Research

15 pages, 1670 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lactic Acid Fermentation of Carrageenan Hydrolysates from the Macroalga Kappaphycus alvarezii: Evaluating Different Bioreactor Operation Modes

by Adam Tabacof, Verônica Calado and Nei Pereira, Jr.

Polysaccharides 2023, 4(3), 256-270; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides4030017 - 30 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1257

Abstract

Lactic acid is a molecule used abundantly in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. It is also the building block for polylactic acid, a biodegradable polymer which has gained interest over the last decade. Seaweeds are fast growing, environmentally friendly, and economically beneficial. [...] Read more.

Lactic acid is a molecule used abundantly in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. It is also the building block for polylactic acid, a biodegradable polymer which has gained interest over the last decade. Seaweeds are fast growing, environmentally friendly, and economically beneficial. The Rhodophyta, Kappaphycus alvarezii, is a carrageenan-rich alga, which can be successfully fermented into lactic acid using lactic acid bacteria. Lactobacillus pentosus is a versatile and robust bacterium and an efficient producer of lactic acid from many different raw materials. Bioreactor strategies for lactic acid fermentation of K. alvarezii hydrolysate were tested in 2-L stirred-tank bioreactor fermentations, operating at 37 °C, pH 6, and 150 rpm. Productivity and yields were 1.37 g/(L.h) and 1.17 g/g for the pulse fed-batch, and 1.10 g/(L.h) and 1.04 g/g for extended fed-batch systems. A 3.57 g/(L.h) production rate and a 1.37 g/g yield for batch fermentation operating with an inoculum size of 0.6 g/L was recorded. When applying fed-batch strategies, fermentation products reached 91 g/L with pulse feed and 133 g/L with constant continuous feed. For control and comparison, a simple batch of synthetic galactose-rich Man-Sharpe-Rugosa (MRS) media was fermented at the same conditions. A short study of charcoal regenerability is shown. A scheme for a third-generation lactic acid biorefinery is proposed, envisioning a future sustainable large-scale production of this important organic acid. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into the Production of Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives for Challenging Sustainable Development)

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13 pages, 3697 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chitosan Nanoparticles as Seed Priming Agents to Alleviate Salinity Stress in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Seedlings

by Akanksha T. Soni, James E. Rookes and Sagar S. Arya

Polysaccharides 2023, 4(2), 129-141; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides4020010 - 16 Apr 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2583

Abstract

Nanoparticle-based seed priming has opened new avenues in crop science due to their plant growth promoting potential. Similarly, biopolymers such as chitosan (CS) are widely studied as seed priming agents due to the biodegradable and biocompatible nature, ability to enhance germination percentage and [...] Read more.

Nanoparticle-based seed priming has opened new avenues in crop science due to their plant growth promoting potential. Similarly, biopolymers such as chitosan (CS) are widely studied as seed priming agents due to the biodegradable and biocompatible nature, ability to enhance germination percentage and overall seedling health. Therefore, priming with chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) is a promising tool to enhance overall plant health. Here, we studied the effect of nanopriming with CNPs or CS (50 µg/mL) on morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters of rice seedlings, grown in salinity stress conditions NaCl (0–250 mM). CNPs were synthesized using an ionic gelation method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (50–100 nm), zeta potential analyser (Particle size distribution–373.5 ± 3.7 nm; polydispersity index- > 0.4; zeta potential–45.3 ± 2.5 mV) and profilometry (300–1500 nm hydrodynamic height). Morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses of rice seedlings grown from seeds primed with either CNPs or CS showed a positive effect on germination, seedling vigour, biochemical and antioxidant responses. Seeds primed with CNPs and CS demonstrated significantly higher germination potential and seedling vigour compared to control hydro-primed seeds when grown under increasing NaCl concentrations. These outcomes highlight that CNPs and CS can be used as potential seed priming agents to alleviate salinity stress in rice seedlings. However, further studies are warranted to understand the effect of CNPs and CS seed priming on the overall growth and development of rice plants as well as rice yield. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into the Production of Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives for Challenging Sustainable Development)

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18 pages, 6106 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anthocyanin-Rich Jamun (Syzygium cumini L.) Pulp Transported on Protein-Coated Ionic Gelation Microparticles of Calcium Alginate: Production and Morphological Characteristics

by Vitor Gonçalves da Silva, Gislaine Ferreira Nogueira, Cyntia Trevisan Soares and Rafael Augustus de Oliveira

Polysaccharides 2023, 4(1), 33-50; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides4010002 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1961

Abstract

Jamun (Syzygium cumini L.) is a fruit rich in anthocyanins, an important group of natural pigments, with color ranging from red to blue, soluble in water, highly antioxidant. Despite its great potential for use as a natural dye, its application is a [...] Read more.

Jamun (Syzygium cumini L.) is a fruit rich in anthocyanins, an important group of natural pigments, with color ranging from red to blue, soluble in water, highly antioxidant. Despite its great potential for use as a natural dye, its application is a challenge, due to the instability of these compounds in the environmental conditions of processing and storage commonly used by the food industry. Therefore, this study evaluated the microencapsulation of anthocyanin-rich jamun pulp by ionic gelation (IG) and its protein-coating by electrostatic interaction (PC). The effect of the ratio of sodium alginate solids and jamun pulp (1:0.40 to 1:2, w/w) and the concentration of gelatin coating solution (0% to 10%, w/w) on the morphology, water and total protein content and anthocyanins content in the microparticles were evaluated. Visually, the IG particles showed color tones ranging from reddish to purplish, which became less intense and opaque after being submitted to the gelatin coating process. Microscopic images demonstrated that microparticles formed had an irregular and heterogeneous shape with disorganized gel network formation is due to the presence of solid structures of jamun pulp, observed within the microparticles. The greater the concentration of gelatin in the coating solution, the greater the protein adsorption for the formation of the protective layer, ranging from 21.82 ± 0.72% (T1) to 55.87 ± 4.23% (T6). Protein adsorption on the GI resulted in a decrease in moisture content (ranging from 87.04 ± 0.22 to 97.06 ± 0.12%) and anthocyanins contents (ranging from 5.84 ± 0.62 to 0.78 ± 0.14%) in the PC microparticles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into the Production of Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives for Challenging Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 5082 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cellulose-Based Light-Management Films with Improved Properties Directly Fabricated from Green Tea

by Jianfeng Peng, Xiaoqian Ji, Xinqun Xia, Cuiyue Li, Zhaoning Wei, Chen Chu, Zhen Xu, Jun Zhang and Guangmei Xia

Polysaccharides 2022, 3(4), 776-791; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides3040045 - 02 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1412

Abstract

Tea polyphenols are a phenolic bioactive compound extracted from tea leaves and have been widely used as additives to prepare functional materials used in packaging, adsorption and energy fields. Nevertheless, tea polyphenols should be extracted first from the leaves before use, leading to [...] Read more.

Tea polyphenols are a phenolic bioactive compound extracted from tea leaves and have been widely used as additives to prepare functional materials used in packaging, adsorption and energy fields. Nevertheless, tea polyphenols should be extracted first from the leaves before use, leading to energy consumption and the waste of tea. Therefore, completely and directly utilizing the tea leaf to fabricate novel composite materials is more attractive and meaningful. Herein, semi-transparent green-tea-based all-biomass light-management films with improved strength, a tunable haze (60–80%) and UV-shielding properties (24.23% for UVA and 4.45% for UVB) were directly manufactured from green tea by adding high-degree polymerization wood pulps to form entanglement networks. Additionally, the green-tea-based composite films can be produced on a large scale by adding green tea solution units to the existing continuous production process of pure cellulose films. Thus, a facile and feasible approach was proposed to realize the valorization of green tea by preparing green-tea-based all-biomass light-management films that have great prospects in flexible devices and energy-efficient buildings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into the Production of Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives for Challenging Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 3858 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Macroporous Hyaluronic Acid/Chitosan Polyelectrolyte Complex-Based Hydrogels Loaded with Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles: Preparation, Characterization and In Vitro Evaluation

by Maria G. Drozdova, Tatiana S. Demina, Ostap A. Dregval, Anna I. Gaidar, Elena R. Andreeva, Alexander N. Zelenetskii, Tatiana A. Akopova and Elena Markvicheva

Polysaccharides 2022, 3(4), 745-760; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides3040043 - 16 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1972

Abstract

The aim of the study was to fabricate and characterize composite macroporous hydrogels based on a hyaluronic acid/chitosan (Hyal/Ch) polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) loaded with homogeneously distributed hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHAp), and to evaluate them in vitro using mouse fibroblasts (L929), osteoblast-like cells (HOS) and [...] Read more.

The aim of the study was to fabricate and characterize composite macroporous hydrogels based on a hyaluronic acid/chitosan (Hyal/Ch) polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) loaded with homogeneously distributed hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHAp), and to evaluate them in vitro using mouse fibroblasts (L929), osteoblast-like cells (HOS) and human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSC). Hydrogel morphology as a function of the hydroxyapatite nanoparticle content was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The mean pore size in the Hyal/Ch hydrogel was 204 ± 25 μm. The entrapment of nHAp (1 and 5 wt. %) into the Hyal/Ch hydrogel led to a mean pore size decrease (94 ± 2 and 77 ± 9 μm, relatively). Swelling ratio and weight loss of the hydrogels in various aqueous media were found to increase with an enhancement of a medium ionic strength. Cell morphology and localization within the hydrogels was studied by CLSM. Cell viability depended upon the nHAp content and was evaluated by MTT-assay after 7 days of cultivation in the hydrogels. An increase of the hydroxyapatite nanoparticles loading in a range of 1–10 wt. % resulted in an enhancement of cell growth and proliferation for all hydrogels. Maximum cell viability was obtained in case of the Hyal/Ch/nHAp-10 sample (10 wt. % nHAp), while a minimal cell number was found for the Hyal/Ch/nHAp-1 hydrogel (1 wt. % nHAp). Thus, the proposed simple original technique and the design of PEC hydrogels could be promising for tissue engineering, in particular for bone tissue repair. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into the Production of Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives for Challenging Sustainable Development)

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17 pages, 4790 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Formulation and Physical Characterization of a Polysaccharidic Gel for the Vehiculation of an Insoluble Phytoextract for Mucosal Application

by Giovanna Pressi, Elisa Barbieri, Raffaella Rizzi, Giovanni Tafuro, Alessia Costantini, Elisa Di Domenico and Alessandra Semenzato

Polysaccharides 2022, 3(4), 728-744; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides3040042 - 09 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1786

Abstract

Maintaining insoluble plant-based ingredients in suspension and ensuring long-term physical stability is particularly challenging for formulators of green cosmetics. This study aimed to evaluate the structure and applicative properties of gel and gel-cream topical formulations suitable for delivering an insoluble phytocomplex on the [...] Read more.

Maintaining insoluble plant-based ingredients in suspension and ensuring long-term physical stability is particularly challenging for formulators of green cosmetics. This study aimed to evaluate the structure and applicative properties of gel and gel-cream topical formulations suitable for delivering an insoluble phytocomplex on the vaginal mucosa and maintaining its integrity. For this purpose, we studied the compatibility of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton phytocomplex (PFP), derived from in vitro plant cell cultures and presented as a powder finely dispersed in glycerin, with different classes of natural rheological modifiers (such as xanthan gum, sclerotium gum, succinoglycan, xyloglucan, diutan gum, hydroxypropyl guar gum derivative) in gel and gel-cream formulations, to meet the needs of the cosmetic market for naturalness and biodegradability. Through rheological and texture analyses, we studied the physico–mechanical properties of the samples, comparing the performances of the chosen polysaccharides to those of acrylic polymeric rheological modifiers, evaluating their contribution in terms of stability and applicative properties. Since a weak-gel rheological pattern proved to be the optimal one to keep the actives in suspension, the associations of tamarind seed polysaccharides with succinoglycan or scleroglucan were the most suitable for the formulation of mucoadhesive gels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into the Production of Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives for Challenging Sustainable Development)

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13 pages, 14225 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anthocyanins of Açaí Applied as a Colorimetric Indicator of Milk Spoilage: A Study Using Agar-Agar and Cellulose Acetate as Solid Support to Be Applied in Packaging

by Samiris Côcco Teixeira, Taila Veloso de Oliveira, Lais Fernanda Batista, Rafael Resende Assis Silva, Matheus de Paula Lopes, Alane Rafaela Costa Ribeiro, Thaís Caroline Buttow Rigolon, Paulo César Stringheta and Nilda de Fátima Ferreira Soares

Polysaccharides 2022, 3(4), 715-727; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides3040041 - 03 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1821

Abstract

Food that is still fit for consumption is wasted in the domestic environment every day, so food packaging technologies are being developed that will monitor the quality of the products in real time. Highly perishable milk is currently one of the products that [...] Read more.

Food that is still fit for consumption is wasted in the domestic environment every day, so food packaging technologies are being developed that will monitor the quality of the products in real time. Highly perishable milk is currently one of the products that suffers most from this waste, due to its short shelf life. Active use-by date (AUBD) indicators have been shown to discriminate between fresh and spoiled milk. Colorimetric indicators undergo characteristic changes in their chemical structure, causing abrupt color changes. Among the polymeric materials studied that may function as solid support are cellulose acetate (CA) and agar-agar (AA). The AA colorimetric indicator proved to be more suitable as a solid support due to its ability to maintain the color change properties of the anthocyanin and its high colorimetric performance. The technique was shown to be capable of indicating, in real time, changes in milk quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into the Production of Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives for Challenging Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 3175 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From Regenerated Wood Pulp Fibers to Cationic Cellulose: Preparation, Characterization and Dyeing Properties

by Bárbara Pereira, Filipe S. Matos, Bruno F. A. Valente, Niklas Von Weymarn, Taina Kamppuri, Carmen S. R. Freire, Armando J. D. Silvestre and Carla Vilela

Polysaccharides 2022, 3(3), 609-624; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides3030036 - 07 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4090

Abstract

The global demand for sustainable textile fibers is growing and has led to an increasing research interest from both academia and industry to find effective solutions. In this research, regenerated wood pulp fibers were functionalized with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTAC) to produce modified regenerated [...] Read more.

The global demand for sustainable textile fibers is growing and has led to an increasing research interest from both academia and industry to find effective solutions. In this research, regenerated wood pulp fibers were functionalized with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTAC) to produce modified regenerated cellulose with cationic pending groups for improved dye uptake. The resultant cationic cellulose with a degree of substitution (DS) between 0.13 and 0.33 exhibited distinct morphologies and contact angles with water ranging from 65.7° to 82.5° for the fibers with DS values of 0.13 and 0.33, respectively. Furthermore, the thermal stability of the modified regenerated cellulose fibers, albeit lower than the pristine ones, reached temperatures up to 220 °C. Additionally, the modified fibers showed higher dye exhaustion and dye fixation values than the non-modified ones, attaining maxima values of 89.3% ± 0.9% and 80.6% ± 1.3%, respectively, for the cationic fibers with a DS of 0.13. These values of dye exhaustion and dye fixation are ca. 34% and 77% higher than those obtained for the non-modified fibers. Overall, regenerated wood pulp cellulose fibers can be used, after cationization, as textiles fiber with enhanced dye uptake performance that might offer new options for dyeing treatments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into the Production of Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives for Challenging Sustainable Development)

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15 pages, 1144 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Utilisation of Pectins Extracted from Orange Peels by Non Conventional Methods in the Formation of Edible Films in the Presence of Herbal Infusions

by Marianthi Zioga, Angeliki Chroni and Vasiliki Evageliou

Polysaccharides 2022, 3(3), 574-588; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides3030034 - 14 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1653

Abstract

Edible films of three high methoxy pectins (DE: 70–75%) in the presence of dittany and anise infusions were studied. Apart from a commercial one, two more pectins, selected by their yield and DE from preliminary experiments on pectin extraction from orange peels using [...] Read more.

Edible films of three high methoxy pectins (DE: 70–75%) in the presence of dittany and anise infusions were studied. Apart from a commercial one, two more pectins, selected by their yield and DE from preliminary experiments on pectin extraction from orange peels using ultrasound- and microwave-assisted extraction or a combination of both, were used. Extracted pectins were darker, less surface active and had lower [η] and absolute zeta values. All three pectin solutions were Newtonian. Furthermore, all films had statistically the same thickness (~40 μm) and moisture content (~25.2%). For the same herbal infusion, all pectins resulted in films with the same density (~1.01 and ~1.19 g/cm³ for dittany and anise films, respectively). Values of 2–4.65 N and 76.62–191.80 kPa, for maximum force and modulus, respectively, were reported. The commercial pectin film with anise was the stronger, whereas that with dittany, the stiffer. Total phenolics content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (SA) were also measured for films and film-forming solutions (FFS). TPC values ranged from 0.035 to 0.157 mg GAE/0.5 mL and SA from ~62 to 91%. Films had greater TPC but lower SA than their FFS. The presence of both pectin and herbal infusions were significant for our observations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into the Production of Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives for Challenging Sustainable Development)

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Review

Jump to: Research, Other

37 pages, 6324 KiB

Open AccessReview

Polysaccharides as Economic and Sustainable Raw Materials for the Preparation of Adsorbents for Water Treatment

by Gema Díaz Bukvic, Ezequiel Rossi and María Inés Errea

Polysaccharides 2023, 4(3), 219-255; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides4030016 - 20 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1392

Abstract

Adsorption processes, due to their technical simplicity and cost-effectiveness, have arisen as one of the most well-known, straightforward solutions to water pollution. In this context, polysaccharides, due to their abundance, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, are appealing raw materials for the design of adsorbents. Moreover, [...] Read more.

Adsorption processes, due to their technical simplicity and cost-effectiveness, have arisen as one of the most well-known, straightforward solutions to water pollution. In this context, polysaccharides, due to their abundance, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, are appealing raw materials for the design of adsorbents. Moreover, some of them, such as chitosan, can be obtained from organic waste products, and their use additionally contributes to solving another concerning problem: organic waste accumulation. Unfortunately, due to their low adsorption capacities and/or physicochemical properties, native polysaccharides are not suitable for this purpose. However, there are alternatives that can overcome these physical or chemical limitations, often taking advantage of the versatility of their polyhydroxylated structure. In this context, this review aims to present an overview of the advances from 2019 onwards in the design of new adsorbents for water treatment from cellulose, alginate, chitosan, and starch, addressing the two main strategies reported in the literature: the preparation of either polysaccharide-based composites or polysaccharide derivatives. It is important to point out that, herein, special emphasis is placed on the relationship between the chemical structure and the efficiency as adsorbents of the analyzed materials, in an attempt to contribute to the rational design of adsorbents obtained from polysaccharides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into the Production of Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives for Challenging Sustainable Development)

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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

13 pages, 5688 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

A Systematic Review of New Trends in Ionic Liquids Applied to Electrolytes on Polysaccharides

by Heitor Luiz Ornaghi, Jr., Eduardo Fischer Kerche, Roberta Motta Neves, Francisco Maciel Monticeli and Lucas Dall Agnol

Polysaccharides 2022, 3(3), 502-514; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides3030030 - 08 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2227

Abstract

Polysaccharides are formed by a long chain of monosaccharides, with the main function of promoting energetic and structural reserves for plants and animals. They can be applied as a base of electrolytes, using ionic liquids (ILs) as a solvent base. The study of [...] Read more.

Polysaccharides are formed by a long chain of monosaccharides, with the main function of promoting energetic and structural reserves for plants and animals. They can be applied as a base of electrolytes, using ionic liquids (ILs) as a solvent base. The study of electrolytes is an emerging field, as they are applied as secondary batteries, fuel cells, solar cells, supercapacitors and chemical sensors. They operate stably under extreme conditions, maintaining their high thermal stability. Furthermore, their low cost and environmentally safe character, compared to conventional electrolytes, have attracted considerable attention in the scientific field. ILs are composed entirely of ions and could be potentially applied as solvents. As electrolytes, ILs are environmentally friendly, and their use in combination with polysaccharides leads to a synergic effect. In the present study, a systematic review was performed of all papers published from 2014 to 2022 regarding ILs and polysaccharides through a search of three databases. Due to the large number of results found, only papers about electrolytes were considered and the main findings described. This study allows for easy identification of the most relevant fields of study with respect to ILs and polysaccharides, as well as the main gaps to be explored in the literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into the Production of Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives for Challenging Sustainable Development)

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