Fazheng Ren

The improving effect of spray-drying encapsulation process on the bitter taste and stability of whey protein hydrolysate

Although whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) possesses good physiological functionality, its bitter taste and hygroscopic property limit its direct utilization as food ingredient. The aim of this work was to encapsulate whey protein hydrolysate by spray drying using maltodextrin or maltodextrin/β-cyclodextrin mixture as wall materials to attenuate the bitter taste and enhance the stability of whey protein hydrolysate. Hygroscopicity, glass transition temperature, bitter taste, and morphology of non-encapsulated WPH and encapsulated WPH were evaluated. Solubility, particle size, bulk density, and moisture content were also measured. Compared with the non-encapsulated WPH, the encapsulated WPH exhibited significantly lower hygroscopicity and higher glass transition temperature. The bitterness of both maltodextrin-encapsulated WPH and maltodextrin/β-cyclodextrin-encapsulated WPH was significantly lower than that of the original non-encapsulated WPH. Morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy showed that the microcapsules of the spray-dried encapsulated WPH were matrix-type with less link bridge and had a continuous wall with many concavities. In addition, encapsulation process did not exert negative effect on the solubility of whey protein hydrolysate. The results indicated that encapsulation with maltodextrin and β-cyclodextrin as carriers was helpful to attenuate the bitter taste and enhance the stability of whey protein hydrolysate.

Design and characterization of protein-quercetin bioactive nanoparticles

BackgroundThe synthesis of bioactive nanoparticles with precise molecular level control is a major challenge in bionanotechnology. Understanding the nature of the interactions between the active components and transport biomaterials is thus essential for the rational formulation of bio-nanocarriers. The current study presents a single molecule of bovine serum albumin (BSA), lysozyme (Lys), or myoglobin (Mb) used to load hydrophobic drugs such as quercetin (Q) and other flavonoids.ResultsInduced by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), BSA, Lys, and Mb formed spherical nanocarriers with sizes less than 70 nm. After loading Q, the size was further reduced by 30%. The adsorption of Q on protein is mainly hydrophobic, and is related to the synergy of Trp residues with the molecular environment of the proteins. Seven Q molecules could be entrapped by one Lys molecule, 9 by one Mb, and 11 by one BSA. The controlled releasing measurements indicate that these bioactive nanoparticles have long-term antioxidant protection effects on the activity of Q in both acidic and neutral conditions. The antioxidant activity evaluation indicates that the activity of Q is not hindered by the formation of protein nanoparticles. Other flavonoids, such as kaempferol and rutin, were also investigated.ConclusionsBSA exhibits the most remarkable abilities of loading, controlled release, and antioxidant protection of active drugs, indicating that such type of bionanoparticles is very promising in the field of bionanotechnology.

Synthesis, characterization, and controlled release of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by chitosan of different molecular weights.

Chitosan-stabilized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have been reported, but there is no information on the effect of the chitosan molecular weight on the structure, stability, and selenium release properties of the SeNPs. Herein, we compared the uniform Se(0) spherical nanoparticles prepared through the reduction of seleninic acid with ascorbic acid in the presence of chitosan with different molecular weights (Mws). We found that both low and high molecular weight chitosan-stabilized selenium nanoparticles exhibited core-shell microstructures with a size of about 103 nm after 30 days growing through the bottom-up approach and top-down approach, respectively. Moreover, both chitosan SeNPs processed excellent stability towards pH and enzyme treatment. In contrast, selenium was easily released to different extents from these two chitosan SeNPs upon treatment with different free radicals. This makes these materials potentially useful as oral antioxidant supplements.

Design and characterization of controlled-release edible packaging films prepared with synergistic whey-protein polysaccharide complexes.

This paper describes an investigation into the properties of a doubly emulsified film incorporated with protein-polysaccharide microcapsules, which serves as a multifunctional food packaging film prepared using common edible materials in place of petroleum--based plastics. The relationships between the microstructural properties and controlled release features of a series of water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) microcapsulated edible films prepared in thermodynamically incompatible conditions were analyzed. The hydrophilic riboflavin (V(B2)) nano-droplets (13-50 nm) dispersed in α-tocopherol (V(E)) oil phase were embedded in whey protein-polysaccharide (WPs) microcapsules with a shell thickness of 20-56 nm. These microcapsules were then integrated in 103 μm thick WPs films. Different polysaccharides, including gum arabic (GA), low-methoxyl pectin (LMP), and κ-carrageenan (KCG), exhibited different in vitro synergistic effects on the ability of both films to effect enteric controlled release of both vitamins. GA, which showed a strong emulsifying ability, also showed better control of V(E) than other polysaccharides, and the highly charged KCG showed better control of V(B2) than GA did.

Antioxidant capacities of the selenium nanoparticles stabilized by chitosan

BackgroundsSelenium (Se) as one of the essential trace elements for human plays an important role in the oxidation reduction system. But the high toxicity of Se limits its application. In this case, the element Se with zero oxidation state (Se0) has captured our attention because of its low toxicity and excellent bioavailability. However, Se0 is very unstable and easily changes into the inactive form. By now many efforts have been done to protect its stability. And this work was conducted to explore the antioxidant capacities of the stable Se0 nanoparticles (SeNPs) stabilized using chitosan (CS) with different molecular weights (Mws) (CS-SeNPs).ResultsThe different Mws CS-SeNPs could form uniform sphere particles with a size of about 103xa0nm after 30xa0days. The antioxidant tests of the DPPH, ABTS, and lipid peroxide models showed that these CS-SeNPs could scavenge free radicals at different levels. And the 1xa0month old SeNPs held the higher ABTS scavenging ability that the value could reach up to 87.45xa0±xa07.63% and 89.44xa0±xa05.03% of CS(l)-SeNPs and CS(h)-SeNPs, respectively. In the cell test using BABLC-3T3 or Caco-2, the production of the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) could be inhibited in a Se concentration-dependent manner. The topical or oral administration of CS-SeNPs, particularly the Se nanoparticles stabilized with low molecular weight CS, CS(l)-SeNPs, and treated with a 30-day storage process, could efficiently protect glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and prevent the lipofusin formation induced by UV-radiation or d-galactose in mice, respectively. Such effects were more evident in viscera than in skin. The acute toxicity of CS(l)-SeNPs was tenfold lower than that of H2SeO3.ConclusionsOur work could demonstrate the CS-SeNPs hold a lower toxicity and a 30-day storage process could enhance the antioxidant capacities. All CS-SeNPs could penetrate the tissues and perform their antioxidant effects, especially the CS(l)-SeNPs in mice models. What’s more, the antioxidant capacities of CS-SeNPs were more evident in viscera than in skin.

Binding properties of apoferritin to nicotinamide and calcium

The surface binding properties of apoferritin were investigated using two different substances, specifically, non-ionic nicotinamide and calcium. Nicotinamide could bind with apoferritin through hydrogen bonding. The binding location could be estimated by combining the Förster’s non-radiation resonance energy transfer theory model and Molegro Virtual Docker docking software. The surface and internal cavities of apoferritin could be used to bind calcium through electrostatic attraction. Apoferritin monomers were stabilized only when the calcium concentration was lower than 20,000xa0μM, whereas a high calcium concentration could promote serious protein aggregation.