Storage Stability Research Articles

Current methods for detecting chronic airway inflammation, such as asthma, rely on complex procedures and specialized clinicians. Taking advantage of inherent nanomaterial properties and their chemical design flexibility, nanofibers were designed and integrated with enzyme entrapping hydrogels. This composition offers noninvasive sample collection followed by simple colorimetric detection. Specifically, nanofibers were made from positively charged nylon-poly(allylamine hydrochloride). They were optimized with respect to mat thickness, additive content, and lactate capture efficiency. The nanofibers could efficiently bind lactate through electrostatic interaction, correlating the resulting amount on the nanofiber mat to the concentration in breath aerosols. Detection was subsequently accomplished through a standard lactate oxidase, horseradish peroxidase assay with 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine colorimetric detection. The optimized nanofibers outperformed other polymeric nanofibers, face mask material, and filter paper regarding analyte capture and breathability due to the surface chemistry chosen and the high surface area afforded through the nanofiber mats. For lactate quantification directly on the mask, lactate oxidase was immobilized on the nanofiber mat via a hydrogel, ensuring long-term storage stability. Simple visual detection was achieved providing limits of detection of 5 μmol·L-1 (in solution) and 20 μmol·L-1 (hydrogel-based system) and a dynamic range that covers lactate concentrations found in breath, i.e., 5 to 150 μmol·L-1. This platform technology offers a promising solution for point-of-care diagnostics, contributing to remote healthcare, telemedicine, and simplified diagnostics in airway inflammation management.

Deciphering the interaction mechanism between Litsea pungens Hemsl. Oil (LPHO) characteristic flavor substances and starch in complexation behavior.

To enhance the storage stability, physical rheological properties, and antiaging performance of waste rubber powder modified asphalt, this study employed long-chain silane coupling agents (C6TMS and C16TMS) for surface modification of red mud (RM), successfully preparing organic-modified red mud (C6RM/C16RM). FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed that silane chains were successfully grafted onto the RM surface without altering its crystalline structure. SEM and particle size analysis revealed significantly improved dispersion of the modified red mud, while water contact angle tests indicated marked enhancement of its hydrophobicity. When C6RM/C16RM was compounded with waste rubber powder for aged asphalt regeneration, results showed that modified red mud substantially improved the comprehensive performance of recycled asphalt. Notably, C16RM demonstrated superior effects by enhancing asphalt's storage stability, rheological properties, and antiaging performance. Mechanism analysis revealed that the long organic chains of red mud intertwined within the asphalt matrix, forming a cross-link-like network structure that effectively inhibited rubber powder sedimentation and improved system stability. Additionally, the porous structure and uniform dispersion of modified red mud in asphalt hindered oxygen/heat penetration and adsorbed light components, thereby delaying asphalt aging. This research provides an effective strategy for improving waste rubber powder modified asphalt performance while achieving resource utilization of red mud, carrying significant environmental and economic value.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-enriched eggs are nutritionally valuable for human cardiovascular health and neurodevelopment but face severe lipid oxidation during storage due to DHA’s high degree of unsaturation, which reduces their quality and shelf life. Selenium (Se) mitigates such oxidation, yet the efficacy of different Se sources (organic vs. inorganic) in DHA-enriched eggs remains inadequately quantified. This study investigated the effects of dietary Se sources on Se distribution, internal quality, and oxidative stability of DHA-enriched eggs by feeding 360 Hy-line Brown laying hens (50 weeks old) four diets for 8 weeks: a basal diet (CON; analyzed Se: 0.10 mg/kg), a DHA-enriched microalgae diet (MA; analyzed Se: 0.11 mg/kg), or MA supplemented with 0.25 mg/kg Se as sodium selenite (MA + SS) or selenium yeast (MA + SY). At the end of the feeding trial, eggs were collected and stored at 22 °C for 0, 15, or 30 days to evaluate internal quality and oxidative stability. Results showed that SY was significantly more effective than SS in enriching Se in eggs: the total Se content in whole eggs of MA + SY (18.82 mg) was 39.6% higher than that of MA + SS (13.48 mg), with albumen Se content in MA + SY (0.239 mg/kg) being 2.17-fold that of MA + SS (0.110 mg/kg). Supplementation with DHA alone (MA diet) negatively impacted stored egg quality: at 30 days of storage, the Haugh unit (HU) of MA (54.93) was 10.6% lower than that of CON (61.48), and yolk thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARSs, 495.8 μg MDA/kg) was 22.9% higher than that of CON (403.3 μg MDA/kg). However, both Se sources improved these parameters, with SY showing a more pronounced effect: at 30 days, MA + SY had a higher yolk GPX activity (58.10 U/g protein, 12.1% higher than MA + SS) and lower yolk TBARSs (361.2 μg MDA/kg, 11.6% lower than MA + SS), while its HU (62.97) was restored to 99.2% of CON’s level. The superior efficacy of SY was attributed to greater Se deposition and enhanced GPX activity, which jointly reduced lipid and protein oxidation. These findings confirm SY as the preferred Se supplement for producing nutritionally enhanced DHA-enriched eggs with improved storage stability.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based pH sensors have been widely applied; However, the used 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) probes exhibit small pH-sensitive peak changes (carboxyl group) and strong susceptibility to interference, leading to inaccurate measurements. To address these limitations, we developed a SERS pH sensor using 2,5-dimercaptoterephthalic acid (2,5-DMTA) as the probe, which contains dual carboxyl groups. These carboxyl groups undergo reversible protonation-deprotonation, producing pronounced and reproducible spectral responses that enhance detection accuracy. The developed sensor enabled reliable detection across the acidic pH range of 0-7, showing good linearity (R2 = 0.9786) and compensating for the weak acidic response of 4-MBA. Importantly, the 2,5-DMTA-based pH sensor demonstrated much better detection accuracy (detection relative standard deviation RSD less than 5%) than the 4-MBA-based SERS pH sensor (detection RSD ≈ 20%). To further improve measurement accuracy in complex matrices, the sensor was embedded in hot agarose to form an AuNP@hydrogel substrate, effectively suppressing interference from small molecules. Moreover, the developed sensor also shows satisfactory online pH monitoring features, including good reversibility (≥6 cycles), high stability of continuous measurements (30 min), and long-term storage stability (30 days). Integrated with a microfluidic 3D-printed flow cell, the system enabled rapid response (∼120 s) and online pH monitoring, and was successfully applied to continuous testing in lake water. Overall, this SERS platform provides a robust and accurate solution for SERS-based pH detection under acidic and complex environmental conditions.

Abstract Objectives To enhance the quality of tofu produced using brine (MgCl2), this study investigated the effects of an emulsion-controlled-release coagulant (ECRC) prepared through ultrasonic emulsification on the physical and gelation properties of tofu. Materials and Methods The ECRC were prepared using different ultrasonic amplitudes. The average particle size, particle size distribution, viscosity, stability, and Mg²⁺ encapsulation rate were measured to determine the optimal preparation conditions. Then, the Mg²⁺ controlled-release properties and storage stability of ECRC were measured, and the effects of ECRC on tofu quality were investigated. Results The particle size distribution of the ECRC was uniform when the ultrasonic amplitude was 80%, with an average particle size of 638.12±16.23 nm, excellent emulsion stability, and a Mg2+ encapsulation rate of 51.23%±0.02%. In comparison to MgCl2, the ECRC significantly extended the coagulation time for soybean protein, increasing it from 9.00±0.82 to 28.00±1.00 s. Concurrently, it facilitated the formation of a uniform and dense gel network within the tofu while markedly enhancing its moisture content. The hardness, elasticity, texture, and overall appearance of tofu prepared using ECRC were superior to those of traditional brine coagulant (TBC) tofu, thereby improving both its physical attributes and textural quality. Conclusions This study demonstrated that employing ultrasonic emulsification in preparing emulsion buffer coagulants effectively prolongs soybean protein gelation time and enhances tofu quality. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for the industrial-scale production of tofu.

The switchable emulsion drag reducer can effectively avoid the contradiction between the stability of the emulsion and the release of the drag reducer. Notably, the traditional switchable emulsion drag reducer is mainly stabilized by surfactants with a single-tail chain and a single response site, which leads to poor storage stability and low release efficiency. Constructing surfactants with dual tails and multiple response sites offers a promising strategy to improve both stability and release efficiency of the drag reducer. Herein, a surfactant (OLA-BPB) with multiple response sites was synthesized by amidation and the Schiff base reaction. The surface activity of OLA-BPB was sensitively regulated by pH stimulation due to the existence of a tertiary amine group and imine bonds. The emulsion drag reducer prepared by inverse emulsion polymerization of the OLA-BPB-stabilized monomer emulsion exhibited favorable storage stability at 25 °C. The instability behavior of the emulsion drag reducer under pH stimulation was attributed to pH-induced changes in the surface activity of OLA-BPB. Thanks to this specialty, the pH-switchable emulsion drag reducer can be released within a broad pH value window (a range of 2 to 6) and can be completely released within 20 s at pH 3. The drag reduction rate of pH-switchable emulsion drag reducer reached 68.48% at a concentration of 0.05 wt %. The construction of the OLA-BPB offers an alternative option to enhancing the release efficiency of the drag reducer.

The donor/acceptor (D/A) interfaces in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells (OSCs) critically govern exciton dissociation and molecular diffusion, determining both efficiency and stability. Herein, we design a double-cable conjugated polymer, SC-1F, to insert into a physically-blended D/A system to optimize the interface. We have found that SC-1F spontaneously segregates to the interface through favorable miscibility and heterogeneous nucleation with the acceptor. Its long-lived charge-transfer (CT) state with a lifetime of >3ns enhances charge generation efficiency in the PM6:BTP-eC9 blend, boosting the power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 19.00% to 20.12%. More importantly, the double-cable nature of SC-1F enables it to be simultaneously miscible with donor and acceptor so as to act as the interfacial lock to prevent their self-aggregation under thermal treatment. Therefore, the PM6:BTP-eC9:SC-1F-based solar cells provided a high T80 of 2175 h compared to a T80 of 530 h based on PM6:BTP-eC9 under 65 °C treatment. Notably, SC-1F-based device demonstrates exceptional storage and thermal stability, with a T80 lifetime exceeding 10000 h. These results demonstrate the superior advantage of double-cable conjugated polymers as the third component to achieve efficient and stable OSCs.

Introduction Interest in lyophilized plasma products has increased. However, data on their use in dogs are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro stability and hemostatic efficacy of single-donor lyophilized canine plasma. Methods Ten canine plasma units were lyophilized and stored at −80 °C, 4 °C, room temperature, and 38 °C for 45 days. The plasma compositions before and after lyophilization were compared to assess the impact of the lyophilization. The following parameters were assessed to evaluate storage stability: blood gas analysis, biochemical parameters, coagulation profiles [prothrombin time (PT); activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT); fibrinogen concentration; the activities of coagulation factors II, V, VIII, IX, X, and XII, as well as those of antithrombin (AT); and protein C], and kaolin-activated thromboelastography. Aerobic bacterial cultures were performed using thioglycollate broth to assess sterility. Lyophilized plasma samples were reconstituted to 50, 60, 80, and 100% of the original plasma volume to assess the effects of different reconstitution volumes on plasma components. Total protein, albumin, osmolality, selected coagulation factors (II and V), fibrinogen, and AT were measured and compared across the reconstituted groups. Results Lyophilization decreased the partial pressure of carbon dioxide and increased the pH. No other significant immediate changes were observed. Plasma stored at −80 °C and 4 °C maintained stable biochemical and coagulation profiles over 45 days of storage, with only a slight but statistically significant decrease in fibrinogen concentrations on Days 30 and 45 for refrigerated conditions when compared with post-lyophilization values. Significant reductions in the activities of coagulation factors II, V, and VIII were observed at room temperature by Day 45, whereas PT, aPTT, and thromboelastography remained within normal reference ranges relative to the post-lyophilization values. Storage at 38 °C led to marked deterioration in coagulation function, as evidenced by the prolonged PT and aPTT, substantial decline in fibrinogen concentrations, and >50% reduction in the activity of all assessed coagulation factors relative to the post-lyophilization values. The AT activity declined for all storage groups, whereas protein C and thromboelastography profiles remained relatively stable, except at 38 °C. No bacterial growth was observed in any reconstituted plasma samples across all storage temperature and time points. Reconstitution at lower volumes (50 and 60%) increased the concentrations of albumin and activities of coagulation factors and osmolality. Conclusion The lyophilization process did not significantly affect the concentrations or activities of major plasma proteins, including coagulation factors and anticoagulant proteins. Storage at −80 °C and 4 °C for 45 days preserved the stability of biochemical and hemostatic parameters. However, storage at room temperature resulted in minor reductions in select coagulation factors (such as factors II, V, and VIII). PT, aPTT, and thromboelastography parameters remained within the normal reference ranges, confirming the short-term stability of the product. Changes in the reconstitution volume affected plasma concentration and highlighted the potential of lyophilized plasma as a rapid resuscitative product in veterinary medicine.

Dissolvable microneedles (DMNs) have emerged as a groundbreaking drug delivery platform, offering a minimally invasive alternative to conventional parenteral and oral administration while enabling precise, pain-free, and patient-friendly therapeutic delivery. This review provides a comprehensive technical overview of the design, materials, and translational challenges of DMN systems. We begin by examining critical design parameters, including microneedle geometry, array configuration, mechanical strength, and drug distribution, that directly influence insertion efficiency, structural integrity, and dissolution kinetics. The role of mathematical modeling in optimizing DMN performance is also explored, offering insights into drug diffusion, structural mechanics, and dissolution kinetics. The materials section highlights the diverse natural and synthetic polymers used in DMN fabrication, along with additives and stabilizers that modulate drug release, improve biocompatibility, and ensure formulation stability. Despite significant advances in preclinical research, the translation of DMNs into clinical and commercial applications remains hindered by several factors, including limitations in drug loading capacity, manufacturing scalability, dose precision, long-term storage stability, and regulatory complexity. We also explore user-centric challenges, including ease of administration, patient compliance, and cost-effectiveness. The final section discusses current strategies to address these barriers, including the use of smart and stimuli-responsive polymers, next-generation microfabrication techniques, and packaging innovations designed to enhance shelf life and user handling. Through this, we aim to provide a critical perspective on the design, materials, and future potential of DMN technology, charting a path toward its successful integration into mainstream healthcare systems.

Brown rice is a nutritious, gluten-free whole grain, the edible potential of which is limited by inferior palatability and storage stability. In this study, brown rice (20% w/w) was subjected to heat moisture treatment (HMT) at 110 °C for 2 h, followed by ultrafine grinding, to prepare gluten-free biscuits, which were compared with those made from wheat flour, white rice, and brown rice. The results showed that the content of dietary fiber (2.67–3.62%), total phenolic (0.053–0.154%), and vitamin E (0.574–1.483 mg/100 g) in brown rice biscuits after combined treatment was enhanced compared with wheat flour biscuits. The spread ratio (4.06–8.89), hardness (700.82–1085.91 g), and brittleness (1068.89–2067.18 g/sec) of the biscuits were significantly improved (p < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the biscuits treated with combined treatment had fewer cavities and a more compact texture. The biscuits made from HMT brown rice demonstrated a reduced peroxide value, with a slower increase in acid value (0.19–0.21 mg/g) compared to untreated samples (0.24–0.38 mg/g) during storage. The innovative combined treatment of HMT and ultrafine grinding improved qualities of brown rice biscuits. This approach expands the utilization potential of brown rice, while also offering a viable strategy for grain conservation and loss reduction.

Natural stabilizer Levan enhances the casein network, rheological properties and sensory quality of yogurt.

Bioconversion of glycyrrhizin in a natural intensive sweetener by immobilized β-glucuronidase.

A novel mayonnaise product rich in cis-lutein with higher bioaccessibility using natural food ingredients and its textural properties, sensory quality and storage stability.

Storage stability of an antioxidant tea prepared from purple corn (Zea mays L.) cob and stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bert.) and its effects on biomarkers of oxidative stress in healthy humans.

The properties of alginate-cyclodextrin hybrid bubble hydrogel for ethylene gas encapsulation and storage.

Multifaceted characterization of lactoferrin and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) interactions: development of the pickering emulsions for microencapsulated functional foods.

An integrated purification and immobilization strategy for ELP-fusion β-glucosidase by its thermosensitivity and hydrophobicity.

Impact of alginate coating on the stability and resveratrol delivery performance of hollow gliadin nanoparticles.

Nanoelectrospray fabrication of pH-responsive double-layered drug-eluting contact lenses for ocular drug delivery.