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Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted much attention owing to their tailored pore environment and surface functionality. However, most of the currently reported MOFs are confined to small pore sizes (<5 nm), limiting their practical applications. Here, a facile and versatile strategy for rapid construction of hierarchically porous MOFs (HP‐MOFs) by spray‐drying is reported, in which presynthesized nanosized MOFs (N‐MOFs) can be assembled to form MOF microspheres with meso/macropores resulting from the interspace among closely arranged N‐MOFs. This strategy enables the construction of multicomponent HP‐MOFs with various functions. As a proof of concept, we show that the adsorption for tannic acid (TA) can be significantly enhanced using HP‐MIL‐101(Cr). Particularly, HP‐MIL‐101‐30 (30 represents the primary nanoparticle size) exhibits a record‐high adsorption capacity (1175 mg g−1), and the adsorption rate of HP‐MIL‐101‐30 is increased by 50% compared to that of N‐MIL‐101‐30. These findings have important implications for the rapid construction of HP‐MOFs, which is beneficial for the adsorption of large molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spray‐drying is a scalable process enabling one to assemble freely chosen nanoparticles into supraparticles. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) allows for controlled thin film deposition of a vast variety of materials including exotic ones that can hardly be synthesized by wet chemical methods. The properties of coated supraparticles are defined not only by the nanoparticle material chosen and the nanostructure adjusted during spray‐drying but also by surface functionalities modified by ALD, if ALD is capable of modifying not only the outer surfaces but also surfaces buried inside the porous supraparticle. Simultaneously, surface accessibility in the porous supraparticles must be ensured to make use of all functionalized surfaces. In this work, iron oxide supraparticles are utilized as a model substrate as their magnetic properties enable the use of advanced magnetic characterization methods. Detailed information about the structural evolution upon individual ALD cycles of aluminium oxide, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are thereby revealed and confirmed by gas sorption analyses. This demonstrates a powerful and versatile approach to freely designing the functionality of future materials by combination of spray‐drying and ALD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this study, the lutein was microencapsulated by complex coacervation with gelatin and OSA starch as vehicles, and the physicochemical and in vitro release properties of the microcapsules were evaluated followed by the spray drying or freeze‐drying method. Preliminary assays of coacervation indicated that a higher encapsulation efficiency was obtained at the gelatin/OSA starch volume ratio of 5:4 and the core/wall material volume ratio of 1:8 (v/v) followed by the spray‐drying method. The lutein‐gelatin‐OSA microcapsules had a higher solubility, antioxidant activity, thermostability, relative humidity stability and sustained in vitro release compared to the free lutein. Fourier transform infrared data indicated that the encapsulated lutein interacted with gelatin and OSA starch was mainly through hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. The freeze‐dried microcapsule was observed with a more regular shape, smaller particle size in morphology and confirmed with better thermal stability from the differential scanning calorimetry results while the spray‐dried microcapsules obtained a higher cumulative release rate of lutein and higher antioxidant activity. The results of this study are expected to contribute to the design and commercial application of gelatin‐OSA starch complex‐based delivery systems for hydrophobic nutraceuticals with desired physicochemical properties and digestive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium aluminosilicate glass‐ceramic powders were synthesized by the heat treatment of spray‐dried sol‐gel glassy nanobeads, obtaining quartz solid solution (Qss) and keatite solid solution (Kss) crystals. Their composition ranged between 75 mol% SiO2 and pure silica along the spodumene join. The metastable crystals displayed tunable coefficients of thermal expansion ranging from +30 × 10−6 to −2.7 × 10−6 K−1 at room temperature, as obtained from their crystallographic characterization. The solid solution boundaries of Kss could be extended to 85 mol% SiO2. Concurrently, X‐ray diffraction measurements performed in situ at high temperature and at cryogenic conditions confirmed the known linear shift of the high‐low quartz inversion temperature upon increasing Al+Li doping. The obtained results qualify aerosol synthesis as a very versatile method for the production of glass‐ceramic powders in the LAS system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cinnamon essential oil has enormous potential for use in foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics; however, its applications are currently limited due to its volatility and rapid degradation. In this study, cinnamon essential oil was microencapsulated using four methods. The main aims were to determine a suitable method for producing cinnamon essential oil microcapsule powder and to examine the physical properties of the microcapsule powder. The results indicated that the powder recovery values for spray-drying were much lower than for the other methods. For the same encapsulation method, samples with higher oil concentration had lower powder recovery and were harder to dissolve. Freeze-drying provided the highest encapsulation efficiency (92.3% to 95.2%), followed by drum-drying, spray-drying, and a manual method. Freeze-drying with an oil concentration of 27% was the most suitable method for microencapsulation in this study due to its higher solubility and encapsulation efficiency and having the lowest surface oil content for the product. Confocal laser scanning microscopy demonstrated that the cinnamon essential oil was well encapsulated in the freeze-dried microcapsules. The cinnamon essential oil microcapsules significantly impeded bacterial growth in minced chicken meat samples during chilled storage for 12 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the storage stability of Russian olive water kefir (RWK) powder, obtained by an optimized spray-drying (SD)-based microencapsulation technique to determine the maximum shelf life of a high-quality RWK powder as a new functional product. Also, the effect of the storage conditions on the kinetics of changes in total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and microbial viability of the spray-dried RWK powder was evaluated under two different storage temperatures and at different time intervals to determine the best storage conditions. In addition, the in vitro gastrointestinal resistance of the water kefir microorganisms present in spray-dried RWK was evaluated. Overall, degradation of antioxidant compounds and total phenolic content in encapsulated RWK samples showed first-order kinetics during 90 days of storage. Based on the results, temperature showed no significant effect on the stability of antioxidant compounds in RWK powder; however, refrigeration resulted in significantly higher survival of the water kefir microorganisms. RWK samples encapsulated through spray-drying showed high retention of bioactive compounds and survival of water kefir microorganisms in spray-dried RWK during 90 days of cold storage and also in transit through simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Therefore, spray-drying was confirmed as a successful technique for encapsulation of RWK samples with minimum storage stability of 3 months at cold storage, which is valuable finding for commercialization of this new functional product. Moreover, the storage stability of spray-dried RWK was compared with samples produced using freeze-drying (FD), known as one of the best encapsulation methods, and the results showed that in cold storage, SD samples have prolonged storage stability and high microbial survival closely related to FD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential antimicrobial and antioxidant benefit of high levels of ursolic, rosmarinic acids and carvacrol in oregano extract has been limited until now by poor bioavailability arising from the low aqueous-phase solubility and slow dissolution behavior of the freeze-dried extract. To address this issue, microencapsulation technique had been used to solve above mentioned problems and to protect active substances from deteriorating due to environmental conditions, such as moisture, oxidation. The experimental settings were performed by statistical mixture experimental design. Moreover, microcapsules and freeze-dried extract were compared to ascertain the merit of microcapsules as a carriers for these poorly aqueous-soluble compounds. When the wall material solution contained 1.43 g of maltodextrin, 4.17 g of gum arabic, 14.39 g of modified starch, and 20 g of ethanol oregano extract, the yield of oregano's active compounds, ursolic, rosmarinic acids and carvacrol, were 0.98 mg/g, 3.38 mg/g and 3.38 mg/g respectively. In particular, the release profile of ursolic, rosmarinic acids and carvacrol had levelled off after 15 minutes, depicting an impressive 2.7- 3.0 fold increase compared to the freeze-dried control extract. The results imply that all actives can be conveniently delivered via oral and mucosal routes by first internalizing oregano extracts into appropriately engineered microcapsules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ligilactobacillus salivarius is a lactic acid bacteria that has been gaining attention as a promising probiotic. Numerous strains exhibit functional properties with health benefits such as antimicrobial activity, immunological effects, and the ability to modulate the intestinal microbiota. However, just a small number of them are manufactured at an industrial scale and included in commercial products. The under exploitation of L. salivarius strains that remain in the freezer of companies is due to their incapacity to overcome the environmental stresses induced by production and stabilization processes. The present study summarizes the functionalities and applications of L. salivarius reported to date. It aims also at providing a critical evaluation of the literature available on the manufacturing steps of L. salivarius concentrates, the bacterial quality after each step of the process, and the putative degradation and preservation mechanisms. Here, we highlight the principal issues and future research challenges for improving the production and long-term preservation at the industrial scale of this microorganism, and probably of other probiotics. Key points • L. salivarius beneficial properties and commercialized products. • Production conditions and viability of L. salivarius after stabilization processes. • Prospects for identifying preservation mechanisms to improve L. salivarius stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary tuberculosis is a highly prevalent respiratory disease that affects approximately a quarter of the world's population. The drug treatment protocol for tuberculosis is complex because the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) invades macrophages and begins to infect. Thus treatment usually includes combination therapy with several drugs such as rifampicin, pyrazinamide, isoniazid, and ethambutol over a long dosing period. Therefore, drug-delivery technologies have been developed to improve patient compliance with medication, reduce adverse effects, and increase effectiveness of the treatment. In the present review, we have discussed recent inhalable nanopharmaceutical systems for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis and investigated their design and effectiveness. We examined the underlying processes and characteristics of spray-drying technology and studied the formulation of a dry carrier using spray-drying method. Moreover, we reviewed various research articles on pulmonary delivery of nanoparticles using these carriers, and studied their alveolar macrophage targeting ability and therapeutic effects. Further, we appraised the effectiveness of nanoparticle inhalation therapy for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis and its potential as a treatment strategy for lung diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) have many health benefits due to their abundance of polyphenols with antioxidant activity, most notably epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG). To protect those bioactive compounds, the spray‐drying technique of green tea‐extracted solution is conducted because of encapsulating. This study aimed to optimize the spray‐drying condition using the response surface methodology (RSM) with respect to the maximal polyphenol content of the product. Furthermore, the characterizations of resulting powder were determined. The results showed that optimal spray‐drying temperature, input flow rate, and whey protein isolate (WPI) content were evaluated at 136℃, 6.8 rpm, and 10.3% of dry basis, respectively. The obtained green tea powder products, which got from optimal spray‐drying process, achieved total polyphenol content (TPC), EGCG, and caffeine content of 322.06 mg GAE/g, 11.4%, and 2.8% of dry basis, respectively. This result revealed the feasibility of green tea leaves to produce tea powder rich in EGCG and polyphenols by spray‐drying technique, potentially contributing to the diversification of tea products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive literature search for articles published on spray and freeze-dried anthocyanins from a large variety of berries was performed. Out of a total of two-hundred and eight collected values, anthocyanin content in encapsulates had a 120-fold variation depending on the raw material and type of encapsulating agents. Highest observed anthocyanin concentration amounted to about 3500 mg/100 g powder. In most cases increasing the amount of encapsulant agents led to a noticeable reduction in the concentration of anthocyanins, this being attributable to a predominance of the dilution effect. Retention of encapsulated anthocyanins after storage at 25 °C (in darkness) for periods between 90 and 180 days were in the range of 80–67%, as long as the water activity (aw) was 0.33 or less. Some predicted values of half-time (t1/2) from literature must be taken with precaution since in many cases they were derived from experimental measurements taken at storage times smaller than predicted half times. Anthocyanin degradation during storage occurred even below the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the amorphous matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Dracocephalum moldavica L. is an annual plant with blue or white flowers and fragrant leaves which belongs to the family of Lamiaceae with the height of up to 80 cm. This plant is native to Central Asia and is accepted in Central and Eastern Europe. In Iran, it is mainly grown in the province of West Azarbaijan and the Alborz Mountains. The essential oils and extracts derived from the secondary metabolisms which are mainly used in the pharmaceutical industry, dietary, cosmetic, flavoring and also as tea and beverage with sugar or honey. The liquid extract of the herb contains a high percentage of water, which should evaporate to increase shelf-life, easy transport, handling and storage, the ease of standardization and preservation of the product quality. On the other hand, the active compounds of the extracts are affected by temperature, oxygen, light and enzymes. Therefore, because of the uses and benefits of herbal extracts, they need to be dried by a practical and effective method like spray drying. In literature still there are no studies taking into account to the comparisons between RSM and TOPSIS as two important optimization methods. So, as the main objective of the present work, the effects of moisture content, drying performance, total phenol content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity have been surveyed. Finally, the optimal point of each process variable was presented by two optimization methods. Materials and Methods Aerial parts of Moldavian balm plant were cleaned and drying of plant was carried out under shade and thin layer conditions. The extraction of Moldavian balm was obtained by maceration method using ethanol 50 % (v/v), plant to solvent ratio of 1/10 (w/v). After 48h, the extract was concentrated in a rotary evaporator (Buchi Rotavapor R-205, Switzerland) to obtain a solid concentration of 6%. The used carrier was: Maltodextrin and apple pectin. Different ratios of carrier were prepared, then the ratio was added to distilled water and stirred by a magnetic stirrer. Finally, the solution was mixed with extract. The drying of Moldavian Balm plant extract was performed using a spray-dryer (Büchi B-191, Switzerland) with co-current flow regime. The powders provided by the spray drying were stored in refrigerator until they were needed for the experiment. Results and Discussion The results of variance analysis showed that the Box-Behnken design with the second-order model has led to the meaningfulness of the model, insignificant of the Lack of Fit and the appropriate correlation coefficient for each of the responses. A total number of 15 experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of process variables such as inlet air temperature, compressed air flow rate and concentration of carriers on moisture content, drying performance, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of Moldavian balm powder. Inlet air temperature and compressed air flow rate had the most significant effect on moisture content and drying performance, while Chemical properties of the powder affected by changing the concentration of carriers. Optimization parameters of the spray drying process was performed using surface response and TOPSIS methods. The optimum predicted conditions in the response surface method and TOPSIS method were obtained at inlet air temperature, compressed air flow rate and concentration of carrier (152.5-150°C), (8.046-7.5 lit min-1) and 20%, respectively. Conclusion By comparing two methods, it can be concluded that although they could provide the same optimum points, the RSM is more efficient. Because RSM offers a mathematical model that can be used at any desired point of variables to predict the output quantities as well as describing the process trend, while TOPSIS method is unable to predict the process trend and only provides the ranking of alternatives.

Xiao Hu,1 Feifei Yang,2 Yonghong Liao,2 Lin Li,1 Guoguang Zhao,3 Lan Zhang1 1Department of Pharmacy, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, People’s Republic of China; 2Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Guoguang Zhao; Lan Zhang Email ggzhao@vip.sina.com; lanizhg@126.comBackground and Aim: Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) have received much attention as promising carrier systems in lung cancer and brain metastases.Methods: Here, for the first time, we investigated the feasibility of using inhaled cholesterol-PEG co-modified poly (n-butyl) cyanoacrylate NPs (CLS-PEG NPs) of docetaxel (DTX) for sustained pulmonary drug delivery in cancer metastasis.Results: Spray-dried or freeze-dried NPs yielded sustained drug release in vitro. In vitro inhalation evaluation data indicated that the inhalation formulation had better inhalability. Compared with intravenous (IV) administration, pharmacokinetic data suggested that the inhalation formulation prolonged plasma concentration of DTX for greater than 24 h and is more quickly and completely absorbed into the rat lung after intratracheal (IT) administration. Furthermore, freeze-dried powders were found to increase the t1/2 and area under curve (AUC) by 2.3 and 6.5 fold compared to the free drug after IT administration, and spray-dried powders were found to increase the t1/2 and AUC by 3.4 and 8.8 fold, respectively. After pulmonary administration of the inhalation formulation, DTX appeared to prolong the pulmonary absorption time. In addition, the inhalation formulation was distributed to the brain in a sustained release manner.Conclusion: These experimental results demonstrated that freeze- and spray-dried powders have the potential for pulmonary sustained release, and they also have the potential to be used as a novel treatment for the delivery of drugs that pass through the air–blood barrier and enter the brain and are efficient carriers for the treatment of brain metastasis.Keywords: pulmonary delivery, docetaxel, lung cancer, spray-drying, dry powder

Introduction: In the recent years, attention to the use of probiotic drugs and probiotic food products, due to probiotic’s functional and health properties has been increased. The storage and the viability of the probiotics in the products and passing through the gastrointestinal tract was always a big challenge. Drying is one of the functional and important choices that can be used for stabilizing microbial species and makes the bacterial usage easy. Among different microencapsulation methods, spray drying is one of the important drying methods that can be used in industrial scale and size. Optimizing the effective parameters on the cultivation and separation of probiotic bacteria, the most important and challenging parameters of spray drying that have influence on probiotic products, and choose of the best wall materials for the cores, are the most important and challenging factors that are necessary for optimizing the microencapsulation in industrial scale. In this review article, the factors affecting the survival and resistance of bacteria in the stage before entering the spray dryer and the factors affecting the survival of probiotic bacteria during the drying stage are discussed. In addition, the important criteria for selecting microfiber wall materials and the tests that are often performed on probiotic microfiber resulting from spray drying have been examined.

The objective of the present work was to determine the effects of the main variables of spray drying to obtain orange juice powder as an alternative method for the integral use of orange juice. The variables evaluated for the spray-drying were the air inlet temperature, feed flow, and maltodextrin concentration, which had a different degree of significance on the assessed responses, the air inlet temperature is the one that had a more significant degree on the moisture content (p ≤ 0.01) and polyphenol content (p ≤ 0.05). While the maltodextrin concentration was for the yield and moisture content (p ≤ 0.05). However, on the color attributes, no significant effects were observed under the evaluated variables. Therefore, using spray-drying an orange juice powder with stable physicochemical characteristics was obtained, using maltodextrin 7% (w/w) and 0.1% (w/v) sodium alginate as carrier agents, 160°C inlet air temperature, 14 mL/min feed flow, which will allow the use of this drying technology.

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are lipid-based colloidal systems used for the delivery of active compounds. Although SLNs have many benefits, they show important issues due to physical and chemical instability phenomena during storage. For these reasons, it is highly desirable to have a dried SLN formulation available. Therefore, the aim of the project was to identify suitable methods to obtain a dry powder formulation from an SLN suspension. The nanoparticle suspension was dried using both freeze- and spray-drying techniques. The suitability of these methods in obtaining SLN dry powders was evaluated from the analyses of nanotechnological parameters, system morphology and thermal behavior using differential scanning calorimetry. Results pointed out that both drying techniques, although at different yields, were able to produce an SLN dry powder suitable for pharmaceutical applications. Noteworthily, the freeze-drying of SLNs under optimized conditions led to a dry powder endowed with good reconstitution properties and technological parameters similar to the starting conditions. Moreover, freeze–thaw cycles were carried out as a pretest to study the protective effect of different cryoprotectants (e.g., glucose and mannitol with a concentration ranging from 1% to 10% w/v). Glucose proved to be the most effective in preventing particle growth during freezing, thawing, and freeze-drying processes; in particular, the optimum concentration of glucose was 1% w/v.

The impact of the encapsulation technology on the oxidative stability of fish-oil-loaded capsules was investigated. The capsules (ca. 13 wt% oil load) were produced via monoaxial or coaxial electrospraying and spray-drying using low molecular weight carbohydrates as encapsulating agents (e.g., glucose syrup or maltodextrin). The use of spray-drying technology resulted in larger capsules with higher encapsulation efficiency (EE > 84%), whilst the use of electrospraying produced encapsulates in the sub-micron scale with poorer retention properties (EE < 72%). The coaxially electrosprayed capsules had the lowest EE values (EE = 53–59%), resulting in the lowest oxidative stability, although the lipid oxidation was significantly reduced by increasing the content of pullulan in the shell solution. The emulsion-based encapsulates (spray-dried and monoaxially electrosprayed capsules) presented high oxidative stability during storage, as confirmed by the low concentration of selected volatiles (e.g., (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal). Nonetheless, the monoaxially electrosprayed capsules were the most oxidized after production due to the emulsification process and the longer processing time.

(1) Background: Eudraguard® Natural (EN) and Protect (EP) are polymers regulated for use in dietary supplements in the European Union and the United States to carry natural products, mask unpleasant smells and tastes, ameliorate product handling, and protect products from moisture, light, and oxidation. Moreover, EN and EP can control the release of encapsulated compounds. The aim of this work was the development, preparation, and control of Eudraguard® spray-drying microparticles to obtain powders with easy handling and a stable dietary supplement containing a polar functional extract (SOE) from Sorbus domestica L. leaves. (2) Methods: SOE was characterized using HPLC, NMR, FTIR, DSC, and SEM methods. Furthermore, the SOE’s antioxidant/free radical scavenging activity, α-glucosidase inhibition, MTT assay effect on viability in normal cells, and shelf life were evaluated in both the extract and final formulations. (3) Results: The data suggested that SOE, rich in flavonoids, is a bioactive and safe extract; however, from a technological point of view, it was sticky, difficult to handle, and had low aqueous solubility. Despite the fact that EN and EP may undergo changes with spray-drying, they effectively produced easy-to-handle micro-powders with a controlled release profile. Although EN had a weaker capability to coat SOE than EP, EN acted as a substrate that was able to swell, drawing in water and improving the extract solubility and dissolution/release; however, EP was also able to carry the extract and provide SOE with controlled release. (4) Conclusion: Both Eudraguard® products were capable of carrying SOE and improving its antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibition activities, as well as the extract stability and handling.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the bioactive compounds contents and the antioxidant activity preserved in the obtained powders of dehydrated feijoa pulp after two drying methods applied: Spray drying and Freeze-drying methods. Ascorbic acid, total phenolic and total flavonoids content, antioxidant activity (by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods) were determined and the obtained data were evaluated using ANOVA and Tukey test (p < 0.05). Spray drying method produced powders with higher amounts of total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, while Freeze-drying method presented higher amounts of ascorbic acid and higher antioxidant activity. Both applied methods were effective in maintaining the antioxidant properties of Feijoa fruits. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17807/orbital.v11i6.1223

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of microencapsulation with soy milk as a carrier, conducted by spray-drying, on three mixed cultures of functional vaginal lactobacilli, Lactobacillus crispatus (BC1, BC3, and BC4) and Lactobacillus gasseri BC9, that could be further exploited as an adjunct in health foods. The i) physicochemical properties (using scanning electronic microscopy), ii) viability of encapsulated bacteria over time, and iii) functional features of powders containing the encapsulated bacteria were characterised considering different storage conditions. All microbial mixtures exhibited high viability for 90 d of storage, regardless of the storage conditions. All microencapsulated microbial combinations, excluding L. crispatus BC3 + L. gasseri BC9, exhibited hydrophobicity values exceeding 60%. Moreover, regardless of the considered combination, the in vitro digestion results exhibited a more significant decrease in cell viability for non-encapsulated microbial combinations than that of the encapsulated strains.

Lipopeptides produced by Bacillus subtilis display many activities (surfactant, antimicrobial, and antitumoral), which make them interesting compounds with a wide range of applications. During the past years, several processes have been developed to enable their production and purification with suitable yield and purity. The already implemented processes mainly end with a critical drying step, which is currently achieved by freeze-drying. In this study, the possibility to replace this freeze-drying step with a spray-drying one, more suited to industrial applications, was analyzed. After evaluating their thermal resistance, we have developed a spray-drying methodology applicable for the three lipopeptides families produced by B. subtilis, i.e., surfactin, mycosubtilin (iturin family), and plipastatin (fengycin family). For each lipopeptide, the spray-drying procedure was applied at three steps of the purification process by ultrafiltration (supernatant, diafiltered solution, and pre-purified fraction). The analysis of the activities of each spray-dried lipopeptide showed that this drying method is not decreasing its antimicrobial and biosurfactant properties. The methodology developed in this study enabled for the first time the spray-drying of surfactin, without adjuvants’ addition and regardless of the purification step considered. In the case of fengycin and mycosubtilin, only diafiltered solution and purified fraction could be successfully spray-dried without the addition of adjuvant. Maltodextrin addition was also investigated as the solution for the direct drying of supernatant. As expected, the performances of the spray-drying step and the purity of the powder obtained are highly related to the purification step at which the product was dried. Interestingly, the impact of mycosubtilin concentration on spray-drying yield was also evidenced.

The structure of supraparticles (SPs) is a key parameter for achieving advanced functionalities arising from the combination of different nanoparticle (NP) types in one hierarchical entity. However, whenever a droplet-assisted forced assembly approach is used, e.g., spray-drying, the achievable structure is limited by the inherent drying phenomena of the method. In particular, mixed NP dispersions of differently sized colloids are heavily affected by segregation during the assembly. Herein, the influence of the colloidal arrangement of Pt and SiO 2 NPs within a single supraparticulate entity is investigated. A salt-based electrostatic manipulation approach of the utilized NPs is proposed to customize the structure of spray-dried Pt/SiO 2 SPs. By this, size-dependent separation phenomena of NPs during solvent evaporation, that limit the catalytic performance in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, are overcome by achieving even Pt NP distribution. Additionally, the textural properties (pore size and distribution) of the SiO 2 pore framework are altered to improve the mass transfer within the material leading to increased catalytic activity. The suggested strategy demonstrates a powerful, material-independent, and universally applicable approach to deliberately customize the structure and functionality of multi-component SP systems. This opens up new ways of colloidal material combinations and structural designs in droplet-assisted forced assembly approaches like spray-drying., (© 2024 The Authors. Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Surface coating approaches for silicon (Si) have demonstrated potential for use as anodes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) to address the large volume change and low conductivity of Si. However, the practical application of these approaches remains a challenge because they do not effectively accommodate the pulverization of Si during cycling or require complex processes. Herein, Si-embedded titanium oxynitride (Si-TiON) was proposed and successfully fabricated using a spray-drying process. TiON can be uniformly coated on the Si surface via self-assembly, which can enhance the Si utilization and electrode stability. This is because TiON exhibits high mechanical strength and electrical conductivity, allowing it to act as a rigid and electrically conductive matrix. As a result, the Si-TiON electrodes delivered an initial reversible capacity of 1663 mA h g−1 with remarkably enhanced capacity retention and rate performance.

The encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and structural changes within the Anthraquinones-encapsulated casein micelles (CM) powders were evaluated in this study. For this purpose, the anthraquinone powder extracted from Aloevera, its freeze-dried powder (FDP) and whole leaf Aloe vera gel (WLAG) has been encapsulated in CM through ultrasonication prior to spray dying to produce nanocapsules: CM encapsulated anthraquinone powder (CMAQP), CM encapsulated freeze-dried powder (CMFDP) and CM encapsulated Whole leaf aloe vera gel (CMWLAG). Based on the pH of the solution before drying, CMAQP had the highest EE% following spray drying. However, due to air-interface-related dehydration stresses, SD resulted in a slight decrease in the EE% of anthraquinones (aloin, aloe-emodin, and rhein) in CMAQP. Meanwhile, a significant increase in EE% of CMFDP was observed compared to the aqueous state. According to SEM findings, the particle size of CMAQP was 2.39 µm and ξ-potential of ~−17mV. The CMFDP had a rough fractal surface with large particle sizes and potential of 3.49 µm and ~−11mV respectively. CM deformed, having the least EE% and lowest ξ-potential (−4.5 mV). Spray drying enhances melanoidin formation in CMWLAG, as evidenced by the highest chroma values. The results suggested that EE%, stability, and degree of Maillard reaction are closely linked to the type of anthraquinone encapsulated, the pH of the solution, and the nanostructure of casein micelles during spray drying.

Background: Wine antioxidants are linked to cardiovascular disease prevention, thus are highly valued by the healthy food market. The dehydration process removes alcohol and water from wine and allows it to extend its shelf life, while encapsulation can help preserve physical-chemical and antioxidant properties. Moreover, information on the effect of wine drying and encapsulation on non-anthocyanin phenolic compounds is limited in the literature. Methods: Listan Prieto and Syrah (Vitis vinifera L.) wines were dehydrated and converted into powder by freezing and spray drying. Powdered wines were subjected to water activity, pH, soluble solids, color, and phenolic compounds analysis. Results: Freeze-drying process produced powdered wines with higher pH than the spray-drying process. Powdered wines made by these processes presented similar water activity and soluble solids. Powdered wines did not show statistical differences in trans-resveratrol, hydrocinnamic acids, phloretin, kaempferol, and quercetin content according to their dehydration process. In addition, powdered wines significantly concentrated hydrocinnamic acid and quercetin when compared to non-dealcoholized and dealcoholized wine samples. Conclusions: The results suggest that the dehydration process does not negatively modify the characteristics of the wine, and it retains a significant concentration of phenolic compounds. Therefore, powdered wines have an interesting potential to be used as a natural source of antioxidants for food supplementation.

The production of whey protein concentrates (WPCs) from camel milk whey represents an effective approach to valorize this processing by-product. These concentrates harbor active ingredients with significant bioactive properties. Camel WPCs were spray-dried (SD) at inlet temperature of 170, 185 and 200°C, or Ultrasonicated (US) for 5, 10 and 15 min, then freeze-dried to obtain fine powder. The impact of both treatments on protein degradation was studied by sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE and reverse-phase ultraperformance liquid chromatography (RP-UPLC) techniques. Significantly enhanced protein degradation was observed after US treatment when compared with SD. Both SD and US treatments slightly enhanced the WPCs samples' antioxidant activities. The US exposure for 15 min exhibited highest 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) scavenging activity (12.12 mmol TE/g). Moreover, US treatment for 10 min exhibited the highest in vitro anti-diabetic properties (α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition), and dipeptidyl-peptidase-IV inhibitory activity among all samples. In addition, the ultrasonication for 10 min and SD at 170°C showed the lowest IC 50 values for in vitro anti-hypercholesterolemic activities in terms of pancreatic lipase and cholesteryl esterase inhibition. Conclusively, these green techniques can be adapted in the preservation and processing of camel milk whey into active ingredients with high bioactive properties., (The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

[Display omitted] • Spray drying of interleukins • Direct comparison of a FD and SD process • Spray drying without any excipients such as stabilizers or (cryo-) protectants • Broad analysis of influence on proteins • Nano spray drying is a useful method with 30 °C outlet temperature for aqueous solutions Spray-dried products, such as synthetic peptides and hormones, have already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Agency and the European Medicines Agency, while spray-dried antibodies or interleukins, are not yet available on the market. Concerning the latter group, knowledge on whether and how spray-drying (SD) can be performed without adversely affecting their biological activity is lacking. Accordingly, this study aimed at establishing a SD process (Büchi B-90 spray dryer) using three Interleukin-8 based proteins (7–74 kDa) that were dispersed in phosphate buffered saline to maintain their stability. A Box-Behnken Design of Experiments was conducted to identify the appropriate process parameters taking into account the thermal stability of interleukin-8. In parallel, a FD process was developed. Both powders were stored for up to 12 weeks. Powder characterization included residual moisture evaluation and the mean particle size of the SD powder was investigated with Laser Diffraction Analysis. The hydrodynamic volume was measured via size exclusion chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The secondary structure of the model proteins in the solid state was assessed with Fourier-transformation infrared spectroscopy for detecting the protein folding patterns and reconstituted with Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy. Finally, the binding affinity was studied with Surface Plasmon Resonance and Isothermal Fluorescence Titration, the protein stability with Chaotropic Unfolding, and the activity studies were carried out with the chemotaxis assay. The results showed that SD and FD powders with a residual moisture of less than 5 wt% were obtained. The interleukins showed no unfolding upon processing, neither in solid state nor reconstituted. Oligomerization was observed for FD, but not for SD interleukins. However, the unfolding, binding affinity and activity of all interleukins examined did not decrease in neither SD nor FD powders, even after 12 weeks of storage. Thus, it can be concluded that SD of interleukin formulations at outlet temperatures close to ambient temperature is a promising process for transferring them into a stable powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that, due to its exceptional therapeutic properties, has been the focus of several research fields. However, when exposed to adverse environmental conditions, this compound degrades, which makes its direct consumption or application into functional products impossible. In this context, techniques like microencapsulation emerged, being spray-drying one of the most widely used encapsulation techniques, due to its economical, flexible and continuous operation process and to the well stablished and readily available equipment. During the current work, vitamin E was encapsulated by spray-drying, using different biopolymers as wall materials, in order to evaluate which formulation would lead to the most suitable results. Particles with sizes between 4.3 and 25.1 μm and surface structures with more or less pronounced wrinkles were obtained, depending on the encapsulating agent used. These vitamin E particles were produced with a product yield between 15 and 55%, and with an efficiency of encapsulation that ranged between 70.1 and 99.4%. The release results revealed that, if the final application of the particles requires a fast release, formulations of vitamin E with sodium alginate, inulin and maltodextrin should be applied. On the other hand, the use of wall materials like Arabic gum, modified chitosan, starch and modified starch, will lead to long vitamin E release times, which is the most suitable option when slow and continuous releases are desired. All the results obtained proved that vitamin E could be efficiently protected through the encapsulation by spray-drying, with microparticles with different morphologies, sizes and release behaviours according to the encapsulating agent used in the initial formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates methods to commercialize safer alternatives to chemical pesticides that pose risks to human safety and the environment. Spray-drying encapsulation of the plant-protective, antifungal bacterium Collimonas arenae Cal35 in in situ cross-linked alginate microcapsules (CLAMs) was optimized to minimize losses during spray-drying and maximize yield of spray-dried powder. Only inlet temperature significantly affected survival during spray-drying, while inlet temperature, spray rate, and alginate concentration significantly affected yield of spray-dried powder. Lowering inlet temperature to 95 °C provided the greatest survival during spray-drying, while increasing inlet temperature and lowering spray rate and alginate concentration produced the highest yield. Without the CLAMs formulation, Cal35 did not survive spray-drying. When Cal35 was encapsulated in CLAMs in the presence of modified starch, shelf survival was extended to 3 weeks in a low oxygen, low humidity storage environment. Cal35 retained its antifungal activity throughout spray-drying and shelf storage, supporting its potential use as a formulated biofungicide product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NLCs are potent carriers for lipophilic bioactive compounds. In this study, the NLC:maltodextrin (6:10) solution at the inlet temperatures of 110 or 180 °C, and the feed flow rate of 5 or 15 mL/min was spray-dried and the powders characteristics were evaluated. The SEM micrographs showed the particle morphologies of hollow spheroids with smooth surfaces. The powder production yields as high as 66% was achieved. The sizes of NLC particles after the redispersion of the spray-dried powders shifted to higher amounts [from 57.3 nm (in the biggest size before drying) to 93.7 nm (in the biggest size after drying)], but were below the acceptable size of NLC systems. The measurement of flowability indices such as Carr’s compressibility index (in average 16.21), Hausner ratio (in average 1.20), and angle of repose (31-42°) showed that the samples were categorized as the powders with good flowability. The results of this study revealed that NLC systems can be successfully spray-dried by using maltodextrin as the excipient without any drastic changes in the particle size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the impact of the whey protein/casein ratio (100/0, 79/21, 57/43, 35/65, and 12/88) on the physicochemical and functional characteristics of dairy protein powders. Spray-drying was performed in the following conditions: 200 °C inlet air temperature and 85 °C outlet air temperature. Physicochemical properties (particle size distribution, shape factors, moisture content, and water activity) of spray-dried powders were characterized to explain their reconstitutability, on the basis of the wettability, dispersibility, solubility indices, and their flowability, evaluated with the FT4 powder rheometer. Reconstitutability analyses revealed that solubility of dairy protein powders linearly varied with the whey protein/casein ratio. It was also highlighted that wettability and dispersibility determined with the standard methods were not relevant to evaluate the reconstitutability of investigated powders: in fact, all studied powders were non-wettable and non-dispersible according to the milk powder standards. This was likely to result from the low median particle size (between 10 and 30 μm) of powders produced by spray-drying at pilot-scale. The flowability of powders was evaluated as poor due to a high level of interparticular cohesion, which mainly derived from their small median particle size. The impact of protein composition on flowability was not statistically significant, despite a shape modification reflected by a decrease in particle sphericity upon casein proportion increase. The small particle size, leading to poor flow properties, overwhelmed the impact the whey protein/casein ratio, but a slight improvement of the flowability and a reduction of cohesion was induced by higher proportions of whey proteins. [Display omitted] • Whey protein/casein ratio impacts on dairy protein powder characteristics. • Dairy protein powder solubility linearly varied with the whey protein/casein ratio. • Standard reconstitution tests were irrelevant for powders spray-dried at pilot scale. • Particle size eclipses the impact of the whey protein/casein ratio on flowability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During agglomeration in the nozzle zone of spray dryers, dry particles are forced to collide with drying droplets. These collisions ideally form agglomerates with improved flowability and reconstitution properties. However, the interactions of feed parameters on the collision outcomes are unclear. This study examines the influence of a varied total solid content of the feed solution on agglomerate formation in a pilot plant spray dryer. An increase in total solid content (TS) from 30 to 50% TS (w /w) resulted in an increase in porosity of the primary particles, whereby particle size development was reasoned by this effect. Agglomerate porosity increased but agglomerate size increased more due to a changed particle viscosity. By adding a marker powder, it was found that higher total solid contents resulted in less coalescence of the agglomerates. The counter-current air classification in the drying chamber affected the agglomerate properties such as size, density and shape. To investigate the fast micro processes during agglomeration in spray dryers, a marker powder stream was added into the spray zone. Total solid content of the feed solution and amount of marker powder influenced agglomerate properties. [Display omitted] • Increased total solid content caused increased primary particle porosity. • Effect on agglomerates' size caused by stickiness is more pronounced. • Marker powder enables variation of agglomerate properties. • Agglomerate properties result from air classification effect in the drying chamber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of developing zirconia ceramic coatings with the incorporation of silica aerogel particles, which exhibit outstanding insulating properties. Thus, the research aims to find a suitable methodology to disperse aerogel particles, which are strongly hydrophobic, in an aqueous medium. In the study, a double rheological characterisation was carried out, firstly, to adapt the dispersion of the aerogel particles and, secondly, to characterise the different suspensions made up of silica aerogel and zirconia to be atomised. Aerogel additions ranging from 2% to 98% in volume were addressed. Spray-dried powders were characterised in terms of flowability. Finally, coatings microstructure was examined, and their thermal conductivity determined. The results showed that it is possible to disperse aerogel particles in an aqueous medium and to obtain stable suspensions together with the addition of zirconia. Suitable spray-dried powders were then produced in all the cases. On the other hand, coatings obtained by atmospheric plasma spraying showed appreciable microstructural differences with the addition of aerogel particles and their insulating effect is evident in the thermal tests, with their improved (decreased) thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of studies on the surface composition of microparticles obtained by spray drying has increased due to the interest in understanding the relationship between the characteristics of these microparticles and the oxidation stability of encapsulated bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of emulsification techniques on the distribution of components on the surface, microstructure, and physicochemical properties of encapsulated 13-carotene microparticles obtained by spray drying. Emulsions created by microfiuidization and observed by XPS showed a greater presence (11.35-16.82%) of hydrophilic amino acids (histidine, glycine, serine, threonine) on the surface. Emulsions obtained by rotor/stator system exhibited low encapsulation efficiency (9.1-46.0%), and the microparticles presented a high number of surface irregularities (shrinkage and dents) com- pared to the microfluidization samples. In contrast, emulsions obtained by microfluidization showed shorter wetting (12.37-14.47 min) and solubility times (25.66-30.22 min), attributed to the percentage of protein on the surface of microparticles. The characteristics of the microparticles provided by the microfluidizer could help in the design of fast-hydration and dispersion powder products by spray drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils and derivatives have shown effective insecticidal activity against different agricultural pests. However, the use of these bioactive compounds can result in negative effects due to their high volatility and difficult handling. Both solid and liquid formulations of essential oils have been developed in recent years. Currently, there are some commercial products available in the market, but they are still scarce and mainly based on liquid formulations. Solid formulations developed through spray-drying, including complex or micro/nanospheres, present differences in encapsulation efficiency, particle size, and controlled release, depending mainly on the wall material or surfactant content. Spray-dried essential oils have clear advantages over liquid formulations in terms of biological protection and storage. However, liquid formulations are usually easier scaled and applied. This review focuses on the advances of essential oils in both solid and liquid formulations (focusing on nanoemulsions) and derivatives to allow for their proper use in agriculture.

Essential oils (EOs) are naturally occurring volatile aromatic compounds extracted from different parts of plants. They are made up of components like terpenes, phenols, etc., and are chemically unstable and susceptible to oxidative deterioration, leading to reduced shelf-life and overall degradation of the product. Encapsulation of EOs in a matrix can prevent degradation of the active ingredient and improve the shelf-life. In this paper, we report encapsulation of Dhavana oil (Artemisia pellen) in a modified starch matrix using a spray-drying technique. Physico-chemical properties of neat and encapsulated Dhavana oil were studied. We selected two powder bases: CaCO3 and TALC and, loaded neat and encapsulated Dhavana oil in it, studied their stability and interaction with the base matrices at 3 °C, 22 °C and 45 °C up to 2 months under closed conditions and one week at 22 °C and 45 °C under open condition. Thermal degradation pattern was studied for neat and encapsulated Dhavana oil and modified starch. Release of primary active component of neat and encapsulated Dhavana oil from the base matrices was evaluated with GCMS. Stability study and release mechanism were elucidated to understand the release pattern in different base powders under similar conditions. Retention of hydroxydhavanone was found to be better in TALC than CaCO3, and therefore, the former can be considered a suitable base matrix for developing a stable powder formulation with an optimum release of the oil. Dhavana oil is known for its anti-microbial activity, and hence, neat and encapsulated Dhavana oil was tested on different bacterial and fungal strains. The encapsulated oil depicted good anti-microbial efficacy against various bacterial and fungal strains, which is a step forward for developing anti-microbial formulations. Thus, the reported work will provide helpful information on cosmetic formulation and, therefore, be useful for perfumery, food, and cosmetic industries.

The fungus Beauveria bassiana is widely used for pest control; however, biostability and dispersion for broth pulverization are limiting factors for its application in the field. In this context, formulation techniques such as microencapsulation are viable alternatives. The aim of this work is to optimize B. bassiana formulations by spray dryer and evaluate its stability and biological activity against Spodoptera cosmioides compared to ionic gelatinization formulations. The fungus was biocompatible with all evaluated biopolymers (lignin, cellulose, starch, humic substances, and alginate). The encapsulation by spray drying was optimized by factorial design in an inlet and outlet air temperature of 120°C and 68°C, respectively; aspirator rate of 35 m3·h−1, feed flow rate of 12 mL·min−1; and drying gas flow at 35 L·h−1. The ionic gelation capsules were obtained using a 0.5% quantity of conidia in a 1% sodium alginate solution dropped into a 0.5 mol·L−1 CaCl2 solution using a peristaltic pump. Spray drying provided smaller microcapsules than those by ionic gelation. Both techniques produced more stable conidia when exposed to temperature and UV-radiation than non-formulated B. bassiana. The formulations prepared by spray drying showed gains at aqueous dispersion. Biological assays against Spodoptera cosmioides showed a mortality rate of up to 90%. These results demonstrate the suitability of encapsulating B. bassiana conidia stably in aqueous dispersion without loss of viability and virulence.

Abstract Important functional compounds present in fruits are often lost in technological processes and during storage. Microencapsulation technique allows maintaining the compounds of interest and adding value to the product using functional encapsulating materials. This work aimed to produce microencapsulated guava pulp using the spray-drying technique and a functional encapsulant material, i.e., a mix of inulin and maltodextrin. The guava pulp was analyzed for centesimal composition, carotenoid content, and antioxidant activity. The microspheres were analyzed for retention of carotenoids, antioxidant activity over time, and morphology by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction. Two proportions of coating material could maintain the antioxidant activity of guava pulp. The microencapsulation with a higher percentage of inulin is a preferred option due to the good results of retention and stability regarding antioxidant activity over time, relevant retention of the carotenoid content, and a more stable microstructure. In addition, inulin can add value to powders owing to its inherent functional properties. The product obtained in the study is innovative and interesting, as well as may provide a capable use of these materials as encapsulated agents. In fact, it can be considered a potential functional ingredient.

BACKGROUND: One of the most used and effective preservation strategies in foods is drying. However, there are problems with the rheological properties, color, and viability of lactic acid bacteria in the yogurt once reconstituted when applying such conservation strategies. OBJECTIVES: Determine the concentration of the type of texture improver and drying that minimizes the negative effect on the rheological, color, and microbiological properties of a reconstituted yogurt powder. METHODS: Intended to determine the texture improver which increases rheological properties of reconstituted yogurt powder, a mixture type experimental design was applied where three texture improvers were assessed; carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) (mass fraction 0 - 1), pectin (mass fraction 0 - 1), and xanthan gum (mass fraction 0 - 1). The rheological parameters; consistency index (K), flow behavior (n), viscosity at 100s-1 (η), the storage (G') and loss (G'') modules, and the phase shift angle (δ) of each of the reconstitutions were considered as design-dependent variables. Secondly, a central composite design (face-centered) was used for assessing the effectiveness of the drying (convection, spray-drying, and freeze-drying), the concentration of the texture improver (0.0 - 1.0%), and the yogurt powder concentration (8.0 - 15.0%). The above-mentioned rheological parameters, color, and viability of the lactic acid bacteria from each reconstituted yogurt powder were considered as the dependent variables. Optimization sought to match the parameters of reconstituted yogurt powder that approximated the conditions of fresh yogurt. RESULTS: The independent variables in their lineal expression and some interactions between them had statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). At a concentration of 10.59% with 0.03% xanthan gum, the reconstitution of freeze-dried yogurt powder was the optimized condition (p < 0.05) and obtained the rheological, color, and microbiological parameters closest to fresh yogurt. CONCLUSIONS: The drying of the yogurt by freeze-drying mixed with xanthan gum as a texture improver allowed to obtain a reconstituted yogurt with properties close to the fresh product for direct consumption.

Abstract Kuini powders were obtained through spray-drying, freeze-drying, vacuum oven drying and convection oven drying. Colour, water activity (Aw), moisture content, hygroscopicity, wettability, flowability, degree of caking, water solubility index (WSI), total colour change, total phenolic content and total carotenoid content of Kuini powders were determined and compared. Convection oven drying resulted in the highest yield (46.97%), moisture content (4.91%), Aw (0.55) and WSI (74.33%) among all the drying methods. However, convection oven-dried Kuini powder had the lowest hygroscopicity and wettability, which were 18.66% and 12.04 s, respectively. Spray drying resulted in poor hygroscopicity (22.41%), degree of caking (22.16%), wettability (275s), WSI (45.67%) and higher colour change (59.81). Least total colour change (19.05) and higher yellowness (57.31) were observed in freeze-drying. In addition, freeze-dried Kuini powder had the highest total phenolic content (24.76 mg/100 g) and total carotenoid content (1.61 mg/100 g). Drying temperature had a negative and significant correlation with the retention of color pigments and antioxidant content. The physicochemical properties and antioxidant content of freeze-dried Kuini powder were preferred over spray-dried, vacuum oven-dried and convection oven-dried powders. Hence, freeze-drying offers potential application in the food products.

The fungus Beauveria bassiana is widely used for pest control; however, biostability and dispersion for broth pulverization are limiting factors for its application in the field. In this context, formulation techniques such as microencapsulation are viable alternatives. The aim of this work is to optimize B. bassiana formulations by spray dryer and evaluate its stability and biological activity against Spodoptera cosmioides compared to ionic gelatinization formulations. The fungus was biocompatible with all evaluated biopolymers (lignin, cellulose, starch, humic substances, and alginate). The encapsulation by spray drying was optimized by factorial design in an inlet and outlet air temperature of 120°C and 68°C, respectively; aspirator rate of 35 m3·h−1, feed flow rate of 12 mL·min−1; and drying gas flow at 35 L·h−1. The ionic gelation capsules were obtained using a 0.5% quantity of conidia in a 1% sodium alginate solution dropped into a 0.5 mol·L−1 CaCl2 solution using a peristaltic pump. Spray drying provided smaller microcapsules than those by ionic gelation. Both techniques produced more stable conidia when exposed to temperature and UV-radiation than non-formulated B. bassiana. The formulations prepared by spray drying showed gains at aqueous dispersion. Biological assays against Spodoptera cosmioides showed a mortality rate of up to 90%. These results demonstrate the suitability of encapsulating B. bassiana conidia stably in aqueous dispersion without loss of viability and virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Successful encapsulation of garlic alliinase in micro-carriers by spray drying. • Superior thermal stability of alliinase in maltodextrin micro-particles. • Rate of enzymatic production of allicin controllable via TPP/chitosan mass ratio. • Confirmation of antibacterial activity of spray-dried powders. Allicin, an organic compound produced via the transformation of biologically inactive alliin by alliinase, an enzyme found in garlic, combines a strong antibacterial effect with suppressed development of bacterial resistance. However, because of the high reactivity and volatility, controlled in-situ production of allicin that mimics the natural synthesis is essential to achieve desired therapeutic effects. In this work, the spray-drying technique was employed for encapsulation of alliinase into polymer micro-carriers with an emphasis on the effect of process parameters, i.e., drying temperature, nozzle type, choice of the carrier materials, on the activity of encapsulated alliinase in soluble maltodextrin and swellable chitosan microparticles. The results show that maltodextrin is a suitable carrier for the effective protection of alliinase against thermal stress. On the other hand, we can control allicin production and release from chitosan carriers with immobilized alliinase by variation of the cross-linker amount. Antibacterial activity of in-situ formed allicin vapors was confirmed against Escherichia coli bacterial strain using customized sample holders preventing physical contact of powder sample with the inoculated agar plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the physicochemical properties of powders obtained by spray drying of cloudy beetroot juice, using dehumidified air in variants with or without carriers. The inlet air temperature was 130 °C or 90 °C, and the addition of the carriers was at a ratio of juice to carrier solids of 3:2. In the obtained powders, the following physicochemical properties were determined: water content and water activity, apparent density, loose and tapped density, porosity, flowability, particle size and morphology, and the content and retention of betalains. It was possible to dry cloudy beetroot juice without the use of carriers at low temperatures (90 or 130 °C). The 100% beetroot powders were characterized by satisfactory physicochemical properties, often better than those with carriers (including lower hygroscopicity and higher color saturation and yield). A lower loss of betalains was found for the powders with the addition of carriers. The best process yields were obtained for the powder without carriers at 130 °C and 90 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The diarylheptanoid xyloside oregonin ((5S)‐1,7‐bis(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐5‐(β‐d‐xylopyranosyloxy)‐heptan‐3‐one) has significant medicinal potential and is found at high concentration in leaves and bark of red alder (Alnus rubra). Objectives: To establish inexpensive and easily scaled methods for the extraction and purification of oregonin from timber by‐products. Methods: We developed a method combining aqueous extraction with spray drying of red alder extract into a powder, thus reducing the need for organic solvents used in traditional Soxhlet extraction or in solvent partitioning. Flash chromatography was utilised to purify oregonin from crude spray‐dried alder extract. Results: Crude spray‐dried alder extract was comprised of an average of 9% of the diarylheptanoid compound oregonin. Less than 10% thermal degradation of oregonin was observed using extraction temperatures between 25°C and 50°C, followed by spray drying. The structure of purified oregonin was validated using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry (MS), ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Conclusion: The developed method was robust, repeatable, and yielded purified oregonin of greater than > 95% purity (average of 95.8%). Our analysis represents the most complete NMR characterisation of oregonin reported to date. The diarylheptanoid xyloside oregonin ((5S)‐1,7‐bis(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐5‐(β‐D‐xylopyranosyloxy)‐heptan‐3‐one) is found at high concentration in red alder forestry waste residues. We established novel methods of oregonin extraction and purification combining spray drying and flash chromatography, thus reducing the need for organic solvents used in traditional Soxhlet extraction or in solvent partitioning. The developed method was robust, repeatable, and yielded purified oregonin of greater than >95% purity (average of 95.8%). Our analysis represents the most complete NMR characterization of oregonin reported to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanotube (CNTs) based composite materials are popular in various fields. However, traditional strategies for the electric conductivity modulation of CNTs is complicated and improper in large-scale applications. Herein, a novel CNTs-based hollow microsphere is prepared through facile spray drying and one-step pyrolysis. This unique interpenetration microsphere conductive network is constructed by nitrogen-doped CNTs embedded with Co nanoparticles (Co–N–C), which is compactly entangled by commercial CNTs. By the strong charge polarization and electron redistribution on the surface of Co–N–C, the monohybrids exhibit excellent bifunctional applications. The Co–N–C/CNTsHS shows excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance including the high half-wave potential (0.87V), outstanding stability and methanol tolerance. Benefited from the improved dielectric property of Co–N–C, the Co–N–C/CNTsHS exhibits superior microwave absorption (MA) performance, with a maximum reflection loss of −60.2 dB and the bandwidth of 5.1 GHz at a thickness of only 2.5 mm. The enhanced performance can be attributed to three dimension (3D) hollow mesoporous conductive networks, which accelerate electron transfer and modulate charge distribution of Co–N–C. This work puts forward a new idea of charge modulation of CNTs and lays a foundation for the preparation of excellent bifunctional materials. A new strategy of conductive modulation of CNTs is developed to construct porous hollow composite microsphere, which is composed of Co–N–C and commercial CNTs. The composite exhibits excellent bifunctional performance of ORR and MA. This work may lay the foundation electrical conductivity of CNTs and open the door for the preparation of outstanding bifunctional materials. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spray-drying is an inherently continuous and well-established industrial drying process. It can accelerate manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals and vaccine products, resulting in both an economic and health benefit. In this review, we cover a systematic assessment and discuss the spray-drying of diverse protein pharmaceuticals and excipients included therein, solvent systems applicable to these formulations, equipment used and, respective process parameters. Further, key quality aspects of spray-dried protein solids are discussed. Based on the overall trends, we present a concise perspective into the future of protein pharmaceuticals spray-drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoride (F)-releasing restoratives typically are either weak mechanically or release only low levels of F ions. The objectives of this study were to: (1) develop a novel photo-cured nanocomposite with strong mechanical properties and high levels of sustained F ion release via a two-step "co-precipitation + spray-drying" technique to synthesize CaF 2 nanoparticles (nCaF 2); and (2) investigate the effect of spray-drying treatment after co-precipitation of nCaF 2 on mechanical properties and F ion release of composite. Two types of CaF 2 particles were synthesized: A co-precipitation method yielded CaF 2 cp; "co-precipitation + spray-drying" yielded nCaF 2 cpsd. Composites were fabricated with fillers of: (1) 0% CaF 2 + 70% glass; (2) 10% CaF 2 cp + 60% glass; (3) 15% CaF 2 cp + 55% glass; (4) 20% CaF 2 cp + 50% glass; (5) 10% nCaF 2 cpsd + 60% glass; (6) 15% nCaF 2 cpsd + 55% glass; and (7) 20% nCaF 2 cpsd + 50% glass. A commercial F-releasing nanocomposite served as control. The nCaF 2 cpsd had much smaller particle size (median = 32 nm) and narrower distribution (22–57 nm) than CaF 2 cp (median = 5.25 μm, 162 nm–67 μm). The composite containing nCaF 2 cpsd had greater flowability, flexural strength, elastic modulus and hardness than CaF 2 cp composite and commercial control composite. At 84-day immersion in water, the nanocomposites containing 20% nCaF 2 cpsd had 65 times higher cumulative F release, and 77 times greater long-term F-release rate, than commercial control. A novel two-step "co-precipitation + spray-drying" technique of synthesizing nCaF 2 was developed. The photo-cured nanocomposite containing 20% nCaF 2 cpsd possessed strong mechanical properties and excellent long-term F-release ability, and hence is promising for dental restoration applications to inhibit secondary caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]