FTIR Spectra Research Articles

In vitro Analysis of the Pharmaceutical Interactions between Verapamil Hydrochloride and Citric Acid

The objective of this study is to investigate the combination of drug-drug interactions involving different functional groups by assessing the interaction of a BCS class IV compound (Verapamil Hydrochloride) with Citric acid in various ratios, thereby enhancing the understanding of pharmacological implications. This study elucidated the compatibility between Verapamil Hydrochloride (HCl) and Citric acid, demonstrating an approach to enhance the solubility, permeability, and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs in pharmaceutical applications. The method of solvent evaporation was utilized for the preparation of solid dispersions. This process involved dissolving the active pharmaceutical ingredient and citric acid in ethanol, evaporating the solvent to yield a solvent-free film, and mechanically reducing the residue using a mortar and pestle. The resultant fine powder was sieved through a 40-mesh filter and appropriately stored in vials for subsequent analyses. FT-IR spectra and an HPLC-sensitive method were employed to evaluate the solubility profile and interaction dynamics of the compound. FT-IR spectra of VPM HCl and its physical mixtures with citric acid at ratios of 1:3, 1:5, and 1:7 were obtained using an FT-IR spectrophotometer. The spectra revealed structural and functional group alterations, quantified by analyzing the magnitude and cumulative area of the peaks corresponding to the structural constituents. In accordance with the established linearity, the retention times for VPM HCl, Sample 1, Sample 2, and Sample 3 were recorded as 6.8 ± 0.2, 2.7 ± 0.1, 5.5 ± 0.2, and 3.8 ± 0.1 minutes, respectively, across a concentration range of 1–100 µg/mL. For all analytes, the intra-assay and inter-assay biases were observed to be within 15% and 13.4%, respectively. Furthermore, In vitro evaluations of physical combinations of Verapamil HCl and Citric acid samples revealed minimal interaction. These findings emphasize the stability and compatibility of Verapamil HCl and citric acid, demonstrating citric acid’s role as a reliable excipient for enhancing drug solubility and bioavailability without compromising therapeutic integrity.

Pilot study of response of human dental pulp to direct pulp capping with polymeric nanoparticles loaded with brazilian red propolis

Direct pulp capping helps to regenerate and repair damaged dentin, preserving tooth vitality. Despite being a widely recognized method, the authors investigated the use of a natural product with significant biological activity for this purpose. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the human dental pulp response to direct pulp capping with polymeric nanoparticles loaded with Brazilian red propolis (BRP) compared to mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). Following the synthesis, the nanoparticles loaded with 50μg of BRP (NPP50) and 100μg of BRP (NPP100) were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the cytotoxicity of all materials was tested. The dental pulp of 60 healthy third molars was mechanically exposed. Then, the teeth were pulp-capped with NPP50; NPP100; MTA + NPP50; MTA + NPP100; pure MTA (control). After experimental periods (15, 45, and 60 days) the teeth were extracted and processed for histological analysis. Inflammatory cell response, pulp tissue organization, hard tissue formation and the presence of bacteria was accessed. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s post-hoc test (cytotoxicity) or Kruskal-Wallis’ test followed by Kruskal-Wallis multiple comparison test (a = 0.05). FTIR spectra of nanoparticles showed typical bands of major compounds present in BRP. All materials exhibited no-cytotoxicity. Regarding inflammatory pulp response and organization of the pulp tissue, there was no significant difference between the materials in any of the periods of evaluation (p>0.05). The direct pulp capping agents containing BRP induced mineralized tissue formation like MTA with no cytotoxicity indicating promising regenerative potential for dental pulp tissue.

An Anthracene-Based Hg2+ Fluorescent Probe with Dithioacetal: Simple Synthesis, High Selectivity and Sensitivity, and Dual-Mode Detection Capability

With the development of the chemical industry, the threat of mercury pollution to human health is increasing. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a low-cost, convenient and efficient Hg2+ detection method. In this study, anthracene-based Hg2+ fluorescent probes AN-2S and AN-4S were synthesized by a dithioacetal reaction for the rapid and efficient detection of the Hg2+ concentration in water. Through molecular structure design and synthesis route optimization, the complexity and cost of the probe synthesis were greatly reduced. AN-2S and AN-4S had good water solubility, rapid response abilities and anti-interference abilities, and could specifically detect Hg2+ using “turn-off” or “turn-on” detection modes within 1 min. The AN-4S probe showed a wide linear response range (0~40 μmol/L) and high sensitivity (4.93 × 10−8 mol/L) to Hg2+ in 99% aqueous solutions, over a pH range of 5~13. The reaction mechanism between the probe and Hg2+ was determined using 1H NMR and FT-IR spectra and Job’s curves. It was proven that the AN-2S and AN-4S probes react with Hg2+ in a molar ratio of 1:1 or 1:2. The dual-detection mode enabled the probes to be used not only for the accurate quantitative detection of Hg2+ under a fluorescence spectrometer, but also for rapid qualitative analysis using a UV flashlight as a test strip, showing a broad practical application potential.

Preparation of Octacalcium Phosphate Thin Film with Exposing Reactive Crystalline Plane in Biological Fluid.

Octacalcium phosphate (OCP) has been used as a bone replacement material due to its higher bone affinity. However, the mechanism of affinity has not been clarified. Since the 100 crystalline plane of OCP is closely involved in the biological reactions during osteogenesis, it is important to expose the 100 crystalline plane of OCP to the biological fluid to precisely measure the interfacial reactions. In this study, the OCP plate-like crystals were fixed on a conductive substrate in the form of single-particle deposition, and the thin films with exposing 100 crystalline planes were fabricated. Then, the characteristics of hydration layers in the OCP crystals were enhanced by the exposure of 100 crystalline planes through the thin film formation, and the bioreactivity was found to be associated with the swelling and dissolution of the hydration layer in the biological fluid. Specifically, the OCP crystals were deposited on the gold sensor by electrophoretic deposition (OCP/Au-1). The results showed that the OCP plate-like crystals were selectively deposited on the gold sensor by electrophoresis. Subsequently, it was found that the ultrasonication of OCP/Au-1 resulted in the formation of an OCP crystalline thin film (m-OCP/Au-1) with the single-particle thickness on the gold sensor with exposing 100 crystalline planes. Moreover, the FT-IR spectra of m-OCP/Au-1 showed that the structure of the phosphate ions was rearranged by ultrasonication in the hydration layer, resulting in the regulation of the layered nanostructures, promoting higher crystallinity. Furthermore, the XPS spectra of m-OCP/Au-1 indicated that the hydrogen phosphate ions in the hydration layer were exposed on the 100 crystalline plane of the topmost surface. The prepared m-OCP/Au-1 was stable in citrate buffer, whereas it showed very high reactivity in phosphate buffer as the hydration layer gradually dissolved after the swelling, which was measured by the QCM-D technique. Therefore, the OCP crystalline thin films in this study were found to have higher surface reactivity due to the enhanced exposure of the hydration layer, which is assumed to be the cause of their bone-regeneration-promoting effect (i.e., higher bone affinity). The films in this study were stable at gastric acid pH and dissolved at neutral pH, which could make them useful as the orally administered drug carrier.

Development of electrospun whey protein isolate nanofiber mat for omega-3 nanoencapsulation: Microstructural and physical property analysis.

This study aimed to develop bead-free nanofibers for effective omega-3 encapsulation using optimal mixing ratios of whey protein isolate (WPI)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blends via electrospinning method. Various WPI-PVA ratios (100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50 v/v) were examined for surface tension, viscosity, and conductivity. SEM images revealed uneven nanofibers with bead at 90:10 and 80:20 ratios, while the 70:30 ratio produced uniform and bead-free nanofibers with an average diameter of 262.7 ± 49.5 nm. Other ratios exhibited uneven diameters. Therefore, the 70:30 ratio was chosen to encapsulate omega-3 at 6 %, 8 %, and 10 % v/v concentrations. SEM analysis showed that omega-3, at the optimal concentration of 8 %, was successfully loaded into the nanofibers, as shown by the highest encapsulation efficiency and the formation of beadless nanofibers in SEM images. FTIR spectra confirmed an interaction between polymers and revealed the effective inclusion of omega-3 within the nanofibers. XRD indicated a shift from semi-crystalline to an amorphous structure. In conclusion, the bead-free nanofibers demonstrate the highest encapsulation efficiency of omega-3. TGA results showed significant improvement in the thermal stability of omega-3 after nanoencapsulation in nanofibers. These new electrospun nanofibers have the potential to encapsulate bioactive compounds used in functional food products.

Isolation, Characterization, and Validation of Amide Alkaloids from Piper Guineense Seeds

Introduction: Alkaloids are naturally occurring nitrogen-containing chemicals in plants, fungi, and mammals. These chemicals protect plants from herbivores and pathogens and have a wide range of biological actions, making them useful in pharmacology and medicine. Alkaloids offer potent therapeutic effects, including antifungal, local anaesthetic, anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic, pain-killing, neuropharmacological, and antibacterial properties. Morphine is commonly used to relieve pain, quinine for malaria, and vincristine for cancer. Because of their considerable therapeutic potential, alkaloids have become a focus of study in the development of medications to treat infections, inflammation, neurological diseases, and cancer. Objective: The primary goal of this research is to isolate, purify, and validate amide alkaloids from the seeds of PIPER guineense, a West African species while contrasting traditional alkaloid extraction methods with novel techniques such as molecular distillation, membrane separation, molecular imprinting, and high-speed counter-current chromatography. The study aims to address the challenges posed by conventional methods' high cost and low yield, by providing insights into more efficient, scalable, and advanced technologies for alkaloid extraction and purification, which are critical for the advancement of complementary and Chinese medicine. Materials and Methods: The seeds of Piper guineense were extracted using a Soxhlet device with methanol as the solvent. The extracted extract was purified and separated into amide alkaloids using column chromatography. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was used to confirm the presence of alkaloids. The isolated compounds were examined and characterized using an array ofspectrum methods, including Mass spectra, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy. Natural substances with nitrogen in the exocyclic outlook, such as mescaline, serotonin, & dopamine, were recognized as amines rather than alkaloids in the investigation. Results: The synthesized chemicals, including Piperine, Wisanine, Piperlonguminine, Propiverine, and Piperidine, were satisfactorily characterized using FTIR, NMR, mass spectrometry, and HPLC. The FTIR spectra showed distinct peaks whichwere consistent with conventional standards, demonstrating the effective synthesis. NMR research, performed with a BRUKER AVANCE NEO-500MHz spectrometer, revealed information on the chemical surroundings of the protons, confirming the molecular structure. Mass spectroscopy was done using a MICROMASS Q-TOF micro-mass spectrometer to precisely measure molecular weights and identify fragmentation patterns, verifying the existence of important functional groups and assuring the structural integrity of the compounds. Conclusions: This work effectively extracted, purified, and characterized numerous amide alkaloids from Piper guineense seeds using modern chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. The compounds, which included Piperine, Wisanine, Piperlonguminine, Propiverine, and Piperidine, were validated using FTIR, NMR, mass spectroscopy, and HPLC to ensure structural integrity and composition. The study reveals the efficacy of contemporary extraction and analytical procedures, offering useful insights into how to improve alkaloid purification processes. These discoveries advance our understanding of alkaloid chemistry and have the potential for future uses in alternative medicine and pharmaceutical research.

Wheat straw-based carboxymethyl cellulose and glycerol films enriched with polymalate: Characterization and application in grape preservation.

The shelf-life of grapes is reduced due to infection by various pathogens and mechanical damage, which consequently limits their availability on the market and results huge economic losses. Active packaging films are expected to overcome this problem. In this study, packaging films (CMC-Gly-PMA) were developed using wheat straw-based carboxymethyl cellulose (2%), glycerol (30% w/w of CMC) and polymalate (0.9%) to prolong the grape shelf-life. With regard to physical properties of films, TS, EB, OP and WVP were 28.4MPa, 142.1%, 8.52mmol/kg and 0.55×10-12g·m/m2·s·Pa, respectively. The FTIR spectra indicated that the interactions between CMC, glycerol and polymalate within the matrix were primarily physical in film formation process. In addition, the film cross-section showed a compact yet smooth surface. Films had UV barrier performance and positive antibacterial effects on E. coli and S. aureus. From the composting experiment, films decomposed almost entirely on day 21. Besides, during the storage period, the coated grape exhibited a lower decay index, weight loss and respiration rate than the control group, and the coated grape exhibited greater hardness than the control group. It can therefore be concluded that the coating treatment preserved grape quality and extended their shelf-life. The findings suggest that the active film has the potential to serve as an edible and biodegradable material for food packaging, which represents a promising avenue for further research in this field and supports the transition towards a circular economy in the packaging industry.

A Study of Structural, Optical and Photoluminescence Properties of Pr3+ Ions Doped Sodium Bismuth Borosilicate Glasses.

In this work, the conventional melt quenching approach is used to synthesize the Pr3+ doped NaF-Bi2O3-B2O3-SiO2 (NBBS) glasses. The influence of Pr3+ ions on their spectroscopic and structural characteristics in glass network is investigated. The amorphous nature of the samples has been amply verified by X-ray diffraction patterns. FTIR spectra show distinct basic vibrational bands in borate and silicate structural components (in the range from 500 to 3750cm- 1). In the UV-visible range, the absorption spectra showed four Pr3+ ion absorption bands. Furthermore, in the absorption spectra, four Pr3+ ion absorption bands were observed in the NIR regions (1300-2470nm). While utilizing Tauc plots to assess optical bandgap (Eg), it is observed that as the concentration of Pr3+ increases from 0mol% to 1.5mol%, the bandgap decreases from 3.67eV to 3.50eV. In luminescence spectra, seven bands can be observed at about 483, 524, 534, 580, 604, 643, and 682nm as a consequence of Pr3+ ion transitions. Strong variations in the emission band's intensity are seen at around 604nm (3P0→3H6), after a progressive increase in Pr mol% in the glass matrix. According to CIE coordinates, emission changes from orange to reddish-orange as the quantity of Pr3+ ions rises.

Optimization of Leaching of Lithium and Cobalt from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries by the Choline Chloride-Citric Acid/Malonic Acid DES Using Response Surface Methodology.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are eco-friendly leaching agents which have emerged as potential candidate for recovery of valuable metals from spent LIBs (lithium-ion batteries). Earlier reports show use of more mount of chemicals, long leaching duration and less efficiency. The present work has been carried out to observe the leaching efficiency of two DES-water blend systems such as ChCl:CA(2:1) +30% H2O and ChCl:MA(1:1)+20% H2O for the leaching of Li and Co from cathodic material of spent LIBs using design of experiments and optimization through CCD (central composite design) of Response surface methodology(RSM) approach. Polynomial quadratic model for ChCl:CA (2:1)+35% H2O and the linear model for ChCl:MA(1:1)+20% H2O were selected on the basis statistical parameter values.The physico chemical properties like density, viscosity, conductivity and refractive index of DES-water blend have been determined in the temperature range 298.15 to 328.15K. The influence of temperature, leaching duration and stirring speed on the leaching efficiency has been scrutinized. Cobalt leaching efficiency (99.83%) was higher as compared to that of lithium (96.51%) using citric acid based DES-water blend under the conditions temperature 353 K, leaching time 117 minutes and stirring speed 920 rpm. FTIR and UV-Vis spectra of DES-water blend before and after leaching were recorded. DLS and Zeta potential results confirm higher leaching efficiency of choline chloride-citric acid based DES-water blend.

IR Fingerprint of the Intermolecular Hydrogen Bond on Amino Acids and Its Relevance to Chaperone Activity of αB-Crystallin.

Intermolecular hydrogen bonds between carboxyl (COO-) and amino groups are a common weak interaction in proteins. Infrared (IR) spectral assignment of such an intermolecular hydrogen bond provides a fingerprint for studying protein-protein interactions as its absorption frequency is affected by the molecular electrostatic environment. Temperature-dependent FTIR and temperature-jump time-resolved IR absorbance difference spectra of several typical amino acids and those of wild type and single-site mutated αB-crystallin were performed. It was found that the antisymmetric vibrational frequency of the COO- groups in amino acids decreases from approximately 1626 to 1610 cm-1 upon the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, which was further supported by DFT calculations, while the IR frequency of the intermolecular hydrogen bonds on the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, which was further supported by DFT calculations, while the IR frequency of the intermolecular hydrogen bonded COO- groups at the αB-crystallin dimeric interface was also observed around 1610 cm-1. With this spectral label, the active site of αB-crystallin, a heat shock molecular chaperone against the UV-light-damaged γD-crystallin was investigated. The active site was found to be localized at an arch loop structure connecting the two β-strands locked by intermolecular hydrogen bonds at the dimeric interface. It is the liberated arch loop after breaking of the intermolecular hydrogen bond locks that binds the damaged γD-crystallin, leading to the observed chaperone-like activity of αB-crystallin.

Application of fourier transform infrared vibrational spectroscopy in identifying early biochemical changes in lipid profiles of individuals undergoing Roux-en-y gastric bypass

BackgroundFourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is an analytical technique increasingly applied in biological analysis. This study investigates the application of FTIR to identify early biochemical changes, particularly in lipid profiles, in individuals undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).MethodsAn observational study involving patients from a university hospital’s Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Program, with evaluations performed before (T0) and two months after (T1) RYGB. Biochemical parameters, anthropometric data, and body composition were assessed. FTIR spectra were pre-processed and analyzed using Principal Component Analysis and Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis. The normality of the data was evaluated using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, followed by paired T-tests or Wilcoxon tests as appropriate. Spearman correlation analysis of spectral information with biochemical parameters was also performed. A significance level of p < 0.05 was set for all tests. The university hospital’s Research Ethics Committee approved the study (protocol CAAE 59075722.7.0000.5071).ResultsThe study evaluated 29 individuals (86.2% female) with a mean age of 41.2 ± 7.8 years. Significant differences were observed in anthropometric parameters and body composition (p < 0.001). Additionally, early improvements in the lipid profile were noted, with significant decreases in triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol (p < 0.05) just two months post-surgery. FTIR identified correlations between biochemical parameters and specific spectral regions at T0 and T1. Notably, serum triglycerides showed a significant correlation with the lipid-specific spectral region (1796–1685 cm− 1) at both time points (p < 0.05).ConclusionFTIR can effectively monitor biochemical changes in RYGB surgery patients. The spectral range associated with lipid functional groups (1796 –1675 cm⁻¹) showed a significant relationship with serum triglyceride levels before and after RYGB. Additionally, various biochemical parameters exhibited strong correlations with other spectral regions, implying that the serum spectral profile can indicate biochemical variations at different post-surgery stages.Trial registrationBrazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (Rebec), September 5, 2022, protocol RBR-26chs2g.

Antibiofilm effect of Nano chitosan and calcium hydroxide intracanal medications and their effects on the microhardness and chemical structure of radicular dentine

BackgroundDisinfection of the root canal system is a challenge to all clinicians, calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2, one of the most popular intracanal medications used for this purpose, has some unwanted effects on dentine. This study aimed to investigate the antibiofilm effect of Nanochitosan (CSNPs) and Calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 intra canal medications and their effect on the microhardness and chemical structure of radicular dentine.MethodologyA total of 52 extracted human mandibular premolars were used. Eighteen premolars were instrumented, sterilized, and inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) then divided randomly into 2 groups based on the intracanal medication used: group (A) 2% CSNPs gel and group (B) Ca(OH)2 paste. Antibiofilm effect was evaluated using bacterial counts. For the effect on microhardness, 56 specimens were subjected to Vicker’s microhardness test before and after 1 week, and 4 weeks of medication application. Twelve cervical radicular dentine specimens (6 samples per group) were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope.ResultsBoth groups showed a significant reduction in the bacterial count at (p = 0.008) with no significant difference between them (P = 0.605). Ca(OH)2 showed the highest reduction in the microhardness compared to CSNPs groups after 1 week (P = 0.0495) and after 4 weeks (P = 0.0495). FTIR spectrum results revealed that the control group (no treatment) showed the highest significant Phosphate: amide ratio compared to both CSNPs and Ca(OH)2 at p = 0.006. SEM images revealed absence of discernible smear layer in CSNPs treated samples after 4 weeks and all the dentinal tubules were open.ConclusionsNanochitosan gel could be considered as a viable option as an intra canal medication.

Seed bacterization with siderophore-producing bacteria: a strategy to enhance growth and alkaloid content in Catharanthus roseus.

Catharanthus roseus is a medicinal plant widely known for producing monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs), including therapeutic compounds such as vinblastine and vincristine, which are crucial for cancer treatment. However, the naturally low concentration of these alkaloids in plant tissues poses a significant challenge for large-scale production. This study explores the application of siderophore-producing bacteria for seed bacterization of Catharanthus roseus to enhance the production of MIAs, including vindoline, catharanthine, and vinblastine. Utilizing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), we observed a significant increase in the concentration of these alkaloids in bacterized plants compared to controls. FTIR spectra of treated plants showed strong correlations with standard alkaloid mixtures, confirming higher alkaloid accumulation. Our findings demonstrate that bacterial siderophores play a vital role in optimizing iron uptake, which is crucial for secondary metabolite biosynthesis. This research highlights the potential of using microbial biotechnology to improve the yield of valuable pharmaceutical compounds in medicinal plants. Enhancing the biosynthetic pathways of MIAs offers a sustainable and efficient strategy for boosting the production of key therapeutic alkaloids in Catharanthus roseus, paving the way for advanced biotechnological applications in plant-based drug production.

Investigating gum arabic and soy protein isolate as wall material for encapsulation of five strains of Lactobacillus.

Encapsulation technology is a suitable tool to protect probiotics in carrier food products and gastrointestinal tract. In the current investigation, the potential of gum arabic, soy protein isolate and their blend as wall material for the encapsulation of five Lactobacillus spp. viz. L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. casei, L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus by freeze drying was studied. The impact of various encapsulating materials on the encapsulation efficiency, water activity, particle size, thermal properties and morphology of encapsulates was investigated. The results revealed that microparticles have low water activity (0.25-0.37), high encapsulation efficiency (81.94 to 93.03%) and particle size ranged between 112.34 and 147.79μm. Scanning electron microscopy indicated a porous morphology and irregular shape of probiotic powder. The absorption bands in the FT-IR spectra between 2854 and 1088cm-1, 2927-109cm-1 and 2930-1071cm-1 confirm the successful encapsulation of probiotics. The encapsulated probiotics showed high lysozyme tolerance (76.00 to 92.16%) and high cell surface hydrophobicity (58 to 85%) as compared to free cells. This improves probiotic stability, survivability, and functional properties, making them ideal for developing functional food products. These encapsulated probiotics are well-suited to withstand gastrointestinal conditions and deliver health benefits to consumers.

Antimicrobial Activities of Polysaccharide-Rich Extracts from the Irish Seaweed Alaria esculenta, Generated Using Green and Conventional Extraction Technologies, Against Foodborne Pathogens.

A rise in antimicrobial resistance coupled with consumer preferences towards natural preservatives has resulted in increased research towards investigating antimicrobial compounds from natural sources such as macroalgae (seaweeds), which contain antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer compounds. This study investigates the antimicrobial activity of compounds produced by the Irish seaweed Alaria esculenta against Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua, bacterial species which are relevant for food safety. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), ultrasound-microwave-assisted extraction (UMAE), and conventional extraction technologies (maceration) were applied to generate extracts from A. esculenta, followed by their preliminary chemical composition (total phenolic content, total protein content, total soluble sugars) and antimicrobial activity (with minimum inhibitory concentration determined by broth microdilution methods), examining also the molecular weight distribution (via high performance size exclusion chromatography) and oligosaccharide fraction composition (via high-performance liquid chromatography) of the polysaccharides, as they were the predominant compounds in these extracts, aiming to elucidate structure-function relationships. The chemical composition of the extracts demonstrated that they were high in total soluble sugars, with the highest total sugars being seen from the extract prepared with UAE, having 32.68 mg glucose equivalents/100 mg dried extract. Extracts had antimicrobial activity against E. coli and featured minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 6.25 mg/mL (in the case of the extract prepared with UAE) and 12.5 mg/mL (in the case of the extracts prepared with MAE, UMAE, and conventional maceration). No antimicrobial activity was seen by any extracts against L. innocua. An analysis of molar mass distribution of A. esculenta extracts showed high heterogeneity, with high-molecular-weight areas possibly indicating the presence of fucoidan. The FTIR spectra also indicated the presence of fucoidan as well as alginate, both of which are commonly found in brown seaweeds. These results indicate the potential of antimicrobials from seaweeds extracted using green technologies.

Green synthesis of Ag-Fe bimetallic nanoparticles using fungal filtrates: unlocking multifunctional medical and environmental applications.

The current investigation focuses on synthesizing Ag-Fe bimetallic nanoparticles (AgFe-BMNPs) using cell-free filtrates of the Gymnascella dankaliensis as a novel fungal reducing agent. The optical, morphological, and surface properties of these fungus-fabricated AgFe-BMNPs and their monometallic counterparts (AgNPs and FeNPs) were analyzed using sophisticated nanotechnology instruments. The UV-visible spectrum showed peaks at 231 nm and 415 nm for BMNPs and 450 nm and 386 nm for AgNPs and FeNPs, respectively. XRD diffractograms revealed crystallographic peaks at 32.96°, 35.32°, and 49.32° for AgFe-BMNPs with crystalline size of 10.68 nm. FTIR spectrum indicates peaks at 954 cm-1 (M-O bond) and 599 cm-1 (M-C\M-L bond). Agglomerated, spherical BMNPs with a mean size of 96.76 nm were spotted in SEM micrographs. The BMNPs were tested for anticancer and antibacterial activities, dye removal efficiency, and seed germination enhancement. The anticancer study found that AgFe-BMNPs hold promising potential for application in breast cancer therapy with a 1 μg mL-1 IC50 value. It also exhibited potent antibacterial activity with a 50 μg mL-1 concentration against Bacillus cereus,Serratia marcescens, Bacillus megaterium, and Staphylococcus aureus. A comparative batch adsorption study for methylene blue dye removal over 180 min showed removal capabilities of 89% for BMNPs. Different concentrations (0.02, 0.04, 0.08 mg mL-1) of BMNPs also demonstrated superior efficiency up to 90% enhanced seed germination at the 6 h mark and 91.87% enhanced water retention capacity in Vigna radiata. This research underscores the medical, environmental, and agricultural potential of AgFe-BMNPs, highlighting their multifaceted benefits in nanotechnology.

Development of Vitamin C-Enriched Oral Disintegration Films Using Chia Mucilage

Oral disintegration films (ODFs) offer a convenient alternative for administering active compounds with quick absorption, no need for water, customizable formulation, and promising pharmaceutical applications. This study aimed to develop chia mucilage films as a new polymer to carry vitamin C. Chia mucilage was extracted using the method of immersing the seeds in water, separated by vacuum filtration and using a sieve to remove the mucilaginous gel, then centrifuged and finally freeze-dried, with the mucilage obtained being used to produce films using the casting technique. The formulations included a control and a 1% vitamin C variant, with glycerol as a plasticizer. The produced films showed high solubility, pH close to the oral and a disintegration time of 53.17 s for the formulation with 1% vitamin C. The presence of vitamin C in the polymer matrix, as well as the interactions between them, were confirmed by DSC and FTIR spectra. On the first day of storage, after 1 min of reaction at 30 °C, the vitamin C concentration obtained was 477.50 mg/g, while at 40 °C was 411.28 mg/g. After 35 days of storage, the films showed a reduction in vitamin C concentration. Chia mucilage proved to be a promising polymer in the production of ODFs carrying vitamin C.

Investigation of chitin grafting: thermal, antioxidant and antitumor properties

In this study, firstly chitin was reacted with chloracetyl chloride to synthesize the macroinitiator chitinchloroacetate (Ch.ClAc). Then, graft copolymers of methacrylamide (MAM), diacetone acrylamide (DAAM), N-(4-nitrophenyl)acrylamide (NPA), and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) monomers were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). All of the polymers were characterized by FTIR spectra and elemental analysis. According to the elemental analysis results, the mole percent (y) of the macro initiator was found to be 17.39%. The thermal stability of all the polymers (chitin, Ch.ClAc and its graft copolymers) was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) method and the highest thermal stability was observed in the ungrafted raw chitin. DPPH• scavenging activity and antitumor activity of all polymers were then investigated. Ch.ClAc was found to be the polymer that inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells more than chitin and graft copolymers. It was observed that the antitumor (L1210 cell lines) effect increased with increasing time and concentration in all polymers.

The green combustion technique for synthesizing CuO nanoparticles with an extract from Azadirachta indica seeds: potential anticancer and photocatalytic studies using organic dye

The present study highlights the biosynthesis of CuO nanoparticles employing an A. indica seed extract and copper sulphate solution by combustion technique. The extract's phytocomponents facilitated the reduction process and the formation of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs). TEM, SEM, FTIR, X-ray diffractometry, XPS, and ultravioletvisible spectroscopy were used to analyse the pure CuONPs. X-ray diffractometers characterized the CuONPs produced, demonstrating a 12 nm mean particle size. Cu-O stretching vibration bands were detected at 532 cm−1 in the FT-IR spectrum. In UV-vis, the CuO nanoparticles' optical band gaps were at 2.75 eV, with a maximum absorption wavelength of 232 nm. SEM and HRTEM were used to examine the CuONPs; they displayed spherical and undefined shapes with mean sizes of 17.4 nm. The pollution dye rhodamine B was used to test the CuONPs photocatalytic activity. In the presence of sunlight, a remarkable 85% degradation efficiency was attained in 60 minutes, and a degradation constant of k (0.9194 min-1) was observed. This suggests that Azardirachta indica seed extract-derived green-synthesized CuONPs have potential uses in photocatalysis. Furthermore, in the MTT assay method against human renal adenocarcinoma cancer cells, the CuO NPs showed strong anticancer activity, with 5 mg/mL as the lowest IC50 value. This novel green method has demonstrated copper oxide nanoparticle synthesis is a very successful and cost-effective pollutant adsorption technique for treating wastewater.

Gelatin/PLA-loaded gold nanocomposites synthesis using Syzygium cumini fruit extract and their antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and anti-Alzheimer’s activities

Nanotechnology has experienced significant advancements, attracting considerable attention in various biomedical applications. This innovative study synthesizes and characterizes Ge/PLA/AuNCs (gelatin/PLA/gold nanocomposites) using Syzygium cumini extract to evaluate their various biomedical applications. The UV–Visible spectroscopy results in an absorption peak at 534 nm were primarily confirmed by Ge/PLA/AuNCs synthesis. The FTIR spectrum showed various functional groups and the XRD patterns confirmed the crystalline shape and structure of nanocomposites. The FESEM and HRTEM results showed a oval shape of Ge/PLA/AuNCs with an average particle size of 21 nm. The Ge/PLA/AuNC’s remarkable antioxidant activity, as evidenced by DPPH (70.84 ± 1.64%), ABTS activity (86.17 ± 1.96%), and reducing power activity (78.42 ± 1.48%) at a concentration of 100 μg/mL was observed. The zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (19.45 ± 0.89 mm) and Echericia coli (20.83 ± 0.97 mm) revealed the excellent antibacterial activity of Ge/PLA/AuNCs. The anti-diabetic activity of Ge/PLA/AuNCs was supported by inhibition of α-amylase (82.56 ± 1.49%) and α-glucosidase (80.27 ± 1.57%). The anti-Alzheimer activity was confirmed by inhibition of the AChE (76.37 ± 1.18%) and BChE (85.94 ± 1.38%) enzymes. In vivo studies of zebrafish embryos showed that Ge/PLA/AuNCs have excellent biocompatibility and nontoxicity. The SH-SY5Y cell line study demonstrated improved cell viability (95.27 ± 1.62%) and enhanced neuronal cell growth following Ge/PLA/AuNCs treatment. In conclusion, the present study highlights the cost-effective and non-toxic properties of Ge/PLA/AuNCs. Furthermore, it presents an attractive and promising approach for various future biomedical applications.