In this research, a novel kind of walnut (Juglans regia L.) peptides-zinc (Zn-WPs) chelate was obtained using the mass ratio of the walnut peptides (WPs) to ZnSO4.7H2O of 3.5:1 at pH 8.5 and 50°C for 84 min, with the chelation rate of 84.5%. In comparison to walnut peptides (WPs), the contents of aspartic acid and glutamic acid in Zn-WPs chelate are approximately 27%, indicating that hydrophilic amino acids predominantly bind with walnut peptides. Following chelation with zinc ions, the ultraviolet-visible (UV) characteristic absorption peak shifted from 213 nm to 210 nm, while the average particle size of the chelate increased to 8.0 ± 0.14 µm, presenting a loose spherical structure under scanning electron microscopy. These findings suggest the formation of new substances. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed carboxyl, amino, and peptide bonds as the chelation sites of WPs and zinc. The IC50 of walnut peptides-zinc (Zn-WPs) chelate is 2.91 mg/mL, indicative of a favorable DPPH radical scavenging rate. Furthermore, Zn-WPs chelate microcapsules were produced via the spray drying method, achieving an encapsulation rate of 75.67 ± 0.83% under optimal conditions. These microcapsules demonstrate robust stability across diverse environmental conditions. This study underscores the potential of Zn-WPs and its chelate microcapsules to enhance stability and bioactivity under varying circumstances. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: In this study, a new walnut peptide-zinc (Zn-WPs) chelate was prepared. The presence of zinc ions changes the structure and properties of walnut peptides and improves its stability. The production of Zn-WPs chelate microcapsules enables Zn-WPs to have strong in vitro stability under different pH and simulated gastrointestinal digestion conditions. These results provide novel insights for developing the walnut peptides as bioactive ingredients in functional foods.

In this paper, tiger nut oil-loaded microcapsules (TNOMs) were prepared by complexation soybean protein isolate (SPI) and maltodextrin (MD) as wall materials using the spray drying method with tiger nut oil (TNO) as the core material, and its physicochemical properties and stabilities were characterized and analyzed. Under the optimum conditions, the encapsulation efficiency (EE) of TNOMs could reach up to 91.23%. Of note, after 60 days of storage at 60 °C, the peroxide value (PV) of TNO was almost 21.8 times as much as that of TNO encapsulated. Furthermore, TNOMs had good thermal stability below 200 °C and are sufficient for the general food processing needs. By fitting Arrhenius oxidation kinetics model, it was predicted that the shelf life of the product stored at 25 °C was 352.48 d. Therefore, it is promised to be applied to the development of high oleic acid food in the future. This study offered a theoretical framework for utilization and broadening the range of applications of TNO in the food industry.

Hyperlipidemia has been suggested to be associated with dysregulation of lipid metabolism and gut microbiota. The present study prepared microencapsulated rice bran (MRB) with high stability based on in situ rice bran oil embedding and investigated the effects of MRB on lipid metabolism and gut microbiota in hyperlipidemic mice induced by high-fat diet (HFD). Results showed that compared to HFD fed mice, lipid levels in serum and hepatic lipid accumulation were reduced in mice fed with MRB, which was potentially associated with the fact that MRB decreased the expression of genes related to lipogenesis (Srebp1c, Acc, Hmgcr, and Fas) and increased the expression of genes related to lipid catabolism (Hsl, Atgl) and oxidation (Acox, Cpt1, Ucp1) (p < 0.05). In gut, MRB supplementation significantly elevated the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Dubosiella and Faecalibaculum. In addition, significant increase in short-chain fatty acid was observed in mice from MRB groups when compared to HFD groups (p < 0.05). Overall, this study suggested that MRB could alleviate the hyperlipidemia induced by HFD, which was related to the alteration of lipid metabolism and gut microbiota.

Probiotics have become increasingly recognized for their potential health-promoting properties; however, the viability of probiotics can be affected by storage and transportation processes as well as the stressful environment of the human digestive tract, preventing them from achieving effective concentration (107 CFU/mL). In this regard, the embedding technology of probiotics provides an effective protection method. Dextran-based water in water (W/W) emulsion loaded with Lactobacillus plantarum was used as spinning solution to prepare Lactobacillus plantarum-loaded electrospun fibers. The structure of the W/W emulsion and the electrospun fibers was charactered. Lactobacillus plantarum were uniformly embedded in the internal phase of the W/W emulsion and the loading efficiency was 9.70 ± 0.40 log CFU/g. After 240 min digestion in the gastrointestinal tract, and temperature treatment in 65 °C and 72 °C, the loaded probiotics maintained high activity. Even after 5 days of storage in room temperature and 4 °C, the loaded probiotic activity levels remained high, with counts >8 log CFU/g. These results suggest that probiotics encapsulated by emulsion electrospinning could be potentially delivered in a novel food delivery system used in the future food industry.

Hepatocyte transplantation is an effective treatment for end-stage liver disease. However, due to the limited supply of human hepatocytes, porcine hepatocytes have garnered attention as a potential alternative source. Nonetheless, traditional primary porcine hepatocytes exhibit certain limitations in function maintenance and in vitro proliferation. This study has discovered that by using histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), primary porcine hepatocytes can be successfully reprogrammed into liver progenitor cells with high proliferative potential. This method enables porcine hepatocytes to proliferate over an extended period in vitro and exhibit increased susceptibility in lentivirus-mediated gene modification. These liver progenitor cells can readily differentiate into mature hepatocytes and, upon microencapsulation transplantation into mice with acute liver failure, significantly improve the survival rate. This research provides new possibilities for the application of porcine hepatocytes in the treatment of end-stage liver disease.

Gum arabic finds extensive application and typically undergoes sterilization prior to utilization in the food industry. This study explored the impact of steam sterilization temperature and duration on the physicochemical and emulsification characteristics of gum arabic, accompanied by proposed mechanisms elucidating observed effects. The results showed that when gum arabic was treated with high temperature sterilization (110 °C ∼ 140 °C), the emulsion prepared turned unstable. The interfacial tension decreased from 8.26 mN/m to 6.77 mN/m after sterilization, while the elastic modulus decreased from 23.65 mN/m to 16.16 mN/m. Moreover, the circular dichroic chromatographic results indicated that the arabinogalactan protein (AGP) structure of gum arabic was more relaxed after high temperature treatment with β-sheets content decreased from 36.2 % to 29.8 % and random coil content increased from 41.3 % to 51.8 %. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) results demonstrated that emulsion surface film thickness and toughness decreased after sterilization treatment of gum arabic. The study indicates that high temperature sterilization may change protein structure in gum arabic and reduce the stability of prepared emulsions.

This research focuses on the challenges of efficiently constructing drug carriers and evaluating their dynamic release in vitro simulation. By using pickering emulsion and layer-by-layer self-assembly methods. The microcapsules had tea tree oil as the core material, SiO2 nanoparticles as stabilizers, and chitosan and hyaluronic acid as shell materials. The microencapsulation mechanism, as well as the effects of core-shell mass ratio and stirring, were discussed. Specifically, a dynamic circulation simulation microchannel system was designed and manufactured based on 3D printing technology. In this simulation system, the release rate of microcapsules is accelerated and the trend changes, with its behavior aligning with the Boltzmann model. The study demonstrates the advantages of self-assembled inorganic-organic drug-loaded microcapsules in terms of controllable fabrication and ease of functional modification, and shows the potential of 3D printed cyclic microchannel systems in terms of operability and simulation fidelity in drug and physiological analysis.

This work aimed to enhance hemp seed oil encapsulation within a hemp seed protein-alginate complex by optimizing parameters in the solution-enhanced dispersion process, employing supercritical carbon dioxide (SEDS) without reliance on organic solvents or elevated temperatures. By response surface methodology (RSM), the microencapsulation efficacy (MEE), particle size (PS) and peroxide value (PV) was determined with respect to three parameters; temperature (°C), pressure (bar) and feed flow rate (mL/min). The optimum conditions were predicted at temperature (40 °C), pressure (150 bar) and feed flow rate (2 mL/min) to offer an MEE of 89.47%, PS of 7.81 μm and PV of 2.91 (meq/kg oil). In addition, the SEDS method was compared with spray- and freeze-drying for encapsulating hemp seed oil. The findings demonstrated SEDS\' superiority, exhibiting exceptional attributes such as the highest MEE, smallest PS and the production of spherical, smooth microcapsules. This highlights its effectiveness in comparison to spray- and freeze-drying methods.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum M5 and Goji Berry extract were co-microencapsulated to maintain the activity of cells during gastrointestinal digestion, and the mechanism by which they could maintain high activity was investigated. The results showed that the microcapsules with 3% Goji Berry extract(A-GE-3) had the largest encapsulation efficiency(EE) of 92.41 ± 0.58%. SEM showed that the structure of A-GE-3 microcapsules were smoother and denser. Cell viability in A-GE-3 microcapsules remained at 7.17 log10 CFU/g after gastrointestinal digestion. Meanwhile, during the gastrointestinal digestion with 3% Goji Berry extract, cell membrane damage detected by fluorescent probes propidium iodide(PI) and 1.1-N-phenylnaphthylamine(NPN) was significantly reduced; the contents of arginine, glutamic acid and oleic acid in cell membrane were increased, which helped to maintain the dynamic balance of intracellular pH and regulated cell membrane fluidity in response to gastrointestinal environment. This study demonstrated the potential of Goji Berry extract as a probiotic protector in gastrointestinal digestion.

Liver failure represents a critical medical condition with a traditionally grim prognosis, where treatment options have been notably limited. Historically, liver transplantation has stood as the sole definitive cure, yet the stark disparity between the limited availability of liver donations and the high demand for such organs has significantly hampered its feasibility. This discrepancy has necessitated the exploration of hepatocyte transplantation as a temporary, supportive intervention. In light of this, our review delves into the burgeoning field of hepatocyte transplantation, with a focus on the latest advancements in maintaining hepatocyte function, co-microencapsulation techniques, xenogeneic hepatocyte transplantation, and the selection of materials for microencapsulation. Our examination of hepatocyte microencapsulation research highlights that, to date, most studies have been conducted in vitro or using liver failure mouse models, with a notable paucity of experiments on larger mammals. The functionality of microencapsulated hepatocytes is primarily inferred through indirect measures such as urea and albumin production and the rate of ammonia clearance. Furthermore, research on the mechanisms underlying hepatocyte co-microencapsulation remains limited, and the practicality of xenogeneic hepatocyte transplantation requires further validation. The potential of hepatocyte microencapsulation extends beyond the current scope of application, suggesting a promising horizon for liver failure treatment modalities. Innovations in encapsulation materials and techniques aim to enhance cell viability and function, indicating a need for comprehensive studies that bridge the gap between small-scale laboratory success and clinical applicability. Moreover, the integration of bioengineering and regenerative medicine offers novel pathways to refine hepatocyte transplantation, potentially overcoming the challenges of immune rejection and ensuring the long-term functionality of transplanted cells. In conclusion, while hepatocyte microencapsulation and transplantation herald a new era in liver failure therapy, significant strides must be made to translate these experimental approaches into viable clinical solutions. Future research should aim to expand the experimental models to include larger mammals, thereby providing a clearer understanding of the clinical potential of these therapies. Additionally, a deeper exploration into the mechanisms of cell survival and function within microcapsules, alongside the development of innovative encapsulation materials, will be critical in advancing the field and offering new hope to patients with liver failure.