Eric Keven Silva

Microencapsulation of Rosemary Essential Oil: Characterization of Particles

This study evaluated the influence of wall material concentration (10–30%), inlet temperature (135–195°C), and feed rate (0.5–1.0 L · h−1) on the properties of rosemary oil microencapsulated by spray-drying, with gum arabic as carrier. Powder recovery, surface oil, oil retention, and hygroscopicity varied from 17.25%–33.96%, 0.03%–0.15%, 7.15%–47.57%, and 15.87%–18.90%, respectively. The optimized conditions were determined to be a wall material concentration of 19.3%, an inlet air temperature of 171°C, and a feed flow rate of 0.92 L · h−1. At this condition, particles presented no fissures and the compositions of pure and microencapsulated oil were similar. The sorption isotherms could be described by the GAB model.

Influence of the degree of inulin polymerization on the ultrasound-assisted encapsulation of annatto seed oil.

The effect of the degree of polymerization (DP) of inulin was evaluated on its encapsulant characteristics. We assessed the influence of the average inulin DP (DP ≥10 and DP ≥23) in the ultrasound-assisted encapsulation of annatto seed oil using the freeze-drying technique for particle formation. The intensification of the homogenization process with ultrasound did not improve the characteristics of the emulsions due to the physicochemical limitations of the inulin molecular chain (molecules do not exhibit surface activity). The particle morphology, oil entrapment efficiency, encapsulation efficiency, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and Rancimat analyses proved the effectiveness of inulin as a wall material. The properties influenced by the DP were the surface oil, encapsulation efficiency, water activity, particle size and oxidative stability of the encapsulated oil because the highest DP promoted the formation of microparticles with lower surface oil content, greater encapsulation efficiency, low water activity, larger size and greater protection against oil oxidation.

Ultrasound-assisted encapsulation of annatto seed oil: Retention and release of a bioactive compound with functional activities

This paper brings forward the encapsulation of annatto seed oil (rich in geranylgeraniol) assisted by high intensity ultrasound using gum Arabic (GA) as stabilizing agent. We studied the effects of time (min) and ultrasonication power (W) over the emulsion characteristics. After forming microparticles from the best emulsion using freeze-drying (FD) and spray-drying (SD) techniques, we evaluated particle size distribution, moisture, water activity, surface oil, entrapment efficiency, encapsulation efficiency, geranylgeraniol retention, oxidative stability and kinetic release of geranylgeraniol, a biocompound with functional activities. The combined intensification of time and ultrasonication power reduced the superficial mean diameter (D32) and polydispersity (PDI) of emulsions. Drying the continuous phase of the optimized emulsion (smallest D32=0.69±0.03μm) using FD and SD formed microparticles with different morphological characteristics, Brouckere diameter (D43), particle size distribution, moisture and water activity. SD process led to microparticles with the highest oil encapsulation efficiency (85.1±0.1wt.%) as a consequence of their lowest surface oil (SO). However, GA-FD microparticles presented the highest oil entrapment efficiency (97±1wt.%). Geranylgeraniol retention (80-86wt.%) was similar for both drying techniques. GA-FD microparticles were more stable against oxidation through accelerated test Rancimat, even though presenting higher SO. This behavior is associated with the likely phase transition on the GA-SD matrix. The difference on the kinetic release of geranylgeraniol is linked to the difference on the particles morphology and particle size distribution.

Biopolymer-prebiotic carbohydrate blends and their effects on the retention of bioactive compounds and maintenance of antioxidant activity

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of inulin (IN), a prebiotic carbohydrate without superficial activity, as an encapsulating matrix of lipophilic bioactive compounds. For achieving the encapsulation, IN was associated with biopolymers that present superficial activity: modified starch (HiCap), whey protein isolate (WPI) and gum acacia (GA). Encapsulation was performed through emulsification assisted by ultrasound followed by freeze-drying (FD) process to dry the emulsions. All blends retained geranylgeraniol. GA-IN blend yielded the highest geranylgeraniol retention (96±2wt.%) and entrapment efficiency (94±3wt.%), whilst WPI-IN blend yielded the highest encapsulation efficiency (88±2wt.%). After encapsulation, composition of geranylgeraniol in the annatto seed oil was maintained (23.0±0.5g/100g of oil). Such findings indicate that the method of encapsulation preserved the active compound. All blends were also effective for maintaining the antioxidant activity of the oil through ORAC and DPPH analyses.

Replacing modified starch by inulin as prebiotic encapsulant matrix of lipophilic bioactive compounds

The purpose of this work was to replace modified starch (SF) by inulin (IN), a prebiotic carbohydrate, during emulsification assisted by ultrasound. Oregano extract was encapsulated using five proportions of IN and SF as wall materials. The effect of such substitution on the microparticle characteristics was evaluated. Attempting to contribute with the increasing demand for prebiotic consumption, mixing one part of SF with three parts of IN (1:3, mass basis) yielded encapsulation efficiency equal to 66±1% and the largest thymol retention: 84±9%. Besides the entrapment of thymol, high amount of other compounds present in oregano extract could be entrapped in the polymeric matrix: 92±1%. Reduction of the microparticles sizes when increasing the proportion of inulin was also observed. Comprising such results and those presented for powder morphology, surface extract, particle size distribution, X-ray diffraction and thermal stability, the proportion 1:3 (SF:3IN) is a favorable prebiotic encapsulant matrix for encapsulating oregano extract and retaining target bioactive compounds.

Cashew gum and inulin: New alternative for ginger essential oil microencapsulation.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of cashew gum by inulin used as wall materials, on the characteristics of ginger essential oil microencapsulated by spray drying with ultrasound assisted emulsions. The characterization of particles was evaluated as encapsulation efficiency and particle size. In addition, the properties of the microcapsules were studied through FTIR analysis, adsorption isotherms, thermal gravimetric analysis, X-ray and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the solubility of the treatments was affected by the composition of the wall material and reached higher values (89.80%) when higher inulin concentrations were applied. The encapsulation efficiency (15.8%) was lower at the highest inulin concentration. The particles presented amorphous characteristics and treatment with cashew gum as encapsulant exhibited the highest water absorption at high water activity. The cashew gum and inulin matrix (3:1(w/w) ratio) showed the best characteristics regarding the encapsulation efficiency and morphology, showing no cracks in the structure.

Microencapsulation of lipophilic bioactive compounds using prebiotic carbohydrates: Effect of the degree of inulin polymerization

This paper presents novel outcomes about the effect of degree of inulin polymerization (DP) on the technological properties of annatto seed oil powder obtained by freeze-drying. Inulins with two DPs were evaluated: GR-inulin (DP≥10) and HP-inulin (DP≥23). Micrographs obtained by confocal microscopy were analyzed to confirm the encapsulation of bioactive compounds using both inulins, especially the encapsulation of the natural fluorescent substance δ-tocotrienol. Microparticles formed with both inulins presented the same capacity for geranylgeraniol retention (77%). Glass transitions of microparticles formed with GR-inulin and HP-inulin succeeded at 144°C and 169°C, respectively. Regarding water adsorption isotherms, microparticles formed with HP-inulin and GR-inulin presented behaviors of Types II (sigmoidal) and III (non-sigmoidal), respectively. Reduction of water adsorption capacity in the matrix at high relative moistures (>70%) was presented when HP-inulin was used. At low relative moistures (<30%), the opposite behavior was observed.

Matrix structure selection in the microparticles of essential oil oregano produced by spray dryer

Abstract The goal of this work was to select the best combination of encapsulants for the microencapsulation of oregano essential oil by spray dryer with the addition of Arabic gum (AG), modified starch (MS) and maltodextrin (MA). The simplex-centroid method was used to obtain an optimal objective function with three variables. Analytical methods for carvacrol quantification, water activity, moisture content, wettability, solubility, encapsulation efficiency (ME) and oil retention (RT) were used to evaluate the best combination of encapsulants. The use of AG as a single wall material increased ME up to 93%. Carvacrol is the major phenolic compound existent in the oregano essential oil. Carvacrol exhibits a maximum concentration of 57.8% in the microparticle with the use of 62.5% AG and 37.5% MA. A greater RT (77.39%) was obtained when 74.5% AG; MS 12.7% and 12.7% MA were applied, and ME (93%) was improved with 100% of gum.

Whey-grape juice drink processed by supercritical carbon dioxide technology: Physicochemical characteristics, bioactive compounds and volatile profile

The effect of supercritical carbon dioxide technology (SCCD, 14, 16, and 18MPa at 35±2°C for 10min) on whey-grape juice drink characteristics was investigated. Physicochemical characterization (pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids), bioactive compounds (phenolic compounds, anthocyanin, DPPH and ACE activity) and the volatile compounds were performed. Absence of differences were found among treatments for pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, total anthocyanin and DPPH activity (p-value>0.05). A direct relationship between SCCD pressure and ACE inhibitory activity was observed, with 34.63, 38.75, and 44.31% (14, 16, and 18MPa, respectively). Regards the volatile compounds, it was noted few differences except by the presence of ketones. The findings confirm the SCCD processing as a potential promising technology to the conventional thermal treatment.

Physical and Thermal Stability of Spray-Dried Swiss Cheese Bioaroma Powder

The effect of water content on the glass transition temperature of Swiss cheese bioaroma microencapsulated with a spray dryer was determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) while mass loss was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The sorption isotherm behavior was assessed at 15–45°C. Data were fitted with different sorption models. The bioaroma microparticles were produced via spray drying in a matrix with a 1:1 ratio (w/w) of maltodextrin 20DE and modified corn starch (Capsul). The isotherms displayed Type II behavior, and the best fit was obtained by the Guggenheim–Anderson–de Boer (GAB) model (coefficient of determination R² ≥ 0.98). The DSC analysis showed that the increased equilibrium moisture content caused a significant reduction in the Tg of the microparticles. The samples stored at intermediate humidity showed thermal stability and the samples with equilibrium moisture content of 17.92% showed a lower mass loss.