Hydration Capacity Research Articles

Synthesis and characterization of nanoparticulate niobium- and zinc-doped bioglass-ceramic/chitosan hybrids for dental applications

Dental caries and periodontal disease are responsible for the most frequent set of chronic diseases in humans, for which no perfectly regenerative solutions are available yet. As a result, materials combining an intrinsic antibacterial activity with tissue regeneration properties for minimally invasive dental therapies are in high demand. Here we report on the fabrication and characterization of a novel nanocomposite material for such dental applications. The material is composed of narrowly disperse Na2O–CaO–P2O5–SiO2 bioglass-ceramic nanoparticles, 30–70 nm in diameter, doped with antibacterial and osteogenic zinc and niobium ions, and hybridized with chitosan. These systems were characterized for their particle size, morphology, atomic and phase composition, and glass-ceramic/polymer interface with the use of transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. After annealing at 680 °C, amorphous silica in the bioglass-ceramic coexisted with silicalite-1 and combeite, the average crystallite size of which was 20–40 nm. In spite of the significantly better incorporation of zinc than of niobium inside the glass-ceramic network, zinc did not affect the particle size and shape distribution, while niobium lowered the average particle size. Chitosan increased the hydration capacity of the bioglass-ceramic and it formed a continuous interface around the bioglass-ceramic nanoparticles, devoid of micropores. This intimacy of the interface was confirmed by the downshift of the critical Si–O(–Si) vibration modes in the bioglass-ceramic upon hybridization with chitosan. The addition of zinc ions hampered the partial recrystallization during annealing by interfering with the Si–O network restructuring, in direct proportion with its concentration. Niobium ions produced a similar structure-breaking effect, which was evidenced, as in the case of zinc, by upshifting the antisymmetric Si–O–Si stretch of the bridging oxygen and increasing the full-width at half maxima for all the major Si–O(–Si) vibration modes. The effective electrostatic attraction between the aminated hydrocarbon chains of chitosan and the negatively charged silanol groups of silica may extend to the interaction with dentin collagen fibrils decalcified due to caries, making the material of potential interest for adhesive fillers of cariogenic lesions in teeth. Both the undoped and the doped bioactive glass-ceramics interacted favorably with odontoblast-like cells, accentuating their potential for further research for applications in minimally invasive reparative dentistry.

Optimization of Some Physical and Functional Properties of Extruded Soybean Crud Residue-base Floating Fish Feed

Effect of some extrusion factors on soybean crud residue-based floating fish feed was investigated. Extrusion was conducted at 20%, 25% and 30% moisture content level, die size of 2 mm, 4 mm and 6 mm and screw speed of 150 rpm, 200 rpm and 250 rpm. Pearson square method of fish feed formulation was used to attain a 35% protein content of catfish feed protein requirement. Optimized value of extrusion factors moisture content, die size and screw speed were 30%, 6 mm and 150 rpm respectively and optimized result of responses, expansion rate (ER) floatation rate (FR) sinking velocity (SV) specific mechanical energy (SME) swelling capacity (SC) water absorption index (WAI) water solubility index (WSI) hydration capacity (HC) and hydration index (HI) are 32.73%, 95.87%, 0.024 ms^-1, 16.97 KJ/kg, 1.73, 1.61, 2.76, 0.51, and 0.67 respectively. Feed moisture content and die size have the most significant effect on the physical and functional properties of extrudate. Coefficient of determination R² ranges from 0.65 to 0.96, lack of fit not-significant, desirability in optimization of 0.806, suggesting adequacy of research. Soybean crud residue base floating fish feed has been formed and evaluated with an outcome of high efficacy. This extruded produce can be used for both domestic and industrial scale of catfish feed production.

Evaluation of the matrix-forming ability of Chrysophyllum albidum Linn fruit gum in sustained-release tablet formulations

Background: Plant gums are extensively being exploited as pharmaceutical excipients due to the ease of availability, biodegradability, and reduced costs. Aim: This study investigated the application of the fruit gum of Crysophyllum albidum (CFG) as a matrix former in the formulation of chlorpheniramine maleate and theophylline hydrochloride tablets. Materials and Methods: The gum was extracted using acetone and evaluated for flow, swelling, and hydration capacity. Effects of temperature on CFG and drug compatibility were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Granules containing CFG at 10, 20, and 30% w/w were prepared using the wet granulation method and evaluated for flow properties. Compressed tablets were evaluated for uniformity of weight, hardness, friability, and drug content. In vitro drug release studies were carried out in simulated gastric (pH 1.2) and simulated intestinal (pH 6.8) fluids. Pearson’s similarity correlations were used to analyze results. Results: CFG had a swelling capacity of 22% and hydration capacity of 1.44 with an angle of repose of 30o and Carr’s index of 7.6 signifying good flow. DSC thermogram returned an endothermic glass transition peak at 72.1oC with no appreciable shifts in the peak when CFG was incorporated into the drug. Tablet hardness and friability were concentration dependent with values of 6.5–8.5kg F and 0.04–0.4%, respectively; drug content was within official specifications. Formulations containing 30%w/w CFG sustained drug release for over 12 h and showed better ability to control drug release than HPMC at same concentration. Conclusion: This study shows the propensity of CFG to be used in the formulation of sustained-release tablet formulations.

Impact of Garlic, White Onion and Ginger Extracts on Enzymatic Browning in Sweet Potato

The browning of sweet potato occurs due to the oxidation and dehydrogenation of colorless polyphenols present in the plants. The initial reaction is catalyzed by polyphenol oxidase and produces reddish-brown o-quinones. The inhibition of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and browning by extract gotten from ginger, garlic and white onion in the processing of sweet potato samples were investigated. The physicochemical properties were also evaluated using standard methods of analysis. The sweet potato samples with/without inhibitors were steeped in water for 2 hours at 600C, 700C and 800C to know the solubility of the samples. At 60°C the solubility was more using 10% white onion extract which gave the value of 0.04±0.00 g/g, while 5% ginger extract reduced the solubility to 0.02±0.02 g/g. At 70°C, 10% white onion extract increased the solubility to 0.034±0.000g/g, while at 80°C, both 5% and 10% white onion extract where able to increase the solubility to 0.04±0.00g/g. White onion extract (5%) increased the protein estimation to 12.38±0.39 units/mg, 5% ginger extract was able to increase the polyphenol oxidase level to 19.79±1.80 units/mg. Ginger extract (15%) increased the level of the browning index to 1.10 ± 1.07 units/mg, while 5% onion extract reduced it 0.11 ± 0.01 units/mg (an indication of anti-browning activity). Ginger extract (10%) was effective in increasing the hydration capacity of sweet potato to 2.27±0.00g/g while 5% ginger extract decreased it to 0.46±0.00g/g. The swelling capacity increased to 114.00±0.00g/g using 5% garlic extract and 77.50±0.71g/g using 15% white onion extract. The energy value also increased using 15% ginger extract to 19.25±1.06Kj/g. This study thus, revealed that only 5% onion extract was able to inhibit browning in the processed sweet potato samples.

Geometric Characteristics and Mass-Volume-Area Properties of Haricot Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): Effect of Variety

ABSTRACT The geometric characteristics and mass-volume-area properties of haricot beans are essential for the design of equipment for harvesting, handling, drying, storing, dehulling, processing, and packaging. This study was carried out to determine the effect of variety on the geometric characteristics and mass-volume-area properties of four improved haricot beans varieties. The moisture content, 1000 seed mass, and true density of beans varied significantly (p < .05) in the range of 9–11.28%, 199.9–529.93 g, and 1127.52–1212.40 Kg/m3, respectively. The dimensional properties of the improved haricot bean were significant (p < .05) among the varieties, indicating that these would require some variation in the processing equipment design. Hydration capacity varied significantly from 0.14 to 0.36 g/seed among the improved haricot bean varieties. The hydration index also displayed significant differences among the varieties. Significant differences were observed in hydration coefficient and swelling capacity among the varieties and varied from 1.71% to 1.77% and 0.28 to 0.81 mL/seed, respectively.

A comparison of nutritional values and antioxidant levels of desi and Turkish kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seeds

Chickpea has an increasing importance due to potential as a functional food. This study aimed to compare three kabuli genotypes (Gülümser, Sarı and Arda) with three desi genotypes (ICC 3996, Gaffa and ICC 12004) considering nutrients and antioxidant capacity. Therefore, nutritional values of seeds were analyzed in terms of tota l protein, carbohydrate and mineral element contents, while total phenolic and total flavonoid contents besides ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging capacities were tested to investigate antioxidant capacities. Kabuli genotypes were superior to desi genotypes considering seed weight, seed volume and hydration capacity. All genotypes except ICC 3996 were rich in protein. Despite its small seeds, ICC 3996 genotype was identified as the richest genotype according to carbohydrate content. ICC 3996 and Arda had superiority over other genotypes according to ABTS and DPPH antioxidant capacities. Sarı and Gülümser were determined to be superior to other genotypes according to phenolic and flavonoid contents. Desi genotypes were superior to kabuli genotypes considering Ca, Na, Mg, Fe and Cu contents, while Mn and Ni contents were significantly higher in kabuli seeds. The results of the study showed that all genotypes can be accepted as functional food, supported by rich nutritional values and mineral contents.

Antioxidant, Nutritional, Structural, Thermal and Physico-Chemical Properties of Psyllium (Plantago Ovata) Seeds

The present investigation was carried out to characterize four different types of psyllium seeds including one landrace for their nutritional, structural, antioxidant profile and biological active compounds. DSC analysis showed the highest peak temperature (TP) of 107.57 ºC in RI-89 and end set temperature (TE) of 130.2 ºC for HI-5 cultivar. FT-IR analysis displayed strong absorption bands at frequencies 960, 1380, 1740, 2280 and 3280cm-1. SEM micrographs of each cultivar showed compact and irregular mass of fiber at various magnifications. Protein, fat, ash and total carbohydrate content of psyllium seed flour were recorded up to 13.33, 0.38, 5.0 and 77.88 %, respectively. Ethanol was found to be a suitable solvent than methanol to extract the phytonutrients from psyllium seed flour. DPPH free radical scavenging activity (FRSA) of methanolic and ethanolic extract varied between 31 to 39 % and 38.9 to 43 %, respectively. However, ABTS-FRSA varied between 31.7 to 32.9 % and 33.2 to 34.3 %, for methanolic and ethanolic extract, respectively. Total flavonoids and total phenolic content was recorded up to 2.92 mg RE/g and 4.37 mg GAE/g, in ethanolic extract. The reducing power (RP) and Metal chelating activity (MCA) also varied significantly (p≤0.05) among the cultivars. The MCA ranged from 33.20 to 34.81 % in methanolic extracts and 34.62 to 36.07 % in ethanolic extracts. The lowest absorbance for reducing power was found in methanolic extract of landrace (0.16), whereas, the highest was found in ethanolic extract of RI-89 (0.37). Physico-chemical properties including oil and water absorption capacity of both seed and flour did not vary significantly among the cultivars, whereas significant difference was observed in seed hydration capacity among cultivars evaluated. Among the physical properties, L/W ratio ranged from 1.80 to 199, whereas porosity and angle of repose were of 59.2 to 67.7 % and 23.20 to 27.02º, respectively. Static coefficient of friction was found less using steel (0.484 to 0.667) as a test surface compared to wood (0.679 to 0.744) and plastic (0.536 to 0.560). Bulk density, true density and porosity of various psyllium seed cultivars varied between 0.57 to 0.63 g/cm3 and 1.50 to 1.77 g/cm3 and 58.2 to 67.7%, respectively. Geometric mean diameter (Dg), Arithmetic mean diameter (Da) and surface area of seeds (A) varied from 1.49 to 1.60 mm and 1.68 to 1.79 mm and 5.91 to 6.78 mm2, respectively.

Assessment of the binding properties of methyl starch obtained from Ipomoea batatas in paracetamol tablet formulations

Purpose: The study assessed the binding property of methyl starch obtained from Ipomoea batatas starch compared to maize starch BP (MS). Methods: Ipomoea batatas starch (IBS) was extracted and reacted with dimethyl sulphate to obtain methyl starch (IMS). The physicochemical and micromeritic properties of the starches were determined using standard methods prior to formulation of paracetamol tablets with the starches and maize starch BP as binder. The formulated tablets were assessed for their weight variation, crushing strength, friability, disintegration and drug release profile. Results: The degree of substitution of IMS produced was 0.6 and the reaction efficiency was 20%. The swelling and hydration capacities of IMS and IBS were 34.52, 14.38% and 1.66, 1.88%, respectively. The micromeritic parameters; bulk density (0.53 g/mL), tapped density (0.55 g/mL), Carr’s index (3.64%), Hausner’s ratio (1.04), true density (2.11 g/mL) and powder porosity (2.30) of IMS were superior to those of IBS. The crushing strength and friabilityof the paracetamol tablets formulated with IMS were mechanically stronger than those of IBS and MS. Drug release from tablets formulated with IMS was however lower than those of IBS and MS. Conclusion: The result of quality assessment of the tablets produced established IMS as suitable binder in comparison to IBS and MS in the formulation of paracetamol tablets in view of its improved crushing strength and reduced friability. Keywords: Methyl starch, binder, tablet formulation, Ipomoea batatas

Genetic Variability and Inter-relationships Among Grain Physical and Hydration Traits in Chickpea

Chickpea is the major pulse crop in India accounting for nearly 43% (10.13 MT) of the total pulse production and 80% of total pulse export during 2018-19. It is a good source of carbohydrates and protein and constitutes an important component of diet of largely vegetarian Indian masses. Hydration capacity and volume expansion (after soaking in water) are important cooking quality traits in chickpea, particularly in kabuli type which are mostly cooked as ‘whole grain’ without decortication. Limited information is available on these properties of chickpea. The current study is aimed at assessing the genetic variability and inter-relationships among grain physical and hydration traits in chickpea varieties. During the period 2017-2018, a total of fifty-nine chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties including 46 desi type and 13 kabuli type varieties were evaluated for their grain physical and hydration traits viz., 100-seed weight, seed density, hydration capacity, hydration index, swelling capacity and swelling index. Significant differences were observed for 100 seed weight (Range: 11.00 to 51.50 g/100 seeds; Mean: 21.8 g/100 seeds), seed density (Range: 1.19 to 1.88; Mean: 1.37), hydration capacity (Range: 0.05 to 0.62; Mean: 0.24), hydration index (Range: 0.33 to 1.51; Mean: 1.10), swelling capacity (Range: 0.08 to 0.60; Mean: 0.25) and swelling index (Range: 0.62 to 2.33; Mean: 1.59). The magnitude of PCV was moderately higher than the corresponding GCV values for most of the traits indicating that the influence of the environment on the expression of these traits was not high. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for 100-seed weight, hydration capacity and swelling capacity in both desi and kabuli varieties. These results indicate that high heritability of these traits is predominantly due to additive gene action and hence direct selection for these traits is expected to be effective. 100-seed weight showed significant positive correlations with hydration capacity and swelling capacity and negative correlation with seed density. Seed density showed negative correlation with hydration capacity, hydration index and swelling capacity. Hydration capacity was positively correlated with hydration index, swelling capacity and swelling index. These traits are important for consumers where whole grains are consumed after soaking and cooking. Existence of sufficient variability for these quality traits suggest the scope for breeding chickpea towards improved consumer preferred quality traits.

Enhancing the quality of overripe plantain powder by adding superfine fractions of Adansonia digitata L. pulp and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. calyces: characterization and antioxidant activity assessment

In this study, the overripe plantain has been used to produce high-antioxidant powders, using Adansonia digitata L. pulp and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. calyces as antioxidant supplements. The constrained mixture design (ranged between 0.9–1.0 for plantain and 0–0.1 for supplements) was used to generate ten powder formulations. The obtained powders were evaluated for physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities. Generally, significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between moisture, proteins, ash, fibers, carbohydrates and fat contents of different raw material powders. The increase in the proportions of A. digitata L. and H. sabdariffa L. significantly increased (p < 0.05) the levels of polyphenols (40.19–583.46 mg GAE/100 g DM), flavonoids (18.27–103.46 mg RE/100 g DM), condensed tannins (28.73–276.47 mg CE/100 g DM), carotenoids (8.41–9.48 mg/100 g DM) and vitamin C (31.55–77.30 mg/100 g DM) in the formulated powders. The antioxidant properties of the powder formulations revealed higher radical-scavenging activities DPPH (IC50 of 0.80 mg/mL) and ABTS (IC50 of 1.51 mg/mL) for M10 formulation consists of 91.67% overripe plantain, 1.67% A. digitata L. and 6.66% Hibiscus sabdariffa L. The best reducing powers were found in M5, M6 and M10 formulations which improved by more than 2 to 3 times the value of M1 (2.66 mg AAE/g DM) not containing antioxidant supplements. M10 was the powder formulation that exhibited the best antioxidant activities despite its low hydration capacity. A. digitata L. pulp and H. sabdariffa L. calyces revealed the potential for an efficient improve of antioxidant activity of overripe plantain powder. High-antioxidant powders from the mixtures showed promise in helping to combat oxidative stress in Africa and other countries where chronic diseases pose a threat.

By‐products of the classification of chickpea as an alternative in the production of hummus

AbstractChickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a valuable source of protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, dietary fibre, vitamins and complex carbohydrates, such as oligosaccharides with prebiotic activity. This study evaluates the use of by‐products derived from the classification of chickpea as functional ingredients in food production. The chemical content and thermal properties of by‐products (discard and split) were determined and compared to whole grains for export. Split grains had a higher protein content, lower water hydration capacity (WHC) and lower fibre. The content of oligosaccharides was lower in discard grains. For further studies, hummus was prepared with three samples, and texture and sensory analyses were performed. The results of texture and sensory analyses show no significant differences between discard and whole grains. Chemical contents of by‐products show advantages for the food industry. Discard grains can be used to prepare hummus with the same technology and sensory quality as whole grains.

Preparation of High Stability Graphene Oxide/Zinc Oxide Composite Membrane via Vacuum Filtration for Separation of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solution

AbstractIn the present work, an excellent stable low graphene oxide/zinc oxide (LGO‐ZnO) composite membrane based on LGO nanosheets and ZnO nanonods has been successfully synthesized by vacuum filtration. The resultant graphene oxide nanosheet with a low degree of oxidation (LGO) was successfully prepared with the C/O ratio of 4.8 after stripped and oxidized. Importantly, the characterization results also demonstrated that ZnO nanorods were successfully intercalated into adjacent LGO nanosheets, rendering enlarged mass transfer channels, elevating hydration capacity and creating hierarchical nanostructures of membrane surfaces. Meanwhile, the stability of LGO‐ZnO composite membrane was enhanced obviously due to intercalation of ZnO nanorods, which was much more stable than that of LGO in aqueous solution. And it also exhibited outstanding permeation and separation performance for the water and various dyes solution system (with different concentration, volume or dye species), respectively. Accordingly, the permeate fluxes exhibited a drastic increase from 73 L/m2/h for LGO membrane to 1313 L/m2/h for LGO‐ZnO membrane. All the above results suggested that LGO‐ZnO membrane with high stability, high water permeability and favorable separation efficiency could be used as the great prospects membrane materials in separation of dyes from aqueous solution.

Fabrication of antifouling thin-film composite nanofiltration membrane via surface grafting of polyethyleneimine followed by zwitterionic modification

In this work, antifouling thin-film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membrane having zwitterionic PEI moieties was fabricated through the layer-by-layer interfacial polymerization (LbL-IP) via grafting hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (PEI) onto the polyamide surface, followed by in-situ N-methylation of PEI and then quaternization using 3-bromopropionic acid to form zwitterionic PEI. The successful surface modifications of TFC NF membrane with PEI and zwitterionic PEI were confirmed by XPS and ATR-FTIR results. Benefitting from the strong hydrophilicity and hyperbranched steric structure, the zwitterionic PEI-grafted TFC membrane (NF-ZPEI) exhibited a stronger hydration capacity and a thicker hydration layer than the PEI-grafted TFC membrane (NF-PEI) and the control sample (NF-PA). Meantime, the water permeability of NF-ZPEI membrane was enhanced by 11.6% higher than the control sample. The NF-ZPEI membrane also exhibited the improved ion selectivity of having a decreased rejection towards NaCl and maintaining a high rejection towards divalent ions. Dynamic fouling experiments were performed to demonstrate the impact of surface hydrophilicity and surface charge on the membrane fouling performances. Results illustrate that the zwitterionic PEI grafted on the TFC NF membrane mitigated the electrostatic attraction between the membrane surface and protein foulants, and exhibited the improved antifouling properties of having a low flux decline and a high flux recovery. Our work provides some insights on the zwitterionic surface modification of the TFC NF membrane with both the enhanced water permeability and the antifouling properties towards charged foulants.

Antibacterial Activity of Bacterial Cellulose Loaded with Bacitracin and Amoxicillin: In Vitro Studies.

The use of bacterial cellulose (BC) in skin wound treatment is very attractive due to its unique characteristics. These dressings’ wet environment is an important feature that ensures efficient healing. In order to enhance the antimicrobial performances, bacterial-cellulose dressings were loaded with amoxicillin and bacitracin as antibacterial agents. Infrared characterization and thermal analysis confirmed bacterial-cellulose binding to the drug. Hydration capacity showed good hydrophilicity, an efficient dressing’s property. The results confirmed the drugs’ presence in the bacterial-cellulose dressing’s structure as well as the antimicrobial efficiency against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The antimicrobial assessments were evaluated by contacting these dressings with the above-mentioned bacterial strains and evaluating the growth inhibition of these microorganisms.

Comparative Physicochemical Evaluation of Starch Extracted from Pearl millet seeds grown in Sudan as a Pharmaceutical Excipient against Maize and Potato Starch, using Paracetamol as a model drug

The aim of the current study was to compare the physicochemical and disintegrant properties of pearl millet starch with other starches using paracetamol as model drug. Determination of percentage yield, Physicochemical, micrometrics characteristics of starch/granules, drug excipients compatibility studies and evaluation of prepared paracetamol tablets were measured using official techniques. The yield of the millet starch ranged from 30 to 40%. Moisture content 8.77%, pH 5.7, Swelling capacity 1.2, Hydration capacity 1.748, Moisture uptake 11.8%, Amylose 24.6%, with poor flowability and compressibility. No significant difference in hardness, friability% & disintegration times for formulations containing millet starch to that containing potato and maize starch (P>0.05). From the study, Millet seeds locally cultivated in Sudan gave a high yield of starch, has same physicochemical properties as maize and potato starch so can be used as an alternative to those starches.

Coating of Ca(OH)2 / γ-Al2O3 pellets with mesoporous Al2O3 and its application in thermochemical heat storage for CSP plants

Thermochemical heat storage using the Ca(OH)2 dehydration/hydration reaction for CSP plants requires the development of advanced materials that avoids the breakage shown by conventional CaO pellets. In this work, spherical cores made up of pelletized 60 wt % Ca(OH)2 and 40% γ-Al2O3 powders were coated with different mesoporous alumina coverings by means of a dip-coating route, in order to enhance its structural integrity for dehydration/hydration cycles. Three strategies of preparation were devised using as coatings alumina gels containing cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as surfactant in neutral (A2 CS) and acid pH (A4 CS) and without surfactant in neutral medium (A3 CS). In both A2 CS and A4 CS materials, denser alumina coatings were attained originating higher crushing strengths, pointing out the positive role played by the surfactant in the gel makeup. SEM images indicated that A2 presented small alumina grains (0.3–3 μm) highly dispersed over their surface, while over A4 CS, long sheets were appreciated. All the materials exhibited high hydration capacities after 10 cycles (>80%, >800 kJ/kg) at 250 °C, but only A2 CS hold its structural integrity that was preserved even after 20 cycles without loss of its hydration capacity.

Novel silver and nanoparticle-encapsulated growth factor co-loaded chitosan composite hydrogel with sustained antimicrobility and promoted biological properties for diabetic wound healing.

Diabetic foot ulcer, one of the most common diabetic complications, is a progressive wound occurred on the skin with irregularly delayed wound healing rate due to impaired metabolism and weak immune responses. Such chronic wound remains a serious healthcare burden to the diabetics since it is often associated with high risk of limb loss due to amputation and leads to a reduced survival consequently. To improve the efficiency of diabetic wound healing, a synthetic chitosan-based composite hydrogel named SNPECHG incorporating silver ions (Ag+) and nanoparticle-encapsulated epidermal growth factor (EGF) was developed in this study. The optimal effective dosages of 24-mM Ag+ and 60-μgmL-1 EGF for the SNPECHG manufacture were first determined based on the results of antibacterial, cytotoxicity, and cell growth examinations. We then characterized the optimized SNPECHG and found that the composite hydrogel was able to provide sustained release of Ag+ and EGF, and exhibited a significantly higher hydration capacities, including the swelling degree and equilibrium water content, in PBS than those in deionized water, showing that the developed SNPECHG is highly applicable in the ion-rich environment such as chronic wound site. According to the results of in vivo study using diabetic rats, the one with SNPECHG exhibited a markedly enhanced wound healing effect compared with the other settings since day 3, and may reach a degree of wound closure of 97% at day 14 that was 7.4% (P<0.05) and 18.9% (P<0.05) higher than the values gained from the groups with the commercial dressing HeraDerm and gauze, respectively. Moreover, the wound treated with the SNPECHG exhibited thorough re-epithelization, sufficient collagen deposition, and accelerated collagen maturation confirmed by the histological analysis. Taken all together, we anticipate that the SNPECHG is highly advantageous for use in the clinical diabetic/chronic wound treatment.

Investigation of heat‐acid induced coagulation behaviour of whole milk systems employing front‐face fluorescence spectroscopy

The heat‐acid‐induced coagulation behaviour of whole milk system (buffalo, cow and mixed milk) was studied by steady‐state fluorescence spectroscopy exploiting tryptophan as a marker molecule. The varied molecular environment of tryptophan residues in the raw milk systems exerted different fluorescence properties. During the coagulation process, cow milk exhibited significant quenching and bathochromic shift in the emission spectra which was attributed to the low buffering ability and high hydration capacity of cow milk caseins. The results indicated that tryptophan residues of cow milk experienced more dynamic environment throughout the reaction as compared to buffalo milk.

Effect of extrusion of whole-grain maize flour on the characteristics of gluten-free cookies

A gluten-free diet is usually lacking in dietary fibre and minerals present in the bran and germ of grains. The aim of this work was to study the effects of different extrusion processes of whole grain maize flours (to avoid early rancidity development of the flours) in gluten-free cookies. Particle size and hydration capacity of the flours, rheology of the doughs, physicochemical characteristics, fibre content and sensorial analysis of the cookies were evaluated. The presence of whole-grain flours increased the particle size and the water absorption values. The elastic and viscoelastic modulus of the doughs decreased, allowing a greater expansion of the cookies in the oven, resulting in cookies with a higher spread ratio (reaching values of up to 12.2) and a lower hardness (decreasing in all cases more than 25% in relation to the Control). Cookies prepared with whole grain flours presented higher values of dietary fibre (< 8.4g/100g of lipid free cookie) and had a good acceptability. The extrusion of whole-grain maize flour has a positive impact on both in the shelf life of the flour (slower rancidity development) and in cookie quality.

Formulation and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Isopropyl Hand Sanitizer using Co-processed Excipients

Background: In response to the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa in the year 2014, which caused the Ebola haemorrhagic fever, the WHO alcohol-based hand rub formulation was adopted in addition to regular hand washing to prevent the spread. However, other formulation factors rather than alcohol concentration alone can greatly influence the overall antimicrobial efficacy of hand disinfectants.Objective: To formulate an antimicrobial hand sanitizer using co-processed carriers.Methodology: Carbopol (F), HPMC (G) and co-processed forms of both polymers in batches- 1:1(A), 1:2(B), 1:4(C), 2:1(D) and 4:1(E) respectively were used. The polymers were characterized, and used as carriers in formulating hand sanitizers (A to G). The formulated hand sanitizers were evaluated for physical appearance, pH, clarity, viscosity, drying time and antimicrobial activity, in comparison to a commercially available hand sanitizer (CAHS).Results: Co-processing significantly (p0.05) improved both hydration capacity of carbopol and viscosity of HPMC. The physical appearance, pH and opacity were maintained throughout the study. All the formulations showed dilatant rheological behaviour while the CAHS exhibited plastic flow. The drying times for the formulated hand sanitizers were comparable to CAHS but longer than isopropyl alcohol implying prolonged action at application site. The antimicrobial activity of the formulations was of the rank order isopropyl alcohol&gt;B&gt;F&gt;CAHS&gt;D&gt;E&gt;C&gt;G&gt;A.Conclusion: Co-processing of excipients improved the pharmaceutical properties of the hand sanitizers with antimicrobial activity that was comparable to CAHS but lower than isopropyl alcohol. The hand sanitizer formulated with polymer batch B, demonstrated optimum antimicrobial and pharmaceutical properties and may be developed for commercial use.&#x0D; Keywords: Hand sanitizer formulation, Isopropyl alcohol, Carbopol, Hydroxypropyl MethylCellulose, Co-processed excipient.