol, and essential oils of cinnamon and turmeric. The films were characterized according to their morphology, optical, thermal, antioxidant, and barrier properties. Subsequently, the active properties on baby carrots regarding weight loss, appearance, and fungal growth were evaluated. The results indicated that the starch-based films showed a slight decrease in moisture content with the addition of essential oils (up to 13.29%), but at the same time showed a significant reduction in water solubility (up to 28.4%). Gluten-based films did not present significant differences in these parameters, although the solubility in water tended to increase (up to 13.15%) with the addition of essential oils. In general, the films presented good thermal stability and antioxidant capacity, and in the carrot coating test, a decrease in weight loss of up to 44.44% and 43.33% was observed for the coatings based on starch and gluten with the addition of turmeric essential oil, respectively. Finally, films developed with cinnamon and turmeric essential oils are potential candidates for the design of biodegradable active packaging.

Novel Approach in Biodegradation of Synthetic Thermoplastic Polymers: An Overview

Biodegradation is necessary for water-soluble or water-immiscible polymers because they eventually enter streams which can neither be recycled nor incinerated. It is important to consider the microbial degradation of natural and synthetic polymers in order to understand what is necessary for biodegradation and the mechanisms involved. Low/high-density polyethylene is a vital cause of environmental pollution. It occurs by choking the sewer line through mishandling, thus posing an everlasting ecological threat. Environmental pollution due to the unscrupulous consumption of synthetic polymers derived from petroleum has an adverse impact on the environment since the majority of plastics do not degrade, and the further incineration of synthetic plastics generates CO2 and dioxin. This requires understanding the interactions between materials and microorganisms and the biochemical changes involved. Widespread studies on the biodegradation of plastics have been carried out in order to overcome the environmental problems associated with synthetic plastic waste. Awareness of the waste problem and its impact on the environment has awakened new interest in the area of degradable polymers through microbes viz., bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. The microbial degradation of plastics is caused by certain enzymatic activities that lead to a chain cleavage of polymers into oligomers and monomers. This review focuses on the biodegradation rate of plastics by fungal and bacterial communities and the mode of action of biodegradation.

Chitosan Oligosaccharide Prevents Afatinib-Induced Barrier Disruption and Chloride Secretion through Modulation of AMPK, PI3K/AKT, and ERK Signaling in T84 Cells

Diarrhea is an important adverse effect of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors, especially afatinib. Novel antidiarrheal agents are needed to reduce epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor-associated diarrhea to improve the quality of life and treatment outcome in cancer patients. This study aimed to investigate the anti-diarrheal activity of chitosan oligosaccharide against afatinib-induced barrier disruption and chloride secretion in human intestinal epithelial cells (T84 cells). Chitosan oligosaccharide (100 μg/mL) prevented afatinib-induced barrier disruption determined by changes in transepithelial electrical resistance and FITC-dextran flux in the T84 cell monolayers. In addition, chitosan oligosaccharide prevented afatinib-induced potentiation of cAMP-induced chloride secretion measured by short-circuit current analyses in the T84 cell monolayers. Chitosan oligosaccharide induced the activation of AMPK, a positive regulator of epithelial tight junction and a negative regulator of cAMP-induced chloride secretion. Moreover, chitosan oligosaccharide partially reversed afatinib-induced AKT inhibition without affecting afatinib-induced ERK inhibition via AMPK-independent mechanisms. Collectively, this study reveals that chitosan oligosaccharide prevents the afatinib-induced diarrheal activities in T84 cells via both AMPK-dependent and AMPK-independent mechanisms. Chitosan oligosaccharide represents a promising natural polymer-derived compound for further development of treatment for afatinib-associated diarrheas.

Development of Pectin and Poly(vinyl alcohol)-Based Active Packaging Enriched with Itaconic Acid and Apple Pomace-Derived Antioxidants

The production of active and biodegradable packaging materials is an emerging and efficient alternative to plastic packaging materials. By combining poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), pectin, and itaconic acid (IA), biodegradable and water-soluble packaging materials can be obtained that can also increase the shelf-life and quality of foodstuff. In the present study, the generated film-forming solutions were enriched with organic or phenolic extracts from apple by-products (apple pomace). These extracts possess an efficient antioxidant activity of 9.70 ± 0.08, and 78.61 ± 0.24 μM Trolox/100 g fresh weight, respectively. Furthermore, the lyophilization of these by-products increased the extract’s organic and phenolic content and the antioxidant activity to 67.45 ± 0.28 and 166.69 ± 0.47 μM Trolox/100 g fresh weight, respectively. These extracts influence the physical-chemical properties of the biofilm solutions by facilitating the polymerization process and thus positively influencing their viscosity. The resulting biofilms presented low water vapor permeability and reduced solubility in water. Adding IA and organic/phenolic compounds facilitates the resistance against intrinsic and extrinsic factors; therefore, they might be applicable in the food industry.