High-pressure Homogenization Technology Research Articles

Enhancing Cutin Extraction Efficiency from Industrially Derived Tomato Processing Residues by High-Pressure Homogenization.

This study primarily aimed to enhance the extraction of cutin from industrial tomato peel residues. Initially, the conventional extraction process was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Subsequently, high-pressure homogenization (HPH) was introduced to improve extraction efficiency and sustainability. The optimization process focused on determining the optimal conditions for conventional extraction via chemical hydrolysis, including temperature (100-130 °C), time (15-120 min), and NaOH concentration (1-3%). The optimized conditions, determined as 130 °C, 120 min, and 3% NaOH solution, yielded a maximum cutin extraction of 32.5%. Furthermore, the results indicated that applying HPH pre-treatment to tomato peels before alkaline hydrolysis significantly increased the cutin extraction yield, reaching 46.1%. This represents an approximately 42% increase compared to the conventional process. Importantly, HPH pre-treatment enabled cutin extraction under milder conditions using a 2% NaOH solution, reducing NaOH usage by 33%, while still achieving a substantial cutin yield of 45.6%. FT-IR analysis confirmed that cutin obtained via both conventional and HPH-assisted extraction exhibited similar chemical structures, indicating that the main chemical groups and structure of cutin remained unaltered by HPH treatment. Furthermore, cutin extracts from both conventional and HPH-assisted extraction demonstrated thermal stability up to approximately 200 °C, with less than 5% weight loss according to TGA analysis. These findings underscore the potential of HPH technology to significantly enhance cutin extraction yield from tomato peel residues while utilizing milder chemical hydrolysis conditions, thereby promoting a more sustainable and efficient cutin extraction process.

Gastrointestinal digestion behavior and bioavailability of greenly prepared highly loaded myofibrillar-luteolin vehicle

In this study, the highly loaded myofibrillar protein (MP)-luteolin (Lut) complexes were noncovalently constructed by using green high-pressure homogenization technology (HPH) and high-pressure micro-fluidization technology (HPM), aiming to optimize the encapsulation efficiency of flavonoids in the protein-based vehicle without relying on the organic solvent (i.e. DMSO, ethanol, etc.). The loading efficiency of Lut into MPs could reach 100 % with a concentration of 120 μmol/g protein by using HPH (103 MPa, 2 passes) without ethanol adoption. The in vitro gastrointestinal digestion behavior and antioxidant activity of the complexes were then compared with those of ethanol-assisted groups. During gastrointestinal digestion, the MP digestibility of complexes, reaching more than 70.56 % after thermal treatment, was higher than that of sole protein. The release profile of Lut encapsulated in ethanol-containing and ethanol-free samples both well fitted with the Hixson-Crowell release kinetic model (R2 = 0.92 and 0.94, respectively), and the total phenol content decreased by ≥ 40.02 % and ≥ 62.62 %, respectively. The in vitro antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and Fe2+) of the digestive products was significantly improved by 23.89 %, 159.69 %, 351.12 % (ethanol groups) and 13.43 %, 125.48 %, 213.95 % (non-ethanol groups). The 3 mg/mL freeze-dried digesta significantly alleviated lipid accumulation and oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. The triglycerides and malondialdehyde contents decreased by at least 57.62 % and 67.74 % after digesta treatment. This study provides an easily approached and environment-friendly strategy to construct a highly loaded protein–flavonoid conjugate, which showed great potential in the formulation of healthier meat products.

The Effect of High-Pressure Homogenization Conditions on the Physicochemical Properties and Stability of Designed Fluconazole-Loaded Ocular Nanoemulsions.

The growing interest in high-energy emulsification is a result of its scalability, which is important from an industrial perspective and allows for a more reproducible and efficient production of pharmaceutical formulations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of composition, mainly a fixed surfactant/cosurfactant (Smix) ratio, their concentration, and the parameters of high-pressure homogenization (HPH) processing on the quality and stability of ophthalmic fluconazole-loaded nanoemulsions. After a physicochemical analysis of nanoemulsions containing 20% w/w of oil, as optimal conditions for the HPH process, three cycles at a pressure of 1000 bar were established, obtaining formulations with an average droplet diameter size in the range of 80.63-129.68 nm and PDI values below 0.25. While it was expected that an increasing cosurfactant concentration decreased the droplet size, in the case of formulations containing Tween 20 and 10% w/w of cosurfactants, "over-processing" was observed, identified by the droplet size and polydispersity index increase. Consecutively, the selected formulations were evaluated for in vitro drug release in Franz's cell, antifungal activity, and 30-day stability using NMR spectroscopy. An antifungal activity test showed no significant difference in the antifungal activity between optimal fluconazole-loaded nanoemulsions and a 0.3% aqueous drug solution, but previously, research showed that prepared formulations were characterized by a higher viscosity and satisfactory prolonged release compared to a control. In a 30-day stability study, it was observed that higher HLB values of the used surfactants decreased the stability of the formulations in the following order: Kolliphor EL, Tween 80, Tween 20. The NMR spectra confirmed that Kolliphor EL-based formulations ensured the higher stability of the nanoemulsion composition in comparison to Tween 80 and a better stabilizing effect of propylene glycol as a cosurfactant in comparison to PEG 200. Therefore, the optimization of HPH technology should be focused on the selection of Smix and the Smix:oil ratio in order to prepare stable formulations of high quality.

High‐pressure homogenisation improves food quality of plant‐based milk alternatives

SummaryThere is a growing market for plant‐based milk products, but the consumer acceptance remains low when compared with cow milk. The aim of this study was to compare the physiochemical and organoleptic properties of plant‐based milk made from adzuki bean, adlay and oat, and to investigate the effects of using household and high‐pressure homogeniser on the physiochemical and sensory properties of plant‐based milk. The colour, pH, Brix value, suspension stability, total solid content, total soluble protein content, particle size distribution, steady‐shear rheological properties, microstructure and sensory attributes of the samples were determined. The lightness and Brix values of the plant‐based milk samples were increased 2.9%–9.6%, and 1%–5% after HPH, respectively, indicating the increase in total soluble protein content and the release of starch granules. The particle size of the samples reduced over 50%, and the viscosity apparently increased after HPH. Sensory evaluation showed that there was no significant difference in the acceptability of samples prepared by household and HPH, but the samples containing adzuki bean and oat had higher acceptance. In conclusion, HPH could significantly improve food quality of plant‐based milk products, more in‐depth research can be conducted to develop more acceptable plant‐based milk products with HPH technology.

High-Pressure Homogenization for Enhanced Bioactive Recovery from Tomato Processing By-Products and Improved Lycopene Bioaccessibility during In Vitro Digestion.

The principles of industrial ecology have emerged as pivotal drivers of eco-innovation, aiming to realize a "zero-waste" society where waste materials are repurposed as valuable resources. In this context, High-Pressure Homogenization (HPH) presents a promising, easily scalable micronization technology, capable of enhancing the extractability and bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds found in tomato processing by-products, which are notably abundant waste streams in the Mediterranean region. This study focuses on optimizing HPH treatment parameters to intensify the recovery of bioactive compounds from tomato pomace. Additionally, it investigates the multifaceted impacts of HPH on various aspects, including color, particle size distribution, microscopic characteristics, surface properties, bioactivity, and lycopene bioaccessibility through in vitro digestion simulations. The results demonstrate that the application of HPH under optimized conditions (80 MPa, 25 °C, 10 passes) induces a remarkable 8-fold reduction in mean particle size, reduced surface tension, improved physical stability, uniform color, increased total phenolic content (+31%), antioxidant activity (+30%), dietary fiber content (+9%), and lycopene bioaccessibility during the intestinal digestion phase compared to untreated samples. These encouraging outcomes support the proposition of integrating HPH technology into an environmentally friendly industrial process for the full valorization of tomato processing residues. By utilizing water as the sole solvent, this approach aims to yield a functional ingredient characterized by greater nutritional and health-promoting values.

Astaxanthin encapsulation in nanocapsule by high-pressure homogenization technology: a study on stability, antioxidant activity and in vitro release

The astaxanthin nanocapsules (ASX-LNC) was prepared by high-pressure homogenization technology, the microstructure, stability, antioxidant activity, and in vitro release characteristics of ASX-LNC were characterized and evaluated. The ASX-LNC comprised a core material and wall materials. The core material was composed of astaxanthin oil, and the wall materials were composed of β-cyclodextrin, decapolyglycerol monooleate, soybean lecithin (PC60), glycerol, and deionized water. The mean particle size of the ASX-LNC was 206.9 ± 2.8 nm, and the polydispersity index (PdI) value was 0.218 ± 0.026. The zeta potential of ASX-LNC was −26.16 ± 0.87 mV. The loading amount of ASX-LNC was 0.546%±0.032%, and the encapsulation efficiency was 99.65%±0.13%, indicating that the preparation process was feasible. The stability of ASX-LNC was determined under different conditions, indicating good stability of the ASX-LNC. In antioxidant research, the inhibition rate of free radicals of ASX-LNC was 91.03 ± 0.87% under 250 μg/mL for 30 min, and the inhibition rate of free radicals of astaxanthin ethanol solution was 90.83 ± 1.37%. The antioxidant capacity of astaxanthin was not affected by the encapsulation, which demonstrated the effect of prolonging the release of active ingredients due to the protection of the biological activity of astaxanthin by encapsulation. Compared with the astaxanthin ethanol solution, the ASX-LNC had a slow-release effect and could prolong the action time of active substances. Overall, ASX-LNC is a potential carrier for application in food and health products, which can control the release of active substances.

Improving the protective ability of lignin against vascular and neurological development in BPAF-induced zebrafish by high-pressure homogenization technology

The lack of a sufficient amount of functional groups in the lignin structure limits its bioapplication. In this work, high-pressure homogenization was performed on original kraft lignin (L-ORI) to prepare lignin nanoparticles (L-NANO), which aimed to improve its functional group contents for further vascular and neurological applications. The results showed that the prepared L-NANO possessed spherical structures with diameters of 40.3–160.4 nm and increased amount of hydroxyl groups. Compared to L-ORI, L-NANO possessed better in vivo and in vitro antioxidant capacity, which could endow it with enhanced protective effects for the vascular and neural development of bisphenol AF (BPAF)-induced zebrafish. In addition, L-NANO reduced the neurotoxicity and cardiovascular toxicity of BPAF in zebrafish by upregulating the expression levels of oxidative stress-related genes (Cu/Zn-Sod and cat), which could further significantly upregulate the expression levels of neurogenesis genes (elavl3, gap43, mbp, and syn2a) and protect the contraction of the cardinal vein (CCV) and early central nervous system development by upregulating the expression levels of vascular genes (flk1 and flt4). The excellent cardiovascular and neurodevelopmental protective ability of L-NANO indicated that high-pressure homogenization is a promising technology for improving the bioactivity of lignin.

High pressure homogenization to boost the technological functionality of native pea proteins

Pea proteins are being increasingly used for the formulation of plant-based products, but their globular structure and the presence of aggregates can affect their technological properties. In this study, the effect of high pressure homogenization (HPH) at different intensities (60 and 100 MPa) was investigated as a pre-treatment to modulate the techno-functional properties of a pea protein isolate (IP) extracted through an alkaline extraction/isoelectric precipitation process. SDS-PAGE, circular dichroism, thermal properties, total free sulfhydryl groups, antioxidant capacity and reducing properties were evaluated along with technological indices as solubility, WHC and OHC, interfacial tension and emulsifying capacity. HPH treatments were able to unfold and modify proteins structure, leading also to a change of the relative abundance of pea protein globulins (SDS-PAGE) and of the vicilin to legumin ratio. Solubility, WHC and OHC were improved, while interfacial tension and emulsifying capacity were weakly affected. However, an enhanced physical stability over time of the emulsions prepared with the 60 MPa-treated protein was found, likely as an effect of the decreased ratio between vicilin and legumin after treatment.Results of this study will contribute to deepen the effect of the HPH technology used as pre-treatment, adding useful results and expanding knowledge about the structure and techno-functional properties of native and modified pea proteins.

Formulation, characterization, pharmacokinetics and antioxidant activity evaluation of Pinus koraiensis nuts oil based coenzyme Q10 loaded nanoemulsion

Coenzyme Q10(CoQ10) is a well-known lipophilic antioxidant with good prospects for practical application of different fields including foods and pharmaceutics but has the drawback of low oral bioavailability because of its water insolubility and instability. Pinus koraiensis nut oil(PNO) is excellent in nutritional content and contains a great amount of unsaturated fatty acids that are helpful to the human body. It is easily oxidized, however, due to the high degree of unsaturation in its own structure, which limits its application. The present study aimed to formulate and characterize a CoQ10 loaded nanoemulsion based on PNO to overcome these problems of CoQ10 and PNO. Simultaneously, the physiological effects of the CoQ10 and PNO can work together in a synergistic way. In this study, coenzyme Q10 nanoemulsion(CoQ10-NE) with good stability was prepared by high pressure homogenization(HPH) technology. The CoQ10-NE was evaluated by TEM, FTIR, encapsulation rate, stability and release behavior in vitro. The bioavailability and the relationship between cellular oxidative stress and anticancer of CoQ10-NE was studied by pharmacokinetic and activity of malondialdehyde(MDA), superoxidedismutase(SOD) and glutathione peroxidase(GPx) about mouse colon cancer cells(CT26. WT). The area under the curve(AUC0-ꝏ) of CoQ10-NE was 3.25 folds higher than that of CoQ10 suspension, indicating that the bioavailability and absorption of CoQ10-NE are greatly increased. Also, at the same time, CoQ10-NE has a protective effect on CT26. WT cell damage induced by H2O2 compared with CoQ10 suspension and blank nanoemulsion. The final formulation solved the insolubility and instability of CoQ10 during use, along with providing a new technology for preparing CoQ10-NE with a long-term stability and good antioxidants in the prevention of colon cancer.

Conformational Changes in Proteins Caused by High-Pressure Homogenization Promote Nanoparticle Formation in Natural Bone Aqueous Suspension.

As a natural calcium resource, animal bone needs to be miniaturized to the nanoscale to improve palatability and absorption capacity. To explore the mechanism of high-pressure homogenization (HPH) in preparing natural bone aqueous nanosuspensions, the relationships between the changes in protein conformation, solubility and quality characteristics of rabbit bone aqueous suspensions (RBAS) prepared by different HPH cycles were studied. The results showed that the improvements in particle size, stability and calcium solubility of RBASs could be mainly attributed to the improvement of protein solubility induced by the changes in protein conformation. HPH treatment led to the denaturation and degradation of protein in rabbit bone, generating soluble peptides and improving the stability of the suspensions by enhancing the surface charge of the particles. When collagen as the main protein was partially degraded, the hydroxyapatite in the bone was crushed into tiny particles. The increase in the particle-specific surface area led to the release of calcium ions, which chelated with the peptides to produce peptide calcium. However, excessive HPH treatment caused the production of protein macromolecular aggregates and affected the quality of RBASs. This study is helpful to promote the application of HPH technology in animal bone nanoprocessing.

Construction and characterization of ethyl cellulose-based nano-delivery system for phenamacril

Fungicide-resistant Fusarium has become a threaten to wheat production. Novel fungicide formulations can improve the efficacy of active ingredient and minimize the emergence of resistance. Encapsulation of fungicides in biodegradable carriers, especially, in polysaccharide, is a feasible approach to develop environment-friendly and efficient formulation. This study focused on the synthesis of ethyl cellulose-based phenamacril nano-delivery system by combining emulsion-solvent evaporation and high-pressure homogenization technology to improve the control of fusarium head blight in wheat. Emulsifier 125 and Tersperse 2500 were screened from eleven commonly used surfactants. Emulsifier 125 and Tersperse 2500 in a ratio of 2:1 and phenamacril nanocapsules with the mean particle size of 152.5 ± 1.3 nm were prepared. These showed excellent storage stability and wettability on crop leaves. A bioassay comparing the nanocapsules with a commercial preparation against Fusarium graminearum showed significantly improved biological activity. This formulation could be used to effectively not only to control fusarium head blight but also delay the occurrence of resistance.

Fabrication of apigenin nanoparticles using antisolvent crystallization technology: A comparison of supercritical antisolvent, ultrasonic-assisted liquid antisolvent, and high-pressure homogenization technologies

Flavonoids have many positive pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, factors such as low water solubility and low dissolution rate limit their use. To overcome their poor solubility, carrier-free apigenin (API) microparticles and nanoparticles were prepared using three types of antisolvent precipitation technologies: supercritical antisolvent (SCF) technology, ultrasonic-assisted liquid antisolvent (UAL) technology, and high-pressure homogenization (HPH) technology. All three technologies can produce uniform tiny particles. However, the API particles obtained using these different techniques show subtle differences in terms of physical and chemical properties and biological activity. The preparation, characterization, and potential use of API microparticles and nanoparticles to improve in vitro release were studied. The resulting API particles were investigated and compared using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. We determined the optimum conditions for SCF, UAL, and HPH technologies to produce API microparticles and nanoparticles. The antioxidant and antitumor properties of the API particles were also investigated. The results demonstrated that the reduced particle size of the APIs prepared via SCF, UAL, and HPH technologies contributed to the enhanced dissolution rate, which in turn enhanced API bioactivity.

Regulation of Janus Kinase-signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription Pathways in Psoriatic Mice by Chinese Herbal Compound and Efficacy of Chinese Traditional Medicine under Nano-suspension Technology.

The mechanism of the treatment of psoriasis-like mice with the Chinese herbal compound YinXie No.1 prepared by nano-suspension technology was investigated based on Janus kinase-signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAKs/STATs) pathway. The high-pressure homogenization technology was used in the preparation of the YinXie No.1 nano-suspensions. Then, 50 Kunming mice were equally classified into the negative control group (NC), the psoriasis model group (PsM) prepared with 5% imiquimod cream on the back, the Tripterygium glycosides-gavage group (TrG), the YinXie No.1-gavage group (YX1), and the YinXie No.1 nano suspension group (Nano-YX1). The pathological changes and the differential expressions of STAT3 and STAT5 were compared in each group after the treatment. The results showed that the particle size of nano-suspension powder was smaller and had strong stability compared with the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). Compared with the NC group, psoriasis-like lesions were observed in the PsM group. Compared with the PsM group, the conditions of the erythema on skin lesions, the mRNA expression of STAT3 and STAT5, and protein expression of p-STAT3 and p-STAT5 in the TrG group, YX1 group, and Nano-YX1 group were notably decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the TrG group and YX1 group, the improvement effect of various indexes in the Nano-YX1 group was closer to that in the NC group, but there were differences between the NC group (P<0.05). Chinese herbal compound was helpful to regulate and control the JAKs/STATs pathway to improve the symptoms of psoriasis mice, and the preparation of Chinese herbal compound decoction by nano-suspension technology could improve the therapeutic effect.

Utilizing high-pressure homogenization for the production of fermented plant-protein yogurt alternatives with low and high oil content using potato protein isolate as a model

The potential of high-pressure homogenization (HPH) to allow the production of a fermented potato protein isolate-based yogurt alternative with low and high oil concentration was investigated. The yogurt alternatives containing different oil concentrations (1.5%, 3%, and 10%) were obtained by inoculating the homogenized (0.1 MPa, 30 MPa, and 200 MPa) emulsions. HPH reduced emulsion particle size (all oil levels) compared to the non-homogenized samples (0.1 MPa). The overall emulsion whiteness index increased after HPH treatment while the highest value was obtained for 200 MPa 10% oil, 76.01 ± 0.50, compared to 65.33 ± 2.05 obtained for 0.1 MPa 10% oil. The creaming velocity was decreased by HPH, e.g., for 3% oil from 10.70 ± 0.11 (0.1 MPa) to 0.59 ± 0.04 after 200 MPa. Microscopic images of gels from HPH treated emulsions revealed smaller oil droplets and narrower component distribution. This study further highlights the possibility of HPH technology to produce plant-protein-based yogurt alternatives with different oil concentrations. Industrial relevanceIn recent years, the food industry has changed rapidly and has faced new consumer demands and global food trends. Consumers pay attention to food and its effect on their health, and the popularity of dairy alternatives with reduced-oil and, on the other hand, Greek-style yogurt analogs has grown. (Ultra) high-pressure homogenization ((U)HPH) is a continuously emerging technology that can potentially provide simultaneous homogenization and microbial inactivation and induce changes in solution physicochemical properties such as emulsion stabilization mainly by significantly reducing oil droplet size and improving interactions between emulsifiers and oil phase. By utilizing HPH, plant-based yogurt alternatives can be formed with a wide range of oil concentrations and similar texture profiles and water holding capacity, free of additional stabilizers and artificial emulsifiers. The results of this bottom-up approach study could be of great importance for considering the potential for scaling-up and future implementation of (U)HPH in the food industry to produce plant-based milk and yogurt alternatives with low and high oil content, having a clean label.

Sub-50 nm ultra-small organic drug nanosuspension prepared by cavi-precipitation and its brain targeting potential

The purpose of this study was to show whether it is possible to prepare sub 100 nm or preferably sub-50 nm drug nanosuspension (NS) of suitable quality for intravenous administration. Furthermore, we have studied how the brain targeting potential of such small size organic NS differs from relatively bigger size NS. Two combination technologies (cavi-precipitation, H96) and a standard high-pressure homogenization (HPH) technology were used to prepare drug NS of different sizes. The cavi-precipitation process generated the smallest AmB NS, i.e., 27 nm compared to 79 nm by H96 technology and 252 nm by standard HPH technology. Dialysis of the nanosuspension in the original dispersion media was found to be the most efficient solvent removal method without negatively affecting particle size. The removal of organic solvent was found to drastically improve the stability of the formulations. The protein adsorption pattern shows that the small size NS particles obtained by the cavi-precipitation process have the potential to circulate longer in the bloodstream and have the potential to be taken up by the blood–brain barrier. The cavi-precipitation process generated ultrafine NS particles, which fulfilled the quality requirements for intravenous administration and offer a potential solution for brain targeting.

RBD-Modified Bacterial Vesicles Elicited Potential Protective Immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection threatens human health. In this study, we used high-pressure homogenization technology not only to efficiently drive the bacterial membrane to produce artificial vesicles but also to force the fusion protein ClyA-receptor binding domain (RBD) to pass through gaps in the bacterial membrane to increase the contact between ClyA-RBD and the membrane. Therefore, the load of ClyA-RBD on the membrane is substantially increased. Using this technology, we constructed a “ring-like” bacterial biomimetic vesicle (BBV) loaded with polymerized RBD (RBD-BBV). RBD-BBVs injected subcutaneously can accumulate in lymph nodes, promote antigen uptake and processing, and elicit SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cellular immune responses in mice. In conclusion, we evaluated the potential of this novel bacterial vesicle as a vaccine delivery system and provided a new idea for the development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

Thermal oxidative degradation and ageing performance of silicone rubber filled with attapulgite

The natural attapulgite (NAPT) was disaggregated by high-pressure homogenization technology combined with extrusion process to prepare the attapulgite with disaggregated rod crystal bundles (DAPT) and large specific surface area of 133.7 m2/g. NAPT and DAPT were incorporated into the silicone rubber to obtain the composite NAPT-SR and DAPT-SR by mechanical blending method, respectively. After thermal oxidative ageing at 300 °C for 0.5 h, temperature for the 5% weight loss increased greatly from 385 °C of the neat silicone rubber to 396−399 °C with addition of NAPT and DAPT. NAPT and DAPT enhanced the interaction between the filler nanoparticles and rubber matrix thus inhibited the nanoparticle agglomeration. The conservation rate of the side methyl group in NAPT-SR and DAPT-SR was greatly improved after ageing. Therefore, the thermal oxidative degradation and ageing performance of the silicone rubber composites was significantly reinforced. Moreover, DAPT could greatly restrain the growth of nanoparticles after ageing. Therefore, DAPT-SR showed the better retention of tensile strength (40.6%), elongation at break (34.9%) and tear strength (30.1%) compared with the corresponding mechanical properties of the neat silicone rubber (10.6%, 7.4%, and 5.0%) after ageing.

High Homogenization Pressures to Improve Food Quality, Functionality and Sustainability.

Interest in high homogenization pressure technology has grown over the years. It is a green technology with low energy consumption that does not generate high CO2 emissions or polluting effluents. Its main food applications derive from its effect on particle size, causing a more homogeneous distribution of fluid elements (particles, globules, droplets, aggregates, etc.) and favoring the release of intracellular components, and from its effect on the structure and configuration of chemical components such as polyphenols and macromolecules such as carbohydrates (fibers) and proteins (also microorganisms and enzymes). The challenges of the 21st century are leading the processed food industry towards the creation of food of high nutritional quality and the use of waste to obtain ingredients with specific properties. For this purpose, soft and nonthermal technologies such as high pressure homogenization have huge potential. The objective of this work is to review how the need to combine safety, functionality and sustainability in the food industry has conditioned the application of high-pressure homogenization technology in the last decade.

Preparation and characterization of a novel controlled-release nano-delivery system loaded with pyraclostrobin via high-pressure homogenization.

The development of efficient and safe green pesticides is a scientific strategy to alleviate current pesticide residues, environmental pollution, and threats to non-target organisms. Pesticide controlled-release formulations (CRFs) have attracted wide attention because they can control the rate of release of active ingredients and prolong the effective duration. In particular, nanoscale pesticide sustained-release systems have excellent biological activity and distribution performance because of their small particle size. Some technical difficulties remain in obtaining nanoscale CRFs. We successfully fabricated pyraclostrobin nanosphere CRF by combining high-pressure homogenization technology and emulsion-solvent evaporation methods. The pyraclostrobin nanospheres had a uniform spherical shape with a mean particle size of 450 nm and polydispersity index of less than 0.3. The pyraclostrobin loading capacity reached 53.6%, with excellent storage stability. The contact angle of nanospheres on cucumber leaf surfaces demonstrated that it had good wettability. Compared with pyraclostrobin technical and commercial formulations, the nanosphere systems showed a significantly sustained release of pyraclostrobin for longer (up to 250 h). A preliminary bioassay against Penicillium ochrochloron showed that the bioactivity and long-term efficiency of pyraclostrobin nanospheres were superior to those of the commercial formulation. This research introduced a simple, fast, expandable method for preparing pyraclostrobin nanospheres. The results showed that pyraclostrobin nanospheres could prolong the duration of pesticide efficacy and enhance bioactivity. Furthermore, this technology provides a platform for scale-up production of nano-scale pesticide CRFs. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Developing a stable high-performance soybean meal-based adhesive using a simple high-pressure homogenization technology

Soybean meal (SM), a byproduct of bean oil production, was recycled to develop a bio-adhesive capable of replacing formaldehyde-based wood adhesives. However, SM’s large particle size, uneven particle size distribution, and hydrophilic hydrogen bonds result in SM adhesives’ exhibiting low adhesion stability and poor water resistance. Traditional chemical modification methods do not sufficiently mitigate these complications, and consequently SM adhesives must overcome some significant challenges before they can be considered for industrial application. In this work, we propose a simple, clean and physical high-pressure homogenization (HPH) technology in conjunction with eco-friendly cross-linking to develop a stable high-performance bio-based adhesive. Results showed that HPH treatment reduced the SM’s particle size by 62% and increased the particle size distribution uniformity, which significantly enhanced the adhesive’s bonding stability. Furthermore, many active functional groups inside the soy protein were simultaneously unmasked during HPH, which increased their reactivity with the cross-linker. This facilitated the formation of covalent bond complexes with a denser structure in the adhesive system, thereby improving the SM adhesive’s water resistance. Specifically, after the HPH treatment, the resultant plywood’s wet shear strength marked a 212% increase compared to that of untreated SM adhesive, which meets the requirements for indoor use. Moreover, this method has been successfully applied in pilot scale industrial production, and thereby shows broad prospects for practical application.