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Artificial Intelligence in Functional Polysaccharides for Food Applications: Process Optimization; Structure–Function Decoding; and Rational Design

delete2026-04-10
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PRE
AI
Z
Zhen Cao
T
Ting Chen
J
Jiayan Xie
J
Jianhua Xie *
DOI:10.1021/acs.jafc.6c00806delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Functional polysaccharides are widely used as food ingredients but are hindered by extreme structural heterogeneity, poorly defined structure–function relationships, and inefficient trial-and-error production workflows. This review provides an integrative synthesis of how AI is reshaping functional polysaccharide research toward food-grade ingredients and formulations. We organize recent advances into a three-stage framework: (1) efficiency amplification, where machine-learning models improve extraction/fermentation optimization and enable rapid analysis when coupled with spectroscopic fingerprints; (2) mechanism-informed hypothesis generation, where deep Deep-QSAR, graph-based learning, and interpretable modeling begin to uncover quantitative links between structural motifs and functional properties, including microbiome-mediated effects relevant to health; and (3) design assistance, in which AI supports precision-guided polysaccharide engineering and formulation for targeted food functionalities. By bridging computational advances with experimental validation, this review provides a cohesive roadmap for polysaccharide discovery and discusses key translational barriers─data scarcity and standardization, model generalizability and interpretability, and regulatory acceptance─highlighting practical strategies for AI-guided polysaccharide discovery and application.
Keywords:
Carbohydrates
Extraction
Food
Neural networks
Optimization
polysaccharides
artificial intelligence
rational design
translational challenges

Journal

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry cover
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
IF:
6.2
Papers:
4.5W
Citations:
15.3W

Organization

N
Nanchang University
Scholars:
3.7W
Papers: 2.1W
Citations: 3.7W