Displaying publications 1101 - 1120 of 10538 in total

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  1. Secondary metabolites from endemic species Iris adriatica Trinajstić ex Mitić (Iridaceae)
    Bukvički D, Novaković M, Ab Ghani N, Marin PD, Asakawa Y
    Nat Prod Res, 2018 Aug;32(15):1849-1852.
    PMID: 29126369 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2017.1402309
    This manuscript describes the first detailed chemical investigation of endemic species Iris adriatica, including isolation and structure elucidation. Chemical analyses of the rhizome CH2Cl2/MeOH (2:1) extract revealed fourteen secondary metabolites, mainly isoflavonoids. Among isoflavonoids, two groups have been found: nigricin-type and tectorigenin-type. Dominant group of the isolated compounds has been nigricin-type isoflavones: nigricin, nigricin-4'-(1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside) and nigricin-4'-(1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl (1-6)-β-D-glucopyranoside) with 2.5, 10 and 1% of the total extract, respectively. Irisxanthone - xanthone C-glucoside, β-sitosterol, benzophenone and one of its derivatives have also been found. Nigricin-type isoflavonoids and irisxanthone can be considered as possible chemotaxonomic markers for I. adriatica. 5,3',5'-Trimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyisoflavone-4'-(1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside) and benzophenone have been isolated from Iris species for the first time.
    Matched MeSH terms: Benzophenones/chemistry; Glucosides/chemistry; Isoflavones/chemistry; Plant Extracts/chemistry; Rhizome/chemistry; Iris Plant/chemistry*
  2. Revalorization of selected municipal solid wastes as new precursors of "green" nanocellulose via a novel one-pot isolation system: A source perspective
    Chen YW, Lee HV
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2018 Feb;107(Pt A):78-92.
    PMID: 28860064 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.08.143
    In the present work, four types of newly chosen municipal solid wastes (Panax ginseng, spent tea residue, waste cotton cloth, and old corrugated cardboard) were studied as the promising sources for nanocellulose, which has efficiently re-engineered the structure of waste products into highly valuable nanocellulose materials. The nanocellulose was produced directly via a facile one-pot oxidative hydrolysis process by using H2O2/Cr(NO3)3 solution as the bleaching agent and hydrolysis medium under acidic condition. The isolated nanocellulose products were well-characterized in terms of chemical composition, product yield, morphological structure and thermal properties. The study has found that the crystallinity index of the obtained nanocellulose products were significantly higher (62.2-83.6%) than that of its starting material due to the successive elimination of lignin, hemicellulose and amorphous regions of cellulose, which were in good agreement with the FTIR analysis. The evidence of the successful production of nanocellulose was given by TEM observation which has revealed the fibril widths were ranging from 15.6 to 46.2nm, with high cellulose content (>90%), depending on the cellulosic origin. The physicochemical properties of processed samples have confirmed that the isolation of high purity nanocellulose materials from different daily spent products is possible. The comparative study can help to provide a deep insight on the possibility of revalorizing the municipal solid wastes into nanocellulose via the simple and versatile one-pot isolation system, which has high potential to be used in commercial applications for sustainable development.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cellulose/chemistry*; Panax/chemistry; Polysaccharides/chemistry*; Tea/chemistry; Nanostructures/chemistry; Nanocomposites/chemistry*
  3. Synthesis and characterization of cellulose and hydroxyapatite-carbon electrode composite for trace plumbum ions detection and its validation in blood serum
    Ajab H, Dennis JO, Abdullah MA
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2018 Jul 01;113:376-385.
    PMID: 29486259 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.02.133
    A novel synthesis and characterization of cellulose, hydroxyapatite and chemically-modified carbon electrode (Cellulose-HAp-CME) composite was reported for the analysis of trace Pb(II) ions detection and its validation in blood serum. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) analyses showed that the composite retained the orderly porous structure but with scattered particle size agglomeration. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra suggested the presence of functional groups associated with the bending and stretching of carbon bonds and intermolecular H-bonding. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses further elucidated that the crystallite size could have influenced the properties of the electrode. Based on Thermo-gravimetric Analysis (TGA/DTG), the composites showed thermal stability with more than 60% residual content at 700°C. The sensor was successfully developed for trace Pb(II) ions detection in complex medium such as blood serum, in the physiologically relevant range of 10-60ppb, with resulting Limit of Detection (LOD) of 0.11±0.36ppb and Limit of Quantification (LOQ) of 0.36±0.36ppb. The newly fabricated electrode could be advantageous as a sensing platform with favourable electrochemical characteristics for robust, in situ and rapid environmental and clinical analyses of heavy metal ions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Carbon/chemistry*; Cellulose/chemistry*; Electrochemistry; Lead/chemistry*; Water/chemistry; Durapatite/chemistry*; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  4. Fulltext Kinetics and Optimization of Lipophilic Kojic Acid Derivative Synthesis in Polar Aprotic Solvent Using Lipozyme RMIM and Its Rheological Study
    Ishak N, Lajis AFB, Mohamad R, Ariff AB, Mohamed MS, Halim M, et al.
    Molecules, 2018 Feb 24;23(2).
    PMID: 29495254 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23020501
    The synthesis of kojic acid derivative (KAD) from kojic and palmitic acid (C16:0) in the presence of immobilized lipase from Rhizomucor miehei (commercially known as Lipozyme RMIM), was studied using a shake flask system. Kojic acid is a polyfunctional heterocycles that acts as a source of nucleophile in this reaction allowing the formation of a lipophilic KAD. In this study, the source of biocatalyst, Lipozyme RMIM, was derived from the lipase of Rhizomucor miehei immobilized on weak anion exchange macro-porous Duolite ES 562 by the adsorption technique. The effects of solvents, enzyme loading, reaction temperature, and substrate molar ratio on the reaction rate were investigated. In one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) experiments, a high reaction rate (30.6 × 10-3 M·min-1) of KAD synthesis was recorded using acetone, enzyme loading of 1.25% (w/v), reaction time of 12 h, temperature of 50 °C and substrate molar ratio of 5:1. Thereafter, a yield of KAD synthesis was optimized via the response surface methodology (RSM) whereby the optimized molar ratio (fatty acid: kojic acid), enzyme loading, reaction temperature and reaction time were 6.74, 1.97% (w/v), 45.9 °C, and 20 h respectively, giving a high yield of KAD (64.47%). This condition was reevaluated in a 0.5 L stirred tank reactor (STR) where the agitation effects of two impellers; Rushton turbine (RT) and pitch-blade turbine (PBT), were investigated. In the STR, a very high yield of KAD synthesis (84.12%) was achieved using RT at 250 rpm, which was higher than the shake flask, thus indicating better mixing quality in STR. In a rheological study, a pseudoplastic behavior of KAD mixture was proposed for potential application in lotion formulation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Acetone/chemistry; Lipase/chemistry*; Pyrones/chemistry*; Solvents/chemistry*; Rhizomucor/chemistry*; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  5. Estimation of uncertainty from method validation data: Application to a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of amino acids in gelatin using 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate reagent
    Azilawati MI, Dzulkifly MH, Jamilah B, Shuhaimi M, Amin I
    J Pharm Biomed Anal, 2016 Sep 10;129:389-397.
    PMID: 27454091 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2016.07.012
    A detailed procedure for estimating uncertainty according to the Laboratory of Government Chemists/Valid Analytical Measurement (LGC/VAM) protocol for determination of 18 amino acids in gelatin is proposed. The expanded uncertainty was estimated using mainly the method validation data (precision and trueness). Other sources of uncertainties were contributed by components in standard preparation measurements. The method scope covered a single matrix (gelatin) under a wide range of analyte concentrations. The uncertainty of method precision, μ(P) was 0.0237-0.1128pmolμl(-1) in which hydroxyproline and histidine represented the lowest and highest values of uncertainties, respectively. Proline and phenylalanine represented the lowest and highest uncertainties value for method recovery, μ(R) that was estimated within 0.0064-0.0995pmolμl(-1). The uncertainties from other sources, μ(Std) were 0.0325, 0.0428 and 0.0413pmolμl(-1) that were contributed by hydroxyproline, other amino acids and cystine, respectively. Hydroxyproline and phenylalanine represented the lowest and highest values of expanded uncertainty, U(y) that were determined at 0.0949 and 0.2473pmolμl(-1), respectively. The data were accurately defined and fulfill the technical requirements of ISO 17025:2005.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amino Acids/chemistry*; Aminoquinolines/chemistry*; Carbamates/chemistry*; Gelatin/chemistry*; Hydroxyproline/chemistry; Indicators and Reagents/chemistry
  6. Size-selective purification of hepatitis B virus-like particle in flow-through chromatography: Types of ion exchange adsorbent and grafted polymer architecture
    Ng HW, Lee MFX, Chua GK, Gan BK, Tan WS, Ooi CW, et al.
    J Sep Sci, 2018 May;41(10):2119-2129.
    PMID: 29427396 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.201700823
    Hepatitis B virus-like particles expressed in Escherichia coli were purified using anion exchange adsorbents grafted with polymer poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) in flow-through chromatography mode. The virus-like particles were selectively excluded, while the relatively smaller sized host cell proteins were absorbed. The exclusion of virus-like particles was governed by the accessibility of binding sites (the size of adsorbents and the charge of grafted dextran chains) as well as the architecture (branch-chain length) of the grafted polymer. The branch-chain length of grafted polymer was altered by changing the type of monomers used. The larger adsorbent (90 μm) had an approximately twofold increase in the flow-through recovery, as compared to the smaller adsorbent (30 μm). Generally, polymer-grafted adsorbents improved the exclusion of the virus-like particles. Overall, the middle branch-chain length polymer grafted on larger adsorbent showed optimal performance at 92% flow-through recovery with a purification factor of 1.53. A comparative study between the adsorbent with dextran grafts and the polymer-grafted adsorbent showed that a better exclusion of virus-like particles was achieved with the absorbent grafted with inert polymer. The grafted polymer was also shown to reduce strong interaction between binding sites and virus-like particles, which preserved the particles' structure.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dextrans/chemistry; Methacrylates/chemistry*; Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry*; Polymers/chemistry*; Proteins/chemistry*; Sepharose/chemistry
  7. Fulltext Development of a bacterial cellulose-based hydrogel cell carrier containing keratinocytes and fibroblasts for full-thickness wound healing
    Loh EYX, Mohamad N, Fauzi MB, Ng MH, Ng SF, Mohd Amin MCI
    Sci Rep, 2018 02 13;8(1):2875.
    PMID: 29440678 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21174-7
    Bacterial cellulose (BC)/acrylic acid (AA) hydrogel has successfully been investigated as a wound dressing for partial-thickness burn wound. It is also a promising biomaterial cell carrier because it bears some resemblance to the natural soft tissue. This study assessed its ability to deliver human epidermal keratinocytes (EK) and dermal fibroblasts (DF) for the treatment of full-thickness skin lesions. In vitro studies demonstrated that BC/AA hydrogel had excellent cell attachment, maintained cell viability with limited migration, and allowed cell transfer. In vivo wound closure, histological, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy evaluation revealed that hydrogel alone (HA) and hydrogel with cells (HC) accelerated wound healing compared to the untreated controls. Gross appearance and Masson's trichrome staining indicated that HC was better than HA. This study suggests the potential application of BC/AA hydrogel with dual functions, as a cell carrier and wound dressing, to promote full-thickness wound healing.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria/chemistry; Cellulose/chemistry*; Drug Carriers/chemistry; Fibroblasts/chemistry*; Keratinocytes/chemistry*; Hydrogels/chemistry*
  8. Fulltext Marine algae as a potential source for anti-obesity agents
    Chu WL, Phang SM
    Mar Drugs, 2016 Dec 07;14(12).
    PMID: 27941599 DOI: 10.3390/md14120222
    Obesity is a major epidemic that poses a worldwide threat to human health, as it is also associated with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Therapeutic intervention through weight loss drugs, accompanied by diet and exercise, is one of the options for the treatment and management of obesity. However, the only approved anti-obesity drug currently available in the market is orlistat, a synthetic inhibitor of pancreatic lipase. Other anti-obesity drugs are still being evaluated at different stages of clinical trials, while some have been withdrawn due to their severe adverse effects. Thus, there is a need to look for new anti-obesity agents, especially from biological sources. Marine algae, especially seaweeds are a promising source of anti-obesity agents. Four major bioactive compounds from seaweeds which have the potential as anti-obesity agents are fucoxanthin, alginates, fucoidans and phlorotannins. The anti-obesity effects of such compounds are due to several mechanisms, which include the inhibition of lipid absorption and metabolism (e.g., fucoxanthin and fucoidans), effect on satiety feeling (e.g., alginates), and inhibition of adipocyte differentiation (e.g., fucoxanthin). Further studies, especially testing bioactive compounds in long-term human trials are required before any new anti-obesity drugs based on algal products can be developed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Alginates/chemistry; Polysaccharides/chemistry; Seaweed/chemistry*; Anti-Obesity Agents/chemistry; Xanthophylls/chemistry; Aquatic Organisms/chemistry*
  9. Fulltext Subcritical Water Technology for Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Chlorella sp. Microalgae and Assessment on Its Antioxidant Activity
    Zakaria SM, Kamal SMM, Harun MR, Omar R, Siajam SI
    Molecules, 2017 Jul 03;22(7).
    PMID: 28671617 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22071105
    Chlorella sp. microalgae is a potential source of antioxidants and natural bioactive compounds used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, a subcritical water (SW) technology was applied to determine the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Chlorella sp. This study focused on maximizing the recovery of Chlorella sp. phenolic content and antioxidant activity measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay as a function of extraction temperature (100-250 °C), time (5-20 min) and microalgae concentration (5-20 wt. %) using response surface methodology. The optimal operating conditions for the extraction process were found to be 5 min at 163 °C with 20 wt. % microalgae concentration, which resulted in products with 58.73 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g phenolic content and 68.5% inhibition of the DPPH radical. Under optimized conditions, the experimental values were in close agreement with values predicted by the model. The phenolic content was highly correlated (R² = 0.935) with the antioxidant capacity. Results indicated that extraction by SW technology was effective and that Chlorella sp. could be a useful source of natural antioxidants.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antioxidants/chemistry*; Biphenyl Compounds/chemistry; Chlorella/chemistry*; Phenols/chemistry*; Picrates/chemistry; Plant Extracts/chemistry*
  10. Immobilization of cross-linked tannase enzyme on multiwalled carbon nanotubes and its catalytic behavior
    Ong CB, Annuar MSM
    Prep Biochem Biotechnol, 2018 Feb 07;48(2):181-187.
    PMID: 29341838 DOI: 10.1080/10826068.2018.1425707
    Immobilization of cross-linked tannase on pristine multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) was successfully performed. Cross-linking of tannase molecules was made through glutaraldehyde. The immobilized tannase exhibited significantly improved pH, thermal, and recycling stability. The optimal pH for both free and immobilized tannase was observed at pH 5.0 with optimal operating temperature at 30°C. Moreover, immobilized enzyme retained greater biocatalytic activities upon 10 repeated uses compared to free enzyme in solution. Immobilization of tannase was accomplished by strong hydrophobic interaction most likely between hydrophobic amino acid moieties of the glutaraldehyde-cross-linked tannase to the MWCNT.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus/chemistry; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases/chemistry*; Cross-Linking Reagents/chemistry*; Enzymes, Immobilized/chemistry*; Glutaral/chemistry*; Nanotubes, Carbon/chemistry*
  11. Fulltext An in vitro Comparison of Bond Strength of Different Sealers/Obturation Systems to Root Dentin Using the Push-Out Test at 2 Weeks and 3 Months after Obturation
    Yap WY, Che Ab Aziz ZA, Azami NH, Al-Haddad AY, Khan AA
    Med Princ Pract, 2017;26(5):464-469.
    PMID: 28934753 DOI: 10.1159/000481623
    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the push-out bond strength and failure modes of different sealers/obturation systems to intraradicular dentin at 2 weeks and 3 months after obturation compared to AH Plus®/gutta-percha.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 180 root slices from 60 single-canal anterior teeth were prepared and assigned to 5 experimental groups (n = 36 in each group), designated as G1 (AH Plus®/gutta-percha), G2 (TotalFill BC™ sealer/BC-coated gutta-percha), G3 (TotalFill BC™ sealer/gutta-percha), G4 (EndoREZ® sealer/EndoREZ®-coated gutta-percha), and G5 (EndoREZ® sealer/gutta-percha). Push-out bond strengths of 18 root slices in each group were assessed at 2 weeks and the other 18 at 3 months after obturation using a universal testing machine. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. An independent t test was used to compare the mean push-out bond strength for each group at 2 weeks and 3 months after obturation.

    RESULTS: The mean push-out bond strengths of G4 and G5 were significantly lower than those of G1, G2, and G3 (p < 0.05) at both 2 weeks (G1: 1.46 ± 0.29 MPa, G2: 1.74 ± 0.43 MPa, G3: 1.74 ± 0.43 MPa, G4: 0.66 ± 0.31 MPa, G5: 0.74 ± 0.47 MPa) and 3 months after obturation (G1: 1.70 ± 1.05 MPa, G2: 3.69 ± 1.20 MPa, G3: 2.84 ± 0.83 MPa, G4: 0.14 ± 0.05 MPa, G5: 0.24 ± 0.10 MPa). The mean push-out bond strengths of G2 (3.69 ± 1.20 MPa) and G3 (2.84 ± 0.83 MPa) were higher at 3 months compared to 2 weeks after obturation (G2: 1.74 ± 0.43 MPa, G3: 1.33 ± 0.29 MPa).

    CONCLUSION: The TotalFill BC™ obturation system (G2) and the TotalFill BC™ sealer/gutta-percha (G3) showed comparable bond strength to AH Plus®. Their bond strength increased over time, whereas the EndoREZ® obturation system (G4) and EndoREZ sealer (G5) had low push-out bond strength which decreased over time.

    Matched MeSH terms: Epoxy Resins/chemistry; Gutta-Percha/chemistry; Methacrylates/chemistry; Root Canal Filling Materials/chemistry*; Calcium Compounds/chemistry; Silicates/chemistry
  12. Preparation and characterization of polysulfone/zeolite mixed matrix membranes for removal of low-concentration ammonia from aquaculture wastewater
    Moradihamedani P, Abdullah AH
    Water Sci Technol, 2018 Jan;77(1-2):346-354.
    PMID: 29377819 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2017.545
    Removal of low-concentration ammonia (1-10 ppm) from aquaculture wastewater was investigated via polysulfone (PSf)/zeolite mixed matrix membrane. PSf/zeolite mixed matrix membranes with different weight ratios (90/10, 80/20, 70/30 and 60/40 wt.%) were prepared and characterized. Results indicate that PSf/zeolite (80/20) was the most efficient membrane for removal of low-concentration ammonia. The ammonia elimination by PSf/zeolite (80/20) from aqueous solution for 10, 7, 5, 3 and 1 ppm of ammonia was 100%, 99%, 98.8%, 96% and 95% respectively. The recorded results revealed that pure water flux declined in higher loading of zeolite in the membrane matrix due to surface pore blockage caused by zeolite particles. On the other hand, ammonia elimination from water was decreased in higher contents of zeolite because of formation of cavities and macrovoids in the membrane substructure.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/chemistry; Polymers/chemistry*; Sulfones/chemistry*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry; Zeolites/chemistry*; Waste Water/chemistry*
  13. Anisotropic reversed micelles with fluorocarbon-hydrocarbon hybrid surfactants in supercritical CO2
    Sagisaka M, Ono S, James C, Yoshizawa A, Mohamed A, Guittard F, et al.
    Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces, 2018 Aug 01;168:201-210.
    PMID: 29276082 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2017.12.012
    Previous work (M. Sagisaka, et al. Langmuir 31 (2015) 7479-7487), showed the most effective fluorocarbon (FC) and hydrocarbon (HC) chain lengths in the hybrid surfactants FCm-HCn (sodium 1-oxo-1-[4-(perfluoroalkyl)phenyl]alkane-2-sulfonates, where m = FC length and n = HC length) were m and n = 6 and 4 for water solubilization, whereas m 6 and n 6, or m 6 and n 5, were optimal chain lengths for reversed micelle elongation in supercritical CO2. To clarify why this difference of only a few methylene chain units is so effective at tuning the solubilizing power and reversed micelle morphology, nanostructures of water-in-CO2 (W/CO2) microemulsions were investigated by high-pressure small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements at different water-to-surfactant molar ratios (W0) and surfactant concentrations. By modelling SANS profiles with cylindrical and ellipsoidal form factors, the FC6-HCn/W/CO2 microemulsions were found to increase in size with increasing W0 and surfactant concentration. Ellipsoidal cross-sectional radii of the FC6-HC4/W/CO2 microemulsion droplets increased linearly with W0, and finally reached ∼39 Å and ∼78 Å at W0 = 85 (close to the upper limit of solubilizing power). These systems appear to be the largest W/CO2 microemulsion droplets ever reported. The aqueous domains of FC6-HC6 rod-like reversed micelles increased in size by 3.5 times on increasing surfactant concentration from 35 mM to 50 mM: at 35 mM, FC6-HC5 formed rod-like reversed micelles 5.3 times larger than FC6-HC6. Interestingly, these results suggest that hybrid HC-chains partition into the microemulsion aqueous cores with the sulfonate headgroups, or at the W/CO2 interfaces, and so play important roles for tuning the W/CO2 interfacial curvature. The super-efficient W/CO2-type solubilizer FC6-HC4, and the rod-like reversed micelle forming surfactant FC6-HC5, represent the most successful cases of low fluorine content additives. These surfactants facilitate VOC-free, effective and energy-saving CO2 solvent systems for applications such as extraction, dyeing, dry cleaning, metal-plating, enhanced oil recovery and organic/inorganic or nanomaterial synthesis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Carbon Dioxide/chemistry*; Emulsions/chemistry; Fluorocarbons/chemistry*; Hydrocarbons/chemistry*; Surface-Active Agents/chemistry*; Water/chemistry
  14. Acoustic cavitation induced generation of stabilizer-free, extremely stable reduced graphene oxide nanodispersion for efficient delivery of paclitaxel in cancer cells
    Geetha Bai R, Muthoosamy K, Shipton FN, Manickam S
    Ultrason Sonochem, 2017 May;36:129-138.
    PMID: 28069192 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2016.11.021
    Graphene is one of the highly explored nanomaterials due to its unique and extraordinary properties. In this study, by utilizing a hydrothermal reduction method, graphene oxide (GO) was successfully converted to reduced graphene oxide (RGO) without using any toxic reducing agents. Following this, with the use of ultrasonic cavitation, profoundly stable few layer thick RGO nanodispersion was generated without employing any stabilizers or surfactants. During ultrasonication, shockwaves from the collapse of bubbles cause a higher dispersing energy to the graphene nanosheets which surpass the forces of Van der Waal's and π-π stacking and thus pave the way to form a stable aqueous nanodispersion of graphene. Ultrasonication systems with different power intensity have been employed to determine the optimum conditions for obtaining the most stable RGO dispersion. The optimised conditions of ultrasonic treatments led to the development of a very stable reduced graphene oxide (RGO) aqueous dispersion. The stability was observed for two years and was analyzed by using Zetasizer by measuring the particle size and zeta potential at regular intervals and found to have exceptional stability. The excellent stability at physiological pH promotes its utilization in nano drug delivery application as a carrier for Paclitaxel (Ptx), an anticancer drug. The in vitro cytotoxicity analysis of Ptx loaded RGO nanodispersion by MTT assay performed on the cell lines revealed the potential of the nanodispersion as a suitable drug carrier. Studies on normal lung cells, MRC-5 and nasopharyngeal cancer cells, HK-1 supported the biocompatibility of RGO-Ptx towards normal cell line. This investigation shows the potential of exceptionally stable RGO-Ptx nanodispersion in nano drug delivery applications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry*; Drug Carriers/chemistry*; Graphite/chemistry*; Oxides/chemistry*; Paclitaxel/chemistry*; Nanostructures/chemistry*
  15. Solar photolysis versus TiO2-mediated solar photocatalysis: a kinetic study of the degradation of naproxen and diclofenac in various water matrices
    Kanakaraju D, Motti CA, Glass BD, Oelgemöller M
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2016 Sep;23(17):17437-48.
    PMID: 27230148 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-6906-8
    Given that drugs and their degradation products are likely to occur as concoctions in wastewater, the degradation of a mixture of two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), diclofenac (DCF) and naproxen (NPX), was investigated by solar photolysis and titanium dioxide (TiO2)-mediated solar photocatalysis using an immersion-well photoreactor. An equimolar ratio (1:1) of both NSAIDs in distilled water, drinking water, and river water was subjected to solar degradation. Solar photolysis of the DCF and NPX mixture was competitive particularly in drinking water and river water, as both drugs have the ability to undergo photolysis. However, the addition of TiO2 in the mixture significantly enhanced the degradation rate of both APIs compared to solar photolysis alone. Mineralization, as measured by chemical oxygen demand (COD), was incomplete under all conditions investigated. TiO2-mediated solar photocatalytic degradation of DCF and NPX mixtures produced 15 identifiable degradants corresponding to degradation of the individual NSAIDs, while two degradation products with much higher molecular weight than the parent NSAIDs were identified by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance-mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). This study showed that the solar light intensity and the water matrix appear to be the main factors influencing the overall performance of the solar photolysis and TiO2-mediated solar photocatalysis for degradation of DCF and NPX mixtures.
    Matched MeSH terms: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/chemistry; Diclofenac/chemistry*; Naproxen/chemistry*; Titanium/chemistry*; Water/chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry
  16. Evaluation of in situ catalysed hydrogen peroxide propagation (CHP) for phenanthrene and fluoranthene removals from soil and its associated impacts on soil functionality
    Venny, Gan S, Ng HK
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2014 Feb;21(4):2888-97.
    PMID: 24151025 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-2207-7
    Extensive contamination of soils by highly recalcitrant contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is an environmental problem arising from rapid industrialisation. This work focusses on the remediation of soil contaminated with 3- and 4-aromatic ring PAHs (phenanthrene (PHE) and fluoranthene (FLUT)) through catalysed hydrogen peroxide propagation (CHP). In the present work, the operating parameters of the CHP treatment in packed soil column was optimised with central composite design (H2O2/soil 0.081, Fe(3+)/soil 0.024, sodium pyrophosphate (SP)/soil 0.024, pH of SP solution 7.73). The effect of contaminant aging on PAH removals was also investigated. Remarkable oxidative PAH removals were observed for the short aging and extended aging period (up to 86.73 and 70.61 % for PHE and FLUT, respectively). The impacts of CHP on soil biological, chemical and physical properties were studied for both spiked and aged soils. Overall, the soil functionality analyses after the proposed operating condition demonstrated that the values for soil respiration, electrical conductivity, pH and iron precipitation fell within acceptable limits, indicating the compatibility of the CHP process with land restoration.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fluorenes/chemistry*; Hydrogen Peroxide/chemistry*; Iron/chemistry; Phenanthrenes/chemistry*; Soil/chemistry; Soil Pollutants/chemistry*
  17. Fulltext Synthesis, crystal structure, DFT studies and evaluation of the antioxidant activity of 3,4-dimethoxybenzenamine schiff bases
    Aziz AN, Taha M, Ismail NH, Anouar el H, Yousuf S, Jamil W, et al.
    Molecules, 2014 Jun 19;19(6):8414-33.
    PMID: 24950444 DOI: 10.3390/molecules19068414
    Schiff bases of 3,4-dimethoxybenzenamine 1-25 were synthesized and evaluated for their antioxidant activity. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. In addition, the characterizations of compounds 13, 15 and 16 were supported by crystal X-ray determinations and their geometrical parameters were compared with theoretical DFT calculations at the B3LYP level of theory. Furthermore, the X-ray crystal data of two non-crystalline compounds 8 and 18 were theoretically calculated and compared with the practical values of compounds 13, 15, 16 and found a good agreement. The compounds showed good DPPH scavenging activity ranging from 10.12 to 84.34 μM where compounds 1-4 and 6 showed stronger activity than the standard n-propyl gallate. For the superoxide anion radical assay, compounds 1-3 showed better activity than the standard.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antioxidants/chemistry*; Biphenyl Compounds/chemistry; Picrates/chemistry; Schiff Bases/chemistry*; Superoxides/chemistry; Free Radical Scavengers/chemistry
  18. Fulltext In vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of methanolic plant part extracts of Theobroma cacao
    Baharum Z, Akim AM, Taufiq-Yap YH, Hamid RA, Kasran R
    Molecules, 2014 Nov 10;19(11):18317-31.
    PMID: 25389662 DOI: 10.3390/molecules191118317
    The aims of this study were to determine the antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of the following Theobroma cacao plant part methanolic extracts: leaf, bark, husk, fermented and unfermented shell, pith, root, and cherelle. Antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and Folin-Ciocalteu assays; the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to determine antiproliferative activity. The root extract had the highest antioxidant activity; its median effective dose (EC50) was 358.3±7.0 µg/mL and total phenolic content was 22.0±1.1 g GAE/100 g extract as compared to the other methanolic plant part extracts. Only the cherelle extract demonstrated 10.4%±1.1% inhibition activity in the lipid peroxidation assay. The MTT assay revealed that the leaf extract had the highest antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 cells [median inhibitory concentration (IC50)=41.4±3.3 µg/mL]. Given the overall high IC50 for the normal liver cell line WRL-68, this study indicates that T. cacao methanolic extracts have a cytotoxic effect in cancer cells, but not in normal cells. Planned future investigations will involve the purification, identification, determination of the mechanisms of action, and molecular assay of T. cacao plant extracts.
    Matched MeSH terms: Methanol/chemistry*; Cacao/chemistry*; Plant Extracts/chemistry*; Plant Leaves/chemistry; Plant Roots/chemistry; Plant Bark/chemistry
  19. Fulltext Anticholinesterase inhibitory activity of quaternary alkaloids from Tinospora crispa
    Yusoff M, Hamid H, Houghton P
    Molecules, 2014 Jan 20;19(1):1201-11.
    PMID: 24448061 DOI: 10.3390/molecules19011201
    Quaternary alkaloids are the major alkaloids isolated from Tinospora species. A previous study pointed to the necessary presence of quaternary nitrogens for strong acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity in such alkaloids. Repeated column chromatography of the vine of Tinospora crispa extract led to the isolation of one new protoberberine alkaloid, 4,13-dihydroxy-2,8,9-trimethoxydibenzo[a,g]quinolizinium (1), along with six known alkaloids-dihydrodiscretamine (2), columbamine (3), magnoflorine (4), N-formylannonaine (5), N-formylnornuciferine (6), and N-trans-feruloyltyramine (7). The seven compounds were isolated and structurally elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Two known alkaloids, namely, dihydrodiscretamine and columbamine are reported for the first time for this plant. The compounds were tested for AChE inhibitory activity using Ellman's method. In the AChE inhibition assay, only columbamine (3) showed strong activity with IC50 48.1 µM. The structure-activity relationships derived from these results suggest that the quaternary nitrogen in the skeleton has some effect, but that a high degree of methoxylation is more important for acetylcholinesterase inhibition.
    Matched MeSH terms: Acetylcholinesterase/chemistry; Berberine Alkaloids/chemistry; Cholinesterase Inhibitors/chemistry*; Plant Extracts/chemistry*; Quinolizines/chemistry*; Tinospora/chemistry*
  20. Preparation of palm (Elaeis oleifera) pressed fibre cellulose nanocrystals via cation exchange resin: characterisation and evaluation as Pickering emulsifier
    Soo YT, Ng SW, Tang TK, Ab Karim NA, Phuah ET, Lee YY
    J Sci Food Agric, 2021 Aug 15;101(10):4161-4172.
    PMID: 33428211 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.11054
    BACKGROUND: Palm pressed fibre (PPF) is a cellulose-rich biomass residue produced during palm oil extraction. Its high cellulose content allows the isolation of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC). CNC has attracted scientific interest due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility and low cost. The present study isolated CNC from PPF using a cation exchange resin, which is an environmentally friendly and less harsh hydrolysis method than conventional mineral acid hydrolysis. Isolated CNC was used to stabilise an oil-in-water emulsion and the emulsion stability was evaluated in terms of droplet size, morphology and physical stability.

    RESULTS: PPF was subjected to alkali and bleach treatment prior to hydrolysis, which successfully removed 54% and 75% of non-cellulosic components (hemicellulose and lignin, respectively). Hydrolysis conditions of 5 h, 15:1 (w/w) resin-to-pulp ratio and 50 °C produced CNC particles of 50-100 nm in length. CNC had a crystallinity index of 42% and appeared rod-like morphologically. CNC-stabilised emulsion had better stability when used in combination with soy lecithin (SL), a well-established, commonly used food stabiliser. Emulsion stabilised by the binary mixture of CNC and SL had droplet size, morphology and physical stability comparable to those of emulsion stabilised using SL.

    CONCLUSIONS: CNC was successfully isolated from PPF through a cation exchange resin. This offers an alternative usage for the underutilised PPF to be converted into value-added products. Isolated CNC was also found to have promising potential in the stabilisation of Pickering emulsions. These results provide useful information indicating CNC as a natural and sustainable stabiliser for food, cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical applications. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

    Matched MeSH terms: Cation Exchange Resins/chemistry; Cellulose/chemistry*; Plant Extracts/chemistry*; Arecaceae/chemistry*; Emulsifying Agents/chemistry*; Nanoparticles/chemistry*
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