Protein By-products Research Articles

Identification and Capture of Phenolic Compounds from a Rapeseed Meal Protein Isolate Production Process By-Product by Macroporous Resin and Valorization Their Antioxidant Properties.

In this study, phenolic compounds from an aqueous protein by-product from rapeseed meal (RSM) were identified by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI-MS, including sinapine, sinapic acid, sinapoyl glucose, and 1,2-di-sinapoyl gentibiose. The main phenolic compound in this by-product was sinapine. We also performed acid hydrolysis to convert sinapine, and sinapic acid derivatives present in the permeate, to sinapic acid. The adsorption of phenolic compounds was investigated using five macroporous resins, including XAD4, XAD7, XAD16, XAD1180, and HP20. Among them, XAD16 showed the highest total phenolic contents adsorption capacities. The adsorption behavior of phenolic compounds was described by pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models. Moreover, thermodynamics tests demonstrated that the adsorption process of phenolic compounds was exothermic and spontaneous. The highest desorption ratio was obtained with 30% (v/v) and 70% (v/v) ethanol for sinapine and sinapic acid, respectively, with a desorption ratio of 63.19 ± 0.03% and 94.68 ± 0.013%. DPPH and ABTS tests revealed that the antioxidant activity of the hydrolyzed fraction was higher than the non-hydrolyzed fraction and higher than the one of vitamin C. Antioxidant tests demonstrated that these phenolic compounds could be used as natural antioxidants, which can be applied in the food industry.

Circulating oxidative stress status in Bedouin she-camels (Camelus dromedarius) during the peripartum period.

This study aimed to assess the oxidative stress status in blood plasma of nomadic she-camels (Camelus dromedarius) during transition from late pregnancy to early lactation. From 12 late pregnant she-camels, blood was sampled weekly as they progressed from the third week prepartum up to the third week postpartum. Levels of albumin, uric acid, and malondialdehyde (a biomarker of lipid peroxidation) concentrations were fairly constant (P > 0.05) throughout the sampling times. Compared to the initial time (third week prepartum), values of the superoxide anion, total peroxides, and protein carbonyl (a biomarker of protein peroxidation) increased (P < 0.05) by more than 67%, 43%, and 23%, respectively, at parturition and this increase extended to the first week postpartum. Ascorbic acid concentration lost more than 20% (P < 0.05) of its value at parturition. Bilirubin value increased as camels progressed from the first week pre- up to the first week postpartum, and reached its maximum value (~ 2.5 fold) at parturition. Superoxide dismutase activity increased (P < 0.05) by 71.7% at the first week pretpartum and by 57% at parturition. Total antioxidant capacity level increased (P < 0.05) by ~ 25% at the first week prepartum and remained at this high level up to the second week postpartum. It seems that periparturient camels experience a substantial oxidative stress particularly at parturition and the week after calving as indicated by the increased peroxidative by-products of proteins in parallel to the enhanced production of pro-oxidants.

Biodegradation of Keratin-Rich Husbandry Waste as a Path to Sustainable Agriculture

Every year, the size of the human population grows; with it, the need for agricultural products increases. This leads to an increment in the volume of waste, including hard-to-degrade keratin-rich ones, such as feathers. Currently, most of the agro-industrial complex protein by-products are utilized by incineration, landfilling, and chemical hydrolysis. Such methods do not meet modern trends in the development of a sustainable economy, negatively affecting the environment and humans, and preventing the reusing of waste. An alternative is biodegradation, which consists of the application of living organisms and their enzymes to recycle by-products. This approach is not only sustainable, but also makes it possible to obtain products of waste hydrolysis that are in demand for the manufacture of fertilizers and feed additives. This brings the development of agriculture closer to a circular economy and makes the recycling process more profitable. This review article emphasizes the significance of keratinolytic microorganisms and keratinases for the improvement of green methods for processing hard-to-degrade protein waste of the agro-industrial complex, which is necessary for sustainable economic development.

Agricultural By-Product Proteins: Emerging Source for Packaging Applications

Agricultural By-Product Proteins: Emerging Source for Packaging Applications

Effects of Olive (Olea europaea L.) Leaves with Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities on In Vitro Ruminal Fermentation and Methane Emission.

Simple SummaryOlives are cultivated mostly in the Mediterranean as well as in Asia Minor, Korea, Japan, and China. Olive oil is currently used as a food ingredient in human diet, and its consumption is gradually expanding in various countries. Therefore, olive cultivation and oil extraction produce a significant amount of byproducts; providing these byproducts as feed to livestock has been attempted for a long period. Economic, environmental, and nutritional considerations make the use of olive byproducts efficient and cost-effective as feed for ruminants. Among the olive byproducts, olive leaves (OLs) contain higher levels of polyphenols than olive fruits, and have a very high feed value. In this study, it was confirmed that methane production decreased during 12 h of in vitro fermentation, and the number of fat-utilizing microorganisms increased in the 5% OLs group. OLs were found to show antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Moreover, the proportion of cellulose-degrading bacteria, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus, and Ruminococcus flavefaciens increased in the 5% OLs group at 12 h and decreased at 24 h. Olive leaves are believed to be very useful as feed additives and supplements for ruminants.We evaluated whether olive leaves (OLs) are effective as feed additives and supplements for ruminants and the potential methane reduction effects during in vitro fermentation. Two Hanwoo cows (460 ± 20 kg) equipped with cannula were fed Timothy hay and corn-based feed 3% of the body weight at a ratio of 6:4 (8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.). Ruminal fluid from the cows was collected and mixed before morning feeding. In vitro batch fermentation was monitored after 12 and 24 h of incubation at 39 °C, and OLs were used as supplements to achieve the concentration of 5% in the basal diet. At 12 h of fermentation, methane production decreased in the 5% OLs group compared to that in the control group, but not at 24 h. The proportion of cellulose-degrading bacteria, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus, and Ruminococcus flavefaciens, tended to increase in the 5% OLs group at 12 h. The amount of ammonia produced was the same as the polymerase chain reaction result for Prevotella ruminicola. At 12 h, the proportion of Prevotella ruminicola was significantly higher in the 5% OLs group. OLs may be used incorporated with protein byproducts or other methane-reducing agents in animal feed.

Characterization of a Novel Food Grade Emulsion Stabilized by the By- Product Proteins Extracted From the Head of Giant Freshwater Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii).

The aim of this work was to develop a food-grade emulsion that stabilized by the by-product proteins in the head of giant freshwater prawn. The physicochemical properties of protein particles were characterized, and the stability of proteins-stabilized emulsions under different environmental stresses was evaluated. Results showed that the proteins were relatively hydrophilic and preferentially resided in the aqueous phase to form oil/water emulsions. On this basis, the proteins exhibited superior ability to stabilize the emulsions, and remarkably, the emulsions stabilized by 2% proteins and 3:7 oil/water ratio efficiently resisted the freeze-thaw treatment and the change of pH (3–9), salt addition (NaCl, 50–400 mM), and storage temperatures (4–60°C). Furthermore, the emulsions showed a matched long-term stability with the existing biopolymers-stabilized emulsions. Consequently, this is the first finding of the by-product proteins in the head of giant freshwater prawn as an excellent emulsifier to stabilize emulsions, which help to improve the stability of food-grade emulsions and the added value of aquatic products.

Ion Exchange Fraction of Fish by-Products Protein as a Food Protein Fortification Ingredient

Stunting is one of the nutritional problems in developing countries, and finding alternative affordable protein source to overcome the problem remains challenging. Protein fortification or enrichment is one of the options in the development of high-quality food protein. The by-product of the food industry, such as the fish industry, that still rich in protein could be targeted as protein to be used in fortification. Mackerel fish by-products were extracted using acid (pH 2.5), base (pH 12.0), and surfactant (SDS 0.01%), then the protein was fractionated using the cationic exchange-solid phase extraction (SPE-SCX). The yield of protein extraction using HCl (pH 2.5), NaOH (pH 13) and SDS 0.01% are 32.55, 5.50, and 20.40%, respectively. Analysis of protein SCX fraction found that fraction pH 6 and 7 of HCl protein extract and pH 5, 7, and 8 of SDS protein extract meet criteria as protein fortificants. Those fractions met the minimum required content of essential amino acid as well as the chemical score of each essential amino acid. The extraction process determines the outcome of fractionation, with SDS extraction gives a better result.

Rethinking the Conditions and Mechanism for Glymphatic Clearance.

Critical studies that form the foundation of the glymphatic system and the clearance of metabolic by-products of unwanted proteins from the brain are reviewed. Concerns are raised about studying glymphatic flow in anesthetized animals and making assumptions about the whole brain based upon data collected from a cranial window on the cortex. A new model is proposed arguing that the flow of cerebral spinal fluid and parenchymal clearance in the perivascular system of unwanted proteins is regulated by circadian changes in brain temperature and blood flow at the level of the microvasculature.

Feeding strategies for improving ruminant productivity in the post-COVID 19 pandemic era particularly for small holders

COVID-19 has highlighted the need for robust cattle supply chains using local feed resources. Higher Income Over Food Costs (IOFC) are usually achieved when live weight gains are high and the cost of the ingredients are low. There is a need to formulate rations with high metabolisable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) to achieve the high live weight gain. Rations can be formulated locally by farmer co-operatives, entrepreneurs and local commercial enterprises to take advantage of cheaper prices for local ingredients. To do this, rations need to be altered quickly to take advantage of local fluctuations in prices and availability of ingredients. A recent ACIAR funded project has developed a least cost ration (ACIAR LCR) system to formulate rations to meet minimum ME and CP contents for beef cattle using locally available ingredients. The use of cassava and its various products in combination with protein sources, such as tree legumes and high protein by-products, have markedly improved IOFC.

Fractionation of Tilapia By-Product Protein Hydrolysate Using Multilayer Configuration of Ultrafiltration Membrane

Production of small-sized peptides is significant because of their health benefits. Ultrafiltration (UF) membrane provides an effective fractionation of small-sized peptides on a large scale. Thus, the present study was aimed to evaluate the performance of multilayer UF membrane in fractionating tilapia fish by-product (TB) protein hydrolysate by observing the permeate flux, peptide transmission, and peptide distribution under different stirring speed, pH of feed solution, and salt concentration (NaCl). The fractionation process was carried out using a dead-end UF membrane system that consists of a stack of two membrane sheets with different (10/5 kDa) and similar (5/5 kDa) pore sizes in one device. The highest permeate flux (10/5 kDa–39.5 to 47.3 L/m2.h; 5/5 kDa– 15.8 to 20.3 L/m2.h) and peptide transmission (10/5 kDa–51.8 to 61.0%; 5/5 kDa–18.3 to 23.3%) for both multilayer membrane configurations were obtained at 3.0 bar, 600 rpm, pH 8, and without the addition of salt. It was also found that the permeates were enriched with small-size peptides (&lt;500 Da) with a concentration of 0.58 g/L (10/5 kDa) and 0.65 g/L (5/5 kDa) as compared to large-sized peptides (500–1500 Da) with concentration of 0.56 g/L (10/5 kDa) and 0.36 g/L (5/5 kDa). This might indicate the enrichment of small-size peptides through the multilayer membrane which could potentially enhance the biological activity of the protein hydrolysate fraction.

Functional modification of protein extracted from black gram by-product: Effect of ultrasonication and micronization techniques

The black gram mill by-product is a valuable protein-rich source that is generally discarded. Therefore, this study was conducted to extract the protein from this underutilized source and further improve its functionality by using ultrasound and micronization techniques. Protein micronized at 110 °C had maximum water absorption (from 2.79 to 4.83 g/g) and emulsifying activity (from 9.94 to 38.32 m2/g). Ultrasonicated proteins for 10 min and 30 min exhibited the highest oil absorption (3.18–3.66 g/g) and foaming capacity (53.7–91.25%), respectively. When compared to ultrasonication, micronization particularly at 150 °C, was very effective in improving zeta potential (−18.7 to −24.95 mV). Thermal properties suggested structural changes, particularly in ultrasonicated proteins. FT-IR spectra showed no marked alteration in the secondary structure, while the electrophoretic pattern showed slight reduction in the intensity of the major band in modified proteins. The findings indicated that these techniques substantially enhanced the functionality of by-product protein, thus might increase its utilization in various food systems.

Use of the precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay to determine standardized amino acid digestibility, true metabolizable energy content, and digestible indispensable amino acid scores of plant-based protein by-products used in canine and feline diets.

Traditionally, protein by-products from oil seeds and cereal grains have been used in pet foods as sustainable, inexpensive, and protein-rich ingredients. However, the on-going demonization of soy- and corn-based ingredients continue to hinder their use in pet food and treat formulations. Ideally, the further demonstration of their protein quality and nutrient composition may encourage their favorable return as acceptable ingredients in pet foods and treats. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the macronutrient composition, indispensable amino acid profile, standardized amino acid digestibility, true metabolizable energy content corrected for nitrogen (TMEn), and digestible indispensable amino acid scores (DIAAS-like) of soy flakes (SF), peanut flour (PF), soybean meal (SBM), and corn gluten meal (CGM). Standardized amino acid digestibility was assessed using the precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay. All test ingredients demonstrated a profile of highly digestible indispensable amino acids except for lysine in PF, which was lowest (P < 0.05) at 45.5%. The SBM and CGM had the highest (P > 0.05) digestibilities of indispensable amino acids. A DIAAS-like value was calculated for each ingredient using either AAFCO (2020) recommended values or NRC (2006) recommended allowances as the reference protein pattern. For adult dogs compared to AAFCO recommended values, the first-limiting amino acid was lysine for PF and CGM but it was methionine for SF and SBM. For adult cats compared to AAFCO recommended values, the first-limiting amino acid was lysine for PF and CGM but it was threonine for SF. There was no first-limiting amino acid in SBM for cats as DIAAS-like values were over 100% for all indispensable amino acids. The TMEn values were highest (P < 0.05) for PF and CGM (4.58 and 4.31 kcal/g [dry matter basis], respectively). The protein quality of these plant-based protein by-products reflects their value as nutritional ingredients for canine and feline diets. However, the prior processing of these by-products must be considered before exposing them to additional processing methods, such as extrusion. Additionally, the inclusion of complementary proteins or supplemental amino acids will be needed to meet all indispensable amino acid requirements for a portion of nutritionally complete and balanced pet food.

A Cholesterol Homeostasis by Bioactive Peptide Fraction from Pigeon Pea By-Product: An In-Vitro Study

In the mammalian’s cells, a higher level of plasma cholesterol is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Human 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) is a regulatory cholesterol synthesis enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. Statins are the major synthetic drugs as inhibitor of HMGCR but it’s associated with adverse effect so it is advisable to provide alternative therapeutic candidate for cholesterol homeostasis. The current investigation indicates the cholesterol-lowering effect of Pigeon pea by-product protein hydrolysate (PBPH) fraction by inhibition of HMGCR and cholesterol micelles. The PBPH fractions control the cholesterol levels by two ways, first, PBPH fractions (> 30 kDa and > 10 < 30 kDa) significantly block the recycling of bile salts to the hepatocyte cells with direct excretion via the digestive system. Second, PBPH fraction (< 10 kDa) exhibits inhibition of cholesterol micellar, as well as the catalytic domain of HMGCR in a dose dependant manner. The inhibition of HMGCR has been verified through HMGCR protein expression in the cholesterol synthesis pathway. The HMGCR protein shows significant up-regulation upon treatment with PBPH fraction < 10 kDa in HepG2 cells. The PBPH fraction shows potent inhibitory capacity on cholesterol homeostasis suggesting it to have hypocholesterolemic properties. It could find an admirable application for the development of functional foods.

Characterization of Agropastoralist Production Systems and the Potential for Improving Livestock Productivity with Improved Feeding in Western Burkina Faso

The major constraint of livestock farming in Burkina Faso is the feed gap. This study aims to provide information on feed resources, availability, and uses in Bama's district. Feed Assessment Tool (FEAST) was used to evaluate feed resources and to generate possible interventions. Focus groups were held and took into account 140 farmers, of which 90 were recalled for individual surveys. We found that the Bama district was characterized by agropastoral production systems in which crop provides 65.1% of household income whereas 23.9% was from livestock. Livestock feeding throughout the year depended on natural grazing. Natural pastures contributed most often to dry matter, metabolizable energy, and crude protein in animals' total diet, respectively, with 65.4, 64.4, and 61.5%. In addition to grazing, crop residues were collected after harvest to form a dietary supplement for the animals. The study also revealed nutritional gaps, and farmers were purchasing concentrates to compensate and ensure the best livestock productivity. The dominant complement purchased was cotton cake at a rate of 623.1 kg/year/household. None of the agropastoralists grew fodder crops. Identified interventions able to improve productivity and production of animals were supplementations with: a high-energy supplement (molasses); protein byproducts; pruning products, aerial parts, and leaf-stripping without sacrificing grain/tuber yields; cereal byproducts (rice bran, corn, wheat); multi-nutritional blocks; and commercially balanced feed. Given the food shortage, especially in the dry season, better management of food resources through the collection and conservation of fodder and the adoption of forage crops could increase feed availability.

Biberiye ve defne uçucu yağları ile zenginleştirilmiş hamsi atık protein filmlerin karakterizasyonu ve antioksidan kapasitesi

In this study, characterization and antioxidant capacity of anchovy by-product protein (ABP) films with 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% rosemary (REO) and laurel essential oils (LEO) were investigated. The films with REO and LEO showed higher elongation at break and water vapor permeability (WVP), but lower elastic modulus, transparency, and tensile strength. L* and b* values decreased as a function of essential oil (EO) amount and films became darker and slightly yellowish. The solubility of films with REO and LEO decreased by 10.00-16.05% and 13.84-18.20%, respectively. Intermolecular interaction and molecular organization in the polymer matrix were changed by EO incorporation. Films with EOs showed a nonhomogeneous surface and comparatively smooth cross-section structure providing easy permeation. The antioxidant properties of films were enriched by addition EO and the highest antioxidant capacity was determined in 1.5% LEO film. As a result, although ABP films enriched with EOs have a high WVP, they can be used as packaging material for food products that are susceptible to lipid oxidation.

Administration of Protein Hydrolysates from Anchovy (Engraulis Encrasicolus) Waste for Twelve Weeks Decreases Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease Severity in ApoE-/-Mice.

Simple SummaryMetabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is an increasing concern worldwide. It currently represents the main cause of chronic liver disease in humans in Western countries. Nutritional strategies based on fish-rich diets are considered helpful in the prevention of MAFLD, and are also thought to be beneficial for human health. In particular, cholesterol- and triacylglycerol-lowering effects are associated with fish-derived proteins or hydrolysates. Our findings suggest that supplementing the diet with 10% (w/w) anchovy protein hydrolysates has an anti-obesity effect together with an improvement in lipid metabolism and a reduction in liver fat content and high-fat diet-induced liver disease. By virtue of their nutritional value and functional proprieties, anchovy by-product protein hydrolysates may be an efficient nutritional strategy in MAFLD prevention and treatment.Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) includes several diseases, ranging from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. Fish-rich diets are considered helpful in the prevention of MAFLD, and the enzymatic hydrolysis of fish waste has been explored as a means of obtaining high-value protein hydrolysates, which have been proven to exert beneficial bioactivities including anti-obesity and hypocholesterol effects. This study aimed to assess the effect of the administration of protein hydrolysates from anchovy waste (APH) for 12 weeks on attenuated high-fat diet-induced MAFLD in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice (ApoE–/–). Thirty ApoE–/– mice were divided into two groups (n = 15/group) and fed a high-fat diet (HFD), with and without the addition of 10% (w/w) APH. After 12 weeks, serum and hepatic lipid profiles, hepatic enzyme activities, liver histology and immunohistochemistry were analyzed to assess hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. Twelve-weeks on a 10% (w/w) APH diet reduces total cholesterol and triglyceride serum levels, hepatic enzyme activity and hepatic triacylglycerol content (p < 0.0001), and results in a reduction in hepatic fat accumulation and macrophage recruitment (p < 0.0001). The results suggest that a 10% APH diet has an anti-obesity effect, with an improvement in lipid metabolism, hepatic steatosis and liver injury as a result of a high-fat diet. Protein hydrolysates from fish waste may represent an efficient nutritional strategy in several diseases, and their use as nutraceuticals is worthy of future investigation.

Effects of thermal processing on the flavor molecules of goat by-product hydrolysates

The aim of this study was to obtain flavor molecules from goat by-product hydrolysates, emphasizing the thermal action during processing. A mixture of by-products submitted or not to the inactivation of endogenous enzymes was used, followed by hydrolysis with the proteolytic enzyme Alcalase® (Bacillus licheniformis), and autoclaving after hydrolysis. The production of hydrolysates provided both quantitative and qualitative data on the precursors involved in the aromatic formation of protein hydrolysates. The inactivation process of endogenous enzymes resulted in hydrolysates with a higher degree of hydrolysis and greater protein content. The autoclaving process produced a significant increase in the concentration of free amino acids and maltose and a reduction in the glucose content. Application of the two heat treatments resulted in the production of goat by-product protein hydrolysates with different volatile profiles. The goat by-product protein hydrolysate without heat treatment but with autoclaving (HCA), showing a higher concentration of flavor precursors and the formation of heterocyclic volatiles, is expected to impact the aroma quality of goat hydrolysates.

New Nanofibers Based on Protein By-Products with Bioactive Potential for Tissue Engineering.

Concentrated collagen hydrolysate (HC10CC), rabbit collagen glue (RCG), and keratin hydrolysate (KH) were investigated in terms of their extraction from mammalian by-products and processing by electrospinning. The electrospun nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled with the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and indentation tests. The cytotoxicity of the electrospun nanofibers was conducted on L929 fibroblast cells using MTT and LDH assays and cell morphology observations. The electrospun RCG and KH nanofibers morphology showed an average size of nanofibers ranging between 44 and 410 nm, while the electrospun HC10CC nanofibers exhibited higher sizes. The ATR-FTIR spectra performed both on extracted proteins and electrospun nanofibers showed that the triple helix structure of collagen is partially preserved. The results were in agreement with the circular dichroism analysis for protein extracts. Furthermore, the viscoelastic properties of electrospun KH nanofibers were superior to those of electrospun RCG nanofibers. Based on both in vitro quantitative and qualitative analysis, the electrospun nanofibers were not cytotoxic, inducing a healthy cellular response. The results of new electrospun protein-based nanofibers may be useful for further research on bioactive properties of these nanofibers for tissue engineering.

Wax ester production in nitrogen-rich conditions by metabolically engineered Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1

Metabolic engineering can be used as a powerful tool to redirect cell resources towards product synthesis, also in conditions that are not optimal for the production. An example of synthesis strongly dependent on external conditions is the production of storage lipids, which typically requires a high carbon/nitrogen ratio. This requirement also limits the use of abundant nitrogen-rich materials, such as industrial protein by-products, as substrates for lipid production. Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 is known for its ability to produce industrially interesting storage lipids, namely wax esters (WEs). Here, we engineered A. baylyi ADP1 by deleting the gene aceA encoding for isocitrate lyase and overexpressing fatty acyl-CoA reductase Acr1 in the wax ester production pathway to allow redirection of carbon towards WEs. This strategy led to 3-fold improvement in yield (0.075 ​g/g glucose) and 3.15-fold improvement in titer (1.82 ​g/L) and productivity (0.038 ​g/L/h) by a simple one-stage batch cultivation with glucose as carbon source. The engineered strain accumulated up to 27% WEs of cell dry weight. The titer and cellular WE content are the highest reported to date among microbes. We further showed that the engineering strategy alleviated the inherent requirement for high carbon/nitrogen ratio and demonstrated the production of wax esters using nitrogen-rich substrates including casamino acids, yeast extract, and baker’s yeast hydrolysate, which support biomass production but not WE production in wild-type cells. The study demonstrates the power of metabolic engineering in overcoming natural limitations in the production of storage lipids.

Recent Advances in Silk Sericin/Calcium Phosphate Biomaterials

Calcium phosphates (CaPs) have been widely used in the field of biomedical engineering as bone graft substitutes or as carriers for drug delivery applications. Recent developments have focused on combining CaPs with proteins to obtain functional biomaterials that accommodate a broader spectrum of functional requirements. Silk sericin was considered an unutilized protein by-product from the textile industry, generating tons of residues every year. However, much effort has been dedicated to its recovery after being associated with numerous biological properties such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-coagulation and regenerative activities. Recently, sericin has also demonstrated to be suitable as a template for CaP mineralization. The present review focuses on the recent developments for the production of Sericin/CaP composites, exploring their potential applications in bioengineering and opening new avenues in other research fields such as in the cosmetic and food industries. In addition, this paper can also be useful as a guideline to design future research based on Sericin/CaP biomaterials.