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This work aimed to valorise Agaricus bisporus biomass residues to produce bio-based and biodegradable films. To this end, two of the most widely consumed varieties, Agaricus bisporus brunnescens (Abb) and Agaricus bisporus hortensis (Abh), were compositionally characterised and then, films were formed by extrusion and compression-moulding. Proteins and β-glucans were the major components in both varieties. Abb showed a higher protein content, whereas the amount of polysaccharides and lipids was higher in Abh. Thermally-processed Abh-films showed better mechanical and barrier performance than their counterparts prepared with Abb, mainly ascribed to the higher carbohydrate and lipid content. Thus, Abh was selected to optimize the processing conditions in terms of energy consumption (from 100 to 130 °C) and barrier properties. As a result, 110 °C was selected as the optimum processing temperature for Abh-films since the mechanical properties in terms of strength were not significantly modified and barrier properties were significantly improved. The resulting film was coated with a beeswax layer to reduce its hydrophilic nature. The coated films showed similar mechanical properties than their counterparts prepared without the beeswax coating but displayed significantly better water vapour barrier performance. Furthermore, both films were easily disintegrated under composting conditions according to ISO 20200., Grant CEX2021-001189-S funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. This study forms part of the AGROALNEXT programme and was supported by MCIN with funding from European Union NextGenerationEU (PRTR-C17.I1) and by Generalitat Valenciana. This research is also part of the CSIC program for the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility of the European Union, established by the Regulation (EU) 2020/2094. Interdisciplinary Platform for Sustainable Plastics towards a Circular Economy+. PTI-SusPlast+ is also acknowledged for financial support., With funding from the Spanish government through the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX 2021-001189-S)

This study reports on the use of whole seaweed biomass to obtain bio-based films for food packaging applications. Specifically, four different species of agarophytes (Gelidium corneum, Gracilaria chilensis, Gracilaria tenuistipitata and Gracilariopsis longissima) were minimally processed by melt blending and compression molding, and the effect of their composition and cell wall structure on the final performance of the films was investigated. The seaweed biomass was mainly composed of carbohydrates (35–50%), but significant amounts of proteins and ashes were also detected. Temperature-resolved SAXS experiments and microscopy analyses evidenced that a higher temperature of 130 ℃ is required to promote the release of agar from the tougher cell walls from G. corneum and G. tenuistipitata. The higher cellulose content of G. corneum (ca. 15%) resulted in films with higher mechanical resistance and water vapor barrier capacity, while the higher agar content of G. chilensis improved the elongation capacity of the films. The results from this work evidence the potential of red seaweed biomass to generate food packaging materials in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way., Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. This work was financially supported by Hispanagar. Synchrotron experiments were performed at NCD beamline at ALBA Synchrotron with the collaboration of ALBA staff (2020024090 project).

The physicochemical and functional properties of pectin (JFP) extracted from edible portions (including pericarp and seed) of raw jackfruit (an underutilized tropical fruit) at four different maturity stages (referred to as stages I, II, III, and IV) were characterized in terms of extraction yields, chemical composition, molecular weight, and antioxidant properties to evaluate its potential use in foods., P. Nisha thanks the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India for awarding her the Raman Research Fellowship. K Nidhina acknowledges the University Grants Commission (UGC) for awarding a research fellowship.

By-products of a native fruit of the Argentina northwest have been valorized for the extraction of both pectin and bioactive extracts with the aim of developing antioxidant films with potential application as food packaging materials. Initially, the composition and antioxidant properties of polyphenol-rich, anthocyanin-rich, and pectin extracts obtained from the seed and peel of Solanum betaceum (chilto) red fruits were characterized. Based on their higher antioxidant properties, peel extracts were selected as active compounds and incorporated in a film-forming matrix based on the pectin extract. Dry films were evaluated concerning their morphological, optical, thermal, mechanical, and water barrier properties. The developed antioxidant films were directly applied on salmon fillets, effectively improving their shelf-life and reducing lipid and protein oxidation during 10 days of storage at 4 °C. It was also found that the films containing peel-polyphenolic extract were the most promising, in agreement with their better barrier properties., This research was supported by grants from ICOOP-CSIC (COOPB20539), Consejo de Investigación de la Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (PIUNT 2018- G637 Project), Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Técnica (PICT 2017–4416 Project: PICT 2020–3619 Project), and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (PUE 2018–0011 Project), Biolates network “P320RT0186— Sustainable use of Ibero-American vegetable biomass resources in cosmetics” (CYTED) and CSIC Interdisciplinary Thematic Platform (PTI+) Interdisciplinary Platform for Sustainable Plastics towards a Circular Economy+. (PTI-SusPlast+). D.A. Mendez is supported by the Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (Colciencias) of the Colombian Government (783–2017).

In this work, a bioactive persimmon extract was produced from discarded fruits. A central composite design was used to evaluate the effect of different extraction parameters and ripeness stages of persimmon fruits on the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the resulting extracts. Significantly greater phenolic contents were obtained from immature persimmon (IP) fruits. The optimum IP extract with the conditions set by the experimental design was industrially up-scaled and its composition and functional properties were evaluated and compared with those obtained under lab-scale conditions. Both extracts contained significant protein (>20%) and phenolic contents (∼11–27 mg GA/g dry extract) and displayed significant antiviral activity against murine norovirus and hepatitis A virus. Moreover, the extract showed no toxicity and significantly reduced the fat content and the cellular ageing of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) without affecting the worm development. These effects were mediated by down-regulation of fat-7, suggesting an anti-lipogenic activity of this extract., This work was financially supported by the grant RTI-2018-094268-B-C22 (MCI/AEI/FEDER, EU). Mendez D. A. is supported by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Minciencias) of the Colombian Government (783-2017). M. J. Fabra and A. Martinez-Abad are recipients of Ramon y Cajal (RYC-2014-158) and Juan de la Cierva (IJDC-2017-31255), respectively, from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. We also appreciate the funding of the CERCA program (Centres de Recerca de Catalunya) of the Generalitat de Catalunya and from the CIEN project “BIOPRO” from CDTI.

Softwood from conifers constitutes one of the main terrestrial renewable resources for the production of bio-based materials and platform chemicals. Lignocellulose from softwoods has a distinct molecular composition compared to other plant biomass sources, where acetylated galactoglucomannan is the main hemicellulose with minor amounts of arabinoglucuronoxylan. Here, we reveal the presence of mannan and xylan populations in spruce softwoods with distinct molecular features based on their extractability using sequential hydrothermal treatment by subcritical water without previous delignification. An accessible acetylated mannan population has been identified with simple profiles of glucosyl and galactosyl motifs and without the existence of a regular acetylation pattern. The xylan populations are extracted at intermediate times, and they exhibit the presence of major and minor regular intramolecular domains with different relative abundances based on extractability. Finally, a recalcitrant mannan population with complex glucosylation and galactosylation profiles was identified at longer extraction times. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the presence of consecutive mannose units in the backbone prevents the tight association with cellulose surfaces, which may explain the different extractabilities of the two isolated mannan populations. The combination of sequential hydrothermal treatment, comprehensive carbohydrate sequencing and molecular dynamics simulations offers new insights into the distinct features of the mannan and xylan populations in softwoods, and their putative organization in the lignocellulosic matrix.

In this work, starch biocomposites fully-based on the valorization of white rice agroindustrial by-products have been produced by melt mixing. The film matrix consisted on rice flour (RF) or rice starch (RS) obtained, which was reinforced with cellulose-rich nanocrystals obtained through simplified extraction processes from rice husks (CN-RH) and rice straw (CN-RW). The presence of impurities in RF induced the re-crystallization of starch, producing more crystalline films with better mechanical performance, but greater water vapor permeability than RS. This was overcome by the addition of 15% (w/w) cellulosic nanocrystals. Moreover, the cellulosic nanocrystals increased the stiffness of the films, with the CN-RW yielding better mechanical performance due to their more homogeneous morphology and distribution within the RF matrix. Interestingly, all the RF films showed remarkable antioxidant capacity (>20% inhibition of β-carotene bleaching), highlighting the potential of less purified materials to develop sustainable food packaging with additional functionalities., M. M. Ortiz-Gimeno was recipient of a JAE-Intro grant from CSIC (JAEINT20_EX_0182) and A. Martínez-Abad is recipient of a Juan de la Cierva Incorporación contract (IJDC-2017-31255) from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. This work was also financially supported by the RTI2018-094408-J-I00 project (MCIU/AEI/FEDER,UE) and the BIOCARB-4-FOOD project granted by the “Agencia Estatal de Investigación” and co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (ERA-Net SUSFOOD2).

In this work, a sequential fractionation protocol (cold and hot aqueous and alkaline extractions) and detailed compositional analysis (gross composition, monosaccharide analysis, FTIR, TGA) was applied to three relevant mushrooms in terms of global production (Grifola frondosa, Lentinula edodes and Pleurotus ostreatus) aiming to understand what is preferentially extracted during fractionation and how β-glucan extraction is affected by mushroom source. Room temperature aqueous extracts showed highest overall yields (56.3-82%) consisting of proteins, sugars and polyphenols. β-glucan content was highest in P. ostreatus and was concentrated in the more soluble fractions. On the contrary, a recalcitrant β-glucan in G. frondosa was mainly present in the residue (7.38%). L. edodes showed β-glucan populations distributed along aqueous and alkaline extracts, higher abundance of non-glucan polysaccharides and higher chitin purity (47.78%) in the residue. This work sets the basis for the rational design of extraction processes aiming to valorise mushroom biomass., This work was performed with the financial support of the CIEN project BIOPRO from “Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial” (CDTI), Ministry of Science and Innovation, Government of Spain.

Persimmon fruit (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) production suffers great losses (15–20%) due to the inefficient overripening process. In order to valorise this waste, a compositional characterization of different fruit stages of the residues was done, and immature fruit was selected due to its high pectin and very high polyphenol content. A 3-level full factorial design was carried out to study the effect of temperature (70–95 °C) and low pH (0.5–1.5), on yield, degree of esterification, carbohydrate constituents, phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of the extracted pectin, and a complete polyphenol profile (UPLC-MS/MS) was performed on selected extracts. All responses could be accurately adjusted to the models (R2 > 80; lack of fit). Pectin yield, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity ranged from 1.4 to 4.5%, 53.3 ± 2.27 to 111.7 ± 9.74 mg GAE/g pectin and 0.29 ± 0.01 to 2.77 ± 0.04 TEAC (Trolox μmol/mg pectin), respectively. A strong pectin-polyphenol interaction was found, which significantly enhanced acid resistance of both the pectin and polyphenol constituents, with optimum yield and polyphenol content at pH 1 and 95 °C. These new pectin-based ingredients might have a great potential as functional foods or natural food ingredients enhancing the quality and shelf-life., This work was funded by grant RTI-2018-094268-B-C21 and RTI2018-094268-B-C22 (MCIU, AEI; FEDER, UE).

The alginate industry processes more than hundred thousand tons per year of algae in Europe, discarding around 80% of the algae biomass as different solid/liquid residual streams. In this work, Saccharina latissima and Ascophyllum nodosum, their generated alginates and all residual fractions generated in the process were characterized in terms of lipid, ash, protein content, and the carbohydrate composition and antioxidant capacities analyzed. The first fraction after acid treatment (ca. 50% of the initial dry biomass) was rich in phlorotannins (15 mg GAE/g) and bioactive fucoidans (15-70%), with a high sulfation degree in A. nodosum. Two fractions generated from the solid residue, one soluble and another insoluble (Ra and Rb, respectively), constituted 9% and 5-8% of the initial biomass and showed great potential as a source of soluble protein (30% for S. latissima), and cellulose (70%) or fucoidan, respectively. Valorization strategies are suggested for these waste streams, evidencing their high potential as bioactive, texturizing or nutritional added-value ingredients for cosmetic, food, feed or pharmaceutical applications., This work acknowledges financial support from the Spanish Research agency (Ministry of Science and Innovation) through projects RTI-2018-094268-B-C22 and PID2020-117744RJ-I00. H. Bojorges acknowledges financial support from the Generalitat Valenciana for the award of a Santiago Grisolía grant (GRISOLIAP/2019/007).

This work reports on the valorisation of persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) for the development of food-grade antiviral coatings against major viral foodborne pathogens, human noroviruses (NoVs) and hepatitis A virus (HAV). Initially, the antiviral activity of polyphenol-rich pectin extracts with abundant non-covalent interactions (PPN), pectin extracts enriched with intact pectin-polyphenol ester and O-glycosyl bonds (PPC) and hydro-ethanolic polyphenol-rich extracts (EPE) was compared. Higher viral reductions were found for the pectin extracts rich in polyphenols, mainly in those containing covalent pectin-polyphenol interactions. This specific extract was mixed with commercial citrus pectin (CP) to develop active edible films. Dry films were analysed in terms of their optical, morphological, mechanical and barrier properties. Addition of the bioactive pectin persimmon extract resulted in more coloured films with lower transparency. The presence of covalently-linked polyphenols gave rise to stiffer films, with lower sorption capacity and more hydrophobic nature. The infectivity of MNV and HAV on fresh blueberries after the coating treatments was reduced by approximately 4.28 and 2.38 log, respectively, after overnight incubation, as compared to the controls, when 10% PPC was incorporated into the film. Higher amounts of PPC did not significantly improve the antiviral activity and a complete inactivation for both viruses was observed after 4 days of storage at 25 °C. This paper highlights the potential of persimmon discards as a cheap source of food-grade antiviral coatings with improved physicochemical properties as compared to commercial citrus pectin., Grant RTI-2018-094268-B-C22 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. This work was also funded by the grant INNVAL10-19-009 - CA8250 from Agència Valenciana d'Innovació (AVI). D.A. Méndez. Is supported by the Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (Colciencias) of the Colombian Government (783–2017). This research is part of the CSIC program for the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility of the European Union, established by the Regulation (EU) 2020/2094. Interdisciplinary Platform for Sustainable Plastics towards a Circular Economy+. PTI-SusPlast+ is also acknowledged for financial support.

This work reports on the valorisation of discarded mushroom biomass generated in the industry and the waste produced after a β-glucan extraction process from three different species (Grifola frondosa, Lentinula edodes, and Pleurotus ostreatus) for the production of biobased and biodegradable films. Initially, the composition of the starting material was characterized before film production. The results evidenced no significant compositional differences between the discarded mushrooms, proteins, and β-glucans being the main components in all varieties. In contrast, the residues were mainly composed of carbohydrates (glucans and chitin). The films obtained from the residues presented a very rigid behaviour, with higher elastic modulus (ca. 2–4.5 GPa) and lower elongation values (ca. 1%) compared to their counterparts prepared with the mushroom's discards. The developed films outperformed benchmark biopolymers in terms of barrier properties with the additional advantages that they can be directly produced from fungal biomass (without plasticizers or any other additives) and they proved to be easily disintegrated according to the standard ISO 20200., This research is part of the CSIC program for the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility of the European Union, established by the Regulation (EU) 2020/2094. CSIC Interdisciplinary Thematic Platform (PTI+) Interdisciplinary Platform for Sustainable Plastics towards a Circular Economy+. (PTI-SusPlast+).

The effects of the high hydrostatic pressure (HPP) pre-treatment on the alginate extraction were seen to greatly depend on the recalcitrant nature of two algae species. Alginates were deeply characterized in terms of composition, structure (HPAEC-PAD, FTIR, NMR, SEC-MALS), functional and technological properties. The pre-treatment significantly increased the alginate yield in the less recalcitrant A. nodosum (AHP) also favoring the extraction of sulphated fucoidan/fucan structures and polyphenols. Although the molecular weight was significantly lower in AHP samples, neither the M/G ratio nor the M and G sequences were modified. In contrast, a lower increase in alginate extraction yield was observed for the more recalcitrant S. latissima after the HPP pre-treatment (SHP), but it significantly affected the M/G values of the resulting extract. The gelling properties of the alginate extracts were also explored by external gelation in CaCl2 solutions. The mechanical strength and nanostructure of the hydrogel beads prepared were determined using compression tests, synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and cryo-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM). Interestingly, the application of HPP significantly improved the gel strength of SHP, in agreement with the lower M/G values and the stiffer rod-like conformation obtained for these samples., Grants RTI-2018-094268-B-C22 and PID2020-117744RJ-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and, as appropriate, by “ERDF A way of making Europe”, by the “European Union” or by the “European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR”. H. Bojorges acknowledges financial support from the Generalitat Valenciana for the award of a Santiago Grisolía grant (GRISOLIAP/2019/007).

Pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD) is a non-inflammatory ectatic corneal disease characterized by a narrow band of corneal thinning separated from the limbus by a relatively uninvolved area 1–2 mm in width. It is a rare corneal disorder that shares many clinical characteristics with other corneal ectasias, such as keratoconus, keratoglobus or Terrien marginal degeneration. PMD usually starts later in life than keratoconus and progresses slower than keratoconus. Slit-lamp examination is very useful to distinguish PMD from other corneal ectatic disorders with inflammatory nature. Corneal topographic indices and the classical crab-claw topographic pattern cannot be used as the main tool to distinguish between PMD and keratoconus. New Scheimpflug imaging-based devices have shown the importance and usefulness of the pachymetric map for an appropriate diagnosis of PMD. In addition, biomechanical and densitometric properties have been studied as complementary techniques to help in the diagnosis of PMD. The author David P Piñero has been supported by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness of Spain within the program Ramón y Cajal, RYC-2016-20471.

Purpose To evaluate the differences in corneo-scleral topographic profile between healthy and keratoconus eyes, and their potential diagnostic ability for keratoconus detection. Methods Prospective comparative study including 21 keratoconic eyes (11 patients) and 88 healthy eyes (88 patients). In all cases, a complete eye exam was performed including an evaluation of the corneo-scleral profile. The diagnostic ability of corneo-scleral topographic parameters to detect keratoconus was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results A significant lower inferior tangent angle at limbus (ITA) was found in the keratoconic group compared to the control group (p = 0.024). Regarding sagittal heights, significant differences between groups were found in temporal sagittal height (TSH) for 11 mm (p = 0.040), 12 mm (p = 0.041) and 13 mm corneal chords (p = 0.040), difference between temporal and nasal sagittal heights (T-NSH) for 12 mm (p = 0.025) and 13 mm (p = 0.034), and maximum sagittal height (MaxSH) for 12 mm (p = 0.043), with higher values in keratoconus. In bilateral cases, these differences were not found when comparing with the least severe keratoconus eye. Statistical significance for the ROC curve was only found for ITA (p = 0.025), 12-mm (p = 0.048) and 13-mm TSH (p = 0.042), and 13-mm T-NSH (p = 0.037), with cutoff values associated to limited values of sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions The corneo-scleral profile in keratoconus presents higher levels of asymmetry compared to healthy eyes, especially in eyes with moderate and advanced stages of the disease. The diagnostic accuracy of corneo-scleral topographic data alone for keratoconus detection is limited and must be used in conjunction with other clinical parameters.

Novel and more sustainable sound absorbing materials are produced through the valorization of waste biomass sources by following circular economy principles. Cellulosic nanocrystals (CNC) were extracted from Posidonia oceanica dead leaves, spent barely grains, and kale stems (KS) using a simplified purification protocol. These nanocrystals are used to prepare cellulosic aerogels, evaluating the effect of three parameters, namely, concentration (0.5–4%), CaCl2 and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) incorporation (hybrid aerogels), on their sound absorption properties. Aerogels from 4% suspensions show the highest sound absorption, outperforming benchmark rockwool and polyester—two modern commonly-used sound absorbers. Moreover, PLA coating also improves the sound absorption performance of the most aerogels. CNC from KS aerogels are selected as the optimum at both high (500–6000 Hz) and low (100–1500 Hz) frequency ranges. Overall, these results represent a new proof-of-concept of waste biomass conversion to high-performance cellulosic aerogels that have excellent sound absorbing properties., This research is part of the CSIC program for the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility of the European Union, established by the Regulation (EU) 2020/2094. Grant RTI2018-094268-B-C22 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. This work was a part of the Academy of Finland's Flagship Programme under Projects No. 318890 and 318891 (Competence Center for Materials Bioeconomy, FinnCERES).

Watermelon is the second largest fruit crop worldwide, with great potential to valorise its rind waste. An experimental design was used to model how extraction parameters (temperature, pH, and time) impact on the efficiency of the process, purity, esterification degree, monosaccharide composition and molar mass of watermelon rind pectin (WRP), with an insight on changes in their structural properties (linearity, branching degree and extraction severity). The models for all responses were accurately fitted (R2 > 90%, lack of fit p ≥ 0.05) and experimentally validated. At optimum yield conditions, WRP yield (13.4%), purity (540 µg/g galacturonic acid) and molar mass (106.1 kDa) were comparable to traditional pectin sources but showed a higher branching degree with longer galactan side chains and a higher protein interaction. Harsher conditions (pH 1) generated purer homogalacturonan fractions with average molar masses (80 kDa) at the expense of yield, while mild extraction conditions (pH ≥ 2) produced highly branched entangled pectin structures. This study underlines novel compositional features in WRP and the possibility of producing novel customized pectin ingredients with a wider potential application scope depending on the targeted structure., This research was funded by the grant RTI-2018-094268-B-C22 (MCI/AEI/FEDER, EU). Mendez D. A. is supported by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Minciencias) of the Colombian Government (783-2017). M. J. Fabra and A. Martinez-Abad are recipients of Ramon y Cajal (RYC-2014-158) and Juan de la Cierva (IJDC-2017-31255), respectively, from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness.

PURPOSE To evaluate changes in keratoconic corneas implanted with intracorneal ring segments (ICRS) that have been explanted due to late extrusion of the segment after >2 years. SETTING Vissum Miranza, Alicante, Spain; OftalmoSalud, Lima, Peru; Minya University Hospital, Egypt. METHODS Retrospective, multicenter, series of cases of 23 keratoconic corneas that have been implanted for > 2 years and have been explanted due to natural extrusion of the segment. Clinical measures of visual, refractive, topographic, pachymetric and aberrometric data were analyzed. To perform exploratory factor analysis, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test was used to evaluate sampling adequacy. Factor analysis with VARIMAX rotation was used to determine the main factors of the inventory. RESULTS Mean time interval 5 years. Topographic findings were reversed nearly to the baseline level after segment explantation (p>0.05). Significant worsened in refractive cylinder was found pre-ICRS extrusion (p

Seaweed residues from Alaria esculenta, Saccharina latissima and Ascophyllum nodosum after alginate extraction have been valorized to produce cellulose-based fractions with different purification degrees. The residues were mainly composed of carbohydrates (35–57%) and proteins (12–37%), Alaria and Saccharina being richer in cellulose and Ascophyllum richer in fucoidan. The lower cellulose content in the latter made it unsuitable for the extraction of cellulosic fractions. Self-supporting films were obtained from the cellulosic fractions from Saccharina and Alaria residues. While the higher cellulose purity films presented more desirable characteristics in terms of mechanical properties (with elastic moduli of ca. 5–7 GPa and elongation values of ca. 3–5%) and visual appearance, the presence of non-cellulosic components in the films from less purified fractions reduced their water sensitivity and promoted greater water barrier (with water permeability values of ca. 4–6 kg·m/s·m2·Pa). These results point towards the potential of a simple alkaline extraction to generate cellulose-based films from seaweed residuals with the best compromise between functional properties and economical and environmental efficiency., This work was financially supported by the “Agencia Estatal de Investigación” (PCI2018-092886 Grant) and co-funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (ERA-Net SUSFOOD2) and the RTI2018-094408-J-I00 project (MCIU/AEI/FEDER,UE).

The bioactivity and gelling properties of a carbohydrate-rich algal extract obtained from locally harvested Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed using a chemical-free approach were investigated for its potential interest in food applications. Physicochemical characterisation and compositional analysis of the extract, using FTIR, biochemical methods and monosaccharide analysis, confirmed the presence of alginates and fucoidans, although the main polysaccharide present in it was laminarin. Significant amounts of phenolic compounds (~9 ​mg phloroglucinol/100 ​mg sample) were also detected. As a result, the extract exhibited good antioxidant activity. It also showed promising prebiotic potential, promoting the growth of beneficial Lactobacillus sp. and Bifidobacteria sp. when compared with commercial prebiotics, but not that of pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli or P. aeruginosa. The gelling properties of the raw extract were explored to optimize hydrogel bead formation by external gelation in CaCl2 solutions. This was enhanced at neutral to alkaline pHs and high extract and CaCl2 concentrations. The mechanical strength, nano- and microstructure of the hydrogel beads prepared under optimised conditions were determined using compression tests, synchrotron small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was concluded that the raw algal extract at neutral pH had potential for use as a gelling agent, although further enrichment with alginate improved the mechanical properties of the obtained gels. The advantages and disadvantages of applying the non-purified algal extract in comparison with purified carbohydrates are discussed., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • Carbohydrate-rich extract from A. nodosum obtained using a chemical-free process. • The algal extract exhibited in-vitro antioxidant and prebiotic properties. • Beads were obtained by external gelation of the extract at neutral to alkaline pH. • Enrichment with alginate improved the mechanical properties of the gels. • Components of the extract acted as fillers, reducing structural changes upon drying.

In the last decades, berries have been identified as important vehicles for the transmission of foodborne viruses and different strategies are being explored to eliminate or reduce viral contamination in these fruits. The aim of this work was to develop novel edible coatings with antiviral properties for inactivating and reducing murine norovirus (MNV). Firstly, the effect of gelatin (G) addition on Persian gum (PG) films was studied in terms of microstructural, mechanical, optical, and water barrier properties. The following PG:G ratios were considered: 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100. Microstructure analysis revealed the compatibility of both hydrocolloids since no phase separation was observed. The addition of G to PG films provided stiffer and more deformable films than pure PG, with lower water vapor permeability values. Specifically, films prepared with 50:50 PG:G ratio presented better mechanical and barrier performance. Interestingly, pure PG showed antiviral activity on murine norovirus, probably due to the presence of some impurities (mainly tannins). Adding allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) enhanced the PG antiviral activity at refrigerated temperatures in blueberries, not being affected by the AITC concentration. This effect was not observed at ambient temperature, probably due to the volatilization of AITC., This research received no external funding.

In this work, an advanced approach combining small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments, rheology and confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to explain the different emulsification mechanisms of three pectin sources (pectin extracted from watermelon rind -WRP- and commercial citrus -CP- and apple pectin -AP). Very interestingly, three different emulsification mechanisms were identified, related to the structure and composition of the pectin extracts. WRP had significantly greater emulsifying capacity than commercial CP and AP. This enhanced emulsification ability was mainly ascribed to a combination of its relatively high protein content (mainly acting as the surface-active material), combined with the presence of longer sugar side chains in pectin, further contributing to stabilizing the oil droplets in the emulsions. All these structural features resulted in a reduction in the mean droplet size as the concentration increased, thus, hindering flocculation and coalescence during the short-term storage conditions at 4 °C. In contrast, AP had the lowest emulsification capacity, which was only related to its viscosifying effect (provided by its greater Mw), while CP, having the greatest homogalacturonan content, greatest linearity and a more balanced hydrophilic/hydrophobic character (reflected in the degree of esterification), was able to form a better adsorbed layer at the o/w interphase, although it could not avoid flocculation and creaming at low pectin concentration during refrigerated storage., This work was funded by the grant RTI-2018-094268-B-C22 (MCI/AEI/FEDER, EU). Mendez D. A. is supported by the Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (Colciencias) of the Colombian Government (783–2017). M. J. Fabra and A. Martinez-Abad are recipients of Ramon y Cajal (RYC-2014-158) and Juan de la Cierva (IJDC-2017-31255), respectively, from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness.

This work reports on the valorization of Tempranillo vine shoots for the development of bio-based packaging materials. Cellulose (F3) and nanocellulose (NANO F3) were produced by the conventional method, while less purified cellulosic fractions (F2A) and nanocrystals (NANO F2A) were extracted by simplified protocols (omitting Soxhlet and alkaline treatments) to reduce production costs and environmental impact and evaluate the potential added functionalities of these less purified materials. Although most of the hemicelluloses in F2A were digested upon acid hydrolysis, a small fraction remained in NANO F2A. On the other hand, the presence of a minor xylan fraction in F3 limited the access of sulphuric acid towards the cellulose microfibrils, hindering hydrolysis and producing heterogeneous fibrillar structures in NANO F3. The obtained materials were used to produce cellulosic films, as well as blends with agar, and their performance properties were evaluated. Overall, NANO F2A films showed the best compromise between performance and sustainability and presented additional antioxidant capacity. The properties of the films could be adjusted by the incorporation of agar, improving their ductility and water permeability., This work was financially supported by the project RTI2018-094408-J-I00 from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the “Agencia Estatal de Investigación” and co-funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (ERA-Net SUSFOOD2). A. Martinez-Abad acknowledges the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and University, as a recipient of a Juan de la Cierva contract (IJDC-2017-31255).

In this study the rheological properties of aqueous suspensions of three microalgae species, Nannochloropsis gaditana, Scenedesmus almeriensis and Spirulina platensis, were investigated as a function of solids content, and related to their composition and microstructure. In addition, the impact of ultrasound processing on their structuring ability was also studied. The less rigid character of the Spirulina platensis cell walls (with very low carbohydrate contents) and the presence of extracellular components promoted cell-cell interactions, yielding suspensions which showed a shear thinning behaviour at lower concentrations than Nannochloropsis gaditana and Scenedesmus almeriensis. It is noteworthy that the three species showed different viscoelastic properties at 25 wt.% total solids. Spirulina platensis suspensions showed a more elastic behaviour and lower frequency dependence, characteristic of weak gels, whilst Nannochloropsis gaditana and Scenedesmus almeriensis behaved more like viscous liquids. The ultrasound treatment did not affect the cell wall integrity, but it promoted the release of intracellular components (some of which could have been partially degraded) and disrupted physical interparticle interactions in Nannochloropsis gaditana and Scenedesmus almeriensis. This has an impact on the rheological properties, increasing the viscosity of Nannochloropsis gaditana suspensions, whilst the viscosity of Scenedesmus almeriensis suspensions was reduced. The outcomes of this work give insights into the exploitation of these microalgae species in soft materials for food, pharma and other technological applications., This work was supported by the COST Action ES1408 European network for algal-bioproducts (EUALGAE).

In recent years, food ingredients rich in bioactive compounds have emerged as candidates to prevent excess adiposity and other metabolic complications characteristic of obesity, such as low-grade inflammation and oxidative status. Among them, fungi have gained popularity for their high polysaccharide content and other bioactive components with beneficial activities. Here, we use the C. elegans model to investigate the potential activities of a Grifola frondosa extract (GE), together with the underlying mechanisms of action. Our study revealed that GE represents an important source of polysaccharides and phenolic compounds with in vitro antioxidant activity. Treatment with our GE extract, which was found to be nongenotoxic through a SOS/umu test, significantly reduced the fat content of C. elegans, decreased the production of intracellular ROS and aging-lipofuscin pigment, and increased the lifespan of nematodes. Gene expression and mutant analyses demonstrated that the in vivo anti-obesity and antioxidant activities of GE were mediated through the daf-2/daf-16 and skn-1/nrf-2 signalling pathways, respectively. Taken together, our results suggest that our GE extract could be considered a potential functional ingredient for the prevention of obesity-related disturbances., This work was performed with the financial support of the CIEN project BIOPRO from “Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial” (CDTI), Ministry of Science and Innovation, Government of Spain. The authors thank ARGAL ALIMENTACIÓN S.A., ANECOOP, ELMUBAS IBÉRICA S.L.U., Bodega Matarromera S.L., Kimitec Group, Mahou San Miguel, UVESA, and Entomo AgroIndustrial for their support of this project. We also thank Bolet Ben Fet (TEB Verd SCCL., Barcelona). Finally, the authors thank LABORATORIOS CINFA, S.A. and VISCOFAN S.A for the financial support of the Center for Nutrition Research, and the CERCA Programme (Generalitat de Catalunya) for the financial support of IRTA.

Xylan is tightly associated with cellulose and lignin in secondary plant cell walls, contributing to its rigidity and structural integrity in vascular plants. However, the molecular features and the nanoscale forces that control the interactions among cellulose microfibrils, hemicelluloses, and lignin are still not well understood. Here, we combine comprehensive mass spectrometric glycan sequencing and molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the substitution pattern in softwood xylans and to investigate the effect of distinct intramolecular motifs on xylan conformation and on the interaction with cellulose surfaces in Norway spruce (Picea abies). We confirm the presence of motifs with evenly spaced glycosyl decorations on the xylan backbone, together with minor motifs with consecutive glucuronation. These domains are differently enriched in xylan fractions extracted by alkali and subcritical water, which indicates their preferential positioning in the secondary plant cell wall ultrastructure. The flexibility of the 3-fold screw conformation of xylan in solution is enhanced by the presence of arabinofuranosyl decorations. Additionally, molecular dynamic simulations suggest that the glycosyl substitutions in xylan are not only sterically tolerated by the cellulose surfaces but that they increase the affinity for cellulose and favor the stabilization of the 2-fold screw conformation. This effect is more significant for the hydrophobic surface compared with the hydrophilic ones, which demonstrates the importance of nonpolar driving forces on the structural integrity of secondary plant cell walls. These novel molecular insights contribute to an improved understanding of the supramolecular architecture of plant secondary cell walls and have fundamental implications for overcoming lignocellulose recalcitrance and for the design of advanced wood-based materials.

Laser refractive surgery has increased markedly in recent years, making the detection of corneal abnormalities extremely relevant. For this reason, an accurate diagnosis of clinical or subclinical keratoconus is critical. Corneal topography is the primary diagnostic tool for keratoconus detection, and pachymetry data and corneal aberrations are also commonly used. Recently, tomographic measurements using optical coherence tomography and corneal biomechanical indices have been used. In incipient and subclinical keratoconus, the use of a single parameter as a diagnostic factor is not sufficiently accurate. In these cases, the use of algorithms and predictive models is necessary. In addition, determining whether the disease will progress is crucial to selecting the most appropriate treatment. Some factors, such as age, keratometric indices, corneal elevation data, and corneal thickness, seem to be useful in predicting keratoconus progression.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic ability of the vector parameters ocular residual astigmatism (ORA), topography disparity (TD) and topographic astigmatism CorT (anterior and total) for the detection of clinical and subclinical keratoconus, and to develop a detection model based on them. Methods: This study comprised a total of 61 keratoconus eyes (KC group), 19 eyes with subclinical keratoconus (SKC group) and 100 healthy eyes (control group). In all cases, a complete eye exam was performed including an analysis of the corneal structure with the Sirius system (Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici, CSO). Likewise, the iASSORT software (ASSORT Pty) was used to calculate in all cases the vector parameters ORA, TD and CorT. Results: Significant differences among groups were found in ORA, TD and CorT (anterior and total) (p < 0.001). The diagnostic ability of ORA (cutoff 1.255 D, sensitivity/specificity 82%/92%) and TD (cutoff 1.035 D, sensitivity/specificity 78.5%/86%) for the detection of keratoconus was good, whereas anterior and total CorT showed a poorer diagnostic ability. ORA (cutoff 0.925 D, sensitivity/specificity 63.2%/77%) and TD (cutoff 0.710 D, sensitivity/specificity 74%/68%) showed an acceptable diagnostic ability for the detection of subclinical keratoconus, but anterior and total CorT did not. A detection model for subclinical keratoconus was obtained by logistic regression analysis involving TD, anterior corneal spherical aberration and posterior high order aberrations. Conclusions: The vector parameters ORA and TD are useful for the diagnosis of clinical and subclinical keratoconus. In this last condition, the combination of TD with corneal aberrometric data provides a consistent detection model.

Sugarcane bagasse and straw are generated in large volumes as by-products of agro-industrial production. They are an emerging valuable resource for the generation of hemicellulose-based materials and products, since they contain significant quantities of xylans (often twice as much as in hardwoods). Heteroxylans (yields of ca 20% based on xylose content in sugarcane bagasse and straw) were successfully isolated and purified using mild delignification followed by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) extraction. Delignification with peracetic acid (PAA) was more efficient than traditional sodium chlorite (NaClO

This work reports on the production of sustainable, cost-efficient food packaging films from unpurified agar-based extracts obtained from Gelidium sesquipedale seaweed. Unlike the purified agars, that required the addition of a plasticizer, the presence of impurities such as other polysaccharides (mainly floridean starch) and proteins exerted a plasticization effect in the unpurified agars, forming flexible films with no added plasticizer. The formation of interpenetrating polysaccharide/protein networks in the unpurified agar films had a positive impact in their mechanical and water barrier performance, which were similar or even better than those from the purified agars. Furthermore, these films showed improved resistance to high humidity conditions and retained their film structure, as opposed to the purified agar films, which gelled upon contact with moisture. Finally, the presence of impurities also provided the unpurified agar films greater light blocking capacity, inhibiting to a further extent the UV light-induced degradation of β-carotene. This work was financially supported by the “Agencia Estatal de Investigación” and co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (ERA-Net SUSFOOD2). Marta Martinez-Sanz is recipient of a Juan de la Cierva (IJCI-2015-23389) contract from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. Antonio Martínez-Abad is a recipient of a Juan de la Cierva (IJCI-2017-31522) contract from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

© 2019 by the authors., Posidonia oceanica waste biomass has been valorised to produce extracts by means of different methodologies and their bioactive properties have been evaluated. Water-based extracts were produced using ultrasound-assisted and hot water methods and classified according to their ethanol-affinity (E1: ethanol soluble; E2: non-soluble). Moreover, a conventional protocol with organic solvents was applied, yielding E3 extracts. Compositional and structural characterization confirmed that while E1 and E3 extracts were mainly composed of minerals and lipids, respectively, E2 extracts were a mixture of minerals, proteins and carbohydrates. All the extracts showed remarkably high antioxidant capacity, which was not only related to phenolic compounds but also to the presence of proteins and polysaccharides. All E2 and E3 extracts inhibited the growth of several foodborne fungi, while only E3 extracts decreased substantially the infectivity of feline calicivirus and murine norovirus. These results show the potential of P. oceanica waste biomass for the production of bioactive extracts., This work was financially supported by the project GV/2018//149, the “Agencia Estatal de Investigación” and cofunded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (ERA-Net SUSFOOD2). Marta Martinez-Sanz is recipient of a Juan de la Cierva (IJCI-2015-23389) contract from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness.

A. donax waste biomass has been valorized for the extraction of cellulosic fractions with different purification degrees, as well as aqueous bioactive extracts, which were then combined to develop superabsorbent bioactive aerogels. All the developed aerogels presented excellent water and oil sorption capacities; however, the presence of hemicelluloses yielded more porous and hydrophilic aerogels, capable of absorbing more water. With regards to the aqueous extracts, the hot water treatment (HW) of A. donax stems promoted the extraction of polysaccharides and polyphenols, producing the extract (S-HW) with the highest antioxidant capacity. This extract was then incorporated into the aerogels produced from the less purified stem fractions (F2A and F3A), which were chosen due to their good water sorption capacity, higher antioxidant potential and lower production costs and environmental impact. The hybrid aerogels showed a great potential to be used as bioactive pads for food packaging. In particular, the F2A + S-HW aerogel would be the most optimum choice since it provides a complete release of the extract in hydrophilic media, as demonstrated by in-vitro release and β-carotene bleaching inhibition studies, and it is able to reduce the colour loss and lipid oxidation in red meat upon refrigerated storage to a greater extent., Marta Martinez-Sanz is recipient of a Juan de la Cierva (IJCI-2015-23389) contract from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. Cynthia Fontes-Candia is recipient of a pre-doctoral grant from CONACYT (MEX/Ref. 306680).

This work reports on the production and characterization of agar-based extracts from the seaweed Gelidium sesquipedale by means of simple protocols based on hot water and sonication treatments. The combination of sonication with the hot water treatment reduced 4-fold the extraction time without significantly affecting the extraction yield (ca. 10–12%) and the extracts' properties. Apart from agar, the extracts contained proteins, polyphenols and minerals, which conferred them high antioxidant capacity and led to the production of brownish softer gels. The application of an alkali pre-treatment yielded almost pure agars, with higher molecular weights and crystallinities than commercial agar, resulting in stiffer gels. However, the partial digestion of agar by the alkali led to low extraction yields (ca. 2–3%). These results show the efficiency of the combined heat and sonication method to generate cost-effective agar-based extracts with potential applications within the food industry., This work was financially supported by the “Agencia Estatal de Investigación” and co-funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (ERA-Net SUSFOOD2). Marta Martinez-Sanz is recipient of a Juan de la Cierva (IJCI-2015-23389) contract from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness.

The genome and natural habitat of Chitinophaga pinensis suggest it has the ability to degrade a wide variety of carbohydrate-based biomass. Complementing our earlier investigations into the hydrolysis of some plant polysaccharides, we now show that C. pinensis can grow directly on spruce wood and on the fungal fruiting body. Growth was stronger on fungal material, although secreted enzyme activity was high in both cases, and all biomass-induced secretomes showed a predominance of β-glucanase activities. We therefore conducted a screen for growth on and hydrolysis of β-glucans isolated from different sources. Most noncrystalline β-glucans supported good growth, with variable efficiencies of polysaccharide deconstruction and oligosaccharide uptake, depending on the polysaccharide backbone linkage. In all cases, β-glucan was the only type of polysaccharide that was effectively hydrolyzed by secreted enzymes. This contrasts with the secretion of enzymes with a broad range of activities observed during growth on complex heteroglycans. Our findings imply a role for C. pinensis in the turnover of multiple types of biomass and suggest that the species may have two metabolic modes: a "scavenging mode," where multiple different types of glycan may be degraded, and a more "focused mode" of β-glucan metabolism. The significant accumulation of some types of β-gluco-oligosaccharides in growth media may be due to the lack of an appropriate transport mechanism, and we propose that this is due to the specificity of expressed polysaccharide utilization loci. We present a hypothetical model for β-glucan metabolism by C. pinensis that suggests the potential for nutrient sharing among the microbial litter community.IMPORTANCE It is well known that the forest litter layer is inhabited by a complex microbial community of bacteria and fungi. However, while the importance of fungi in the turnover of natural biomass is well established, the role of their bacterial counterparts is less extensively studied. We show that Chitinophaga pinensis, a prominent member of an important bacterial genus, is capable of using both plant and fungal biomass as a nutrient source but is particularly effective at deconstructing dead fungal material. The turnover of dead fungus is key in natural elemental cycles in the forest. We show that C. pinensis can perform extensive degradation of this material to support its own growth while also releasing sugars that may serve as nutrients for other microbial species. Our work adds detail to an increasingly complex picture of life among the environmental microbiota.

Edible mushrooms constitute an appreciated nutritional source for humans due to their low caloric intake and their high content in carbohydrates, proteins, dietary fibre, phenolic compounds, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. It has been also demonstrated that mushrooms have health-promoting benefits. Cultivation of mushrooms, especially of the most common species Agaricus bisporus, represents an increasingly important food industry in Europe, but with a direct consequence in the increasing amount of by-products from their industrial production. This review focuses on collecting and critically investigating the current data on the bioactive properties of Agaricus bisporus as well as the recent research for the extraction of valuable functional molecules from this species and its by-products obtained after industrial processing. The state of the art regarding the antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-allergenic and dietary compounds will be discussed for novel applications such as nutraceuticals, additives for food or cleaning products. Authors would like to express their gratitude to the Bio Based Industries Consortium and European Commission by the financial support to the FUNGUSCHAIN project. This project has received funding from the Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 720720.