Encapsulation Matrix Research Articles

Enzyme-induced degradation of natural and artificial linear polyanions

Synthetic and natural polymers are widely used for constructing drug delivery systems. Biocompatibility, water solubility and non-toxicity make polymers a convenient matrix for encapsulation, delivery and release of bioactive compounds [1–6]. Coupling of a drug with a biodegraded polymer matrix is a promising way for a controlled drug delivery. Along this line, the degradation of the four polymers in the presence of two enzymes in aqueous solutions was investigated. The following polymers were used: natural polysaccharides, sodium alginate and sodium hyaluronate, artificial (modified) sodium carboxymethylcellulose and synthetic sodium polyacrylate (control); their degradation was caused by the addition of alginate lyase and hyaluronidase. The first enzyme only cleaved the specific alginate substrate and left three other intact. Contrastingly, the second enzyme degraded all three polysaccharides, including artificial carboxymethylcellulose, but did not degrade synthetic polyacrylate. The biodegradation of polymers was accompanied by decreasing the size of polymer particles in solution from 100-200 nm down to 20-30 nm; the latter are capable of removing from the body through the kidneys. The initial polysaccharides showed the negative surface charge in aqueous solution, which changed but retained negative after biodegradation. The initial and biodegraded polysaccharides demonstrated negligible cytotoxicity during long exposure period. The obtained results are valuable for the development of polymer carriers for drug encapsulation and delivery.

Oxidative Stability of Fish Oil-Loaded Nanocapsules Produced by Electrospraying Using Kafirin or Zein Proteins as Wall Materials.

The encapsulation of fish oil by monoaxial electrospraying using kafirin or zein proteins as hydrophobic wall materials was investigated. Kafirin resulted in spherical fish oil-loaded nanocapsules (>50% of capsules below 1 µm), whereas zein led to fish oil-loaded nanocapsules with non-spherical morphology (>80% of capsules below 1 µm). Both hydrophobic encapsulating materials interacted with fish oil, successfully entrapping the oil within the protein matrix as indicated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy results. FTIR also suggested hydrogen bonding between fish oil and the proteins. Trapped radicals in the encapsulation matrix that were detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), indicated oxidation during electrospraying and storage. Results from isothermal (140 °C) differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) denoted that the encapsulation of fish oil by electrospraying using both kafirin or zein as wall materials protected fish oil from oxidation. In particular, the zein-based nanocapsules were 3.3 times more oxidatively stable than the kafirin-based nanocapsules, which correlates with the higher oil encapsulation efficiency found for zein-based capsules. Thus, this study shows that kafirin might be considered a hydrophobic wall material for the encapsulation of fish oil by electrospraying, although it prevented lipid oxidation to a lower extent when compared to zein.

A non-enzymatic hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on cerium metal-organic frameworks, hemin, and graphene oxide composite

This study presents the development of a novel non-enzymatic electrochemical biosensor for the real-time detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) based on a composite of cerium metal–organic frameworks (Ce-MOFs), hemin, and graphene oxide (GO). The Ce-MOFs served as an efficient matrix for hemin encapsulation, while GO enhanced the conductivity of the composite. Characterization techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed the successful integration of hemin into the Ce-MOFs. The Ce-MOFs@hemin/GO-modified sensor demonstrated sensitive H2O2 detection due to the exceptional electrocatalytic activity of Ce-MOFs@hemin and the high conductivity of GO. This biosensor exhibited a linear response to H2O2 concentrations from 0.05 to 10 mM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 9.3 μM. The capability of the biosensor to detect H2O2 released from human prostate carcinoma cells was demonstrated, highlighting its potential for real-time monitoring of cellular oxidative stress in complex biological environments. To further assess its practical applicability, the sensor was tested in human serum samples, yielding promising results with recovery values ranging from 94.50 % to 103.29 %. In addition, the sensor showed excellent selectivity against common interfering compounds due to the outstanding peroxidase-like activity of the composite.

Improvement in probiotic intestinal survival by electrospun milk fat globule membrane-pullulan nanofibers: Fabrication and structural characterization

Studies have demonstrated the protective effect of milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) on probiotics in harsh environments. However, currently, there are no reports on the encapsulation of probiotics using MFGM. In this study, MFGM and pullulan (PUL) polysaccharide fibers were prepared by electrostatic spinning and used to encapsulate probiotics, with whey protein isolates (WPI)/PUL as the control. The morphology, physical properties, mechanical properties, survival, and stability of the encapsulated Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) were studied. The results showed that the MFGM/PUL solution had significant effects on pH, viscosity, conductivity, and stability. Electrostatic spinning improved the mechanical properties and encapsulation ability of the polymer formed by MFGM/PUL. LGG encapsulated in MFGM/PUL nanofibers survived rate was higher than WPI/PUL nanofibers in mimic intestinal juice, which could be attributed to the phospholipid content contained in MFGM. These results demonstrate that MFGM is a promising material for probiotic encapsulation, providing an important basis for the potential use of MFGM/PUL nanofibers as a robust encapsulation matrix.

Conjugated polymer-encapsulation-manipulated aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescence of tetraphenylethylene for sensitive malathion analysis

Tetraphenylethylene (TPE) and its derivatives with tunable structure and excellent photoelectric performance have aroused great concern in the field of electrochemiluminescence (ECL), but improving their ECL efficiency remains an enormous challenge in ECL bioanalysis. Herein, an encapsulation-manipulated aggregation-induced ECL (EM-AIECL) strategy was explored to effectively boost the ECL efficiency of TPE. Large π-conjugated polymer poly[2,5-dioctyl-1,4-phenylene] (PDP) was creatively developed as encapsulation matrix to envelop TPE molecules via hydrophobic interactions. The resulting complex TPE@PDP nanoparticles (NPs) not only restricted the molecule motion of TPE due to space limitation, but also inhibited the aggregation-caused quenching effect caused by TPE crystals featuring dense aggregation structure. Furthermore, the robust electronic coupling between PDP and TPE aggregates enabled superior charge transport within TPE@PDP NPs, thus yielding strong AIECL. As compared to TPE crystals, TPE@PDP NPs showcased 3.87-fold enhancement of ECL intensity. Impressively, TPE@PDP NPs coupled a three-dimensional DNA walker-assisted multiple rolling circle amplification strategy to construct an ECL sensing platform for malathion analysis, and a wide linear range of 5.0 fM ∼ 0.5 μM and low limit of detection of 0.9 fM were obtained. EM-AIECL strategy provides a new idea for designing organic AIECL luminophors, and opens an avenue for detecting pesticides specifically and sensitively.

Formulation of pH-responsive double-network hydrocolloid-based hydrogel matrix for encapsulation of bioactive polyphenols obtained from fruit juice industry byproducts

The peel of Citrus limon is a colossal organic byproduct of the juice industry containing a significant quantity of bioactive polyphenols with diverse therapeutic potentials. As they are often underutilized the present investigation aims to valorize and promote the utilization of these polyphenols through encapsulation in a hydrocolloid-based hydrogel matrix for prolonged shelf-life and sustainable delivery. The hydrogels were prepared by blending sodium alginate and pectin through ionotropic gelation which achieved ∼86.72 % polyphenol encapsulation efficiency. The polyphenol-encapsulated hydrogels had maintained the shelf life and effectively preserved >95 % of polyphenols at 30 °C with no discernible variation for >30 days. Multiple physicochemical investigations were performed on the prepared formulation. Additionally, the release kinetics of polyphenols from beads were examined in a simulated gastrointestinal environment. The result showed that ∼87.54 % of entrapped polyphenol was released after 9 h and the pattern was found controlled release type and pH-responsive. The degree of fluctuation of a few specific polyphenolic compounds was noted and evaluated using principal component analysis. Furthermore, the encapsulating procedure protected a considerable amount of antioxidant activity (>60 %) while demonstrating good hemocompatibility. Therefore, the produced formulation may be used by the juice industries to create a valorization step using the byproduct.

Effect of local prolonged-release incisional doxycycline on surgical site infection prophylaxis in abdominal colorectal surgery: The SHIELD 1 randomized clinical trial.

Despite advanced infection control practices including preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis, surgical site infection (SSI) remains a challenge. This study aimed to test whether local administration of a novel prolonged-release Doxycycline-Polymer-Lipid Encapsulation matriX (D-PLEX) before wound closure, concomitantly with standard of care (SOC), reduces the incidence of incisional SSI after elective abdominal colorectal surgery. This was a phase 3 randomized, controlled, double-blind, multinational study (SHIELD 1) between June 2020 to June 2022. Patients with at least one abdominal incision length >10cm were randomized 1:1 to the investigational arm (D-PLEX+SOC) or control (SOC) arm . The primary outcome was a composite of incisional SSI, incisional reintervention, and all-cause mortality. A total of 974 patients were analyzed, of whom 579 (59.4%) were male. The mean age (±SD) was 64.2±13.0 years. The primary outcome occurred in 9.3% of D-PLEX patients versus 12.1% (SOC) (risk difference estimate [RDE], -2.8%; 95% CI [-6.7%, 1.0%], P=0.1520). In a pre-specified analysis by incision length, a reduction in the primary outcome was observed in the >20cm subpopulation: 8% (D-PLEX) versus 17.5% (SOC) (RDE, -9.4%; 95% CI [-15.5%, -3.2%], P=0.0032). In the >10 to ≤20cm subgroup, no reduction was observed: 9.9% versus 7.9% (RDE, 2.0%; 95% CI [-2.8%, 6.7%], P=0.4133). Exploratory post-hoc analyses of patients with increased SSI risk (≥1 patient-specific comorbidity) indicated a reduction in the incidence of the primary outcome: 9.0% (D-PLEX) versus 13.7% (SOC) (RDE, -4.8%; 95% CI [-9.5%, -0.1%], P=0.0472). The D-PLEX safety profile was good (no difference in treatment-emergent adverse events between the groups). The SHIELD-1 study did not meet its primary outcome of reduced incisional SSI, incisional reinterventions, or all-cause mortality. Pre-specified and post-hoc analyses suggested that D-PLEX may reduce the incidence of the primary outcome event in patients with increased SSI risk, including lengthy incisions.

In vitro and in silico investigation of glycyrrhizic acid encapsulated zein nanoparticles: A synergistic targeted drug delivery approach for breast cancer

This study presents an innovative approach for targeted drug delivery through the development of Glycyrrhizic acid-loaded zein nanoparticles (GA-LNPs) as a proficient carrier system. The juxtaposition of zein, a hydrophobic biological macromolecule as a protein carrier, and Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), a hydrophilic therapeutic compound, exemplifies the adaptability of hydrocolloids within cutting-edge drug delivery systems. The characterization and functional traits of research encompass multifaceted analyses of natural macromolecules, which elucidate the homogeneous and spherical morphology of GA-LNPs with an average size of 170.49 nm. The controlled drug release profile of GA, orchestrated under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, adheres to diffusion-based Higuchi kinetics, reflecting the controlled release of the natural macromolecules. The intermolecular interactions among Zein, GA, and cross-linker EDC, facilitated through molecular dynamics simulations, fortify the structural integrity of the encapsulation matrix. In Vitro studies revealed enhanced cellular uptake of GA-LNPs in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. This cellular internalization was further confirmed through cytotoxicity assessments using MTT and apoptosis assays (fluorescence microscopy), which demonstrated the prominent anticancer effects of GA-LNPs on MCF-7 in time/dose-dependent manner. The successful formulation of GA-LNPs, coupled with their sustained release and potent anticancer properties, makes them a potential platform for advanced targeted therapeutic strategies in biomedical applications.

The potency of hydrophobic modification of alginate for a self-assembly matrix in fish oil encapsulation

To act as an emulsifier and a matrix for fish oil encapsulation, alginate is required to be modified due to its hydrophilicity. The purpose of this study was to modify alginate using dodecenyl succinic anhydride (DSA) under pH-controlled conditions and to apply it for stabilizing emulsion and encapsulating fish oil. The modification that followed the first-order reaction improved the hydrophobic properties of alginate as shown by the reduction of surface tension but improving the water contact angle, with CMC of 0.18 mg/l. A higher concentration of modified alginate was better in stabilizing fish-oil emulsion than the native one, as supported by the results of zeta potential, viscosity, and droplet size of the emulsion. Freeze-dried particle of this modified alginate emulsion showed better encapsulation efficiency and oxidation protection ability. Thermal properties of alginate were changed after hydrophobic modification and oil encapsulation. The freeze-dried particles of this modified alginate emulsion showed better encapsulation efficiency and protection ability. This study confirmed the protective ability of the modified alginate using DSA as an oil-based active ingredient encapsulant.

Alginate-coated pomelo pith cellulose matrix for probiotic encapsulation and controlled release

A novel carrier comprised of ethanol- and alkali-modified cellulosic pomelo pith matrix coated with alginate was developed to improve viability while enabling gastrointestinal release of probiotics. Scanning electron microscopy imaging revealed the agricultural byproduct had a honeycomb-structured cellulose framework, enabling high loading capacity of the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum up to 9 log CFU/g. Ethanol treatment opened up pores with an average diameter of 97 μm, while alkali treatment increased swelling and porosity, with an average pore size of 51 μm. The survival rate through the stomach was increased from 89.76 % to 91.08 % and 91.24 % after ethanol and alkali modification, respectively. The control group displayed minimal release in the first 4 h followed by a burst release. Both ethanol modification and alkali modification resulted in constant linear release over time. The release time was prolonged when decreasing the width of the pomelo peel rolls from 10 mm to 5 mm while keeping the volume of the peel constant. After 8 weeks of refrigerated storage, the cellulose-encapsulated probiotics retained viability above 7 log CFU/g. This study demonstrates the potential of the structurally intact, sustainably-sourced cellulosic pomelo pith for probiotic encapsulation and controlled delivery.

Eu MOF-enhanced FeNCD nanozymes for fluorescence and highly sensitive colorimetric detection of tetracycline.

The constrained enzymatic activity and aggregation challenges encountered by small-sized nanozymes pose obstacles to their practical utility, necessitating a strategy to mitigate aggregation and boost enzymatic catalytic efficiency. In this work, a negatively charged Eu MOF was utilized as the encapsulation matrix, encapsulating the small-sized nanozymes FeNCDs into the Eu MOF to synthesize an FeNCDs@Eu MOF. The dispersibility of the encapsulated FeNCDs was increased, and owing to the negative charge of the FeNCDs@Eu MOF, electrostatic pre-concentration of the positively charged target molecule tetracycline (TC) was facilitated, thereby amplifying the enzymatic catalytic efficiency of the FeNCDs. The response of the FeNCDs to TC increased by nearly 6 times upon encapsulation. The TC detection limit (LOD) of the FeNCDs@Eu MOF-based sensor is as low as 11.63 nM. The incorporation of fluorescence detection expanded the linear range of the sensor, rendering it more suitable for practical sample detection.

The enhanced electrocatalytic performance of nanoscopic Cu6Pd12Fe12 heterometallic molecular box encaged cytochrome c.

Designing molecular cages for atomic/molecular scale guests is a special art used by material chemists to harvest the virtues of the otherwise vile idea known as "the cage". In recent years, there has been a notable surge in research investigations focused on the exploration and utilization of the distinct advantages offered by this art in the advancement of efficient and stable bio-electrocatalysts. This usually is achieved through encapsulation of biologically accessible redox proteins within specifically designed molecular cages and matrices. Herein, we present the first successful method for encaging cytochrome c (Cyt-c), a clinically significant enzyme system, inside coordination-driven self-assembled Cu6Pd12Fe12 heterometallic hexagonal molecular boxes (Cu-HMHMB), in order to create a Cyt-c@Cu-HMHMB composite. 1H NMR, FTIR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy, ICP-MS, TGA and voltammetric investigations carried out on the so-crafted Cyt-c@Cu-HMHMB bio-inorganic composite imply that the presented strategy ensures encaging of Cyt-c in a catalytically active, electrochemically stable and redox-accessible state inside the Cu-HMHMB. Cyt-c@Cu-HMHMB is demonstrated to exhibit excellent stability and electrocatalytic activity toward very selective, sensitive electrochemical sensing of nitrite exhibiting a limit of detection as low as 32 nanomolar and a sensitivity of 7.28 μA μM-1 cm-2. Importantly, Cyt-c@Cu-HMHMB is demonstrated to exhibit an excellent electrocatalytic performance toward the 4ē pathway oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with an onset potential of 0.322 V (vs. RHE) and a Tafel slope of 266 mV dec-1. Our findings demonstrate that Cu-HMHMB is an excellent matrix for Cyt-c encapsulation. We anticipate that the entrapment-based technique described here will be applicable to other enzyme systems and Cyt-c for various electrochemical and other applications.

Filamentous fungal pellets as a novel and sustainable encapsulation matrix for exogenous bioactive compounds.

Edible filamentous fungi (FF) are considered sustainable food materials given their rich nutrient profile and low carbon and water footprints during production. The current study evaluated FF biomass as a natural encapsulation system for exogenous bioactive compounds and as a model system to investigate the complex food matrix-micronutrient interactions during in vitro digestion. Our objective was to compare the fungal pellet, as a multicellular encapsulation system, with single yeast cell-based carriers in terms of loading and release of curcumin, a model compound. The results suggest that the curcumin encapsulation efficiency was similar in single yeast cells and fungal hyphal cells. A vacuum treatment used to facilitate the infusion of curcumin into yeast or fungal cells also enabled rapid internalization of yeast cells into the fungal pellet matrix. Compared to the single-cell encapsulation system, the multicellular systems modified the release kinetics of curcumin during in vitro digestion by eliminating the initial rapid release and reducing the overall release rate of curcumin in the small intestinal phase. These results provide a deeper understanding of the effect of natural edible structures on the bioaccessibility of micronutrients, and demonstrate the potential of using FF biomass as functional food materials.

Influence of polysaccharide-based co-encapsulants on efficiency, stability, and release of vitamins B12 and D3 in multilayered microcapsules

This study developed co-loaded vitamin B12 (vitB12) and D3 (vitD3) solid microcapsules using W1/O/W2 emulsions, followed by spray-drying. The effects of four polysaccharide-based gels as co-encapsulants on the microcapsules' morphological characteristics, encapsulation efficiency, storage stability, and gastrointestinal simulation were explored. The electrostatic bonding with chitosan in W1 and multilayer protection from the W1/O/W2 structure cause the high encapsulation efficiency of vitB12 (88.3 ± 0.8%–92.7 ± 1.1%). Further, adding polysaccharides into W2 improved the particle integrity of the dried powders and enhanced the retention rate and encapsulation efficiency of vitamins. Stability testing revealed that the encapsulation matrix incorporating sodium carboxymethylcellulose provided the best protection for vitB12 (plateau values of 97.8 and 95.8% at 25 and 40 °C, respectively) and lower degradation rates for vitD3 (decay constants kD of 0.26 and 0.49%/day). The formulation containing sodium alginate exhibited a controlled release of core components under simulated gastric conditions and the highest cumulative release (91.1 ± 5.3% vitB12 and 81.9 ± 3.6% vitD3) under simulated intestinal conditions. Our study suggests that the co-encapsulation strategy using the W1/O/W2 structure and spray-drying can be utilised to obtain good commercial products containing hydrophilic and lipophilic components, and polysaccharides as co-encapsulants can effectively regulate the chemical stability and release behaviour of the encapsulated components.

Activatable Type-I Photosensitizer with QuenchedPhotosensitization Pre and Post Photodynamic Therapy.

The phototoxicity of photosensitizers (PSs) pre and post Photodynamic therapy(PDT), and the hypoxictumor microenvironment are two major problems limiting the application ofPDT.While activatable PSs can successfully address the PS phototoxicity pre- PDT, and type-I PS can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) effectively in hypoxic environment, very limited approach is available for addressing the phototoxicity post PDT. There is virtually no solution available to address all these issues using a single design. Herein, we propose aproof-of-concept on-demand switchable photosensitizers with quenched photosensitization pre and post PDT, which could be activated only in tumor hypoxic environment. Particularly, a hypoxia-normoxia cycling responsive type-I PS TPFN-AzoCF3was designed to demonstrate the concept, which was further formulated into TPFN-AzoCF3nanoparticles (NPs) using DSPE-PEG-2000 as the encapsulation matrix. The NPs could be activated onlyin hypoxic tumors to generate type-I ROSduring PDT treatment, but remain non-toxic in normal tissues, pre or after PDT, thus minimizing the side effect and improving the therapeutic effect. With promising results in in vitroand in vivotumor treatment, this presented strategy will pave way for the design of more on-demand switchable photosensitizers with minimized side effects in future.

Activatable Type I Photosensitizer with Quenched Photosensitization Pre and Post Photodynamic Therapy

AbstractThe phototoxicity of photosensitizers (PSs) pre and post photodynamic therapy (PDT), and the hypoxic tumor microenvironment are two major problems limiting the application of PDT. While activatable PSs can successfully address the PS phototoxicity pre PDT, and type I PS can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) effectively in hypoxic environment, very limited approaches are available for addressing the phototoxicity post PDT. There is virtually no solution available to address all these issues using a single design. Herein, we propose a proof‐of‐concept on‐demand switchable photosensitizer with quenched photosensitization pre and post PDT, which could be activated only in tumor hypoxic environment. Particularly, a hypoxia‐normoxia cycling responsive type I PS TPFN‐AzoCF3 was designed to demonstrate the concept, which was further formulated into TPFN‐AzoCF3 nanoparticles (NPs) using DSPE‐PEG‐2000 as the encapsulation matrix. The NPs could be activated only in hypoxic tumors to generate type I ROS during PDT treatment, but remain non‐toxic in normal tissues, pre or after PDT, thus minimizing side effects and improving the therapeutic effect. With promising results in in vitro and in vivo tumor treatment, this presented strategy will pave the way for the design of more on‐demand switchable photosensitizers with minimized side effects in the future.

Quantification of depth-dependent microbial growth in encapsulated systems.

Encapsulated systems have been widely used in environmental applications to selectively retain and protect microorganisms. The permeable matrix used for encapsulation, however, limits the accessibility of existing analytical methods to study the behaviour of the encapsulated microorganisms. Here, we present a novel method that overcomes these limitations and enables direct observation and enumeration of encapsulated microbial colonies over a range of spatial and temporal scales. The method involves embedding, cross-sectioning, and analysing the system via fluorescence in situ hybridization and retains the structure of encapsulants and the morphology of encapsulated colonies. The major novelty of this method lies in its ability to distinguish between, and subsequently analyse, multiple microorganisms within a single encapsulation matrix across depth. Our results demonstrated the applicability and repeatability of this method with alginate-encapsulated pure (Nitrosomonas europaea) and enrichment cultures (anammox enrichment). The use of this method can potentially reveal interactions between encapsulated microorganisms and their surrounding matrix, as well as quantitatively validate predictions from mathematical models, thereby advancing our understanding of microbial ecology in encapsulated or even biofilm systems and facilitating the optimization of these systems.

Gum Arabic/Chitosan Coacervates for Encapsulation and Protection of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus in Storage and Gastrointestinal Environments.

Probiotics, such as Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, are essential to the food industry for their health benefits to the host. The Lcb. rhamnosus strain is susceptible to processing, gastrointestinal, and storage conditions. In this study, Lcb. rhamnosus strains were encapsulated by complex coacervation in a gum arabic/chitosan or gum arabic/trehalose/chitosan and cross-linked with sodium tripolyphosphate. The physicochemical properties (zeta potential, water activity, water content, and hygroscopicity), encapsulation efficiency, and probiotic survival under storage conditions and simulated gastrointestinal fluids were evaluated. The results showed that crosslinking improves the encapsulation efficiency after drying; however, this result was remarkable when trehalose was used as a cryoprotectant. Furthermore, the encapsulation matrix preserved the viability of probiotics during 12weeks with probiotic counts between 8.7-9.5, 7.5-9.0, and 5.2-7.4 log10 CFU g-1 at -20, 4, and 20°C, respectively. After 12days of digestion in an ex vivo simulator, acetic, butyric, propionic, and lactic acid production changed significantly, compared to free probiotic samples. This work shows that encapsulation by complex coacervation can promote the stability of probiotic bacteria in storage conditions and improve the viability of Lcb. rhamnosus HN001 during consumption so that they can exert their beneficial action in the organism.

PLA aerogel as a universal support for the typical organic phase change energy storage materials

We first prepared Polylactic acid (PLA) aerogels with high porosity based on a facile and efficient thermal induced phase separation technique. In view of the excellent internal nano structure of PLA aerogel, high porosity and suitable interfacial affinity, it was selected as a support material to encapsulate four common organic phase change materials (PCMs), thereby preparing anti-leakage, shape-stable and sustainable PCMs with ultra-high latent heat (178.9–224.9 J g−1). PLA aerogel encapsulated PCMs perform high enthalpy efficiency (>92 %), which may benefit from the highly internal compatible nanostructure of PLA. Thermally conductive fillers (Boron nitride and Graphene nanoplatelet) were introduced to improve thermal conductivity. An important factor of PLA aerogel as a universal encapsulation matrix is analyzed based on the solubility parameters and Flory-Huggins parameters. The application cases of smart container and thermal regulation in confined spaces further prove the practical application value in the thermal regulation and energy saving area.

Synthesis, optical and cathodoluminescent properties of borosilicate glass doped with Eu3+

The purpose of this work is development of glasses for radioactive materials encapsulation. Borosilicate-based glass systems “R7/T7” (B2O3-ЅіO2-Al2O3-Na2O-СaO) doped with Eu3+, with various concentrations of activator were studied. The composition of the obtained glasses was investigated using electron-probe microanalysis technique. Optical properties of glasses were investigated using the following methods – cathodoluminescence, photoluminescence and absorption spectra. The range of the optimal activator concentration was determined. Samples of borosilicate glass (B2O3-ЅіO2-Al2O3-Na2O-СaO) doped with varied content of Eu3+ were synthesized and studied using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and optical techniques such as cathodoluminescence (CL), photoluminescence (PL) and light absorption spectroscopy. Glass composition was related to development of nuclear waste form or encapsulation matrix with sufficient resistance to radiation damage. It was observed that electron beam irradiation suppresses intensity of glass cathodoluminescence and this process is correlated with sodium diffusion outside irradiated area at comparable interval of time.