Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules Enhance the Stability of β-Galactosidase Under Simulated Gastrointestinal Conditions

Development Of Protease-Encapsulated Microcapsules For Improved Digestion In Pancreatic Insufficiency

Overall, the developed solid-in-oil spray-dried ethylcellulose microcapsules represent a promising oral enzyme delivery platform with potential applications in enzyme replacement therapy for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, phenylketonuria, and related metabolic disorders.

Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules: An Efficient and Rapid Adsorbent for Uranine

Fluorescein-based tracers like uranine are extensively used in hydrogeology, textile marking, and cosmetics, yet their discharge generates dilute wastewater streams that challenge conventional treatment due to low removal efficiency and high operational costs. This study evaluates the sorption potential of polyelectrolyte microcapsules (PMCs) fabricated via a green, aqueous layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly on sacrificial CaCO3 templates for uranine decontamination. The PMCs achieve rapid equilibrium within ≤5 min, with kinetics governed by the pseudo-second-order model and equilibrium data described by the Langmuir isotherm, yielding a maximum capacity of 12.1 mg/g. Sorption is highly efficient at neutral to mildly acidic pH (3.0–7.0) and low ionic strength (≤0.15 M NaCl), providing 98–100% removal from dilute streams (C0 ≤ 10 mg/L) and consistently reducing effluent concentrations to <0.05 mg/L. Saturated capsules exhibit low spontaneous dye release (≤10%) in deionized water under the tested conditions. Although limited regenerability precludes multi-cycle industrial use, the rapid sorption kinetics and high uranine removal efficiency make PMCs well suited for single-use polishing applications. By offering a scalable, solvent-free synthesis and targeted removal of emerging fluorescent pollutants from low-concentration effluents, this work presents a sustainable, low-energy alternative for advanced wastewater treatment, aligning with green chemical engineering and circular water management principles.

Biosynthesis and functionalization of recombinant bovine lactoferrin: Alginate-mediated stabilization and MTGase-induced gelation for anthocyanin delivery.

Bovine lactoferrin (BLF) is a milk-derived glycoprotein with diverse biological activities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory functions, with potential for applications in functional foods and nutraceuticals. However, its practical utilization remains limited by key challenges: low efficiency of traditional extraction methods, poor gastrointestinal stability, and a narrow range of application forms. To address these issues, this study developed an integrated strategy spanning from efficient production to functional application. First, the Pichia pastoris expression system was optimized through signal peptide engineering and chaperone co-expression, achieving high-yield secretory production of recombinant BLF (rBLF) at 232.6 mg/L in shake-flask fermentation. Subsequently, rBLF was complexed with sodium alginate (NaAlg) via electrostatic self-assembly to form nanocomposites for gastrointestinal protection. The rBLF-NaAlg complex exhibited remarkable resistance to simulated gastric digestion, with only a 23.7% reduction in particle size, significantly lower than the 71.1% reduction observed for free rBLF. Furthermore, a three-dimensional hydrogel delivery system was constructed through microbial transglutaminase (MTGase)-catalyzed cross-linking. This system demonstrated encapsulation and sustained release of anthocyanins as a model bioactive compound. The gel structure and performance showed a clear enzyme concentration dependence: moderate cross-linking (<80 U/g) resulted in a uniform and dense network, enhancing encapsulation efficiency and providing controlled release. This work establishes a complete technological pathway from high-yield production and stabilization to functional expansion, demonstrating that rBLF can be transformed from a labile bioactive protein into a dual-functional material with both nutritional and delivery capabilities. This integrated strategy provides a viable solution for developing advanced BLF-based functional foods and nutraceutical delivery systems.

Soy Protein-Oligosaccharide Maillard Reaction Products for Synbiotic Microencapsulation: A Strategy to Enhance the Antioxidant Functionality of Soybean Powder

Liposomal Pentabromophenol as a Dual-Functional Nanocarrier for Antibiofilm Activity and Postharvest Grapes Shelf-Life Enhancement.

Microbial biofilms are highly resistant to conventional antibiotics, leading to persistent infection and rapid food spoilage. In this study, pentabromophenol (PBP) loaded liposomes were synthesized as a dual-functional nanocarrier for antibiofilm activity and postharvest grape preservation. The optimized formulation 3 showed lipid vesicles, strong colloidal stability, and a high encapsulation efficiency of 94%. Encapsulation significantly improved the antibiofilm activity of PBP against Staphylococcus aureus, achieving 86.9% inhibition at 0.1 µg/mL, which is fivefold higher than that of free PBP. A lipid-mixing assay confirmed concentration-dependent membrane fusion that facilitated sustained PBP release and efficient biofilm inhibition. When applied as a coating, PBP liposomes reduced microbial growth by more than 80%, maintained grape firmness, and minimized weight loss during 7 days of storage. Biocompatibility assays using Raphanus sativus and Caenorhabditis elegans demonstrated no potential toxicity. Overall, PBP liposomes offer a safe and efficient platform for controlling S. aureus and extending grape shelf life.

Polyelectrolyte functionalization of ceria nanozymes: linking dispersion stability and enzyme-like activity

Cerium oxide (CeNPs) nanozymes represent a versatile class of biocatalytic nanomaterials capable of mimicking multiple enzyme functions, however, their practical application is often hindered by limited colloidal stability. Herein, the interaction of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, namely heparin (HEP), chondroitin sulfate (CS), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and methylglycol chitosan (MGC), with CeNPs was investigated with respect to dispersion stability, peroxidase-like activity and biocompatibility. Distinct charging and aggregation regimes were quantitatively identified over a wide range of polyelectrolyte-to-particle mass ratios. At high surface coverage, adsorption of the macromolecules markedly enhanced resistance against salt-induced aggregation owing to electrosteric repulsion. Surface functionalization also improved the peroxidase-like operation of the CeNPs, with polyanion-coated particles exhibiting substantially higher enzymatic activity than the bare nanozymes. Cell viability assays confirmed excellent biocompatibility of both pristine and functionalized CeNPs, with no detectable cell death upon incubation with the nanozymes. These findings demonstrate that polyelectrolyte adsorption provides an effective strategy to simultaneously improve the colloidal stability and biocatalytic performance of CeNPs, widening their implementation in biomedical and industrial applications.