Polymeric Biomaterials Research Articles

Encapsulated Thuja plicata essential oil into biopolymer matrix as a potential pesticide against Phytophthora root pathogens

A new formulation that gradually released encapsulated Thuja plicata essential oil (TPEO) as an active component from a biopolymer matrix within a given period was obtained. Antimicrobial activity was determined in in-vitro tests where pure TPEO successfully inhibited the development of different Phytophthora species. The TPEO essential oil was encapsulated into the biopolymer matrix and an oil-in-water emulsion was formed. FTIR spectra analysis confirmed the formation of electrostatic interaction between these polymers, and hydrogen interactions between active components of TPEO and polymer chains. The stability of the emulsions was confirmed by zeta potential measurements, with a value of about 30 mV, even after 14 days of aging. UV‐Vis spectra analysis revealed that >60 % of TPEO remained in the emulsion after 14 days of exposure to ambient conditions, whereas pure TPEO evaporated faster, and around 20 % remained after 6 days. Encapsulated TPEO almost completely inhibited the growth of Phytophthora species during the ten-day day's exposition being statistically significantly improved compared to fungicide treatment. It was demonstrated that the emulsion exhibited a prolonged antimicrobial effect and successfully suppressed the growth of Phytophthora species, and can be considered as a means of protection in forests and crops.

Appraisal of cutting-edge techniques for prolonging fresh berries shelf life: innovations in essential oil nanoemulsion-based edible coatings

The high susceptibility of berries to fungal contamination during the postharvest phase and increasing demand from consumers for a safe preservative have prompted the need for a potential substitute. In this context, beyond their conventional use as flavouring agents, essential oils have been investigated for their preservative actions in berries to supplant traditional synthetic preservatives. However, high volatility, poor environmental stability, intense organoleptic properties, and low aqueous solubility limit their use as natural preservatives. To circumvent this problem, nanoemulsion has evolved as a feasible strategy. Incorporating essential oil nanoemulsion into a biopolymer matrix of an edible coating ameliorates the postharvest deterioration of berries. Nanoemulsions improve the functional properties of essential oil-incorporated edible coatings by creating an effective barrier that improves antimicrobial properties, decreases water loss, reduces the rate of respiration and loss of firmness, and subsequently enhances the shelf life of berries. This paper summarizes how the physiological characteristics of fresh berries are affected by essential oil-based nanoemulsions integrated into edible coatings and recommends using these nanoemulsions to preserve berries.

Impact on the incorporation of metals in physicochemical and antimicrobial properties in films based on arrowroot starcha

New biodegradable packaging has been developed from renewable sources, mainly of vegetable origin. Arrowroot starch has been recently used to produce high-quality biodegradable films capable of behaving well when incorporating oils, extracts, metal, and metal nanocomposites. The study aimed to verify the impact of incorporating metals in the sulfate and chloride forms in a biopolymeric matrix from arrowroot starch in terms of biodegradability, physicochemical and microbiological parameters. Different arrowroot films were produced to incorporate solutions with a concentration of 1 Mol L-1 of sulfate and chloride metals. The action of biodegradability in soil, UV transmittance, and visible light were observed in UV-Vis spectrophotometry and antimicrobial action on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella serovar Typhimurium, and Salmonella serovar Enteritidis. Good results were obtained, such as biodegradability time between 81.70 to 100 % (30 days), a low transmission rate of UV radiation and visible light between 250 to 890 nm, high capacity for bacterial inhibition between 22.08 to 10.05 mm for E. coli, among 25.59 to 11.10 mm for S. aureus, between 22.14 to 11.66 mm for S. serovar Typhimurium and between 21.11 to 8.26 mm for S. serovar Enteritidis. It is concluded that the biodegradable films of arrowroot starch incorporated with metals showed potential in all the evaluated tests, thus characterizing possible new products for different uses, such as low time available in the environment, preservation of the characteristics of special products, and antimicrobial capacity.

Rapid in situ forming PEG hydrogels for mucosal drug delivery.

In situ gelling polymeric biomaterials have proven useful as drug delivery vehicles to enable sustained release at sites of disease or injury. However, if delivered to mucosal tissues, such as the eyes, nose, gastrointestinal, and cervicovaginal tract, these gels must also possess the ability to adhere to an epithelium coated in mucus. Towards this end, we report a new rapid in situ gelling polyethylene glycol-based hydrogel. Unlike other chemistries that enable rapid gel formation which form via irreversible covalent bonds, we use a bio-reducible linker allowing the gels to be naturally degraded over several days once administered. We identified a set of 6 lead formulations, which rapidly form into disulfide-linked PEG hydrogels in 30 seconds or less. These rapidly forming PEG hydrogels were also able to conform and adhere to mucosal tissues via PEG-mucin entanglements and hydrogen bonding. Controlled release of protein-based cargoes from the PEG gels was achieved over several hours whereas 40 nm nanoparticle-based cargos were retained over 24 hours. We also found these rapid in situ forming PEG gels were well-tolerated by mammalian cells. These studies support further testing and development of rapid in situ forming PEG gels for drug delivery to improve therapeutic retention and efficacy at mucosal sites.

Physical Properties of Cellulose Derivative-Based Edible Films Elaborated with Liposomes Encapsulating Grape Seed Tannins.

Combined use of edible films (EF) with nanoencapsulation systems could be an effective alternative for improving the films' physical properties and maintaining bioactive compounds' stability. This research work focuses on the combined use of EF of cellulose-derived biopolymers enriched with liposomes that encapsulate grape seed tannins and on the subsequent evaluation of the physical properties and wettability. Tannin-containing liposomal suspensions (TLS) showed 570.8 ± 6.0 nm particle size and 99% encapsulation efficiency. In vitro studies showed that the release of tannins from liposomes was slower than that of free tannins, reaching a maximum release of catechin of 0.13 ± 0.01%, epicatechin of 0.57 ± 0.01%, and gallic acid of 3.90 ± 0.001% over a 144 h period. Adding liposomes to biopolymer matrices resulted in significant decrease (p < 0.05) of density, surface tension, tensile strength, elongation percentage, and elastic modulus in comparison to the control, obtaining films with greater flexibility and lower breaking strength. Incorporating TLS into EF formulations resulted in partially wetting the hydrophobic surface, reducing adhesion and cohesion compared to EF without liposomes. Results indicate that the presence of liposomes improves films' physical and wettability properties, causing them to extend and not contract when applied to hydrophobic food surfaces.

Encapsulation of eucalyptus and Litsea cubeba essential oils using zein nanopolymer: Preparation, characterization, storage stability, and antifungal evaluation

The encapsulation of essential oils (EOs) in protein-based biopolymeric matrices stabilized with surfactant ensures protection and physical stability of the EO against unfavorable environmental conditions. Accordingly, this study prepared zein nanoparticles loaded with eucalyptus essential oil (Z-EEO) and Litsea cubeba essential oil (Z-LEO), stable and with antifungal activity against Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, responsible for substantial damage to bean crops. The nanoparticles were prepared by nanoprecipitation with the aid of ultrasound treatment and characterized. The nanoparticles exhibited a hydrodynamic diameter close to 200 nm and PDI < 0.3 for 120 days, demonstrating the physical stability of the carrier system. Scanning electron microscopy and Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the nanoparticles were smooth and uniformly distributed spheres. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed interaction between zein and EOs through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated the thermal stability of the nanoparticles compared to pure bioactive compounds. The nanoparticles exhibited a dose-dependent effect in inhibiting the fungus in in vitro testing, with Z-EEO standing out by inhibiting 70.0 % of the mycelial growth of C. lindemuthianum. Therefore, the results showed that zein has great potential to encapsulate hydrophobic compounds, improving the applicability of the bioactive compound as a biofungicide, providing protection for the EO.

Advanced biopolymeric materials and nanosystems for RNA/DNA vaccines: a review.

The post COVID-19 pandemic era has emerged with more efficient vaccines, all based on genetic materials. However, to expand the use of nucleic components as vaccines, a new generation of nanosystems particularly constructed to increase RNA/DNA stability, half-life and facilitate administration are still required. This review highlights novel developments in mRNA and pDNA vaccines formulated into nanostructures exclusively composed by biopolymeric materials. Recent advances suggest that a new generation of vaccines may arise by adapting the structural features of biopolymers with the effectiveness of nucleic acids. The advantages offered by biopolymers, such as increased stability and targeting ability may cause a revolution in the immunization field for offering promptly adaptable and effective formulations for worldwide distribution.

Hybrid Nanoparticles Based on Mesoporous Silica and Functionalized Biopolymers as Drug Carriers for Chemotherapeutic Agents.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are promising drug carriers for cancer therapy. Their functionalization with ligands for specific tissue/cell targeting and stimuli-responsive cap materials for sealing drugs within the pores of MSNs is extensively studied for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. The objective of the present work was to establish MSNs as ideal nanocarriers of anticancer drugs such as 5-FU and silymarin by exploiting characteristics such as their large surface area, pore size, and biocompatibility. Furthermore, coating with various biopolymeric materials such as carboxymethyl chitosan-dopamine and hyaluronic acid-folic acid on their surface would allow them to play the role of ligands in the process of active targeting to tumor cells in which there is an overexpression of specific receptors for them. From the results obtained, it emerged, in fact, that these hybrid nanoparticles not only inhibit the growth of glioblastoma and breast cancer cells, but also act as pH-responsive release systems potentially useful as release vectors in tumor environments.

Chitosan/Silica Hybrid Nanogels by Inverse Nanoemulsion for Encapsulating Hydrophilic Substances

AbstractA strategy for the preparation of a hybrid chitosan/silica nanohydrogel is reported, which combines the gelation of chitosan in a nanoemulsion system with a sol–gel process to produce silica. Chitosan is used as a biopolymer matrix, while silica acts as a structuring additive. Hydrogel nanocapsules are obtained through the ionic interaction of the cationic groups of chitosan with the anionic groups of sodium triphosphate (STP), which is used as a physical cross‐linker. Two alternative preparation methods are compared in this work: in the first one, STP is added to the continuous phase of an inverse emulsion of chitosan; in the second one, the fusion of droplets of two emulsions containing separate chitosan and STP takes place. The size of the obtained nanocapsules ranges from 50 to 200 nm. The efficiency of the formed hydrogel for entrapping a hydrophilic model substance (erioglaucine disodium salt) is investigated for the two systems by studying the release in a neutral aqueous medium. The results indicate that the hydrophilic cargo is efficiently encapsulated by both preparation methods, although the droplet‐fusion method yields more stable suspensions. As a general observation, the release behavior of erioglaucine is systematically retarded when silica is present in the systems.

Influence of Lithium Triflate Salt Concentration on Structural, Thermal, Electrochemical, and Ionic Conductivity Properties of Cassava Starch Solid Biopolymer Electrolytes.

Cassava starch solid biopolymer electrolyte (SBPE) films were prepared by a thermochemical method with different concentrations of lithium triflate (LiTFT) as a dopant salt. The process began with dispersing cassava starch in water, followed by heating to facilitate gelatinization; subsequently, plasticizers and LiTFT were added at differing concentrations. The infrared spectroscopy analysis (FTIR-ATR) showed variations in the wavenumber of some characteristic bands of starch, thus evidencing the interaction between the LiTFT salt and biopolymeric matrix. The short-range crystallinity index, determined by the ratio of COH to COC bands, exhibited the highest crystallinity in the salt-free SBPEs and the lowest in the SBPEs with a concentration ratio (Xm) of 0.17. The thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that the salt addition increased the dehydration process temperature by 5 °C. Additionally, the thermal decomposition processes were shown at lower temperatures after the addition of the LiTFT salt into the SBPEs. The differential scanning calorimetry showed that the addition of the salt affected the endothermic process related to the degradation of the packing of the starch molecules, which occurred at 70 °C in the salt-free SBPEs and at lower temperatures (2 or 3 °C less) in the films that contained the LiTFT salt at different concentrations. The cyclic voltammetry analysis of the SBPE films identified the redox processes of the glucose units in all the samples, with observed differences in peak potentials (Ep) and peak currents (Ip) across various salt concentrations. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to establish the equivalent circuit model Rf-(Cdl/(Rct-(CPE/Rre))) and determine the electrochemical parameters, revealing a higher conduction value of 2.72 × 10-3 S cm-1 for the SBPEs with Xm = 17 and a lower conduction of 5.80 × 10-4 S cm-1 in the salt-free SBPEs. It was concluded that the concentration of LiTFT salt in the cassava starch SBPE films influences their morphology and slightly reduces their thermal stability. Furthermore, the electrochemical behavior is affected in terms of variations in the redox potentials of the glucose units of the biopolymer and in their ionic conductivity.

Enhancing the Mechanical Strength and Thermal Stability of Polylactic Acid (PLA) with the Addition of Epoxidized Waste Cooking Oil (EWCO)

Polylactic Acid (PLA) comes from renewable resources, has a reasonable biodegradability rate, and is used in biomedical, food packaging, textiles, and agricultural applications. PLA offers high mechanical strength and the ability to compost, similar to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and nylon. However, the brittleness of PLA has always limited its usage. Therefore, bio-based plasticizers in the biopolymer matrices can increase flexibility (elasticity), durability, and workability. This study aims to determine the optimal blending ratio for the PLA blended with epoxidized waste cooking oil (EWCO) to enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of PLA/EWCO. The mechanical strength test consists of the hardness test (N/mm&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;), flexural strength (MPa), and impact energy (kJ/m&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;) adopted to evaluate the plasticizing characteristics. The thermal stability analysis involves glass transition temperature (T&lt;sub&gt;g&lt;/sub&gt;) (°C), cold-crystallization temperature (T&lt;sub&gt;cc&lt;/sub&gt;) (°C) and melting temperature (T&lt;sub&gt;m&lt;/sub&gt;) (°C). The blending ratio is 97.5PLA/2.5EWCO, 95PLA/5EWCO, 92.5PLA/7.5EWCO and 90PLA/10EWCO. As a result, 97.5:2.5 of PLA/EWCO reduces intermolecular interactions by stimulating more free volume in biopolymer chains’ mobility and enhancing the flexibility and elasticity of the PLA blends. Ultimately, the brittleness of PLA decreased with increasing EWCO bio-based plasticizer.

Xanthohumol combined with chitosan-oxidized starch film as a potential new strategy for food packaging: Characterization, physicochemical and biological properties

Foodborne pathogens are still the main culprits causing food decay and diseases, while it has become a new development trend to use natural polymer biomaterials combined with natural active compounds in food packaging research. This study firstly combined isopentenyl chalcone active compound xanthohumol (XN) with cheap source potential and chitosan/oxidized starch film (CS/OS) to develop a novel multifunctional chitosan/oxidized starch/xanthohumol (CS/OS/XN) packaging film. The effects of different mass ratios (0.05 %, 0.1 %, 0.25 %, 0.5 % and 1 %) of XN on physicochemical and biological properties were studied. The results showed that CS/OS/XN films demonstrated non-chemical compatibility with enduring water vapor barrier ability and water locking performance. However, DPPH antioxidant assay showed that the antioxidant properties could not be improved significantly when the amount of XN was added less than 1 % and the antibacterial ability against Escherichia coli (E. coli) was significantly improved than Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). This study expanded the application of natural active compound for food packaging.

Steric and energetic investigations of adsorption isotherms of methylene blue on new polymeric multi-layered material-based k-carrageenan and alginate

In this research study, we examined the adsorption behavior of methylene blue (MB) on a novel biosorbent made of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM) biopolymeric material at three different temperatures. Various models derived from statistical physics formalism were employed to analyze the adsorption isotherms. An alternative approach based on the application of multilayer models from statistical physics theory was used to better investigate the adsorption mechanisms of MB on the PEM grafting material. We adjusted various parameters within this model across temperatures of 295K, 313 K, and333K, and these parameters played a crucial role in comprehending the adsorption mechanism. In addition, this approach revealed that the MB dye is linked through a multilayer process on the PEM grafting material with ‘non-parallel’ configurations and multimolecular process. The PEM grafting material showed maximum adsorption capacities ranging from 632.23 mg⁄g to 463.76 mg⁄g for the removal of MB over a pH of 6. The calculated adsorption energies ranged from 11.6 to 18.65kJ/mol, indicating that the MB adsorption process was primarily of a physisorption nature influenced by both hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions. Thus, the theoretical analysis indicated that this low-cost adsorbent material (PEM grafting) is a promising material for the removal of MB dye from the solution. Additionally, we examined the adsorption behavior by calculating the entropy, the free energy and the internal energy which govern the adsorption process of MB onto the PEM grafting material.

Cellulose‐enriched ascorbic acid for wound dressing application: Future medical textile

AbstractWounds infected by resistant microbes have become a cost and health problem worldwide. In modern wound care, healing mechanisms require particular strategies, such as adding natural antioxidants and antimicrobials in a biocompatible biopolymer matrix mimicking extracellular tissue such as cellulose. Here, ascorbic acid or Vitamin C is a promising bioactive as a topical drug loaded in a cellulose‐based composite matrix for skin tissue repair. Ascorbic acid, cellulose, or cellulose composites enriched with ascorbic acid have shown better biocompatibility and biological effects for accelerating wound healing, making them promising as sustainable medical textiles. Future challenges relate to the ideal engineered wound dressing design, raw material toxicity, and 3D printing technology.

Eco-Friendly Polymer Nanocomposite Coatings for Next-Generation Fire Retardants for Building Materials.

The increasing global commitment to carbon neutrality has propelled a heightened focus on sustainable construction materials, with wood emerging as pivotal due to its environmental benefits. This review explores the development and application of eco-friendly polymer nanocomposite coatings to enhance wood's fire resistance, addressing a critical limitation in its widespread adoption. These nanocomposites demonstrate improved thermal stability and char formation properties by integrating nanoparticles, such as nano-clays, graphene oxide, and metal oxides, into biopolymer matrices. This significantly mitigates the flammability of wood substrates, creating a robust barrier against heat and oxygen. The review provides a comprehensive examination of these advanced coatings' synthesis, characterization, and performance. By emphasizing recent innovations and outlining future research directions, this review underscores the potential of eco-friendly polymer nanocomposite coatings as next-generation fire retardants. This advancement supports the expanded utilization of wood in sustainable construction practices and aligns with global initiatives toward achieving carbon neutrality.

The Shelf Life of Yellow Passion Fruit with an Edible Biocomposite Coating Based on Chitosan, Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles, and Beeswax

Yellow or sour passion fruit is a climacteric fruit with a high rate of respiration and ethylene production, and postharvest technology is needed to extend its shelf life. This study investigated the properties of a biocomposite film with chitosan (CH) incorporated with beeswax (BW) and graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles for use as an edible coating to extend the shelf life of yellow passion fruit at 22 °C and 70% RH for eight days. CH films associated with BW showed lower water vapor permeability (WVP) than films with CH alone. However, adding GO to the CH + BW biopolymer matrix improved the WVP, decreased the solubility (12.8%), and increased the opacity of the film by 9% compared to those of the CH film. Fruits coated with CH + BW or CH + BW + GO exhibited a reduction in respiration rate, a slower ripening process by approximately 3 days, and a significant decrease in weight loss. This also resulted in a higher soluble solids content and increased antioxidative capacity of the pulp. The incorporation of GO into the CH + BW matrix resulted in a more pronounced delay of fruit ripening, as evidenced by the lower depigmentation of the peel at eight days, with a lightness approximately 10.7% lower at 54.92, a chroma value 16.5% lower at 49.33, a hue angle 7.2% higher at 92.56, a soluble solid (SS) content 16.7% higher at 11.32°Brix, and an acidity 31.9% higher at 4.18% compared to the control. Furthermore, the biopolymer packaging led to a higher consumer acceptance score for the fruit.

Facile fabrication of graphene oxide and rare earth based metal organic frameworks decorated alginate and chitosan biopolymeric hybrid materials for defluoridation studies

Fluorosis disease can be prevented by the defluoridated water. Hence, the present work focused on the fabrication of hybrid materials using graphene oxide (GO) and Ce-based metal organic frameworks namely cerium fumarate (Ce-Fu) which gives GO/Ce-Fu for defluoridation of water. Further, the powdered GO/Ce-Fu was dispersed with alginate (Alg) and chitosan (CS) biopolymeric matrixes to give GO/Ce-Fu/Alg-CS biopolymeric hybrid beads for defluoridation investigations. The developed GO/Ce-Fu and GO/Ce-Fu/Alg-CS beads have defluoridation capacities (DCs) of 4.410 and 4.753 mg/g within 30 min. The fabricated GO/Ce-Fu and GO/Ce-Fu/Alg-CS beads were analyzed by XRD, FTIR, TGA, BET, SEM and EDAX studies. The performance of fluoride adsorption influencing parameters such as dosage, contact time, solution pH, interfering anions and temperature studies were optimized with batch scale. Thermodynamic, adsorption isotherms and kinetic studies were carried out using hybrid materials to find the nature and order of fluoride adsorption. The fluoride adsorption mechanism of GO/Ce-Fu and GO/Ce-Fu/Alg-CS beads was investigated. The performance of recyclability of the hybrid materials was examined. In addition, the field studies of hybrid materials were also explored to identify their field suitability nature.

A Comprehensive Review on Starch-Based Hydrogels: From Tradition to Innovation, Opportunities, and Drawbacks.

Natural hydrogels based on renewable and inexpensive sources, such as starch, represent an interesting group of biopolymeric materials with a growing range of applications in the biomedical, cosmeceutical, and food sectors. Starch-based hydrogels have traditionally been produced using different processes based on chemical or physical methods. However, the long processing times, high energy consumption, and safety issues related to the synthesis of these materials, mostly causing severe environmental damage, have been identified as the main limitations for their further exploitation. Therefore, the main scientific challenge for research groups is the development of reliable and sustainable processing methods to reduce the environmental footprint, as well as investigating new low-cost sources of starches and individuating appropriate formulations to produce stable hydrogel-based products. In the last decade, the possibility of physically modifying natural polysaccharides, such as starches, using green or sustainable processing methods has mostly been based on nonthermal technologies including high-pressure processing (HPP). It has been demonstrated that the latter exerts an important role in improving the physicochemical and techno-functional properties of starches. However, as for surveys in the literature, research activities have been devoted to understanding the effects of physical pre-treatments via high-pressure processing (HPP) on starch structural modifications, more so than elucidating its role and capacity for the rapid formation of stable and highly structured starch-based hydrogels with promising functionality and stability, utilizing more sustainable and eco-friendly processing conditions. Therefore, the present review addresses the recent advancements in knowledge on the production of sustainable starch-based hydrogels utilizing HPP as an innovative and clean-label preparation method. Additionally, this manuscript has the ambition to give an updated overview of starch-based hydrogels considering the different types of structures available, and the recent applications are proposed as well to critically analyze the main perspectives and technological challenges for the future exploitation of these novel structures.

Synthesis of bare and modified zerovalent iron nanoparticles and their use in porous polylactic acid composites for methyl orange removal

The main objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of two types of immobilised zerovalent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) incorporated into a porous biopolymer matrix of polylactic acid (PLA) as a novel multifunctional composite system for potential use in dye wastewater treatment. The study involved the preparation of unmodified and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (PDCA) modified nZVI material using liquid phase reduction method. Zeta potential measurement and UV-Vis spectrophotometry revealed that the ligand-modified nZVI particles exhibited better dispersion stability in aqueous media than bare particles. SEM-EDS analysis showed a higher oxidation state of the ligand-modified nZVI particles and good dispersion and adhesion of nZVI particles in the mesoporous structure of PLA matrix. The removal efficiency of methyl orange was determined spectrophotometrically where a high efficiency (above 90 %) for high concentration of bare nZVI was detected. Its composites also showed an efficiency of 75 – 100 %. However, modified nZVI showed much lower efficiency, especially after embedding in the PLA matrix.

Development of novel protein-rich foods: Studies of composite hydrogels formed from potato proteins and gellan gums with different degrees of acylation

The textural attributes of mixed hydrogels formed from potato protein (PP) and gellan gum (GG) were examined for their potential application as novel protein-rich foods (NPFs). Initially, the properties of gels formed by the individual biopolymers were characterized using dynamic shear rheology, compression testing, and confocal fluorescence microscopy. Rheological analysis revealed that PP dispersions formed irreversible heat-set gels, whereas GG formed reversible cold-set gels at lower temperatures. The effects of adding PP to high acyl gellan gum (HA-GG) or low acyl gellan gum (LA-GG) solutions on the microstructure and rheology of the mixed gels formed were then examined. The PP/LA-GG composite gels had a highly heterogeneous microstructure consisting of protein-rich and polysaccharide-rich regions. In contrast, the PP/HA-GG composite gels had a more uniform microstructure. Interestingly, the incorporation of the PP weakened the PP/LA-GG composite gels (antagonism) but strengthened the PP/HA-GG composite gels (synergism), which was mainly attributed to their different impacts on gel microstructure. This study shows that semi-solid plant protein-dietary fiber composites can be formed with a variety of textural attributes by altering the nature and concentration of biopolymers used to formulate them. These mixed gels may be useful for the creation of NPFs. This study also highlights the complexity of the interactions between different food biopolymers and their impacts on food properties, highlighting the need for further research on understanding structure-function relationships in multicomponent biopolymer materials.