Acid Hydrolysis Research Articles

Highly-efficient method for chitin nanocrystal production using solid-state phosphoric acid hydrolysis

Highly-efficient method for chitin nanocrystal production using solid-state phosphoric acid hydrolysis

Identification of chemical constituents and pharmacokinetic characteristics of Xiaoyan Tuire Granule in rats

Xiaoyan Tuire Granule is a type of Chinese patent medicine that has been proven effective in treating respiratory tract infections. However, while it has been successfully introduced into clinical use, more knowledge is still needed regarding its chemical components and pharmacokinetics. This study investigated the chemical profile in the medicine and rat plasma by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Q Exactive hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS). Subsequently, it developed a validated ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for determining five components in rat plasma after oral administration of Xiaoyan Tuire Granule. As a result, a total of 106 constituents were inferred, including 9 terpenoids, 29 flavonoids, 33 organic acids, 12 phenylpropanoids and 23 other compounds. After administration, 86 compounds were inferred in rat plasma, including 73 prototypes and 13 metabolites. The metabolic pathways were primarily hydrogenation, glucuronic acid conjugation, sulfate conjugation, hydrolysis and methylation. The established method determined the contents of esculetin, esculin, isovitexin, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid had a good separation, and all the legal verification met the requirements. The pharmacokinetic results indicate that the absorption rate of the five compounds in vivo was rapid, with a Tmax of less than 0.25 h, and the elimination rate was also fast, with a half-time (T1/2) ranging from 1.22 h to 2.19 h. It is worth noting that esculin and esculetin have similar half-time in vivo due to their structural similarities. Among these five compounds, the AUC0-∞ and MRT0-∞ of p-coumaric acid and esculetin were relatively higher, indicating higher exposure and longer residence time of both compounds in vivo. In conclusion, this paper researched the chemical constituents and pharmacokinetics of Xiaoyan Tuire Granule, which provided the reference for further study.

Seed pretreatment using design of engineering approach for regulating <em>Humulus lupulus</em> seed germination in different media

Humulus lupulus, a plant of commercial benefit, has been widely explored for its therapeutic applications. Plant propagation via seeds is one of the major challenges due to seed dormancy and low germination. The physical dormancy of the seed caused by a hard seed coat makes seeds impervious to water. Different types of methods have been reported to break the seed dormancy. The present study emphasizes the optimized chemical method of seed pretreatment for regulating the germination efficiency in three different media namely, Murashige and Skoog (MS), Hoagland’s media and Leafy 200®. The study explores the interaction between two variables viz., acid treatment time and concentration of sulphuric acid, on germination of Humulus lupulus seeds using the Design of Experiment (DOE) approach. The results showed a higher germination rate in MS media and Leafy200® media (100%) seed germination percentage with respect to Hoagland’s media. The result demonstrates the synergistic role of seed pretreatment and media on the seed germination efficiency. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the seeds pretreated with acid revealed small perforations on the seed coat ranging between 5-15 µm. Furthermore, the elemental analysis of the seed coat surface by Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) revealed a substantial decrease in carbon and oxygen (%) and the presence of calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. The results indicate the acid hydrolysis of organic constituents on the seed surface enabling changes in seed porosity. Additionally, factors such as pretreatment and media play a pivotal role in regulating seed germination.

Extraction, and characterization of CNC from waste sugarcane leaf sheath as a reinforcement of multifunctional bio-nanocomposite material: A waste to wealth approach

Nowadays we are extremely dependent on various synthetic plastic materials to maintain the massive demand, therefore, both the industries and mankind have been generating a massive amount of plastic waste which is so hazardous for the total environment due to their nonbiodegradable nature. To solve this problem by replacing the fossil-based plastic materials with ecofriendly biopolymers in this current study we will be described a novel method for producing Crystalline Nano Cellulose (CNC) from the waste sugarcane leaf sheaths (SLSF) fibers as a green reinforcing agent. The waste-to-wealth approach aims to elevate agricultural residues, particularly SLSF, by transforming them into high-quality CNCs for use in a variety of sectors. SLSF was initially washed with detergent to remove impurities, followed by alkali treatment and bleaching operation before CNC manufacture using acid hydrolysis (60% H2SO4). The resulting materials were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential thermogravimetry (DTG), and Differential thermal analysis (DTA). FTIR indicates the newly produced CNCs is very much rich with active sites like –OH, -NH, -COOH, -C-O-C-, etc., while SEM revealed the raw fiber surface was rough, whereas the surface of CNCs became smooth even after the removal of lignin, fatty, and waxy compounds. Overall, acid hydrolysis was shown to increase the crystallinity of bleached SLSF while reducing cellulose dimensions to the nanoscale. After analysis it was revealed that most CNC particle size was around 100 nm. The outstanding properties of CNCs, including as high strength, biodegradability, and low environmental impact, make them ideal candidates for reinforcing composites, improving medicine delivery systems, and aiding new electronics. Ongoing research and technology advancements in integrating CNCs into many applications have the potential to alter industries looking for sustainable and high-performance materials.

Soy whey and brewer’s spent grain hydrolysates wholly replace conventional medium for microalgae growth: Process performance and economic considerations

To enhance circularity in heterotrophic microalgal bioprocesses, this study completely substituted glucose and Bold’s basal medium (BBM) with brewer’s spent grain (BSG) and soy whey (SW) hydrolysates. Mild acid hydrolysis conditions of BSG (0.2 M H2SO4, 130 °C, 36 min) and SW (0.1 M HCl, 95 °C, 30 min) were optimised for glucose release, and their hydrolysates were optimally mixed (15 % SW-85 % BSG) to obtain a medium that best supported Auxenochlorella protothecoides growth. Maximum biomass production (Xmax) and productivity (PXmax) obtained in the hydrolysate medium containing 50.75 g/L endogenous glucose (Xmax: 22.17 g/L; PXmax: 7.06 g/L/day) were comparable to that in BBM containing 50.44 g/L exogenous glucose (Xmax: 20.02 g/L; PXmax: 6.34 g/L/day). Moreover, estimated hydrolysate medium production costs were within an order of magnitude to BBM. Overall, the integrated approach of tailored hydrolytic treatments and complementary side-streams presents a promising technical and economic feasibility, with applications extending beyond A. protothecoides.

Sustainable biofuels from corncobs: optimization of microwave pretreatment for enhanced fermentable sugar yield

Microwave-Assisted Alkali (MAA) pretreatment of corncob biomass was optimized for maximum fermentable sugar yield using dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis. A Central Composite Design (CCD) investigated the effects of microwave power (450–9000 W), NaOH concentration (1.5 to 4.5% wt./v), and irradiation time (10–20 min) on lignin removal. The optimal MAA pretreatment conditions were found to be 691.73 W, 3.4% NaOH, and 15.5 min, resulting in the selective removal of 73.36% lignin with high retention of cellulose (71.69%) and hemicellulose (22.14%). Characterization techniques (FTIR, SEM, XRD, TGA) confirmed substantial changes in surface morphology, functional groups, crystallinity, and thermal stability of the pretreated corncobs. Dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis (0.5–2.5%, 110130 °C, 3060 min) of the optimized sample yielded a maximum reducing sugar output of 537.42 mg/g, achieved at 0.534% H2SO4, 122.3 °C, for 58 min. Optimizing Microwave-Assisted Alkali pretreatment process for corncobs could boost biofuel production efficiency, sustainably utilize agricultural waste, and advance a more sustainable energy landscape.

Exosomal Delivery Enhances the Antiproliferative Effects of Acid-Hydrolyzed Apiaceae Spice Extracts in Breast Cancer Cells.

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide. The Apiaceae plant family includes many culinary spices that have been shown to have medicinal properties. Many phytochemicals exhibit potent bioactivities but often suffer from poor uptake and oral bioavailability. Bovine milk and colostrum exosomes are a compelling drug delivery platform that could address this issue; these natural nanoparticles can be loaded with hydrophilic and lipophilic small molecules and biologics, resulting in lower doses needed to inhibit cancer growth. Ethanolic extracts of eight Apiaceae spices were examined for phytochemical content and antiproliferative potential. Acid hydrolysis (AH) was employed to remove glycosides, asses its impacts on extract efficacy, and evaluate its effects on exosome loading and subsequent formulation efficacy. Antiproliferative activity was assessed through MTT assays on T-47D, MDA-MB-231, and BT-474 breast cancer cells; all extracts exhibited broad antiproliferative activity. AH enhanced the bioactivity of cumin, caraway, and fennel in T-47D cells. Celery, cumin, anise, and ajwain showed the highest activity and were assayed in exosomal formulations, which resulted in reduced doses required to inhibit cellular proliferation for all extracts except AH-cumin. Apiaceae spice extracts demonstrated antiproliferative activities that can be improved with AH and further enhanced with exosomal delivery.

HPTLC method for determination of anti-hypertensive drug combination metoprolol succinate and dapagliflozin

Combination of Metoprolol Succinate and Dapagliflozin is recommended in the treatment of Hypertension. Accurate and precise thin layer chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of Metoprolol Succinate and Dapagliflozin in combination. Pre-coated silica gel G60—F254 aluminium sheet (10 × 10 cm),0.2 mm layer thickness used as stationary phase and n-Butanol: Ethyl acetate: Triethylamine (6:4:0.1 v/v/v) used as mobile phase. The method was found to be linear with a range of 200–1200 ng/band for DAP and 1000–6000 ng/band for MET with correlation coefficient (r2) 0.996 for both DAP and MET. The proposed method was validated as per ICH Q2 (R2) guideline with respect to linearity, accuracy and precision. Stress degradation was carried out to find out the intrinsic stability of the molecules. Both the drugs were highly susceptible to acid and base hydrolysis and degradation products were well separated with drug peak. The method was successfully used for determination of metoprolol succinate and dapagliflozin in combination.

High-yield production of completely linear dextrans and isomalto-oligosaccharides by a truncated dextransucrase from Ligilactobacillus animalis TMW 1.971

Several lactic acid bacteria are capable of producing water-soluble exopolysaccharides such as dextran from sucrose by using glucansucrases. Several recombinant glucansucrases were described, however, yields are often limited and most dextrans are branched at position O3. In this study, the dextransucrase from Ligilactobacillus animalis TMW 1.971 was recombinantly produced without its N-terminal variable region and used for dextran synthesis. The enzyme expressed well and showed very high total as well as transferase activities compared to other glucansucrases. It was able to transfer nearly all glucose from sucrose to oligo- and polymeric products under certain conditions (about 95 % of glucose transferred). The high efficiency of the enzyme made it possible to obtain absolute dextran yields of up to 214.9 g/L from a 1.5 M sucrose solution. Structural characterization of the products showed that the dextrans produced have a rather low molecular weight, a narrow size distribution, and are completely linear. Furthermore, we showed that various low molecular weight dextrans or 1,6-linked isomalto-oligosaccharides can be efficiently produced by acid hydrolysis. Overall, we demonstrated that Ligilactobacillus animalis TMW 1.971 dextransucrase can be used to efficiently synthesize dextrans with a quite unique structural composition. The dextrans produced have a high potential for further applications such as synthesis of copolymers or size standards with a very defined molecular structure.

Properties of hydrogel for adsorbent textile dye waste based cellulose-carboxymethyl sago starch

Abstract The use of a single natural polymer in hydrogel preparations is considered insufficient to produce hydrogels that are more durable, more stable, and stronger. Blends of various natural polymers can improve each sago other’s lack of physicochemical characteristics and produce new properties. This research combines two natural polymers, cellulose and starch. Cellulose isolation from Gracilaria verrucosa seaweed using acid hydrolysis and alkaline autoclaving method produced 14.01% cellulose. This study combined the results of cellulose isolation with carboxymethyl sago starch at 0.09; 0.14 and 0.24 mol/mol AGU. The isolated cellulose-carboxymethyl sago starch has the potential as a hydrogel material with the addition of crosslinkers such as epichlorohydrin (ECH). This study aims to synthesize hydrogels from cellulose-carboxymethyl sago starch with application as a textile dye waste absorbent with a concentration of epichlorohydrin (ECH) at 7.5%. Analysis of carboxymethyl sago starch is degrees of substitution, water-soluble index (WSI), and swelling power (SP). The hydrogel properties are characterized by the degree of swelling, degree of polymerization, FTIR, and SEM, and the hydrogel adsorption ability is characterized by adsorption efficiency using a microplate reader. The research results show that hydrogel can be synthesized optimally by adding carboxymethyl sago starch (CMSS) at 0.24 mol/mol AGU. The results of FTIR analysis are also by chemical measurements (swelling and gel fraction). In contrast, for maximum colour absorption, the addition of carboxymethyl sago starch is 0.09 mol/mol AGU for purple, yellow, and black and 0.14 mol/mol AGU for green color absorption. In conclusion, the adsorption ability of hydrogel in commercial textile dyes is maximum when the carboxymethyl sago starch (CMSS) is added at 0.09 mol/mol AGU with the best adsorption efficiency at purple 86.22%, yellow 77.40%, black 73.70% and at the addition of CMSS 0.14 mol/mol AGU the best adsorption efficiency in green is 73.46%.

Improving the Mechanical Properties of Glass Ionomer Cement With Nanocrystalline Cellulose From Rice Husk.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of incorporating nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) sourced from rice husk on the mechanical properties of a commercial glass ionomer cement (GIC). NCC was isolated through acid hydrolysis, and its crystallinity, chemical structure, and morphology were characterized through x-ray diffractometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Various concentrations of NCC (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%) were added to reinforce the GIC matrix. Mechanical tests including compressive strength, flexural strength, hardness, and shear bond strength were conducted on the modified GIC samples. The addition of NCC resulted in increased hardness and shear bond strength values, with 1% NCC showing the highest values compared to other concentrations. However, there was no significant improvement observed in the compressive and flexural strength of the modified GIC. Failure mode test revealed a reduction in adhesive failure with the addition of NCC. Incorporating small amounts of NCC (0.5%-1%) suggests a promising and affordable modification of GIC restorative material using biomass residue, resulting in improved mechanical properties.

Production of sweet potato distilled beverage: Economic evaluation via enzymatic and acid hydrolysis

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the feasibility of utilizing sweet potato waste for distilled beverage production in two process scenarios: (i) acid hydrolysis and (ii) enzymatic hydrolysis. Laboratory experiments were conducted using in natura sweet potato waste and the data obtained were used to design a production system capable of producing 1000 L of distillate per day. Net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and discounted payback indicators were used for economic analysis, with a minimum attractiveness rate (MARR) of 15%. The initial investment for the projects was BRL 1 139 610.86 (USD 223 146.80) for enzymatic hydrolysis and BRL 1 314 824.54 (USD 257 455.36) for acid hydrolysis. Packaging costs were identified as the greatest expenses in the process. Assuming a selling price of BRL 14.50 (USD 2.84), the enzymatic hydrolysis process demonstrated an NPV of BRL 4 792 520.77 (USD 938 421.92) and IRR of 83.39%, and the acid hydrolysis process showed an NPV of BRL 2 191 636.78 (USD 429 143.68) and IRR of 42.49%. Consequently, establishing a production plant for distilled beverages proved to be more economically attractive when employing the enzymatic hydrolysis process and fermentation simultaneously, resulting in a return on investment within 1.46 years of operation. Upon scrutinizing the gain matrix, it became apparent that critical factors with the potential to affect the project's feasibility detrimentally, if increased, included the cost of acquiring packaging, the final volumetric fraction of the distilled beverage, and the tax rate. Nevertheless, an upturn in the selling price of the beverage and a process improvement yield both have the potential to underpin the project effectively.

Pectin Extracted from Orange Peel (<i>Citrus Sinensis</i>) to Obtain Bioplastic: Synergistic Effects with Alginate

Pectin, derived from agri-food industry waste, is an almost inexhaustible resource. This study aims to develop a bioplastic from pectin extracted from orange peel, combined with commercial alginate, and to investigate its physicochemical and thermal properties. Pectin was extracted using acid hydrolysis, and its degree of esterification and methoxyl content were determined through titration. The bioplastic film was obtained by ionic cross-linking method. Structural characterization was conducted with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, while the thermal properties of the pectin and the film were assessed via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results indicated that pectin and alginate exhibited synergistic interactions through miscibility and ionic cross-linking. The bioplastic film demonstrated thermal stability, with a plateau in the range of 130 – 200 °C, indicating that the material possesses suitable properties for thermal processing.

Development and validation of stability indicating HPTLC method for estimation of Daclatasvir Dihydrochloride in pharmaceutical dosage form

A high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method was developed and validated for estimation of Daclatasvir Dihydrochloride in pharmaceutical dosage form. The proposed method was applied successfully to the pharmaceutical analysis of the recently approved dosage form of Daclatasvir Dihydrochloride which is available in market as a brand name of ‘NALDAC 60’ tablets. The drugs were satisfactorily show peak with RF 0.38 for Daclatasvir Dihydrochloride. Method was validated according to the ICH guidelines. The calibration plot was linear between 50-300 ng per band for Daclatasvir Dihydrochloride. The LOD and LOQ for Daclatasvir Dihydrochloride were found to be 0.171 μg per band and 0.521 μg per band, respectively. Accuracy and precision of the proposed method was evaluated by recovery studies (% recovery for Daclatasvir Dihydrochloride was 99.88%) and intra-day and inter-day precision studies (standard deviation value for precision studies was found to be 0.453). In stability testing, Daclatasvir Dihydrochloride was found susceptible to acid hydrolysis and alkaline degradation. Because the method could effectively separate the drugs from their degradation products, it can be used as a stability indicating method. The proposed validated stability indicating assay for the sensitive determination of the mentioned drugs is suitable for Quality control laboratories as a simple fast economic method. Degradation product of Daclatasvir Dihydrochloride in alkaline condition was carried out.

Yeast based biorefinery for xylitol and ethanol production from sugarcane bagasse

Lignocellulosic biomass is one of the biggest renewable reservoirs for organic carbon that can be exploited as feed for various value-added products like fuel, nutraceuticals enzymes, and proteins. Biofuel is not only valuable but also a top priority target to address the energy crisis. Hence the current work was planned to valorize the cellulose-rich residual biomass (CRB), left after xylitol production for ethanol fermentation by yeast. Xylose-rich hydrolysate was prepared with dilute acid pretreatment (0.1 M H2SO4, 145 ℃, and 90 min) for xylitol production and CRB was further processed for enzymatic hydrolysis (crude cellulase). Acid hydrolysis offered maximum reducing sugars of 0.33±0.01 g⋅g−1biomass comprised of xylose 0.31±0.01 g⋅g−1biomass. Besides sugar, biomass hydrolysis also produced 0.21 ±0.01 g.L−1 furans and 0.34±0.11 g.L−1 acetic acid. Pichia guilliermondii RLV-04 (MH588234.1) have shown 0.90±0.02 gxylitol.g−1xylose conversion of xylose to xylitol. The primary process has left more than 50–55 % biomass that was rich in cellulose. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the CRB using crude cellulase showed maximum glucose recovery of 0.56±0.02 g⋅g−1available cellulose at 15 FPU at 50 ℃, after 12 h. In addition, yeast biomass recovered from xylitol production was hydrolysed and used as a nitrogen source. Under an anaerobic environment, a maximum ethanol yield of 0.36±0.01 g.g−1glucose was achieved with commercial baker’s yeast while the addition of yeast biomass hydrolysate improved the alcohol yield to 0.48±0.02 g.g−1glucose. Reutilization of biocatalysts as nitrogen source not only upgraded fermentation processes but also lowered process waste and improved process economics.

Pectin-like heteroxylans in the early-diverging charophyte Klebsormidium fluitans.

The cell walls of charophytic algae both resemble and differ from those of land plants. Cell walls in early-diverging charophytes (e.g. Klebsormidiophyceae) are particularly distinctive, in ways that may enable survival in environments that are incompatible with land-plant polymers. This study therefore investigates the structure of Klebsormidium polysaccharides. The 'pectin' fraction (defined by extractability) of Klebsormidium fluitans, solubilised by various buffers from alcohol-insoluble residues (AIRs), was digested with several treatments that (partially) hydrolyse land-plant cell-wall polysaccharides. Products were analysed by gel-permeation and thin-layer chromatography. The Klebsormidium pectic fraction made up ~30-50% of its AIR, was optimally solubilised at pH 3-4 at 100°C, and contained residues of xylose ≈ galactose > rhamnose > arabinose, fucose, mannose, glucose. Uronic acids were undetectable and the pectic fraction was more readily solubilised by formate than by oxalate, suggesting a lack of chelation. Some land-plant-targeting hydrolases degraded the Klebsormidium pectic fraction: digestion by α-l-arabinanase, endo-β-(1⟶4)-d-xylanase, and α-d-galactosidase suggests the presence of β-(1⟶4)-xylan with terminal α-l-arabinose, α-d-galactose and (unexpectedly) rhamnose. 'Driselase' released oligosaccharides of xylose and rhamnose (~1:1) and graded acid hydrolysis of these oligosaccharides indicated a 'rhamnoxylan' with rhamnose side-chains. Partial acid hydrolysis of Klebsormidium pectic fraction released rhamnose plus numerous oligosaccharides, one of which comprised xylose and galactose (~1:2 Gal/Xyl), suggesting a galactoxylan. Lichenase was ineffective, as were endo-β-(1⟶4)-d-galactanase, endo-β-(1⟶4)-d-mannanase, β-d-xylosidase and β-d-galactosidase. Klebsormidium pectic fraction possesses many land-plant-like linkages but is unusual in lacking uronic acid residues and in containing rhamnoxylan and galactoxylan domains. Uronic acids allow land-plant and late-diverging charophyte pectins to form Ca2+-bridges, facilitating cell-wall polymer association; their absence from Klebsormidium suggests that neutral heteroxylans rely on alternative cross-linking mechanisms. This lack of dependency on Ca2+-bridges may confer Klebsormidium's ability to grow in the acidic, metal-rich environments which it tolerates.

Moderately halophilic bacterium Halomonas alkalicola strain Ext as a platform for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) copolymer production with fruit peels residues as sole carbon source

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are synthesized by a variety of microorganisms as intracellular storage granules under imbalanced nutrition and excess carbon. Carbon sources are key contributors to the high cost of PHA production, hence the need for exploration of cheap and sustainable raw materials for bacteria fermentation. In the present study, Halomonas alkalicola strain Ext isolated from a hypersaline lake in Kenya was assessed for its ability to utilize fruit peels hydrolysates (FPH) as sole carbon sources for PHA production. Sugars were extracted from dried peels of banana, mango, orange, and pineapple fruits through mechanical pretreatment and dilute acid hydrolysis. Fruit peels pretreated with 3 % H2SO4 at 121℃ were utilized for shake flask fermentation to produce PHAs by Halomonas alkalicola Ext. At optimal C:N ratios of between 20:1 and 30:1, the bacterium could produce up to 0.45±0.03, 0.394±0.12, 0.39±0.05, and 0.28±0.0 g/L of PHAs from hydrolysates of orange peels, mango peels, banana peels, and pineapple peels, respectively. A maximum PHA content of 16.92 % was achieved on orange peels hydrolysates with 4 % substrate loading. Monomer analysis with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed that the bacterium produced a copolymer Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) with 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) contents of 5.77 %, 6.08 %, 6.79 %, 6.845 %, for orange peels, pineapple peels, mango peels and banana peels substrates, respectively. The findings of this study suggest that fruit peels waste is a potential feedstock for sustainable production of PHAs by Halomonas alkalicola.

Acid Hydrolysis of Quinoa Starch to Stabilize High Internal Phase Emulsion Gels.

Starch nanocrystals (SNCs) to stabilize high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) always suffer low production efficiency from acid hydrolysis. Due to its small granule size, Quinoa starch (QS) was selected to produce SNCs as a function of acid hydrolysis time (0-4 days), and their structural changes and potential application as HIPEs' stabilizers were further explored. With increasing the acid hydrolysis time from 1 day to 4 days, the yield of QS nanocrystals decreased from 30.4% to 10.8%, with the corresponding degree of hydrolysis increasing from 51.2% to 87.8%. The occurrence of QS nanocrystals was evidenced from the Tyndall effect and scanning electron microscopy with particle size distribution. The relative crystallinity of QS subjected to different hydrolysis times (0-4 days) increased from 22.27% to 26.18%. When the acid hydrolysis time of QS was 3 and 4 days, their HIPEs showed self-standing after inversion, known as high internal phase emulsion gels (HIPE gels), closely related to their densely packed interfacial architecture around oil droplets, seen on an optical microscope, and relatively high apparent viscosity. This study could provide a theoretical guidance for the efficient production and novel emulsification of SNCs from QS to HIPE gels.

Polyethylene Materials with Tunable Degradability by Incorporating In-Chain Mechanophores.

Polyolefins are recognized as fundamental plastic materials that are manufactured in the largest quantities among all synthetic polymers. The chemical inertness of the saturated hydrocarbon chains is crucial for storing and using polyolefin plastics, but poses significant environmental challenges related to plastic pollution. Here, we report a versatile approach to creating polyethylene materials with tunable degradability by incorporating in-chain mechanophores. Through palladium-catalyzed coordination/insertion copolymerization of ethylene with cyclobutene-fused comonomers, several cyclobutane-fused mechanophores were successfully incorporated with varied insertion ratios (0.35-26 mol %). The resulting polyethylene materials with in-chain mechanophores exhibit both high thermal stability and remarkable acid resistance. Upon mechanochemical activation by ultrasonication or ball-milling, degradable functional units (imide and ester groups) are introduced into the main polymer chain. The synergy of mechanochemical activation and acid hydrolysis facilitates the efficient degradation of high molecular weight polyethylene materials into telechelic oligomers.

Enhancement of Candida albicans phagocytosis and inhibitory potency of Alternative Complement Pathway by an arabinoxylan extracted from Plantago ciliata Desf. Seeds and its oligosaccharides

Leveraging bioactive compounds with immunomodulatory effects to boost immune functions represents a promising strategy for therapeutic intervention. The main objective of this work was to investigate the influence of the partial acid hydrolysis of an arabinoxylan extracted from Plantago ciliata Desf. seeds into oligosaccharides on its immunomodulatory effect. The resulting oligosaccharides and their polymer were evaluated for their potential to improve the phagocytic capacity (PC) and the phagocytic activity (PA) of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) through the uptake of Candida albicans and to moderate alternative complement pathway (ACP) activation. As a result, the arabinoxylan derived from P. ciliata seeds (AXPCs) and its oligosaccharides (AXOPCs) significantly enhanced the PC of PMN cells, with EC50 values of 0.14 ± 0.23 and 0.12 ± 0.10 mg/mL, respectively. Zymosan used as a reference exhibited the highest PC with an EC50 0.07 ± 0.08 mg/mL. However, for PA, zymosan still demonstrated the highest activity with an EC50 of 0.22 ± 0.46 mg/mL compared to 0.33 ± 1.36 and 0.30 ± 0.74 mg/mL for AXPCs and AXOPCs, respectively. Moreover, AXPCs and AXOPCs were tested as moderator inhibitors of the complement system, showing maximum inhibition percentages of 40.11 ± 8.38% and 50.57 ± 10.45% at 1 mg/mL, with IC50 values of 1.49 ± 0.40 and 1.02 ± 0.20 mg/mL, respectively, compared to 61.52 ± 7.17% and 70.89 ± 5.78% for heparin used as a reference. These results suggest that AXPCs and AXOPCs can serve as relevant therapeutic immunomodulatory factors.