In this study we used differential scanning calorimetry to clarify the role of water activity within the nano-droplets, and to explore phase transitions in novel phospholipids based fully dilutable food-grade microemulsions. The microstructure transitions were investigated along two water diln. lines (50:50 and 80:20% surfactant mixt./oil phase). From the water thermal behavior we learned that three structural regions can be identified along the water diln. lines. The thermal transition points coincide with the structural phase transition of the microemulsions as measured by other methods (elec. cond. and SD-NMR measurements). The structural transitions were detected at 20 and 45% of water along diln. line 55, where along diln. line 82 it occurs at 40 and 50% of water. The microemulsions along diln. line 82 seem to have more compact surfactant packing film, thus the film has stronger resistance to transformation upon diln., resulting in a smaller bicontinuous region than the one formed at diln. line 55. The difference in phase transition point can be used for triggering the release of future solubilizate. [on SciFinder(R)]

Lyotropic liq. crystals of glycerol monooleate (GMO) and water binary mixts. have been extensively studied and their resemblance to human membranes has intrigued many scientists. Biol. systems as well as food mixts. are composed of lipids and fat components including triacylglycerols (TAGs, triglycerides) that can affect the nature of the assembly of the mesophase. The present study examines the effect of TAGs of different chain lengths (C2-C18) at various water/GMO compns., on phase transitions from lamellar or cubic to reverse hexagonal (L$\alpha$-HII and Q-HII). The ability of the triglycerides to promote the formation of an HII mesophase is chain length-dependent. It was found that TAG mols. with very short acyl chains (triacetin) can hydrate the head groups of the lipid and do not affect the crit. packing parameter (CPP) of the amphiphile; therefore, they do not affect the self-assembly of the GMO in water, and the mesophase remains lamellar or cubic. However, TAGs with medium chain fatty acids will solvate the tails of the lipid, and will affect the CPP of the GMO, and transform the lamellar or cubic phases into hexagonal mesophase. TAGs with long chain fatty acids are very bulky, not very miscible with the GMO, and therefore, kinetically are very slow to solvate the lipid tails of the amphiphile and are difficult to accommodate into the lipophilic parts of the GMO. Their effect on the transitions from a lamellar or cubic phase to hexagonal is detected only after months of equilibration. In order to enhance the effect of the TAG on the phase transitions in the GMO/triglyceride/water systems, temp. and electrolytes effects were examd. In the presence of short and medium chain triglycerides, increasing temp. caused a transition from lamellar or hexagonal to L2 phase (highest CPP value). However, in the presence of long chain TAGs, increasing temp. to ca. 40 °C caused a formation of HII mesophase. In addn., it was found that in tricaprylin/GMO/water systems, the increase in temp. caused a decrease in the lattice parameter. The effect of NaCl on the HII mesophase revealed interesting results. At low concn. of tricaprylin (5 wt%), the addn. of only 0.1 wt% of NaCl was sufficient to cause the formation of well-defined HII mesophase, while further addn. of electrolyte increased the hexagonal lattice parameters. At higher TAGs concns. (10 wt%), addn. of electrolyte resulted in the formation of HII with modifications of the lattice parameter. All the examd. effects were more pronounced with increasing water content. [on SciFinder(R)]

This article is the first part of a two-part study that exemplifies how to treat the solubilization of water in multicomponent surfactant-based systems. In particular, it aims at clarifying the role of cosurfactants in water solubilization in these systems. The judicious selection of the components in such systems to maximize water solubilization is occasionally thought to be dictated by the chain length compatibility principle, which may be expressed quant. by the BSO (Bansal, Shah, O'Connell) equation. Here we demonstrate some limitations of the equation. For example, in our best model system, C12(EO)8/dodecane + pentanol = 1:1 (by wt.)/water at 27 ± 0.2 ° C, the BSO equation predicts that no alc. is needed for max. water solubilization, contrary to our exptl. findings. We discuss how to optimize the alc./oil wt. ratio needed for stabilizing four-component microemulsions. In our model systems C12(EO)8 or C18:1(EO)10/pentanol/dodecane/water, this optimal wt. ratio is 1:1. We also highlight the difference between the effect of normal alcs. on water solubilization-which passes via a max.-and their effect on percolation processes and structured changes of proteins, which depends solely upon the alc. hydrophobicity. For the investigation of the effect of branching on phase behavior the utilization of an extended form of the geometrical branching factor F b is suggested. The meaning of this factor is elucidated by comparing it with topol. indexes. [on SciFinder(R)]

In this second part of a paper dealing with the effect of branched alcs. on solubilization, an attempt has been made to provide explanations of exptl. data related mostly to the system Brij 97/branched alc. + dodecane = 1:1 (by wt.)/water at 27 ± 0.2 °C . Applying the Hou-Shah mechanism it was shown that for many C4-C6 branched alc. isomers having one Me branch, solubilization behavior is readily interpreted by assuming control of the crit. radius, Rc. Two parameters, both included in the definition of the branching factor, Fb (which was treated in the first part of the paper), were also used to analyze solubilization data. The first, li, is defined as the distance from the free end of the alc. mol. to the Me branch. The second, d, is virtually NA, the chain length of the alc. When li \textgreater 3, the solubilization becomes dominated by the natural radius of curvature, R0. Also, we have suggested that for Rc-control, solubilization will be enhanced in direct proportion to the distance d-li whereas for R0-control, solubilization will increase with decreasing d-li. The validity of our assumptions was demonstrated in many cases. Some examples of the more complicated case of double branching (two Me groups along the alc. chain) were also analyzed. [on SciFinder(R)]

During the reconstruction the ternary phase diagram of glycerol monooleate (GMO)/EtOH/H2O, the authors detected a novel structure not previously seen. The new phase, denoted QL (micellar cubic liq.), is located within the 4954 wt.-% H2O/4133 wt.-% GMO binary mixt. line and at 10-13 wt.-% EtOH in a small island within the phase diagram close to the cubic liq.-cryst. phase region. The QL phase is transparent (not tinted), of a low viscosity (36.6 Pa s), non-birefringent, and stable at room temp. Evidence from severe centrifugation, synchrotron small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements, and rheol. behavior revealed that the sample is a single phase. SAXS reflections suggest that two types of domain may coexist. The symmetry of the QL phase is Pm3n. A cubic micellar structure is the dominant mesostructure of this unique sample. Cryo-TEM images show highly ordered domains with cubic symmetry, of lattice parameter 103 ± 2 \AA. A possible transformation pathway to the QL phase is a 'rupture and refusion' mechanism, as the phase seems to have discontinuous symmetry. [on SciFinder(R)]

In our recent studies we have found a unique mixt. of water, special food-grade oil, mixt. of food-grade surfactants, cosolvent (polyol) and coemulsifiers that can self-assemble to form new nanosized modified microemulsions of U-type, totally dilutable with aq. phase. The "conc." is capable of solubilizing nutraceuticals that are poorly sol. in water or oil phase at ca 15-20 folds over their soly. capacity. Nutraceuticals such as lycopene, lutein, CoQ10, phytosterols, etc. have been solubilized. We have used advanced techniques such as SAXS, SANS, SD-NMR, QELS to evaluate the microstructures in the absence and in the presence of the guest mols. The presentation will bring data on the solubilization of the nutraceuticals, their chem. protection against oxidn., and their improved bioavailability. Effects of guest mols. and microemulsions ingredients on the microstructure transitions and reactivity will be discussed. [on SciFinder(R)]

A review is presented considering solubilization and interfacial reactions in bicontinuous liq. cryst. mesophases. [on SciFinder(R)]

A review of the current state of knowledge on self-assembled surfactant systems used as vehicles for nutraceuticals in food matrixes. Efforts have been made to find the correct mixt. of microemulsion ingredients and surfactants to inhibit liq.-crystal formation and phase sepn., and to maximize dissoln. of mutual ingredients, to structure food-grade microemulsions. The formation of progressively dilutable microemulsions (with oil and/or water) has been made possible by the addn. of polyols and short-chain alcs. [on SciFinder(R)]

The present invention concerns ternary system comprising 40 to 65% water; 6 to 22% alc. or a ketone; and 25 to 60% a fatty acid or an ester thereof forming spontaneously a stable, non-viscous and clear nanosized structures having cubic-like nanosized symmetry. The ternary system may be dispersed and used as a solubilizing medium for hydrophobic and hydrophilic substances. [on SciFinder(R)]

Valencia orange pectin methylesterase (PME) isoenzymes were used to de-esterify com. pectin. Unmodified and PME modified pectin were mixed with whey protein isolate (WPI), 90% $\beta$-lactoglobulin, and the interaction was studied using fluorescence, mol. wt., and charge. Double emulsions stabilized by hybrids of WPI and modified pectins were tested for rheol. properties, droplet size and stability. The zeta potential of the hybrids at pH values below the pI of protein was neg. charged at a ratio of 4:0.5 (wt/wt) WPI/pectin. Decreasing stability of double emulsions was obsd. with WPI/pectin complex if neg. charged (pH 6), pos. charged, and highly neg. charged. Rheol. confirmed that double emulsions are most stable at pH 6.0, with highest elasticity (G'/G''= 66°). Droplets of W/O/W double emulsions made from WPI and modified pectin ranged from ca. 15 to ca. 5 $μ$m, depending on pectin. At pH 6.0, stability to coalescence was excellent after 40 days. [on SciFinder(R)]

A review describes the formation of U-type microemulsions capable of solubilizing nutraceuticals and capable of controlling the kinetics and thermodn. of interfacial reactions both in the W/O interfaces as well as in the O/W interfaces. [on SciFinder(R)]

The Maillard reaction is controlled by temp., pH, nature of reactants (sugars and amino acids), and water activity. The authors carried out reactions between glucose and leucine in U-type nonionic microemulsions to obtain regioselectivity and control reaction rates. Reactants were oriented at the interface and water activity was adjusted using blends of surfactant and propylene glycol (PG). U-type microemulsions, previously studied by the authors, served as microreactors for the Maillard reaction. The reactions in the microemulsion media were slower than those carried out in aq. soln. and formed unique arom. compds. Reaction rates increased when using systems richer in water, as the water activity was enhanced. The surfactant plays a key role in detg. water activity and reagent reactivity in all the microemulsions. The presence of PG slows the reaction, mainly when it resides at the interface, facilitating the formation of a bicontinuous structure. Phase transitions within the U-type microemulsions were detd. by viscosity and SD-NMR, and were correlated to the interfacial presence of the reactants and their reactivity. [on SciFinder(R)]

The correct title for Figure 3 is "Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams of the system [jojoba oil/Brij 96V/water] at 25°C with different alcohols.". On page 1146, column 2, line 7, the correct value is "Wm(46) = 66%.". [on SciFinder(R)]

In our present study, a model Maillard furfural/cysteine reaction was chosen for exploring and understanding the different aspects that control the reactivity in five-component fully dilutable U-type food-grade oil/water (O/W) microemulsions of R(+)-limonene/ethanol/water/propylene glycol/Tween 60. It was found that these self-assembled nanosized structured systems are capable of enhancing the rate of Maillard reactions in which the selectivity and the reactivity are controlled by the compn. of the interface and its curvature. The sulfur-contg. flavor formation is very efficient if carried out in those O/W microemulsions (modified oil-swollen nanoreactors) and the reaction yields high amts. of key aroma compds. The proposed Tween 60-based O/W systems show strong preference for the formation of 2-(2-furanyl)-thiazolidine (the main product). The O/W reaction medium enhances furfural-cysteine reaction rate (microemulsion catalysis) in comparison to the water-based reaction. It was found that the initial reaction rate (V0) is affected by the solubilized aq. phase content. The furfural-cysteine reaction is affected also by the process conditions (temp., pH, time of reaction). These results suggest that O/W microemulsions are a promising choice for generation of flavors and food products. [on SciFinder(R)]

Disclosed is a process for the manuf. of tomato products, comprises the steps of: (a) pretreating the tomatoes by conventional operations, including crushing; (b) subjecting them to heat treatment; (c) sepg. the crushed tomatoes into serum and pulp contg. at least 500 ppm of lycopene; (d) subjecting the pulp to solvent extn., in order to ext. therefrom an oleoresin contg. lycopene; (e) sepg. the spent pulp; and (f) sepg. the lycopene ext. from the solvents, whereby to obtain oleoresin contg. the lycopene and to recover the solvents. [on SciFinder(R)]
Novel method for the solubilization of extracted lycopene