Oleogels, Bigels, and Emulgels: Fabrication, Application and Research Trends (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2026 | Viewed by 3760

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recently, there has been a growing interest in oleogels, bigels, and emulgels as promising alternatives to trans and saturated fats. Oleogels are fat-like solid oil gels developed from sunflower, grape seed, linseed, olive, soybean, corn, and other oils; and oleogelators such as waxes (beeswax, carnauba wax, sunflower wax, beeswax of rice bran), phytosterols or plant sterols, fatty acids and monoglycerides, proteins (soy protein, whey protein, gelatin) and polysaccharides (agar, xanthan gum, pectin). Consumer demand for healthy products can be met by using oleogels with a superior fatty acid composition, which can be easily manufactured and used in food products. Bigels are a combination of hydrogel and organogel, with high physical stability, which can be used in the food industry as a substitute for solid fats (in sausages, burgers, cookies, and chocolate) and as “smart” food packaging materials. The emulgel matrix is a complex colloidal system obtained by replacing the hydrogel phase (partially or totally) with an emulsion. Emulgels could be used in the food industry when semi-solid or highly viscous texture is required. The current Special Issue aims to provide an opportunity for researchers to publish their results concerning the oil structuring techniques, oleogels, bigels, and emulgels characterization (structural behavior of oil–oleogelator networking, oil binding, and emulsification potential, textural properties, rheological attributes, color, thermal properties and bio-functional characteristics, phytochemical composition and bio-active properties, in vitro digestibility); oleogel, bigel and emulgel applications in chocolate and confectionery, bakery, meat, dairy, and other food products (with analyses of rheology, microstructure, color, texture and sensory attributes).

In the second edition of this Special Issue, we also encourage the submission of original research articles, reviews, and short communications about “Oleogels, Bigels, and Emulgels: Fabrication, Application and Research Trends”.

Dr. Cristina Ghinea
Dr. Ana Leahu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • oleogels
  • bigels
  • emulgels
  • food
  • oleogelators
  • textural properties
  • rheological attributes
  • sensory evaluation

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2711 KB  
Article
Comparison of Oleogels Obtained by Emulsion Template Method Using Low Molecular Weight Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) with Fish and Vegetable Oils
by Alonso Escobar, Leticia Montes, Amaya Franco-Uría and Ramón Moreira
Gels 2026, 12(4), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12040319 - 8 Apr 2026
Viewed by 290
Abstract
This work evaluated the influence of oil type (sunflower vs. fish oil) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) concentration on the properties of oleogels obtained by the emulsion-templated method. Oil-in-water emulsions were prepared and air-dried to produce oleogels containing 2.9–5.8% (w/w) [...] Read more.
This work evaluated the influence of oil type (sunflower vs. fish oil) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) concentration on the properties of oleogels obtained by the emulsion-templated method. Oil-in-water emulsions were prepared and air-dried to produce oleogels containing 2.9–5.8% (w/w) HPMC. All oleogels exhibited solid-like behaviour, with viscoelastic moduli increasing with polymer concentration, and showed a high thermal stability. At a comparable HPMC content, fish oil oleogels developed stiffer networks than those obtained with sunflower oil. Texture analysis indicated a linear increase in hardness with HPMC content across both oils, while cohesiveness and adhesiveness were more influenced by oil nature. Oil-binding capacity (OBC) increased markedly with polymer content, exceeding 90% in most systems. However, fish oil oleogels consistently showed lower retention. Colour parameters were only slightly affected by HPMC concentration and were mainly determined by the intrinsic colour of each oil. Overall, both oil type and polymer concentration were shown to be critical factors determining the structural, mechanical, and functional characteristics of HPMC-based oleogels, providing useful information for the development of structured lipid systems as potential substitutes for conventional solid fats. Full article
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19 pages, 4417 KB  
Article
Effects of Isolated Pea Protein on Extrusion-Induced Gelation and Gel-like Network Formation in Low-Moisture Meat Analog Systems
by Hyun-Woo Choi, Yu Zhang, Yunju Lee, Hyerim Jeon, Gi-Hyung Ryu and Bon-Jae Gu
Gels 2026, 12(2), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020175 - 16 Feb 2026
Viewed by 554
Abstract
Low-moisture meat analogs (LMMAs) typically exhibit highly expanded structures with large air cells, which differ from the dense and fibrous architecture observed in high-moisture systems. This study investigated the role of isolated pea protein (IPP) in extrusion-induced protein gelation and gel-like network formation [...] Read more.
Low-moisture meat analogs (LMMAs) typically exhibit highly expanded structures with large air cells, which differ from the dense and fibrous architecture observed in high-moisture systems. This study investigated the role of isolated pea protein (IPP) in extrusion-induced protein gelation and gel-like network formation in LMMAs produced by low-moisture extrusion. By partially substituting isolated soy protein (ISP) with IPP, changes in expansion behavior, protein network structure, and gel-related physicochemical properties were systematically evaluated. Increasing IPP content markedly reduced expansion and air-cell size, leading to the formation of a dense and continuous gel-like protein network with enhanced fibrous alignment. At IPP substitution levels of 20–30%, the extrudates exhibited gel structures and fibrous characteristics comparable to those of high-moisture meat analogs. As IPP incorporation increased, water holding capacity, springiness, and cohesiveness declined, while mechanical resistance parameters, including chewiness, cutting strength, and integrity index, progressively increased, indicating gel network densification. Nitrogen solubility index analysis further revealed distinct protein denaturation and gelation behaviors between IPP- and ISP-based systems. These results demonstrate that controlled incorporation of IPP effectively modulates extrusion-induced gelation and gel network architecture in low-moisture meat analogs, providing mechanistic insights into gel-based structuring strategies for plant-based meat systems. Full article
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22 pages, 4048 KB  
Article
Novel Fat Replacers Based on Pork Lard and a Cold Gelling System in the Reformulation of Reduced-Fat Fresh Pork Sausages Containing Silicon from Diatomaceous Earth Powder
by María Dolores Álvarez, Arancha Saiz and Susana Cofrades
Gels 2025, 11(8), 618; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11080618 - 8 Aug 2025
Viewed by 2472
Abstract
This study examines the effects of an emulsion gel (EG) and a fat bulking agent (BA), both formulated with pork lard (PL) and an alginate-based gelling system, as animal fat replacers in the reformulation of reduced-fat fresh pork sausages. Both fat analogs were [...] Read more.
This study examines the effects of an emulsion gel (EG) and a fat bulking agent (BA), both formulated with pork lard (PL) and an alginate-based gelling system, as animal fat replacers in the reformulation of reduced-fat fresh pork sausages. Both fat analogs were characterized in terms of texture, color, and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (GID) before being used in the reformulation of four fresh pork sausages, without and with added silicon (Si) from diatomaceous earth powder: S/EG, S/EG-Si, S/BA, and S/BA-Si. Reduced-fat sausages elaborated exclusively with pork backfat (PB), without and with Si, were used as controls (S/C and S/C-Si). Both EG and BA showed adequate physicochemical characteristics and slowed in vitro GID compared to PL and PB. Replacing 75% PB with EG or BA did not negatively impact the technological, nutritional, or sensory properties of the reformulated pork sausages, which were kept for 14 days under refrigeration. Additionally, sausages containing EG or BA as fat substitutes presented lower lipid digestibility after in vitro digestion compared to the control samples. The addition of Si further limited fat digestion, as reflected by the lower release of free fatty acids after in vitro GID compared to products without added Si. This effect was more pronounced in EG-based formulations. Therefore, the use of EG as a PB replacer, together with the addition of Si, could become a promising strategy for developing healthier meat products. This finding may have important implications for the development of functional meat products aimed at reducing fat content and lipid absorption, thereby laying the foundation for precision nutrition strategies focused on improving individual health outcomes. Full article
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