Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), a sub-group of porous crystalline materials, have been receiving increasing attention for gas separation and pervaporation because of their high thermal and chemical stability, narrow window sizes, as well as tuneable structural, physical, and chemical properties. In this review, we comprehensively discuss developments in the formation of continuous MOF membranes for gas separation and pervaporation. Additionally, the application performance of continuous MOF membranes in gas separation and pervaporation are analysed. Lastly, some perspectives for the future application of continuous MOF membranes for gas separation and pervaporation are given.

This study investigated the influence of ultrasonic treatment on the physicochemical properties of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and its applicability in stabilizing high internal phase Pickering emulsions (HIPPEs). Under optimized sonication conditions (250 W, 12 min), stable ultrasonically modified BSA (UBSA) particles were generated, exhibiting a small particle size (41.39 nm), a polydispersity index < 0.17, a higher absolute zeta potential (> 20 mV), and favorable wettability (three-phase contact angle: 78.71°), accompanied by reduced surface hydrophobicity. Intrinsic fluorescence spectra and circular dichroism (CD) analysis confirmed that ultrasonication altered the secondary structure of BSA, leading to the exposure of hydrophobic groups. Dynamic interfacial tension and adsorption kinetics analyses revealed that UBSA particles exhibited lower interfacial tension and significantly higher diffusion coefficient (K_diff) and penetration coefficient (K_p) than native BSA, indicating enhanced diffusion and adsorption capabilities of UBSA at the oil-water interface. Rheological analyses demonstrated that UBSA-stabilized HIPPEs possessed higher viscosity and larger storage (G') and loss (G″) moduli. Optical and confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed the successful formation of HIPPEs at UBSA concentrations ≥ 1.0 % (w/v). UBSA-stabilized HIPPEs displayed a reduced droplet size (10.59 µm) and a more densely packed droplet structure, which conferred enhanced resistance against droplet coalescence compared to emulsions stabilized by native BSA. Moreover, stability assessments indicated that the centrifugal, freeze-thaw and storage stability of the prepared HIPPEs were significantly improved. Importantly, UBSA-based HIPPEs serving as a delivery vehicle also effectively enhanced the thermal processing stability of β-carotene. The findings demonstrate the potential of ultrasound-modified BSA nanoparticles as effective stabilizers for HIPPEs, providing valuable insights for the development of healthy and safe food-grade emulsion systems.

Background and objectives: Although a reasonable diet is essential for promoting human health, precise nutritional regulation presents a challenge for different physiological conditions. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and abnormal bowel habits, and diarrheal IBS (IBS-D) is the most common, seriously affecting patients’ quality of life. Therefore, the implementation of precise nutritional interventions for IBS-D has become an urgent challenge in the fields of nutrition and food science. IBS-D intestinal homeostatic imbalance involves intestinal flora disorganization and impaired intestinal epithelial barrier function. A familiar interaction is evident between intestinal flora and intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), which together maintain intestinal homeostasis and health. Dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, have been shown to regulate gut flora, which in turn improves the body’s health by influencing the immune system, the hormonal system, and other metabolic pathways. Methods: This review summarized the relationship between intestinal flora, IECs, and IBS-D. It analyzed the mechanism behind IBS-D intestinal homeostatic imbalance by examining the interactions between intestinal flora and IECs, and proposed a precise dietary nutrient intervention strategy. Results and conclusion: This increases the understanding of the IBS-D-targeted regulation pathways and provides guidance for designing related nutritional intervention strategies.

The increasing global prevalence of hyperuricemia (HUA), particularly among younger populations, underscores the urgent need for safe and effective dietary interventions. Monascus fungi, long utilized in East Asian food culture, ferment rice to produce red yeast rice (RYR), a functional food rich in monacolin K and Monascus pigments. Among these, Monascus yellow pigments (MYPs)—natural azaphilone compounds used as food additives and colorants—have shown antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulatory activities. However, their potential to alleviate hyperuricemia remains unexplored. This study investigates the urate-lowering and organ-protective effects of MYPs through a combination of in vitro, in vivo, and gut microbiota analyses. MYPs exhibited significant xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibitory activity, and molecular docking confirmed that monascin (MS) and ankaflavin (AK) competitively bind to the XOD active site. In a murine HUA model, MYPs significantly reduced serum uric acid (SUA) levels without causing hepatic or renal toxicity. Mechanistically, MYPs downregulated renal UA reabsorption transporters (URAT1, GLUT9) and upregulated the excretory transporter ABCG2, enhancing uric acid (UA) excretion. These findings highlight MYPs as promising food-derived bioactives with dual XOD inhibition and uricosuric effects, offering a novel nutraceutical strategy for hyperuricemia prevention and management.

Cationic starch microspheres (CSMs) were prepared from lab-made neutral starch-based microspheres using a cationic adsorbent, namely 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, as the cationic etherifying agent. Detection by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and laser diffraction techniques revealed that CSMs had coarse surfaces with good sphericity and dispersibility. Differential thermal analysis showed the lower thermostability of the CSMs’ main chains. Furthermore, scores of experiments confirmed that CSMs are capable of absorption to N-(phosphonomethyl) iminodiacetic acid (PMIDA), a type of anionic substance, which is the intermediate to the preparation of glyphosate, maximally up to 95.24 mg/g. Compared with the Freundlich isotherm model, the Langmuir isotherm model can better describe the absorption process. The kinetic study showed that the pseudo-second-order model demonstrated a better correlation of the experimental data in contrast with the pseudo-first-order model. It can be therefore concluded that the rate-limiting step was the chemical absorption rather than the mass transport.

Glycine betaine (GB) serves as both a methyl donor and osmoprotectant in microorganisms, facilitating growth and enhancing metabolic product yields. While the polyketide metabolites from Monascus purpureus, such as Monascus pigments (MPs) and monacolin K (MK), have been extensively studied, the effects of GB on their production and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain insufficiently explored. In this study, various concentrations of GB were added to Monascus purpureus M1 cultures, followed by RNA sequencing, RT-qPCR, differential gene expression analysis, and functional enrichment to investigate the regulatory impact of GB on polyketide metabolism. Protein–protein interaction network analysis identified key upregulated genes, including RPS15, RPS14, RPS5, NDK1, EGD2, and ATP9, particularly during the later growth phases. GB significantly upregulated genes involved in stress response, secondary metabolism, and polyketide biosynthesis. Scanning electron microscopy, HPLC, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry further confirmed that GB promoted both strain growth and polyketide production, with red pigment and MK production increasing by 120.08% and 93.4%, respectively. These results indicate that GB enhances growth and polyketide metabolism in Monascus purpureus by functioning as both a methyl donor and osmoprotectant, offering new insights into optimizing microbial polyketide production and revealing gene regulatory mechanisms by GB in Monascus purpureus.