Modification of Collagen/Gelatin/Hydroxyethyl Cellulose-Based Materials by Addition of Herbal Extract-Loaded Microspheres Made from Gellan Gum and Xanthan Gum

Frontier in gellan gum-based microcapsules obtained by emulsification: Core-shell structure, interaction mechanism, intervention strategies

As a translucent functional gel with biodegradability, non-toxicity and acid resistance, gellan gum has been widely used in probiotic packaging, drug delivery, wound dressing, metal ion adsorption and other fields in recent years. Because of its remarkable gelation characteristics, gellan gum is suitable as the shell material of microcapsules to encapsulate functional substances, by which the functional components can improve stability and achieve delayed release. In recent years, many academically or commercially reliable products have rapidly emerged, but there is still a lack of relevant reports on in-depth research and systematic summaries regarding the process of microcapsule formation and its corresponding mechanisms. To address this challenge, this review focuses on the formation process and applications of gellan gum-based microcapsules, and details the commonly used preparation methods in microcapsule production. Additionally, it explores the impact of factors such as ion types, ion strength, temperature, pH, and others present in the solution on the performance of the microcapsules. On this basis, it summarizes and analyzes the prospects of gellan gum-based microcapsule products. The comprehensive insights from this review are expected to provide inspiration and design ideas for researchers.

Fabrication, Functional Properties, and Potential Applications of Mixed Gellan-Polysaccharide Systems: A Review

Gellan, an anionic heteropolysaccharide synthesized by Sphingomonas elodea, is an excellent gelling agent. However, its poor mechanical strength and high gelling temperature limit its application. Recent studies have reported that combining gellan with other polysaccharides achieves desirable properties for food- and biomaterial-related applications. This review summarizes the fabrication methods, functional properties, and potential applications of gellan-polysaccharide systems. Starch, pectin, xanthan gum, and konjac glucomannan are the most widely used polysaccharides in these composite systems. Heating-cooling and ionic-induced cross-linking approaches have been used in the fabrication of these systems. Composite gels fabricated using gellan and various polysaccharides exhibit different functional properties, possibly because of their distinct molecular interactions. In terms of applications, mixed gellan-polysaccharide systems have been extensively used in texture modification, edible coatings and films, bioactive component delivery, and tissue-engineering applications. Further scientific studies, including structural determinations of mixed systems, optimization of processing methods, and expansion of applications in food-related fields, are needed.

Whey Protein Isolate as a Substrate to Design Calendula officinalis Flower Extract Controlled-Release Materials

The use of natural active substances and the development of new formulations are promising directions in the cosmetic and pharmacy industries. The primary purpose of this research was the production of microparticles based on whey protein isolate (WPI) and calcium alginate (ALG) containing Calendula officinalis flower extract and their incorporation into films composed of gelatin, WPI, and glycerol. Both swollen and dry microparticles were studied by optical microscopy and their sizes were measured. Water absorption by the microparticles, their loading capacity, and the release profile of flower extract were also characterized. The films were analyzed by mechanical tests (Young's modulus, tensile strength, elongation at break), swelling capacity, contact angle, and moisture content measurements. The presented data showed that the active ingredient was successfully enclosed in spherical microparticles and completely released after 75 min of incubation at 37 °C. The incorporation of the microparticles into polymer films caused a decrease in stiffness and tensile strength, simultaneously increasing the ductility of the samples. Moreover, the films containing microparticles displayed higher swelling ability and moisture content compared to those without them. Hence, the materials prepared in this study with Calendula officinalis flower extract encapsulated into polymeric microspheres can be a starting point for the development of new products intended for skin application; advantages include protection of the extract against external factors and a controlled release profile.

Microbial- and seaweed-based biopolymers: Sources, extractions and implications for soil quality improvement and environmental sustainability - A review

Improving soil quality without creating any environmental problems is an unescapable goal of sustainable agroecosystem management, according to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Therefore, sustainable solutions are in high demand. One of these is the use of biopolymers derived from microbes and seaweed. This paper aims to provide an overview of the sources of extraction and use of microbial (bacteria and cyanobacteria) and seaweed-based biopolymers as soil conditioners, the characteristics of biopolymer-treated soils, and their environmental concerns. A preliminary search was also carried out on the entire Scopus database on biopolymers to find out how much attention has been paid to biopolymers as biofertilizers compared to other applications of these molecules until now. Several soil quality indicators were evaluated, including soil moisture, color, structure, porosity, bulk density, temperature, aggregate stability, nutrient availability, organic matter, and microbial activity. The mechanisms involved in improving soil quality were also discussed.

Food applications of bioactive biomaterials based on gelatin and chitosan

Food packaging must guarantee the products' quality during the different operations including packing and maintenance throughout transportation and storage until to consumption. Thus, it should satisfy, both, food freshness and quality preservation and consumers health safety. Natural bio-sourced polymers have been explored as safe edible materials for several packaging applications, being interestingly carrier of bioactive substances, once added to improve films' properties. Gelatin and chitosan are among the most studied biomaterials for the preparation of edible packaging films due to their excellent characteristics including biodegradability, compatibility and film-forming property. These polymers could be used alone or in combination with other polymers to produce composite films with the desired physicochemical and mechanical properties. When incorporated with bioactive substances (natural extracts, polyphenolic compounds, essential oils), chitosan/gelatin-based films acquired various biological properties, including antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The emerging bioactive composite films with excellent physical attributes represent excellent packaging alternative to preserve different types of foodstuffs (fruits, meat, fish, dairy products, …) and have shown great achievements. This chapter provides the main techniques used to prepare gelatin- and chitosan- based films, showing some examples of bioactive compounds incorporated into the films' matrix. Also, it illustrates the outstanding advantages given by these biomaterials for food preservation, when used as coating and wrapping agents.

Gellan Gum as a Unique Microbial Polysaccharide: Its Characteristics, Synthesis, and Current Application Trends

Gellan gum (GG) is a linear, negatively charged exopolysaccharide that is biodegradable and non-toxic. When metallic ions are present, a hard and transparent gel is produced, which remains stable at a low pH. It exhibits high water solubility, can be easily bio-fabricated, demonstrates excellent film/hydrogel formation, is biodegradable, and shows biocompatibility. These characteristics render GG a suitable option for use in food, biomedical, and cosmetic fields. Thus, this review paper offers a concise summary of microbial polysaccharides. Moreover, an in-depth investigation of trends in different facets of GG, such as biosynthesis, chemical composition, and physical and chemical properties, is emphasized. In addition, this paper highlights the process of extracting and purifying GG. Furthermore, an in-depth discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of GG concerning other polysaccharides is presented. Moreover, the utilization of GG across different industries, such as food, medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, etc., is thoroughly examined and will greatly benefit individuals involved in this field who are seeking fresh opportunities for innovative projects in the future.

Trends in biopolymer science applied to cosmetics

The term biopolymer refers to materials obtained by chemically modifying natural biological substances or producing them through biotechnological processes. They are biodegradable, biocompatible and non-toxic. Due to these advantages, biopolymers have wide applications in conventional cosmetics and new trends and have emerged as essential ingredients that function as rheological modifiers, emulsifiers, film-formers, moisturizers, hydrators, antimicrobials and, more recently, materials with metabolic activity on skin. Developing approaches that exploit these features is a challenge for formulating skin, hair and oral care products and dermatological formulations. This article presents an overview of the use of the principal biopolymers used in cosmetic formulations and describes their sources, recently derived structures, novel applications and safety aspects of the use of these molecules.

Natural Gums in Drug-Loaded Micro- and Nanogels

Gums are polysaccharide compounds obtained from natural sources, such as plants, algae and bacteria. Because of their excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, as well as their ability to swell and their sensitivity to degradation by the colon microbiome, they are regarded as interesting potential drug carriers. In order to obtain properties differing from the original compounds, blends with other polymers and chemical modifications are usually applied. Gums and gum-derived compounds can be applied in the form of macroscopic hydrogels or can be formulated into particulate systems that can deliver the drugs via different administration routes. In this review, we present and summarize the most recent studies regarding micro- and nanoparticles obtained with the use of gums extensively investigated in pharmaceutical technology, their derivatives and blends with other polymers. This review focuses on the most important aspects of micro- and nanoparticulate systems formulation and their application as drug carriers, as well as the challenges related to these formulations.

Recent Applications of Biopolymers Derived from Fish Industry Waste in Food Packaging

Fish waste is attracting growing interest as a new raw material for biopolymer production in different application fields, mainly in food packaging, with significant economic and environmental advantages. This review paper summarizes the recent advances in the valorization of fish waste for the preparation of biopolymers for food packaging applications. The issues related to fishery industry waste and fish by-catch and the potential for re-using these by-products in a circular economy approach have been presented in detail. Then, all the biopolymer typologies derived from fish waste with potential applications in food packaging, such as muscle proteins, collagen, gelatin, chitin/chitosan, have been described. For each of them, the recent applications in food packaging, in the last five years, have been overviewed with an emphasis on smart packaging applications. Despite the huge industrial potential of fish industry by-products, most of the reviewed applications are still at lab-scale. Therefore, the technological challenges for a reliable exploitation and recovery of several potentially valuable molecules and the strategies to improve the barrier, mechanical and thermal performance of each kind of biopolymer have been analyzed.

Bioorthogonal hydroxyethyl cellulose-based scaffold crosslinked via click chemistry for cartilage tissue engineering applications

In this study, azide and alkyne moieties were introduced to the structure of citric acid-modified hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and then through a bioorthogonal click chemistry method: Strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition, a novel crosslinked HEC scaffold (click sample) was obtained. Chemical modifications and successful crosslinking of the samples were assessed with FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Lyophilized samples exhibited a porous interconnected microarchitecture with desirable features for commensurate cartilage tissue engineering applications. As the stability of scaffolds improved upon crosslinking, considerable water uptake and swelling degree of ~650% could still be measured for the click sample. Offering Young's modulus of ~10 MPa and tensile strength of ~0.43 MPa, the mechanical characteristics of click sample were comparable with those of normal cartilage tissue. Various in vitro biological assays, including MTT analysis, cellular attachment, histological staining with safranin O, and real-time PCR decisively approved significant biocompatibility, chondrogenic ability, and bioorthogonal features of click sample.