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There is a limited understanding of odor-taste interactions at the molecular levels about how these interactions influence flavor perception. Microfluidic technology used small volumes of fluids in the microscale channels and chambers. It has the potential to provide high throughput assays as well as manipulate organ-on-chips models to simulate the complex interaction of organs in the body. This review discusses the progress and limitation of psychophysics, electroencephalography, and functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate odor-induced taste perception. The application of organ-on-chip models of the nasal mucosa, oral cavity, and brain-gut axis with microfluidics is also discussed. Sensory results showed congruency between taste and odor affected the extent to which odor enhances taste perception. EEG and fMRI demonstrated the cross-modal interactions occur within primary sensory cortices in the brain, but the previous learning and experience are equally important. The multi-channel on the microfluidics not only provides an advantage to separate macromolecules in the sample matrix but can also offer higher throughput than conventional item-by-item detection and decreases reagents and sample consumption. It is feasible to establish in vitro sensory models to investigate interactions among flavor components with olfactory/taste receptors, brain, gut, etc. • Odor-taste interactions influence flavor perception at molecular-levels is unknown. • Synergistic effects of olfactory and taste perception can reduce salt/sugar intake. • Cross-modal interactions in the brain were proved by EEG and fMRI. • Microfluidics offer high throughput/ in vitro sensory models to study interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel separation and screening process for petroleum pitch is demonstrated. • This method employs the high pressure CO 2 extraction and anti-solvent process. • A novel GPC analysis system with dual UV and RI detectors is developed. • A novel high pressure CO 2 anti-solvent apparatus is applied in this study. • The raw pitch is successfully separated with good polyaromaticity index. Mesophase pitch, as an important chemical intermediate, belongs to highly structured pitch materials that has good property for conducting heat or electricity. Pitch can be naturally derived from petroleum or coal tar. Prior to producing the mesophase pitch materials, the removal of complex low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the original petroleum pitch is essential. In the study, we have developed a two-step process using high pressure CO 2 for separating the useful part with desired properties from the raw petroleum pitch sample. Firstly, a stepwise supercritical CO 2 (scCO 2) extraction process was employed for removing the lightest molecular weight fractions. The residual and CO 2 -insoluble fractions were further separated by a subcritical anti-solvent (SAS) process using CO 2 at 25 °C and three high pressure conditions. A modified SAS apparatus was utilized in this study. The gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis system with standard calibrations was used to determine the molecular weight of various pitch samples. The GPC system was equipped with dual Ultraviolet (UV) and Refractive Index (RI) detectors. The polydispersity index (PDI) value of the raw petroleum pitch 6 (PP6) sample was 6.9, and it was reduced to 3.8 after the scCO 2 extraction and under the appropriate SAS processing pressure. The corresponding weight average molecular weight (M w) was increased from 987 to 1493 g/mol. This study provides an effective separation and product identification method that only employs commonly used GPC analyses with dual UV and RI detectors. A useful screening method has been developed for selecting the most appropriate separation parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A rapid headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) method was optimized. • Optimized HS-SPME identified 148 volatile compounds from 3 commercial plain sufus. • The concentrations of 14 aroma impact components varied significantly among different samples. • The method allowed discriminating samples by production location and aging time. Abstract A rapid headspace solid-phase microextraction method was optimized to detect volatile components in three commercial plain sufu samples. The method was then used to qualify 14 aroma impact components that contribute significantly to the volatile profile in 12 commercial samples produced at three locations and laboratory-scale fermented samples aged for 3, 15, 30, and 90 days. Principal component analysis (PCA) was subsequently used to group the samples. The optimized method identified 148 volatile compounds in three commercial samples, and the concentrations of 14 aroma impact compounds varied significantly among commercial and laboratory samples. PCA confirmed that these samples could be discriminated according to their production location and aging time, thereby rendering this method a simple strategy for sample discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid oxidation—a major cause of food product deterioration—necessitates the use of food additives to inhibit food oxidation. Ginger extract (GE) has been reported to possess antioxidant properties. However, components isolated from ginger have been rarely reported to inhibit fat oxidation. Herein, antioxidant properties of GE and four pure components derived from it (6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, 10-gingerol, and 6-shogaol) were examined and their properties were compared to those of butylated hydroxytoluene. GE and the constituent components exhibited antioxidant properties that might be attributed to their hydroxyl groups and suitable solubilizing side chains. 6-Shogaol and 10-gingerol exhibited higher activity at 60 °C than 6-gingerol and 8-gingerol. Low antioxidant activity was detected at high temperatures (120/180 °C). Overall, GE displayed the strongest dose-dependent antioxidant properties, especially at high temperatures, thereby demonstrating that GE can be employed as a natural antioxidant in lipid-containing processed foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel solute solubility data of pyridin-4-amine (C 5 H 6 N 2 , also known as 4-aminopyridine or fampridine) in supercritical carbon dioxide are measured in this study. This compound is an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for the treatment of neurological disorder, and the Alzheimer’s disease. The solubility data at three isotherms (308.2, 318.2 and 328.2 K) are reported for pressures from 10 to 22 MPa. These solubility results are ranged from 2 × 10 −5 to 2 × 10 −4 mol fraction, and are confirmed as thermodynamically consistent. We further apply the rapid expansion of supercritical solution (RESS) process to micronize this API. At our optimal operation condition, the original API with a mean particle size of 532.3 ± 236.5 μm is micronized to 0.32 ± 0.07 μm. The RESS processed products are much more uniform and nearly spherical amorphous particles. Finally, an in vitro dissolution test illustrates an enhanced dissolution rate by 2.9 times for the micronized pyridin-4-amine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to environmental and ethical concerns, meat analogs represent an emerging trend to replace traditional animal meat. However, meat analogs lacking specific sensory properties (flavor, texture, color) would directly affect consumers' acceptance and purchasing behavior. In this review, we discussed the typical sensory characteristics of animal meat products from texture, flavor, color aspects, and sensory perception during oral processing. The related strategies were detailed to improve meat-like sensory properties for meat analogs. However, the upscaling productions of meat analogs still face many challenges (e.g.: sensory stability of plant-based meat, 3D scaffolds in cultured meat, etc.). Producing safe, low cost and sustainable meat analogs would be a hot topic in food science in the next decades. To realize these promising outcomes, reliable robust devices with automatic processing should also be considered. This review aims at providing the latest progress to improve the sensory properties of meat analogs and meet consumers' requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, thermodynamic properties of a binary mixture of ionic liquid and organic solvent as a potential solvent system in pharmaceutical industry are studied. The densities and viscosities of the binary liquid mixture of ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim][BF4]), with acetone, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and N,N -dimethylformamide (DMF), are measured at different temperatures (303.15, 313.15, 323.15 and 333.15 K) and atmospheric pressure, over the entire range of compositions. The densities are measured using a vibrating-tube digital density meter and the viscosities are measured using a capillary viscometer. The changing trends of densities and viscosities with temperature and composition are discussed. In addition, the excess molar volumes and viscosity deviations for the binary liquid mixture are calculated and then fitted to the Redlich–Kister polynomials. The optimally fitted parameters are presented and the correlation results show satisfactory agreement with the experimental data. Furthermore, the excess molar volumes of the binary mixtures are also compared and discussed by the viewpoint of molecular interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: Bone allografts have long been used as a natural substitute to repair skeletal defects. Long bone allografts come from some brain death donors; although the numbers are very few, they are often used in large segmental allograft form for tumor and joint reconstruction surgery. To promote and facilitate its clinical use, microlization of allograft is the first step. We try to use the effect of delipidation and sterilization of supercritical CO2 (SCCO2) to process allograft powder extraction. After passing through the biocompatibility test, these extracted allograft powder can be used clinically. Methods: The allograft powder is extracted by SFX 2-10 supercritical fluid extractor, which controls CO2 with pressure (P) to 400 bar and temperature (T) to 45°C. All specimens will receive bacterial culture test after extraction, both aerobically and anaerobically, in a Chinese National Laboratory Accreditation (ISO 15189) qualified laboratory. Intracutaneous irritation test, skin sensitization study, and cytotoxicity study will be performed for its biocompatibility. When all tests results achieve the ISO 10993 (Biological evaluation of medical devices) criteria, we begin to process allograft bone powder transplantation to some patients. The indications of transplantation are patients who have senile fracture. Results: After SCCO2 extraction, all specimen showed no growth of bacterial culture, both aerobically and anaerobically. All of the biocompatibility tests fulfill the ISO 10993 criteria. In this small preliminary clinical trial series, we found the extracted allograft powder may promote the fracture union without any infection or rejection of implantation. Conclusions: Through SCCO2 extraction, we can sterilize and remove the lipid components of allograft powder in a single procedure. Bone allograft powder, unlike synthetic medicinal product, is produced from processing untreated human tissue. It is necessary to inactivate and remove any harmful agents from the bone to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Screening donor’s underlying disease carefully before further processing with SCCO2 may be a simple and safe method to process human bone allograft powder. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The solid solubilities of three active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of antipyrine, 4-aminoantipyrine and 4-dimethylaminoantipyrine in supercritical carbon dioxide were measured by a semi-flow apparatus. The experiments were taken at 308.2, 318.2 and 328.2K. The pressure range was from 10 to 22MPa. These experimental results were correlated by the semi-empirical models of Mendez–Santiago–Teja and Chrastil. A solution model was also employed to fit the measured data. The average absolute relative deviation in solid solubility from semi-empirical models was 4–6%, and that from the solution model was 5–8%. The measured data satisfied the self-consistency test, and the parameters in the semi-empirical models are feasible for data extrapolation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]