In this study, we assessed the effects of microwave irradiation of wheat gluten proteins as a pretreatment performed in a microwave reactor that could accurately control process parameters as a function of power and temperature, as well as comparing it with conventional heat treatment. The aim was to identify suitable combinations of partial enzymatic hydrolysis and microwave pretreatment parameters to produce gluten hydrolysates with reduced allergenicity and conserved techno-functional features for food application. FTIR analysis, and total and reactive SH group contents confirmed that the microwave-controlled heating can significantly change the secondary structure and conformation of gluten protein. The microwave treatment had the largest effect at 200 W and 100 °C, at which the content of gluten has been reduced by about 2.5-fold. The microwave pretreatment also accelerated the enzymatic hydrolysis of gluten, changing the kinetic profile. The apparent hydrolysis rate constants (k₂) were 1.00, 3.68, 3.48, 4.64 and 4.17 min⁻¹ for untreated gluten, and those pretreated with microwave power of 200, 400, 600 and 800 W, respectively. Compared to the heat treatment, it appeared that microwave specific non-thermal effects had a significant influence on the gluten structure and allergenicity and, in combination with the enzymatic hydrolysis, ultimately yielded protein hydrolysates with enhanced antioxidant and functional properties.

Research background. The development of a novel process for the production of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) based on the 4R concept is made possible by the integration of numerous techniques, especially enzymatic modification together with the physical pretreatment of renewable materials. This study aims to integrate the use of agricultural wastes for the production of xylanase by a new strain of Penicillium sp. and value-added products, XOS. Experimental approach. For the production of xylanase, a solid-state fermentation was performed using wheat bran as substrate. To obtain the most active crude extract of xylanase, the time frame of cultivation was first adjusted. Then, the downstream process for xylanase purification was developed by combining different membrane separation units with size exclusion chromatography. Further characterisation included determination of the optimal pH and temperature, determination of the molecular mass of the purified xylanase and analysis of kinetic parameters. Subsequently, the hydrolytic ability of the partially purified xylanase in the hydrolysis of alkali-extracted hemicellulose from soybean hulls was investigated. Results and conclusions. Our results show that Penicillium rubens produced extracellular xylanase at a yield of 21 U/g during solid-state fermentation. Using two ultrafiltration membranes of 10 and 3 kDa in combination with size exclusion chromatography, a yield of 49 % and 13-fold purification of xylanase was achieved. The purified xylanase (35 kDa) cleaved linear bonds β-(1→4) in beechwood xylan at a maximum rate of 0.64 μmol/(min·mg) and a Michaelis constant of 44 mg/mL. At pH=6 and 45 °C, the purified xylanase showed its maximum activity. The xylanase produced showed a high ability to hydrolyse the hemicellulose fraction isolated from soybean hulls, as confirmed by thin-layer chromatography. In the hydrothermally pretreated hemicellulose hydrolysate, the content of XOS with different degrees of polymerisation was detected, while in the non-pretreated hemicellulose hydrolysate, the content of xylotriose and glucose was confirmed. Novelty and scientific contribution. Future research focusing on the creation of new enzymatic pathways for use in processes to convert renewable materials into value-added products can draw on our findings.

Human placenta-derived amniotic membrane (hAM) and its derivatives have attracted growing interest as bioactive materials for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and biomaterial design. This review summarizes the anatomical and cellular characteristics of hAM and examines the interplay between its regenerative and immunomodulatory properties. Key hAM-derived biomolecules are discussed, with an emphasis on their roles in immune regulation, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, and tissue repair across diverse regenerative contexts. Current applications of hAM-based materials in tissue engineering and regenerative biomaterials are reviewed, including emerging studies involving soft tissue applications. In addition, recent efforts to integrate hAM derivatives into 3D bioprinting approaches are examined, including their use as bioink components or biofunctional additives to hydrogel-based systems. Although studies involving hAM-based bioprinted constructs remain limited, the available findings suggest promising regenerative, proangiogenic, and bioactive effects. Challenges related to material processing, printability, standardization, and reproducibility are also discussed. Overall, this review highlights the biomaterial potential of hAM derivatives and their emerging relevance to biofabrication strategies aimed at developing biologically instructive constructs for regenerative medicine.

This research provides constructive information on the correlation between the nanoparticulation process and the properties of protein-based nanoparticles, achieving a precise control of particle size, uniformity, surface charge, and hydroxocobalamin encapsulation possibilities. RuBisCO-rich protein fraction was isolated from pumpkin leaves and was proved to serve as a matrix for the gelation-, pH-, and desolvation-driven assembled nanoparticles. Hydroxocobalamin, as a model of nutrient, was encapsulated successfully into the nanoparticles derived via cold gelation (54%) and antisolvent precipitation (52%) processes, which have the greatest potential for the fabrication of stable nanoparticle structures (127 and 282 nm, -16.3 and -18.4 mV, respectively).