Spray-dried Powders Research Articles

Effect of Thermal Treatment and the Addition of Texture Modifiers on the Rheological Properties and the Microflora of Reconstituted Kefir Powder

The present study examines the effect of low-temperature thermal treatment before drying, through storage at −10 °C and 4 °C for 72 h, respectively, on the physicochemical and microbiological properties of spray-dried kefir powder. Furthermore, with the intention of improving the rheological behavior of the reconstituted product, texture modifiers were employed including milk proteins (milk proteins, sodium caseinates, and whey protein concentrates) and carrageenan. According to the results, the low-temperature thermal treatment of kefir, prior to drying, resulted to an increased moisture content and yellowness of the kefir powder samples, with a simultaneous drop to the whiteness index and an increase of the particle size in both the powder and the reconstituted samples. The sample with prior treatment at 4 °C for 72 h, exhibited decreased pH values and increased acidity for both kefir and reconstituted product, while it also improved post drying population survival of lactobacilli and yeasts. The reconstituted sample with prior treatment at −10 °C for 72 h, exhibited evident pseudoplastic behavior, which, at low shear rates, yielded viscosity values very close to those of the fresh control kefir. Addition of sodium caseinates, in the absence and/or simultaneous presence of carrageenan, resulted to the highest viscosity increase of the reconstituted products. Milk proteins with the combined presence of carrageenan exhibited similar apparent viscosity values to the control.

Performances of combination of maltodextrin-alginate encapsulant in protecting spray-dried iron

AbstractA successful spray-drying encapsulation is supported by the use of suitable matrix material. This research aimed to study the properties of maltodextrin-alginate matrix solution and its encapsulated iron powder. The study was conducted using the variation of iron concentration (8–20 mg g−1 matrix) and ratio of maltodextrin-alginate (10:0; 10:0.5; 10:1; 10:1.5; 10:2; 0:2). The results showed that a higher iron concentration increased the viscosity of the matrix solution, which led to the formation of higher moisture content particles, but reduced the encapsulation efficiency. Meanwhile, an increased ratio of maltodextrin-alginate allowed an increase in the viscosity of the matrix solution, the encapsulation efficiency, and the moisture content of the particles. However, iron loading capacity improved by increasing iron and alginate concentration. All samples appeared to be amorphous materials with a faster iron release at a pH 6.8 than that at a pH 1.2. In addition, incorporation of alginate improved the particle size, thermal stability, and antioxidant activity of the encapsulated iron powder. In brief, the improvement of the encapsulation efficiency, iron release, and thermal stability of spray-dried iron powder are highlighted in this study, which are important in food fortification and processing.

Inhalable spray-dried dry powders combining ivermectin and niclosamide to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, predominantly affects the respiratory tract, underscoring the need to develop antiviral agents in an inhalable formulation that can be delivered as prophylactic and/or therapeutic drugs directly to the infection site. Since the beginning of the pandemic, our group has been exploring the possibility of developing combinations of antiviral drugs that can be delivered as inhalable therapy, including combinations of remdesivir and ebselen or remdesivir and disulfiram prepared using a spray-drying technique. In this study, we used a similar spray-drying technique to develop inhalable dry powders combining the controversial drugs ivermectin and niclosamide, which have been reported to exhibit synergistic activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. The combined dry powders were within the size range of 1-5 μm, amorphous in nature and displayed characteristic morphology after spray drying. The emitted dose (ED) of the spray-dried powders ranged from 68 to 83 %, whereas the fine particle fraction (FPF) ranged between 50 and 74 %. All the prepared dry powders remained stable under different humidity conditions (<15 % RH and 53 % RH). Interestingly, the optimized combinational dry powder of ivermectin and niclosamide showed an improved cytotoxic profile (CC50 value of 45.99 µM) and enhanced anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in vitro (EC50 of 2.67 µM) compared to the single dry powders of ivermectin (CC50 = 20.25 µM and EC50 = 8.61 µM) and niclosamide (CC50 = 21.36 µM and EC50 = 5.28 µM). In summary, we developed a stable and inhalable combinational dry powder containing ivermectin and niclosamide, capable of inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro, demonstrating the potential to prepare dry powders that could be developed and delivered as inhalable antiviral drugs to prevent and/or treat SARS-CoV-2 or similar respiratory viruses.

Stability of Fatty Acids, Tocopherols, and Carotenoids of Sea Buckthorn Oil Encapsulated by Spray Drying Using Different Carrier Materials

The aim of this study was to determine the retention of fatty acids, α-tocopherol, and carotenoids in sea buckthorn oil (SBO) encapsulated with gum arabic (GA), β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), and their mixture (1:1) under pre-optimized spray drying conditions in comparison to the bioactive molecule (BAM) content of the non-encapsulated oil. In addition, the color parameters in the spray-dried powders and the bioaccessibility of β-carotene, which has the highest provitamin A activity, were evaluated. The fatty acid content remained almost unchanged, while statistically significant differences in α-tocopherol and carotenoid content were found between the SBO encapsulated with different carriers and the non-encapsulated oil. The retention of tocopherols and carotenoids compared to the non-encapsulated SBO ranged from 62.13 to 87.23% and from 21.17 to 97.61%, respectively. SBO encapsulated with β-CD showed significantly higher retention of α-tocopherol (87.23%) and individual carotenoids (40.71–97.61%). In addition, the powders showed no significant differences in color parameters, and the powders encapsulated with GA and β-CD showed high bioaccessibility of β-carotene (92.50 and 90.45%, respectively). β-CD proved to be the most suitable carrier for the encapsulation of the carotenoids and α-tocopherol of SBO, resulting in powders with high bioaccessibility of β-carotene.

Comparative Effects of Drying Methods on Physicochemical Properties of Puree Blends of Some Indigenous Varieties of Watermelon (&lt;i&gt;Citrullus lanatus&lt;/i&gt;), Orange (&lt;i&gt;Citrus sinensis&lt;/i&gt;) and Mango (&lt;i&gt;Mangifera indica&lt;/i&gt;) Fruits

This study evaluates the comparative effects of freeze-drying and spray-drying methods on the physicochemical properties of composite fruit puree powders produced from local varieties of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), orange (Citrus sinensis), and mango (Mangifera indica) in Benue State, Nigeria. Composite formulations were developed by blending fruit purees in ratios of 50% watermelon, 30% orange, and 20% mango. Freeze-drying and spray-drying methods were employed to produce powders, which were subsequently analyzed for proximate composition, sensory attributes, and physicochemical properties. Freeze-dried powders retained higher vitamin C content (21.4 mg/100 g) compared to spray-dried powders (16.3 mg/100 g). Moisture content was significantly lower in freeze-dried powders (2.5%) than spray-dried powders (4.3%), while sensory evaluation showed no significant differences in overall acceptability (p&gt;0.05). These findings suggest that freeze-drying is superior for nutrient preservation, whereas spray-drying is more energy-efficient. The results provide valuable insights for optimizing fruit powder production in agrarian settings.

Microencapsulation using spray drying of anthoxyanins from Lannea microcarpa (African grape) fruits juice with pyrodextrin from sweet potato starch

Anthocyanins rich fruits of Lannea microcarpa (African grape) with antioxidant activity are an important food and herbal medicine in central Africa. This study sought to use response surface methodology to optimize spray drying microencapsulation of anthocyanins from L. microcarpa fruit juice, examining the influence of inlet air temperature (120—150 °C), inlet air flow rate (60—80 m3/h) and carrier agent (pyrodextrin) concentration (8 -16 g/100 g of juice), on various spray-dried powders characteristics. Moreover, the thermal stability study of L. microcarpa fruit juice powder produced at optimal process conditions was studied. The linear effect of inlet air temperature, inlet air flow rate and carrier agent concentration significantly affected the fruit powder properties (Moisture content, hygroscopicity, encapsulation efficiency) (P < 0.05), except in the case of hygroscopicity where linear effect of inlet air temperature did not. The optimum spray drying conditions to obtain the encapsulated fruit juice powder were determined as 150°C inlet air temperature, 80 m3/h inlet air flow rate and 9 g/100 g carrier agent concentration. The optimal spray dried juice powder was produced with a product yield of 72.4%, water activity of 0.281, having a poor flowability but high cohesiveness. Dynamic Vapor Sorption analysis showed sorption isotherm fitted GAB and BET models well and lower water activity (aw < 0.5) at 25 °C could be favorable for storage of L. microcarpa powders. Additionally, the stability study shown according to the degradation rate obtained that encapsulated fruit juice powder stored at 25 C exhibited greater stability with rate constant k = 0.0018 day-1 significantly lower than the same spray dried L. microcarpa juice powder stored at 35°C (k = 0.0035 day-1) (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate microencapsulation through spray drying using pyrodextrin from sweet potato was feasible for enhancing the stabilization of anthocyanins in form of powder with potential application in food and chemical industries.Graphical

Development of Spray-Dried Micelles, Liposomes, and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Enhanced Stability.

Objectives: Micelles, liposomes, and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are promising drug delivery vehicles; however, poor aqueous stability requires post-processing drying methods for maintaining long-term stability. The objective of this study was to compare the potential of lipid-based micelles, liposomes, and SLNs for producing stable re-dispersible spray-dried powders with trehalose or a combination of trehalose and L-leucine. This study provides novel insights into the implementation of spray drying as a technique to enhance long-term stability for these lipid-based nanocarriers. Methods: Aqueous dispersions of LDV-targeted micelles, liposomes, and SLNs loaded with paclitaxel (PTX) were converted into re-dispersible powders using spray drying. The physicochemical properties of the nanocarriers were determined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Karl Fischer titration, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Short-term stability of all nanocarrier formulations was compared by measuring particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and paclitaxel retention over 7 days at room temperature and at 4 °C. Results: Paclitaxel-loaded micelles, liposomes, and SLN formulations were successfully converted into well-dispersed spray-dried powders with acceptable yields (71.5 to 83.5%), low moisture content (<2%), and high transition temperatures (95.1 to 100.8 °C). SEM images revealed differences in morphology, where nanocarriers spray-dried with trehalose or a combination of trehalose and L-leucine produced smooth or corrugated particle surfaces, respectively. Reconstituted spray-dried nanocarriers maintained their nanosize and paclitaxel content over 7 days at 4 °C. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate the potential for the development of spray-dried lipid-based nanocarriers for long-term stability.

Characterization of Spray-Dried Powders Using a Coated Alberta Idealized Nasal Inlet.

Background: Dry powders offer the potential to increase stability and reduce cold-chain requirements associated with the distribution of vaccines and other thermally sensitive products. The Alberta Idealized Nasal Inlet (AINI) is a representative geometry for in vitro characterization of nasal products that may prove useful in examining intranasal delivery of powders. Methods: Spray-dried trehalose powders were loaded at 10, 20, and 40 mg doses into active single-dose devices. Primary particle sizes (∼Dv50 = 10 µm for powder A and 25 µm for powder B), and sizes dispersed by devices, were evaluated using laser diffraction. The interior of the AINI was coated with a glycerol-surfactant mixture to mitigate particle bounce, and flow rates of 7.5 or 15 L/min were drawn through the AINI. Deposition of trehalose powder was determined in the four regions of the AINI (vestibule, turbinates, olfactory, and nasopharynx), a downstream preseparator, and an absolute filter (representing in vitro lung deposition) using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Results: Coating the AINI was effective in mitigating particle bounce for both trehalose powders. No difference in regional nasal deposition was observed when testing at a flow rate of 7.5 versus 15 L/min. A high fraction of both powders penetrated past the vestibule and deposited in the turbinates and nasopharynx for all loaded doses. For powder A, a non-negligible fraction of the recovered dose (up to 7%) is deposited on the filter, representing potential lung exposure. Conversely, a negligible fraction of the total recovered dose was deposited on the filter for powder B. Conclusion: Powders with a larger primary particle size showed reduced penetration through the nasal airways while maintaining high turbinate deposition. Optimized spray-dried powders offer the potential to target delivery to the peripheral nasal airways based on powder particle size while reducing lung exposure.

Proteomics and surface free fatty acid analysis of milk fat globule in the spray- and freeze-dried bovine, goat and horse milk powders.

Changes in the structure and composition of milk fat globules in spray- and freeze-dried milk powders have recently garnered significant attention. This study investigated changes in milk fat globular membrane (MFGM) proteins from bovine, goat, and horse milk powders, both spray- and freeze-dried, using a label-free proteomics approach, and quantified surface free fatty acids and their composition using gas chromatography. The results showed that several proteins of αS2-casein and β-lactoglobulin increased, while fibrinogen α, β chain, and mucin-1 decreased in the MFGM fractions of the studied spray-dried milk powders. Additionally, lactoperoxidase and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor levels were elevated in the studied freeze-dried milk powders. Several proteins exhibited variations in both dried milk powders depending on the species, of these, nucleobindin-1, complement C3, and sulfhydryl oxidase were increased in spray-dried bovine and goat milk powders, and lactoferrin was increased in freeze-dried horse milk powder, compared with their raw milk counterparts. Conversely, butyrophilin subfamily 1 member A1 and xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase were decreased in spray-dried bovine and goat milk powders, S100 calcium-binding protein and aldehyde dehydrogenase were decreased in freeze-dried bovine and goat milk powders, and mucin-4 and paraoxonase were decreased in horse milk powder. Additionally, spray-dried milk powders had lower surface free fatty acid content compared with freeze-dried milk powders. The findings underscore that dried methods exert varied impacts on MFGM components of the studied milk sources, thereby providing a valuable reference for improving the nutritional quality of dried dairy products.

Spray drying process challenges and considerations for inhaled biologics.

Spray drying presents numerous advantages over other drying technologies, particularly for inhaled biologics because of the fine-tuned particle attributes requirements. To fully leverage these benefits, it is crucial to address several process challenges and considerations throughout the end-to-end spray-drying process, including stages prior to, during, and post- drying. This review provides a detailed overview of the challenges associated with spray-drying of biologics along with the aspects of protein degradation. Furthermore, it delineates the entire spray-drying process, comprising feed solution preparation, spray drying, and bulk powder handling, along with protein degradation mechanisms and analytical tools for protein and aerosol performance assessment. Pertaining to inhaled biologic products, this review also sheds light on major bottlenecks and potential challenges, particularly during scale-up. While some challenges are yet to be conclusively addressed, potential control and mitigation strategies from industry perspective are presented and examined. Lastly, the review briefly explores trending topics in this field that could add value to the standard spray-drying process and may be incorporated in future drying technologies.

Research note: Changes in chicken egg yolk metabolome during its spray drying and storage.

The differences in metabolites between fresh egg yolk (FEY), spray-dried egg yolk powder (SEY), and stored egg yolk powder (S-SEY) were quantitatively compared through metabolomic analysis. Total of 1004 metabolites were identified in the three groups of egg yolk samples. In pairwise group analysis, 242 differential metabolites were identified in FEY and SEY, 311 differential metabolites were identified in FEY and S-SEY, and 157 differential metabolites were identified in SEY and S-SEY. The analysis of differential metabolites with the highest abundance showed that amino acids, carbohydrates and lipids in FEY would undergo oxidation reactions after spray drying and storage and thus led to significant changes in the type and abundance of metabolites. The representative differential metabolites were then screened out for judging the freshness of egg yolk powder. Therefore, the results are highly important for evaluating the quality of egg yolk powder and provide important information for understanding the nutritional changes of egg yolk after spray drying and storage.

Investigation of Spray Drying Parameters to Formulate Novel Spray-Dried Proliposome Powder Formulations Followed by Their Aerosolization Performance

Background: Spray drying, whilst a popularly employed technique for powder formulations, has limited applications for large-scale proliposome manufacture. Objectives: Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate spray drying parameters, such as inlet temperature (80, 120, 160, and 200 °C), airflow rate (357, 473, and 601 L/h) and pump feed rate (5, 15, and 25%), for individual carbohydrate carriers (trehalose, lactose monohydrate (LMH), and mannitol) for 24 spray-dried (SD) formulations (F1–F24). Methods: Following optimization, the SD parameters were trialed on proliposome formulations based on the same carriers and named as spray-dried proliposome (SDP) formulations. Drug delivery of the formulations was assessed using a dry powder inhaler (DPI) in combination with a next-generation impactor (NGI). Results: Upon analysis, formulations F6 (SD-mannitol), F15 (SD-trehalose), and F20 (SD-LMH) demonstrated high production yields (84.01 ± 3.25, 72.55 ± 5.42, and 70.03 ± 3.39%, respectively), small particle sizes (2.96 ± 1.42, 4.55 ± 0.46, and 5.16 ± 1.32 µm, respectively) and low moisture contents (0.25 ± 0.03, 3.76 ± 0.75, and 1.99 ± 0.77%). These SD optimized parameters were then employed for SDP formulations employing dimyristoly phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) as a phospholipid and beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) as the model drug. Upon spray drying, SDP-mannitol provided the highest production yield (82.45%) and smallest particle size (2.64 µm), as well as high entrapment efficiency (98%) and a high fine particle dose, fine particle fraction, and respirable fraction (285.81 µg, 56.84%, 86.44%, respectively). Conclusions: The study results are a promising step in the optimization of the large-scale manufacture of proliposome formulations and highlight the versatility of the instrument and variability of formulation properties with respect to the carriers employed for targeting the pulmonary system using dry powder inhalers.

Enhanced egg white powder through liquid-state ultrasound-heating pretreatment: Properties and digestibility.

Egg white protein's functional properties and digestibility can be significantly affected by processing methods. In this study, a novel combined ultrasound-heating (UH) pretreatment protocol was developed, where liquid egg white was subjected to ultrasonic treatment (0.4W/mL, 10min) followed by mild heating (72°C, 10min) prior to drying processes. The effects of this liquid-state pretreatment on the properties of subsequently produced freeze-dried and spray-dried egg white powders were systematically evaluated. Results indicated that the foaming stability, emulsifying activity, and emulsifying stability of UH pre-treated freeze-dried egg white powder increased by 52.1%, 45.5%, and 197.7%, respectively. The emulsifying activity of UH pre-treated spray-dried egg white powder increased by 94.3%. UH pre-treatment effectively improved the physicochemical properties of egg white powder. The treatment induced structural modifications characterized by increased particle size and zeta potential. Thermal analysis revealed selective denaturation of heat-sensitive proteins, while maintaining the structural integrity of more stable proteins. In vitro digestion experiments showed that UH pre-treatment significantly improved protein digestibility, particularly for proteins over 30kDa, while effectively reducing avidin activity. These findings suggest UH pre-treatment offers a novel approach to enhance the functional properties and digestibility of egg white powder.

Fabrication and Optimization of Glibenclamide Drug Delivery System Using Pulsatile Approach for Hyperglycemia

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by persistently high blood sugar levels, and Glibenclamide is commonly used to manage these levels. Pulsatile formulations of Glibenclamide offer controlled timed release to address early morning hyperglycemia, enhancing glucose management and reducing complications. Incorporating Aloe barbadensis miller spray-dried powder as a solid plug in the pulsatile capsule design may help control morning glucose spikes and reduce elevated triglyceride levels in diabetic patients. The present study utilized the Pulsincap® system, which incorporates ethyl cellulose (EC)--coated capsules containing optimized glibenclamide tablets and a swellable plug. Solid dispersions (SDs) were developed using Soluplus® to enhance the poor aqueous solubility of glibenclamide, with compatibility confirmed via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Capsules (size ‘000’), coated with 10% w/v ethyl cellulose in methanol and dibutyl phthalate solution, achieved sustained release over 12 hrs. Immediate-release (IR) tablets, formulated via wet granulation, exhibited rapid disintegration within 2 mins. Sustained-release (SR) tablets, optimized using a 3² full factorial design with varying concentrations of HPMC K4M and HPMC K100M CR, demonstrated release profiles of 16-37% at 1 hr, 33-74% at 4 hrs, and 44-100% at 8 hrs. The erodible plug, composed of HPMC K15M, guar gum, and aloe vera, provided swelling and controlled lag times ranging from 7 to 12 hrs. The pulsatile delivery system effectively enhanced glibenclamide bioavailability and modulated its release, offering potential improvements in glycemic management for diabetic patients.

Production of a herbal drink by spray drying of mixed purple basil extract-lemon juice; formulation, process optimization, and characterization

This article focuses on the production of an herbal drink containing the mixture of basil extract and lemon juice (65:35 (% v/v)), at inlet air temperature (IAT) (110–190 °C) as well as the concentrations of maltodextrin (MD, 0–7.5%) and gum Arabic (GA, 0–7.5%). Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to investigate the variation of spray-dried powder attributes including moisture content (MC), water activity, water solubility, product yield, particle size, total monomeric anthocyanins (TMA), and aroma components. The optimum conditions for maximizing encapsulation efficiency and powder yield were IAT of 146 °C, 9.68% MD, and 5.32% GA. Both IAT and MD/GA ratio had a significant effect on final powder properties except for water activity. The GC-MS data revealed that the predominant aroma components in the final powder, lemon juice, and the reconstituted product were limonene and γ-terpinene; limonene; γ-terpinene, linalool, and 1.8 cineole, respectively. The results demonstrated that spray drying (SD) using GA/MD blends improved the consolidation of bioactive compounds in powdered form.

Characterization of Plant based spray dried powders using oil seed proteins and chokeberry extract from wine byproduct

Spray drying is a standard method for preserving bioactive ingredients and enhancing their storage stability. This study aimed to produce entirely plant-based spray-dried powders by using hemp, canola, and flax seed proteins, combined with maltodextrin, as wall material, while chokeberry extract from wine waste served as core material. We conducted a thorough analysis of the oil-seed proteins, examining their nitrogen solubility index, emulsification, and foaming capacities. The encapsulation process was evaluated based on its yield and efficiency. The spray-dried powders were further assessed through colour analysis, particle morphology and size distribution, hygroscopicity, and storage stability measurements. The encapsulation yield with oil-seed proteins ranged from 75.0 ± 6.2 to 78.5 ± 1.3%, and the efficiency from 58.4 ± 0.8 to 77.5 ± 1.9%. These plant-based spray-dried powders exhibited similar colour parameters, morphology, and stability to those of whey protein powders. The study highlights the significant potential of oil-seed proteins in producing plant-based spray-dried powders.

Differences in physicochemical properties and proteomics analysis of spray- and freeze-dried milk powders from bovine, goat, and horse sources

Milk powder, a nutrient-rich dairy product, lacks comprehensive information summarizing its specific properties when produced by spray- and freeze-dried technologies from different sources. Therefore, this study investigated the differences in physicochemical properties, microstructure, and proteome of spray- and freeze-dried milk powders from bovine, goat, and horse sources. The results revealed that spray-dried milk powder exhibited a smaller particle size, lower air content within the powder particles, inferior reconstitution properties, and lower lactose crystallinity compared with freeze-dried milk powder. Additionally, among the studied varieties, horse milk powder showed the lowest flowability but the most effective reconstitution properties. Proteomic analysis indicated that freeze-dried milk powder exhibited higher levels of immune-related proteins, including complement C3, C7, and complement factor B, and antimicrobial enzymes such as lysozyme and lactoperoxidase compared with spray-dried milk powder. Furthermore, specific milk powders contained more immune-related proteins such as serum amyloid A, myeloid antimicrobial peptide-28, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, and mucin-1 compared with bovine milk powder. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the differences in the physical-chemical properties and potential biological functions of spray- and freeze-dried milk powders from various sources, which may help in further optimizing specific milk powder processing technologies.

Fast onset of thrombolytic effect of efficiently inhalable spray-dried rivaroxaban powder formulations

Pulmonary embolism is a critical medical condition and can lead to cardiovascular arrest or death if left untreated. Pulmonary delivery of an anti-coagulant therapeutic could provide a locally limited and efficient therapy, moreover combined with a potentially fast onset of the therapeutic effect that is demanded in emergency situations. Rivaroxaban (riva) was formulated as an inhalable dry powder that can be administered directly to the lungs in order to reach high local drug doses. Particles obtained spray drying dichloromethane-methanol mixtures yielded an aerodynamic diameter of about or smaller than 5 µm and were found to reach an emitted fine particle fraction (FPFEF) of at least 60 %. Pulmonary administration to rats using a dry powder insufflator revealed a nearly immediate therapeutic onset confirmed by the anticoagulant effects after 5 min in the plasma, followed by a plateau over the next 4 h. Such rivaroxaban particles were further formulated in binary blends using different lactose carriers (Inhalac® 70/251/400). These interactive blends resulted in high emitted fractions of at least 87 %, and furthermore, the highest fine particle fraction − total dose (FPFTD) (60 %) of all tested formulations was achieved by using Inhalac® 400 as a carrier. The data strongly suggest a significant therapeutic potential of a rivaroxaban dry powder formulation, combining fast onset and a plateau of plasma concentrations turning it into a potential first aid therapeutic.

Effect of spray-drying or fermentation on the solubility and carbohydrate profile of chickpea hydrolysates for beverage formulation

Powder beverage bases were developed using extruded and hydrolyzed chickpea supernatant through freeze-drying. This study evaluated the effects of spray-drying and adjuvant incorporation for producing powders and supernatant fermentation with LAB strains prior freeze-drying on the carbohydrate composition, structural integrity, and physical properties of chickpea beverage base powders. All powders had low insoluble (<0.2 %) and soluble (<3 %) dietary fiber contents due to processing. Starch content decreased below 9.49 % when using adjuvants and 10.61 % during fermentation. Both treatments also reduce raffinose oligosaccharide content below 6.1 mM/100 g. Spray-drying and adjuvant addition promoted a more amorphous starch structure, enhancing solubility, while fermentation induced more crystallinity, according to FTIR data. Microscopy showed small particle clusters and lack of birefringence. SEM images revealed starch granule damage from both fermentation and spray-drying, with more uniform particles in spray-dried powders. Spray-drying resulted in the smallest particle sizes (455-457 nm) and higher absolute zeta potential (8.12-9.51), indicating greater stability. Fermentation had the opposite effect, negatively impacting the colloidal system stability. Samples had a pH close to 6, except fermented powders with a pH of 3.6, affecting colloidal stability. Fermentation significantly reduced solubility but without practical implications, as all samples had solubility values over 93 %, which is desirable for beverage-based powders. Spray-drying and fermentation altered the carbohydrate profile and structure of the powders. Fermentation prior producing powders may provide benefits, but it slightly decreases the system stability. Spray-drying can be used instead of freeze-drying to produce stable chickpea base powders that are highly soluble.

Developing low-lactose milk powder: A multi-enzyme approach to reduce Maillard browning

Preparation of low lactose milk and milk products have attracted the attention of consumers due to increasing prevalence of lactose intolerance. However, the physico-chemical properties of product prepared from the single enzyme application (β-galactosidase) possess a significant concern of Maillard browning. While previous studies adjusted spray drying conditions to address Maillard browning in low lactose powder, our research introduces a multi-enzyme system for lactose hydrolysis in concentrated skim milk to produce a spray-dried powder with reduced browning. Glucose oxidase (GOX) converts glucose into gluconic acid that lowers down the concentration of Maillard reaction products (MRP's) formed during manufacture of lactose hydrolysed milk products. The activity of GOX was enhanced when used along with catalase (CAT). Use of GOX + CAT in buffer solution (containing 9 % glucose) exhibited 61.44 % glucose reduction after 22 h of reaction. GOX (70 U/ml) along with CAT (25 U/ml) when added to milk after 5 h of β-galactosidase (9.53 U/ml) action resulted in significantly higher reduction of glucose (53.95 %) after 20 h with final milk pH of 6.5. Spray dried powder prepared using optimised multi-enzymes (β-galactosidase and GOX + CAT) treated milk revealed reduced browning characteristics i.e., 12.85 browning index as compared to the powder prepared from milk treated with β-galactosidase alone (16.37).Industrial relevance: The use of GOX + CAT during lactose hydrolysis could serve as a potential approach for mitigating browning characteristics in low-lactose milk and milk products. The multi-enzymatic system used to produce low-lactose milk can be easily adapted by large-scale industries to produce a powder with physico-chemical properties similar to traditional skim milk powder.