Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42644905›Full record

ArticleGels (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Formulation and Characterization of Food Hydrogels: Gelation Mechanisms, Dehydration Pathways, and Effects of Embedded Plant Cells.

Rocco Carcione, Valentina Mastrobuono, Riccardo Pagliarello, Elisabetta Bennici, Alessia Cemmi, Silvia Massa

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Gels (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Rocco CarcioneENEA, Nuclear Department, Research Center Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Roma, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6675-517X
Valentina MastrobuonoENEA, Department for Sustainability, Sustainable Agri-Food Systems Division, Agriculture 4.0 Laboratory, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Roma, Italy.ORCID 0009-0004-3990-934X
Riccardo PagliarelloENEA, Department for Sustainability, Sustainable Agri-Food Systems Division, Agriculture 4.0 Laboratory, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Roma, Italy.
Elisabetta BenniciENEA, Department for Sustainability, Sustainable Agri-Food Systems Division, Agriculture 4.0 Laboratory, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Roma, Italy.
Alessia CemmiENEA, Nuclear Department, Research Center Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Roma, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5626-6778
Silvia MassaENEA, Department for Sustainability, Sustainable Agri-Food Systems Division, Agriculture 4.0 Laboratory, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Roma, Italy.

Funding

he Ministry of Economic Development, General Directorate for Business Incentives R. 0003321Ministry of Economic Development PON I&C 2014-2020
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The development of sustainable food systems increasingly relies on the valorization of agri-food by-products and circular economy strategies. In this context, food-grade hydrogels represent promising matrices for incorporating biological components and bioactive compounds. This study focuses on the preparation and characterization of four hydrogels formulated with natural biopolymers, such as pectin, an extract obtained from spray-dried by-products generated during the processing of strawberry and blueberry fruit preparations, with potential applications in innovative and sustainable food formulations. A specific formulation was produced by including plant cells. UV-visible spectra, pH, and moisture content of the hydrogels were evaluated. Their morphological, chemical, and hydrodynamic properties were investigated using micro-Raman and FTIR/ATR spectroscopy along with swelling degree and dehydration behavior over time. The analysis clarified gelation mechanisms, confirming the key role of calcium chloride in matrix stabilization and the influence of plant cells on water retention. The developed food-grade hydrogels demonstrated physicochemical stability, even after 20 days of storage at 4 °C. The incorporation of plant cells modulated the hydrogel's hygroscopic behavior, maintaining the fundamental gelation pathways. These results highlight the potential of these hydrogels as sustainable matrices for incorporating biological components and support their application in innovative food formulations based on the valorization of by-products.

Indexed as

agri-food by-productsfood-grade hydrogelgelation mechanismsplant cell culturestime-resolved FTIR/ATRwater retention

Identifiers

PMID42644905
PMCPMC13511811

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.