Different constituents of the cultivation substrate have significant effect on the yield and quality of edible mushrooms. The residue after the extraction of instant tea has exhibited to be biologically significant, and could be used as a substrate for cultivation. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of tea extraction residue (TER) on button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) cultivation, as an ingredient in the substrate, and assess the growth status, nutritional values, and sensory characteristics of fruiting body. The results showed that the strains could grow well on the cultivated substrate with 20% addition of TER. The total amount of hydrolyzed amino acids in the fruiting bodies of three TER-based groups (TER accounted for 10%, 20%, and 37.5%, respectively) was higher than that of the control group, and the total amount of essential amino acids was increased by 33.33%, 22.47%, and 9.92% compared with the control group, respectively. In addition, the results of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed that the addition of TER to the cultivation of substrate significantly enhanced the content of typical mushroom-flavor compounds in button mushroom, such as 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanol, and 1-octen-3-one. It can be concluded that TER may be an ideal choice for the substrate in commercial cultivation of button mushroom.

This work evaluated how ferulic acid (FA) impacted the conformational properties of whey protein isolate (WPI) and altered the environmental tolerance of oleogel/water (Og/W) emulsions formulated with Ganoderma lucidum spore oil (GLSO). Molecular dynamics simulation analyses revealed that FA interacted with α-lactalbumin via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, whereas it bound into the hydrophobic cavity of β-lactoglobulin through a “lock-and-key” mode driven primarily by hydrophobic forces. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis verified that such non-covalent forces triggered the dissociation and structural extension of WPI, which was manifested as a significant loss of α-helix and β-sheet architectures along with a corresponding rise in random coils. FA addition increased the positive charge, mean droplet size, interfacial contact angle and antioxidant stability of WPI-FA nanoparticles when the WPI-to-FA ratio exceeded 1:2 (i.e., WPI was in excess relative to FA). The GLSO-based Og/W emulsions exhibited a weak gel structure with predominantly elastic characteristics. Furthermore, WPI-FA nanoparticles fabricated at a 2:1 ratio minimized emulsion droplet size and imparted optimal stability to the Og/W emulsions, demonstrating superior freeze–thaw and salt resistance, alongside suppressed GLSO flavor release. This work provides critical insights into tailoring protein-polyphenol interactions to stabilize GLSO-based Og/W emulsion delivery systems for food applications.

Probiotics exert profound health benefits via the modulation of the intestinal microbiota. However, the efficacy of orally administered probiotics is severely constrained by a cascade of physiological barriers, including gastric acid inactivation, suboptimal intestinal release, and inadequate mucosal colonization. In response to these challenges, hydrogel-based delivery platforms have garnered considerable interest as versatile carriers capable of providing protective encapsulation, enabling spatiotemporally controlled release, and augmenting intestinal retention. This narrative review presents recent progress in the design and application of hydrogel-based oral delivery systems tailored for targeted probiotic release and effective colonization. First, the key gastrointestinal obstacles to successful probiotic delivery are delineated. Hydrogel design parameters are then critically appraised, with particular emphasis on material selection and network design. The underlying release mechanisms are subsequently examined. These encompass pH-responsive, enzyme-triggered, and inflammation-responsive modalities. Emerging colonization-enhancing strategies are discussed in detail. These include mucoadhesive hydrogel architectures and the nascent paradigm of “living hydrogels” functioning as dynamic bioreactors. The translational potential of these systems for health management is illustrated through applications in inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and gut–brain axis modulation. Finally, key challenges in manufacturing, viability, and translational feasibility are evaluated. These include regulatory, safety, and encapsulation-related constraints. To address these, multi-responsive platforms, machine learning-assisted design, and synbiotic hydrogels are proposed. These hydrogels synergize with probiotics to target dysbiosis and repair mucosal damage for improved gastrointestinal health management.