7.7 Applications
161
when mixed with water and dissolved at high temperature forming a gel upon cooling.
Some novel agarose preparations can form gels at lower temperature below 100 °C
(BeMiller 2019), allowing for even easier gel preparations. Agarose is also used
in electrophoresis for DNA analysis and some chromatography techniques (Sasuga
et al. 2017).
7.7.4 Preservation of Post-Hatchery Chicks
When chicks are hatched, they undergo a period when there is no access to feed or
water for a period of about 24 h as they are transported to production facilities where
they will continue their life and be processed into poultry products. The period
after hatching is a critical stage where the moisture content has an effect on the
future productivity of the chicks in terms of weight, growth rate and quality of egg
produced. As a means to address this moisture issue, agar-based aqueous system has
been introduced. Then, this aqueous agar which contains 95% water and 5% agar
is applied to the chick after hatching; they show better productivity and quality. For
example, post-hatched chicks which were packed with aqua agar had body weight
of 710 g, while those that were not packed with aqua agar weighed 670 g 21 days
after hatching (Incharoen et al. 2015). The aqueous agar covering maintains adequate
moisture content for the chicks during the period such that they retain their viability
at this important stage of their growth. This application of agar is significant toward
contribution to food security as a way of optimizing the poultry food resource for
optimal yield.
7.7.5 Cosmetics
Due to the ability to entrap water and retain moisture, agar is used in the cosmetics
industry as a moisturizing agent in skin and hair products (Rasmussen and Morrissey
2007). More recently, melanin has been loaded into agar-based composite films with
the aim of achieving antioxidant effect in skin care (Roy and Rhim 2019). Much
earlier studies have presented the moisturizing effect of short-chain neoagarobiose
which also had skin-whitening effect (Kobayashi et al. 1997). This moisturizing
effect of agar is likely due to the ability of agar to absorb water; the water is then
released into the skin. This short-chain agar is better able to penetrate the skin stratum
corneum barrier, hence why the short-chain agar forms show this moisturizing effect.
The viscosity-enhancing property of agar also makes it applicable as a thickener in
cosmetics products giving the product a more desirable texture and ease of use.
161
when mixed with water and dissolved at high temperature forming a gel upon cooling.
Some novel agarose preparations can form gels at lower temperature below 100 °C
(BeMiller 2019), allowing for even easier gel preparations. Agarose is also used
in electrophoresis for DNA analysis and some chromatography techniques (Sasuga
et al. 2017).
7.7.4 Preservation of Post-Hatchery Chicks
When chicks are hatched, they undergo a period when there is no access to feed or
water for a period of about 24 h as they are transported to production facilities where
they will continue their life and be processed into poultry products. The period
after hatching is a critical stage where the moisture content has an effect on the
future productivity of the chicks in terms of weight, growth rate and quality of egg
produced. As a means to address this moisture issue, agar-based aqueous system has
been introduced. Then, this aqueous agar which contains 95% water and 5% agar
is applied to the chick after hatching; they show better productivity and quality. For
example, post-hatched chicks which were packed with aqua agar had body weight
of 710 g, while those that were not packed with aqua agar weighed 670 g 21 days
after hatching (Incharoen et al. 2015). The aqueous agar covering maintains adequate
moisture content for the chicks during the period such that they retain their viability
at this important stage of their growth. This application of agar is significant toward
contribution to food security as a way of optimizing the poultry food resource for
optimal yield.
7.7.5 Cosmetics
Due to the ability to entrap water and retain moisture, agar is used in the cosmetics
industry as a moisturizing agent in skin and hair products (Rasmussen and Morrissey
2007). More recently, melanin has been loaded into agar-based composite films with
the aim of achieving antioxidant effect in skin care (Roy and Rhim 2019). Much
earlier studies have presented the moisturizing effect of short-chain neoagarobiose
which also had skin-whitening effect (Kobayashi et al. 1997). This moisturizing
effect of agar is likely due to the ability of agar to absorb water; the water is then
released into the skin. This short-chain agar is better able to penetrate the skin stratum
corneum barrier, hence why the short-chain agar forms show this moisturizing effect.
The viscosity-enhancing property of agar also makes it applicable as a thickener in
cosmetics products giving the product a more desirable texture and ease of use.