Ionic Strength Of Medium Research Articles

Competitive effects of interfacial interactions on ion-tuned wettability by atomic simulations

The dependence of wettability on brine ionic composition in organic-brine-mineral systems, which is denoted as ion-tuned wettability in this paper, has important industrious applications but is still not well understood. The dominant mechanisms and their relative importance are still under debate. This paper uses molecular dynamics to study three possible mechanisms of ion-tuned wettability in an oil-brine-quartz system, including electrical double layer (EDL) repulsion, cation bridging, and hydration repulsion. We compare the contact angle and COO− distribution of the molecular system under different interface charging conditions and the contact angle predicted by EDL repulsion theory. The results indicate the existence of Ca2+ bridging and K+ bridging, and that medium ionic strength favors the form of K+ bridging most. The three mechanisms are all proved to have impact on wettability, of which Ca2+ bridging is the strongest, EDL repulsion and hydration repulsion the weaker, K+ bridging the weakest. Based on the results, we suggest that all the three mechanisms should be evaluated to predict the ion-tuned wettability, and conclude several possible brine-modifying strategies to make sandstone reservoir more water-wet.

HPAM‐g‐PEOPPO: Rheological modifiers in aqueous media of high temperature and high ionic strength

ABSTRACTPartially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) is widely used as thickener in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), but the high temperature and salinity of oil reservoirs can reduce the viscosity and lead to polymer precipitation. To improve the performance of HPAM in high‐salinity and high‐temperature environments, the responsive amino‐terminated poly(ethylene oxide‐co‐propylene oxide) (PEOPPO) (EO/PO = 19/03) was grafted onto a HPAM backbone. The copolymers were prepared in water using 1‐ethyl‐3‐[3‐(dimethylamino)‐propyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride/N‐hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) as activators. Structural characterization was performed by1H NMR and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and the responsive behavior was investigated by UV–Vis and rheology. Spectroscopic analyses confirmed that copolymers were successfully synthesized. UV–Vis showed that copolymers have combined salt and thermoresponsive character. Rheology in saline medium (ionic strength = 3.75 mol.L−1) revealed that, contrary to unmodified HPAM, HPAM‐g‐PEOPPO have thermothickening behavior and also higher viscosity than HPAM at 70 °C, suggesting the utilization of these copolymers as rheological modifiers under harsh conditions of temperature and salinity, such as the ones found in EOR applications. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2019,136, 47453.

Comparative Study of Kinetic and Mechanistic Study of Oxidation of L-Alanine and L-Proline by Sodium Periodate Catalyzed by Osmium(VIII) in Micromolar Concentrations

The kinetics of oxidation of two aliphatic α-amino acids (AA), namely, alanine and proline by NaIO4 has been investigated in alkaline medium in the presence of osmium(VIII) catalyst at a constant ionic strength of 1.0 mol dm–3 and at 25°C. The reactions were very slow to be measured in the absence of the catalyst. The reactions have a first order with respect both to [Os(VIII)] and [NaIO4], and fractional order with respect to both [L-alanine] (Ala) and [L-proline](Pro). The reaction show negligible effect of dielectric constant and ionic strength of medium. Increasing [OH–] concentration was found to decrease the oxidation rates while mercuric acetate acts as scavenger for both the reactions. A plausible oxidation mechanism has been proposed and the rate law expression has been derived. Both spectral and kinetic evidences revealed formation of intermediate complexes between AA and Os(VIII) before the rate-controlling step. Kinetic investigations have revealed that the order of reactivity is Pro > Ala. The complex thus formed reacts with the oxidant [NaIO4] by an inner-sphere mechanism with formation of the oxidation products of the amino acids which were identified as the corresponding carboxylic compounds, ammonium ion and carbon dioxide. The activation parameters of the first order rate constants were evaluated and discussed.

Effects of ionic strength on physicochemical properties and toxicity of silver nanoparticles

In the environment, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) undergo a number of potential transformations, such as aggregation, dissolution, and redox reactions. However, the transformation in ionic strength condition, as well as their related toxicity was not quite clear, especially in the in vivo system. In the present study, we comprehensively evaluated three different characteristics (ddH2O, EPA water and K+ medium (KM)) mediated changes in the physical morphology of AgNPs and the alteration of the toxicity to Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Our results showed besides the changes of AgNPs behavior such as the transformation of morphological, with the transmission electron microscopy we found for the first time that smaller nanoparticles (<5 nm) appeared around the pristine AgNPs after incubation in EPA or KM for 5 days. Together with these changes, the toxicity of AgNPs to C. elegans changed significantly, showing that a higher ionic strength medium resulted in greater toxicity to C. elegans, as measured by germ cell apoptosis, brood size and lifespan. More importantly, our results indicated that the higher toxicity of AgNPs to C. elegans reproduction was probably related to the appearance of the smaller-size AgNPs in higher ionic strength media. These findings highlight that toxicity assessments for the release of nanomaterial to the environment need to be improved to assess environmental safety more accurately.

Kinetic, Mechanistic, and Thermodynamic Studies for Oxidation of L-Alanine by Alkaline Sodium Periodate in Presence of Os(VIII) in its Nano Concentration Range as Homogenous Catalyst

The kinetics and mechanism of homogenously Os(VIII) catalysed oxidation of L-alanine (L-ala) by alkaline sodium periodate in temperature range 30 to 45°C have been studied. The involvement of free radicals was observed in the reactions. The oxidation products were acetaldehyde and IO3-, identified by spot test and spectroscopic studies. The stoichiometry between [L-ala]: IO4- is 1:2. The reaction show negligible effect of mercuric acetate and ionic strength of medium. The experimental results show first order in oxidant [NaIO4] and negative effect of [OH-]. The order in [Os(VIII)] as well as L-alanine was unity. A mechanism involving the formation of complex between L-alanine and Os(VIII) was proposed. The reaction constants concerned in the different steps of mechanism were calculated at different temperature. The activation parameters for the slow step of mechanism were computed and discussed. The thermodynamic quantities were also calculated for the reaction.

Kinetic study, structural analysis and computational investigation of novel xerogel based on drug-PEG/SiO2 for controlled release of enrofloxacin

A sustained drug delivery system is developed by using nonionic polymer to formulate drug release rate from silica based capsules. To serve this purpose, silica based capsules filled with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were incorporated with a veterinary antibiotic drug enrofloxacin (EFX); as a model hydrophobic drug by using a general and facile sol-gel route. The physicochemical properties of the prepared drug-loaded composites were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), nitrogen adsorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis (TGA). The impact of the media's ionic strength on the drug release was evaluated over a range of 0–0.4 M to simulate the gastrointestinal feed in two physiological pH conditions. Sodium chloride was applied for ionic concentration adjustment due to its ability to salt out polymers in the midrange of the lyotropic series. Simultaneously, the drug release kinetics was evaluated by fitting experimental data to common empirical (zero-order, first order and Higuchi) and semi-empirical (Ritger-Peppas and Sahlin-Peppas) models. The drug release kinetics from capsules revealed a non-Fickian diffusion and pure relaxation-controlled release. Of these models, Sahlin-Peppas equation best fit the release data of EFX. To determine the best model, non-linear regressions were carried out. Furthermore, we compare a computational model to experimental data for drug-polymer and drug-SiO2 interactions at B3LYP/6-31 + G(d) level of theory. This model has been suggested based on the active sites of its component, which are characterized by MEP. Finally, the HOMO-LUMO and vibrational analysis were performed.

Antioxidant properties and bioactivity of Carboxymethylpullulan grafted with ferulic acid and of their hydrogels obtained by enzymatic reaction

Antioxidant and cytocompatible chemically modified polysaccharides and their hydrogels were obtained by a biomimetic approach. For this purpose, carboxymethylpullulan grafted with ferulic acid (CMP-FA) was firstly synthesized with different substitution degrees (DSFA). Their hydrogels were secondly obtained by enzymatic cross-linking with laccase. Hydrogel swelling has been found dependent on both DSFA and media ionic strength. The CMP-FA antioxidant properties were evaluated by the DPPH method and ABTS assays. The DPPH radical scavenging effect was high for CMP-FA solutions (80% after 30 min) and lower for the corresponding hydrogels (70% after 7 h). The antibacterial properties of ferulic acid and CMP-FA derivatives were tested against Staphylococcus aureus but the minimal inhibitory concentration of CMP-FA was not reached in the range of concentrations studied. Finally the CMP-FA derivatives showed no cytotoxicity towards mouse fibroblast cells.

Multiplexed CVD Biomarker Detection in Human Serum Using Aptamer Immobilized High Electron Mobility Transistor

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the major causes of death in the world today. Identifying and managing CVD risk is of primary importance in efficient patient care. Proper risk assessment strategies can provide information to healthy as well as high risk individuals on how to better manage their health. This can greatly reduce the mortality rate of cardiovascular disease. Using protein based cardiac biomarkers for risk assessment can improve early diagnosis and aid in prognosis of CVDs. Semiconductor based electronic sensors are very attractive for rapid and sensitive protein detection. Highly Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) based sensors have been used in a variety of applications such as ion, gas and biomolecule sensing and possess desirable features such as high sensitivity and resistance to harsh chemical environment. In this research, A unique sensing methodology using AlGaN/GaN HEMT has been developed to directly detect target protein in high salt concentration environment. The target protein was captured on the surface of the gate electrode, which is separated from the transistor channel by a small gap, and functionalized with target specific aptamer. By forming an electrical double layer (EDL) structure, the solution capacitance modulates the FET drain current. In this way, highly sensitive determination of cardiac biomarkers in high ionic strength media such as 1X PBS and human serum can be realized. HEMT is fabricated using 4 mask processes: mesa isolation and defining active device area, ohmic contact deposition and annealing, metal interconnect deposition and device passivation. For electrical measurement, a pulsed gate electrode voltage is supplied to the gate electrode which creates a solution capacitance in the gap between the gate electrode and transistor dielectric. This solution capacitance modulates the potential drop across the transistor dielectric and hence the drain current. The solution capacitance changes when the device is functionalized with the target specific aptamer and when the target protein binds to the receptor. The aptamer based AlGaN/GaN HEMT biosensor can detect target proteins with high sensitivity, selectivity and a wide dynamic range of detection in 1X PBS (with 4% BSA) and clinical human serum samples.

Anti-Candidal Activity and Functional Mapping of Recombinant and Synthetic Neosartorya fischeri Antifungal Protein 2 (NFAP2).

The increasing number of life-threatening Candida infections caused by antifungal drug-resistant strains urges the development of new therapeutic strategies. The small, cysteine-rich, and cationic Neosartorya fischeri antifungal protein 2 (NFAP2) effectively inhibits the growth of Candida spp. Limiting factors of its future application, are the low-yield production by the native producer, unavailable information about potential clinical application, and the unsolved relationship between the structure and function. In the present study we adopted a Penicillium chrysogenum-based expression system for bulk production of recombinant NFAP2. Furthermore, solid-phase peptide synthesis and native chemical ligation were applied to produce synthetic NFAP2. The average yield of recombinant and synthetic NFAP2 was 40- and 16-times higher than in the native producer, respectively. Both proteins were correctly processed, folded, and proved to be heat-stable. They showed the same minimal inhibitory concentrations as the native NFAP2 against clinically relevant Candida spp. Minimal inhibitory concentrations were higher in RPMI 1640 mimicking the human inner fluid than in a low ionic strength medium. The recombinant NFAP2 interacted synergistically with fluconazole, the first-line Candida therapeutic agent and significantly decreased its effective in vitro concentrations in RPMI 1640. Functional mapping with synthetic peptide fragments of NFAP2 revealed that not the evolutionary conserved antimicrobial γ-core motif, but the mid-N-terminal part of the protein influences the antifungal activity that does not depend on the primary structure of this region. Preliminary nucleic magnetic resonance measurements signed that the produced recombinant NFAP2 is suitable for further structural investigations.

A novel “modularized” optical sensor for pH monitoring in biological matrixes

A novel core-shell structure optical pH sensor is developed with upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) serving as the core and silica as the shell, followed by grafting bovineserumalbumin (BSA) as another shell via glutaraldehyde cross-linking. The obtained core-shell-shell structure is shortly termed as UCNPs@SiO2@BSA, and its surface provides a platform for loading various pH sensitive dyes, which are alike “modules” to make it feasible for measuring pHs within different pH ranges by simply regulating the type of dyes. Generally, a single pH sensitive dye is adopted to respond within a certain pH range. This study employs bromothymol blue (BTB) and rhodamine B (RhB) to facilitate their responses to pH variations within two ranges, i.e., pH 5.99–8.09 and pH 4.98–6.40, respectively, with detection by ratio-fluorescence protocol. The core-shell-shell structure offers superior sensitivity, which is tens of times more sensitive than those achieved by ratio-fluorescence approaches based on various nanostructures, and favorable stability is achieved in high ionic strength medium. In addition, this sensor exhibits superior photostability under continuous excitation at 980 nm. Thanks to the near infrared excitation in the core-shell-shell structure, it effectively avoids the self-fluorescence from biological samples and thus facilitates accurate sensing of pH in various biological sample matrixes.

Reaction Product Variability and Biological Activity of the Lactoperoxidase System Depending on Medium Ionic Strength and pH, and on Substrate Relative Concentration.

The potential of ions produced in water by the lactoperoxidase system against plant pests has shown promising results. We tested the bioactivity of ions produced by the lactoperoxidase oxidation of I- and SCN- in several buffers or in tap water and characterized the ions produced. In vitro biological activity was tested against Penicillium expansum, the causal agent of mold in fruits, and the major cause of patulin contamination of fruit juices and compotes. In buffers, the ionic concentration was increased 3-fold, and pathogen inhibition was obtained down to the 1:15 dilution. In tap water, the ionic concentration was weaker, and pathogen inhibition was obtained only down to the 1:3 dilution. Acidic buffer increased ion concentrations as compared to less acidic (pH 5.6 or 6.2) or neutral buffers, as do increased ionic strength. 13 C-labelled SCN- and MS showed that different ions were produced in water and in buffers. In specific conditions the ion solution turned yellow and a product was formed, probably diiodothiocyanate (I2 SCN- ), giving an intense signal at 49.7 ppm in 13 C-NMR. The formation of the signal was unambiguously favored in acidic media and disadvantaged or inhibited in neutral or basic conditions. It was enhanced at a specific SCN- : I- ratio of 1:4.5, but decreased when the ratio was 1:2, and was inhibited at ratio SCN- >I- . We demonstrated that the formation of the signal required the interaction between I2 and SCN- , and MS showed the presence of I2 SCN- .

Effects of subphase pH, temperature and ionic strength on the aggregation behavior of PnBA-b-PAA at the air/water interface

Aggregation behavior of an amphiphilic diblock polyelectrolyte poly(n-butylacrylate)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PnBA-b-PAA) at the air/water interface and morphologies of its LB films were characterized by the Langmuir monolayer technique and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. Effects of subphase pH, temperature and ionic strength on the isotherms and hysteresis curves of the PnBA-b-PAA monolayers and the morphologies of its LB films were systematically studied. With the increase of subphase pH, the isotherms shift negatively and the quasi-plateaus disappear under neutral and alkaline conditions. Hysteresis phenomena of the PnBA-b-PAA monolayers on acidic and neutral subphases are quite obvious and similar, while the compression and expansion isotherms under alkaline condition are almost overlapped. The LB films of PnBA-b-PAA transferred from acidic subphase exhibit isolated circular micelles with large size, while those from alkaline subphase exhibit condensed ones with small size. With the rise in subphase temperature, PnBA blocks on the water surface are more likely to aggregate into large cores due to the higher molecular mobility. Furthermore, the totally ringlike nanostructures prepared from alkaline subphase with medium ionic strength are observed for the first time in LB films of block copolymers.

Enhanced removal of humic acid from aqueous solution by novel stabilized nano-amorphous calcium phosphate: Behaviors and mechanisms

Stabilized nano-amorphous calcium phosphate (nACP) was prepared using polyethylene glycol as stabilizer to obtain a nanosized amorphous adsorbent. The produced nACP was evaluated by using XRD, FTIR, SEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The sedimentation test demonstrated that nACP exhibited better stability than crystallized hydroxyapatite. The adsorption efficiency of the nACP material for aqueous humic acid (HA) was evaluated from the point of view of medium pH, adsorption time, temperature, and ionic strength, as well as the presences of metal ions. The results of the study showed very good adsorption performance towards aqueous HA. The Sips modeling results revealed that the stabilized nACP adsorbent had a considerably high adsorption capacity (248.3mg/g) for HA at 298K. The adsorption data fitted well into pseudo-second order and Elovich kinetic models. XPS analyses indicated that HA retention on nACP material might be due to the surface complexation reaction between oxygen-containing group and calcium of HA and nACP, respectively. Moreover, the HA adsorption capacity of nACP could still keep more than 86% after four adsorption-desorption cycles. By taking into account all results it was concluded that the nACP adsorbent leveraged its stability in combination with its high uptake capacity to offer a great promise for HA adsorption from water.

Comparative ecotoxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles in natural seawater and reconstituted seawater using the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

The impact of nanoplastics using model polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs), anionic (PS-COOH) and cationic (PS-NH2), has been investigated on the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, a major component of marine zooplanktonic species. The role of different surface charges in affecting PS NP behaviour and toxicity has been considered in high ionic strength media. To this aim, the selected media were standardized reconstituted seawater (RSW) and natural sea water (NSW), the latter resembling more natural exposure scenarios. Hatched rotifer larvae were exposed for 24h and 48h to both PS NPs in the range of 0.5–50μg/ml using PS NP suspensions made in RSW and NSW. No effects on lethality upon exposure to anionic NPs were observed despite a clear gut retention was evident in all exposed rotifers. On the contrary, cationic NPs caused lethality to rotifer larvae but LC50 values resulted lower in rotifers exposed in RSW (LC50=2.75±0.67µg/ml) compared to those exposed in NSW (LC50=6.62±0.87µg/ml). PS NPs showed similar pattern of aggregation in both high ionic strength media (RSW and NSW) but while anionic NPs resulted in large microscale aggregates (Z-average 1109 ± 128nm and 998±67nm respectively), cationic NP aggregates were still in nano-size forms (93.99 ± 11.22nm and 108.3 ± 12.79nm). Both PDI and Z-potential of PS NPs slightly differed in the two media suggesting a role of their different surface charges in affecting their behaviour and stability. Our findings confirm the role of surface charges in nanoplastic behaviour in salt water media and provide a first evidence of a different toxicity in rotifers using artificial media (RSW) compared to natural one (NSW). Such evidence poses the question on how to select the best medium in standardized ecotoxicity assays in order to properly assess their hazard to marine life in natural environmental scenarios.

Solubilization of myofibrillar proteins in water or low ionic strength media: Classical techniques, basic principles, and novel functionalities

ABSTRACTThe qualitative characteristics of meat products are closely related to the functionality of muscle proteins. Myofibrillar proteins (MPs), comprising approximately 50% of total muscle proteins, are generally considered to be insoluble in solutions of low ionic strength (< 0.2 M), requiring high concentrations of salt (> 0.3 M) for solubilization. These soluble proteins are the ones which determine many functional properties of meat products, including emulsification and thermal gelation. In order to increase the utilization of meat and meat products, many studies have investigated the solubilization of MPs in water or low ionic strength media and determining their functionality. However, there still remains a lack of systematic information on the functional properties of MPs solubilized in this manner. Hence, this review will explore some typical techniques that have been used. The main procedures used for their solubilization, the fundamental principles and their functionalities in water (low ionic strength medium) are comprehensively discussed. In addition, advantages and disadvantages of each technique are summarized. Finally, future considerations are presented to facilitate progress in this new area and to enable water soluble muscle MPs to be utilized as novel meat ingredients in the food industry.

The effect of pH, buffer capacity and ionic strength on quetiapine fumarate release from matrix tablets prepared using two different polymeric blends

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the different physiological parameters of the gastrointestinal (GI) fluid (pH, buffer capacity, and ionic strength) on the in vitro release of the weakly basic BCS class II drug quetiapine fumarate (QF) from two once-a-day matrix tablet formulations (F1 and F2) developed as potential generic equivalents to Seroquel® XR. F1 tablets were prepared using blends of high and low viscosity grades of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K4M and K100LV, respectively), while F2 tablets were prepared from HPMC K4M and PEGylated glyceryl behenate (Compritol® HD5 ATO). The two formulations attained release profiles of QF over 24 h similar to that of Seroquel® XR using the dissolution medium published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A series of solubility and in vitro dissolution studies was then carried out using media that simulate the gastric and intestinal fluids and cover the physiological pH, buffer capacity and ionic strength range of the GIT. Solubility studies revealed that QF exhibits a typical weak base pH-dependent solubility profile and that the solubility of QF increases with increasing the buffer capacity and ionic strength of the media. The release profiles of QF from F1, F2 and Seroquel® XR tablets were found to be influenced by the pH, buffer capacity and ionic strength of the dissolution media to varying degrees. Results highlight the importance of studying the physiological variables along the GIT in designing controlled release formulations for more predictive in vitro–in vivo correlations.

Temperature-Induced, Selective Assembly of Supramolecular Colloids in Water.

In this article, we report the synthesis and physical characterization of colloidal polystyrene particles that carry water-soluble supramolecular N,N′,N″,-trialkyl-benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamides (BTAs) on their surface. These molecules are known to assemble into one-dimensional supramolecular polymers via noncovalent interactions. By tethering the BTAs to charge-stabilized particles, the clustering behavior of the resulting colloids was dictated by a balance between interparticle electrostatic repulsion and the BTA-mediated attractions. Through careful tuning of the dispersing medium’s ionic strength, a regime was found in which particle aggregation could be reversibly induced upon heating the dispersion. These findings clearly indicate that hydrophobic interactions, which become stronger upon heating, play an important role during the clustering process. Besides the thermoreversible nature of the generated hydrophobic interparticle attractions, we found the clustering to be selective, that is, the BTA-functionalized colloids do not interact with nonfunctionalized hydrophobic polystyrene particles. This selectivity in the association process can be rationalized by the preferred stacking of the surface-tethered BTAs. These selective intermolecular/particle bonds are likely stabilized by the formation of hydrogen bonds, as previously observed for analogous molecular BTA assemblies. The resulting driving force responsible for particle clustering is therefore dual in nature and depends on both hydrophobic attractions and hydrogen bonding.

Penicillamine and captopril: mechanistic exploration of defensive actions of thiol drugs against a metal bound-superoxo complex

In acid-media ([H+] = 0.01–0.06 M), each of the thiol compounds, D-penicillamine (PEN, LPH2) and captopril (CAP, LCH2) exist in several proton-dependent forms which can reduce the superoxo complex [(en)(dien)CoIII(O2)CoIII(en)(dien)]5+ (1) to the corresponding peroxo [(en)(dien)CoIII(O2)CoIII(en)(dien)]4+ (2) or the hydroperoxo complex [(en)(dien)CoIII(OOH)CoIII(en)(dien)]5+ (3). The observed first-order rate constants, ko,P and ko,C for PEN and CAP increase with the increase in [TPEN] and [TCAP] (which are the analytical concentrations of the respective thiols) but decrease with the increase in the media-acidity ([H+]) and the media ionic strength (I). The protolytic equilibria in aqueous solution allow several potentially reducing forms to coexist for both PEN (LPH3+, LPH2, LPH−, and LP2−) and CAP (LCH2, LCH−, LC2−) but the kinetic analyses reveal that the order of reactivity for the species are LPH3+ ~ LPH2 <<< LPH− and LCH2 < LCH− <<< LC2−, respectively. The predominance and higher reactivities of the anionic species, LPH− and LC2− are supported by the negative slopes of the plots of ko,P or ko,C versus I. Moreover, a large value of kH/kD for PEN suggests an inner-sphere electroprotic reaction pathway while the absence of such effect for CAP strongly supports an outer-sphere electron transfer reaction. These propositions are supported by the structural features of LPH− and LC2−.

Solvent extraction studies of cobalt(II) by capric acid from sodium sulfate solution

ABSTRACTThe extraction of cobalt(II) from sulfate medium of ionic strength 0.33 mol dm−3 by capric acid dissolved in chloroform has been carried out at 25°C. By using the slope analysis method, the stoichiometry of the organometallic complex extracted was determined. Cobalt(II) complex exists as a mononuclear species CoL2.2HL in the lower concentration region of capric acid and a binuclear ones (CoL2.2HL)2 in the higher concentration region. Extraction constants for each species were given. UV–visible and FTIR spectroscopy have also been used for the investigation of the extractant and their complexes. Electronic spectrum of cobalt(II) caprate species indicates the octahedral structure.

Pectin-zinc-chitosan-polyethylene glycol colloidal nano-suspension as a food grade carrier for colon targeted delivery of resveratrol

The aim of the present study was to develop chitosan-zinc-pectinate-polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanoparticles (NPs) for colon-targeted delivery of resveratrol. The effects of pectin:ZnCl2:chitosan (PZnC) % w/v, pH and ionic strength of media, and addition of PEG on the colloidal stability and release behavior of resveratrol from NPs were examined by Zeta potential, particle size analyzer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) methods. The particle size and Zeta potential of PZnC NPs in the ratio of 10:1:3% w/v were 399±18nm and +25±1mV, respectively. The addition of PEG to PZnC as a solvent for resveratrol (10% w/v) noticeably decreased the size of NPs to approximately 83±4nm. More than 63% of the resveratrol was encapsulated into the developed NPs; furthermore, a low amount of resveratrol was released during one month, using simulated juice model (pH=4) as investigated by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis of resveratrol.The remaining resveratrol in NPs (∼49%) was released in simulated colon fluid in the presence of pectinase. These NPs can be introduced as a novel platform for successful colon delivery of resveratrol in fruit juice matrix.