Pulsed electric fields processing of apple tissue: Spatial distribution of electroporation by means of magnetic resonance imaging and computer vision system. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dellarosa, Nicolò; Laghi, Luca; Ragni, Luigi; Dalla Rosa, Marco; Galante, Angelo; Ranieri, Brigida; Florio, Tiziana Marilena; Alecci, Marcello
• Is Part Of: Innovative food science & emerging technologies. Volume 47(2018)
• Page Start: 120
• Page End: 126
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: ANOVA Analysis of variance -- BW Bandwidth -- CIELab International Commission on Illumination colour space -- CVS Computer vision system -- Dip Dipping -- DSV Diameter spherical volume -- FLASH Fast low angle shot -- FOV Field of view -- GE Gradient echo -- LUT Lookup table -- MRI Magnetic resonance imaging -- MSME Multi slice multi echo -- NEX Number of excitations -- NSPEC Single pulse sequence -- PEF Pulsed electric fields -- PPO Polyphenol oxidase -- RARE Rapid imaging with refocused echoes -- RAREVTR Rapid imaging with refocused echoes with variable repetition time -- RF Radio frequency -- ROI Region of interest -- T1 Longitudinal relaxation time -- T2 Transverse relaxation time -- TACQ Total acquisition time -- TE Echo time -- tp Pulse length -- TR Repetition time -- VI Vacuum impregnation; PEF -- Computer vision system -- Vacuum impregnation -- Electroporation distribution -- Magnetic resonance imaging -- Relaxation times; Food -- Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Biotechnologie -- Périodiques; Food -- Biotechnology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ifset.2018.02.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1466-8564

Abstract

Abstract: The optimal application of Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) technology, used by food industry to assist mass transfer processes, depends on the effectiveness of the induced electroporation. The present work aimed at exploring the application of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) combined with Computer Vision System (CVS) analysis to assess the spatial distribution of electroporation in apple tissue. PEF-treated apple samples were compared with Dipping (Dip) and Vacuum Impregnation (VI) to gain insight into the spatial distribution of mechanisms that lead to microstructural modifications over time. CVS showed that electroporation modified heterogeneously apple microstructure, causing enzymatic browning unevenly across the samples. MRI transverse relaxation times (T2 ) maps and longitudinal relaxation times (T1 )-weighted images throughout apple tissue confirmed the inhomogeneous distribution and extent of the cell disruption, along with the release of intracellular content toward the external solution. Industrial relevance: The novel applications of pulsed electric fields require fast and reliable methods to detect and estimate the breakage of the membranes integrity in order to boost their industrial adoption and optimization. The present study provided analytical tools able to monitor the spatial distribution of electroporation in plant tissue samples within minutes and consequently to speed up and improve the assessment of different PEF treatments. Highlights: Image analysis described the pulsed electric fields-induced enzymatic browning. T2 -maps showed the loss of compartmentalization distributed throughout the tissue. T2 - and T1 -weigthed images showed the percolation of the intracellular content. Inhomogeneous spatial distribution of irreversible electroporation was noticed.