Central Composite Rotatable Design Research Articles

Analytical Quality by Design Assisted Ecofriendly RP-HPLC Method for the Simultaneous Estimation of Artificial Sweeteners in Commercial Food Samples Utilizing Green Ultrasound Assisted Extraction Technique: Greenness, Blueness and Whiteness Appraisal.

Acesulfame K (E950) and Saccharin Na (E954) are commonly utilized synthetic sweeteners that are added to various processed food products to improve the sweet flavor. It is essential to give priority to environmentally friendly technology while assessing them, as overuse of these sweeteners presents serious health hazards. The main aim of this study was to develop an AQbD aided ecofriendly RP-HPLC technique that can detect both Acesulfame K and Saccharin Na simultaneously incorporating green analytical chemistry (GAC) principles and white analytical chemistry (WAC); using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) technique on commercial food samples. The usage of ethanol was in accordance with eco-friendly ideals due to its ease of use, speed, and lack of environmental impact. Rotatable central composite designs (rCCD) was used for method optimization and a mobile phase consisting of a 50:50 (v/v) mixture of ethanol and 1% aqueous acetic acid (v/v), the separation was carried out on a Zorbax column (SB-C18, 150 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) with a flow rate of 1 ml/min and a detection wavelength of 217 nm. Acesulfame K had retention duration of 1.134 minutes and Saccharin Na of 2.134 minutes. Acesulfame K and Saccharin Na recovery rates varied among different commercially available food samples, ranging from 65-102% and 75-101%, respectively. At the defined operating point, the developed procedure displays conformity with the previously defined requirements for linearity, accuracy, sensitivity, and repeatability. The most accurate assessments of greenness were produced by the GAPI, AES, and AGREE tools. Results from the Red-Green-Blue 12 (RGB 12) algorithm for whiteness and BAGI for blueness indicate that the method is very practical, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. The results of this study could pave the way for more eco-friendly and effective AQbD methods to be used in the future for evaluating various sweeteners using green solvents.

Ethyl biodiesel production from crude soybean oil using enzymatic degumming-transesterification associated process

Brazil is one of the largest soybean producers in the world. Biodiesel production in Brazil (specially soybean oil biodiesel) has been growing every year and demanding more effective and sustainable technologies, which is the case of enzymatic processes. Enzymatic degumming could be an alternative to provide better quality products, before biodiesel production but also, in a one reaction step as a proposal to reduce time and costs. Therefore, this work was aimed at evaluating enzymatic degumming (previously optimized) of crude soybean oil using a phospholipase cocktail associated with transesterification using lipase from Aspergillus oryzae for ethyl biodiesel production. For this, transesterification was optimized for ethanol:oil (E:O) ratio, water and lipase % through a central composite rotatable design (CCRD). Optimal conditions were used to evaluate two degumming-transesterification associated processes: i) a one-pot reaction (OPR) where degumming and transesterification were performed at the same reactor; and ii) a two-pot reaction (TPR) where oil was first degummed, followed by transesterification. The optimal transesterification condition were achieved for E:O = 4.48:1, water = 3.41 % and lipase = 2.43 %, where 97 % fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) were obtained. Both OPR and TPR provided biodiesels with FAEE > 94 %: TPR was the best with 97.5 % and 99.98 % before and after biodiesel purification. Mineral elements (including phosphorus) and other impurities (anions) were low, and within quality standards. Glycerol produced also presented very low content of impurities which is quite advantageous. Although lipase achieves good conversion to FAEE (95.7 ± 0.29 %) using crude oil (Control), the final biodiesel carries many impurities (P=80.07 ± 0.1 mg/kg), thus requiring subsequent biodiesel purification steps. In addition, the high impurity content generates a biodiesel that does not comply with ANP legislative standards, P<10 mg/kg. The use of enzymatic degumming in the biodiesel production process generates a biodiesel with low impurities and higher final quality, in addition to being a process that generates less effluent. Enzymatic degumming was essential for obtaining high quality biodiesel and its association with transesterification showed to be a great option for decreasing time and costs for biodiesel production.

Prediction of Melting and Solid Phase Transitions Temperatures and Enthalpies for Triacylglycerols using Artificial Neural Networks

Triacylglycerols (TAG) are the main components of vegetable oils and any attempt to simulate vegetable oils processes will demand knowledge of their properties. However, experimental values are scarce, considering that several TAG in their pure forms are unavailable or too expensive for experimental measurements. On the other hand, correlating physical properties with TAG molecular structure is not simple. TAG is a molecule composed of 3 fatty acids (FA) esterified to a glycerol (GL) backbone, making properties dependent on carbon number (CN) of each FA, number of unsaturations (UN) of each FA, and position of the FA in the GL backbone. Few models are available in literature for prediction of TAG melting properties, with a special attention to melting temperature (Tfus) and enthalpy (ΔHfus) and solid-solid transition properties of the TAG polymorphic forms. Wesdorp's, Moorthy's et al. and Zeberg-Mikkelsen and Stenby's works present models based on the Group-Contribution theory nowadays used, despite some flaws, particularly considering the polymorphic transitions. Therefore, this work was aimed at evaluating Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models for prediction of TAG's Tfus and ΔHfus (β-form) as well as temperature and enthalpy transitions of molecule polymorphic forms (α and β’). Database was composed of temperature and enthalpy experimental data from literature. For each TAG, 7 input data were provided: total CN, as well as CN and UN at sn-1, 2 and 3 TAG position. The Multilayer Perceptron Feed Forward (MPL) model was used, and the topology was evaluated for number of hidden layers (HL), number of neurons (NN) and activation function at each hidden layer, and convergence algorithm. Number of HL and NN was screened by using a Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD). Models were further evaluated by Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) and feature evaluation strategies. Architectures showed a significant higher accuracy for calculation and prediction of TAG's melting properties of the 3 polymorphic forms, with R2 higher to 0.91 for all databases when compared to literatures’ models (excepted for the prediction of the melting temperature of the β form, where Wesdorp's model presented a better predictive ability, despite great similarity). Good results were probably related to the well-defined physicochemical relationship between input (molecular structure descriptors) and output (melting properties), that could be described by XAI evaluation. This is an important advantage considering the improvement of the performance of process and products design including TAG molecules.

TEMPORARY REMOVAL: Bioprospecting amylase from Samiti Lake, situated in the eastern Himalayas

Enzymes, especially amylases, have been an economic boon to the industrial sector, their bioprospective and biotechnological use is an added advantage. Our primary focus of the study was to isolate the most potent amylase producer and to optimize its production parameters through One Factor At A Time (OFAT), Central Composite Rotatable Design Response Surface Methodology (CCRD RSM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Based on the qualitative and quantitative analysis, SLAB1 was selected as the most potent amylase producer out of the potential isolates. Further SLAB1 was identified as Priestia flexa via 16SrRNA identification protocol. Optimization of the production parameters showed the best carbon, nitrogen sources, temperature and pH to be fructose, peptone, 20 °C and pH 8.0 respectively. Further, the enzyme was purified using ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by dialysis. Later, DEAE Sepharose (Sigma) resin was used for ion exchange chromatography and the protein was eluted using NaCl gradients from 0.1 M – 0.6 M. Enzyme kinetics assessment of the purified amylase with the Lineweaver Burk plot showed values of maximum rate; Vmax (10.869 μmoL/min), and Michaelis-Menten constant Km to be around (14.91 mg/mL). To determine its potential application, analysis of this purified amylase in cleaning the tomato and chocolate stained cotton fabrics after comparing its compatibility with different detergents were executed. Further analysis of the washed stained fabrics via Scanning Electron Microscopy was carried out.

Microencapsulation of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract in taro starch: Determination of optimal conditions of bioactive compound retention using response surface methodology

Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) extract contains a large amount of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and antihypertensive effects. The extraction of total phenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins is more efficient at boiling temperature (~91 °C) than that performed at room temperature (~27 °C). In this study, a central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used to optimize the inlet temperature conditions of a spray dryer and the concentration of taro starch solids to obtain microcapsules with the highest retention of bioactive compounds in hibiscus extracts. Optimized microcapsules (OM) were obtained at an inlet temperature of 118 °C and solid concentration of 26.5 %. Low moisture content (4.54 %) and water activity (0.2) and high content of total phenols (3374.91 mg GAE/100 g), flavonoids (372.81 mg QE/100 g), monomeric anthocyanins (36.74 mg C-3-GE/100 g), and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity (80.01 %), were determined in OM using response surface methodology. OM showed a range of spherical agglomerate sizes (10––32 μm). These results indicate that CCRD is a good tool for establishing the optimal conditions for solid concentration and drying temperature to maximize the protection of bioactive compounds using taro starch as the wall material.

Bio-Guided Extraction of a Phenolic-Rich Extract from Industrial Peanut Skin with Antioxidant and Hypotensive Potential

Peanut composition includes phenolic compounds, especially in the skins, which are often not consumed. High blood pressure affects more than one billion people worldwide and is considered a high-risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Several studies have correlated antihypertensive activity with the total phenolic content present in the plants. This study evaluated the hydroethanolic extraction of phenolic compounds from the industrial residue of peanut skin and evaluated the antioxidant and antihypertensive capacity of these extracts using in vitro models. A rotational central composite design (DCCR) was proposed to study the influence of the variables: (1) the ethanol concentration on the hydroalcoholic extractor solution, and (2) the proportion of solid sample (waste) per liquid in the extraction (mass/volume) in a simple solid—a liquid extraction process. The optimal extraction conditions within this model were 50% ethanol in water, and the proportion of sample to extraction solution (m/v) equaled to 0.2. The extract obtained had significant antioxidant capacity, both in chemical (ORAC) and in cellular models, with potential for free radical scavenging. Significant levels of ACE inhibition were also found, indicating antihypertensive activity.

Cost-Effective Optimization of the Transfructosylation Activity of an Invertase Produced from Aspergillus carbonarius PC-4 Using Pineapple Crown and Determination of Its Biochemical Properties

Fructooligosaccharides are prebiotic sugars that are widely used in the production of functional foods, which can be produced enzymatically by the transfructosylation reaction of sucrose. This work aimed to optimize the production of an invertase with high transfructosylation activity from Aspergillus carbonarius PC-4 using pineapple crown as the inducer substrate and evaluate its biochemical properties. The culture medium was optimized using a Plackett–Burman experimental design and a central composite rotatable design, resulting in a maximum transfructosylation activity of 65.33 U/mL at 72 h of cultivation. The cultivation parameters were Yp/s = 1070.75 U/g and PP = 2771.48 U/h, which showed an increase of 5.2-fold in the enzyme produced. The optimum temperature (50 °C) and pH (5.0) for the enzymatic activity were obtained by a CCR design. The enzyme showed a half-life of 60 min at 40 °C. In conclusion, the invertase produced from A. carbonarius PC-4 using agro-industrial waste (pineapple crown) and an inorganic nitrogen source (ammonium nitrate) exhibits high transfructosylation activity that can be used as a potential source for the production of fructooligosaccharides.

Optimization of dolutegravir and Epigallocatechin gallate loaded nanoemulsion for enhanced oral delivery in NeuroAIDS management

The present study aimed to develop a nanoemulsion loaded with dolutegravir (DTG) and Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) to achieve a combined and synergistic effect for improved oral delivery, facilitating more effective management of NeuroAIDS. Thyme oil was chosen as the oil, tween 80 as the surfactant, and transcutol®HP as the co-surfactant following extensive screening of experiments. The nanoemulsion was fabricated using the ultrasonication technique and optimization was performed using a Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) to attain the best formulation following parameters like droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, % transmittance, pH, refractive index, viscosity and conductivity of the optimized nanoemulsion, which were found to be 45.36 nm, 0.2462, −6.226 mV, 96.30 ± 0.20 %, 6.84 ± 0.32, 1.70 ± 0.12, 31.17 ± 0.21 mPas, and 0.217 ± 0.002 mS/cm, respectively. The developed formulation was thoroughly characterized and investigated through various in vitro studies, demonstrating enhanced drug release. The nanoemulsion showcased a spherical and globular nature of the droplets, resulting in improved drug bioavailability compared to the pure drug. In conclusion, the DTG and EGCG-loaded nanoemulsion formulation offers a promising approach for achieving a combined anti-HIV effect, with potential for effective NeuroAIDS management. Future investigations will focus on validating the anti-HIV-1 properties of this nanoemulsion formulation, employing in-depth mechanistic analysis through in vitro preclinical studies, to further elucidate their synergistic effects and optimize therapeutic potential against HIV-1 infection.

Optimization of Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) process for the treatment of oily water from biodiesel production

Biodiesel production has become one of the most efficient ways of diversifying the energy matrix. However, the increase in biodiesel production increases the generation of wastewater. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the wastewater generated in the biodiesel washing process, obtained by the alkaline transesterification of sunflower oil, and to evaluate its treatment by the dissolved air flotation (DAF) system, using a Central Composite Rotational Design (CCRD). The first DCCR was carried out with 4 independent variables: pH, Coagulant Dose (CD), Polymer Dose (PD), and Recirculation Rate (RR), with the response variables being apparent color removal and turbidity removal. Based on the results of the first DCCR, optimization tests were designed with DC and DP as independent variables and apparent color, turbidity, COD, and oil and grease (OG) as response variables. The process showed high apparent color and turbidity removal efficiency. The best results were obtained in tests 10 (DC = 1545 mg.L-1 and DP = 1050 mg.L-1) and 3 (DC = 700 mg.L-1 and DP = 8.8 mg.L-1), with the removal of 99.88% and 99.22%, respectively. For the COD and OG parameters, the best results were observed in tests 8 (DC= 555 mg.L-1 and DP= 6 mg.L-1) and 5 (DC= 1050 mg.L-1 and DP= 6 mg.L-1), with 98% and 99.42% removal, respectively. FAD treatment using the combination of coagulant and cationic polymer proved to be highly efficient in treating wastewater from biodiesel production.

Biotechnological potential of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Shirota for bioemulsifier, bacteriocin and lipase production.

This study aimed to evaluate the biotechnological potential of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Shirota to produce biosurfactants/bioemulsifiers, lipase, and bacteriocins. The production of biosurfactants/bioemulsifiers was evaluated through a central composite rotational design (CCRD) 22. L. paracasei produced bioemulsifiers using MRS supplemented with 4.8% glycerol and pH 6 or 7. In addition, the culture supernatants of L. paracasei were tested for antioxidant, antidiabetic, and lipolytic activities. The tested supernatants did not exhibit antioxidant activity. On the other hand, they showed inhibitory activity for amyloglucosidase (20.7% and 23.9%) and lipolytic activity (16.12 and 19.00 U/mL). In addition, a CCRD 23 was performed to evaluate the production of bacteriocins. The peptone and lactose concentration variables, as well as pH positively influenced the production of bacteriocins by L. paracasei. In conclusion, L. paracasei is a viable source of antidiabetic metabolites, bacteriocins, bioemulsifiers, and lipase, suggesting that they are promising to be applied in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, environmental, food, and biomedical industries.

Mono- and di-rhamnolipids mixtures from Pseudomonas aeruginosa for use in extreme conditions of pre- and post-salt oil reservoirs compared with synthetic surfactants

Rhamnolipids are multipurpose molecules known as natural glycolipid biosurfactants that are often biosynthesized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. They are readily biodegradable, have less impact on the environment and are less toxic than conventional surfactants. They can be applied in ex situ microbial enhanced oil recovery. However, there is still a lack of knowledge concerning the drastic environmental conditions of post and pre-salt reservoirs. In this study, different mixtures with different proportions of homologs of rhamnolipids from two genetically modified strains (GMOs) of P. aeruginosa and a non-GMO strain compared to commercial surfactants (Arquad C-50 and/or Ultrasperse II®) regarding their efficiency under high pressure, temperature and salinity conditions. Wettability reversal and interfacial tension tests were performed together with central composite rotational designs. Both genetically modified P. aeruginosa strains produced mainly di-rhamnolipids, whereas the non-GMO strain produced approximately 50 % mono- and 50 % di-rhamnolipids. Rhamnolipids and Arquad C-50 reversed 100 % of the wettability under pre-salt and post-salt conditions, whereas Ultrasperse II® achieved 73.3 % and 34.2 % (100 ppm) wettability, respectively. Interfacial tension presented the lowest values for rhamnolipids, with values of 0.4 mN/m and 0.5 mN/m, whereas Ultrasperse II® presented values of 2.6 and 2.5 mN/m, respectively under post-salt and pre-salt conditions at the +1 level of the tested variables. All rhamnolipid congeners tested here were more effective under post and pre-salt reservoirs conditions than commercial surfactants, thus expanding their potential for use not only in environmental bioremediation but also in oil industry processes.

Biocatalytic Production of Solketal Esters from Used Oil Utilizing Treated Macauba Epicarp Particles as Lipase Immobilization Support: A Dual Valorization of Wastes for Sustainable Chemistry

This study describes the production of solketal esters from used soybean cooking oil (USCO) via enzymatic hydroesterification. This process consists of the complete hydrolysis of USCO into free fatty acids (FFAs) catalyzed by crude lipase extract from Candida rugosa (CRL). The resulting FFAs were recovered and utilized as the raw material for an esterification reaction with solketal, which was achieved via an open reaction. For this purpose, lipase Eversa® Transform 2.0 (ET2.0) was immobilized via physical adsorption on treated epicarp particles from Acrocomia aculeata (macauba), a lignocellulosic residue. A protein loading of 25.2 ± 1.3 mg g−1 with a support and immobilization yield of 64.8 ± 2.5% was achieved using an initial protein loading of 40 mg g−1 of support. The influence of certain parameters on the esterification reaction was evaluated using a central composite rotatable design (CCRD). Under optimal conditions, a FFAs conversion of 72.5 ± 0.8% was obtained after 150 min of reaction at 46 °C using a biocatalyst concentration of 20% wt. and a FFAs–solketal molar ratio of 1:1.6. The biocatalyst retained 70% of its original activity after ten esterification batches. This paper shows the conversion of two agro-industrial waste into valuable materials (enzyme immobilization support and solketal esters).

Microwave-Assisted vs. Conventional Extraction of Moringa oleifera Seed Oil: Process Optimization and Efficiency Comparison.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of microwave-assisted and conventional extraction using ethanol, hexane, and petroleum ether as solvents, and to optimize the process for extracting oil from Moringa oleifera Lam. seeds, with a focus on improving food-grade oil production. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to enhance the extraction process of the oil. Central composite rotational design (CCRD) was used to analyze the impact of solid-liquid ratio (x1), power (x2), and temperature (x3) on oil yield. The optimization identified the optimal conditions as a solid/liquid ratio of 1:38, power of 175 W, and temperature of 50 °C, achieving a 42% oil yield. Notably, the microwave-assisted extraction reduced the processing time from 8 h (using conventional Soxhlet extraction) to just 1 h. Conventional extraction with hexane and petroleum ether was also performed for comparison, resulting in similar oil content and fatty acid profiles, predominantly, oleic acid. FTIR analysis confirmed that the microwave-extracted oil contained fatty acids and had similar characteristics to the conventionally extracted oil. Thus, the use of ethanol as a green solvent in the microwave has shown significant improvement in terms of time and energy savings compared to the Soxhlet method with toxic solvents. This study concludes that microwave-assisted extraction with ethanol provides a more energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and time-saving alternative for food-grade oil production, aligning with advancements in food engineering and production.

Simultaneous removal of E1, E2, EE2 and levonorgestrel from water using TiO2 catalyst anchored on activated carbon: Processes optimization, materials characterization, and assessment of the estrogenicity reduction

Removal of estrogen hormones from water matrices is crucial owing to its adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health. The present investigation applies an advanced approach to assess the effectiveness of combined processes (adsorption and visible-light-driven photo-degradation) for simultaneous removal of estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), and levonorgestrel (LEVO) in water, applying TiO2-activated carbon composite selected through design of experiment (DoE) for process optimization. Based on a central composite rotatable design (CCRD), composites were synthesized with percentages of activated carbon (AC) ranging from 2.93% to 17.07% (wt.) and calcination temperatures between 259 and 541 °C. The composite with the best performance TiO2-AC15%-541 (15% wt. AC, calcined at 541 °C), achieved a total removal of 98.3 ± 1.15% for E1, 99.0 ± 1% for E2, 99.3 ± 1.15% for EE2, and 96.0 ± 2.65% for LEVO at the initial concentration of 100 μg L−1 under simulated solar irradiation. Further optimization using once more CCRD involved three independent variables: pH; hormone concentration/TiO2-AC15%-541 loading ratio; and the intensity of simulated solar irradiation. Under optimized conditions (pH 2.64, hormone concentration/TiO2-AC15%-541 loading ratio of 3.8 mg g−1, and irradiation intensity of 41 W m−2 UV-A), the TiO2-AC15%-541 composite removed 99.8% of E1, 99.8% of E2, 99.0% of EE2, and 92.1% of LEVO. Furthermore, the process achieved a 99.9% reduction in estrogenic activity, assessed with yeast estrogen screen (YES) assay. These results demonstrate that TiO2-AC15%-541 is an efficient and cost-effective remediation agent for treating mixed estrogen compounds in water, with significant potential for commercial applications.

Partially defatted chia flour as a novel ingredient for gluten-free breadmaking: Improving sustainability, nutrition and consumer liking

Partially defatted chia flour (DCF) is a valuable food ingredient in the context of a circular economy, with the potential to improve the nutrient and bioactive contents of gluten-free foodstuff. Thus, this study assessed the effects of interactions between DCF and water content (W) on the physical and sensory properties of gluten-free bread (GFB) and defined, using the response surface method, the composition of formulations that enable quality optimization. A rotatable central composite design was used to assess the main and interaction effects of DCF (ranging from 0 to 28% on a flour basis (fb) and W (ranging from 100 to 200% fb) on the physical properties and consumer linking of rice flour based GFB. The resulting models indicated that higher DCF or W levels diminished the bread quality. However, different W and up to 17.2% DCF can be used to prepare bread with high consumer liking (scores ≥7 for all assessed characteristics, on a scale of 10). The formulation prepared with 0% DCF and 135.5% W (fb) had the highest degree of liking (varying from 8.3 to 9.0). However, when incorporating up to 9.8% DCF and 135.5% W, a high liking can be maintained (scores 8.0 to 8.5 for all characteristics). Acceptable GFB with up to 17.2% DCF in the formulation can be obtained if the W content is adjusted (135 to 139.7% fb). Incorporating 17.2% DCF doubles the fiber content of the GFB. Therefore, DCF is an alternative ingredient to obtain nutritionally improved and acceptable GFB.

All-aqueous microfluidic fabrication of calcium alginate/alkylated chitosan core-shell microparticles with time-sequential functions for promoting whole-stage wound healing

Wound healing comprises a series of complex physiological processes, including hemostasis, inflammation, cell proliferation, and tissue remodeling. Designing new functional biomaterials by biological macromolecules with tailored therapeutic effects to precisely match the unique requirements of each stage is cherished but rarely discussed. Here, we employ all-aqueous microfluidics to fabricate multifunctional core-shell microparticles aimed at promoting whole-stage wound healing. These microparticles feature a core comprising calcium alginate, cellulose nanocrystals and epidermal growth factor, surrounded by a shell made of alkylated chitosan, alginate, and ciprofloxacin (EGF + CNC@Ca-ALG/CIP@ACS core-shell microparticles, D-CSMP). Response surface methodology (RSM) with a combination of central composite rotatable design (CCRD) is used to meticulously optimize the fabrication processes, endowing the resulting D-CSMP with superior capabilities for efficiently encapsulating and controlled releasing CIP and EGF tailored to each stage aligning the healing timeline. The developed D-CSMP demonstrate notable time-sequential functionalities, including promoting blood coagulation, enhancing hemostasis, and exerting antibacterial effects. Furthermore, in a skin injury model, D-CSMP significantly expedite and enhance the chronic wound healing process. In conclusion, our core-shell microparticles with notable time-sequential functions present a versatile and robust approach for wound treatment and related biomedical applications.

QbD Approach for the Development of Tea Tree Oil-Enhanced Microemulgel Loaded with Curcumin and Diclofenac for Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting millions worldwide each year, poses a significant threat due to its potential for progressive joint damage and debilitating pain if left untreated. Topical anti-inflammatory and analgesic treatments offer localized relief with reduced systemic side effects compared to conventional oral therapies, making them a promising option for managing rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, the current study endeavored to formulate a microemulsion gel formulation loaded with diclofenac and curcumin for topical administration in the management of rheumatoid arthritis, utilizing Tea tree oil. The ratio of surfactant and cosurfactant was 4:1, assessed by pseudoternary phase diagram on the basis of the maximum emulsification region. The microemulsion underwent optimization using a Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) with constraints of minimum particle size, polydispersity index, and maximum transmittance. The Curcufenac-T microemulsion had a particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and transmittance of 151.82 ± 15.9 nm, 0.287 ± 0.021, and -5.78 ± 0.26 mV, respectively. DSC analyses confirmed the stability and compatibility of diclofenac and curcumin within the formulation. The microemulsion was changed into gel form by incorporating 1% carbopol-934. Skin permeation analysis revealed that the percentage of diclofenac permeated at 0.5 h from Curcufenac-T microemugel and the conventional gel was 12.1% and 3.9%, respectively, while at 12 h, the rates were 82.6% and 34.2%, respectively. In vitro permeability demonstrated significant potential for the effective delivery of diclofenac and curcumin to targeted sites, compared to conventional gel. Therefore, it was deduced that the Tea tree oil integrated diclofenac and curcumin microemulsion gel could enhance the effectiveness of diclofenac and serve as a promising vehicle for rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

Interaction between modified magnetic nanoparticles and human albumin: Kinetics and isotherm studies and application in protein depletion

Magnetic nanoparticles modified with tetraethyl orthosilicate (Fe3O4@TEOS) and bovine serum albumin (Fe3O4@TEOS@BSA) were evaluated as sorbent in albumin depletion from human serum samples by magnetic dispersive solid phase extraction. Characterization studies were carried out by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential, and scanning electron microscopy. Both nanoparticles also showed high thermal stability and pH-dependent surface charges. The human serum albumin adsorption protocol was optimized using a central composite rotatable design. Nanoparticle mass, pH, and albumin concentration were the most influential variables. Avrami's fractional order and Freundlich isotherm models best fitted the data for human albumin adsorption kinetic and isotherm studies for Fe3O4@TEOS and Fe3O4@TEOS@BSA, and the maximum adsorption capacities were 11.93 and 14.89 mg g−1, respectively. The protein desorption was influenced by the pH of samples and eluent volume. Electrophoresis in a polyacrylamide gel containing sodium dodecyl sulfate showed different patterns of serum protein bands when consecutive depletions were performed. The Fe3O4@TEOS showed greater affinity for HSA and efficiency in depletion. The process was versatile, and the depleted albumin proportion could be controlled by the nanoparticle masses. The proposed method is a powerful sample preparation technique for rapid, reliable, and specific depletion of albumin.

Electrochemical removal of crystal violet dye from simulated wastewater by stainless steel rotating cylinder anode: COD reduction and decolorization

Crystal violet dye is a harmful organic pollutant when it exists in wastewater. It may potentially cause renal failure and respiratory issues in humans, while it is considered carcinogenic and mutagenic in aqua life. In this study, crystal violet dye was electrochemically removed from simulated wastewater using a stainless-steel rotating cylinder anode. Effects of anode rotation rate (250–500 rpm), applied current (400–750 mA), concentration of supporting electrolyte (0.3–0.6 M), and time (30–70 min) on chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction and colour removal were studied. The experimental results were correlated by two quadratic regression models: one for COD reduction with R2 equals to 0.859, and one for colour removal with R2 equals to 0.934. Process optimization was conducted using the response surface methodology (RSM) with a rotatable central composite design CCD. The results showed that the optimum conditions for maximum COD reduction (86.89 %) and maximum colour removal (88 %) are as follows: anode rotation rate = 625 rpm, applied current = 658.568 mA, supporting electrolyte = 0.422 M and treatment time = 90 min. Generally, all the studied factors have a potential effect on the process efficiency.

Optimization of the use of Moringa oleifera in wastewater treatment by rotational central composite design

Textile effluents have a complex waste composition due to the various compounds present and their resistance to degradation. Given the harmful effects of these pollutants on aquatic ecosystems, adequate treatment before disposal is essential, usually involving chemical processes such as coagulation and flocculation. This study optimizes textile wastewater treatment using Moringa oleifera as a natural coagulant through Rotational Central Composite Design (RCCD), a type of Response Surface Methodology (RSM), aiming to improve color removal, a key factor for effluent quality. By exploring Moringa oleifera as a sustainable alternative, the research provides new insights into environmentally friendly coagulant use and treatment optimization. The treatment’s effectiveness depends on the coagulant dosage, the energy applied, and the pollutant concentration. Dye removal was evaluated using spectrophotometry, and the evaluated factors in the optimization process were slow and fast mixing times, coagulant dosage, and pollutant concentration. The study identified pollutant concentration and slow mixing time as the most influential factors in treatment effectiveness. The model achieved a coefficient of determination (R²) of 87.9 %, and maximum dye removal reached 80.2 % under optimal conditions: 30 mL of coagulant, 20 min of slow mixing, 2 min of fast mixing, and a pollutant concentration of 300 mg ∙ L−1. The average removal efficiency was 47.86 %, indicating that natural coagulants offer a viable alternative for textile effluent treatment.