Absolute Value Of Zeta Potential Research Articles

Preparation of Ovalbumin/Xanthan Gum/Chitosan Pickering Emulsion Oleogel Added with Amomum villosum Lour. Extract and Its Application in Cookies

In this study, a new oleogel system was constructed and used as a fat substitute in the processing of cookies. The preparation process of Amomum villosum Lour. extract (AVE) was optimized based on antioxidant activity and yield firstly. Then, the AVE, ovalbumin, chitosan, and xanthan gum were used as raw materials to prepare a composite Pickering emulsion oleogel. The results showed that when the concentration of AVE, chitosan, and XG were 0.1%, 2.5%, and 0.3%, respectively, a stable and uniformly distributed Pickering emulsion oleogel was formed. In this case, the particle size of the composite oleogel was relatively small; the absolute value of zeta potential was higher; the microstructure was more stable, with less aggregation and flocculation; and the thermal stability and freeze–thaw stability were excellent. In addition, the addition of AVE enhanced the gel properties of the oleogel and had good solid-like properties, and strengthened the binding force, as well as the oxidation stability, making the whole system more stable. In addition, the results of the application of the composite oleogel in the cookies showed that the AVE–ovalbumin/xanthan gum/chitosan Pickering emulsion oleogel had similar sensory and texture properties to the butter group. The addition of AVE can delay the crispness, cohesiveness, hardness, and the rate of malondialdehyde formation in cookies during storage. In conclusion, the AVE–ovalbumin/xanthan gum/chitosan Pickering emulsion oleogel had good physicochemical stability and showed great potential in replacing saturated fat (butter) in baking products (cookies).

Choline chloride-Urea based deep eutectic Solvent: Characterization, interfacial behavior and Synergism in binary (surfactant) systems

The paper focusses on the synthesis and characterization of choline chloride: urea (molar ratio 1:2) DES. The influence of the varying DES concentration on the surface and interfacial behavior of low-concentration commercial surfactant (cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide) was examined. The incorporation of DES into the surfactant solution resulted in an augmentation of electrophoretic mobility and absolute zeta potential values, indicative of enhanced surfactant adsorption at the interface. Sessile drop measurements demonstrated the capacity of binary mixture to modify the wettability of sandstone from intermediate-wet state to water-wet condition. In summary, physicochemical evaluation revealed the capability of DES to augment the self-assembly and wetting behavior of surfactant at low concentrations (below critical micelle concentration). The observed phenomenon in these solvents primarily finds utility in nanoscience, drug delivery systems, colloids, catalysis, and applications in many other fields.

The impact of combined application of biochar and fertilizer on the biochemical properties of soil in soybean fields.

Heilongjiang Province is a major soybean production area in China. To improve soil structure and increase soybean yield, this study examined the effects of combined biochar and chemical fertilizer application on the biochemical properties of soil in a maize-soybean rotation system. The research were conducted from 2021 to 2022 at Heshan Farm Science Park in Heilongjiang Province, this field plot experiment utilized two soybean varieties, Heihe 43 (a high-protein variety) and Keshan 1 (a high-oil variety). In 2021, two plots with similar fertility levels were selected for planting soybeans and maize. In 2022, a maize-soybean rotation was implemented with five treatments: conventional fertilization (CK), increased biochar+reduced fertilizer 1 (F1+B), reduced fertilizer 1 (F1), increased biochar+reduced fertilizer 2 (F2+B), and reduced fertilizer 2 (F2). The study systematically analyzed the effects of combined biochar and chemical fertilizer application on soil chemical properties and microbial characteristics. Over 2 years, results showed that combined application effectively improved soil chemical traits. Compared to conventional fertilization (CK) and reduced fertilization (F1, F2), t he combined application of biochar and chemical fertilizer (F1+B, F2+B) increased soil pH, EC and the absolute value of zeta potential of soil surface, the CEC of soil significantly increased by 15.6-44.3%, the soil surface charge density and the soil surface charge quantity significantly increased by 16.4-73.5%. The combined application of biochar and chemical fertilizer also effectively enhanced the abundance and diversity of soil microbes. Dominant bacterial groups in soybean field soils under different treatments included Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Proteobacteria; while dominant fungal groups were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota. Alpha and Beta diversity analyses revealed that the F1+B treatment significantly enhanced the species richness and diversity of bacteria and fungi in the soil, increasing the proportion and evenness of dominant and beneficial genera.

Effects of preheat treatment and syringic acid binding on the physicochemical, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of black soybean protein isolate before and after in vitro digestion.

This study investigated the effects of preheat treatment (70-100 °C) and syringic acid (SA) grafting on the antioxidant, antibacterial, and physicochemical properties of black soybean protein isolate (BSPI) before and after in vitro digestion. The results revealed that both preheat treatment and SA grafting increased the digestibility and the absolute zeta potential value of BSPI. However, as the preheating temperature increased, the antioxidant ability of BSPI decreased, which was improved by SA grafting. During in vitro digestion, the absolute zeta potential and antioxidant activities of preheated BSPI and preheated BSPI-SA complex followed the order: intestine>gastric>before digestion. Compared with before digestion, preheated BSPI with its SA complex after in vitro digestion exhibited excellent antibacterial activities. Importantly, the preheated BSPI-SA complex enhanced the SA recovery rate during digestion and SA stability, with the highest recovery rate observed for the SA-grafted BSPI with preheat treatment at 100°C (BSPI100-SA). The principal component analysis sufficiently distinguished preheated BSPI and preheated BSPI-SA complexes. There were partitions between BSPI and BSPI-SA treated at different preheating temperatures. This study contributes to expanding the potential applications of BSPI with its SA complex in food products and offers guidance for designing SA delivery systems. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Preheated BSPI-SA complexes could serve as functional ingredients in food or health products. Besides, preheated BSPI has application potential as a carrier for SA delivery.

Mechanism of Toona sinensis seed polyphenols inhibiting oxidation and modifying physicochemical and gel properties of pork myofibrillar protein under oxidation system

This research aimed to elucidate how Toona sinensis seed polyphenols (TSSs) inhibited pork myofibrillar protein (MP) oxidation and modified physicochemical and gel properties in the Fenton oxidation system. Our result displayed that TSSs had a lower carbonyl (from 1.38 to 0.59 nmol/mg) and dityrosine contents (from 47.22 to 25.07), and higher free amino content (from 386.99 to 485.00 nmol/mg), followed by ellagic acid (EA) and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside (QC). Meanwhile, the incorporation of phenolic compounds changed secondary and tertiary structure of proteins and then increased solubility and absolute value of zeta potential, as well as decreased turbidity and average particle size. Molecular docking indicated that MP interacted with EA primarily via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interaction, and with QC mostly through hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interaction. Otherwise, the incorporation of EA promoted MP gel to form a honeycomb-like microstructure after oxidation. Therefore, TSSs, EA, and QC could significantly inhibit MP oxidation as well as modify its physicochemical properties, but only EA enhanced its gel properties after oxidation. The results could be useful to improve the comprehensive utilization of plant by-products and provide theoretical references for the role of TSSs in the improvement of meat products.

Almond protein as Pickering emulsion stabilizer: Impact of microgel fabrication method and pH on emulsion stability

We evaluated the ability of almond proteins to produce Pickering emulsions (EM) stabilized by microgels (MG) fabricated by three different methods (heat treatment–HT, crosslinking with transglutaminase–TG or calcium–CA), at two pH levels (pH 3 or 7). Compared to pH 7, acidic pH significantly denatured almond proteins (ellipticity ∼0 mdeg), decreased absolute zeta potential values (10.5 to 18.6 mV at pH 3 and − 24.6 to −32.6 mV at pH 7), and free thiol content (114.64–131.60 μmol SH/g protein at pH 3 and 129.46–148.17 μmol SH/g protein at pH 7 – except in CA-crosslinked microgels, p > 0.05). These changes led to larger microgel sizes (D3,2pH3: 26.3–39.5 μm vs. D3,2pH7: 5.9–9.0 μm) with lower polydispersity (SpanpH3: ∼ 1.94 vs. SpanpH7: 2.32, excluding CA-based samples). Consequently, the Turbiscan Stability Index (TSI) was higher in acidic conditions for all emulsions, except for the calcium-containing formulation (EM_CApH3), emphasizing the critical role of calcium binding in maintaining emulsion stability in acidic environments. Microgels prepared via the traditional heat treatment method produced emulsions with intermediate stability (TSI ranging from 3.4 % to 5.1 % at 28 days of storage). Conversely, TG-crosslinked microgels led to unstable emulsions at pH 3, likely due to the lowest zeta potential (+4.2 mV), whereas at pH 7, the greatest stability was attributed to bridging flocculation that created a stable gel-like structure. Indeed, emulsions with lower TSI (EM_CApH3 = 1.8 %, EM_CApH7 = 2.3 % and EM_TGpH7 = 1.0 %, at 28 days of storage) also exhibited higher elastic modulus (G') over frequency sweep, indicating that the strong elastic network was relevant for emulsion stability (up to 28 days). This study, for the first time, demonstrated the production of stable almond-based Pickering emulsions, with properties modulated by the pH and method used to fabricate the microgels.

Effect of the main components in gasification wastewater on the surface properties of coal water slurry

AbstractCoal water slurry is an advanced and efficient clean coal technology; using gasification wastewater to prepare coal water slurry can recycle wastewater and improve energy utilization efficiency. As the complex substances in wastewater have a great influence on the slurry properties, the effects of organic matter, metal ions, and ammonia nitrogen in gasification wastewater on the surface properties of coal water slurry are studied in this paper in order to provide new ideas for slurry mechanism of coal water slurry prepared from wastewater. Results show the following: (a) Compared with ordinary coal water slurry, the concentration of coal water slurry prepared from wastewater with high organic content increased by 2.9%, while the concentration of coal water slurry prepared from wastewater with high ammonia nitrogen content decreased by 2.1%. (b) The contact angles of coal water slurry prepared with phenols, alcohols, and urethane are reduced by 2.8°, 6.3°, and 1.5°, respectively, so organic matter can change the hydrophilicity of coal particles and affect slurryability. (c) Mg2+ and Ca2+ have basically no effect on slurry. Fe3+ reduces the absolute value of Zeta potential by 33.1, and Cu3+ increases that by 22.8, as they affect the slurryability by changing the surface potential of coal particles and the absorption of additives. (d) Ammonia nitrogen influences the slurryability by changing the pH value of the slurry. The conclusion of the influence mechanism of organic matter, metal ions, and ammonia nitrogen in wastewater on slurryability can provide a technical reference for the selection of suitable wastewater to prepare coal water slurry.

Degradation of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate in aqueous solution by electron beam radiation and changes in surfactant micelle property

In this study, we investigated the degradation of surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) in aqueous solution using electron beam radiation. The removal efficiency of SDBS approached nearly 100%, achieving a COD removal rate of 7–20% with an absorbed dose of 5.0 kGy. Upon irradiation, several notable changes in SDBS micelles were observed. The absolute value of zeta potential and the average diameter size decreased. SEM observations revealed that the clustered aggregates of SDBS micelles fragmented into irregular filamentous pieces. Moreover, the interfacial tension increased remarkably and approached the level of pure water at 2.5 kGy for SDBS in a pure water solution and 5.0 kGy for SDBS in a brine water solution. The foaming power disappeared for SDBS in pure water and decreased to 20 mm for SDBS in brine water at 10 kGy. The defoaming rate of SDBS solution increased incrementally from an initial range of 1–2 mm/min to 3.0–5.6 mm/min at 5.0 kGy. In summary, when SDBS is decomposed, new system is created with new properties. Electron beam radiation offers a clean and sustainable approach to degrade SDBS in wastewater.

Role of sodium pyrophosphate and catechin in the enzymatic hydrolysis of oxidatively damaged myofibrillar protein gels in vitro: Mechanistic insights

This study investigated the effects of sodium pyrophosphate (SPP) and catechin (C) on the in vitro enzymatic digestion of oxidatively damaged myofibrillar protein (MP) gel. The results indicated that SPP increased the β-sheet content and the gastric digestibility of the MP gel, while C hindered the transition from α-helix to β-sheet structure, leading to decreased digestibility. Notably, neither compound significantly affected intestinal digestibility. Furthermore, SPP and C significantly enhanced the antioxidant activity of MP gel digestion products. Notably, their synergistic hydrolysis products, simulating both gastric and gastrointestinal stages, chelated 91.4 % and 89.1 % of Fe2+ and scavenged 59.4 % and 77.6 % of hydroxyl radicals, respectively. Moreover, the final digestion products of the MP gel treated with SPP and C exhibited the highest content of negatively charged amino acids and absolute Zeta potential values. Overall, this study demonstrated that incorporating SPP and C could positively impact the digestion of oxidatively damaged MP gels.

Preparation and Characterization of Responsive Cellulose-Based Gel Microspheres for Enhanced Oil Recovery.

As an important means to enhance oil recovery, ternary composite flooding (ASP flooding for short) technology has achieved remarkable results in Daqing Oilfield. Alkalis, surfactants and polymers are mixed in specific proportions and injected into the reservoir to give full play to the synergistic effect of each component, which can effectively enhance the fluidity of crude oil and greatly improve the oil recovery. At present, the technology for further improving oil recovery after ternary composite flooding is not mature and belongs to the stage of technical exploration. The presence of alkaline substances significantly alters the reservoir's physical properties and causes considerable corrosion to the equipment used in its development. This is detrimental to both the environment and production. Therefore, it is necessary to develop green displacement control agents. In the reservoir environment post-ASP flooding, 2-(methylamino)ethyl methacrylate and glycidyl methacrylate were chosen as monomers to synthesize a polymer responsive to alkali, and then grafted with cellulose nanocrystals to form microspheres of alkali-resistant swelling hydrogel. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) modified with functional groups and other materials were utilized to fabricate hydrogel microspheres. The product's structure was characterized and validated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The infrared spectrum revealed characteristic absorption peaks of CNCs at 1165 cm-1, 1577 cm-1, 1746 cm-1, and 3342 cm-1. The diffraction spectrum corroborated the findings of the infrared analysis, indicating that the functional modification occurred on the CNC surface. After evaluating the swelling and erosion resistance of the hydrogel microspheres under various alkaline conditions, the optimal particle size for compatibility with the target reservoir was determined to be 6 μm. The potential of cellulose-based gel microspheres to enhance oil recovery was assessed through the evaluation of Zeta potential and laboratory physical simulations of oil displacement. The study revealed that the absolute value of the Zeta potential for gel microspheres exceeds 30 in an alkaline environment with pH values ranging from 7 to 14, exhibiting a phenomenon where stronger alkalinity correlates with a greater absolute value of Zeta potential. The dispersion stability spans from good to excellent. The laboratory oil displacement simulation experiment was conducted using a cellulose-based gel microsphere system following weak alkali ASP flooding within the pH value range from 7 to 10. The experimental interventions yielded recovery rates of 2.98%, 3.20%, 3.31%, and 3.38%, respectively. The study indicates that cellulose-based gel microspheres exhibit good adaptability in alkaline reservoirs. This research offers a theoretical foundation and experimental approaches to enhance oil recovery techniques post-ASP flooding.

A food for elders with dysphagia: Effect of sodium alginate with different viscosities on the gel properties of antarctic krill composite shrimp surimi

This study investigated the effects of sodium alginate (SA) with different viscosities on the physicochemical properties and structure of composite shrimp surimi gels made from Antarctic krill and Litopenaeus vannamei. Changes in texture, rheology, water status, thermal stability, chemical bonding, zeta potential, and microstructures of the gels were analyzed to explore their feasibility as food products for individuals with dysphagia. The addition of SA addition increased the chewiness, absolute value of zeta potential, WHC, and thermal stability of the composite shrimp surimi gels. Concurrently, it decreased the gel strength and the content of chemical bonds, such as ionic and hydrogen bonds, with these changes being more significant at higher SA viscosities. The water distribution analysis showed that increasing SA viscosity increased the content of immobilized water within the gels and stabilized the water. From the perspective of zeta potential and microstructure, higher SA viscosities significantly increased the absolute value of zeta potential, enhanced the electrostatic repulsion and spatial potential resistance, and resulted in larger microstructural gaps, which improved the moisture-trapping capacity and WHC of the gels. The microstructure was more homogeneous and continuous at an SA viscosity of 800 mPa s. International Dysphagia Dietary Standardization Initiative (IDDIS) testing showed that gels with added SA can be classified into Tier 6 dysphagia diets. These findings provide insights for developing nutritious dysphagia-suitable foods for elders.

Polyphenol improve the foaming properties of soybean isolate protein: Structural, physicochemical property changes and application in angel cake

With the increasing demand for food foaming, how to enhance the foaming properties of protein has gradually become the research focus. This work studied the effect of synephrine (SY) on foaming properties, structure properties, and physicochemical properties of soybean protein isolate (SPI). When the mass ratio of SY to SPI was 1:2, compared with SPI alone, the foam capacity and foam stability of the SY-SPI complex were significantly enhanced. Optical microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscope showed that the improvement in foaming performance was mainly due to the reduction of bubble size and uniform protein distribution. Circular dichroism spectrum and fluorescence spectra indicated that the hydrogen bond of SPI was destroyed and blue shifted with the addition of SY. What's more, the absolute value of Zeta potential, solubility, and hydrophobicity all increased, while the particle size decreased. As a result of molecular docking, surface hydrogen bonds, Van der Waals forces and hydrophobic interactions are the main driving forces. The addition of SY and SPI improved the specific volume and texture of angel cake. This study shows that SY has the potential to be developed into a new type of blowing agent.

Tannic acid/non-covalent interaction-mediated modification of hemp seed proteins: Focused on binding mechanisms, oil-water interface behavior, and rheological properties

In this study, hemp seed protein (HSP) was treated to prepare a hemp seed protein-tannic acid non-covalent complex (Nov-HSP). To obtain an emulsifier with excellent properties at the oil-water interface and to propose a potential mechanism of action. The results showed that the α-helix and β-sheet content of Nov-HSP decreased and the intensity of the UV absorption peak increased, respectively, compared with that of HSP. The positions of the maximum fluorescence emission peaks of the synchronized fluorescence spectra were red-shifted to 301.8 nm and 340.6 nm, respectively. Fluorescence quench analysis revealed that static quench occurred between tannins and HSP, with ΔH of −16.138 kJ/mol and ΔS of −0.1073 kJ/mol. The physicochemical and functional properties of HSP and Nov-HSP were analyzed, and it was found that the volume mean diameter of Nov-HSP was 449.28 nm, the absolute value of zeta potential was 20.52 mV, and the solubility was 33.42% at a tannic acid concentration of 1.0 mg/mL. Focusing on the oil-water interfacial properties of Nov-HSP as an emulsifier, it was found that having non-covalent binding effectively increased the diffusion rate of HSP at the interface, thus enhancing the rheological properties of the emulsion. And the emulsification activity index and emulsion stability index were improved to 71.67 m2/g and 32.01 min. These findings provide new perspectives for the phenolic compound-mediated structural remodeling of HSP, expanding its application in emulsion food production.

Preparation and Mechanism of Shale Inhibitor TIL-NH2 for Shale Gas Horizontal Wells.

In this study, a new polyionic polymer inhibitor, TIL-NH2, was developed to address the instability of shale gas horizontal wells caused by water-based drilling fluids. The structural characteristics and inhibition effects of TIL-NH2 on mud shale were comprehensively analyzed using infrared spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, particle size distribution, zeta potential, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The results demonstrated that TIL-NH2 significantly enhances the thermal stability of shale, with a decomposition temperature exceeding 300 °C, indicating excellent high-temperature resistance. At a concentration of 0.9%, TIL-NH2 increased the median particle size of shale powder from 5.2871 μm to over 320 μm, effectively inhibiting hydration expansion and dispersion. The zeta potential measurements showed a reduction in the absolute value of illite's zeta potential from -38.2 mV to 22.1 mV at 0.6% concentration, highlighting a significant decrease in surface charge density. Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of a close adsorption layer between TIL-NH2 and the illite surface through electrostatic and hydrogen bonding, which reduced the weakly bound water content to 0.0951% and maintained layer spacing of 1.032 nm and 1.354 nm in dry and wet states, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated a marked reduction in heat loss, particularly in the strongly bound water content. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that shale powder treated with TIL-NH2 exhibited an irregular bulk shape with strong inter-particle bonding and low hydration degree. These findings suggest that TIL-NH2 effectively inhibits hydration swelling and dispersion of shale through the synergistic effects of cationic imidazole rings and primary amine groups, offering excellent temperature and salt resistance. This provides a technical foundation for the low-cost and efficient extraction of shale gas in horizontal wells.

Conformational changes induced by cellulose nanocrystals in collaboration with calcium ion improve solubility of pea protein isolate

The low solubility of pea protein isolate (PPI) greatly limits its functional properties and its wide application in food field. Thus, this study investigated the effects and mechanisms of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) (0.1–0.4 %) and CaCl2 (0.4–1.6 mM) on the solubility of PPI. The results showed that the synergistic effect of CNC (0.3 %) and Ca2+ (1.2 mM) increased the solubility of PPI by 242.31 %. CNC and Ca2+ changed the molecular conformation of PPI, enhanced intermolecular forces, and thus induced changes in the molecular morphology of PPI. Meanwhile, the turbidity of PPI decreased, while surface hydrophobicity, the absolute zeta potential value, viscoelasticity, β-sheet ratio, and thermal properties increased. CNC bound to PPI molecules through van der Waals force and hydrogen bond. Ca2+ could strengthen the crosslinking between CNC and PPI. In summary, it is proposed a valuable combination method to improve the solubility of PPI, and it is believed that this research is of great significance for expanding the application fields of PPI and modifying plant proteins.

Conjugation of coconut protein with ferulic acid promotes interfacial adsorption and mitigates lipid oxidation in O/W emulsion

The formation of small droplets in emulsion systems promotes lipid oxidation, affecting their shelf life. In this study, ferulic acid was covalently grafted onto coconut protein (CPI) through alkaline treatment method. The structural characteristics, interfacial properties, emulsifying properties, and oxidative stability of emulsions prepared by coconut protein-ferulic acid covalent complexes (CPF) were investigated. The results showed that covalent grafting of ferulic acid could change the physicochemical properties of coconut protein, including altering protein secondary and tertiary structures, enhancing the absolute value of zeta potential and antioxidant activity [2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and 2, 2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS•+)]. Meanwhile, the interfacial behavior of CPI and CPF was characterized by dissipative quartz crystal microbalance and dilatational rheology analysis. Compared to CPI, CPF could diffuse to the oil-water interface quickly (from 0.084 ± 0.002 to 0.154 ± 0.003 mN/m/s1/2), and formed a thick interfacial layer dominated by elasticity, which enhanced the centrifugal stability of CPF-stabilized emulsions and effectively inhibited lipid oxidation within a 15-day storage period. Our results clearly demonstrated that coconut protein-ferulic acid conjugated complexes could improve emulsion stability and mitigate lipid oxidation, owing to the strong electrostatic repulsion interaction and high diffusion rate at interface. These findings may provide comprehensive insights for the further design and development of protein-polyphenol covalent complexes in the food industry.

Synthesis and investigation of acrylamide and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid copolymer-modified graphene oxide nanomaterials with intensive viscosification capacity: An experimental and molecular dynamics study

The polymer-modified nanomaterials with spontaneously generated cross-linked network greatly improve the dispersion viscosity, which is crucial for extending the sweep range and enhancing oil recovery. Recently, graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets have attracted extensive attention due to their high chemical reactivity and specific surface. In this paper, the AA molecule, synthesized by acrylamide (AM) and 2-acrylamido-2-methypropanesulfonic acid (AMPS) copolymerization, modified GO nanosheets (GAA) material is firstly synthesized and characterized. With the same content of AMPS segments, GAAn systems consistently exhibit better dispersion stability than AAn systems, along with higher absolute zeta potential values. The comprehensive investigation on the rheological property of GAA system reveals that GAA15 with the highest AMPS content exhibits the largest zero-shear viscosity (409.27 mPa·s) and the longest relaxation time. Based on the molecular dynamic simulation approaches, the aggregation morphology and stability of AA and GAA molecules are evaluated via the configuration analysis and the statistics of hydrogen bond numbers. The abundant binding sites from GO segments of GAA promote additional hydrogen bonds between GAA molecules and water, resulting in a more stable configuration. Molecular surface potential analysis and the independent gradient model based on Hirshfeld partition (IGMH) methods are further used to visualize the non-bonded interaction existed in cross-linked networks, which also predict and validate non-bonding interaction sites among molecular segments. The simulation results indicate higher viscosity in the GAA system should be ascribed to the formation of dispersion-strengthened cross-linked structures (AM-GO plane and GO-GO stacking segments). In summary, the microscopic viscosity-increasing mechanism of novel GAA system is proposed from the perspective of intermolecular interactions, which lays a preliminary theoretical foundation for the application of GAA material in the oil industry.

Clove leaf essential oil Pickering emulsion stabilized by octenyl succinic anhydride modified waxy maize starch: An eco-friendly alternative

Clove leaf essential oil (CEO) is renowned for its well-established bioactive properties, which makes it an element with high added-value, especially for the food and pharmaceutical industries. Nevertheless, its use is hindered by instability and limited water solubility. Therefore, this study aimed to overcome these challenges by developing a stable Pickering emulsion of clove leaf essential oil using octenyl succinic anhydride modified waxy maize starch (OSA starch) particles as stabilizing agent, providing an eco-friendly alternative to conventional surfactants. First, the experimental conditions for the development of two distinct emulsion were optimized using a Response Surface Methodology (RSM). As a result, slightly shear-thickening behavior emulsions were obtained, with droplet size from 1 to 6 μm, absolute zeta potential values above 30 mV, and an exceptional stability for more than a month. These aspects can be linked to the synergistic effect of chemical/electrostatic interaction between essential oil and OSA starch. Finally, both samples exhibited an outstanding antibacterial efficacy, with MBC/MIC values below 4, classifying them as bactericidal agents against some typical foodborne pathogens. Our results indicate that these Pickering emulsions have noteworthy properties that make them an additive with promising potential for application in the food industry.

Effect of γ-oryzanol/β-sitosterol-based oleogels on the physicochemical and gel properties of Nemipterus virgatus myofibrillar protein.

The effect of oleogels prepared with peanut oil and different concentrations of γ-oryzanol and β-sitosterol mixture (γ/β; 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 g kg-1) on the physicochemical and gel properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) was investigated. The solubility and average particle size of MP first decreased and then increased with increasing γ/β concentration. Peanut oil or oleogels could induce the exposure of hydrophobic amino acids and the unfolding of MP, thus significantly increasing the surface hydrophobicity, sulfhydryl content and absolute value of zeta potential, which reached maximum values when the γ/β concentration was 60 g kg-1 (P < 0.05). The addition of peanut oil decreased the gel strength and water holding capacity of MP gel. However, oleogels prepared with 60 g kg-1 γ/β could significantly increase the hydrophobic interactions and disulfide bond content of MP gel (P < 0.05), which promoted the crosslinking and aggregation of MP, enhancing the gel properties. Peanut oil had no significant influence on the secondary structure of MP, while oleogels promoted the transition of MP conformation from α-helix to β-sheet structure. The results of light microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy indicated that oleogels prepared with 60 g kg-1 γ/β filled in the pores of MP gel network to form denser and more uniform structure. Oleogels prepared with 60 g kg-1 γ/β could effectively improve the quality of MP gel and have promising application prospects in surimi products. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Gelatin/PLGA Microspheres as a 3D Scaffold for Chondrocytes

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) degrades cartilage and bone. Osteochondral autograft, allograft, and total replacement knee surgery have limitations, such as prompt immune responses, lack of cartilage tissue obtainability, invasiveness, and a loosening implant that may require further correction. Tissue engineering, which involves injecting chondrocytes into 3D porous scaffold carriers in the joint, seems promising for tissue repair and growth. Objective: To develop gelatin/poly DL-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) microspheres as a porous scaffold for chondrocyte carriers. Methods: The double emulsion method is one of the most popular and best methods for forming microspheres. In summary, in the PLGA oil phase, we emulsified a gelatin solution representing the inner aqueous phase. Next, in an external aqueous phase of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), we emulsified the resultant first emulsion. The double emulsion was stirred to evaporate organic solvent and centrifuged to collect gelatin and PLGA microspheres. Results: The Mastersizer result showed polydispersed particles with 23.53% of the desirable cell injection size range between 1-300 µm. Scanning electronic microscope (SEM) images revealed spherical and porous microspheres with smooth surfaces. The average absolute zeta potential value was -30.7±4.895, indicating stable preparation. Conclusions: Gelatin and PLAGA polymers worked together to make 3D scaffold microspheres that were the right size, had the right number of holes, and were strong.