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Cathodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of a luminol (or its analogues)-dissolved oxygen (O2) system is an ideal alternative to ECL of the traditional luminol–hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) system, which can efficiently avoid the self-decomposition of H2O2 at room temperature. However, the mechanism for the generation of cathodic ECL by the luminol (or its analogues)–O2 system is still ambiguous. Herein, we report the study of cathodic ECL generation by the L012–O2 system at a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The types of reactive oxygen species (ROS) involved generated during ECL reactions were verified. A possible reaction mechanism for the system was proposed and the rate constants of related reactions were estimated. Furthermore, several intermediates of L012 involved in the proposed pathways were validated by electrochemistry-coupled mass spectrometry. Finally, the cathodic ECL system was successfully used for measuring the antioxidant capacity of commercial juice with Trolox as a standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term consumption of high-sodium diets poses a significant threat to human health, with current global sodium intake vastly exceeding the WHO's recommended limit of 2 g/day. The escalating consumer demand for low-sodium foods has spurred research efforts aimed at reducing sodium content in food products. Hollow salt emerges as a promising method for sodium reduction, particularly in low-moisture foods. This review offers an overview of sodium reduction strategies in foods, elucidating the formation mechanism and influence factors of hollow salt in the context of spray drying. Additionally, it discusses the applications and challenges of incorporating hollow salt in food products. Hollow salt particles boast an expansive specific surface area that enhances the availability of taste receptors for sodium, thereby amplifying the perception of saltiness. However, preparation of hollow salt in food industry demands a certain technical ability. Spray drying stands out as an efficient method for hollow salt preparation. Formation of the hollow structure significantly hinges on the surface activity of precursor components, achievable within specific process parameters encompassing droplet size of feedings (solution/emulsion), solid concentration, atomization, drying temperature, feeding rate, and aspirator rate during spray drying. Emulsion-based hollow salt exhibits notable inclusivity and holds promise in the development of diverse sodium-reduced food products through integration with other strategies, though this area necessitates further research. • Hollow salt's ample surface area boosts human taste perception of sodium. • Hollow salt is effectively prepared by controlling process conditions. • Hollow salt has an enormous potential for reducing salt in the food industry. • Hollow salt can be combined with diverse strategies to adapt to complex food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBioengineered strategies enable gut chips to faithfully replicate essential features of intestinal microsystems, encompassing geometric properties, peristalsis, intraluminal fluid flow, oxygen gradients, and the microbiome. This emerging technique serves as a powerful tool for nutrition studies by emulating the absorption and distribution processes in a manner highly relevant to human physiology. It offers unprecedented accessibility for investigating the mechanisms governing nutrition metabolism. While the application of gut-on-chip models in disease modeling and drug screening has been extensively explored, their potential in dietary nutrition research remains relatively unexplored. This comprehensive review provides an overview of the different approaches employed in constructing gut-on-chip platforms using diverse cell sources and niche mimics. Furthermore, it explores the applications and prospects of gut-on-chips in nutrition-related investigations, with a specific focus on carotenoid transport, absorption, and metabolism. Lastly, this review discusses the future development trajectory of this groundbreaking technology paradigm, highlighting its broad applicability in the field of food technology. By harnessing the capabilities of these state-of-the-art techniques within gut chip platforms, researchers can establish a robust scientific foundation for unraveling the intricate mechanisms that govern the behavior and functional properties of carotenoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Instant sea cucumber has become one popular product due to its convenience to eat, favourable taste and minimal loss of nutrients and bioactive components. However, there was rare information about the water dynamic of instant sea cucumber subjected to multiple freeze-thaw cycles. In this study, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) and magnetic resonance image (MRI) were employed to investigate the effect of freeze-thaw cycles on water status of instant sea cucumber. Four water populations corresponding to strongly bound water, weakly bound water, immobile water and free water were observed in instant sea cucumber. With the increase of freeze-thaw cycles, the transverse relaxation time of immobile and free water increased, while the peak area of free water decreased significantly. MRI enabled the visualization of water migration of instant sea cucumber during multiple freeze-thaw cycles. Multiple freeze-thaw cycles also led to significant changes of other quality properties including thawing loss, WHC, color parameters, texture and protein content, and enlarge the interspace between fiber network in microstructure. Good correlations between T 22 , A 22 , A 23 and thaw loss, WHC, L *, hardness and collagen content (0.873 ≤ r ≤ 0.958) revealed LF-NMR may be an effective real-time monitoring method of these physicochemical parameters as a non-destructive technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots with both one- and two-photon fluorescence have drawn great attention for biomedical imaging. Herein, nitrogen-doped carbon dots were facilely developed by one-pot hydrothermal method using bovine serum albumin and formic acid as carbon sources. They are highly water-soluble with strong fluorescence when excited with ultraviolet or near infrared light. The carbon dots have a diameter of ∼8.32 nm and can emit strong two-photon induced fluorescence upon excitation at 750 nm with a femtosecond laser. X-ray photoelectron spectrometer analysis revealed that the carbon dots contained three components, C, N and O, corresponding to the peak at 285, 398 and 532 eV, respectively. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that there are carboxyl and carboxylic groups on the surface, which allowed further linking of functional molecules. pH stability study demonstrated that the carbon dots are able to be used in a wide range of pH values. The fluorescence mechanism is also discussed in this study. Importantly, these carbon dots are biocompatible and highly photostable, which can be directly applied for both one- and two-photon living cell imaging. After proper surface functionalization with TAT peptide, they can be used as fluorescent probes for live cell nuclear-targeted imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Food contamination and spoilage is a worldwide concern considering its adverse effect on public health and food security. Real time monitoring food quality can reduce the risk of foodborne disease to consumers. Particularly, the emergence of multi-emitter luminescent metal-organic frameworks (LMOFs) as ratiometric sensory materials has provided the possibility for food quality and safety detection with high sensitivity and selectivity taking advantage of specific host-guest interactions, pre-concentrating and molecule-sieving effects of MOFs. Furthermore, the excellent sensing performance of multi-emitter MOF-based ratiometric sensors including self-calibration, multi-dimensional recognition and visual signal readout is able to meet the increasing rigor requirement of food safety evaluation. Multi-emitter MOF-based ratiometric sensors have become the focus of food safety detection. This review focuses on design strategies for different multiple emission sources assembly to construct multi-emitter MOFs materials based on at least two emitting centers. The design strategies for creating multi-emitter MOFs can be mainly classified into three categories: (1) multiple emission building blocks assembly in a single MOF phase; (2) single non-luminescent MOF or LMOF phase as a matrix for chromophore guest(s); (3) heterostructured hybrids of LMOF with other luminescent materials. In addition, the sensing signal output modes of multi-emitter MOF-based ratiometric sensors have critically discussed. Next, we highlight the recent progress for the development of multi-emitter MOF as ratiometric sensors in food contamination and spoilage detection. Their future improvement and advancing direction potential for their practical application is finally discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To synthesize and evaluate a peptide targeted nanoglobular dual modal imaging agent specific to a cancer biomarker in tumor stroma for MRI and fluorescence visualization of prostate tumor in image-guided surgery. Methods: A peptide (CGLIIQKNEC, CLT1) targeted generation 2 nanoglobular (polylysine dendrimer with a silsesquioxane core) dual modal imaging agent, CLT1-G2-(Gd-DOTA-MA)-Cy5, was synthesized by stepwise conjugation of Gd-DOTA-MA, Cy5 and peptide to the dendrimer. Contrast enhanced MR imaging of the targeted dual imaging agent was evaluated on a Bruker 7T animal scanner with male athymic nude mice bearing orthotopic PC3-GFP prostate tumor. Fluorescence tumor imaging of the agent was carried out on a Maestro fluorescence imaging system. Results: The targeted agent CLT1-G2-(Gd-DOTA-MA)-Cy5 produced greater contrast enhancement in the tumor tissue than the control agent KAREC-G2-(Gd-DOTA-MA)-Cy5 at a dose of 30 μmol-Gd/kg in the MR images of the tumor bearing mice. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of CLT1-G2-(Gd-DOTA-MA)-Cy5 in the tumor tissue was approximately 2 fold of that of the control agent in the first 15 min post-injection. The targeted agent also resulted in bright fluorescence signals in the tumor tissue. Conclusion: The CLT1 peptide targeted nanoglobular dual-imaging agent CLT1-G2-(Gd-DOTA-MA)-Cy5 has a potential for MRI and fluorescence visualization of prostate tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Carbon dots (C-dots) are a class of novel fluorescent nanomaterials, which have drawn great attention for their potential applications in bio-nanotechnology. Multicolor C-dots have been synthesized by chemical nitric acid oxidation using the reproducible plant soot as raw material. TEM analysis reveals that the prepared C-dots have an average size of 3.1nm. The C-dots are well dispersed in aqueous solution and are strongly fluorescent under the irradiation of ultra-violet light. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterization demonstrates that the O/C atomic ratio for C-dots change to from 0.207 to 0.436 due to the chemical oxidation process. The photo bleaching experiment reveals that the C-dots show excellent photostability as compared with the conventional organic dyes, fluorescein and rhodamine B. The fluorescence intensity of the C-dots did not change significantly in the pH range of 3–10. To further enhance the fluorescence quantum yield, the C-dots were surface modified with four types of passivation ligands, 4,7,10-trioxa-1,13-tridecanediamine (TTDDA), poly-L-lysine (PLL), cysteine and chitosan and the fluorescence quantum yields of the TTDDA, PLL, cysteine and chitosan passivated C-dots were improved 1.53-, 5.94-, 2.00- and 3.68-fold, respectively. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were employed to characterize the surface groups of the C-dots. The bio-application of the C-dots as fluorescent bio-probes was evaluated in cell imaging and ex vivo fish imaging, which suggests that the C-dots may have potential applications in biolabeling and bioimaging. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Multicolor carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) were prepared, characterized and developed as fluorescent probes for cell imaging. The fluorescent CNPs were prepared with a facile hydrothermal oxidation route by using linear polysaccharide cellulose and cyclic oligosaccharide cyclodextrin as carbon sources. The characterizations by transmission electron microscopy show that the prepared cellulose-CNPs and cyclodextrin-CNPs are spherical, well-dispersed in water with average diameters of 100nm and 76nm, respectively. Under the excitation of UV light, the CNPs are strongly luminescent with an excitation-dependent emission behavior and bathochromic emission properties. The fluorometric methods show that the cellulose-CNPs and cyclodextrin-CNPs are strongly fluorescent with fluorescence quantum yield of 7.47% and 4.49%, respectively. The multicolor CNPs have excellent photostability toward photobleaching. Strong near-infrared fluorescence of the carbon nanoparticles was observed with a 632.8nm excitation wavelength laser. The oxidative metal ions like Hg(II), Cu(II) and Fe(III) show an quench effect on the fluorescence intensity of the CNPs. The multicolor CNPs were successfully used as fluorescent probes for mouse melanoma cells imaging. The results indicate that the multicolor CNPs derived from cellulose and cyclodextrin may have a great potential for the applications in bioimaging. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To study the effectiveness of a peptide targeted nanoglobular Gd-DOTA complexes for MR molecular imaging of prostate cancer in a mouse orthotopic PC-3 prostate cancer model. Methods: A CLT1 (CGLIIQKNEC) peptide-targeted generation 2 nanoglobular Gd-DOTA monoamide conjugate [CLT1-G2-(Gd-DOTA)] was used for imaging fibrin-fibronectin complexes in prostate tumor using a non-specific peptide KAREC modified conjugate, KAREC-G2-(Gd-DOTA) as a control. Cy5 conjugates of CLT1 and KAREC were synthesized for binding studies. Orthotopic PC-3 prostate tumors were established in the prostate of athymic male nude mice. MRI study was performed on a Bruker 7T small animal MRI system. Results: CLT1 peptide showed specific binding in the prostate tumor with no binding in normal tissues. The control peptide had little binding in normal and tumor tissues. CLT1-G2-(Gd-DOTA) resulted in stronger contrast enhancement in tumor tissue than KAREC-G2-(Gd-DOTA). CLT1-G2-(Gd-DOTA) generated ~100% increase in contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in the tumor compared to precontrast CNR at 1 min post-injection, while KAREC-G2-(Gd-DOTA) resulted in 8% increase. Conclusion: CLT1-G2-(Gd-DOTA) is a promising molecular MRI contrast agent for fibrin-fibronectin complexes in tumor stroma. It has potential for diagnosis and assessing prognosis of malignant tumors with MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective imaging of a cancer molecular biomarker is critical for accurate cancer diagnosis and prognosis. CLT1 peptide was observed to specifically bind to the fibrin−fibronectin complexes presented in tumor extracellular matrix. In this study, we synthesized and evaluated CLT1 peptide-targeted nanoglobular Gd-DOTA monoamide conjugates for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the fibrin−fibronectin complexes in tumor. The targeted nanoglobular contrast agents were prepared by conjugating peptide CLT1 to G2 and G3 nanoglobule (lysine dendrimers with a cubic silsesquioxane core) Gd-DOTA monoamide conjugates via click chemistry. The T1 relaxivities of peptide-targeted G2 and G3 nanoglobules were 7.92 and 8.20 mM−1 s−1 at 3T, respectively. Approximately 2 peptides and 25 Gd-DOTA chelates were conjugated onto the surface of 32 amine groups of G2 nanoglobule, and 3 peptides and 43 Gd-DOTA chelates onto the surface of 64 amine groups of G3 nanoglobule. The peptide-targeted nanoglobular contrast agents showed greater contrast enhancement than the corresponding nontargeted agents in tumor at a dose of 0.03 mmol-Gd/kg in female athymic mice bearing MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma xenografts. The targeted MRI contrast agents have a potential for specific cancer molecular imaging with MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A terbium(III) chelate fluorescence probe for detection of singlet oxygen (1O2) in aqueous media, N,N,N 1 ,N 1 -[2,6-bis(3′-aminomethyl-1′-pyrazolyl)-4-(9″-anthryl)pyridine] tetrakis (acetate)–Tb3+ (PATA-Tb3+), was designed and synthesized. The new chelate is highly water soluble, is almost nonfluorescent, and can specifically react with 1O2 to yield a strongly fluorescent chelate, the endoperoxide of PATA-Tb3+, accompanied by a remarkable increase in the fluorescence quantum yield from 0.46 to 10.5%. The long fluorescence lifetime of the endoperoxide (2.76 ms) allows the probe to be used favorably for time-resolved fluorescence detection of 1O2. The studies of fluorescence property and reaction specificity indicate that the new probe is highly sensitive and selective for 1O2. The probe was used for quantitative detection of 1O2 generated from a MoO4 2−–H2O2 system to give a detection limit of 10.8 nM. In addition, the good applicability of the probe was demonstrated by the real-time monitoring of the kinetic process of 1O2 generation in a horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation system of indole-3-acetic acid in a weakly acidic buffer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Inorganic-organic hybrid titania-based nanoparticles covalently bound to a fluorescent Eu3+ chelate of 4,4′-bis(1′′,1′′,1′′,2′′,2′′,3′′,3′′-heptafluoro-4′′,6′′-hexanedion-6′′-yl)chlorosulfo-o–terphenyl (BHHCT-Eu3+) were synthesized by a sol–gel technique. A conjugate of BHHCT with 3-[2-(2-aminoethylamino) ethylamino]propyl-trimethoxysilane (APTS) was used as a precursor for the nanoparticle preparation and monodisperse nanoparticles consisting of titania network and silica sub-network covalently bound to the Eu3+ chelate were prepared by the copolymerization of APTS–BHHCT conjugate, titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) and free APTS in EuCl3 water–alcohol solution. The effects of reaction conditions on size and fluorescence lifetime of the nanoparticles were investigated. The characterizations by transmission electron microscopy and fluorometric methods indicate that the nanoparticles are near spherical and strongly fluorescent having a fluorescence quantum yield of 11.6% and a long fluorescence lifetime of ∼0.4ms. The direct-introduced amino groups on the nanoparticle''s surface by using free APTS in nanoparticle preparation facilitated the biolabeling process of the nanoparticles. The nanoparticle-labeled streptavidin (SA) was prepared and used in a sandwich-type time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR–FIA) of human prostate-specific antigen (PSA) by using a 96-well microtiter plate as the solid phase carrier. The method gives a detection limit of 66pg/ml for the PSA assay. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Silica-based functionalized terbium fluorescent nanoparticles were prepared, characterized and developed as a fluorescence probe for antibody labeling and time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay. The nanoparticles were prepared in a water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion containing a strongly fluorescent Tb3+ chelate, N,N,N1,N1-[2,6-bis(3′-aminomethyl-1′-pyrazolyl)phenylpyridine] tetrakis(acetate)-Tb3+ (BPTA-Tb3+), Triton X-100, octanol, and cyclohexane by controlling copolymerization of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and 3-[2-(2-aminoethylamino)ethylamino]propyl-trimethoxysilane (AEPS) with ammonia water. The characterizations by transmission electron microscopy and fluorometric methods show that the nanoparticles are spherical and uniform in size, 45 ± 3 nm in diameter, strongly fluorescent with fluorescence quantum yield of 10% and a long fluorescence lifetime of 2.0 ms. The amino groups directly introduced to the nanoparticle’s surface by using AEPS in the preparation made the surface modification and bioconjugation of the nanoparticles easier. The nanoparticle-labeled anti-human α-fetoprotein antibody was prepared and used for time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay of α-fetoprotein (AFP) in human serum samples. The assay response is linear from 0.10 ng ml-1 to about 100 ng ml-1 with the detection limit of 0.10 ng ml-1. The coefficient variations (CVs) of the method are less than 9.0%, and the recoveries are in the range of 84–98% for human serum sample measurements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two new polyacid derivative ligands of thienyl-substituted terpyridine analogues, N,N,N1,N1-[4′-(2‴-thienyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine-6,6″-diyl]bis(methylenenitrilo) tetrakis(acetic acid) (TTTA) and N,N,N1,N1-[2,6-bis(3′-aminomethyl-1′-pyrazolyl)-4-(2″-thienyl)pyridine] tetrakis(acetic acid) (BTTA), were synthesized, and the luminescence properties of their Eu3+ and Tb3+ chelates were investigated. The Eu3+chelates of the two ligands are strongly luminescent having luminescence quantum yields of 0.150 (TTTA-Eu3+) and 0.114 (BTTA-Eu3+), and lifetimes of 1.284 ms (TTTA-Eu3+) and 1.352 ms (BTTA-Eu3+), whereas their Tb3+ chelates are weakly luminescent. The TTTA-Eu3+ chelate was used for streptavidin (SA) labeling, and the labeled SA was used for time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay of insulin in human sera. The method gives the detection limits of 33 pg ml−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Microfluidic intestine-on-a-chip enables novel means of emulating human intestinal pathophysiology in vitro, which can potentially reduce animal testing and substitute simple 2D culture system. Though a great deal of work has been done in the development of microfluidic platforms for intestinal disease modeling and drug screening, potential investigation of the effect of bioactive food compounds on intestinal inflammation remains largely unexplored. In this review, different biomaterials and chip designs have been explored in the fabrication of intestine-on-a-chip. Other key parameters must be carefully controlled and selected, including shear stress, cell type and cell co-culture spatial configuration, etc. Appropriate techniques to quantify the barrier integrity including trans-epithelial electric resistance, specific tight junction markers and permeability measurements should be standardized and compared with in vivo data. Integration of the gut microbiome and the provision of intestinal-specific environment are the key parameters to realize the in vivo intestinal model simulation and accelerate the screening efficiency of bioactive food compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The controlled release of antioxidant substances at the intestinal oxidative damage site is crucial for alleviating intestine-related diseases. Herein, the novel ROS-responsive carrier was synthesized through simple amidation reaction between carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and methionine (Met), a natural organic compound containing ROS-responsive linkages (thioether). Initially, astaxanthin (AXT) nanoparticles (AXT 2 @CMT) with excellent stability and drug loading capacity (39.68 ± 0.23 μg/mL) were prepared by optimizing various reaction conditions. In the simulated high-concentration ROS environment of the intestine, CMT achieved a transition from hydrophobic groups (thioether) into hydrophilic groups (sulfone), which was conducive to the controlled release of AXT. In vitro cell experiments revealed that AXT 2 @CMT could effectively alleviate the oxidative damage in intestinal epithelioid cell line No. 6 (IEC-6 cell) caused by H 2 O 2. This study achieved a straightforward preparation of ROS-responsive nanocarrier through food ingredients, offering a theoretical foundation for the controlled release of AXT at the intestinal oxidative damage site. • Novel ROS-responsive carrier was synthesized by simple amidation reaction. • ROS-responsive behavior was realized by thioether in methionine. • The thioether in the carrier could be oxidized to sulfone by the ROS in the intestine. • The controlled release of astaxanthin was achieved under a high concentration of ROS. • The nanoparticles could effectively alleviate the oxidative damage in IEC-6 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulating the interactions between biopolymer matrix and nanofillers highly determined the mechanical performances of composite packaging materials. Herein, we innovatively proposed a sort of eco-friendly and mechanically robust carboxymethyl cellulose/graphene oxide/tannic acid/polyetherimide (CMC/GO/TA/PEI, CGTP) composite by employing PEI as cross-linker and TA as proton donor. The amidation reaction between -NH 2 and -COOH chemically connected the CMC/GO, CMC/CMC and GO/GO and the physical interaction (e.g. hydrogen bonds and molecular entanglements) was beneficial to form dense structures. The chemical/physical bonds among polymers and nanofillers contributed to dissipate the external energy. The toughness was effectively reinforced from 1.68 MJ/m3 for CGTP 0 to 4.63 MJ/m3 for CGTP 1.0. Furthermore, the CGTP 1.0 composite film also delivered improved gas (moisture and oxygen) barriers, UV protection and antimicrobial features. Originating from these merits, the shelf life of fresh fruits (e.g. strawberries, blueberries and cherry tomatoes) was prolonged at least 5 days under ambient conditions when the packaging box was covered by the fabricated CGTP 1.0 film. Our findings not only provided a facial strategy to reinforce the interactions between biopolymer matrix and nanofillers, but also boosted the development of eco-friendly packaging materials with robust structures in the area of food packaging. • Structurally robust CMC-based fruit packaging film was fabricated. • The toughness of optimized CGTP 1.0 film was improved 175.59 % compared to CGTP 0 film. • Fabricated packaging films displayed excellent biodegradability in natural environment. • The shelf life of fresh fruits can be extended under ambient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Zn2+ nanocarriers were synthesized using Auricularia auricula fermentation broth. • The AFNPs-Zn2+ had nanoscale size, good hydrophilicity and antioxidant activity. • The AFNPs-Zn2+ had good biocompatibility without visible cytotoxicity and hemolysis. • The AFNPs-Zn2+ could alleviate cell damage caused by zinc deficiency. Nanoparticles (NPs) possessing nanoscale dimensions and remarkable antioxidant activity were synthesized via a green hydrothermal method utilizing Auricularia auricula fermentation broth, referred to as AFNPs. The functional groups on the surface of the AFNPs significantly contributed to the formation of AFNPs-Zn2+. The AFNPs-Zn2+ appeared a zinc retention rate of 40.80 % after gastrointestinal digestion. When compared to typical zinc supplements, AFNPs-Zn2+ did not exhibit visible cytotoxicity or hemolysis. Furthermore, AFNPs-Zn2+ demonstrated the ability to mitigate cell damage resulting from zinc deficiency. In vivo experiments showed that AFNPs-Zn2+ were mainly observed in the stomach, intestine, kidney, and testis after oral administration. In vivo distribution experiments indicated predominant presence of AFNPs-Zn2+ in the stomach, intestine, kidney, and testis following oral administration. This study highlights the potential for Auricularia auricula NPs to serve as the efficient, stable, and safe nanocarriers for Zn2+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magnesium-doped gallium nitride nanocrystal (GaN:Mg NC)-based electroluminescence (EL) device is reported with a hybrid organic/inorganic structure of indium tin oxide (ITO)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly (styrenesulphonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS)/GaN:Mg NCs/Ca/Al. The conducting polymer, PEDOT:PSS layer, was used to enhance hole injection from the ITO electrode. Current-voltage characteristics of the GaN:Mg nanocrystal-based EL device show a diodelike behavior. White electroluminescence was observed from the device and a voltage-dependent phenomenon of EL emission spectra was found and investigated. A good correlation between the EL and photoluminescence emission peaks suggests that electron-hole recombination indeed occur in the GaN:Mg nanocrystals layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides have become an integral part of modern agricultural practices, but their widespread use poses a significant threat to human health. As such, there is a pressing need to develop effective methods for detecting pesticides in food and environmental samples. Traditional chromatography methods and common rapid detection methods cannot satisfy accuracy, portability, long storage time, and solution stability at the same time. In recent years, photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing technology has gained attention as a promising approach for detecting various pesticides due to its salient advantages, including high sensitivity, low cost, simple operation, fast response, and easy miniaturization, thus becoming a competitive candidate for real-time and on-site monitoring of pesticide levels. This review provides an overview of the recent advancements in PEC methods for pesticide detection and their applications in ensuring food and environmental safety, with a focus on the categories of photoactive materials, from single semiconductor to semiconductor–semiconductor heterojunction, and signaling mechanisms of PEC sensing platforms, including oxidation of pesticides, steric hindrance, generation/decrease in sacrificial agents, and introduction/release of photoactive materials. Additionally, this review will offer insights into future prospects and confrontations, thereby contributing novel perspectives to this evolving domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public health events caused by foodborne virus cause huge economic and social burden to the affected countries. Foodborne virus detection in food is a very arduous task due to its trace amounts and interference by complex food matrix components. Conventional techniques face a number of drawbacks, such as time-consuming, laborious and often require skilled technicians. This represents an interesting challenge for microfluidic technologies, from on-chip sample separation as well as for integrity perspective. The focus of this review is to highlight the integrated microfluidic system for nucleic acid-based foodborne virus analysis, including sample preparation, on-chip nucleic acid amplification, on-chip detection, system integration and automation. Finally, challenges and future perspectives of practical application of this technology were further discussed. Microfluidic technology has provided a new platform for rapid and effective detection of foodborne virus. The low sample/reagent volume consumption and the integration of detection make microfluidic technology an ideal choice for on-site use and more convenience to food safety supervision department. • Microfluidic strategies for rapid separation of foodborne virus are elucidated. • Fully integrating virus detection on the microfluidic platforms are illustrated. • Current challenges to practical concern for on-site virus detection are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne illnesses caused by food allergens are common public health problems and have become an important source of medical burden. Allergens detection in food is a very difficult task because they usually present in trace amounts and are interfered by compounds of the constituting food matrix. Traditional methods for allergen detection can be mainly divided into three large groups: immunoassay, nucleic acid analysis and mass spectrometry. However, these methods are time-consuming, laborious and often require skilled technicians. Thus, it is necessary to develop a rapid, efficient and reliable method for the analysis of food allergens. This paper reviewed the latest advances of microfluidics on food allergen analysis. The key technologies of developing a fully integrated microfluidic platform were illustrated, including sample separation, on-chip allergen detection, system integration and automation, etc. Challenges and future perspectives of practical application of this technology were further discussed. Microfluidic technology has opened up a new way for rapid and effective detection of food allergens. The low sample/reagent volume consumption and the integration of detection make microfluidic technology an ideal choice for on-site use and more convenient to consumers. • The latest advances of microfluidic strategies for sample separation and rapid detection of food allergens are elucidated. • The remarkable key technologies of developing a fully integrated microfluidic platform were illustrated. • Current challenge to practical concern of microfluidic device are discussed for accelerating their analysis of food allergen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-based antibacterial materials have attracted considerable attention to preserve food and prolong the shelf life. In this study, four types of carbon dots (CDs) based on glucose and biogenic amines including spermine (Spe), putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and histamine (His) were synthesized by microwave synthesis. The nanosized, amorphous and nearly spherical CDs had excellent water solubility. The four positive charge CDs containing carbon, nitrogen and oxygen elements could emit blue fluorescent. Among these CDs, Spe-CDs displayed the best antibacterial activity for S. aureus, and the values of minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were 0.04 and 0.08 mg/mL, respectively. The exposure of Spe-CDs was able to disrupt the cell wall and membrane of S. aureus, which resulted in the shrinkage and disintegration of S. aureus observed in cell morphology. The excellent antibacterial activity of Spe-CDs was attributed to its smaller size, higher surface positive charge and higher ROS production, compared to Put-CDs, Spd-CDs and His-CDs. The preservation effect of Spe-CDs on sausage was explored during 4 °C storage, which could effectively inhibit the spoilage of sausage and prolong their shelf-life. The Spe-CDs might have the potential to be a food antibacterial preservation agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract With the increasing concerns of food safety and public health, tremendous efforts have been concentrated on the development of effective, reliable, nondestructive methods to evaluate the freshness level of different kinds of food. Natural colorants-based intelligent colorimetric indicators which are typically constructed with natural colorants and polymer matrices has been regarded as an innovative approach to notify the customers and retailers of the food quality during the storage and transportation procedure in real-time. This review briefly elucidates the mechanism of natural colorants used for intelligent colorimetric indicators and fabrication methodologies of natural colorants-based food freshness indicators. Subsequently, their multifunctional applications in intelligent food packaging systems like antioxidant packaging, antimicrobial packaging, biodegradable packaging, UV-blocking packaging and inkless packaging are well introduced. This paper also summarizes several optimizing strategies for the practical application of this advanced technology from different perspectives. Strategies like adopting a hydrophobic matrix, constructing double-layer film and encapsulation have been developed to improve the stability of the indicators. Co-pigmentation, metal ion complexation, pigment-mixing and using substrates with high surface area are proved to be effective to enhance the sensitivity of the indicators. Approaches include multi-index evaluation, machine learning and smartphone-assisted evaluation have been proven to improve the accuracy of the intelligent food freshness indicators. Finally, future research opportunities and challenges are proposed. Based on the fundamental understanding of natural colorants-based intelligent colorimetric food freshness indicators, and the latest research and findings from literature, this review article will help to develop better, lower cost and more reliable food freshness evaluation technique for modern food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a harmful exogenous factor for human skin. Wearable UV photodetectors can monitor UV exposure in the surroundings, and wearable vitamin C (V C) sensors tracking the levels in the human body present the potential ability to defend the UV radiation. Herein, we reported on the fabrication of an all-in-one wearable system with a UV photodetector and V C sensor powered by a micro-supercapacitor. Based on direct laser writing carbonization of polyimide sheets, the patterned electrodes and interconnects of the circuit were fabricated by a facile one-step operation, obtaining an all-carbon-based integrated system. Such a system exhibited outstanding energy storage ability (56.2 μWh cm−2 at 4.17 mW cm−2), high areal capacitance (1.06 mF cm−2 at 5 mV s−1), satisfying capacitive stability, and good mechanical flexibility. The UV photodetector and the V C sensor were powered to obtain a linear range of UV intensity from 11 to 44 μW cm−2 (equivalent to Ultraviolet Index 4.4 to 17.6), and V C levels of 1.0–200 μM with a low limit of detection of 0.83 μM. Furthermore, the integrated system was successfully applied to the determination of V C in commercial beverage and human sweat samples. This work provided a simple and promising method to fabricate integrated wearable systems for on-site providing information on the UV intensity of the external environment and the V C level of the human body simultaneously. An all-carbon-based highly integrated wearable sensor that integrated a UV photodetector, a V C sensor, and a micro-supercapacitor for simultaneous monitoring UV radiation and V C level. [Display omitted] • An all-in-one wearable system powered by a micro-supercapacitor was developed. • The system showed high capacitive stability and mechanical flexibility. • The UV photodetector detected UV intensity from 11 to 44 μW cm−2 (UVI 4.4–17.6). • The V C sensor showed good sensitivity, selectivity and practical usability. • This work provided a promising way to preventing from UV damage on human skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeated freeze–thaw cycles can directly cause the changes in the water distribution, physicochemical characteristics, and microstructure of Scomberomorus niphonius surimi. To improve the quality of S. niphonius surimi, the effect of water retention agents (phosphate and trehalose) was investigated during freeze-thaw cycles. The results of low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis showed that the water retention agents could obviously decrease the water loss and water mobility during repeated freeze–thaw cycles. Water retention agent significantly reduced the cook loss and improved the surimi quality by decreasing the surimi protein denaturation. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization revealed that water retention agents could obviously ameliorate the protein structure damage. In addition, the principal component analysis combined with LF-NMR parameters showed clear discrimination between samples supplemented with different water retention agents. In a word, the LF-NMR and MRI might provide useful information in a non-invasive manner for monitoring the effects of water-retention agents on surimi after repeated freeze–thaw cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most traditional food packaging and preservation films suffer from limited stretchability and relatively simple functionality, which severely restricts their practical application. In this study, a highly stretchable and versatile sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/poly(ethylene imine) (PEI)/tannic acid (TA) hydrogel film was elaborately designed and demonstrated as an efficient food packaging and preservation system. The dynamic reversible non-covalent within three-dimensional (3D) network structures served as sacrificial bonds to dissipate the loaded energy and endowed the hydrogel film with excellent elongation ~400 %, which is much larger than that of conventional food packaging films (<50 %). Furthermore, the optimized CMC/PVA/PEI/TA 3 hydrogel film delivers versatile performances, including self-healing, whole UV-blocking (<400 nm), strong adhesive strength (234.08 KPa), antioxidation virtues, oxygen barrier (32.64 cm3*μm/(m2*d*KPa)) and water vapor barrier (642.92 g/(m2*24 h)). Notably, the shelf life of fresh strawberries, mangoes, and cherries was prolonged by at least one week under ambient conditions when the packaging box was covered by the fabricated CMC/PVA/PEI/TA 3 film. Thus, our work not only provides a highly stretchable and versatile hydrogel film but also boosts the in-depth comprehension and rational design of robust food packaging and preservation films. • Novel CMC-based hydrogel packaging film was elaborately designed. • The hydrogel film possesses excellent tensile strain ~400 % without rupture. • Fabricated packaging films displayed versatile performances. • The shelf-life of fresh fruits was prolonged under ambient condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astaxanthin is a marine carotenoid which has received widely attention due to its strongly functional activity in food industry. However, the poor water solubility and chemical instability restricts its bioavailability and antioxidation application. Thus, it is necessary to find effective method to protect astaxanthin against degradation and further exert its potential benefits in nutrition intervention. The emphasis of this review is to highlight the construction of astaxanthin-based delivery systems, including lipid-based delivery systems and polymer-based delivery systems. Meanwhile, the potential benefits of encapsulating astaxanthin in terms of precision nutrition are summarized, which include promoting cellular uptake, intervening various disease, and achieving targeted delivery in cell or organelle levels. Finally, challenges and future perspectives of targeted astaxanthin for precision nutrition are further discussed. Well-designed astaxanthin-based delivery systems can enhance the stability of astaxanthin during food processing and in vivo digestion. Further improving its bioavailability through targeted delivery of astaxanthin-based products, especially for special populations, will meet the multiple needs of the public for food nutrition and health. • Remarkable technologies of developing astaxanthin delivery systems are elucidated. • Current challenges to practical concerns for astaxanthin utilization are illustrated. • Future developments of targeted astaxanthin for precision nutrition are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food-borne carbon dots (FCDs) produced naturally during food thermal processing are one of important factors affecting human health. The FCDs will inevitably encounter blood proteins after oral administration and spontaneously form protein coronas. In this study, the interaction of three major blood proteins, including albumin, gamma globulin, and fibrinogen, with FCDs from roasted mackerel was investigated for the first time. The purpose of the research is to explore the effect of the protein corona on the biological effects of cytotoxicity and the metabolic response. The results showed that FCDs spontaneously bound to the three blood proteins, and the process involved the participation of multiple interaction forces. Three protein coronas attenuated FCD-mediated cell viability damage, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial membrane potential. Further metabolomics analysis showed that FCDs disrupted cellular carbohydrate, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolism and significantly affected the expression of six metabolic pathways in normal rat kidney cells. The protein corona alleviated the disorder of energy and substance metabolism pathways. However, the protein corona inevitably expands the range of affected metabolic responses. The results of this study are of great value in exploring the toxicity characteristics of FCDs and their protein coronas. [Display omitted] • The formation of protein coronas on FCDs depends on the properties of the proteins. • The cytotoxicity of FCDs is alleviated after forming corona with blood proteins. • Human serum albumin, gamma globulin, and fibrinogen show different effects on FCDs. • The disturbance of carbohydrate and energy metabolism caused by FCDs was reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is being investigated for its ability to address the decline in NAD+ level during aging. This study aimed to construct a delivery system based on ovalbumin and fucoidan nanoparticles to ameliorate the bioaccessibility of NMN by increasing NAD+ level in aging mouse model. The NMN-loaded ovalbumin and fucoidan nanoparticles (OFNPs) were about 177 nm formed by the interplay of hydrogen bonds between ovalbumin and fucoidan. Compared with free NMN, NMN-loaded OFNPs intervention could obviously improve the antioxidant enzyme activity of senescent cell induced by D-galactose. The NMN-loaded OFNPs treatment could ameliorate the loss of weight and organ index induced by senescence, and maintain the water content for the aging mice. The Morris maze test indicated that hitting blind side frequency and escape time of NMN-loaded OFNPs group decreased by 13% and 35% compared with that of free NMN group. Furthermore, the NMN-loaded OFNPs significantly alleviated the age-related oxidative stress and increased the generation of NAD+ 1.34 times by improving the bioaccessibility of NMN. Our data in this study supplied a strategy to enhance the bioavailability of NMN in senescence treatment. [Display omitted] • The interaction between OVA and fucoidan were detected by molecular docking analysis. • NMN-loaded OFNPs treatment could ameliorate the space memory of senescent mice. • NMN-loaded OFNPs inhibited the oxidative stress expression of aging mice. • NMN-loaded OFNPs promoted the NAD+ generation by enhancing the stability of NMN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel one-step coaxial electrospinning process is employed to fabricate shell-core structure fibers choosing Chlorella pyrenoidosa proteins (CP) as the core material. These nanofibers, serving as the wall material for probiotic encapsulation, aimed to enhance the stability and antioxidant activity of probiotics in food processing, storage, and gastrointestinal environments under sensitive conditions. Morphological analysis was used to explore the beads-on-a-string morphology and core-shell structure of the electrospun fibers. Probiotics were successfully encapsulated within the fibers (7.97 log CFU/g), exhibiting a well-oriented structure along the distributed fibers. Compared to free probiotics and uniaxial fibers loaded with probiotics, encapsulation within microalgae proteins/alginate core-shell structure nanofibers significantly enhanced the probiotic cells' tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions (p < 0.05). Thermal analysis indicated that microalgae proteins/alginate core-shell structure nanofibers displayed superior thermal stability compared to uniaxial fibers. The introduction of CP resulted in a 50 % increase in the antioxidant capacity of probiotics-loaded microalgae proteins/alginate nanofibers compared to uniaxial alginate nanofibers, with minimal loss of viability (0.8 log CFU/g) after 28 days of storage at 4 °C. In summary, this dual-layer carrier holds immense potential in probiotic encapsulation and enhancing their resistance to harsh conditions. Novel one-step coaxial electrospinning process to fabricate shell-core structured fibers based on CP/alginate complexes, aiming for enhancing the stability and antioxidant activity of probiotics in food processing, storage, and gastrointestinal environments. [Display omitted] • Novel core-shell nanofibers fabricated with Chlorella pyrenoidosa proteins (CP)/alginate complexes. • The pH-responsive core-shell nanofibers significantly improved the gastrointestinal survival rate of probiotics. • The incorporation of CP enhanced the antioxidant properties of the probiotics-loaded nanofibers. • CP extended probiotics' activity by providing nutritional support during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Microfluidic electrospinning for synthesizing fucoxanthin-loaded core–shell nanofibers. • GZ12/ZFx nanofibers significantly enhance hydrophobicity and stability of fucoxanthin. • Fucoxanthin-loaded nanofibers alleviate lipid accumulation and oxidative stress in oleic acid-incubated HepG2 cells. Fucoxanthin is a xanthophyll carotenoid that possesses potent antioxidant, anti-obesity, and anti-tumor properties. However, its limited solubility in water and susceptibility to degradation create challenges for its application. In this study, a microfluidic coaxial electrospinning technique was used to produce core–shell zein-gelatin nanofibers for encapsulating fucoxanthin, enhancing its bioavailability, and improving its stability. In comparison to uniaxially-loaded fucoxanthin nanofibers, the encapsulation efficiency of fucoxanthin reached 98.58 % at a core–shell flow rate ratio of 0.26:1, representing a 14.29 % improvement. The photostability of the nanofibers increased by 74.59 % after three days, UV stability increased by 38.82 % after 2 h, and temperature stability also significantly improved, demonstrating a protective effect under harsh environmental conditions (P < 0.05). Additionally, nanofibers effectively alleviated oleic acid-induced reactive oxygen species production and reduced fluorescence intensity by 54.76 %. MTT experiments indicated great biocompatibility of the nanofibers, effectively mitigating mitochondrial membrane potential polarization and lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. Overall, the microfluidic coaxial electrospinning technique enables promising applications of fucoxanthin delivery in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) brain metastases present a significant treatment challenge due to limited drug delivery efficiency and severe adverse reactions. In this study, we address these challenges by designing a "on/off" switchable crosslinked paclitaxel (PTX) nanocarrier, BPM-PD, with novel ultra-pH-sensitive linkages (pH 6.8 to 6.5). BPM-PD demonstrates a distinct "on/off" switchable release of the anti-cancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) in response to the acidic extratumoral microenvironment. The "off" state of BPM-PD@PTX effectively prevents premature drug release in the blood circulation, blood-brain barrier (BBB)/blood-tumor barrier (BTB), and normal brain tissue, surpassing the clinical PTX-nanoformulation (nab-PTX). Meanwhile, the "on" state facilitates precise delivery to NSCLC brain metastases cells. Compared to nab-PTX, BPM-PD@PTX demonstrates improved therapeutic efficacy with a reduced tumor area (only 14.6%) and extended survival duration, while mitigating adverse reactions (over 83.7%) in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), offering a promising approach for the treatment of NSCLC brain metastases. The precise molecular switch also helped to increase the PTX maximum tolerated dose from 25 mg/kg to 45 mg/kg This research contributes to the field of cancer therapeutics and has significant implications for improving the clinical outcomes of NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • NPs prepared with Lipo and polysaccharide improved the stability of ACNs in simulated processing and storage environments. • Bilayer hybrid nanoparticles improved the digestive resistance and antioxidant capacity of ACNs. • ACNs-Lipo@GA has a greater encapsulation efficiency and stability advantage. • ACNs-Lipo@GA can better enter the cells, thus showing more vigorous lipid-lowering activity. Anthocyanins (ACNs) systems encapsulated in nanomaterials have received widespread attention and rapid development due to its good delivery potential. Here, the favorable benefits of four natural polysaccharide food additives coated ACNs-liposome nanoparticles (ACNs-Lipo NPs) on the stability and possible lipid-lowering effects of ACNs are discussed in this work. The polysaccharides were coupled to the ACNs-Lipo NPs and self-assembled to create ACNs-Lipo@polysaccharide NPs. The impact of various polysaccharides on the physical, chemical, and stability characteristics of NPs was examined. We found that the NPs prepared with gum arabic (GA) had the best stability. FT-IR and XRD analysis revealed electrostatic adsorption and hydrogen binding forces between the components, as well as an amorphous structure. A series of tests in vitro confirmed the excellent stability, bioavailability, antioxidant activity, and biocompatibility of NPs. Finally, cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) and oleic acid (OA)-induced lipid deposition cell models revealed that ACNs-Lipo@GA might be more readily absorbed by cells, resulting in improved antioxidant activity and lipid-lowering impact, with possible targeted delivery qualities and lipid-lowering effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the water and lipid migration of salted duck eggs during storage were systematically explored in three different packaging conditions of long‐term salting, no packaging, and vacuum packaging. Bound water, multilayer bound water, lipid, and bulk water were observed in the whole duck egg by low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF‐NMR) relaxation. Five weeks of salting process led to the redistribution of water and lipid due to the watery state of egg white and the gelation of egg yolk due to the permeation of salt, and boiling mainly caused an obvious decrease in the mobility of bulk water due to the gelation of egg white. Among these three conditions, long‐term salting with 6 months storage caused the most serious redistribution of water and lipid as well as the rupture of the vitelline membrane, but could prevent the oxidation of egg yolk. Vacuum packaging had the least influence on the water and lipid distribution, mass change, and water content but led to lipid oxidation with high degree in egg yolk. However, the most obvious mass loss was observed in the salted duck eggs during the storage without packaging. In addition, principal component analysis of Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill data suggested that LF‐NMR could distinguish the salted duck eggs with different storage times during the early stage of the storage. Practical Application: Water and lipid migration of salted duck eggs during storage with three packaging conditions were explored by using low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance imaging. Understanding the impacts of packaging conditions on water and lipid migration of salted duck eggs during storage could provide a new method for the quality identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a fat-soluble carotenoid, astaxanthin has excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammation biological activities, but its poor biocompatibility and low stability limit application of astaxanthin in the food industry. In this study, cauliflower-like carriers (CCs) were constructed based on caseinate, chitosan-triphenylphosphonium (TPP) and sodium alginate through an electrostatic self-assembly method to improve the biocompatibility, stability and targeting transport properties of astaxanthin. The smart CCs showed pH-response release and mitochondrial targeted characteristics. In vitro studies demonstrated that the CCs could improve the internalization of astaxanthin, and significantly inhibited the excessive production of reactive oxygen species and the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential caused by oxidative stress. In vivo studies revealed that the astaxanthin-loaded CCs could effectively relieve the colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate and protect the integrity of the colon tissue structure. The astaxanthin-loaded CCs could significantly inhibit the expression of inflammation factors such as interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, cyclooxygenase-2, myeloperoxidase, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nitric oxide. Moreover, the astaxanthin-loaded CCs could maintain the expression of zonula occludens-1, increase the abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillaceae in the intestine. In a word, the constructed astaxanthin delivery system provided a potential application for the oral uptake hydrophobic bio-activator in intervention of ulcerative colitis. [Display omitted] • Cauliflower-like astaxanthin carriers were prepared with protein and polysaccharide. • pH-responsive release and mitochondrial targeted ability of the carriers was found. • Secretion of inflammation factors was reduced after invention with astaxanthin-loaded carriers. • Colon inflammation was alleviated and relative abundance of probiotics increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, convenience-driven consumers have increasingly embraced prepared aquatic foods, facilitating a significant shift within the food industry. However, this change has presented a challenge for maintaining the quality of aquatic products in prepared food items since aquatic products are highly susceptible to microbial contamination during processing or storage. Herein, smart oleogels-in-water high internal phase emulsions (GHIPEs) stabilized solely by soybean lipophilic protein (LP) were prepared via oil phase gelation induced by glycerol monolaurate (GML). The purpose of this system is to act as an effective carrier and facilitate the precise release of thyme essential oils to extend the shelf life of food products. The gelation of the oil phase has significantly enhanced the stability of GHIPEs when compared to traditional HIPEs. When the GML reached 2%, the GHIPEs retained up to 87.18% ± 4.23 of thyme essential oil after 14 d. Moreover, the highest antioxidant potential of GHIPEs (with 2% GML) was confirmed through DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging assays. Furthermore, the GHIPEs can release thyme essential oil in response to microbial growth, demonstrating their "smart sensing and targeted release" ability. Ultimately, the application of the GHIPEs in the preservation of Cololabis saira significantly reduced the total colony count, pH, TVB-N, and TBARS values (P < 0.05). Consequently, a ready-to-eat Cololabis saira product with an extended shelf life of 7 d at 4 °C was successfully realized, indicating the effectiveness of GHIPEs in preserving seafood freshness. These findings offer novel approaches to maintaining the freshness of prepared aquatic foods. [Display omitted] • LP stabilized oleogel-in-water high internal phase emulsions (GHIPEs) were prepared. • GML enhances GHIPE stability by gelling the oil phase and creating an interfacial film. • The essential oil retention rate is highest in the GHIPE that contains 2% GML. • GHIPEs smartly release thyme oil, hindering E. coli and S. aureus growth. • GHIPEs were successfully used to prepare ready-to-eat Cololabis saira. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Developing new nanovesicles combining lutein and milk exosomes by engineered assembly. • Lutein@exosome providers safer, efficiency therapy for DED model in vitro and in vivo. • Encouraging results show lutein@exosome as effective for long-term DED improvement. Oxidative stress and overactive inflammatory response result in a lack of tear fluid for dry eye disease (DED) pathogenesis. Lutein, a carotenoid for eye health, plays an important role in anti-oxidation and inhibiting the development of inflammation. However, the low bioavailability of lutein is still not well resolved due to its hydrophobicity. In this study, milk-derived exosomes were prepared by ultracentrifugation and filtration method for lutein encapsulation to enhance its bioavailability in alleviating DED. After encapsulation lutein into the exosome membrane through ultrasonic treatment, the lutein loading rate of milk exosomes was 69% with improved water solubility and stability of lutein against degradation at higher temperature and light irradiation. The lutein@exosomes displayed excellent biocompatibility, easy cellular absorption, and facilitated restoration of the mitochondrial membrane potential, which could effectively reduce reactive oxygen species and inflammatory levels in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) and macrophages. Furthermore, compared with a commercial product, lutein@exosome exhibited notable efficacy in repairing corneal epithelial damage, restoring tear film homeostasis, restored conjunctival goblet cell count and lacrimal gland size in a chronic dry eye model of C57BL/6 mice. This study offered a novel intervention strategy for DED by an exosome-based delivery system by encapsulating lutein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the perspective of food security, human health and diagnose diseases, developing sensing materials with high sensitivity and selectivity to detect TMA is quite essential. In this study, cyclic tetrapyrrole (CTPy), cyclic hexapyrrole (CHPy), cyclic octapyrrole (COPy) and linear hexapyrrole (LHPy) are selected to investigate the effects of cyclic and linear polymers, as well as the pore size of cyclic polymers on trimethylamine (TMA) gas sensitivity performance. The calculation results show that CHPy with appropriate pore size provides more interaction sites, and exhibits larger adsorption energy, ideal recovery time, as well as significant variation of energy gap and work function after TMA gas adsorption, indicting CHPy is a promising reusable resistance and work function-type sensors at room temperature. Meanwhile, CHPy exhibits better selectivity for TMA gas under the humidity, background gas and other amine gases environment. Furthermore, applied positive electric field can further enhance the selectivity and sensitivity of CHPy toward TMA gas. This work provides some inspiration for experimenters to design and synthesize highly sensitive polymer-based sensors in future experiments. [Display omitted] • The sensing behavior of pyrrole based polymers towards the TMA gas is investigated by DFT. • CHPy with appropriate pore exhibits excellent selectivity and sensitivity towards TMA gas. • The adsorption and desorption behavior can be controlled by applying electric field. • CHPy is a reusability material for TMA sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthocyanins are promising naturally occurring food preservatives for enhancing the quality of food products due to their excellent antioxidant properties. However, their low stability hinders their food packaging application. Here, we propose a facile strategy to achieve the improved stability of anthocyanins encapsulated in γ-cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) with an in-depth exploration of their structure–property relationships. The adsorbed anthocyanins in CD-MOFs are stabilized by multiple cooperative non-covalent interactions including hydrogen bonding and van der Waals (vdW) interactions as demonstrated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and spectroscopy analysis. Particularly, by ion-exchange of acetate ions into the pores of CD-MOFs, the resulting CD-MOFs (CD-MOF_OAc) shows a higher anthocyanins adsorption rate with a maximum loading capacity of 83.7 % at 1 min. Besides, CD-MOF_OAc possesses the more effective protecting effect on anthocyanins with at least two-fold enhancement of stability in comparison of free anthocyanins under heating and light irradiation. The anthocyanins encapsulated CD-MOFs films for fruit freshness was validated by the Kyoho experiment. This novel encapsulation system provides a new possibility for the potential use of CD-MOFs as the encapsulating material for anthocyanins in fruit preservation. A Table of Contents (TOC) [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing prevalence of dysphagia among the aging population presents a significant challenge. Many highly nutritious foods, like salmon, are often unsuitable for the elderly due to their firm texture when heated. To address this concern, a combination of salmon myofibrillar protein (SMP), Konjac glucomannan (KGM), and different emulsion fillers—such as oil droplets, octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA)-modified potato starch emulsion, and high methoxylated pectin (HMP) emulsions—was selected to enhance the network of salmon protein gels with the aims to create potential applications as dysphagia-friendly foods. The International Dysphagia Dietary Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) test indicated that all gel samples were classified as level 5. The OSA-SMP-KGM gel exhibited notably higher cohesiveness (P < 0.05), reduced adhesion, and enhanced mouthfeel. The OSA-SMP-KGM gel exhibited a smooth surface and excellent water retention (92.4 %), rendering it suitable for individuals with swallowing difficulties, particularly those prone to experiencing dry mouth. The yield stress of OSA-SMP-KGM gel was 594.14 Pa and stable structure was maintained during chewing and swallowing (γ e /γ v = 62.5). This study serves as a valuable reference for developing salmon-based products that are not only highly nutritious but also fulfill the criteria for a desirable swallowing texture. • Salmon protein gels with enhanced texture was prepared by using Konjac glucomannan. • Emulsion-filled salmon protein gels showed high water retention and structural stability. • Emulsion-filled improved the adhesion and high viscoelasticity of salmon protein gels. • Emulsion-filled salmon protein gels had potential as swallowable foods for elderly people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, water mobility and oil qualities (color indexes, peroxide value, acid value, fatty acids) between continuous and intermittent hot air drying of fresh walnut were investigated based on LF-NMR technique and chemical assay. The results showed that intermittent drying of fresh walnut was comparable or superior to continuous drying, in view of drying rate, moisture ratio, energy saving, oil quality (L*, a*, b*, peroxide value, acid value, and fatty acids). LF-NMR relaxometry could be used for observing the moisture mobility and distribution of fresh walnut during tempering process. The R2 values of moisture prediction model were 0.9808 and 0.9702 for calibration and validation, respectively, exhibiting fine linear relationship between the T21 signals and moisture level. Meanwhile, principal component analysis showed that five geographical origins of dried walnut could be discriminated based on LF-NMR relaxometry. Thus, intermittent drying with tempering process was recommended in practice for fresh walnut drying, and LF-NMR technique could be used for moisture prediction and origin discrimination of dried walnuts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effectsof microwave vacuum drying (MVD) on moisture migration, microstructure, and rehydration of sea cucumber were investigated in this paper. Vacuum condition avoided the exposure of sea cucumber to high temperature. Low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation results revealed that the peaks of three water components in sea cucumber shifted to short relaxation time during MVD process, and the peak area of major water component—immobilized water—decreased significantly due to water evaporation. Magnetic resonance imaging found that the water in the internal layer of sea cucumber body wall was first removed due to the internal heating of microwave, and then the water in the outer layer. Higher microwave power could promote the moisture transfer motion during drying process, and shorten the drying time. Porous microstructure was observed by Cryo scanning electronic microscope images in sea cucumber dried with microwave power of 200 and 250 W, which might be responsible for high values of rehydration ratio and water holding capacity. High microwave power caused the increase of amino acids content, but had no significant effect on the change of saponins content. In addition, excellent prediction models of moisture ratio have been developed by partial least squares regression analysis based on transverse relaxation data, which proved the feasibility of low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance to monitor moisture changes of sea cucumber during MVD process. Practical Application: Effects of microwave vacuum drying (MVD) on moisture migration, microstructure, and rehydration of sea cucumber were investigated. Understanding the impacts of MVD drying on water status, texture, and nutritional characteristics of sea cucumber is important to improve the processing quality of dried sea cucumber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh aquatic products are highly perishable after harvest due to their high water content, high protein level, high endogenous enzyme activity, and high growth rates of microorganism. Drying has been proven a successful preservation method for aquatic products by removing water. The conventional sun drying is energy-saving and environment-friendly, but time-consuming and low efficiency. This paper reviews the recent developments in drying technologies for aquatic products including hot-air drying, heat pump drying, infrared radiation drying, freeze drying, microwave drying and hybrid drying methods, with an emphasis of the advantages for different drying techniques to improve the drying efficiency and product quality. Especially, the advances of innovative detection technologies for the drying process monitoring are analyzed and discussed, including near infrared spectroscopy, computer vision system, hyperspectral imaging, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance imaging. These analytical techniques can effectively monitor the quality change and improve the drying quality of the aquatic products. Finally, the development trends of drying technologies and monitoring methods for aquatic product in the future are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probes combining luminescence and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging activities have attracted tremendous attention since they can offer both molecular and anatomical information to effectively improve the accuracy of detection. In this work, a β-diketone ligand (CDHH) was modified by covalent conjugation with an MRI contrast agent (DO3A–Gd) and a tumor-targetable biomacromolecule transferrin (Tf). When Eu3+ ions were added into the mixture of two functionalized β-diketone ligands, they triggered a self-assembly to form a heteropolymetallic lanthanide complex that was conjugated to Tf. The as-prepared bioconjugate, i.e., Tf–Eu–Gd, exhibited intense long-lived luminescence (φ = 0.20, τ = 0.34 ms), remarkably high MR relaxivities (r1 = 9.18 mM−1 s−1 and r2 = 12.03 mM−1 s−1), as well as good water solubility, stability, and biocompatibility. Time-gated luminescence (TGL) imaging of live cells using Tf–Eu–Gd as a probe demonstrated that the probe can distinguish Tf-receptor-overexpressed cancerous cells, which enables the probe to be specifically accumulated in these cells. On the basis of magnetoluminescent properties of Tf–Eu–Gd, it was further used as a bimodal probe for both TGL and MR imaging of cancerous cells in tumor-bearing nude mice. The results indicated that Tf–Eu–Gd could significantly increase the T1-weighted MRI contrast value in the tumor region, and the TGL imaging of tumor tissue sections provided clear histological validation of the MRI signals. The research outcomes revealed the feasibility of Tf–Eu–Gd for the tracing and precise detection of cancerous cells, which suggested its potential for serving to the clinical diagnosis, therapy, and medical research of tumor diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dextran sulfate sodium is one of the important members in the field of polysaccharide biotechnology, which can induce inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the gastrointestinal tract. Nevertheless, the application of astaxanthin (AST) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), known for their pronounced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, is encumbered by limited stability and bioavailability. To surmount this challenge, dual nutritional macromolecular nanoparticles were provided for alleviating IBD. The forementioned strategy entailed the utilization of EGCG as a wall material via the Mannich reaction, resulting in the creation of specialized nanocarriers capable of mitochondrial targeting and glutathione-responsive AST delivery. In vitro investigations, these nanocarriers demonstrated an enhanced propensity for mitochondrial accumulation, leading to proficient elimination of reactive oxygen species and preservation of optimal mitochondrial membrane potential about 1.5 times stronger than free AST and EGCG. Crucially, in vivo experiments showed that the colon length of IBD mice treated with these nanocarriers increased by 51.29 % and facilitated the polarization of M2 macrophages. Moreover, the assimilation of these nanocarriers exerted a favorable impact on the composition of gut microbiota. These findings underscore the immense potential of dual nutrition nanocarriers in contemporaneously delivering hydrophobic biological activators through oral absorption, thereby presenting a highly promising avenue for combating IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adequate amounts of live probiotics reaching the gut are necessary to maintain host health. However, the harsh environment during processing, the low pH of human gastric acid, and the high concentration of bile salts in the gut can significantly reduce survivability of probiotics. In this work, we propose a simple Pickering emulsion gels strategy to encapsulate Lactobacillus plantarum Lp90 into oil droplets filled in calcium alginate gels to improve its viability under pasteurization and gastrointestinal conditions. The emulsion gels were stabilized by the soluble complexes of salmon by-product protein (SP) and sodium alginate (ALG), and the aqueous phase was solidified by the addition of calcium. The interaction between SP and ALG and the effect of ALG concentration on emulsifying ability and emulsion stability were studied. The results from optical imaging, nuclear magnetic resonance, and rheological properties showed that the stability and viscosity of the emulsions gradually increased with the increased ALG concentration, while the droplet size of the emulsions and the content of free water in the system decreased significantly. Especially when the concentration of ALG was 1 %, the emulsion system was stable under the environment of high temperature and high ionic strength, and the water holding capacity was the highest. Through pasteurization and gastrointestinal digestion experiments, it was found that the survival rate of probiotics encapsulated in emulsion gels was significantly higher than that encapsulated in emulsions or hydrogels, which benefited from the dual action of oil droplets and calcium alginate gels network. These results provide a new strategy for the processing of probiotics and the high-value utilization of marine fish by-products. Schematic diagram of preparation of SP / ALG complexes stabilized Pickering emulsion gels and encapsulation of probiotics. [Display omitted] • Salmon by-products were used as new materials for forming Pickering emulsions. • Sodium alginate enhanced the emulsifying capacity of salmon by-product protein. • Calcium carbonate and gluconic acid-δ-lactone improved Pickering emulsion gels formation. • Emulsion gels effectively raised probiotics' viability after heat treatment and gastrointestinal digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adequate amounts of live probiotics reaching the gut are necessary to maintain host health. However, the harsh environment during processing, the low pH of human gastric acid, and the high concentration of bile salts in the gut can significantly reduce survivability of probiotics. In this work, we propose a simple Pickering emulsion gels strategy to encapsulate Lactobacillus plantarum Lp90 into oil droplets filled in calcium alginate gels to improve its viability under pasteurization and gastrointestinal conditions. The emulsion gels were stabilized by the soluble complexes of salmon by-product protein (SP) and sodium alginate (ALG), and the aqueous phase was solidified by the addition of calcium. The interaction between SP and ALG and the effect of ALG concentration on emulsifying ability and emulsion stability were studied. The results from optical imaging, nuclear magnetic resonance, and rheological properties showed that the stability and viscosity of the emulsions gradually increased with the increased ALG concentration, while the droplet size of the emulsions and the content of free water in the system decreased significantly. Especially when the concentration of ALG was 1 %, the emulsion system was stable under the environment of high temperature and high ionic strength, and the water holding capacity was the highest. Through pasteurization and gastrointestinal digestion experiments, it was found that the survival rate of probiotics encapsulated in emulsion gels was significantly higher than that encapsulated in emulsions or hydrogels, which benefited from the dual action of oil droplets and calcium alginate gels network. These results provide a new strategy for the processing of probiotics and the high-value utilization of marine fish by-products. Schematic diagram of preparation of SP / ALG complexes stabilized Pickering emulsion gels and encapsulation of probiotics. [Display omitted] • Salmon by-products were used as new materials for forming Pickering emulsions. • Sodium alginate enhanced the emulsifying capacity of salmon by-product protein. • Calcium carbonate and gluconic acid-δ-lactone improved Pickering emulsion gels formation. • Emulsion gels effectively raised probiotics' viability after heat treatment and gastrointestinal digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]