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The formation of complex coacervation using chitosan and octenyl succinic anhydride modified starch (OSA starch) and microencapsulation of algae oil were investigated in this study. The zeta-potential, turbidity and coacervate yield were evaluated as a function of pH and the chitosan- OSA starch mass ratio. The highest coacervate yield was achieved at pH 6.0 with a chitosan to OSA starch ratio of 1:3 (w/w). Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) indicated favorable affinity (Ka = 1.51 × 10 5  M -1 ) between chitosan and OSA starch. The microcapsules yielded an encapsulation efficiency (EE) in the range of 42.8 ± 0.8%- 93.1 ± 1.2%, the loading capacity ranged between 30.4 ± 2.7% and 58.3 ± 1.3%. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) further confirmed the microencapsulation. In comparison with the bulk oil, the microencapsulated algae oil exhibited improved oxidative stability during storage., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Multiporous carbons (MPCs) are prepared using ZnO as a hard template and biomass pyrolysis oil as the carbon source. It is shown that the surface area, pore volume, and mesopore/micropore ratio of the as-prepared MPCs can be easily controlled by adjusting the ZnO/oil ratio. Sulfur/MPC (S/MPC) composite is prepared by blending sulfur powder with the as-prepared MPCs followed by microwave heating at three different powers (100 W/200 W/300 W) for 60 s. The unique micro/mesostructure characteristics of the resulting porous carbons not only endow the S/MPC composite with sufficient available space for sulfur storage, but also provide favorable and efficient channels for Li-ions/electrons transportation. When applied as the electrode material in a lithium-ion battery (LIB), the S/MPC composite shows a reversible capacity (about 500 mAh g -1 ) and a high columbic efficiency (>95%) after 70 cycles. Overall, the method proposed in this study provides a simple and green approach for the rapid production of MPCs and S/MPC composite for high-performance LIBs.

The exacerbating water pollution and water resource shortage pose a great danger to human health and make it imperative to recycle and treat the sewage. In this study, a direct-writing three-dimensional (3D) printing technology was adopted to prepare a 3D sodium alginate (SA)/graphene oxide (GO)/Ag nanoparticle (AgNP) aerogel (SGA), aiming to turn the complex sewage containing oil, silt, and bacteria into clean water depending only on gravity separation. The physicochemical properties and surface structure of the synthesized SGA were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The swelling rate, mechanical properties, antibacterial properties, oil and water separation effect, and durable stability of the filter membrane were also investigated to verify the versatility of the SGA filter. The results showed that GO helped improve the mechanical properties of the printed filter to withstand water impact during the filtration process. The printed filter had a well-designed and multiscale gradient pore structure, which can effectively intercept particles with different sizes to separate the silt from water, and the turbidity of the filtered water can be reduced from 60 to 1 nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU). The presence of SA endowed the printed filter with hydrophilic and oleophobic behaviors, which can effectively separate various kinds of oils from water. The uniform distribution of AgNPs in the filter produced via a facile and green reduction of SA facilitated the efficient bactericidal ability of the printed filter during the filtration process; meanwhile, the lower release concentration of Ag ions ensured drinking safety. What is more, the filter can be easily produced on a large scale and used for different sewage treatment situations with a durable stability of over 30 days. Taken together, the printed SGA filter has a broad application prospect in complex sewage treatment, providing a special solution for sewage treatment in poverty areas.

A highly hydrophobic and self-recoverable sponge was prepared with cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), N-alkylated chitosan (NCS), and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), which was then endowed with hydrophobic properties via simple thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The three-dimensional (3D) interconnected microstructure of the prepared CNF/NCS/PVA sponge was found to have 96% porosity, ultra-low density (16.61-50.91 mg/cm 3 ) and high hydrophobicity (water contact angle of 147°), which can absorb various organic solvents with an absorption capacity of 19.05-51.08 times of its original weight. Besides, the sponge could bear 80% strain and be cyclically compressed 50 times under the strain of 50%. The sponge can effectively separate oil/water mixtures and water-in-oil emulsions with high separation efficiency and fluxes. Moreover, the sponge could keep its good stability in various acidic, saline and mechanical abrasion conditions. The green preparation and good separation efficiency suggest a potential application of recyclable and versatile CNF/NCS/PVA sponges in oil/water separation., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The global food crisis has led to a great deal of attention being given to microalgal oil as a sustainable natural food source. This article provides an overview of the progress and future directions in promoting the commercialization of microalgal edible oils, including microalgal triglyceride accumulation, suitable edible oil culture strategies for high nutritional value, metabolic engineering, production, and downstream technologies. The integration of the production process, biosafety, and the economic sustainability of microalgal oil production are analyzed for their critical roles in the commercialization of microalgal edible oil to provide a theoretical and scientific basis for the comprehensive development and utilization of microalgal edible oil. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Objective: The main goal of the present work was to develop and evaluate nanoemulsions (NEs) containing acyclovir (ACV) for ophthalmic drug delivery. Method: Firstly, component screening was performed by determining ACV solubility in various oils, surfactants, and co-surfactants. Different NE formulations were developed based on pseudo-ternary phase diagrams, and physicochemical assets were evaluated. Selected formulations were subjected to the drug release efficacy, stability studies, and ex-vivo trans-corneal permeation test. The safety of NEs was investigated by the modified Draize test and hen's egg test-chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM). Results: Based on the solubility studies, Tween 20, Triacetin, and Tramsectol ® P were chosen to prepare NE formulations. Developed NEs showed desirable physiochemical properties, including a droplet size of less than 15 nm. Selected formulations (F1 and F2) exhibited a sustained drug release pattern compared to the control group ( P < .001). ACV penetration from F1 and F2 to the excised bovine cornea was 2.85 and 2.9-fold more than the control, respectively. Furthermore, HET-CAM and modified Draize test confirmed that F1 and F2 were safe for ocular administration. Conclusion: Present investigation revealed that ACV-loaded NEs could be effective, and safe platform for ophthalmic delivery of ACV.

Amphoteric amphiphilic compounds, due to their unique properties, may represent a group of safe and biocompatible surface-active agents for effective colloidal stabilization of nanoformulations. For this reason, the aim of this work was to develop and characterize the oil-in-water nanoemulsions based on two betaine-derived surfactants with high biodegradability, i.e., cocamidopropyl betaine and coco-betaine. In the first step, we investigated ternary phase diagrams of surfactant-oil-water systems containing different weight ratios of surfactant and oil, as the betaine-type surfactant entity (S), linoleic acid, or oleic acid as the oil phase (O), and the aqueous phase (W) using the titration-ultrasound approach. All the received nanoemulsion systems were then characterized upon droplets size (dynamic light scattering), surface charge (electrophoretic light scattering), and morphology (transmission electron as well as atomic force microscopy). Thermal and spinning tests revealed the most stable compositions, which were subjected to further kinetic stability analysis, including turbidimetric evaluation. Finally, the backscattering profiles revealed the most promising candidate with a size <200 nm for potential delivery of active agents in the future cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and biomedical applications.

A functional material integrated with a variety of functions is highly desired in wastewater treatment. In this research, a mussel-inspired method of immobilizing silver nanoparticles on the skeleton of a melamine sponge is proposed and applied for water remediation. Ag NPs were reduced in situ and grown on a polydopamine-modified melamine sponge. The catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in the presence of the obtained MS-PDA-Ag was evaluated, and the results demonstrated that the MS-PDA-Ag presented high catalytic reduction activity. In addition, the monolithic MS-PDA-Ag presents excellent reusability with no remarkable decrease in catalytic efficiency after multiple reuses. Owing to the immobilized Ag NPs, the MS-PDA-Ag can also effectively inhibit the growth of bacteria against both gram-positive and gram-negative species, making it possible for bacteria elimination in polluted water. To further explore the possibility of utilizing the MS-PDA-Ag for versatile applications, a superhydrophobic derivative (S-MS-PDA-Ag) was prepared by coating a low-surface-energy substance (octadecanethiol) on the surface of MS-PDA-Ag. The obtained S-MS-PDA-Ag presents the capacities of oil/organics adsorption and water repellence, which can separate the insoluble oil/organics from water. The melamine sponge immobilized with Ag NPs demonstrates prominent catalytic reduction of 4-NP, antibacterial activity and the superhydrophobic derivative presents the capacity of insoluble oil/organics separation from oil-water mixtures, exhibiting high potential in the remediation of polluted water.

Torularhodin is a fungal carotenoid with multiple health benefits. However, the relationship between its physical form and metabolic fate in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), which is essential to its bioavailability and health efficacy, has rarely been studied. Thus, physical forms of torularhodin including nanoemulsion powder (T-EP), capsules of the T-EP by alginate (T-EPA), and solution in MCT oil (T-oil) were used in the study. T-EP was produced through OSA-starch-mediated torularhodin emulsification and spray drying whereas the T-EPA was alginate-based capsules of the T-EP particles that were entrapped in the network structure of the alginate matrix as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The oil digestibility in the simulated small intestine was decreased from T-EP (100%), T-oil (60%) to T-EPA (40%), and the bioaccessibilities were 27%, 15% and 12%, respectively. The in vivo study using mice revealed that the content of torularhodin gradually decreased along with the digestion time in both the stomach and small intestine while a significantly higher colonic accumulation was observed in T-EPA compared to T-oil and T-EP. In vitro fecal fermentation showed that propionate (32 mM) was the predominant metabolite produced by torularhodin in the physical form of T-EPA. Thus, the physical form of torularhodin is a significant contributing factor to its GIT metabolic fate, and a health outcome-oriented design of the physical form of torularhodin or other nutraceuticals is beneficial for the development of functional foods with enhanced health benefits.

The aim of this research was to conjugate chitosan (CT) with lauric acid (LA) and l-carnitine (CNT) to yield a product that is water-soluble at neutral pH and has surface, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities. The resulting CT-LA-CNT is water-soluble at neutral pH, in contrast with CT and CT-LA, which require the aid of acid to become soluble. Concerning antimicrobial activity, for S. aureus, the minimum bactericidal concentration of CT was lower than those of CT-LA or CT-LA-CNT, while the three compounds exhibited similar bactericidal activity against E. coli. CT-LA-CNT was also used to study the oxidative stability of soybean oil in an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion; sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Tween 80 and Span 80 (TS), an emulsifier mixture, were used as controls for comparison. The results showed that CT-LA-CNT was better than SDS and TS at protecting the lipid from oxidation., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the last few decades, there has been an increasing trend for the usage of natural products and their derivatives as green and renewable oil-filed chemicals. Use of these compounds or their derivatives contributes to reducing the use of traditional chemicals, and enhances green chemistry principles. Curcumin (CRC) is one of the most popular natural products and is widely available. The green character, antioxidant action, and low cost of CRC prompt its use in several applications. In the present study, Curcumin was used to synthesize two new amphiphilic ionic liquids (AILs) by reacting with 1,3-propanesultone or bromoacetic acid to produce corresponding sulfonic and carboxylic acids, CRC-PS and CRC-BA, respectively. Following this, the formed CRC-PS and CRC-BA were allowed to react with 12-(2-hydroxyethyl)-15-(4-nonylphenoxy)-3,6,9-trioxa-12-azapentadecane-1,14-diol (HNTA) to form corresponding AILs, GCP-IL and GRB-IL, respectively. The chemical structures, surface tension, interfacial tension, and relative solubility number (RSN) of the synthesized AILs were investigated. The efficiency of GCP-IL and GRB-IL to demulsify water in heavy crude oil (W/O) emulsions was also investigated, where we observed that both GCP-IL and GRB-IL served as high-efficiency demulsifiers and the efficiency increased with a decreased ratio of water in W/O emulsion. Moreover, the data showed an increased efficiency of these AILs with an increased concentration. Among the two AILs, under testing conditions, GCP-IL exhibited a higher efficiency, shorter demulsification time, and cleaner demulsified water.

Aspergillus niger MH078571.1 and A. niger MH079049.1 were identified previously as the two highest Aspergillus niger strains producing lipase. Biochemical characterizations of lipase activity and stability for these two strains were examined and revealed that the optimal temperature is 45 °C at pH 8for A. niger MH078571.1 and 55 °C for MH079049.1. The lipase production of both strains was studied on medium contains waste oil, as a cheap source to reduce the industrial cost, showed that the optimal incubation period for the enzyme production is 3 days. Moreover, an experiment on lipase activates in organic solvents demonstrated that 50% of acetone is the best solvent for the two strains. In the presence of surfactants, 0.1% of tween 80 surfactant showed the best lipase activities. Furthermore, Mg 2+ and Zn 2+ ions enhanced the lipase activity of A. niger MH078571.1, while Na 2+ and Cu 2+ enhanced the enzyme activity of A. niger MH079049.1. Lipase activity was also tested for industrial applications such as integrating it with different detergents. Maximum lipase activity was obtained with 1% of Omo as a powder detergent for both strains. In liquid detergent, 0.1% of Fairy showed maximum lipase activity in A. niger MH078571.1, while the lipase in A. niger MH079049.1 was more effective in 1% of Lux. Moreover, the degradation of natural animal fat with crude enzyme was tested using chicken and sheep fats. The results showed that more than 90% of fats degraded after 5 days of the incubation period., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Running-in is an important and relatively complicated process. The surface morphology prior to running-in affects the surface morphology following the running-in process, which in turn influences the friction and wear characteristics of the workpiece. Therefore, the establishment of a model for running-in surface morphology prediction is important to investigate the process and optimize the surface design. Black-box models based on machine learning have robust complex object simulation performance. In this paper, five common machine learning methods are applied to establish running-in modeling performance based on surface morphology parameters. The support vector machine has the best model performance. The change law of the surface morphology parameters is obtained based on model testing, and the surface morphology optimization is explored. When better oil storage capacity is required, the recommendation is to increase the Sq, Sdq and Sk surface parameter values while setting medium Sdc and Sdr surface parameter values. When a lower coefficient of friction (COF) is required, Sdc and Sdr should be decreased, and Sq and Sdq should be increased. When better support performance is required, Sdc, Sdq, and Sdr should be increased. This article provides a solution to establish a link between surface design and functional performance in the steady wear stage, further filling the gap in quality monitoring of lifecycles., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Hypericin (Hy) is a hydrophobic photosensitizer used in photodynamic therapy for cancer therapeutic. In this study, Hy-loaded oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsions (NEs) were produced by the ultrasonication method combing different biocompatible oils and surfactants to enhance Hy aqueous solubility and bioavailability. Experimental parameters were optimized by the characterization of droplet size, zeta potential, and physicochemical properties. In vitro studies based on the release profile, cytotoxicity, cell morphology, and Hy intracellular accumulation were assayed. Hy at 100 mg L -1 was incorporated into the low viscosity (~0.005 Pa s) NEs with spherical droplets averaging 20-40 nm in size and polydispersity index <0.02. Hy release from the NE was significantly higher (4-fold) than its suspension (p < 0.001). The NEs demonstrated good physical stability during storage at 5 °C for at least six months. The Hy-loaded NEs exhibited an IC50 value 6-fold lower than Hy suspension during PDT against breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7). Cell microscopy imaging confirmed the increased cytotoxic effects of Hy-loaded NEs, showing damaged and apoptotic cells. Confocal laser scanning microscopy evidenced greater Hy delivery through NE into MCF-7 cells followed by improved intracellular ROS generation. Our results suggest that the Hy-loaded NEs can improve hypericin efficacy and assist Hy-PDT's preclinical development as a cancer treatment., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Oil resistant thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) were prepared using mung bean thermoplastic starch (MTPS) blending with rubbers and sericin. Sericin was incorporated into MTPS as a compatibilizer. MTPS with sericin (MTPSS) was blended with natural rubber (NR) and epoxidized NR (ENR). Sericin at 5% improved the tensile strength (10 MPa), elastic recovery (52%) and morphology of the MTPSS/ENR blend. The mechanical properties, elastic recovery and morphology of the MTPSS5/NR blend were improved by the addition of ENR. The MTPSS/ENR showed palm (28%) and motor oils (8%) swelling resistance because of the hydrophilicity of MTPS and high polarity of ENR. The MTPSS/ENR/NR showed gasoline swelling resistance (104%) because of the hydrophilicity of MTPS and low polarity of NR. FTIR confirmed a reaction between the -NH groups of sericin and the epoxy groups of ENR. This reaction improved the compatibility, mechanical properties, elastic recovery, morphology and oils swelling resistance of the blends., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Rationale: Phospholipids are important components of cell membranes that are linked to several beneficial health effects such as increasing plasma HDL cholesterol levels, improving cognitive abilities and inhibiting growth of colon cancer. The role of phospholipid (PL) regioisomers in all these health effects is, however, largely not studied due to lack of analytical methods., Methods: Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in negative mode produces structurally informative fragment ions resulting from differential dissociation of fatty acids (FAs) from the sn-1 and sn-2 positions, primarily high-abundance [RCOO] - ions. The fragment ion ratios obtained with different ratios of regiopure phospholipid reference compounds were used to construct calibration curves, which allow determination of regioisomeric ratios of an unknown sample. The method was developed using both direct infusion mass spectrometry (MS) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HILIC-MS)., Results: The produced calibration curves have high coefficients of determination (R 2  >0.98) and the fragment ion ratios in replicate analyses were very consistent. A test mixture containing 60/40% ratios of all available regioisomer pairs was analyzed to test and validate the functionality of the calibration curves. The results were accurate and reproducible. However, regioisomeric quantification of certain chromatographically overlapping compounds is restricted by the relatively wide window in precursor ion selection of the MS instrument used., Conclusions: This method establishes a framework for analysis of phospholipid regioisomers. Specific regioisomers can be quantified using the existing data, and method development will continue with improving chromatographic separation and exploring the fragmentation patterns and efficiencies of different PL classes and FA combinations, ultimately to refine this method for routine analysis of natural fats and oils., (© 2021 The Authors. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Cold plasma as a green and expeditious tool was used to modify whey protein isolate (WPI) in order to improve its emulsion capability. The emulsion-based oleogels with antibacterial functions were then constructed using the modified WPI. The modified WPI treated with cold plasma under 10 s at 50 W power significantly lowered the oil-water interface tension. Meanwhile, the fluorescence intensity and the α-helix content of WPI reduced with the cold plasma treatment. It is noted that SEM results showed that the treated WPI had more regular dendritic structures. Such modified WPI was applied to construct oleogels loaded with thyme essential oil and coconut oil, which showed a porous uniform network structure and excellent antimicrobial activities against E.coli. As a proof of concept, this study demonstrated cold plasma could be as a new facile tool to modify food-sourced proteins and expected to enlarge their applications in oleogel productions., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Keratin/cellulose cryogels were successfully fabricated using chicken feathers (CF) and cardboard (C) from environmental waste for the first time, to be exploited in oil/solvent absorption. The keratin/cellulose-based composites were obtained by combining the dissolution of CF and C waste in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (Bmim - Cl + ) ionic liquid green solvent via regeneration, simply by the freeze-drying method. The characterization analysis of the synthesized keratin/cellulose-based composites was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetry. The as-prepared cryogel can absorb various oils and organic solvents. Moreover, its sorption capacity can reach up to 6.9-17.7 times the weight of the initial cryogel. This kind of CF/C cryogel revealed good and fast absorption efficiency. It could also be reused by simple absorption/distillation and absorption/desorption methods. Through the kinetic analysis, it was found that the pseudo-second-order model was more appropriate for the keratin/cellulose cryogel oil absorption process. Besides, owing to its low cost, good absorption capacity, and excellent reusability, this cryogel has potential for spill cleanup of oils and organic solvents., (© 2020. Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The present work aims to fabricate the genipin-crosslinked alkaline soluble polysaccharides-whey protein isolate conjugates (G-AWC) to stabilize W/O/W emulsions for encapsulation and delivery of grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSP). After crosslinking reaction, the molecular weight was increased and surface hydrophobicity was decreased. Then, the G-AWC and polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR, a lipophilic emulsifier) were employed to prepare a GSP-loaded W/O/W emulsion with the addition of gelatin and sucrose in W 1 phase via a two-step procedure. Creamed emulsion could be fabricated at W 1 /O volume fraction (Φ) of 10%-70% and further increased Φ to 75% or even up to 90% could obtain gel-like emulsion with notably elastic behaviors. In the W 1 /O/W 2 emulsion with Φ of 80%, the encapsulation efficiency (EE) of GSP reached up to 95.86%, and decreased by ca. 10% after a week of storage. Moreover, the encapsulated GSP in the emulsion showed a remarkably higher bioaccessibility (40.72%) compared to free GSP (13.11%) in the simulated gastrointestinal digestion. These results indicated that G-AWC-stabilized W/O/W emulsions could be an effective carrier to encapsulate water-soluble bioactive compounds with enhanced stability and bioaccessibility., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Corn starch (CS), octenyl succinic anhydride modified corn starch (OSCS) and shells (OSC s ) microgels have been prepared using water-in-oil (W/O) inverse microemulsions for loading and releasing of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The structural and morphological properties of CS, OSCS, and OSC s microgels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The strong hydrogen bonds between starch molecules in the W/O system and interplay between hydroxyl groups of EGCG and oxygen atoms of starch microgels were formed. OSC s microgel showed low average particle size and weak thermal stability with an irregular shape and a typical V-type crystalline structure. Encapsulation efficiency (EE) and clearance rate of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) for EGCG were ranged between 41.78 and 63.89% and 75.53-85.37%, respectively, when absorbed into OSCS and OSC s microgels, the values which were higher than that of CS microgel. Further, OS starch microgels (particularly OSC s ) modulated the slow release of EGCG into simulated gastrointestinal tract conditions and therefore could be proposed as an encapsulating agent for loading polyphenols., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mechanical properties of biopolymer films can be a limitation for their application as packaging. Soybean straw crystalline nanocelluloses (NC) can act as reinforcement load to improve these material properties, and W/O/W double emulsion (DE) as encapsulating bioactive agents can contribute to produce active packaging. DE droplets were loaded with pitanga leaf (Eugenia uniflora L.) hydroethanolic extract. The mechanical, physicochemical, and barrier properties, and the microstructure of gelatin and/or chitosan films incorporated with NC or NC/DE were determined by classical methods. Film antioxidant activities were determined by ABTS and DPPH methods. The incorporation of NC/DE in gelatin and/or chitosan films (NC/DE films) changed the morphology of these films, which presented more heterogeneous air-side surfaces and cross-sections. They presented rougher topographies, notably greater resistance and stiffness, higher barrier properties to UV/Vis light and higher antioxidant activity than the NC films. Moisture content, solubility in water and water vapor permeability decreased due to the presence of DE. Overall, the NC/DE films improved all properties, when compared to the properties of NC films or those of films with only DE, from a previously published study. In spite of not having antimicrobial activity against the studied bacteria, NC/DE films did display a great antioxidant activity., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Oil spill accidents and oily wastewater discharged by petrochemical industries have severely wasted water resources and damaged the environment. The use of special wetting materials to separate oil and water is efficient and environment-friendly. Cellulose is the most abundant renewable resource and has natural advantages in removing pollutants from oily wastewater. The application and modification of cellulose as special wetting materials have attracted considerable research attention. Therefore, we summarized cellulose-based superlipophilic/superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic/superoleophobic materials exhibiting special wetting properties for oil/water separation. The treatment mechanism, preparation technology, treatment effect, and representative projects of oil-bearing wastewater are discussed. Moreover, cellulose-based intelligent-responsive materials for application to oil/water separation and the removal of other pollutants from oily wastewater have also been summarized. The prospects and potential challenges of all the materials have been highlighted., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Two-faced characteristics and performance of materials driven by asymmetric physical or chemical properties exist in Janus hybrid materials which show synergistic and improved properties for a variety of applications. Here, we report a facile synthesis of Janus hybrid sustainable cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) sponge with asymmetric wettability and strong mechanical property for excellent separation efficiency of oil-water emulsions. Briefly, the CNF Janus hybrid sponge was fabricated by freeze-drying of two separate CNF suspensions into one, each prepared separately by introducing CNFs in methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) or 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) for hydrophobic or hydrophilic performance, respectively. The sponge demonstrated satisfactory mechanical stability with an excellent recovery from 80% compressive strain and high pore tortuosity. When employed for oil-water separation, the Janus hybrid sponge could selectively be used to collect water or oil by just switching its side facing the oil-water mixture feed via unidirectional gravity-assisted separation, with recyclability. The fabrication of such Janus hybrid sponge is one of the many approaches for utilizing nanofibers in structurally adaptive, self-supported asymmetric membrane structures in a 3D network., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We report the microencapsulation of oil soluble vitamins (A, D and E) using a one pot ultrasonic process and raw egg white proteins as a shell material. Green tea catechin/iron complex coating method was further developed to impart UV filtering property to the microcapsules in order to protect the encapsulated nutrients from photodegradation. The microcapsules showed antibacterial properties and long shelf-life. The encapsulated vitamins were protected from degradation upon heating, UV irradiation, simulated storage/transit and cooking processes. The in-vitro digestion study showed that functional vitamin D can be potentially released in the gastrointestinal tract improving vitamin D availability by more than 2-fold compared to the free vitamin. The vitamin D microcapsules were highly stable and maintained their microstructures once incorporated into staple food products. The low-cost egg white shell encapsulated vitamins can improve the nutritional value of staple food products to combat maternal and child malnutrition., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Hierarchical crystals with short diffusion path, conventional microcrystals and nanocrystals of ZSM-5 zeolites were used for biodiesel production from waste frying oils and were assessed for their catalytic activity in regard to their pore structure and acidic properties. Produced zeolites were characterized using XRD, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, SEM, TEM, X-ray fluorescence, and FTIR. Pore size effect on molecular diffusion limitation was assessed by Thiele modulus calculations and turnover frequencies (TOF) were used to discuss the correlation between acidic character and catalytic performance of the zeolites. Owing to the enhanced accessibility and mass transfer of triglycerides and free fatty acids to the elemental active zeolitic structure, the catalytic performance of nanosponge and nanosheet hierarchical zeolites was the highest. A maximum yield of 48.29% was reached for the transesterification of waste frying oils (WFOs) using HZSM-5 nanosheets at 12:1 methanol to WFOs molar ratio, 180 °C, 10 wt % catalyst loading, and 4 h reaction time. Although HZSM-5 nanosponges achieved high conversions, these more hydrophilic zeolites did not function according to their entire acidic strength in comparison to HZSM-5 nanosheets. NSh-HZSM5 catalytic performance was still high after 4 consecutive cycles as a result of the zeolite regeneration.

Esomeprazole with chiral sulfoxides structure is used to treat gastric ulcer disease. Soybean pod shell peroxidase (SPSP) is a peroxidase extracted from soybean pods shells which are one of the most abundant natural resources in the world. In the production of chiral sulfoxides catalyzed by SPSP, it is very important to establish the reaction kinetic model and explore the reaction mechanism for the development of the process, however, there is no report on the establishment of the model. Asymmetric sulfoxidation reactions catalyzed by SPSP in water-in-oil microemulsions were carried out, and the King-Altman approach was used to establish a kinetic model. A yield of 91% and e.e. value of 96% for esomeprazole were obtained at the activity of SPSP of 3200 U ml -1 and 50 °C for 5 h. The mechanism with a two-electron reduction of SPSP-I is accompanied with a single-electron transfer to SPSP-I and nonenzymatic reactions, indicating that three concomitant sub-mechanisms contribute to the asymmetric oxidation involving five enzymatic and two nonenzymatic reactions, which can represent the asymmetric sulfoxidation of organic sulfides to form enantiopure sulfoxides. With 5.44% of the average relative deviation, a kinetic model fitting experimental data was developed. The enzymatic reactions may follow ping-pong mechanism with substrate inhibition of H 2 O 2 and product inhibition of esomeprazole, while nonenzymatic reactions follow a power law. Those results indicate that SPSP with a lower cost and higher thermal stability may be used as an effective substitute for horseradish peroxidase., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Encapsulation materials play an important role in many applications including wearable electronics, medical devices, underwater robotics, marine skin tagging system, food packaging, and energy conversation and storage devices. To date, all the encapsulation materials, including polymer layers and inorganic materials, are solid materials. These solid materials suffer from limited barrier lifetimes due to pinholes, cracks, and nanopores or from complicated fabrication processes and limited stretchability for interfacing with complex 3D surfaces. This paper reports a solution to this material challenge by demonstrating bioinspired oil-infused slippery surfaces with excellent waterproof property for the first time. A water vapor transmission test shows that locking a thin layer of oil on the silicone elastomer improves the water vapor barrier performance by three orders of magnitude. Accelerated lifetime tests suggest robust water barrier characteristics that approach 226 days at 37 °C even under severe mechanical damage. A combination of temperature- and thickness-dependent experimental measurements and reaction-diffusion modeling reveals the key waterproof property. In addition to serving as a barrier to water, the oil-infused surface demonstrates an attractive ion barrier property. All these exceptional properties suggest the potential applications of slippery surfaces as encapsulation materials for medical devices, underwater electronics, and many others.

To prepare a nutritional supplement using silkworm pupae oil (SPO) as a feedstock, a microfluidic reactor with a smart hydrogel immobilized lipase was first constructed to reduce the relative content of palmitic acid at sn-1,3 and improve the nutritional function. The effects of flow rate, reaction temperature, and substrate molar ratio were investigated. In vitro digestion and pH-stat models were employed to analyze the digestion feature after the modification of SPO, while HPLC-ELSD, zeta potential, DSC, and TGA were used to evaluate the nutritional function. The relative content of "OOO" and "OPO" type triglycerides was increased by 49.48% and 107.67%, and that of palmitic acid at sn-1,3 was decreased by 49.61% in 10 s. After the verification of the in vitro digestion model, the fatty acid release rate of the modified SPO was significantly improved by 22.07%, indicating the nutritional function improvement of SPO. Therefore, the nutritional function of SPO has been improved successfully by the application of a microchannel reactor with photo-immobilized lipase, which could set a reference for the utilization of insect oil resources.

This study investigated the effect of ultrasonic treatments on the properties and stability of the water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion of Pulicaria jaubertii (PJ) extract. The study used different ultrasound powers (0, 100, 200, 400, and 600 W) at two storage degrees (4 and 25 °C) for 28 days. The findings showed that the emulsifying properties were improved to different extents after ultrasonic treatments. The treatment at 600 W showed optimum particle size, polydispersity index, emulsifying property, viscosity properties, and release of total phenolic content than the other powers. However, the ultrasonic power of 400 W gave positive effects on creaming index and antioxidant release compared to 600 W. The emulsion stored at 4 °C presented higher stability than that stored at 25 °C during the 28 days of storage. Microscopically, the increase in sonication power up to 600 W reduced particle size and decreased flocculation, thus resulted in stable emulsions, which is desirable for its applications in food systems., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Attributed to low cost, renewable, and high availability, cellulose-based aerogels are desirable materials for various applications. However, mechanical robustness and functionalization remain huge challenges. Herein, we synthesized a recoverable, anisotropic cellulose nanofiber (CNF) / chitosan (CS) aerogel via directional freeze casting and chemical cross-link process. The chitosan was performed as strength polymers to prohibits the shrinkage and retains the structural stability of 3D cellulose nanofiber skeleton, endowing the composite aerogel with satisfactory deformation recovery ability (without loss under 60 % stress cycled 100 times). The CNF/CS composite aerogel has ultralow density (∼8.4 mg/cm 3 ), high temperature-invariant (above 300 °C) and high porosity (98 %). The CNF/CS aerogel demonstrates anisotropic thermal insulation properties with low thermal conductivity (28 mWm -1  K -1 in rational direction and 36 mW m -1  K -1 in the axial direction). Moreover, the composite aerogel (water contact angle ∼148°) exhibited outstanding oil/water selectivity and high absorption capacity (82-253 g/g) for various oils and organic solvents. Therefore, the multifunctional CNF/CS composite aerogels are potential materials for thermal management and oil absorption applications., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

An emulsion is a biphasic dosage form comprising of dispersed phase containing droplets that are uniformly distributed into a surrounding liquid which forms the continuous phase. An emulsifier is added at the interface of two immiscible liquids to stabilize the thermodynamically unstable emulsion. Various types of emulsions such as water-in-oil (w-o), oil-in-water (o-w), microemulsions, and multiple emulsions are used for delivering certain drugs in the body. Water (aqueous) phase is commonly used for encapsulating proteins and several other drugs in water-in-oil-in-water (w-o-w) emulsion technique. But this method has posed certain problems such as decreased stability, burst release, and low entrapment efficiency. Thus, a novel "solid-in-oil-in-water" (s-o-w) emulsion system was developed for formulating certain drugs, probiotics, proteins, antibodies, and tannins to overcome these issues. In this method, the active ingredient is encapsulated as a solid and added to an oil phase, which formed a solid-oil dispersion. This dispersion was then mixed with water to form a continuous phase for enhancing the drug absorption. This article focuses on the various studies done to investigate the effectiveness of formulations prepared as solid-oil-water emulsions in comparison to conventional water-oil-water emulsions. A summary of the results obtained in each study is presented in this article. The s-o-w emulsion technique may become beneficial in near future as it has shown to improve the stability and efficacy of the entrapped active ingredient.

Growth factors (GFs) are indispensable in regenerative medicine because of their high effectiveness. However, as GFs degenerate easily, the development of a suitable carrier with improved stability for GFs is necessary. In this study, we developed a gel-in-oil (G/O) emulsion technology for the transdermal delivery of growth factors. Nanogel particles prepared with heparin-immobilized gelatin that can bind growth factors were dispersed in isopropyl myristate. The particle size of the G/O emulsion could be controlled by changing the surfactant concentration, volume ratio of the water phase to the oil phase, and gelatin concentration. In vitro skin penetration studies showed better penetration through the stratum corneum of fluorescent proteins containing G/O emulsions than of the aqueous solution of GF. Similarly, an in vivo study showed an angiogenesis-inducing effect after transdermal application of GF-immobilized G/O emulsion. Angiogenesis in mice was confirmed owing to both an increased blood vessel network and higher hemoglobin content in the blood. Therefore, the G/O emulsion could be a promising carrier for GFs with better stability and can effectively deliver GFs at the target site., (Copyright © 2021 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Fabrication of food-grade water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions without surfactant, as the primary substitutes of trans-fat and saturated fat, was still a significant challenge in food science. A facial method has been adopted to fabricate W/O emulsions at 20 °C. The obtained emulsion had long-time stability, and there was no apparent phase separation or oiling-out after 60 days of storage. In this system, beeswax served as a stabilizer for both oleogels and oleogel-based emulsions. The sol-gel melting temperature of the oleogel was 37 ± 0.5 °C by regulating beeswax content to 4% w/w, and then the oleogel was used to fabricate W/O emulsion with the droplet diameter of around 9 μm. Thermo-reversible and thixotropic properties of oleogels were both retained for emulsions. Furthermore, both oleogels and oleogel-based emulsions had compact gel-like structures. The self-emulsifying W/O emulsions without surfactant would have great potential applications in food industry, pharmaceutical industry and feed industry., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The role of protein-polysaccharide interactions and their mixtures has been a vital factor affecting the formation and stability of food emulsions. Okara protein (OP), which is extracted from the by-product of soybean processing, has received much attention because of its abundant sources and potential attributes with respect to food formulation. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), a well-known food-grade polysaccharide additive, has been widely utilized in the protein-polysaccharide system, whereas, among the proteins, the role of OP has not yet been explored., Results: The present study first assessed the ζ-potential and hydrodynamic diameter of aqueous mixtures containing OP (1.0 wt%) and CMC (0-0.5 wt%), followed by the investigation of OP-CMC mixtures stabilized O/W emulsions. As CMC increased, oil droplet size, surface protein adsorption, apparent viscosity and storage modulus increased, whereas the loss tangent decreased., Conclusion: CMC resulted in emulsion destabilization compared to emulsions without CMC, whereas a higher concentration of CMC promoted emulsion stability against creaming for emulsions in the presence of CMC. The results provide information with respect to OP and CMC being incorporated into food formulations and also strengthen our understanding of the related mechanism, in addition to facilitating the further utilization of OP. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Effects of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) and moisture on the solubility of hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants were evaluated in medium-chain triacylglycerol (MCT) by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) reactivity. Next, we assessed the oxidative stability of antioxidant-containing corn oil depending on the presence of DOPC. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of DOPC decreased when the moisture content was increased from 300 to 495 mg/kg oil and gradually increased when the moisture was further increased to 2122 mg/kg oil. As the DOPC concentration increased, the DPPH reactivity of ascorbyl palmitate in the control MCT increased by 10.23-fold, whereas that of the ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol was slightly affected both by the DOPC and moisture content. Presence of DOPC significantly increased the oxidative stability of ascorbyl palmitate-containing corn oil (p < 0.05), whereas these synergistic antioxidant effects were not observed in ascorbic acid-or α-tocopherol-containing corn oil. In conclusion, DOPC displays a synergistic antioxidant effect with ascorbyl palmitate in bulk oil., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The study was aimed to investigate characteristics of emulsion containing pectin, wax, maltodextrin, and carotenoid enriched flaxseed oil by means of stability, rheology, particle size, and low-resolution of time domain nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry measurements. Emulsions were prepared with different carotenoid enriched-flaxseed oil concentrations (6%, 9%, 12%, and 15% w/w) and ratios of maltodextrin/(pectin+wax) (3:1, 6:1, 9:1, and 12:1 g/g). Percentage separation of 12% oil 12:1 ratio of maltodextrin/(pectin+wax) (g/g), 15% oil 9:1, and 12:1 ratios of maltodextrin/(pectin+wax) (g/g) of emulsions was determined as 2.0 ± 0.5%, 4.0 ± 0.5%, and 8.0 ± 0.5%, respectively. No separation was observed in other emulsions. The rheological behavior of emulsions was best described by the power law model. When the concentration of pectin+wax in the emulsion decreased, the n values of the emulsions were close to 1, indicating that the fluid behavior approaches Newtonian behavior. Moreover, the emulsion viscosity was observed to increase when pectin and wax concentrations in the emulsion increased. The increase in pectin and wax concentration in emulsions with oil contents of 6% and 9% resulted in a reduction in the average particle size. However, if the oil concentration in the emulsions was 12% or more, the increase in the ratio of maltodextrin/(pectin+wax) (g/g) led to a decrease in the average particle size. NMR transverse relaxation times (T 2 ) of emulsions were measured and results showed that T 2 values for almost all formulations decreased when the ratio of maltodextrin/(pectin+wax) reduced. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Study results demonstrated that the combination of pectin and wax together with maltodextrin as a filling material could be an alternative way to improve emulsion stability. Findings of this study provided useful guidance for the future studies about the potential use of pectin, wax, and maltodextrin as wall material in encapsulation of oils or in producing edible films., (© 2021 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

The potency of oil-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K) in fortified foods can be improved by understanding how food matrices impact their bioavailability. In this review, the major food matrix effects influencing the bioavailability of oil-soluble vitamins are highlighted: oil content, oil composition, particle size, interfacial properties, and food additives. Droplet size and aggregation state in the human gut impact vitamin bioavailability by modulating lipid digestion, vitamin release, and vitamin solubilization. Vitamins in small isolated oil droplets typically have a higher bioavailability than those in large or aggregated ones. Emulsifiers, stabilizers, or texture modifiers can therefore affect bioavailability by influencing droplet size or aggregation. The dimensions of the hydrophobic domains in mixed micelles depends on lipid type: if the domains are too small, vitamin bioavailability is low. Overall, this review highlights the importance of carefully designing food matrices to improve vitamin bioavailability., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Egg yolk oils (EYO) is a traditional Chinese medicine obtained from Gallus gallus domesticus Brisson, which has been used to treat inflammatory related diseases such as cheilitis, ulceration and acute anal fissure. However, the detailed anti-inflammatory mechanism of EYO is still unknown., Aim of the Study: The anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of EYO were investigated in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α induced Caco-2 cells., Materials and Methods: EYO was obtained by direct-heat extraction (HE), ethanol extraction (EE) and petroleum ether extraction (PE), respectively. Fatty acid compositions of three EYO were measured by gas chromatography (GC). Cell viability, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), transcriptome, RT-PCR and Western blotting were also performed., Results: Fatty acid compositions of three EYO were different with varied extraction methods. EYO significantly reduced interleukin (IL)-8 secretion. EYO exerted anti-inflammatory effect via coordinating regulation of Nrf2/NF-κB pathways based on the results of transcriptome, Q-PCR and Western blotting. In detail, PE and HE inhibited the NF-κB pathway, whereas EE exerted anti-inflammatory activity via the Nrf2/NF-κB pathways., Conclusions: The aforementioned results showed the anti-inflammatory mechanism of EYO. These findings might be beneficial to clinical applications of EYO., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The exploration of nonhazardous nanoparticles to fabricate a template-driven superhydrophobic surface is of great ecological importance for oil/water separation in practice. In this work, nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HAp) with good biocompatibility was easily developed from discarded oyster shells and well incorporated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to create a superhydrophobic surface on a polyurethane (PU) sponge using a facile solution-immersion method. The obtained nano-HAp coated PU (nano-HAp/PU) sponge exhibited both excellent oil/water selectivity with water contact angles of over 150° and higher absorption capacity for various organic solvents and oils than the original PU sponge, which can be assigned to the nano-HAp coating surface with rough microstructures. Moreover, the superhydrophobic nano-HAp/PU sponge was found to be mechanically stable with no obvious decrease of oil recovery capacity from water in 10 cycles. This work presented that the oyster shell could be a promising alternative to superhydrophobic coatings, which was not only beneficial to oil-containing wastewater treatment, but also favorable for sustainable aquaculture.

Traditional functional ingredients, such as conventional emulsifiers (surfactants, animal-derived proteins), and synthetic antioxidants may become obsolete in the development of clean-label, plant-based, sustainable food emulsions. Previously, we showed that tailor-made antioxidant-loaded particles can yield both physically and oxidatively stable emulsions, and we expected that natural particles with related properties could also show these beneficial effects. Here, we investigated Pickering emulsions prepared with natural plant particulate materials. Particles that showed weak aggregation in acidic aqueous media, indicating a relatively hydrophobic surface, were able to physically stabilize oil-in-water emulsions, through either Pickering stabilization (powders of matcha tea, spinach leaves, and spirulina cake), or an increase in viscosity (pineapple fibers). Matcha tea and spinach leaf particle-stabilized emulsions were highly stable to lipid oxidation, as compared to emulsions stabilized by conventional emulsifiers. Taking this dual particle functionality as a starting point for emulsion design is, in our view, essential to achieve clean-label food emulsions., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to examine the effect of whey protein isolate-low acyl gellan gum (WPI-GG) conjugate on the physicochemical properties and digestibility of β-carotene-loaded oil-in-water emulsions. The WPI-GG conjugate-stabilized emulsions had lower droplet sizes with more homogenous distribution, more negative surface charge, and higher interfacial protein concentration and viscosity, compared to those stabilized by WPI-GG mixture and WPI. The emulsion droplets coated by the conjugate were also generally more stable to environmental stresses (i.e., storage, pH changes, ionic strength, freeze-thaw cycles, and thermal treatment) along with higher β-carotene retention than other systems. The stability to droplet aggregation during in vitro digestion was remarkably increased for the conjugate-stabilized emulsion. However, the β-carotene bioaccessibility was significantly affected when the conjugate was used to stabilize the emulsions, likely due to the thick interfacial layer, high viscosity, and negative charge of the corresponding emulsions that could inhibit droplet digestion and mixed micelle formation., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Microalgal biotechnology has increased rapidly owing to have high value bioactive compounds and numerous consumer products that can be utilized from microalgae. With the development of novel cultivation and processing methods, microalgal biotechnology can meet the high demands of food, energy and pharmaceutical industries. In this context, especially for food and pharmaceutical applications, encapsulation of microalgal bioactive compounds is carried out to protect the compound from oxidation and degradation. In this study, a microalgal production process was carried out and microalgal oil loaded bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticle production using glucose as cross-linking agent was investigated. The influences of different process parameters such as initial BSA concentration, glucose concentration and desolvation temperature on the size of BSA nanoparticles were investigated to achieve very small size nanoparticles. Furthermore, data obtained from the experiments were assessed statistically to model the process. It was found that the obtained nanoparticles showed spherical shape with the mean particle size of around 200-300 nm with zeta potential of about - 23 mV. Also, stability test showed that, there was not any change in particle size for one month storage and nanoparticle structure enhance the protection of microalgae oil from oxidation. At last, antibacterial effect of nanoparticles was presented against E. coli ATCC 8739 and L. monocytogenes ATCC 13932. In here, we demonstrated a microalgal bioprocess which consists of microalgae production to obtain microalgal oil riched in bioactive and, encapsulation of microalgal oil to protect it from environmental conditions.

Objective: Nicotinamide, also known as niacinamide, is a water-soluble vitamin that is used to prevent and treat acne and pellagra. It is often found in water-based skin care cosmetics because of its high water solubility. Nicotinamide is a small molecule with a molar mass of 122.1 g/mol. However, it has a hydrophilic nature that becomes an obstacle when it penetrates through the skin. The topmost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, acts as a strong hydrophobic barrier for such hydrophilic molecules. The oil-based formulations are expected to enhance the transdermal delivery efficiency of nicotinamide., Methods: We have developed oil-based microemulsion formulations composed of a squalane vehicle. Monoolein was used as an emulsifier that has a potential to enhance the nicotinamide delivery through the stratum corneum., Results: Because the mean size of the emulsions measured by dynamic light scattering was 20.9 ± 0.4 nm, the microemulsion formulation was stable under the long-term storage. Monoolein acted as a skin penetration enhancer, and it effectively enabled the penetration of nicotinamide through human abdominal skin, compared with nicotinamide in a phosphate-buffered saline solution. The flux was increased 25-fold. Microscopic imaging revealed that the hydrophilic bioactive compounds penetrated through the intercellular spaces in the epidermis., Conclusion: The monoolein-based microemulsion was transparent and stable, suggesting that it is a promising formulation for a transdermal nicotinamide delivery., (© 2021 Society of Cosmetic Scientists and Societe Francaise de Cosmetologie.)

The initial water content was closely related to the oil absorption and properties of fried food. The effects of convective air drying (D) and ultrasound combined convective air drying (UD) pretreatment on the properties and oil absorption of potato chips have been investigated. The oil contents were 48.48 ± 1.42% and 39.78 ± 3.08% for control samples (without D and UD pretreatment) and ultrasound treated samples (without D pretreatment). When the mass loss of samples was reached the proportion of quality to without drying samples quality 80%, 50%, and 20%, the oil contents of D pretreated samples decreased by 12.67%, 28.24% and 62.07%, respectively, and the oil contents of UD pretreated samples decreased by 7.42%, 24.10% and 51.76% (compared to the ultrasound pretreated samples ), respectively. By applying ultrasound before frying, more cracks and pores were exhibited of fried potato chips. After drying process, potato chips exhibited less disruption of cell structure and less deformation of cell irregular. The hardness of the D and UD pretreated potato chips increased with the extension of drying. The FTIR analysis stated the formation of amylose-lipid complexes. This research could contribute to providing evidence for the development and application of the pretreatment strategies., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The antioxidant cut-off theory details the importance of fine-tuning antioxidant hydrophobicity to optimize antioxidant effectiveness for a given food system; however, previous research has utilized synthetic antioxidant homologues which fail to align with the food industry's demand for natural ingredients. Alkylresorcinols represent a natural homologous series of phenolipid antioxidants. The antioxidant activities of individual alkylresorcinol homologues were investigated in bulk oils and oil-in-water emulsions. In oils, antioxidant activity decreased as alkyl chain length increased and there was no effect on rate of loss. In emulsions, optimum antioxidant activity was observed at intermediate alkyl chain length (C21:0) and longer homologues were lost more rapidly. Radical scavenging capacity decreased as alkyl chain length increased but alkylresorcinols were unable to chelate iron. This suggests that intrinsic properties (e.g. radical scavenging capacity) are responsible for the antioxidant activity of alkylresorcinols in oils while physicochemical phenomena (e.g. partitioning) drive antioxidant activity of alkylresorcinols in emulsions., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Bioactive compounds in algae have chain rings that protect the tissue from chemical damage and disease symptoms. In addition, algal bioactive agents have the ability to stimulate the immune system, protective and therapeutic effects against many diseases, including various types of cancers, coronary heart disease, premature aging, and arthritis. These bioactive compounds also have antioxidant, anticoagulant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is very important to encapsulate these algal compounds for preserving bioactive properties. Two of the most efficient methods used for encapsulation are electrospraying and microemulsion techniques. Although electrospraying is a novel technique to produce nanoparticles in recent years, microemulsion is more conventional method compared with electrospraying. In this study, Chlorella protothecoides oil was encapsulated by using sodium alginate and chitosan biopolymers, and the effects of production parameters of electrospraying and microemulsion methods on the particle size and loading efficiency were investigated. Statistical modeling of critical parameters for particle sizing in microemulsion method and electrospraying technique, which is a novel approach to obtain microalgal oil-loaded nanoparticles, was also presented. It was seen that electrospraying is suitable for obtaining smaller nanoparticles (123.9-610 nm), homogeneous distribution, and higher oil loading efficiency (60%-77%) compared with microemulsion method (756.9-1128.2 nm and 57%-73%)., (© 2020 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.)

The use of ultrasound to generate mini-emulsions (50 nm to 1 μm in diameter) and nanoemulsions (mean droplet diameter < 200 nm) is of great relevance in drug delivery, particle synthesis and cosmetic and food industries. Therefore, it is desirable to develop new strategies to obtain new formulations faster and with less reagent consumption. Here, we present a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microfluidic device that generates oil-in-water or water-in-oil mini-emulsions in continuous flow employing ultrasound as the driving force. A Langevin piezoelectric attached to the same glass slide as the microdevice provides enough power to create mini-emulsions in a single cycle and without reagents pre-homogenization. By introducing independently four different fluids into the microfluidic platform, it is possible to gradually modify the composition of oil, water and two different surfactants, to determine the most favorable formulation for minimizing droplet diameter and polydispersity, employing less than 500 µL of reagents. It was found that cavitation bubbles are the most important mechanism underlying emulsions formation in the microchannels and that degassing of the aqueous phase before its introduction to the device can be an important factor for reduction of droplet polydispersity. This idea is demonstrated by synthetizing solid polymeric particles with a narrow size distribution starting from a mini-emulsion produced by the device., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this work, the stability of CP-TA complex stabilized emulsion was first characterized. It was found that the peak thickness, Turbiscan Stability Index (TSI) and droplet size of CP-TA complex stabilized emulsion gradually decreased with increasing content of TA, indicating the gradually enhanced physical stability of emulsion, which was attributed to the gradually decreased interfacial tension, zeta potential and increased viscosity of CP-TA complex. Moreover, the oxidative stability of CP-TA complex stabilized emulsion gradually enhanced with increasing of TA content due to the antioxidant activity of TA. XRD and FTIR results suggested that the interaction between CP and TA gradually enhanced with increasing content of TA in CP-TA complex, leading to the formation of larger CP-TA clusters shown in AFM results. In conclusion, the presence of tannic acid (TA) enhanced the physical and oxidative stability of chitin particles-tannic acid (CP-TA) complex stabilized oil in water emulsion., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study reported a powder formulation containing omega-3-rich algal oil emulsions stabilized by egg yolk granules (EYGs)/lecithin composites. The improved physical stability of the algal oil samples due to increasing pH and lecithin addition was beneficial to the oxidative stability through analysis of free radical scavenging activities, metal ion chelating activities, and the release of primary and secondary oxidation products during accelerated storage (12 days, 60 °C). In addition, the effect of three antioxidants, i.e. ascorbic acid (VC), ascorbyl palmitate (AP), and α-tocopherol (VE), on lipid oxidation was investigated. Results showed that antioxidant partitioning at different regions of the emulsion system influenced its ability to prevent oxidation with the effectiveness of AP (at the O/W interface) > VE (in the oil phase) > VC (in the aqueous phase). This study developed a new powder-based emulsion formulation for algal oils with superior oxidative stability as an alternative source of omega-3., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

There is increasing interest in the development of low-oil emulsion gels, but little is known about fabrication of low-oil emulsion gels by adjusting oil phase. Here, we reported a facile strategy to produce an ultrastable (at least 6 months) low-oil (25% oil) emulsion gels by solidifying the oil phase. The formation and stabilization mechanisms were explored. Beeswax (BW) encased liquid oil within the crystal network, forming solidified droplets. These solidified droplets promoted droplet-droplet interaction and tended to form network, further promoting gelling. Both linear and nonlinear rheology strongly supported the fact that BW enhanced the interaction of solidified droplets and strengthened the gel structure. Finally, we utilized low-oil emulsion gels as a delivery system of curcumin. The storage stabilities of curcumin at 4 and 20 °C were improved with 1, 3 and 5 wt% BW concentrations. This strategy greatly enriches emulsion gel formulations and their applications in foods., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)