Formulation and process development of calcium-rich particle-based Pickering emulsions loaded with vitamin D to produce fortified and excipient foods imparting enhanced oral calcium absorption effects

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Nano-hydroxyapatite Pickering emulsions as edible mayonnaise-like food sauce templates: A novel approach for food design

Publication . Relvas, Maria Eduarda; Ghirro, Larissa Camargo; Martins, Isabel M.; Lopes, José Carlos B.; Dias, Madalena M.; Barreiro, M.F.; Ribeiro, Andreia

Pickering emulsions have the potential to enhance product stability and provide opportunities to create functional solutions that align with labelling requirements. The present work aims to develop Pickering emulsions stabilised by nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAp) particles to replace traditional mayonnaises. The study addresses the effect of n-HAp solid particle concentration (5–15 wt%) and oil-water ratio (50:50, 60:40, 70:30, and 80:20, v/v) on emulsion stability, rheological properties, and oxidative stability. The results indicate that the produced Pickering emulsions have good stability for the tested period of 90 days, except for the 80:20 o/w emulsion that undergone a prompt quick phase separation. The Pickering emulsions produced with higher n-HAp concentration or oil content have a semi-solid structure, rendering them desirable options for replicating the texture of traditional mayonnaises. Regarding oxidative stability, the Pickering emulsions showed considerably improved stability compared to commercial mayonnaises (∼13 times higher), suggesting higher resistance to peroxidation and a longer shelf-life.

2024Journal article

Open access

A Reliable Molecular Diagnostic Tool for CA90 (Castanea sativa × Castanea crenata) Hybrid Identification Through SSR

Publication . Yussif, Toufiq Soale; Cruz, Nadine Evora da; Coelho, Valentim; Gouveia, Maria Eugénia; Choupina, Altino Branco

Chestnut trees are an essential source of both food and timber. However, the severe threats from invasive pests and diseases compromise their existence and productivity. In Europe, chestnut hybridization programs have been initiated to produce resilient rootstocks in response to ink disease. However, the gap in the identification of these hybrid plants is typically based on field observations and morphological features and remains a challenge. Our study presents a marker set for distinguishing between chestnut hybrid CA90 (Castanea sativa × Castanea crenata), a hybrid with demonstrated resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi, and other varieties using microsatellite (SSR) markers and bioinformatics tools. We used 35 chestnut samples, including three CA90 controls, hybrids sampled within Portugal, with an aim to define the profiles of the chestnut hybrids and varieties in this study based on band patterns and SSR motifs. We selected and modified nine distinct SSR primers with null allelic features from 43 already developed simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. PCR amplification and agarose gel electrophoresis were used to amplify and visualize the DNA bands. To confirm genetic variations, 27 amplified bands were sequenced by Sanger sequencing. This analysis identified 31 SSRs across 22 SSR-containing sequences, with trinucleotide (67.74%) repeats being the most common, followed by repeats of dinucleotide (22.58%), mononucleotide (6.45%), and hexanucleotide (3.23%). A total of 18 alleles were observed for the nine loci. The alleles ranged from one to three per locus for the 35 samples. The novel locus CP4 could only be found in CA90 hybrids. This tool can aid in identifying and selecting disease-resistant hybrids, thereby contributing to chestnut production and management strategies.

2025Journal article

Open access