Displaying publications 1341 - 1360 of 10538 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Chan KK, Pereira AF, Valente AI, Tavares APM, Coutinho JAP, Ooi CW
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2024 Oct;277(Pt 4):134443.
    PMID: 39217672 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134443
    Laccases hold great potential for biotechnological applications, particularly in environmental pollutant remediation. Laccase activity is governed by the solvent environment, and ionic liquids (ILs) emerge as a versatile solvent for activation or stabilization of enzymes. Herein, effects of cholinium-based ILs formulated with carboxylic acids, inorganic acid, and amino acids as anionic species, on the catalytic activity of laccase from Trametes versicolor were investigated by experimental and computational approaches. Experimental results showed that laccase activity was enhanced by 21.39 % in 0.5 M cholinium dihydrogen citrate ([Cho][DHC]), in relation to the laccase activity in phosphate buffer medium. However, cholinium aminoate ILs negatively affected laccase activity, as evidenced by the partial deactivation of laccase in both cholinium glycinate and cholinium phenylalaninate, at concentrations of 0.1 M and 0.5 M, respectively. Molecular dynamics studies revealed that the enhancement of laccase activity in [Cho][DHC] might be attributed to the highly stabilized and compact structure of laccase, facilitating a better internal electron transfer during the laccase-substrate interactions. Enhanced catalytic performance of laccase in [Cho][DHC] was postulated to be driven by the high accumulation level of dihydrogen citrate anions around laccase's surface. [Cho][DHC] holds great promise as a cosolvent in laccase-catalyzed biochemical reactions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Choline/chemistry; Solvents/chemistry
  2. Fan K, Chen L, Li H, Lim JW, Lin C, Qin J, et al.
    J Hazard Mater, 2024 Oct 05;478:135633.
    PMID: 39182296 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135633
    Contamination of rice by arsenic represents a significant human health risk. Roxarsone -bearing poultry manure is a major pollution source of arsenic to paddy soils. A mesocosm experiment plus a laboratory experiment was conducted to reveal the role of rainwater-borne H2O2 in the degradation of roxarsone in paddy rice soils. While roxarsone could be degraded via chemical oxidation by Fenton reaction-derived hydroxyl radical, microbially mediated decomposition was the major mechanism. The input of H2O2 into the paddy soils created a higher redox potential, which favored certain roxarsone-degrading and As(III)-oxidizing bacterial strains and disfavored certain As(V)-reducing bacterial strains. This was likely to be responsible for the enhanced roxarsone degradation and transformation of As(III) to As(V). Fenton-like reaction also tended to enhance the formation of Fe plaque on the root surface, which acted as a filter to retain As. The dominance of As(V) in porewater, combined with the filtering effect of Fe plaque significantly reduced the uptake of inorganic As by the rice plants and consequently its accumulation in the rice grains. The findings have implications for developing management strategies to minimize the negative impacts from the application of roxarsone-containing manure for fertilization of paddy rice soils.
    Matched MeSH terms: Iron/chemistry; Soil/chemistry
  3. Elouafy Y, El Yadini A, El Moudden H, Harhar H, Alshahrani MM, Awadh AAA, et al.
    Molecules, 2022 Nov 08;27(22).
    PMID: 36431782 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27227681
    The present study investigated and compared the quality and chemical composition of Moroccan walnut (Juglans regia L.) oil. This study used three extraction techniques: cold pressing (CP), soxhlet extraction (SE), and ultrasonic extraction (UE). The findings showed that soxhlet extraction gave a significantly higher oil yield compared to the other techniques used in this work (65.10% with p < 0.05), while cold pressing and ultrasonic extraction gave similar yields: 54.51% and 56.66%, respectively (p > 0.05). Chemical composition analysis was carried out by GC−MS and allowed 11 compounds to be identified, of which the major compound was linoleic acid (C18:2), with a similar percentage (between 57.08% and 57.84%) for the three extractions (p > 0.05). Regarding the carotenoid pigment, the extraction technique significantly affected its content (p < 0.05) with values between 10.11 mg/kg and 14.83 mg/kg. The chlorophyll pigment presented a similar content in both oils extracted by SE and UE (p > 0.05), 0.20 mg/kg and 0.16 mg/kg, respectively, while the lowest content was recorded in the cold-pressed oil with 0.13 mg/kg. Moreover, the analysis of phytosterols in walnut oil revealed significantly different contents (p < 0.05) for the three extraction techniques (between 1168.55 mg/kg and 1306.03 mg/kg). In addition, the analyses of tocopherol composition revealed that γ-tocopherol represented the main tocopherol isomer in all studied oils and the CP technique provided the highest content of total tocopherol with 857.65 mg/kg, followed by SE and UE with contents of 454.97 mg/kg and 146.31 mg/kg, respectively, which were significantly different (p < 0.05). This study presents essential information for producers of nutritional oils and, in particular, walnut oil; this information helps to select the appropriate method to produce walnut oil with the targeted quality properties and chemical compositions for the desired purpose. It also helps to form a scientific basis for further research on this plant in order to provide a vision for the possibility of exploiting these oils in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food fields.
    Matched MeSH terms: Nuts/chemistry; Plant Oils/chemistry
  4. Kong P, Rosnan SM, Enomae T
    Carbohydr Polym, 2024 Dec 15;346:122612.
    PMID: 39245494 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122612
    Polysaccharide-based edible films have been widely developed as food packaging materials in response to the rising environmental concerns caused by the extensive use of plastic packaging. In recent years, the integration of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CS) for a binary edible film has received considerable interest because this binary edible film can retain the advantages of both constituents (e.g., the great oxygen barrier ability of CMC and moderate antimicrobial activity of CS) while mitigating their respective disadvantages (e.g., the low water resistance of CMC and poor mechanical strength of CS). This review aims to present the latest advancements in CMC-CS edible films. The preparation methods and properties of CMC-CS edible films are comprehensively introduced. Potential additives and technologies utilized to enhance the properties are discussed. The applications of CMC-CS edible films on food products are summarized. Literature shows that the current preparation methods for CMC-CS edible film are solvent-casting (main) and thermo-mechanical methods. The CMC-CS binary films have superior properties compared to films made from a single constituent. Moreover, some properties, such as physical strength, antibacterial ability, and antioxidant activity, can be greatly enhanced via the incorporation of some bioactive substances (e.g. essential oils and nanomaterials). To date, several applications of CMC-CS edible films in vegetables, fruits, dry foods, dairy products, and meats have been studied. Overall, CMC-CS edible films are highly promising as food packaging materials.
    Matched MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry; Antioxidants/chemistry
  5. Adiiba SH, Chan ES, Lee YY, Amelia, Chang MY, Song CP
    J Sci Food Agric, 2022 Dec;102(15):6921-6929.
    PMID: 35662022 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.12053
    BACKGROUND: Crude palm oil (CPO) is rich with phytonutrients such as carotenoids and tocols which possesses many health benefits. The aim of this research was to develop a methanol-free process to produce palm phytonutrients via enzymatic hydrolysis. In this work, triacylglycerol was hydrolyzed into free fatty acids (FFAs) using three different types of liquid lipases derived from Aspergillus oryzae (ET 2.0), Aspergillus niger (Habio) and Candida antartica (CALB).

    RESULTS: ET 2.0 was found to be the best enzyme for hydrolysis. Under the optimum condition, the FFA content achievable was 790 g kg-1 after 24 h of reaction with 1:1 water-to-oil mass ratio at 50 °C and stirring speed of 9 × g. Furthermore, with the addition of 2 g kg-1 ascorbic acid, it was found that 98% of carotenoids and 96% of tocols could be retained after hydrolysis.

    CONCLUSION: This work shows that enzymatic hydrolysis, which is inherently safer, cleaner and sustainable is feasible to replace the conventional methanolysis for the production of palm phytonutrients. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

    Matched MeSH terms: Lipase/chemistry; Plant Oils/chemistry
  6. Tang KS, See WZC, Naidu R
    Biosci Rep, 2024 Nov 27;44(11).
    PMID: 39501749 DOI: 10.1042/BSR20241102
    Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly affects millions of people worldwide due to the progressive degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Despite extensive research efforts, effective treatments that can halt or reverse the progression of PD remain elusive. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising new avenue for addressing this challenge, with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) standing out for their extensive therapeutic potential. ZnO-NPs have shown remarkable promise in neuroprotection through several key mechanisms. The multifaceted properties of ZnO-NPs suggest that they could play a crucial role in intervening across various fundamental mechanisms implicated in PD. By targeting these mechanisms, ZnO-NPs offer new insights and potential strategies for managing and treating PD. This review aims to provide a thorough examination of the molecular mechanisms through which ZnO-NPs exert their neuroprotective effects. It highlights their potential as innovative therapeutic agents for PD and outlines directions for future research to explore and harness their full capabilities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Nanoparticles/chemistry; Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry
  7. Yao D, Ranadheera CS, Shen C, Wei W, Cheong LZ
    Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2024;64(33):12336-12351.
    PMID: 37632418 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2249992
    Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) is a complex trilayer structure present in mammalian milk and is mainly composed of phospholipids and proteins (>90%). Many studies revealed MFGM has positive effects on the immune system, brain development, and cognitive function of infants. Probiotics are live microorganisms that have been found to improve mental health and insulin sensitivity, regulate immunity, and prevent allergies. Probiotics are unstable and prone to degradation by environmental, processing, and storage conditions. In this review, the processes used for encapsulation of probiotics particularly the potential of MFGM and its constituents as encapsulating materials for probiotics are described. This study analyzes the importance of MFGM in encapsulating bioactive substances and emphasizes the interaction with probiotics and the gut as well as its resistance to adverse environmental factors in the digestive system when used as a probiotic embedding material. MFGM can enhance the gastric acid resistance and bile resistance of probiotics, mainly manifested in the survival rate of probiotics. Due to the role of digestion, MFGM-coated probiotics can be released in the intestine, and due to the biocompatibility of the membrane, it can promote the binding of probiotics to intestinal epithelial cells, and promote the colonization of some probiotics in the intestine.
    Matched MeSH terms: Milk/chemistry; Phospholipids/chemistry
  8. Alasmari SM, Albalawi AE, Alghabban AJ, Shater AF, Al-Ahmadi BM, Baghdadi HBA, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2024 Sep 01;41(3):377-384.
    PMID: 39548793 DOI: 10.47665/tb.41.3.019
    Current strategies for tick control have led to the development of resistance and environmental contamination. Consequently, there is an urgent need for research into new and effective acaricides for tick control. The aim of this study was to fabricate and characterize Linalool loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles (Lin@ZNP), and to assess the acaricidal, larvacidal, and repellent activities of Lin@ ZNP against Hyalomma anatolicum, a prevalent tick species infesting cattle in Saudi Arabia. Lin@ ZNP was synthesized using an ethanolic solution of polyvinyl alcohol. The adult immersion, the larval packet, and the assessment of vertical movement behavior of tick larvae assays were utilized to examine the acaricidal, larvicidal, and repellent activities of Lin@ZNP against H. anatolicum, respectively. Furthermore, the impact of Lin@ZNP on acetylcholinesterase and oxidant/antioxidant enzyme activities was investigated. Exposure of adult H. anatolicum to different concentrations of Lin@ZNP resulted in noticeable (p<0.001) reductions in the viability rate of adults and the mean number, weight, and hatchability of eggs, compared to the control group. Lin@ZNP demonstrated significant repellent effects on H. anatolicum larvae after 60, 120, and 180 minutes of exposure. Lin@ZNP, particularly at all concentrations, markedly suppressed the acetylcholinesterase activity of the larval stage of H. anatolicum (P<0.001); but increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (P<0.001) and a decrease in glutathione-S-transferase (GST) levels in H. anatolicum larvae (P<0.001). Lin@ZNP exhibited considerable acaricidal, larvicidal, and repellent effects against H. dromedarii adults and larvae in a manner dependent on the dosage. Additionally, Lin@ZNP notably reduced AChE levels and antioxidant activity, while inducing oxidative stress in H. anatolicum larvae. Nevertheless, further research is necessary to elucidate the precise mechanisms and practical efficacy of Lin@ZNP.
    Matched MeSH terms: Insect Repellents/chemistry; Nanoparticles/chemistry
  9. Bongosia JG, Al-Gailani A, Kolosz BW, Loy Chun Minh A, Lock SSM, Cheah KW, et al.
    J Environ Manage, 2024 Nov;370:122558.
    PMID: 39303585 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122558
    As the world faces the brink of climatological disaster, it is crucial to utilize all available resources to facilitate environmental remediation, especially by accommodating waste streams. Lignocellulosic waste residues can be transformed into mesoporous biochar structures with substantial pore capacity. While biochars are considered a method of carbon dioxide removal (CDR), they are in fact an environmental double-edged sword that can be used to extract metal ions from water bodies. Biochars possess high chemical affinities through chemisorption pathways that are tuneable to specific pH conditions. This work demonstrates how biochars can be enhanced to maximise their surface area and porosity for the removal of Cu (II) in solution. It was found that bagasse derived mesoporous biochars operate preferentially at high pH (basic conditions), with the 1.18 mKOH/mSCB material reaching 97.85% Cu (II) removal in 5 min. This result is in stark contrast with the majority of biochar adsorbents that are only effective at low pH (acidic conditions). As a result, the biochars produced in this work can be directly applied to ancestral landfill sites and carbonate-rich mine waters which are highly basic by nature, preventing further metal infiltration and reverse sullied water supplies. Furthermore, to assess the value in the use of biochars produced and applied in this way, a techno-economic assessment was carried out to determine the true cost of biochar synthesis, with possible routes for revenue post-Cu being removed from the biochar.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cellulose/chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry
  10. Mazlan NF, Sage EE, Mohamad NS, Mackeen MM, Tan LL
    Sci Rep, 2024 Jul 29;14(1):17357.
    PMID: 39075202 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68264-3
    The environmental contamination by extremophile Aspergillus species, i.e., Aflatoxin B1, is hardly controllable in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, which lack handling resources and controlled storage facilities. Acute aflatoxicosis poisoning from aflatoxin-prone dietary staples could cause acute hepatic necrosis, acute liver failure, and death. Here, as the cheaper, more straightforward, and facile on-site diagnostic kit is needed, we report an ultraviolet-excitable optical aptasensor based on a fluorinated ethylene propylene film strip. Molecular dynamics on the aptamer.AFB1 complex revealed that the AFB1 to the aptamer increases the overall structural stability, suggesting that the aptamer design is suitable for the intended application. Under various influencing factors, the proposed label-free strategy offers a fast 20-min on-site fabrication simplicity and 19-day shelf-life. The one-pot incubation provides an alternative to catalytic detection and exhibited 4 times reusability. The recovery of crude brown sugar, processed peanuts, and long-grain rice were 102.74 ± 0.41 (n = 3), 86.90 ± 3.38 (n = 3), and 98.50 ± 0.42 (n = 3), comparable to High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Photodiode Array Detector results. This study is novel owing to the peculiar UV-active spectrum fingerprint and the convenient use of hydrophobic film strips that could promote breakthrough innovations and new frontiers for on-site/forensic detection of environmental pollutants.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ethylenes/chemistry; Aflatoxin B1/chemistry
  11. Nordin AH, Yusoff AH, Husna SMN, Noor SFM, Norfarhana AS, Paiman SH, et al.
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2024 Nov;280(Pt 2):135799.
    PMID: 39307484 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.135799
    The long-term presence of pharmaceutical pollution in water bodies has raised public awareness. Nanocellulose is often used in adsorption to remove pollutants from wastewater since it is an abundant, green and sustainable material. This paper offers an extensive overview of the recent works reporting the potential of nanocellulose-based adsorbents to treat pharmaceutical wastewater. This study distinguishes itself by not only summarizing recent research findings but also critically integrating discussions on the improvements in nanocellulose production and sorts of alterations based on the type of pharmaceutical contaminants. Commonly, charged, or hydrophobic characteristics are introduced onto nanocellulose surfaces to accelerate and enhance the removal of pharmaceutical compounds. Although adsorbents based on nanocellulose have considerable potential, several significant challenges impede their practical application, particularly concerning cost and scalability. Large-scale synthesis of nanocellulose is technically challenging and expensive, which prevents its widespread use in wastewater treatment plants. Continued innovation in this area could lead to breakthroughs in the practical application of nanocellulose as a superior adsorbent. The prospects of utilization of nanocellulose are explained, providing a sustainable way to address the existing restriction and maximize the application of the modified nanocellulose in the field of pharmaceutical pollutants removal.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations/chemistry; Nanostructures/chemistry
  12. Ahamad Tarmizi AA, Nik Ramli NN, Adam SH, Abdul Mutalib M, Mokhtar MH, Tang SGH
    Molecules, 2023 Jul 10;28(14).
    PMID: 37513196 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28145322
    The advancement in nanotechnology is the trigger for exploring the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles and their use in biomedicine. Therefore, this study aims to synthesize selenium nanoparticles using M. oleifera as a reducing agent and evaluate their antioxidant and antidiabetic potential. Our result demonstrated a change in the color of the mixture from yellow to red, and UV-Vis spectrometry of the suspension solution confirmed the formation of MO-SeNPs with a single absorbance peak in the range of 240-560 nm wavelength. FTIR analysis revealed several bioactive compounds, such as phenols and amines, that could possibly be responsible for the reduction and stabilization of the MO-SeNPs. FESEM + EDX analysis revealed that the amorphous MO-SeNPs are of high purity, have a spherical shape, and have a size of 20-250 nm in diameter, as determined by HRTEM. MO-SeNPs also exhibit the highest DPPH scavenging activity of 84% at 1000 μg/mL with an IC50 of 454.1 μg/mL and noteworthy reducing ability by reducing power assay. Furthermore, MO-SeNPs showed promising antidiabetic properties with dose-dependent inhibition of α-amylase (26.7% to 44.53%) and α-glucosidase enzyme (4.73% to 19.26%). Hence, these results demonstrated that M. oleifera plant extract possesses the potential to reduce selenium ions to SeNPs under optimized conditions with notable antioxidant and antidiabetic activities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antioxidants/chemistry; Hypoglycemic Agents/chemistry
  13. Khan MS, Gowda BHJ, Nasir N, Wahab S, Pichika MR, Sahebkar A, et al.
    Int J Pharm, 2023 Aug 25;643:123276.
    PMID: 37516217 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123276
    Breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer worldwide,particularly among women, with substantial side effects after therapy. Despite the availability of numerous therapeutic approaches, particularly chemotherapy, the survival rates for breast cancer have declined over time. The therapies currently utilized for breast cancer treatment do not specifically target cancerous cells, resulting in significant adverse effects and potential harm to healthy cells alongside the cancer cells. As a result, nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have emerged. Among various types of nanoparticles, natural polysaccharide-based nanoparticles have gained significant attention due to their ability to precisely control the drug release and achieve targeted drug delivery. Moreover, polysaccharides are biocompatible, biodegradable, easily modifiable, and renewable, which makes them a unique material for nanoformulation. In recent years, dextran and its derivatives have gained much interest in the field of breast cancer therapy. Dextran is a hydrophilic polysaccharide composed of a main chain formed by α-1,6 linked glucopyranoside residues and a side chain composed of residues linked in α-1,2/3/4 positions. Different dextran-antitumor medication conjugates enhancethe efficacy of anticancer agents. With this context, the present review provides brief insights into dextran and its modification. Further, it meticulously discusses the role of dextran-based nanoparticles in breast cancer therapy and imaging, followed by snippets on their toxicity. Lastly, it presents clinical trials and future perspectives of dextran-based nanoparticles in breast cancer treatment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dextrans/chemistry; Drug Carriers/chemistry
  14. Sim YL, Ariffin A, Khan MN
    J Org Chem, 2007 Mar 30;72(7):2392-401.
    PMID: 17341117
    The rates of the hydrolyses of N-(o-hydroxyphenyl)phthalimide (1) and N-(o-methoxyphenyl)phthalimide (2), studied at different pH, show that the hydrolysis of 1 involves intramolecular general base (IGB) assistance where the o-O- group of ionized 1 acts as IGB and H2O as the reactant. The rate enhancement due to the IGB-assisted reaction of H2O with ionized 1 is>8x10(4)-fold. Pseudo-first-order rate constant for the reaction of water with 2 is approximately 2x10(3)-fold smaller than the first-order rate constant (0.10 s-1) for pH-independent hydrolysis of 1 within the pH range of 9.60-10.10. Second-order rate constants (kOH) for hydroxide ion-assisted hydrolysis of ionized 1 and 2 are 3.0 and 29.1 M-1 s-1, respectively. The solvent deuterium kinetic isotope effect (dKIE) on the rate of alkaline hydrolysis of 1 and 2 reveals that the respective values of kOH/kOD are 0.84 and 0.78, where kOD represents the second-order rate constant for DO--assisted cleavage of these imides (1 and 2). The value of kwH2O/kdD2O is 2.04, with kwH2O and kdD2O representing pseudo-first-order rate constants for the reactions of ionized 1 with H2O and D2O, respectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: Alkalies/chemistry; Phthalimides/chemistry*
  15. Chatterjee S, Mahmood S, Hilles AR, Thomas S, Roy S, Provaznik V, et al.
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2023 Sep 01;248:125757.
    PMID: 37429342 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125757
    Research and development in health care industry is in persistence progression. To make it more patient-friendly or to get maximum benefits from it, special attention to different advanced drug delivery system (ADDS) is employed that delivers the drug at the target site and will be able to sustain/control release of drugs. ADDS should be non-toxic, biodegradable, biocompatible along with desirable showing physicochemical and functional properties. These drug delivery systems can be totally based on polymers, either with natural or synthetic polymers. The molecular weight of polymer can be tuned and different groups of polymers can be modified or substituted with other functional groups. Degree of substitution is also tailored. Cationic starch in recent years is exploited in drug delivery, tissue engineering and biomedicine. Due to their abundant availability, low cost, easy chemical modification, low toxicity, biodegradability and biocompatibility, extensive research is now being carried out. Our present discussion will shed light on the usage of cationic starch in health care system.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cations/chemistry; Polysaccharides/chemistry
  16. He S, Li M, Sun Y, Pan D, Zhou C, Lan H
    Food Chem, 2024 Jan 01;430:137053.
    PMID: 37549626 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137053
    This study aimed to investigate the role of hydrolysis and guar gum (GG) participation on the emulsification of the duck myofibrillar protein (MP) and the related stability of oil-in-water emulsion in low-salt condition. Emulsions were prepared using one of each or both treatments, and that prepared with trypsin hydrolysis and GG (T-GG) exhibited the highest stability. FTIR analysis confirmed the hydrogen bond interactions between the system components. T-GG treatment improved emulsion properties and decreased oil droplet size. Moreover, CLSM indicated that aggregation of T-GG oil droplets was prevented. Physical stability was assessed such as Turbiscan stability index, creaming index, and rheological properties. The adsorbed percentage for T-GG was the lowest. However, interfacial tension, droplet size, stability, and peroxide value analyses indicated that a denser interfacial membrane structure is formed with T-GG. Thus, T-GG treatment could be applied in the food industry, such as in nutrient delivery systems and fat mimetics.
    Matched MeSH terms: Emulsions/chemistry; Water/chemistry
  17. Vo TP, Rintala J, Dai L, Oh WD, He C
    Water Res, 2023 Oct 15;245:120672.
    PMID: 37783176 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120672
    Hydrothermal processing (HTP) is an efficient thermochemical technology to achieve sound treatment and resource recovery of sewage sludge (SS) in hot-compressed subcritical water. However, microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals can be problematic impurities for high-quality nutrients recovery from SS. This study initiated hydrothermal degradation of representative MPs (i.e., polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP)) under varied temperatures (180-300 °C) to understand the effect of four ubiquitous metal ions (i.e., Fe3+, Al3+, Cu2+, Zn2+) on MPs degradation. It was found that weight loss of all MPs in metallic reaction media was almost four times of that in water media, indicating the catalytic role of metal ions in HTP. Especially, PA degradation at 300 °C was promoted by Fe3+ and Al3+ with remarkable weight loss higher than 95% and 92%, respectively, which was ca. 160 °C lower than that in pyrolysis. Nevertheless, PE and PP were more recalcitrant polymers to be degraded under identical condition. Although higher temperature thermal hydrolysis reaction induced severe chain scission of polymers to reinforce degradation of MPs, Fe3+ and Al3+ ions demonstrated the most remarkable catalytic depolymerization of MPs via enhanced free radical dissociation rather than hydrolysis. Pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py GC-MS) was further complementarily applied with GC-MS to reveal HTP of MPs to secondary MPs and nanoplastics. This fundamental study highlights the crucial role of ubiquitous metal ions in MPs degradation in hot-compressed water. HTP could be an energy-efficient technology for effective treatment of MPs in SS with abundant Fe3+ and Al3+, which will benefit sustainable recovery of cleaner nutrients in hydrochar and value-added chemicals or monomers from MPs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plastics/chemistry; Sewage/chemistry
  18. Paramjot, Wadhwa S, Sharma A, Singh SK, Vishwas S, Kumar R, et al.
    Curr Drug Deliv, 2024;21(1):16-37.
    PMID: 36627785 DOI: 10.2174/1567201820666230110140312
    Amongst different routes of drug delivery systems, ophthalmic drug delivery still requires a careful investigation and strict parameter measurements because the eyes are one of the most sensitive parts of the body and require special attention. The conventional systems for eyes lead to rapid elimination of formulation and hence very small contact time on the ocular epithelium. The current review article covers various types of polymers used in ocular drug delivery along with their applications/ limitations. Polymers are widely used by researchers in prodrug techniques and as a penetration enhancer in ocular delivery. This article covers the role and use of different polymeric systems which makes the final formulation a promising candidate for ophthalmic drug delivery. The researchers are still facing multiple challenges in order to maintain the therapeutic concentration of the drug in the eyes because of its complex structure. There are several barriers that further restrict the intraocular entry of the drug. In order to remove/reduce such challenges, these days various types of polymers are used for ocular delivery in order to develop different drug carrier systems for better efficacy and stability. The polymers used are highly helpful in increasing residence time by increasing the viscosity at the ocular epithelium layer. Such preparations also get easily permeated in ocular cells. The combination of different polymeric properties makes the final formulation stable with prolonged retention, high viscosity, high permeability, and better bioavailability, making the final formulation a promising candidate for ocular drug delivery.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Carriers/chemistry; Ophthalmic Solutions/chemistry
  19. Ojukwu M, Tan HL, Murad M, Nafchi AM, Easa AM
    Food Sci Technol Int, 2023 Dec;29(8):799-808.
    PMID: 36000280 DOI: 10.1177/10820132221121169
    In a bid to produce rice flour noodles with improved texture and reduced cooking time, rice flour-soy protein isolate noodles (RNS) were structurally enhanced by a combined treatment (COM) of microbial transglutaminase (MTG) with glucono-δ-lactone (GDL). The RNS-COM was either dried using superheated steam (SHS) to yield RNS-COM-SHS or steamed for 10 min (S10) before air drying to produce RNS-COM-S10 noodles. Control samples were SHS-dried rice flour (RN-SHS) and air-dried RN-S10 noodles. In general, textural and microstructural properties indicated higher textural properties and a more robust network in RNS-COM-SHS and RNS-COM-S10 than in other noodles. However, optimum cooking time (P < 0.5) was in the order; RN-SHS, RNS-COM-SHS < RN-S10 < RNS-COM-S10. As a result of the COM treatment, structurally enhanced noodles were more resistant to cooking. As applied in RNS-COM-SHS noodles, SHS was able to improve cooking quality, probably through the formation of bigger and evenly spread pores that had promoted faster gelatinisation of starch, with a high order of relative starch crystallinity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Transglutaminases/chemistry; Starch/chemistry
  20. Aishah Baharuddin S, Nadiah Abd Karim Shah N, Saiful Yazan L, Abd Rashed A, Kadota K, Al-Awaadh AM, et al.
    Ultrason Sonochem, 2023 Dec;101:106702.
    PMID: 38041881 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2023.106702
    Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common malignancy and the third primary cause of cancer-related mortalities caused by unhealthy diet, hectic lifestyle, and genetic damage. People aged ≥ 50 are more at risk for CRC. Nowadays, bioactive compounds from plants have been widely studied in preventing CRC because of their anticancer and antioxidant properties. Herein, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was used to extract the bioactive compounds of Pluchea indica (L.) leaves. The resultant total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of P. indica (L.) leaves were analyzed using a response surface methodology (RSM). The central composite design was implemented to evaluate the amplitude (10 %-70 %) and treatment time (2-10 min) on both responses, i.e., TPC and TFC of P. indica (L.) leaves. The optimum UAE conditions were observed 40 % amplitude and 6 min of treatment, where the TPC and TFC were 3.26 ± 0.00 mg GAE/g d.w. and 67.58 ± 1.46 mg QE/g d.w., respectively. The optimum P. indica (L.) leaf extract was then screened for its cytotoxicity on the HT-29 colorectal cancer cell line. This extract had strong cytotoxicity with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration value (IC50) of 12 µg/mL. The phytochemical screening of bioactive compounds revealed that the optimal P. indica (L.) leaf extract contains flavonoids, namely, kaempferol 3-[2''',3''',5'''-triacetyl]-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1->6)-glucoside, myricetin 3-glucoside-7-galactoside, quercetin 3-(3''-sulfatoglucoside), and kaempferol 7,4'-dimethyl ether 3-O-sulfate, which could be good sources for promising anticancer agents. This study employs the RSM approach to utilize UAE for bioactive compounds extraction of P. indica (L.) leaves, identified the specific compounds present in the optimized extract and revealed its potential in preventing CRC.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antioxidants/chemistry; Phenols/chemistry
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links