Concentration Of Agent Research Articles

Capillary-scale Microvessel Imaging with High-frequency Ultrasound Localization Microscopy in Mouse Brain.

Ultrasound localization microscopy is a super-resolution vascular imaging technique which has garnered substantial interest as a tool for small animal neuroimaging, neuroscience research, and the characterization of vascular pathologies. In the pursuit of increasingly high-fidelity reconstructions of microvasculature, there remains several outstanding questions concerning this sub-diffraction imaging technology, including the accurate reconstruction of microvessels approaching the capillary scale and the pragmatic challenges associated with long data acquisition times. In the context of small animal neurovascular imaging, we posit that increasing the ultrasound imaging frequency is a straightforward approach to enable higher concentrations of microbubble contrast agents, thus increasing the likelihood of microvascular/capillary mapping and decreasing the imaging duration. We demonstrate that higher frequency imaging results in improved ULM fidelity and more efficient microbubble localization due to a smaller microbubble point-spread function that is easier to localize, and which can achieve a higher localizable concentration within the same unit volume of tissue. A select example of in vivo capillary-level vascular reconstruction is demonstrated for the highest frequency imaging probe, which has substantial implications for neuroscientists investigating microvascular function in disease states, regulation, and brain development. High frequency ULM yielding a spatial resolution of 7.1μm, as measured by Fourier ring correlation, throughout the entire depth of the brain, highlighting this technology as a highly relevant tool for neuroimaging research.

Simultaneous iodine and barium imaging with photon-counting CT

Photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) could potentially offer significant improvements in image quality over conventional CT. This study leverages PCCT technology to achieve simultaneous multi-contrast imaging of barium (Z=56) and iodine (Z=53), addressing the limitations of conventional CT in differentiating materials with similar atomic numbers. Using a bench-top PCCT system with a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detector, experiments were conducted with various phantom setups and 1-5\% contrast agent concentrations and in a biological sample. Energy thresholds were adjusted to the K-edge absorption energies of barium (37.4 keV) and iodine (33.2 keV) to capture multi-energy CT images. K-edge decomposition was performed with K-edge subtraction and principal component analysis (PCA) techniques, demonstrating clear differentiation and accurate quantification of contrast agents in phantom combinations and the biological sample. The PCCT system successfully differentiated and quantified barium and iodine, with high correlations ($R^2 \approx 1$) between true and reconstructed concentrations. PCA outperformed K-edge subtraction by providing a superior capability to differentiate barium and iodine, particularly when calcium was present in the scanned object. These findings highlight the potential of PCCT for reliable, detailed imaging in clinical and research applications, particularly for contrast agents with close atomic numbers.

Production of colloidally stable calcium carbonate precipitates to enhance CO2 subsurface storage through mineralization

Around the world, a lot of conversations centre on the pursuit of carbon sequestration and storage. The goal is to create solutions that minimize atmospheric emissions while guaranteeing storage security. In light of this, mineral and solubility trapping are seen to be the safest among the numerous potential alternatives. Aquifers and depleted oil and gas reservoirs are just two of the many possible storage locations for solubility trapping that exist worldwide. However, all brines have a maximum solubility limit that once reached, no further CO2 can be dissolved, thus, its limitation. On the other hand, because CO2 is transformed into solids and stored in that state in the case of mineral trapping, it is deemed the safest long-term storage option. But according to recent research, it takes a long time—roughly two years—to complete. Thus, the mineralization of CO2 in a CaCl2-rich solution is shown for the first time to be accomplished in 24 h. This study's technique included using a chelating agent to achieve mineralization and looking at the effects of pressure, temperature, and chelating agent concentration on the process.The findings of this investigation demonstrated that, in the presence of a chelating agent, calcite precipitation can occur from the interaction of CO2 with a CaCl2-rich solution in less than a day. The chelating agent's dehydration of the cations (Ca2+) to speed up their interaction with the carbonate ion in the solution is the mechanism causing the notable improvement in the mineralization kinetic observed here. Mineralization, which is normally assumed to take a long time, can be accomplished in a day by following this easy procedure. Further investigation was conducted on the precipitates' bulk and mineralogical composition. Additionally, a scanning electron microscope was utilized to identify the five unique crystal forms that were created in the precipitated calcite. The results of this study are also regarded as revolutionary since they have far-reaching consequences for our efforts to store CO2 in the safest possible way. Furthermore, reject water from a water treatment procedure like reverse osmosis might be the feed stream for the process this study describes. Consequently, wastewater can be turned into wealth and help achieve sustainability objectives.

Spectrophotometric Determination of Cobalt(II) by Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NADES) Air-Assisted Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction (AA-DLLME)

Cobalt is beneficial for human activity but has adverse effects when discharged in large quantities. Therefore, its precise and accurate quantification in samples is of importance. Here, a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES), composed of camphor (H-bond acceptor) and menthol (H-bond donor), has been used for the preconcentration of Co(II) from water samples before determination by a spectrophotometer at 398 nm. The 8-hydroxyquinoline-Co(II) complex was transferred to the NADES using air-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (AA-DLLME). The extraction efficiency was enhanced through fine tuning of various parameters, including pH, NADES volume, and quantity of dispersant. Similarly, the centrifugation rate and time, quantity of the complexing agent, matrix effects, and salt concentration were also evaluated. Under the optimized conditions, an enrichment factor of 37.5 and a preconcentration factor of 37.5 were obtained. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.44 µg/L and 1.47 µg/L, respectively. For seven replicates of 50 µg/L Co(II), the relative standard deviation was 3.2%. The developed method was employed for the determination of Co(II) in water samples, with quantitative recovery values from 94.5 to 98.5%.

The novel inorganic solidified foam prepared by direct foaming and its characteristics for preventing spontaneous combustion of coal

ABSTRACT To mitigate coal spontaneous combustion disasters caused due to air leakage in coal mines, inorganic solidified foam is widely employed to seal these areas. This study proposes a simplified method for preparing such foam by directly foaming a mixture of water, cement, fly ash, and foaming agent. This new inorganic solidified foam plugging material aims to enhance sealing effectiveness. The research investigates the foaming ability and stability characteristics of different types of surfactants, analyzing their compatibility with cement and fly ash. It identifies that lauramidopropyl surfactant (LX) exhibits the lowest viscosity in the cement-fly ash slurry mix, resulting in superior foaming performance. By studying effects of water-cement ratio and foaming agent concentration on the foaming performance of cement-fly ash slurry mix, it is found that when the water-cement ratio is 0.6 and the foaming agent concentration is 0.5%, the foaming performance of inorganic solidified foam is optimal, yield the highest foaming efficiency with a multiple of 4.33 times and compressive strength of 0.13 MPa, effectively bonding and reinforcing fractured coal bodies to sealing air leakage cracks efficiently. This study contributes to simplifying the preparation equipment and the application processes of inorganic solidified foam, making it more suitable for widespread application in the confined spaces of coal mines, providing a new technical approach for preventing and controlling coal spontaneous combustion in mines.

Advanced Nanotechnological Approaches for Biofilm Prevention and Control

Biofilm-associated infections present a significant challenge in modern medicine, primarily due to their resilience and resistance to conventional treatments. These infections occur when bacteria form biofilms, protective layers formed by bacterial communities, which are notoriously resistant to traditional antibiotics on surfaces such as medical implants and biological surfaces, making eradication with standard antibiotics difficult. This resilience leads to persistent infections, imposing a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems. The urgency to find alternative treatments is critical as current methods are insufficient and costly. Innovative approaches, such as nanotechnology-based therapies, offer promising alternatives by targeting biofilms more effectively and reducing the need for invasive procedures. Nanocarriers hold significant promise in the fight against biofilm-associated infections. Nanocarriers can penetrate biofilms more effectively than conventional treatments, delivering higher concentrations of antibiotics or other antimicrobial agents precisely where they are needed. This targeted approach not only enhances the efficacy of treatments but also minimizes potential side effects. The development of nanocarrier-based therapies is crucial for overcoming the limitations of current treatments and ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing the economic burden of biofilm-associated infections on healthcare systems. In this review, nanotechnology-based systems, their characteristics, limitations, and potential benefits are explored to address biofilms-related infections. Additionally, biofilm evaluation models and the tests necessary for the preclinical validation of these nanosystems to facilitate their clinical application are addressed.

Design and Evaluation of New Gel-Based Floating Matrix Tablets Utilizing the Sublimation Technique for Gastroretentive Drug Delivery.

A gel-based floating matrix tablet was formulated and evaluated using the sublimation technique to enhance gastroretentive drug delivery. Anhydrous theophylline was employed as the active pharmaceutical ingredient, combined with sublimation agents and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as the gel-forming polymer. The resulting tablets exhibited high porosity, immediate floatation, and sustained buoyancy for over 8 h. Optimization of the floating behavior and drug release profiles was achieved by adjusting the viscosity of and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and the concentration of sublimation agents, specifically ammonium carbonate and menthol. These agents were selected for their effectiveness in creating a porous structure, thus reducing tablet density and enhancing floatation. Higher HPMC viscosity resulted in increased floating force, slower drug release, and improved swelling properties due to a slower erosion rate. A critical assessment of the balance between tablet porosity, mechanical strength, and drug release kinetics indicates that ammonium carbonate provided superior tablet hardness and lower friability compared to menthol, favoring a controlled release mechanism. The release dynamics of theophylline were best described by the anomalous (non-Fickian) diffusion model, suggesting a combined effect of diffusion and erosion. This research advances the development of gastroretentive drug delivery systems, highlighting the potential of sublimation-based floating matrix tablets for sustained drug release.

Advancements in Copper-Based Catalysts for Efficient Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species from Peroxymonosulfate

Over the past few decades, peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-driven advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have garnered substantial interest in the field of organic decontamination. The copper (Cu)/PMS system is intriguing due to its diverse activation pathways and has been extensively employed for the clearance of refractory organic pollutants in water. This article is designed to offer a comprehensive overview of the latest trends in Cu-based catalysts such as single-metal and mixed-metal catalysts aimed at treating recalcitrant pollutants, highlighting PMS activation. Subsequently, investigative methodologies for assessing PMS activation with copper-based catalysts are reviewed and summarized. Then, the implications of pH, PMS and catalytic agent concentrations, anions, and natural organic matter are also addressed. The combination of Cu-based catalyst/PMS systems with other advanced oxidation technologies is also discussed. Following that, the degradation mechanisms in the Cu-based catalyst-activated PMS system are considered and synopsized. Lastly, potential future research avenues are proposed to enhance the technology and offer support for developing of economically viable materials based on copper for activating PMS.

Multi-Scale Study on the Effect of Snowmelt Salt on the Interface Adhesion of Rubberized Asphalt–Steel Slag

To explore the effect of snowmelt agent on the adhesion of the rubberized asphalt–steel slag interface, the adhesion of the rubberized asphalt–steel slag interface under different concentrations of snowmelt agent was studied. The macroscopic fracture characteristics of the steel slag-rubberized asphalt mixture under different concentrations of snowmelt salt were studied. The surface energy of steel slag and rubberized asphalt after the action of different concentrations of snowmelt salt was tested at the microscopic scale, and then their adhesion was calculated. It was used to study the microscopic surface interaction under the action of snowmelt agents. At the molecular scale, the interface models of rubberized asphalt–NaCl solution–Ca3SiO5 were constructed, and the interaction between steel slag and asphalt under different concentrations of snowmelt agent was studied. The results show the following: when the concentration of snowmelt agent is 8%–12%, the fracture of the rubberized asphalt–steel slag mixture is more inclined to brittle fracture, and the failure speed is faster; the adhesion of steel slag-rubberized asphalt is weakened under the action of the snowmelt agent, but it can still maintain good adhesion; before the concentration of snowmelt agent reached saturation, the adhesion property of steel slag-rubberized asphalt decreases with the increase of snowmelt agent concentration; when the concentration of snowmelt agent reached saturation, NaCl precipitates and adheres to the molecular surface of steel slag, which enhances the interaction between steel slag and rubberized asphalt; the inflection point with salt concentration is related to the solvent precipitated from the solution.

Concentration-dependent effects of the nerve agents cyclosarin and VX on cytochrome P450 in a HepaRG cell-based liver model.

The exposure to highly toxic organophosphorus (OP) compounds, including pesticides and nerve agents, is an ongoing medical challenge. OP can induce the uncontrolled overstimulation of the cholinergic system through inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in the liver play a predominant role in the metabolism of xenobiotics and are involved in the oxidative biotransformation of most clinical drugs. Previous research concerning the interactions between OP and CYP has usually focused on organothiophosphate pesticides that require CYP-mediated bioactivation to their active oxon metabolites to act as inhibitors of AChE. Since there has been little data available concerning the effect of nerve agents on CYP, we performed a study with cyclosarin (GF) and O-ethyl-S-[2-(diisopropylamino)-ethyl]-methylphosphonothioate (VX) by using a well-established, metabolically competent in vitro liver model (HepaRG cells). The inhibitory effect of the nerve agents GF and VX on the CYP3A4 enzyme was investigated showing a low CYP3A4 inhibitory potency. Changes on the transcription level of CYP and associated oxygenases were evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) using the two nerve agent concentrations 250 nM and 250 μM. In conclusion, the results demonstrated various effects on oxygenase-associated genes in dependence of the concentration and the structure of the nerve agent. Such information might be of relevance for potential interactions between nerve agents, antidotes or other clinically administered drugs, which are metabolized by the affected CYP, for example, for the therapy with benzodiazepines, that are used for the symptomatic treatment of OP poisoning and that require CYP-mediated biotransformation.

Bioimaging of sense organs and the central nervous system in extant fishes and reptiles in situ: A review.

Bioimaging is changing the field of sensory biology, especially for taxa that are lesser-known, rare, and logistically difficult to source. When integrated with traditional neurobiological approaches, developing an archival, digital repository of morphological images can offer the opportunity to improve our understanding of whole neural systems without the issues of surgical intervention and negate the risk of damage and artefactual interpretation. This review focuses on current approaches to bioimaging the peripheral (sense organs) and central (brain) nervous systems in extant fishes (cartilaginous and bony) and non-avian reptiles in situ. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), micro-computed tomography (μCT), both super-resolution track density imaging and diffusion tensor-based imaging, and a range of other new technological advances are presented, together with novel approaches in optimizing both contrast and resolution, for developing detailed neuroanatomical atlases and enhancing comparative analyses of museum specimens. For MRI, tissue preparation, including choice of fixative, impacts tissue MR responses, where both resolving power and signal-to-noise ratio improve as field strength increases. Time in fixative, concentration of contrast agent, and duration of immersion in the contrast agent can also significantly affect relaxation times, and thus image quality. For μCT, the use of contrast-enhancing stains (iodine-, non-iodine-, or nanoparticle-based) is critical, where the type of fixative used, and the concentration of stain and duration of staining time often require species-specific optimization. Advanced reconstruction algorithms to reduce noise and artifacts and post-processing techniques, such as deconvolution and filtering, are now being used to improve image quality and resolution.

Optimization of the removal efficiency of three biodegradable chelating agents for soil cadmium

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the release of cadmium-containing pollutants into the environment from mining, industrial emissions, wastewater irrigation and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This leads to the degradation of soil quality and poses a threat to human health. Chemical leaching remediation technology is an effective method for controlling Cd contamination in soil. However, the leaching agent has a low removal efficiency of heavy metals. In order to find more suitable environmentally friendly new leaching agents, this study investigates the effects of three biodegradable chelating agents PMAS, EDTMPS and GLDA on the removal of heavy metal Cd in soil in the single factor soil leaching experiment. The concentration of the chelating agents, the leaching time and the pH of the leaching solution were varied to study their effects. The Box-Behnken (BBD) effect based on RSM was used to design the experimental conditions to optimize the leaching process of three biodegradable chelating agents. The optimum conditions for Cd removal by PMAS, EDTMPS and GLDA were obtained as follows: concentration 7 %, pH = 3.61, reaction time 180 min; concentration 4.94 %, pH = 3.0, reaction time 180 min; and concentration 4.96 %, pH = 3.0, reaction time 180 min. The validation test results showed that the deviation from the experimental value is less than 3 % under the theoretically optimal washing conditions, confirming the reliability and accuracy of the response surface methodology optimization process, which provides a reference for the development of efficient, environmentally friendly and low-cost leaching agents.

Studies on Quantitative Determination of Polyphenols in Seven Harvesting Times of Salvia deserta Schang Leaves and its Stability Evaluation

Introduction: Leaves of Salvia deserta Schang at seven harvesting times in the same year were collected as the materials. Method: The polyphenols were determined by the Folin–Ciocaileu method and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to compare the quality of samples. The stability of polyphenols was studied under different conditions (light, temperature, pH, common additives). Results: The results showed that the established method is fast, simple and reliable, which is fully validated in terms of outstanding validation data. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for the determination of total polyphenol content can be quickly and accurately detected, reducing the error of manual determination of the content. The study of polyphenol stability was carried out using a UV spectrophotometer (UV) in order to explore the potential factors affecting polyphenol stability as much as possible and to make the study as scientific and rigorous as possible. The results of quantitative determination showed that there are obvious differences in the content of polyphenols in seven samples. The contents of total polyphenols, rosmarinic acid (RA) and caffeic acid (CA) in the samples harvested in July reached the highest level of 41.37, 26.73 and 1.05 mg/g. Conclusion: The results of the stability assay found that light could damage the stability of polyphenols in samples, especially UV light. Polyphenols are quite sensitive to high temperatures. While polyphenols are less stable when exposed to high alkali conditions and salt treatment, they are much more stable when subjected to low concentrations of redox agents, carbohydrates, and preservatives. The developed methods and stability evaluation provide valuable basis information for quality evaluation and the following use of polyphenols in S. deserta Schang leaves.

Exploring Osmotic Dehydration for Food Preservation: Methods, Modelling, and Modern Applications.

This study summarizes the most recent findings on osmotic dehydration, a crucial step in food preservation. The many benefits of osmotic dehydration are listed, including longer shelf life and preserved nutritional value. Mass transfer dynamics, which are critical to understanding osmotic dehydration, are explored alongside mathematical models essential for comprehending this process. The effect of osmotic agents and process parameters on efficacy, such as temperature, agitation and osmotic agent concentration, is closely examined. Pre-treatment techniques are emphasized in order to improve process effectiveness and product quality. The increasing demand for sustainability is a critical factor driving research into eco-friendly osmotic agents, waste valorization, and energy-efficient methods. The review also provides practical insights into process optimization and discusses the energy consumption and viability of osmotic dehydration compared to other drying methods. Future applications and improvements are highlighted, making it an invaluable tool for the food industry.

Immobilization of Lipase from Thermomyces Lanuginosus and Its Glycerolysis Ability in Diacylglycerol Preparation.

In the glycerolysis process for diacylglycerol (DAG) preparation, free lipases suffer from poor stability and the inability to be reused. To address this, a cost-effective immobilized lipase preparation was developed by cross-linking macroporous resin with poly (ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE) followed by lipase adsorption. The selected immobilization conditions were identified as pH 7.0, 35 °C, cross-linking agent concentration 2.0%, cross-linking time 4 h, lipase amount 5 mg/g of support, and adsorption time 4 h. Enzymatic properties of the immobilized lipase were analyzed, revealing enhanced pH stability, thermal stability, storage stability, and operational stability post-immobilization. The conditions for immobilized enzyme-catalyzed glycerolysis to produce DAG were selected, demonstrating the broad applicability of the immobilized lipase. The immobilized lipase catalyzed glycerolysis reactions using various oils as substrates, with DAG content in the products ranging between 35 and 45%, demonstrating broad applicability. Additionally, the changes during the repeated use of the immobilized lipase were characterized, showing that mechanical damage, lipase leakage, and alterations in the secondary structure of the lipase protein contributed to the decline in catalytic activity over time. These findings provide valuable insights for the industrial application of lipase.

Performance of photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production using kelp as a sacrificial agent

The study investigated the influence of catalyst concentration, co-catalyst loading ratio, sacrificial agent concentration, irradiation time, irradiation intensity and different pretreatments of sacrificial agent on hydrogen production, using multistage porous Pd/TiO2 as the catalyst and kelp as the sacrificial agent. The morphological and structural changes in the catalyst, sacrificial agent, and their mixtures before and after the photocatalysis were analyzed using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. Based upon single-factor experiments, it was confirmed that mannitol was the primary substance acting as a sacrificial agent in kelp. Orthogonal experiments were conducted to determine the optimum conditions for hydrogen production with a reaction liquid volume of 100 mL. The highest hydrogen production efficiency was achieved for the following conditions: kelp sacrificial agent's concentration of 1.5 g/L; concentration of multistage porous Pd/TiO2 catalyst of 3.5 g/L; Pd loading ratio of 1 wt%. Under these conditions, hydrogen production reached the value of 121.1 μmol in 4 h. Under the same conditions, replacing the kelp sacrificial agent with kelp treated with 4% alkali, resulted in a corresponding hydrogen production of 141.0 μmol in 4 h. Compared to other common biomass sacrificial agents, the use of kelp as a sacrificial agent for photocatalytic water splitting demonstrates superior hydrogen production performance.

A complementary eco-friendly approach to heavy metal removal from wastewater/produced water streams through mineralization

With the world's ever-increasing population, portable water needs have significantly increased. This has put enormous pressure on the limited supply of freshwater around the globe and has necessitated the development of water treatment technologies that would convert saline waters into potable water for domestic and industrial uses. As saline water is treated for usage, so is wastewater generated from domestic and industrial processes. More prominently, another wastewater source is produced water consequent to oil production. Wastewater and produced water are similar in that they are both high in pollutants (heavy metals), which in discharge streams need to be kept within a threshold. The fact that heavy and rare earth metals linked to the produced water cannot be completely removed by state-of-the-art technologies is even more concerning. Thus, a complementary technology must be developed for this reason. This study investigates the mineralization of water-polluting heavy metals. The approach adopted involves the exposure of contaminated water to atmospheric or captured CO2 and the use of additives to achieve the removal. To gain a deeper understanding of how these innovative efforts function, the study also looked into the mechanism used to eliminate the heavy metals. The findings show that heavy metals in produced water and industrial effluent can be precipitated and immobilized to remove them. More so, this is made possible by the infusion of heavy metals into the crystal structures of precipitates like aragonite, calcite, and halite. Furthermore, the mechanism of the heavy metal removal involves their dehydration, immobilization and precipitation. Additionally, DFT calculations were utilized to support the experimental results by shedding light on the heavy metal hydration's ground-state structures and how EDTA chelates the heavy metals and enhances the process kinetics. The study's findings show how this strategy complements the most advanced wastewater treatment method in terms of increasing its efficiency and water security and safety. More so, as this is a pioneering effort, the optimum concentration of chelating agent and route (atmospheric or captured CO2) must be determined on a case-to-case basis for field implementation. Furthermore, the limitation of this study is that the efficiency of heavy metal removal may differ based on the starting brine composition, thus, optimization must be conducted beforehand.

Effect of orange fruit peel extract concentration on the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles.

In this investigation, the impact of reducing agent concentration on the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was examined. During the synthesis, an assessment of ionic conductivity was carried out, revealing a significant increase in conductivity prior to the introduction of the reducing agent, followed by a sharp decrease upon its addition. Characterization of the ZnO NPs involved ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and, X-ray diffraction analysis. The outcomes suggest that the characteristics of the ZnO NPs are influenced by the concentration of the reducing agent during the synthesis process. Notably, the ZnO NPs synthesized with a higher concentration of reducing agent exhibited a narrower optical band gap and increased surface energy. Furthermore, employing a concentration of 0.5 v/v resulted in the rapid production of NPs with relatively uniform sizes. Conversely, concentrations below 0.5 v/v lead to slow formation, while concentrations exceeding 0.5 v/v yielded non-uniform NPs.

Method for controlling the polypropylene wettability using surfactants

This paper describes a novel approach to imaging polypropylene PP using digital inkjet printing techniques. The low surface energy of PP, and significant hydrophobic properties prevent it from being used for direct coloration by available methods. A number of surfactants (surfactants) have been proposed as pre-coatings to improve the adhesion between the polymer surface and the ink. Due to the amphiphilicity of surfactants, improved coloration and enhanced color rendering are provided. The polymer/surfactants interactions were evaluated by IR spectroscopy. The amount of surfactants was evaluated using TGA analysis. The effect of modifying agent concentration was evaluated using wetting edge angle measurement. The surface morphology was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. The test scales were printed and their colorimetric performance was investigated. The study demonstrates the high potential of surfactants for tuning the properties of nonwoven polymeric materials.

Development of novel functional thickened drinks enriched with vitamin D3 for the older adult population – behaviour under dynamic in vitro digestion

The older adult population is greatly affected by malnutrition. This condition can arise from inappropriate micro and micronutrient intake, as well as due to experienced age-related changes. For instance, a significant number of older adults suffer from dysphagia. Thus, the development of foods with adequate consistency/viscosity are vital for overcome this condition. Within this framework, novel functional thickened drinks were developed and tailored for the older adult population, by using chia seed gum as the thickening agent enriched with vitamin D3-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). Rheological properties of different thickened drinks formulated with water, semi-skimmed milk or orange juice were optimized using a central composite rotational design. Results showed that SLN delivered high vitamin D3 encapsulation efficiency with high concentration (i.e., 32 IU/mg). The different drink matrices attained distinct rheological properties, being observed that the viscosity and consistency attained with the same thickening agent concentration was higher in more complex matrices. An optimized formulation containing the tolerable upper intake level (ca. 4000 IU) was selected to study the vitamin D3 release and bioaccessibility on older adults’ population using a dynamic in vitro gastrointestinal digestion system. Once more, strong matrix effects were observed and significantly affected vitamin D3 release profile, bioaccessibility and recovery during the in vitro digestion. Additionally, the drinks enrichment with SLN-VitD3 did not display a negative effect on cells viability. The development of novel functional thickened drinks tailored for older adults could provide a safer swallowing and improved vitamin D3 intake.