Search Results (453)

Postbiotics—defined by the International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) as preparations of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confer a health benefit to the host—are attractive from a stability perspective compared to live probiotics. They withstand thermal processing and room-temperature transport and storage and are compatible with low-pH or low-water-activity food products. Despite the promise, the literature is scattered, with no review that integrates evidence from the development pipeline. This review fills that gap. The ISAPP 2021 definition is reviewed, including the practical difficulty resulting from the exclusion of cell-free supernatant (CFS)-based products that represent most of the experimental evidence. Fermentation-based production systems and non-thermal inactivation technologies—high-pressure processing (HPP), pulsed electric fields (PEF), ultrasound, cold plasma, and supercritical CO₂—are compared; non-thermal inactivation preserves the activity of thermolabile bacteriocins and phenolic fractions. Delivery systems such as spray-drying, alginate hydrogel microencapsulation, liposomal nanoencapsulation, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) active packaging are assessed for gastrointestinal survival and food system compatibility. Biopreservation potential is reviewed in meat, seafood, dairy, fresh produce, and fermented foods. The regulatory framework for the United States, European Union, Japan, and India is critically reviewed; “postbiotic” is not an explicitly defined term in 2025. Three priority translational bottlenecks are identified: the absence of standardized potency assays, the lack of cross-class quality benchmarks, and the unresolved conflict between heat-inactivated dairy postbiotics and the Codex Alimentarius live-culture standard. Harmonized regulations and characterization standards are critical needs for postbiotic functional food development. Full article

Pancreatic cancer remains a highly lethal malignancy, with standard therapies offering limited benefits in advanced stages; thus, novel strategies that exploit specific cancer cell vulnerabilities are urgently needed. Building on our previous findings that nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) combined with cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) produce enhanced cytotoxicity, this study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying this synergy. Pan02 pancreatic cancer cells were subjected to nsPEF, CAP, or a combination of both. We assessed cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial integrity using metabolic assays, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy. Apoptotic markers were evaluated via Western blotting and caspase activity assays. Combined nsPEF–CAP treatment significantly outperformed either modality alone in inducing cell death. Mechanistically, dual treatment triggered a surge in intracellular ROS, particularly mitochondrial superoxide, indicating severe oxidative stress. Distinct mitochondrial responses were observed: nsPEF reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, whereas CAP alone caused a slight elevation. Notably, while CAP induced apoptosis (evidenced by increased cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-3/7 activity), lethal nsPEF (100 pulses) caused cell death without triggering apoptotic signaling. However, mild nsPEF (20 pulses) significantly potentiated CAP-induced apoptosis. These findings suggest that nsPEF sensitizes cells to CAP treatment by amplifying oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. This synergistic combination represents a promising therapeutic approach for managing pancreatic cancer cells resistant to conventional therapies. Full article

Hot-pressed peanut protein isolate (HPPI), severely denatured during oil extraction, exhibits limited interfacial functionality, restricting its application in structured emulsions. In this study, high-voltage pulsed electric field (PEF) was employed to modulate the structural and interfacial properties of HPPI, a sustainable food biopolymer. PEF treatment induced conformational rearrangement, including a shift in secondary structure from α-helix to β-sheet and increased exposure of hydrophobic residues. These structural changes reduced particle size and increased surface charge, with optimal modification at 2.5 kV/cm. Consequently, interfacial activity was significantly improved, as evidenced by decreased interfacial tension and increased dilatational modulus, indicating a more elastic interfacial film was formed. The modified protein (2.5 kV/cm) effectively stabilized high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) with typical gel-like viscoelastic features, achieving optimal stability at 2.0 wt% protein concentration, 75% oil phase fraction, and NaCl concentrations below 100 mM. Overall, PEF treatment enhances the interfacial functionality of HPPI by modulating its structure and interfacial film properties, thereby facilitating the fabrication of biopolymer-based food-grade HIPEs for practical food applications. Full article

The structure, functionality, nutritional value, and sensory properties of food are significantly influenced by interactions between proteins and carbohydrates. These interactions occur through hydrogen bonding, electrostatic forces, hydrophobic interactions, and, in many cases, the covalent attachment of sugars to proteins via the Maillard reaction. High starch content in food matrices promotes interactions between proteins and starch components such as amylose and amylopectin, affecting gelation, retrogradation, and thickening. These interactions improve shelf stability and product quality. Additionally, protein–carbohydrate interactions regulate nutrient digestibility and glycemic response, playing a crucial role in the development of functional foods for diabetes and weight management. In silico studies have demonstrated that dietary fibers like pectin and cellulose can improve water retention and textural properties in processed meat products. Furthermore, processing techniques such as enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, pulsed electric fields (PEF), and low-temperature drying have been found to improve the functional properties and shelf life of food products. This review synthesizes recent findings on protein–carbohydrate interactions and highlights their potential in creating healthier, more appealing, and sustainable foods that align with modern consumer preferences. Full article

The application of pulsed electric fields (PEFs) as a pre-treatment in the meat industry offers significant potential for intensifying mass transfer processes. This study investigated the effect of PEF treatment at three energy levels (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 kJ/kg) on the efficiency of osmotic dehydration of pork loin using two ternary osmotic solutions: 5% NaCl + 40% maltose syrup and 10% NaCl + 40% maltose syrup. Key physicochemical and quality parameters were analyzed, including mass change, muscle tissue shrinkage, water-holding capacity (WHC), moisture content, salt content, and color attributes. The results demonstrated that PEF pre-treatment applied before osmotic dehydration significantly improved water-holding capacity and reduced water activity in pork. Moreover, the effect of the lowest tested energy level (0.1 kJ/kg) on dehydration-related parameters depended on the osmotic solution composition and was most evident in the 10% NaCl system after 6 h of dehydration, while this treatment also limited NaCl uptake by the tissue. A noticeable decrease in lightness (L*) and a shift toward negative b* values were also observed, which may be associated with structural condensation and reduced light scattering on the meat surface. Overall, the findings confirm that PEF pre-treatment combined with ternary osmotic solutions effectively modifies the physicochemical properties of pork, enabling the production of a stable product with distinctive quality characteristics and supporting process efficiency. The obtained results constitute a valuable contribution to the existing knowledge on the combined use of PEF and osmotic dehydration, as studies addressing this integrated approach in pork have not been published to date. Full article

This study investigated the impact of pulsed electric field (PEF) pretreatment on the characterisation and antioxidant activity (AA) of baobab seed oil. Prior to extraction, PEF treatments of 1–3 kV/cm at 40–120 pulses and specific energies (SE) of 1.60–43.2 kJ/kg were applied. No differences in oil yield (9.50–11.85%) were observed; however, PEF at a SE of 19.20 kJ/kg produced a higher yield than the control at 9.55% (p < 0.05). PEF did not alter the refractive index, specific density, acid value (AV), free fatty acids, peroxide value (PV), iodine value and fatty acid profile (p > 0.05). The PV was less than the Codex specification (≤15 mEq/kg); however, the AV (5.54–10.50 mg KOH/g) were above the recommended limit of 4 mg KOH/g. The latter is likely attributed to the initial quality of the seeds irrespective of PEF treatment. Regarding antioxidants, DPPH-RS responded to PEF (p < 0.05), with a non-linear trend across treatments. The DPPH-RS of PEF-treated oils ranged from 38.89–76.23%, compared to 49.9% for the control. This demonstrates that PEF preserved the quality of baobab oil, while its effect on AA depended on treatment intensity: lower energy levels enhanced DPPH-RS, whereas higher intensities reduced it. Full article

Almonds (Prunus dulcis; family Rosaceae) contain 18–25% protein (dry weight). They are an important plant-based protein source in dairy alternatives and other functional foods. The hard and dense nature of almond kernels and the localization of proteins with lipid bodies in the cotyledons of almond seeds make it challenging to recover protein from the seed efficiently and preserve its function. Therefore, this review evaluates the influence of pretreatments, including blanching, grinding, and defatting, on almond protein recovery and functionality, and compares conventional and emerging technologies for almond protein. Traditional protein extraction techniques such as alkaline extraction–isoelectric precipitation (AE–IEP), aqueous extraction, and salt extraction provide moderate-to-high protein yields, but harsh processing conditions denature the proteins, decrease solubility, and cause functional properties to be lost. On the other hand, emerging protein extraction technologies (including enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction (EAE) ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), high-pressure processing (HPP), and pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment) improve protein recovery, resulting in protein extract with superior functional properties and reduced allergenicity. However, their application in industry remain challenging. This review reveals that pretreatment approaches and conditions/parameters significantly influence protein extraction efficiency and the functional and structural properties of almonds, and that no single method is universally optimal. This review concludes that controlled enzymatic hydrolysis combined with physical pretreatment may be the best approach for producing high-value-added almond protein ingredients with specific techno-functional properties for use in plant-based beverages, hypoallergenic products, or nutraceuticals. More research is needed to develop an efficient, applicable, sustainable and eco-friendly almond protein extraction process, optimizing processing conditions to achieve high protein recovery while retaining desirable functional properties, and reduce operating costs. Full article

Acrylamide (AA), a food processing contaminant and potential carcinogen, poses a significant health risk in heat-processed snacks, particularly for children. This study evaluates the efficacy of three pre-treatments: pulsed electric fields (PEFs), ultrasound (USN), and soaking for AA mitigation in popcorn (Zea mays everta). Using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), AA levels were quantified across nine treatment variations. All strategies significantly reduced AA formation (p < 0.0001), with soaking (20 min) and USN (20 min) achieving the highest reductions (>82% and 82%, respectively). High-intensity PEF (3 kV cm⁻¹, 300 kJ kg⁻¹) yielded a 71% reduction, though it showed lower reproducibility due to the kernel’s dense morphology. Crucially, while soaking and USN were superior in AA leaching, durations exceeding 20 min compromised popping expansion and sensory texture due to excessive hydration. These results define the critical processing window for industry, balancing toxicological safety with product quality. Full article

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide despite advances in screening, navigational bronchoscopy, and systemic therapies. Diagnostic and therapeutic limitations persist, including uncertainty regarding intraprocedural tissue adequacy during biopsy sampling and constraints of existing ablative modalities for tumors located near critical thoracic structures. This review examines two emerging technologies: Full-Field Optical Coherence Tomography-based Dynamic Cell Imaging (DCI) and monopolar biphasic Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) ablation as complementary emerging technologies that may address these gaps. The Van Gogh™ Microscopy System (CellTivity Scientific, Inc.) utilizes DCI to enable real-time visualization of cellular metabolic activity without tissue destruction, providing functional information regarding tissue viability and microstructural morphology. The Aliya^® PEF ablation system (Galvanize Therapeutics, Inc.) delivers biphasic high-voltage electrical pulses that induce non-thermal tumor cell death while preserving extracellular matrix architecture, potentially allowing treatment near sensitive thoracic structures such as airways, vasculature, and pleura. Early preclinical studies and initial clinical experience suggest that DCI can facilitate rapid intraprocedural assessment of biopsy adequacy, while PEF ablation may provide reproducible focal tumor destruction with a favorable safety profile near critical structures. Although the current evidence base remains limited to early-phase studies and feasibility trials, the convergence of real-time biologic tissue assessment with structurally preserving ablation technologies introduces the possibility of integrating diagnostic confirmation and local therapy within a single procedural workflow. This review summarizes the mechanistic rationale, emerging evidence, and potential clinical applications of these technologies and proposes a conceptual “See and Strike” framework within these two emerging technologies. The methodological limitations, workflow considerations, and future research directions required to validate this approach are also discussed. Prospective multicenter trials and long-term oncologic outcomes will be necessary before widespread clinical adoption. Full article

Bipolar cancellation (BPC) is an efficiency-limiting phenomenon in bipolar nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) exposures, in which the second, opposite-polarity phase reduces or partially reverses the electroporation induced by the first phase. Nisin, a cationic antibiotic peptide, has been reported to interact with lipid membranes in bacterial systems and artificial bilayer models, where it may contribute to membrane destabilization and increased permeability during pulsed electric field exposure. This study investigated whether nisin may enhance the efficacy of bleomycin electrochemotherapy (ECT) in the presence of bipolar nanosecond pulses, which are typically associated with pronounced BPC effects. Pulsed electric field (PEF) parameters and drug concentrations were selected based on preliminary viability and Yo-Pro-1 uptake experiments in CLS-354 human squamous cell carcinoma cells. To evaluate the effect of nisin, cell viability and membrane permeabilization were assessed following exposure to 300 ns pulses across a range of bipolar PEF protocols, with or without nisin, while identical unipolar pulses were used for comparison. Nisin (50 µg/mL) increased membrane permeabilization across the tested range of field amplitudes (9–15 kV/cm) and burst repetition frequencies (0.1–1.66 MHz). The presence of nisin was also associated with increased efficacy of bleomycin-based ECT under both unipolar and symmetrical bipolar PEF conditions. Under the optimized parameters tested (13 kV/cm; 150 pulses of 300 ns at 1.66 MHz), bipolar nsPEFs in combination with nisin reached levels of efficacy comparable to those observed with unipolar waveforms, suggesting a potential attenuation of bipolar cancellation effects. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) therapy is a non-thermal ablation technique that induces immunogenic cell death through high-voltage, short-duration electrical pulses. This may enhance antitumor immunity by releasing intact tumor antigens and potentially generating abscopal effects. We report early outcomes in 32 patients with primary lung cancer or lung oligometastases treated with PEF at a community hospital, with a median (IQR) follow-up of 180.5 (158–207) days. Methods: This retrospective study collected demographics, cancer type, treatment response, and outcomes for patients undergoing PEF ablation. Tumor response was assessed using Sum of Longest Dimensions per RECIST 1.1 to classify progressive disease, stable disease, partial response, or complete response. Volumetric changes were additionally analyzed using RECIST 1.1 percentage thresholds applied to change in volume. Results: At initial 3-month follow-up, 26 of 32 patients demonstrated stable disease, partial response, or complete response, suggesting an 81.25% disease control rate/clinical benefit rate among this cohort. Among patients with Stage III–IV disease, 27.6% (8/29) showed radiographic evidence of a possible abscopal response. At 6 months, 24 of 32 patients remained alive and evaluable, with 62.5% (20/32) maintaining stable disease, partial response, or complete response. Conclusions: Despite patients having progressive disease on systemic therapy before PEF, early outcomes post-ablation suggest favorable local control and potential immunologic benefit. Patients with early-stage disease not receiving systemic therapy also showed excellent local response. Patients tolerated therapy very well. Clinical benefit was observed in 81.25% of patients at 3 months and 62.5% at 6 months, with radiographic evidence of possible abscopal responses in 27.6% of advanced-stage patients, supporting further exploration of the immunogenic potential of PEF demonstrated in preclinical and emerging clinical studies. Full article

The global wine industry generates approximately 20 million tonnes of organic residues annually, representing a significant environmental and management challenge. While phenolic compounds from winery by-products have been extensively studied, protein and peptide fractions remain underutilised. This review provides a systematic overview of proteins derived from major winery side streams, including grapevine leaves, stems, pomace, seeds, and wine lees, with emphasis on their characterisation and recovery. Conventional and emerging extraction strategies are evaluated, with particular attention to green technologies such as ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), pulsed electric fields (PEF), and natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) in the context of sustainable and resource-efficient processing. Enzymatic hydrolysis is discussed as a key approach for converting complex proteins into bioactive peptides with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antihypertensive properties. Potential applications in agriculture, plant protection, animal nutrition, and food systems are considered, together with the implications of the EU circular economy regulatory framework. Overall, winery by-products are highlighted as promising nitrogen-rich secondary resources, and the review outlines valorisation pathways supporting nutrient recycling, waste reduction, and the development of a more sustainable agricultural bioeconomy. Full article

Pulsed electric field (PEF) extraction studies often report yield gains but less consistently translate them into purification-relevant metrics. This study re-analyzed a locked comparability tier of 56 solvent-matched control (CTR)-PEF contrasts from five leaf-biomass studies to map total phenolic content (TPC) uplift onto first-order downstream duty proxies. The tier was not designed as a field-wide survey, and audit logs plus dependence-aware analyses were used to reduce author bias. Across the 56 pairs, median ΔTPC% was 26.7% (IQR 12.1–35.0), with positive values in 55 of 56 contrasts. The strongest gains were concentrated at low specific energy (Wspec ≤ 0.15 kJ kg⁻¹ treated biomass) and 0–25% ethanol within this dataset. PLRI translated these uplifts into first-order processed-volume scaling at fixed capture criteria, and Pareto screening identified PLRI values of 1.18–1.73, corresponding to approximately 15–42% lower processed volume under the stated assumptions. Marker-level data were limited to two matrices (three paired observations), but SSF values > 1 (1.06–2.89) were consistent with possible composition steering. No new experiments were performed, and ballast, fouling, and downstream performance were not measured; conclusions are therefore limited to the operating envelope and are intended for screening, reporting standardization, and subsequent purification validation. Full article

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan transmitted via environmentally resistant oocysts present in food and water, as well as through the consumption of meat containing infective bradyzoites. This study evaluated the inactivation of T. gondii oocysts and bradyzoites (ME-49 strain) by Pulsed Electric Field technology (PEF). Treatment efficacy was determined by mouse bioassay combining brain qPCR and indirect immunofluorescence (IFA), with complementary qPCR in Hs27 cells. The infectious dose (ID₅₀) of T. gondii was estimated at 34.6 oocysts. PEF-treated oocysts (15 kV/cm; 50 kJ/kg; 225 µs) showed a significant reduction in infectivity compared with untreated controls; accordingly, the dose required to establish infection increased to 85.3 oocysts after PEF treatment. Brain qPCR and IFA were highly correlated, whereas heart tissue was less sensitive. Bradyzoites recovered from PEF-treated meat (3.3 kV/cm; 27 kJ/kg; 1600 µs) showed a 50% infectivity reduction compared with untreated samples. In vitro assays confirmed an in vivo reduction in infectivity, indicating that cell cultures can serve as an ethical and efficient tool for preliminary viability assessment. This is the first evidence of T. gondii inactivation by PEF, highlighting its potential as a non-thermal strategy. Further studies are needed to optimize treatment parameters. Full article

The exponential growth of the fruit-processing industry generates significant quantities of organic by-products, such as peels, seeds, and pomace, which represent a rich but underutilized source of bioactive polyphenols. Valorizing these residues is critical for the transition toward a circular bioeconomy, yet conventional extraction methods remain solvent-intensive and kinetically inefficient. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of emerging green extraction technologies, specifically Ultrasound-Assisted (UAE), Microwave-Assisted (MAE), Enzyme-Assisted (EAE), Pressurized Liquid (PLE), and Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE), and Pulsed Electric Field (PEF), applied to key industrial matrices including apple, citrus, grape, olive, and coffee. Comparative data demonstrate that intensification technologies significantly outperform conventional maceration, with UAE and MAE reducing processing times by up to 90% while enhancing polyphenol yields by 20–55% through mechanisms such as acoustic cavitation and dipole rotation. Furthermore, high-pressure methods exhibit tunable selectivity, enabling the specific recovery of heat-sensitive anthocyanins and bound phenolics without the use of toxic organic solvents. The study concludes that the future of industrial valorization lies in the adoption of hybrid technologies and sequential biorefinery strategies to achieve high-purity isolates with minimal environmental impact. Full article