Characterization and bioaccessibility of β-carotene encapsulated on microcapsules produced with starch and protein from amaranth grain

Laylla Coelho acknowledges the CNPQ-Brazil for her fellowship (IF/00300/2015). Pedro Silva acknowledges the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for his fellowship (SFRD/BD/130247/2017). FCT is also thanked for the Investigator FCT program (PF) and for the grant ref. SFRH/BPD/104712/2014 (IG). This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of the UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 – Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Development and characterization of b-carotene microcapsules composed of starch and protein extract from Amaranth

The 19th Gums & Stabilisers for the Food Industry Conference: Hydrocolloid multifunctionalityStudies that have explored the use of biopolymers of Amaranth as encapsulating materials for bioactive compounds1,2,3 demonstrate that it is possible to isolate and encapsulate bioactive compounds with Amaranth biopolymers. Therefore, the added value of Amaranth can be increased, evidenced and studied through the extraction of its compounds and the formation of microcapsules. The objective of this study was the evaluation of the ability of Amaranth biopolymers to microencapsulate a bioactive compound - -carotene. The microencapsulation was performed by spray drying4, and -carotene was added to the Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) starch or protein through a solution prepared at the ratio of 1:10 (polymer:-carotene) in corn oil (1 %). The microcapsules were characterized by mean diameter (volume%), particle size distribution, microcapsules morphology by epifluorescence microscopy, microstructure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and by measuring encapsulation efficiency. Microcapsules exhibited an average size of 2.22 ± 1.84 m and 1.55 ± 1.12 m for microcapsules composed of Amaranth protein and Amaranth starch, respectively. The microscopy images of both microcapsules showed good sphericity and presence of fluorescence, which indicates good encapsulation capacity of -carotene. FT-IR results showed no differences between spectra of all samples, which indicates that there was no chemical bonding between the capsules and -carotene, but rather an entrapment of -carotene into starch and protein microparticles. The encapsulation efficiency was 71.29 % and 69.32 % for Amaranth starch and protein microcapsules, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that the biopolymers extracted from Amaranth can be considered good encapsulating agents for bioactive compounds, thus valorising their use in food formulations.This study was funded by the CNPQ-Brazil; FCT – Portugal (SFRH/BPD/89992/2012, SFRH/BPD/101181/2014, SFRH/BPD/104712/2014 and IF/00300/2015 fellowships); Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER- 027462); Project UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER- 006684) and Project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007679 (FCT UID/CTM/50011/2013).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Valorization of Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) grain extracts for the development of alginate-based active films

This research work investigates the development of alginate-based films incorporating phenolic compounds extracted from Amaranthus cruentus grain using different solvents. Alginate, glycerol, and amaranth grain phenolic compounds at various concentrations were used to produce the films. An experimental Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) was used to evaluate the effect of these variables on different film’s properties, i.e., water vapor permeability, hydrophobicity, moisture content, solubility, thermal, mechanical, and optical properties. This study demonstrated that high phenolic compound content and antioxidant capacity were obtained from amaranth grain using ethanol as the extraction solvent. Alginate films incorporating amaranth phenolic compounds were successfully manufactured, and this study can be used to tailor the formulation of alginate films containing amaranth phenolic compounds, depending on their final food application. For example, less flexible but more resistant and water-soluble films can be produced by increasing the alginate concentration, which was confirmed by a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis. This study showed that active alginate films with amaranth phenolic compounds can be tailored to be used as food packaging material with potential antioxidant activity.This research was funded by Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit, and by LABBELS—Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Microelectromechnaical Systems (LA/P/0029/2020). Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brazil, is also acknowledged for the doctoral grant to L.M.C. (IF/00300/2015).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estratégias para valorizar as propriedades nutricionais do grão de amaranto (Amaranthus cruentus): comportamento sob digestão gastrointestinal in vitro e em células Caco-2

Tese de doutoramento em Food Science and Technology and NutritionAmaranth is a pseudocereal of great nutritional value that has a higher amount of fiber and protein than the cereals usually consumed, which is why it has stood out as an excellent alternative or complementary source of proteins, together with the fact that it does not contain gluten. In this context, the main objective of this study was to explore the amaranth grain by using innovative technologies, developing and characterizing materials that can be used in food, valuing this grain. In order to achieve this objective, two approaches were developed in this thesis: 1) development and characterization of amaranth protein- and starch-based encapsulation structures and 2) development and characterization of biopolymeric film matrices incorporating amaranth phenolic compounds. In the first approach, β-carotene was the bioactive compound chosen to be encapsulated in amaranth starch and protein microcapsules formed by spray-drying, aiming at improving its water solubility, stability and bioavailability. Moisture content, morphology, solubility, particle size, encapsulation efficiency and β-carotene stability were analyzed. All microcapsules showed a wide particle size distribution and also low solubility and moisture content. Also, the results showed that encapsulation strongly increased β-carotene stability. Its stability in various in vitro food simulants was demonstrated in acidic and neutral media, but not in alcoholic media. Subsequently, a static digestion model was used to assess β-carotene bioaccessibility and its citotoxicity and cellular antioxidant capacity was determined when in contact with Caco-2 cells. The results showed that encapsulated β-carotene presented higher bioaccessibility than free β-carotene. Moreover, β carotene incorporated in amaranth starch and protein microcapsules was not cytotoxic at 160x dilution. Encapsulated β-carotene presented higher cellular antioxidant capacity than free β carotene indicating that microcapsules exhibited the ability to protect β-carotene and its antioxidant function. In the second approach, alginate and glycerol-based films with the incorporation of phenolic compounds extracted from the amaranth grain were developed. The films were produced using different alginate, glycerol and phenolic compounds concentrations and characterized (e.g. mechanical properties, opacity and water vapor permeability). Chemical interactions were studied by FTIR and film surface was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Alginate films incorporating amaranth phenolic compounds have been successfully manufactured. The light transmittance of the films was reduced due to phenolic compounds incorporation. Phenolic compounds addition to alginate films also resulted in intermolecular interactions, which was confirmed by FTIR spectra. If mechanical stability is a priority, films presenting higher alginate/glycerol ratio should be produced. On the other hand, if film flexibility is prioritized, the alginate/glycerol ratio must be equal to one. In general, the two products developed and explored in this thesis can be potential vehicles for functional compounds incorporation. Bioactive compounds entrapment in amaranth polymeric matrices and the use of its functional components provide a new and promising alternative for amaranth grain use and valorization.O amaranto é um pseudocereal de grande valor nutricional que apresenta uma quantidade de fibras e proteína superior aos cereais normalmente consumidos, razão pela qual se tem destacado como uma excelente fonte alternativa ou complementar de proteínas e por não conter glúten na sua composição amilácea. Neste contexto, o objetivo principal deste estudo foi explorar o grão de amaranto pela utilização de tecnologias inovadoras, desenvolvendo e caracterizando materiais que possam ser utilizados em alimentos, valorizando este grão. Para atingir este objetivo, duas abordagens foram desenvolvidas nesta tese: 1) desenvolvimento e caracterização de estruturas de encapsulamento à base de proteína e amido de amaranto e 2) estudo, desenvolvimento e caracterização de filmes biopoliméricos incorporando compostos fenólicos extraídos do amaranto. Na primeira abordagem, o β-caroteno foi o composto bioactivo escolhido para ser encapsulado em micropartículas de amido e proteína de amaranto formadas por pulverização, para melhorar a sua solubilidade em água, estabilidade química e biodisponibilidade. Analisaram-se o conteúdo de humidade, morfologia, solubilidade, tamanho de partícula, eficiência de encapsulação e estabilidade do β-caroteno nas microcápsulas. Observou-se que todas as microcápsulas apresentaram ampla distribuição de tamanho de partícula e também baixa solubilidade e teor de humidade. A estabilidade do β-caroteno encapsulado foi avaliada e os resultados demonstraram que o encapsulamento aumentou fortemente a sua estabilidade. Foi também estudada a sua estabilidade em vários meios alimentares de libertação in vitro e verificou-se a sua estabilidade em meios ácidos e neutros, mas não em meios alcoólicos. Posteriormente, foi utilizado um modelo de digestão estática para avaliar a bioacessibilidade do β caroteno encapsulado e o seu comportamento na presença de células Caco-2, em termos de citotoxicidade e de capacidade antioxidante celular. Os resultados demonstraram que o β-caroteno encapsulado apresentou maior bioacessibilidade que o β-caroteno livre, e que o sistema não é citotóxico a partir de 160 x para as microcápsulas de amido de amaranto e microcápsulas de proteínas de amaranto.. A capacidade antioxidante das microcápsulas mostrou-se elevada a nível celular, indicando que estas exibem a capacidade de proteger a célula e desempenhar a sua função antioxidante. Na segunda abordagem, foram produzidos e caracterizados filmes à base de alginato e glicerol com a incorporação de compostos fenólicos extraídos do grão de amaranto. Os filmes foram produzidos utilizando diferentes concentrações de alginato, glicerol e compostos fenólicos e caracterizados em termos de propriedades mecânicas, opacidade, teor de humidade, solubilidade e permeabilidade ao vapor de água. As interações químicas foram estudadas por FTIR e a superfície do filme foi analisada por microscopia eletrónica de varrimento. Produziram-se com sucesso filmes de alginato incorporados com fenólicos de amaranto. A transmitância da luz no filme foi diminuída pela incorporação de compostos fenólicos. A adição de compostos fenólicos nos filmes de alginato também resultou em interações intermoleculares, o que pode ser confirmado pelos espectros de FTIR. Se a maior estabilidade mecânica for uma prioridade, devem produzir-se filmes com maior proporção de alginato/glicerol. Por outro lado, se a flexibilidade dos filmes for priorizada, a razão alginato/glicerol deve ser igual a um. Em geral, os dois produtos desenvolvidos e explorados nesta tese podem ser um potencial veículo para a incorporação de compostos funcionais. Tanto o aprisionamento em matrizes poliméricas do amaranto quanto a utilização dos seus componentes funcionais são uma nova e promissora alternativa para a utilização e valorização do grão de amaranto

Avaliação sensorial de produtos panificados com adição de farinha de bagaço de maçã Sensory evaluation of bakery products with the addition of apple pomace flour

A industrialização da maçã, em particular do suco, gera, no processamento, como principal resíduo ou subproduto, o bagaço, e como gerenciá-lo adequadamente está entre as prioridades das indústrias processadoras. A composição físico-química da farinha de bagaço de maçã apresentou, neste estudo, 43% de fibras em base seca. Os estudos sobre as fibras demonstram que elas exercem uma ação hipocolesterolêmica, reduzindo a digestão e a absorção dos lipídios dietéticos, aumentando a excreção fecal dos ácidos biliares e esteróis neutros, aumentando a produção de ácidos graxos de cadeia curta no cólon e diminuindo a porcentagem de ácidos biliares primários na bile. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar sensorialmente produtos panificados, adicionados de farinha de bagaço de maçã, e comprovar que a farinha de bagaço de maçã pode constituir fonte alternativa potencial de fibra alimentar para a formulação de alimentos panificados.<br>The industrialization process of apple, particularly juice, generates the pomace as the main residue or by-product, whose proper management should be among the priorities of the processing industries. The physicochemical composition of the apple pomace flour obtained in this study consisted of 43% of fiber on a dry basis. Studies on the fibers show that they have a hypocholesterolemic action reducing the digestion and absorption of dietary lipids, increasing the fecal excretion of bile acids and neutral sterols, increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids in the colon, and decreasing the percentage of primary bile acids. The objective of this study was to evaluate sensorially bakery products added with apple pomace flour to show that the apple pomace flour can be a potential alternative source of dietary fibers in bakery products

HIV testing and the care continuum among transgender women: population estimates from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Submitted by Fábio Marques ([email protected]) on 2018-03-26T16:11:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ve_Emilia_Jalil_etal_INI_Lapclin_2017.pdf: 146630 bytes, checksum: 6038967edb65c8c974212141541f17c7 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Raquel Dinelis ([email protected]) on 2018-04-12T14:35:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ve_Emilia_Jalil_etal_INI_Lapclin_2017.pdf: 146630 bytes, checksum: 6038967edb65c8c974212141541f17c7 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-12T14:35:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ve_Emilia_Jalil_etal_INI_Lapclin_2017.pdf: 146630 bytes, checksum: 6038967edb65c8c974212141541f17c7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017Fundação Oswaldo Cruz.Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Bridge HIV, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, USA.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz.Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz.Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. / Departamento de Matemática e Estatística, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz.Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz.Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz.Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz.Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz.Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz.Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Departments of Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.Bridge HIV, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, USA.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz.Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Bridge HIV, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, USA. / Departments of Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz.Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Evidence suggests that, of all affected populations, transgender women (transwomen) may have the heaviest HIV burden worldwide. Little is known about HIV linkage and care outcomes for transwomen. We aimed to estimate population-level indicators of the HIV cascade of care continuum, and to evaluate factors associated with viral suppression among transwomen in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Transcendendo: a cohort study of HIV-infected and uninfected transgender women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Submitted by Fábio Marques ([email protected]) on 2019-04-22T15:07:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Transcendendo_Ana_Ferreira_INI_Lapclin-AIDS_2019.pdf: 906775 bytes, checksum: aaffe6c606616bc28639e694f5432204 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Regina Costa ([email protected]) on 2019-04-22T16:24:49Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Transcendendo_Ana_Ferreira_INI_Lapclin-AIDS_2019.pdf: 906775 bytes, checksum: aaffe6c606616bc28639e694f5432204 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2019-04-22T16:24:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Transcendendo_Ana_Ferreira_INI_Lapclin-AIDS_2019.pdf: 906775 bytes, checksum: aaffe6c606616bc28639e694f5432204 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrasilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Programa de Computação Científica. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Purpose: Worldwide, the burden of adverse health conditions is substantial among travestis and transgender women (trans women). Transcendendo, the first trans-specific cohort in a low- or middle-income country, is an open cohort established in August 2015 to longitudinally evaluate the health aspects of trans women aged ≥18 years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods: Study visits occur on an annual basis. Data on sociodemographics, behavioral, gender transition, affirmation procedures, hormone use, discrimination, violence, clinical and mental health, HIV prevention, and care (for those HIV-infected) are collected. Physical examination, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory tests are performed. Results: As of July 2017, 322 trans women were enrolled in the cohort with a median age of 31.5 years (interquartile range 25.7-39.5), of whom 174 (54%) were HIV-infected. The Transcendendo baseline information reinforces the scenario of marginalization and deprivation surrounding trans women. Most participants had low income (62.0% were living with below US$ 10.00/day), showed a very high engagement in sex work (78.6%), and reported increased occurrence of sexual (46.3%) and physical (54.0%) violence. Pre-exposure peophylaxis (PReP) was used by 18.8% of the HIV-uninfected trans women, only through research participation. Positive screening for depression (57.8%) and problematic use of tobacco (56.6%), cannabis (28.9%), cocaine (23.8%), and alcohol (21.5%) were high. Almost all participants (94.8%) reported hormone use at some point, mostly without medical supervision (78.7%). Conclusion: Our results describe a context of exclusion experienced by trans women, exposing vulnerabilities of this population in a middle-income country, with poor access to trans-specific care, HIV prevention and care, and mental health care. Addressing transgender experiences and needs can help the development of strategies to diminish stigma, improve health care environment, guide future research on trans morbidities, substance use, and trans-specific interventions to support health-related recommendations. Ultimately, it contributes to close the gaps concerning transgender health and reinforces that trans care cannot be disentangled from the social environment that surrounds trans women