The growing demand for ‘clean label’ functional foods necessitates the development of products that are not only health-promoting but also possess high sensory quality. Fruit mousses are an excellent matrix for fortification, appealing to a wide consumer base. This study aimed to enrich a conventional apple–plum mousse with vitamin D₃ and sea buckthorn oil, employing an encapsulation strategy based on endogenous fruit pectin. Three mousse variants were produced: a control (traditional), one fortified via the encapsulation of vitamin D₃ and sea buckthorn oil in a pectin-based nanoemulsion, and one fortified via the direct addition of the bioactive compounds. The products were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), colorimetry, texture analysis, rheology, fatty acid profiling, and sensory evaluation (profiling and ranking). SEM and FTIR analyses confirmed the successful formation of spherical submicron capsules (approx. 100–300 nm) within the fortified mousse. Encapsulation resulted in significantly lower colour change (ΔE = 6.07 ± 0.03) compared to direct addition (ΔE = 11.16 ± 0.03). The fortified mousses exhibited approximately 16–20% lower hardness (0.21–0.22 N vs. 0.25 N) and threefold lower adhesiveness (0.06–0.08 N·s vs. 0.19 N·s) compared to the control. Rheological analysis indicated that fortification did not compromise the structural stability of the mousses (G′ > G″ across 0.1–10 Hz). The fatty acid profile was significantly improved in the fortified variants, with a three-fold increase in linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6 c: from 16.90% to 55–56%) and the introduction of γ-linolenic acid (C18:3 n-6: 0.38–0.39%). Sensory ranking revealed no significant differences in overall quality between the control and fortified mousses (p > 0.05). Pectin present in fruits can be effectively utilised to encapsulate vitamin D₃ and sea buckthorn oil, allowing the successful development of a functional fruit mousse with an improved nutritional profile and retained sensory quality. Encapsulation proved to be a superior fortification method, offering better protection of bioactive compounds and a lesser impact on the product’s original colour.

Background: The growing demand for sustainable and nutrient-rich food has drawn attention to aquatic plants, particularly those of the Lemnoideae subfamily, commonly known as duckweed. These fast-growing plants are rich in high-quality protein and offer an attractive alternative to traditional plant and animal protein sources, especially in the context of targeted nutrition and sustainable diets. Methods: This review is a critical assessment of Lemnoideae potential as a functional food ingredient for various population groups, including vegans, diabetics, the elderly, and individuals with specific dietary needs. Their amino acid profile, protein digestibility, allergenicity, and bioactive compound content are evaluated in the paper. Also examined are health-related outcomes and applications, including clinical and space nutrition, alongside current barriers such as limited consumer acceptance and regulatory hurdles. Results and conclusions: Lemnoideae demonstrate a favorable amino acid profile, high digestibility, and low allergenic potential. They are a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, and show promising effects in managing metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Legal approvals in the EU and U.S. mark a shift towards broader acceptance. While sensory attributes and consumer unfamiliarity remain challenges, the findings allow us to highlight Lemnoideae as a promising next-generation plant protein source that could contribute to sustainable food systems and support the development of novel functional foods tailored to specific dietary needs.

Hydrocolloid-based and hydrocolloid-dominant hybrid matrices have developed from conventional rheology modifiers into functional platforms for pharmaceutical and cosmetic delivery. This review focuses on systems in which hydrocolloid chemistry, hydration, ionisation, bioadhesion, and network architecture determine swelling, mechanical behaviour, biocompatibility, and controlled release. The discussion covers alginate, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, pectin, carrageenan, dextran, gellan gum, collagen, cellulose derivatives, and selected hybrid architectures in which synthetic or semi-synthetic components provide a defined responsive function. Rather than treating all smart polymers as a single class, the review compares how pH, enzymatic, redox/ROS, thermo-responsive, magnetic, optical, ultrasound-mediated, and multi-trigger mechanisms operate within hydrocolloid-rich matrices. Pharmaceutical examples are considered across oral, transdermal, injectable depot, wound-healing, and regenerative applications, while cosmetic and cosmeceutical systems are discussed in relation to active stabilisation, dermal residence, barrier support, and personalised skincare. By linking material class, trigger mechanism, route of administration, and translational constraints, the review identifies the main advantages of hydrocolloids as delivery matrices as well as their current limitations, including burst release, modest mechanical strength, hydrophobic-drug loading challenges, sterilisation sensitivity, source variability, and regulatory complexity.

Due to the increasing antibiotic resistance of microorganisms, chronic diseases, and cancer, new-generation drugs such as imidazole derivatives are being sought. Recent advances in nanotechnology enable the potential use of nanomaterials, especially nanoparticles, as drug carriers for such compounds, but also systems capable of crossing biological barriers. This study aimed to perform a preliminary toxicological assessment of nanoparticles containing BzIm-DEA ((Z)-5-benzylidene-3-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-2-phenyl-3,5-dihydro-4H-imidazol-4-one) embedded in chitosan films, using chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as an alternative in vivo test. Fertilized chicken eggs were treated with this therapeutic agent at various concentrations of BzIm-DEA and incubated until the 11th day of embryogenesis. No morphological abnormalities, angiogenesis-related disorders, or increased mortality were observed in any of the experimental groups. A significant increase in Apaf-1 mRNA expression was detected in CAM tissue at a dose of D3 BzIm-DEA, while no significant changes were observed for caspase-3 and catalase compared to the control group. Moreover, no changes in gene expression were observed in the liver. Immunohistochemical localization and analysis of PCNA and b-catenin expression in chicken embryonic liver did not reveal any dose-dependent changes. Within the scope of this preliminary assessment, chitosan nanoparticles loaded with BzIm-DEA did not produce gross acute embryotoxicity or major disruptions to angiogenic development under the tested conditions, providing preliminary evidence of biocompatibility as a nanoparticle carrier system.

Hydrocolloids, particularly natural polysaccharides and the hydrogels derived from them, have evolved from passive rheology modifiers into functional delivery matrices for phar-maceutical and cosmetic applications. This review focuses specifically on hydrocol-loid-based systems and examines how their material chemistry and network architecture translate into controlled swelling, bioadhesion, mechanical performance, biocompatibility, and stimulus-responsive release. Key classes of hydrocolloids, including alginate, chi-tosan, hyaluronic acid, pectin, carrageenan, dextran, gellan gum, collagen, and cellulose derivatives, are discussed in relation to their physicochemical properties and formulation potential. Rather than reviewing smart polymers in general, we analyse pH-, enzyme-, re-dox-, thermo-, and externally triggered responses in the specific context of hydrocolloid chemistry and hybrid hydrocolloid architectures. Particular attention is given to oral, transdermal, injectable depot, wound-healing, and regenerative applications, as well as to cosmetic and cosmeceutical platforms for active stabilisation, controlled dermal delivery, barrier support, and personalised skincare. By linking material class, trigger mechanism, and application route, the review clarifies the distinct role of hydrocolloids in next-generation delivery systems and identifies the major translational barriers, regulatory constraints, and emerging opportunities, including multi-responsive constructs, 3D printing, and sensor-integrated patches.