INFORM September 2024

inform September 2024, Vol. 35 (8) • 19

for the wax oleogel to form around the particles, but too much water is detrimental to network strength, illustrating the com plex relationship between oil, particles, wax, and water. LOOKING FORWARD A research group at Wageningen University, in the Netherlands, is investigating an oil-free capillary suspension where particles form a network with two immiscible aqueous phases (dextran and PEG) (https://tinyurl.com/2zkds3kt). Other investigators have gelled the water bridges instead of the oil phase, creating a suspension with thermally controlled rigidity. Elsewhere, when a suspension of cocoa particles is heated in water, they leak molten cocoa butter which can form capillary suspensions that solidify on cooling, creating a type of food based thermoresponsive gel. Some incredible work is being done to understand the physical properties of these soft materials and push the boundaries of their capabilities. These examples only begin to scratch the surface and by developing new structuring strate gies we can make highly tunable soft materials for functional foods and beyond. Selvyn Simoes is an early-career food chemist working on their PhD with Prof. Dérick Rousseau at Toronto Metropolitan University, Selvyn can be contacted at selvyn.simoes@hotmail.com.

AOCS EVENTS WATCH AOCS MEMBER EXCLUSIVE EVENTS October 2, 2024, 9-10:30 am CDT (Chicago, USA; UTC-5). Masterclass with Rick Theiner on Nonionic surfactants: Examining performance & properties INFORM seminars will launch in 2025. These are online, microlearning experiences designed to help you learn new skills and connect with professionals who share your interests. Check for updates in upcoming issues of INFORM, at aocs.org, or contact us at general@aocs.org, +1 217-359-2344. Here are some topics we have planned for early next year: January: Plant-based, insects, single-cell organisms, precision fermentation… Learn about the latest emerging protein sources. February: Macronutrients in shelf-stable milk alternative beverages March: Overcoming sophorolipid formulation challenges April: How to program in R for predictive modeling

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