A study of the effect of locust bean gum on the rheological behaviour and microstructure of a β-lactoglobulin gel at pH 7

The effect of locust bean gum (LBG), a non-gelling polysaccharide, on the thermal gelation of -lactoglobulin, at 80 °C, and on the gel properties after quenching to 20 °C was studied by small deformation rheology and by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The concentration of -lactoglobulin was kept constant at 10 wt% and that of LBG varied from 0 to 0.78 wt%. For all the concentrations studied, the presence of LBG enhanced the aggregation rate and the strength of the protein gel, but the magnitude of these effects depended on the -lactoglobulin/LBG ratio: 0.35 wt% LBG resulted only in a very slight increase of G, whereas 0.45 wt% LBG caused a ~fivefold jump; for higher LBG concentrations, the differences between the systems were quite small. The linear viscoelastic behaviour, at 20 °C, was characterized over the 10^–5 to 100 rad/s frequency range by combining the dynamic and retardation tests. Compliance data were converted from the time to the frequency domain. The viscoelastic plateau was seen to extend down in the 0.001–0.0001 rad/s range and its lower limit seemed not to vary much with LBG concentration. Its upper limit was visibly beyond 100 rad/s. The observed microstructure of the gels showed that they were two-phase and that the state of aggregation of -lactoglobulin was influenced by the -lactoglobulin/LBG ratio.This paper was presented at the first Annual European Rheology Conference (AERC) held in Guimarães, Portugal on September 11–13, 2003     

Tragacanth gum‐based pH‐responsive magnetic hydrogels for “smart” chemo/hyperthermia therapy of solid tumors

The drug delivery performances of pH‐responsive magnetic hydrogels (MHs) composed of tragacanth gum (TG), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated in terms of physicochemical as well as biological features. The fabricated drug delivery systems (DDSs) were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometer, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The synthesized MHs were loaded with doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dox) as a universal model anti‐cancer drug. The MHs showed excellent Dox loading and encapsulation efficiencies, mainly due to strong hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction between the drug and polymeric matrix, as well as porous micro‐structures of the fabricated MHs. The drug‐loaded MHs showed negligible drug release values in physiological condition. In contrast, in cancerous condition (pH 5.0), both MHs exhibited highest drug release values that qualified them as “smart” DDSs. The cytocompatibilities of the MHs as well as the cytotoxicity of the Dox‐loaded MHs were investigated against human epidermoid‐like carcinoma (Hela) cells through MTT assay. In addition, hyperthermia therapy induced by Fe₃O₄ NPs was applied to locally raise temperature inside the Hela cells at 45 ± 3°C to promote cell death. As a result, the Dox‐loaded MHs can be considered as potential DDSs for chemo/hyperthermia therapy of solid tumors.     

Effect of Cryostructuring Treatment on Some Properties of Xanthan and Karaya Cryogels for Food Applications

Cryogels are novel materials because the manufacturing process known as cryostructuring allows biopolymers to change their properties as a result of repeated controlled freeze–thaw cycles. Hydrogels of xanthan and karaya gums were evaluated after undergoing up to four controlled freeze–thaw cycles in indirect contact with liquid nitrogen (up to −150 °C) to form cryogels. Changes in structural, molecular, rheological, and thermal properties were evaluated and compared to those of their respective hydrogels. Samples were also analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy with Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIR-ATR), Rotational Rheology (RR), Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC) and zeta potential (ζ). In general, significant differences (p < 0.05) between the numbers of freeze–thaw cycles were found. Karaya cryogels were not stable to repeated cycles of cryostructuring such as the three-cycle xanthan cryogel, which has the best structural order (95.55%), molecular interactions, and thermal stability, which allows the generation of a novel material with improved thermal and structural properties that can be used as an alternative in food preservation.     

Effect of dry heat modification and the addition of Chinese quince seed gum on the physicochemical properties and structure of tigernut tuber starch

To expand industrial utilization of tigernut starch and meet the demand for industrial starch, the influence of dry heat treatment (130 °C for 2 h and 4 h, 7% moisture) on the functional properties and structure of tigernut starch alone and mixed with Chinese quince seed gum (1% w/w) was investigated. Modifying the starch significantly (p < 0.05) increased peak, trough and final viscosity, and reduced the swelling power and gelatinization enthalpy. In addition, the freeze–thaw stability and pseudoplastic flow were enhanced by this modification process. Microscopic and crystalline structure results indicate that dry heat treatment without gum destroys the surface and the internal crystals of the starch granules, but when gum was present, the granule becomes more resistant to dry-heating. Overall, the treatment with dry heat and the addition of Chinese quince seed gum improved the physicochemical properties of tigernut starch, in particular by increasing freeze–thaw stability and viscosity to expand the application of the starch in food industry.     

Preparation of epoxidized Eucommia ulmoides gum and its application in styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR)/silica composites

In this article, we primarily introduced a method to prepare epoxidized Eucommia ulmoides gum (EEUG) and studied its application as interfacial additive in styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR)/silica composites. We prepared the EEUG from the Eucommia gum extract solution using E. ulmoides leaves pretreated with enzymatic solutions as the raw material, petroleum ether as the solvent, and peracetic acid (CH₃COOOH) as the oxidant under a certain temperature. Accordingly, we focused on studying the effects of a series of factors, such as the mole ratio (γ) of peracetic acid to double bonds of Eucommia gum and reaction time on the epoxidation degree and crystallization degree of Eucommia gum in the epoxidation process, in order to control the properties of the EEUG. Regarding the study of the application of EEUG in SBR/silica composites, we found that the addition of EEUG greatly promoted the properties of SBR/silica composites by improving the dispersion of silica in SBR composites, which possessed excellent mechanical properties, including higher tensile strength, tear strength, 100 and 300% modulus, wear resistance, and low heat buildup. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparison of rheokinetics on static and shear crosslinking processes of xanthan gum

The crosslinking process of xanthan gum was studied under static and shear conditions. Conventional rotational rheometer was adopted to study the shear crosslinking process, and the static crosslinking process was monitored using an optical microrheometer without physical contact between the instrument and the sample. Both experiment and numerical simulation were adopted to compare the two gelation processes at different temperatures. The results showed that the effects of temperature on static and shear crosslinking processes of xanthan gum have the same trend and the rheological curves of the two gelation processes are similar in shape. The same rheokinetics equations were established to describe the two gelation processes and the simulated values are in good agreement with the experimental data. The changes of the model parameters with respect to temperature are quite similar for both the gelation processes, which verifies the feasibility of the microrheology method for measuring the static crosslinking reaction.     

Physical stability of oil-in-water emulsions in the presence of gamma irradiated gum tragacanth

Gum tragacanth (GT) exuding from an Iranian Astragalus species was γ-irradiated at 0, 0.75, 1.5, 3, 5, 7, and 10?kGy and used to stabilize a model oil-in-water emulsion system. Stability and physicochemical properties of emulsion samples were investigated with respect to the effect of irradiation treatment on functional properties of gum tragacanth. Particle size distribution, interfacial tension, zeta potential, steady shear, and oscillatory rheological measurements were used to characterize and evaluate the emulsion samples and obtain more information about the possible stability mechanism. Emulsions were prepared by homogenizing 10% w/w sun flower oil with 90% w/w aqueous gum dispersions and stored quiescently at 25°C for 120 days. The results indicated that using 1.5?kGy irradiated GT was more effective in providing optimum values of apparent viscosity, number mean diameter, electrosteric repulsion, and structure strength for getting the maximum emulsion stability. GT significantly reduced the interfacial tension of the oil and water system, but no significant differences were observed among all irradiation treated and non-irradiated samples. This study revealed that GT acts as a bifunctional emulsifier and irradiation treatment has a great positive influence on its ability to reduce droplets’ collision frequency and stabilize the oil-in-water emulsion.     

Comparative Study on Microencapsulation of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) and Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) Essential Oils via Spray-Drying Technique

Essential oils have been studied for various applications, including for therapeutic purposes. There is extensive literature regarding their properties; however, their low stability limits their application. Generally, the microencapsulation of essential oils allows enhanced stability and enables the potential incorporation in solid dosage forms. Lavender and peppermint oils were encapsulated in microparticles using a spray-drying technique under optimized conditions: 170 °C temperature, 35 m³/h aspiration volume flow, and 7.5 mL/min feed flow. Arabic gum and maltodextrin were used as coating polymers individually in varying concentrations from 5 to 20% (w/v) and in combination. The microparticles were studied for morphology, particle size, oil content, and flowability. The formulated powder particles showed a high yield of 71 to 84%, mean diameter 2.41 to 5.99 µm, and total oil content of up to 10.80%. The results showed that both the wall material type and concentration, as well as the type of essential oil, significantly affected the encapsulation process and the final particle characteristics. Our study has demonstrated that the encapsulation of lavender and peppermint oils in Arabic gum/maltodextrin microparticles by spray-drying represents a feasible approach for the conversion of liquids into solids regarding their further use in powder technology.     

田菁胶、羟丙基田菁胶和瓜胶的分子量及其分布研究

用凝胶色谱（ＧＰＣ）法测定了羟丙基田菁胶（ＨＰＳ）、田菁胶（ＳＧ）和瓜胶原粉（ＧＧ）三种样品的分子量,其重均分子量顺序Ｍ＿（ＷＨＰＳ）＞Ｍ＿（ＷＧＧ）＞Ｍ＿（ＷＳＧ）,分子量范围为２．３×１０￣５～３．４×１０￣５,分散系数关系为Ｄ＿（ＨＰＳ）＝Ｄ＿（ＳＧ）＞Ｄ＿（ＧＧ）,并讨论了聚糖的多分散性与产品性能的关系。     

M/N型负载固体碱吸附胶质性能及再生方法的考察

对碱性物质 /多孔性物质 (M/N型 )负载固体碱吸附胶质性能及再生方法进行了试验研究。研究发现 ,M/N型负载固体碱对汽油胶质具有一定的吸附能力 ,以活化剂汽油溶液 (活化剂含量为 2 0 0 μg/ g)为再生溶剂 ,可有效地对吸附胶质失活后的固体碱进行再生。此外 ,汽油固体碱预碱洗的室内试验表明 ,M /N型负载固体碱预碱洗效果良好 ,可使脱臭装置的使用寿命明显延长 2倍以上。