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Innovative Food Technologies for Preservation and Enrichment of Bioactive Compounds

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2026 | Viewed by 3078

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The growing consumer demand for nutritious, high-quality, and minimally processed food has propelled the search for innovative food processing technologies. Conventional thermal preservation methods often lead to the significant degradation of heat-sensitive bioactive compounds, such as vitamins, polyphenols, and antioxidants, thereby diminishing the nutritional and health-promoting value of food products. This underscores a critical challenge for the food industry: how to effectively ensure food safety and extend shelf-life while simultaneously preserving and even enhancing these valuable biocompounds.

We are pleased to invite you to submit your latest research findings for the Special Issue. This Special Issue aims to collate cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews on novel technological approaches that mitigate the loss of bioactivity during processing. We seek to explore strategies not only for preservation but also for the targeted enrichment and improved bioavailability of bioactive compounds in various food matrices, ultimately contributing to the advancement of functional food science.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  1. Application of non-thermal technologies (e.g., High-Pressure Processing, Cold Plasma, Pulsed Electric Fields, and Ultrasound) for microbial inactivation and nutrient retention;
  2. Advanced drying and encapsulation techniques (e.g., Spray Drying, Freeze Drying, and Electrospinning) for stabilizing and enhancing the bioavailability of bioactive compounds;
  3. Novel extraction methods (e.g., Supercritical Fluid Extraction, Pressurized Liquid Extraction, and Enzyme-Assisted Extraction) for the efficient recovery of bioactives from agri-food waste;
  4. Synergistic approaches combining multiple technologies or using natural antimicrobials and edible coatings for improved functionality and shelf-life.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Luca Mazzoni
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • innovative food technologies
  • non-thermal processing
  • bioactive compounds
  • preservation
  • enrichment
  • functional foods
  • bioavailability
  • nutrient retention

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1610 KB  
Article
A Preliminary Study on Vitamin-Enhanced Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Functional Food Design via Advanced Emulsion Systems
by Sandra Montoro-Alonso, Carmen Duque-Soto, Joana Martínez-Martí, José Reina-Manuel, Ascensión Rueda-Robles and Jesús Lozano-Sánchez
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 2981; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16062981 - 19 Mar 2026
Viewed by 362
Abstract
Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly of vitamins A, D3, and folic acid, remain a significant global health challenge despite established dietary recommendations. This study proposes a novel fortification strategy using advanced emulsion technology to enrich extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) with these essential micronutrients. [...] Read more.
Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly of vitamins A, D3, and folic acid, remain a significant global health challenge despite established dietary recommendations. This study proposes a novel fortification strategy using advanced emulsion technology to enrich extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) with these essential micronutrients. Water-in-oil (W/O) and double oil-in-water-in-oil (O/W/O) emulsions were designed to enable the simultaneous encapsulation of lipophilic (A and D3) and hydrophilic (folic acid) vitamins within a single functional food matrix. Vitamin concentrations were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with a photodiode detector (PDA) to evaluate retention during processing. Bioaccessibility was assessed by subjecting vitamin-enriched emulsions to a standardized in vitro digestion model simulating gastrointestinal conditions. Results showed significantly higher incorporation efficiency in the O/W/O system compared to conventional W/O emulsions, regardless of the physicochemical properties of the vitamins. Both lipophilic (A and D3) and hydrophilic (folic acid) compounds exhibited a satisfactory retention, highlighting the versatility of the double-emulsion approach. This study represents the first report of simple and multiple oil-continuous emulsions that simultaneously incorporate vitamins A, D3, and folic acid, providing preliminary evidence of their stability and gastrointestinal release under simulated digestion conditions. Full article
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12 pages, 240 KB  
Article
Cereal-Based Derivatives as Functional Fortifiers of Sourdough Bread: Nutritional, Antioxidant and Quality Insights
by Stavros Kazakos, Ioanna Bampali, Ioanna Mantzourani and Stavros Plessas
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(2), 646; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16020646 - 8 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 514
Abstract
Fortifying sourdough bread with functional ingredients is an effective strategy to enhance nutritional value, bioactive content, and sensory quality. The novel strain Lactiplantibacillus paracasei SP5 was incorporated into mother sponges together with cereal-based derivatives, such as trahanas or delignified wheat bran (2% and [...] Read more.
Fortifying sourdough bread with functional ingredients is an effective strategy to enhance nutritional value, bioactive content, and sensory quality. The novel strain Lactiplantibacillus paracasei SP5 was incorporated into mother sponges together with cereal-based derivatives, such as trahanas or delignified wheat bran (2% and 5% w/w), and their effects on sourdough bread functionality were compared with a control bread without supplementation. Sourdough bread containing 5% w/w trahanas exhibited the highest lactic acid bacteria (10.4 log cfu/g), approximately 22% higher than the control, and the strongest fermentation activity, leading to acetic acid levels 27% higher than the control. This sourdough bread sample also had 73% higher total phenolic content (112.1 mg GAE/100 g) and approximately 27% higher antioxidant activity compared to control bread. In addition, phytic acid degradation exceeded 91%, representing a 16% higher reduction than the control, thereby improving mineral bioavailability. Shelf-life was also markedly extended, in terms of mould and rope spoilage compared with the control. Wheat bran-supplemented breads showed moderate improvements, with LAB counts, antioxidant activity, and phytic acid reduction about 10–25% higher than the control. Overall, these findings demonstrate that L. paracasei SP5 in combination with nutrient-rich, low-cost cereal-based derivatives can significantly enhance the technological, nutritional, and bioactive properties of sourdough breads. This approach provides a simple, industrially feasible strategy for producing functional breads with improved health-promoting and preservative attributes. Full article

Review

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40 pages, 1053 KB  
Review
Bioactive Potential of Edible Insects in Modern Food Technology: Advances in Preservation, Processing, and Functional Enhancement
by Arkadiusz Szpicer, Weronika Bińkowska, Adrian Stelmasiak, Iwona Wojtasik-Kalinowska, Anna Czajkowska, Sylwia Mierzejewska, Zdzisław Domiszewski, Tomasz Rydzkowski, Karolina Maziarz and Joanna Piepiórka-Stepuk
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 4101; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16094101 - 22 Apr 2026
Viewed by 244
Abstract
Edible insects have emerged as a sustainable source of high-quality proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates (including chitin), as well as micronutrients such as minerals and vitamins, and diverse bioactive compounds, thereby making them promising ingredients for functional food applications. Their favourable nutritional profile and [...] Read more.
Edible insects have emerged as a sustainable source of high-quality proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates (including chitin), as well as micronutrients such as minerals and vitamins, and diverse bioactive compounds, thereby making them promising ingredients for functional food applications. Their favourable nutritional profile and low environmental footprint make them attractive ingredients for next-generation food systems. However, processing and preservation remain critical challenges, particularly with respect to the stability of bioactive compounds, lipid oxidation, and protein functional properties such as solubility, emulsifying capacity, and water-holding capacity. This review critically examines recent advances in food processing technologies applied to edible insects, including drying, extraction, fermentation, and microencapsulation, with emphasis on their effects on bioactive compound retention and functional performance. The role of processing strategies in enhancing oxidative stability, protein solubility, emulsifying properties, and overall technological applicability is discussed, alongside safety, regulatory, and consumer acceptance considerations. Overall, this review highlights key technological pathways for the effective valorisation of insect-derived ingredients and outlines future directions for their integration into sustainable and functional food products. In contrast to previous reviews, this work provides a comparative and mechanism-oriented analysis of processing methods, highlighting inconsistencies across studies and identifying key technological trade-offs. Particular attention is given to the relationship between processing parameters and the stability of bioactive compounds. Full article
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