Search Results (617)

Omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are associated with several health benefits, but their high susceptibility to lipid oxidation and low water dispersibility limit their incorporation into food products. In this study, an oil-in-water emulsion was developed from a commercial fish-oil concentrate containing 92% w/w total n-3 PUFA and 73% w/w docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), using octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA)-modified starch as the sole emulsifying carrier. Response surface methodology was used to evaluate the effects of oil content, ultrasound emulsification time and ultrasound amplitude on the volume-weighted mean droplet diameter, D[4,3]. The selected formulation, prepared with an oil content of 20% w/w relative to the total solids, an emulsification time of 180 s, and an ultrasound amplitude of 100%, exhibited a D[4,3] of 121 ± 1 nm. During storage at ambient temperature in darkness, the emulsion maintained low peroxide values, ranging from 1.2 to 1.4 meq O₂/kg oil, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values between 1.3 and 2.1 mmol/kg oil during the first 5 days, indicating that the formulation delayed lipid oxidation of the n-3 PUFA concentrate. The addition of α-tocopherol did not improve oxidative stability compared with the control emulsion. In contrast, ascorbic acid maintained low peroxide values and reduced TBARS accumulation during storage, with values lower than those of the control emulsion and close to the initial TBARS value of the n-3 PUFA concentrate. These results indicate that, under the conditions evaluated, ascorbic acid was more effective than α-tocopherol in delaying the formation of secondary lipid oxidation products. Full article

Background/Objectives: PLGA/PLA microspheres are attractive candidates for depot delivery of protein therapeutics, but formulation development for antibodies remains challenging because protein encapsulation, burst release, stability, and polymer composition must be balanced across a large design space. This study evaluated an automated high-throughput formulation workflow for preparing and screening IgG-loaded pegylated PLGA/PLA microspheres, with emphasis on loading and early release behavior. Methods: Microspheres were prepared using an automated W/O/W emulsion workflow consisting of primary emulsion formation, microfluidic secondary emulsification, solvent removal, washing, and lyophilization. A formulation library was generated by varying polymer chemistry, polymer concentration, polymer blends, IgG concentration, and additives. Formulations were evaluated for IgG loading and in vitro release over the first 7 days using automated sampling and protein quantification. Statistical analyses were used to identify formulation variables associated with loading, burst release, day-7 release, and Weibull-derived kinetic descriptors. Results: Across 129 formulations, IgG loading was generally in the low-to-mid single-digit percentage range. Additive class and IgG concentration in the dispersed phase were the formulation variables most strongly associated with early release behavior. Additive-free systems were associated with lower burst release, whereas non-polymeric additives were associated with higher burst and faster early release. Day-7 release differences were less robust after correction for variance heterogeneity and resampling. Conclusions: The automated workflow enabled rapid preparation and comparative screening of IgG-loaded PLGA/PLA microspheres. The findings support the use of high-throughput automated screening to identify formulation variables associated with burst modulation and early release behavior. Because release was evaluated over 7 days and only one model IgG was used, the results should be interpreted as an early-stage formulation screening study rather than definitive evidence of long-term antibody depot performance. Full article

The gelation ability of gelatin is useful for improving texture and stabilizing food structure, but excessive gelation may limit its application in liquid and high-moisture food systems. Therefore, this study compared the effects of Alcalase and pepsin hydrolysis on the gel-forming ability, viscosity, and functional properties of porcine skin gelatin. o-Phthaldialdehyde (OPA) analysis showed that the Alcalase hydrolysate had a higher free amino group content (0.77 meqv/g protein) than the pepsin hydrolysate (0.23 meqv/g protein), indicating more extensive peptide bond cleavage (p < 0.05). The control formed a stable gel structure after 60 min at 25 °C, whereas both hydrolysates showed reduced gel-forming ability. In particular, the Alcalase hydrolysate was found to maintain high fluidity, completely inhibiting gel formation. Furthermore, 17.5% (w/v) Alcalase hydrolysate solution showed no measurable viscosity. In contrast, 17.5% (w/v) pepsin hydrolysate solution exhibited a viscosity of 653.88 cP. In contrast to the Alcalase hydrolysate, the pepsin hydrolysate also showed the highest oil absorption capacity (8.81 g/g), emulsion stability index (854.09 min), and a slightly higher in vitro digestibility (29.36%) (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that enzyme-specific hydrolysis can differentially modify the balance between gel suppression and techno-functional properties of porcine skin gelatin. Full article

S-Methylmethionine (SMM), also called vitamin U, shows antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, radioprotective and anti-irritant activity, as well as enhanced wound healing. In addition, vitamin U affects the regeneration and renewal of the skin hydrolipid mantle and offers some UVB-protective effects on the skin. Since there are currently no reports in the scientific literature concerning the release of vitamin U from cosmetic formulations, the present study was undertaken as a preliminary and exploratory pilot investigation. The research focused on evaluating the release behavior of SMM (synthetic methylmethionine), a compound recognized for its potential skin-regenerating, soothing, and protective properties, from several commonly used topical delivery systems. Therefore, the various topical formulations, including oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions, as well as hydrogel formulations, were evaluated as potential, effective vitamin U skin delivery systems. Vitamin U-loaded emulsions (O/W and W/O) differing in droplet size in the internal phase and a hydrogel were prepared. The physicochemical properties of the formulations, such as emulsion type, stability, viscosity, pH and droplet size, were evaluated. The study of vitamin U release was performed in thermostatic diffusion chambers at a temperature of T = 32 °C using the Spectra/Por Standard Regenerated Cellulose dialysis membrane. A phosphate buffer (PBS) with pH 7.4 was used as the receptor solution. The concentration of the released S-Methylmethionine was analyzed with ninhydrin-based spectrophotometric assays. The obtained results showed that the type of the formulation significantly influenced the SMM release. The highest release of SMM was observed from hydrogel and O/W emulsions. Full article

Heavy and highly viscous oils account for a significant proportion of the world’s hydrocarbon reserves. The development of these reserves in harsh climates is associated with technological risks due to paraffin deposits and equipment corrosion. Ensuring reliable transportation requires operational monitoring of the physical and chemical properties of fluids directly at the wellhead. Traditional laboratory methods such as SARA fractionation and gas chromatography (GC) are time-consuming and can yield to distortions in the sample composition during transportation. Field optical methods, such as an infrared (IR) spectroscopy are complicated by the optical heterogeneity of crude oils due to emulsified water, supramolecular associations of resins, asphaltenes, and paraffins. In this paper, ultrasonic (US) sample preparation for high-viscosity oils is justified as a method for increasing the reliability and information content of field IR spectroscopic analysis by unmasking the diagnostic extrema of absorption bands that are initially distorted by emulsified water, baseline scattering, and radiation scattering from large resin–asphaltene–paraffin aggregates. The technique is based on cavitation-induced destruction of emulsion shells and disaggregation of the structural framework without volume thermal heating. Experimental data obtained from watered high-viscosity oil has shown that 9 min of the US exposure reduces the light scattering index $I_{\mathrm{t}\mathrm{r}\mathrm{s}}$ by 92.83%, bringing the system into a less heterogeneous state. Statistical correlation analysis confirmed that emulsions and aggregates are the main scattering centers, and their destruction correlates directly with the transparency of the medium. Stability of spectral indices $I_{{\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}}_3/{\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}}_2}$, $I_{\mathrm{f}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{c}}$ and $I_{\mathrm{C}=\mathrm{O}}$ indicates the absence of chemical degradation or oxidation at the US exposure intensity of 0.12 W/mL, confirming the physical nature of the effect. The proposed method makes it possible to implement automated monitoring of the properties of high-viscosity oil directly at the wellhead, minimizing logistic costs and risks of the sample degradation. The practical significance of the proposed method is to improve the reliability and information content of wellhead monitoring by reducing optical heterogeneity and making diagnostic significant IR absorption extremes more distinguishable for further interpretation. Full article

Background: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) functions as a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist that triggers innate immunity; however, structural variations between pathogenic and commensal bacteria distinctly influence its immunostimulatory profile. This study evaluated the immunostimulatory activity of LPS derived from the commensal bacterium Hafnia alvei and explored its potential as an exploratory vaccine adjuvant. Methods: Cytokine induction was evaluated in immune cells across diverse host species, and receptor activation was assessed via reporter assays. To investigate in vivo immunogenicity and preliminary tolerability, H. alvei LPS was formulated into a prototype oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion utilizing ovalbumin (OVA) as a model antigen. Results: LPS from H. alvei strain BA2000346 exhibited immunostimulatory activity comparable to that of Escherichia coli, while inducing greater TNF-α expression than pathogenic Salmonella and Pseudomonas strains. Distinct from E. coli LPS, it demonstrated the capacity to activate both TLR4 and the mannose-recognizing Dectin-2 receptor in reporter systems. This cytokine induction was consistent across various strains and host species. Furthermore, the prototype O/W emulsion formulation enhanced antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses while demonstrating preliminary tolerability based on body-weight monitoring and visual clinical observation. Conclusions: H. alvei-derived LPS exhibits TLR4 and Dectin-2 agonist activity in vitro. When synergized with an O/W emulsion delivery system, it provides a preliminary indication of cross-species stimulatory potential and supports further investigation as a hypothesis-generating platform for future vaccine adjuvant development. Full article

Sulforaphane (SFN) is an anti-cancer isothiocyanate occurring in Brassicaceae. SFN is decomposed by heat, oxygen, and alkaline conditions. Microencapsulation is a way to improve its stability. This work presents the development of SFN microcapsules using an oil-in-water emulsion with gum arabic (GA) as the wall material for incorporation into yogurt. The process for obtaining SFN microcapsules was optimized using response surface methodology. The optimal microencapsulation conditions were 7 min of stirring, an SFN/GA mass ratio of 0.7, and a surfactant concentration of 7%, resulting in an entrapment efficiency of 90.0 ± 3.0%, the highest reported. The microcapsules had a regular spherical shape with 0.5–5.5 µm diameter and no cracks. Freezing temperature (−4 °C) preserved 100% of SFN in the microcapsule for 90 days. Yogurt added with SFN microcapsules maintained physical and microbiological quality. SFN retention in yogurt after 30 days was 57% when microencapsulated, showing a 14-fold reduction in the kinetic degradation constant compared with free SFN, confirming the efficacy of this method. Full article

In this work, we extracted silk fibroin (SF) via a tertiary solvent system (CaCl₂:Ethanol:H₂O) and then blended it with chitosan (CS) solution to construct microparticles using the water-in-oil-emulsion–diffusion method. For the mixture of SF/CS solution aqueous phase (W) was prepared at ratios of 4:0, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, and 0:4, using ethyl acetate as the oil phase (O). After the microparticles were prepared, their morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optimal preparation conditions were determined to be a 1% (w/v) aqueous phase with a volume of 1 milliliter, 100 milliliters of oil phase, and a stirring speed of 700 rpm. The average microparticle size was 50–100 micrometers. ATR−FTIR spectra showed unique functional groups of SF and CS, as well as interactions between the two polymers. The results of the thermal property study using a TGA instrument showed that SF microparticles had a higher maximum decomposition temperature (T_d,max) than chitosan, and the blended microparticles’ T_d,max increased with the proportion of SF. Most microparticles exhibited a semi-crystalline polymer structure, with SF microparticles being the most hydrophobic, followed by blended microparticles and CS, respectively. Testing for absorption capacity, the SF microparticles were more effective at absorbing used engine oil than vegetable oil and chloroform, while CS microparticles showed the highest capacity for vegetable oil. The experimental results indicated that all SF/CS blended particles played an efficiency of absorption variable by ratios of SF or CS blended. This suggested that the prepared microparticles might be useful for oil/water separation application. Full article

Oily wastewater, especially stable oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, threatens aquatic ecosystems and is difficult to treat using conventional separation technologies. Herein, a hydrophilic and underwater oleophobic chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/cellulose aerogel (CPCG) was fabricated through a facile one-pot dip-coating strategy. Cellulose aerogel (CG) was prepared by low-temperature dissolution, network reinforcement, washing, and freeze-drying, before being coated with a cross-linked CS/PVA layer using glutaraldehyde, followed by NaOH solidification. SEM revealed a honeycomb-like cellulose framework uniformly covered by the CS/PVA coating, which improved the structural integrity of the skeleton. FT-IR and TG analyses supported the successful construction of the coating and the enhanced thermal stability of CPCG. CPCG displayed a high underwater oil contact angle of 153.8°, which remained above 153° after 30 min, indicating robust underwater oil repellency. Wet CPCG retained 99% of its original height after 30 compression–recovery cycles. Owing to the stable hydration layer, interconnected channels, and improved wet-state resilience, CPCG efficiently separated light and heavy oil/water mixtures and various O/W emulsions. The separation efficiencies for different emulsions were above 99%, and CPCG retained about 93% efficiency after ten cyclohexane/water emulsion separation cycles. This work provides a green and scalable route for constructing biomass-based aerogels for oily wastewater treatment. Full article

In the present work, oil-in-water (O/W) cosmetic emulsions containing nanolignin (NL) at 0.35, 1, and 2% w/w were developed using a single multifunctional nanoadditive concept, whereby NL simultaneously acts as an antioxidant, rheology modifier, and color/sunscreen booster. Nanolignin was characterized by FTIR, DLS, and SEM, confirming its chemical structure and nanoscale particle size. The emulsions were evaluated in terms of pH and viscosity stability, rheological behavior, colorimetric CIELAB parameters, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and in vitro sun protection factor (SPF). Incorporation of NL led to a slight pH decrease relative to the blank formulation, while maintaining values within the acceptable cosmetic range (pH 4–6), and yielded emulsions with excellent pH and viscosity stability over 28 days of storage. Increasing the NL concentration modified the rheological profile and viscosity, as well as the L*, a*, and b* color coordinates, enabling tunable visual appearance and texture. All formulations exhibited high antioxidant capacity; notably, the NL_1% emulsion displayed higher radical scavenging activity than the NL_2% system, underscoring a non-linear structure–property relationship. SPF values ranged between 14.09 ± 0.875 and 22.29 ± 1.719, demonstrating that nanolignin can enhance photoprotective performance. Overall, this study highlights the potential of nanolignin as a single multifunctional nanoadditive for designing stable, antioxidant, and photoprotective cosmetic O/W emulsions with adjustable rheology and color. Full article

(1) Background: Grape pomace (GP), a major by-product of winemaking, is a sustainable source of bioactive polyphenols with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, although their instability limits cosmetic applications. This study aimed to valorize GP through a green extraction process and improve its incorporation and apparent stability in cosmetic formulations through SLN-based systems. (2) Methods: GP extracts were obtained using an eco-friendly extraction method and encapsulated using a W/O/W double emulsion-solvent evaporation technique; nanoparticles were characterized (size, polydispersity, zeta potential) and incorporated into cosmetic formulations compared with a blank and a formulation containing free extract. (3) Results: GP-SLNs exhibited suitable physicochemical properties and preserved antioxidant activity, as confirmed by DPPH and ORAC assays; SLN incorporation appeared to preliminarily improve the photostability profile of the formulation under UVA irradiation conditions; in vivo tests showed enhanced skin hydration and moderate occlusivity, while stability studies confirmed consistent color, odor, pH, and viscosity over 60 days; microbiological analyses demonstrated safety and concentration-dependent antimicrobial activity. (4) Conclusions: SLN encapsulation preserved GP bioactivity and improved formulation stability and performance, supporting its potential use in multifunctional cosmetic products. Full article

Emulsifiers play a crucial role in improving the shelf-life stability and aeration quality of recombined whipped cream (RDC). This study systematically investigated the interfacial adsorption behaviors of four types of polysorbates (Tween20, Tween40, Tween60, Tween80) at concentrations ranging from 0.025% to 0.1%, as well as their impacts on the emulsion properties, interfacial composition, stability, and whipping properties of RDC. The results revealed that all four polysorbates significantly reduced the oil/water (O/W) interfacial tension and decreased the fat globule size, with these effects intensifying as the concentration increased. At equivalent concentrations, Tween20 exhibited the strongest particle size-reducing capacity and induced the most pronounced interfacial protein displacement, yet the compromised mechanical strength of the interfacial film led to diminished emulsion stability. In contrast, the RDC sample incorporated with Tween40 displayed the optimal emulsion stability. Moreover, all four polysorbates markedly shortened the whipping time and enhanced the overrun, but simultaneously increased serum loss. Notably, Tween80, which contains unsaturated fatty acid chains, contributed to the enhancement of foam firmness at high concentrations (0.075–0.1%), which may be correlated with its balanced properties of interfacial strength and interfacial tension. These findings facilitate a deeper mechanistic understanding of the relationship between the interfacial adsorption behavior of emulsifiers and the emulsion stability and aeration performance of RDC emulsions. Full article

Background: Oral delivery of chemotherapeutic agents remains challenging due to gastrointestinal degradation, poor intestinal permeability, and extensive first-pass metabolism, which collectively limit bioavailability. Lipid-based drug delivery systems offer a promising strategy to overcome these barriers. This study aimed to develop a freeze-dried, solid-dispersible self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) using a water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) double emulsion approach for the co-encapsulation of hydrophilic (doxorubicin) and lipophilic (ellipticine) agents to enhance oral delivery. Methods: Double-emulsion SEDDS were prepared via a two-stage emulsification process to enable compartmentalized drug loading within aqueous and oil phases. The formulations were freeze-dried to improve stability and storage. Physicochemical properties were characterized using dynamic light scattering for droplet size and polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential analysis for colloidal stability, and differential scanning calorimetry for thermal behavior. Drug encapsulation efficiency was determined, and cellular uptake was evaluated in breast cancer cells using fluorescence microscopy. Results: Optimized SEDDS exhibited droplet sizes of 90–347 nm with low PDI values (0.005–0.336), indicating uniform and stable dispersions. Zeta potential values (−10.64 to 2.38 mV) supported colloidal stability, while freeze-dried formulations retained dispersion characteristics upon reconstitution over extended storage. Both drugs demonstrated high encapsulation efficiency (>97%), and thermal analysis confirmed the formation of stable amorphous systems. Fluorescence imaging revealed enhanced intracellular uptake of both agents. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that freeze-dried double-emulsion SEDDS enable efficient co-delivery of hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, improving stability and cellular uptake. This platform shows strong potential for overcoming key barriers in oral chemotherapy and provides a promising strategy for combination drug delivery. Full article

This study examines how olive oil acidity affects the stability of oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsions. Nanoemulsions were prepared using oils of 0.33, 4.67, and 12.66% w/w acidity, at 5, 10 and 15% v/v oil and 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% v/v Tween-80, and stored for 120 h at 25 °C. High-acidity oil (12.66% w/w) produced the most stable systems, with conductivity reduced by ~40–60% compared to low-acidity oils (e.g., 31–52 μS/cm vs. 80–145 μS/cm at 10–15% oil). Viscosity ranged from 1.55 mPa·s at 0.33% w/w to 1.87 mPa·s at 12.66% w/w. The optimal formulation—12.66% w/w acidity, 5% v/v oil, and 1.0% v/v Tween-80—yielded the smallest and most stable droplets, with low PDI (~0.26) and high negative ζ-potential (−36 to −44 mV). These results indicate that elevated free fatty acids and endogenous amphiphilic compounds can act as co-surfactants, enhancing interfacial stabilization and improving nanoemulsion performance. Full article

During thermal processing of the beech mushroom, water-soluble bitterness-related compounds migrate into the cooking liquor. Spermidine (SPD), one of the representative hydrophilic polyamines, has potential nutritional value, but its direct exposure may also contribute to bitterness. To improve its utilization while limiting the direct exposure of SPD, SPD recovered from beech mushroom cooking liquor was used as the core material to prepare soy protein isolate–dextran (SPI–Dex)/sodium alginate (SA) external gelation water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion and freeze-dried microcapsules. The study evaluated SPD recovery, emulsion stability, and the structural and encapsulation properties of the resulting microcapsules. The initial SPD concentration in the cooking liquor was 69.17 mg/L and increased to 520.10 mg/L after membrane filtration, low-temperature concentration, and food-grade enrichment, with an overall recovery of 72.16%. The emulsions showed a typical W/O/W multiple structure, with encapsulation efficiency (EE) and retention efficiency (RE) of 92.90–99.76% and 92.47–96.87%, respectively. SA improved emulsion structure, interfacial charge, and physical stability. After freeze-drying, the microcapsules showed a porous network structure, low water activity (0.2139–0.2279), and low moisture content (2.14–2.88%), with EE of 56.44–98.13% and RE of 70.21–89.12%. These results show that the SPI–Dex/SA system can effectively encapsulate and stabilize beech mushroom-derived SPD, and may provide a feasible strategy for limiting its direct exposure in food systems while improving the utilization of thermal processing by-products. Full article