Native potato clones grown in Peru contain bioactive compounds beneficial to human health. This study aimed to optimize the spray-drying nanoencapsulation of native potato phenolic extracts utilizing a central composite design and response surface methodology, obtaining the optimal treatment to an inlet temperature of 120 °C and an airflow of 141 L/h in the nano spray dryer B-90, which allowed maximizing the yield of encapsulation, antioxidant capacity (DPPH), encapsulation efficiency (EE), total phenolic compounds, and total flavonoids; on the other hand, it allowed minimizing hygroscopicity, water activity (Aw), and moisture. Instrumental characterization of the nanocapsules was also carried out, observing a gain in lightness, reddening of the color, and spherical nanoparticles of heterogeneous size (133.09–165.13 nm) with a negative ζ potential. Thermal, infrared, and morphological analyses confirmed the encapsulation of the core in the wall materials. Furthermore, an in vitro release study of phenolic compounds in an aqueous solution achieved a maximum value of 9.86 mg GAE/g after 12 h. Finally, the obtained nanocapsules could be used in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Ethanolic extracts of propolis and bee honey contain substances beneficial to human health. Mixtures of wall materials were compared in spray-drying microencapsulation of ethanolic extracts of propolis and bee honey rich in bioactive compounds. Maltodextrin and tara gum were used to obtain microencapsulates A, and modified native potato starch and tara gum were used for microencapsulates B. High values of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity were obtained in microcapsules A and B, and the results obtained in terms of encapsulation efficiency, yield, hygroscopicity, solubility, moisture, Aw, bulk density, and color were typical of the spray-drying process. On the other hand, spherical and elliptical microparticles of sizes between 7.83 and 53.7 µm with light and medium stability were observed. Thermogravimetric properties were similar in both microencapsulates; total organic carbon, SEM-EDS, and FTIR analyses corroborated the encapsulation. X-ray diffractogram exhibited amorphous structures, and the release kinetics of phenolic compounds presented high values from 8.13 to 12.58 mg GAE/g between 7 and 13 h. Finally, modified potato starch is a better encapsulant than maltodextrin because it has better core protection and controlled release of the encapsulated bioactive compounds.

Tara gum, a natural biopolymer extracted from Caesalpinia spinosa seeds, was investigated in this study. Wall materials were produced using spray drying, forced convection, and vacuum oven drying. In addition, a commercial sample obtained through mechanical methods and direct milling was used as a reference. The gums exhibited low moisture content (8.63% to 12.55%), water activity (0.37 to 0.41), bulk density (0.43 to 0.76 g/mL), and hygroscopicity (10.51% to 11.42%). This allows adequate physical and microbiological stability during storage. Polydisperse particles were obtained, ranging in size from 3.46 µm to 139.60 µm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy characterisation confirmed the polysaccharide nature of tara gum, primarily composed of galactomannans. Among the drying methods, spray drying produced the gum with the best physicochemical characteristics, including higher lightness, moderate stability, smaller particle size, and high glass transition temperature (141.69 °C). Regarding rheological properties, it demonstrated a non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behaviour that the power law could accurately describe. The apparent viscosity of the aqueous dispersions of the gum decreased with increasing temperature. In summary, the results establish the potential of tara gum as a wall material applicable in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

In recent years, sustainable biopolymers have attracted increasing attention in environmental engineering as alternatives to conventional synthetic materials due to their renewable origins, biodegradability, and functional versatility. However, their performance and technological viability are strongly influenced by structural design, modification strategies, and behavior under realistic environmental conditions. This review critically analyzes recent advances in biopolymers for environmental remediation, covering their main application formats such as hydrogels, membranes, beads, aerogels, and composites, their interaction mechanisms with contaminants, and their performance relative to conventional adsorbents. Particular emphasis is placed on emerging approaches, including advanced functionalization, integration with inorganic phases, and green synthesis technologies, which have significantly improved efficiency, selectivity, and operational stability. Despite these advances, key limitations persist, particularly regarding mechanical robustness, regenerability, reproducibility, and scalability, underscoring the need for standardized evaluation protocols in complex matrices. The role of biopolymers within circular economy frameworks is also examined, emphasizing their capacity to integrate material sustainability, resource recovery, and multifunctional environmental applications. Overall, sustainable biopolymers are positioned not only as substitutes for traditional materials but also as strategic platforms for the development of next-generation regenerative environmental technologies.

Servant leadership positively influences the performance of organizations since it focuses on developing the most critical capital of organizations – human beings. The study aims to analyze the influence of servant leadership on organizational performance mediated by organizational culture focusing on administrative staff in Peru. It uses a quantitative approach and non-experimental design. The data were obtained transversally from 465 union members-administrative staff through a virtual survey with a 20-item Likert-type questionnaire, verifying the data for compliance with the underlying assumptions. For data processing, the SPSS AMOS program was chosen, subjecting the data to confirmatory factor analysis and using the structural equation model to test the proposed hypotheses. The results show that, for administrative staff, organizational culture partially mediates the influence of servant leadership on organizational performance at 0.127. While servant leadership positively influences organizational performance (β = 0.341, p < 0.01), it also positively influences organizational culture (β = 0.492, p < 0.01). Furthermore, organizational culture positively influences organizational performance (β= 0.262, p < 0.01). The study confirms the importance of servant leadership in the performance of organizations. Also, it provides evidence to affirm that organizational culture is fundamental in explaining this influence, thus filling the research gap.

Resumen En los últimos años, el Perú viene creciendo sostenidamente, la tasa de crecimiento del PBI ha superado el 7%, lo que nos indica que estamos atravesando por una bonanza económica; sin embargo esta se explica por la explotación y exportación básicamente de materias primas como minerales, la construcción y los productos agroindustriales.Apurímac no es ajeno a esta realidad, si bien es cierto, contribuye aproximadamente con el 0.5% del PBI nacional, se prevé un futuro más halagador, principalmente por el potencial minero que tiene. A la vez sabemos que este sector es efímero. En la presente investigación se abordó el estudio del crecimiento y desarrollo de las empresas agroindustriales del distrito de Abancay, influenciado por las fuentes de financiamiento externo.