SYNTHESIS OF BIOAEROGEL FROM CHEMICALLY MODIFIED CHICKPEA STARCH AND ITS USE AS A TRANSPORT SYSTEM
Project no. 32021 · Status: Kapanmış (Yayın bekleniyor) · 2023
Summary
<p>The increase in diet-related diseases in recent years shows that these health problems cannot be controlled by drugs alone. Although functional foods such as probiotics have positive effects on gut health, they may cause a decrease in the energy intake from food, as they are living systems, they are more sensitive to environmental conditions and can produce unwanted metabolites due to their complex biochemical structures. This situation has highlighted the importance of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), which are more effective at breaking down carbohydrates and can exhibit probiotic effects, particularly in the digestion of indigestible complex carbohydrates. However, transporting these enzymes and microorganisms through the digestive tract is difficult and there is a high risk that they may not retain their structure and lose their activity. Therefore, there is a need for innovative delivery systems to ensure efficient delivery of these biological agents.</p><p>In this context, bioaerogels, which attract attention with their high porosity and surface area properties, stand out as nanostructured carrier systems that can be produced from plant-based polymers, which are promising in the transportation of biological molecules such as drugs, enzymes and probiotics. In this study, starchbased bioaerogels were developed as a carrier system. Although chickpea starch is a sustainable and processable source for bioaerogel production, it does not have the desired physical properties in its natural state. Its direct use is limited due to its low solubility, insufficient swelling capacity and structural instabilities.</p><p>Therefore, chemical modification methods that offer more permanent and controlled properties were preferred. In this study, chickpea starch was modified by three different chemical techniques-phosphorylation, acidic hydrolysis and esterification with octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA). The modified starches were used in the production of bioaerogels by sol-gel method. The starch samples were characterized by principal component analysis (ash, moisture, protein, fat and amylose contents) and the bioaerogels produced were evaluated by characterization methods such as XRD,</p><p>FTIR, swelling test, porosity test, time-dependent swelling test. Loading of alpha amylase enzyme among CAZyme enzymes was tested on the synthesized modified/unmodified bioaerogels. Bioaerogels synthesized from chickpea starch modified by acetylation and phosphorylation gave the best results. The pH-sensitive bioaerogel developed in this study was produced from modified</p><p>chickpea starch and designed as an innovative carrier system targeting the controlled release of enzymes, especially in the intestinal environment. Thanks to its plant origin, biodegradable and functional properties, this system offers a sustainable alternative in the management of diet-related diseases. Research findings indicate that this bioaerogel may have wider applications in the future.</p>