NaCl Concentration Research Articles

Biodegradation of dimethachlon by Arthrobacter sp. K5: Mechanistic insights and ecological implications

Dimethachlon, an agricultural fungicide, poses a potential risk to both the ecosystem and human health. Microbial degradation provides a safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly method for eliminating pesticide residues from the environment. In this study, a dimethachlon-degrading bacterium, Arthrobacter sp. K5, was isolated and characterized by the enrichment technique. Strain K5 was observed to initially convert dimethachlon into 4-(3,5-dichloroanilino)-4-oxobutanoic acid, which was subsequently transformed into 3,5-dichloroaniline and succinic acid. Strain K5 effectively utilized dimethachlon as the sole carbon source, converting 100 mg L−1 dimethachlon to 3,5-dichloroaniline within 36 h at 30°C. The optimum degradation conditions were pH 7.0, a temperature of 30°C, and a NaCl concentration range of 0–0.1 % (w/v). In addition, 1 mM Cd2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ could considerably decrease the dimethachlon degradation activity. Enzyme activity analysis revealed that strain K5 contains intracellular enzymes that can metabolize dimethachlon into 3,5-dichloroaniline. The strain K5 genome was sequenced, and four putative dimethachlon-degrading enzymes were hypothesized in strain K5. In addition, the genus Arthrobacter is extensively dispersed in metagenomes from various soil environments. This study enhances our understanding of the role of the genus Arthrobacter in dimethachlon degradation.

NaCl Stress Stimulates Phenolics Biosynthesis and Antioxidant System Enhancement of Quinoa Germinated after Magnetic Field Pretreatment.

Our previous study showed that magnetic field pretreatment promoted germination and phenolic enrichment in quinoa. In this study, we further investigated the effects of NaCl stress on the growth and phenolic synthesis of germinated quinoa after magnetic field pretreatment (MGQ). The results showed that NaCl stress inhibited the growth of MGQ, reduced the moisture content and weight of a single plant, but increased the fresh/dry weight. The higher the NaCl concentration, the more obvious the inhibition effect. In addition, NaCl stress inhibited the hydrolysis of MGQ starch, protein, and fat but increased the ash content. Moreover, lower concentrations (50 and 100 mM) of NaCl stress increased the content of MGQ flavonoids and other phenolic compounds. This was due to the fact that NaCl stress further increased the enzyme activities of PAL, C4H, 4CL, CHS, CHI, and CHR and up-regulated the gene expression of the above enzymes. NaCl stress at 50 and 100 mM increased the DPPH and ABTS scavenging capacity of MGQ and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, POD, CAT, APX, and GSH-Px, further enhancing the antioxidant system. Furthermore, principal component analysis showed that NaCl stress at 100 mM had the greatest combined effect on MGQ. Taken together, NaCl stress inhibited the growth of MGQ, but appropriate concentrations of NaCl stress, especially 100 mM, helped to further increase the phenolic content of MGQ and enhance its antioxidant system.

A New Bacterial Strain Producing Both of the Surfactin and Fengycin Lipopeptide Biosurfactant with Strong Emulsifications on Crude Oil.

A new lipopeptide-producing strain Cytobacillus sp. R3-1 was isolated from the production water of the Daqing oilfield in China and identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses. The strain R3-1 is capable of simultaneously producing both of the surfactin and fengycin, the two major families of the lipopeptide biosurfactant. The chemical structures of the surfactin and fengycin were confirmed by a combination of the ESI-MS, FT-IR, and amino acid analyses, and the impact of various temperatures, pH, and NaCl concentrations on the emulsifying activity (E24) was investigated. The lipopeptide biosurfactant produced by the strain R3-1 exhibited strong emulsifying activity with E24 value over 60% on crude oil and different hydrocarbons, including the cyclohexane, hexadecane, benzene, toluene, kerosene, diesel oil, and liquid paraffin. Meanwhile, it showed excellent emulsifying activity across a broad range of conditions of the temperature up to 60 °C, NaCl tolerance up to 100 g/L, and pH values between 5 and 9, which suggests that the strain R3-1 is a valuable microbial candidate for the simultaneous production of the surfactin and fengycin lipopeptide biosurfactant with strong emulsifying properties and stability under diverse environmental conditions and is a potential application in environmental bioremediation and enhanced oil recovery.

One-pot fabrication of bio-inspired shape-morphing bilayer structures

Soft bilayer structures capable of shape morphing in response to external stimuli have been commonly adopted in the design of soft robots, flexible electronics and many other smart systems. However, existing methods to fabricate such structures generally require multiple steps and may end up a weak interface between the two layers. Here, we report a one-pot fabrication strategy to generate elastomer-based shape-morphing bilayer structures with a seamless interface. Our strategy leverages on a recently developed bioinspired polymer-NaCl particle composite system which can undergo significant osmotic swelling in water. Bilayer structures are readily formed after the precipitation of NaCl particles in liquid polymers under gravity and the crosslinking of the polymers. The shape-morphing behavior of the fabricated bilayer structures can be well controlled by tuning the particle precipitation kinetics, NaCl content, and crosslinking level of the polymer matrix. More importantly, the bilayer structures fabricated using this strategy exhibit more complex shape-morphing responses than typical bilayer structures. Considering the wide applicability of NaCl particle-induced osmotic swelling of polymer composites, our one-pot bilayer formation strategy will greatly benefit many shape-morphing applications with a simplified fabrication workflow and enhanced configurational versatility.

Novel NhaC Na+/H+ antiporter in cyanobacteria contributes to key molecular processes for salt tolerance.

Genome mining has revealed the halotolerant cyanobacterium Halothece sp. PCC7418 harbors considerable enrichment in the ion transport gene family for putative Na+/H+ antiporters. Here, we compared transcriptomic profiles of these encoding genes under various abiotic stresses and discovered that Halothece NhaC (hnhaC) was one of 24 genes drastically upregulated under salt stress. Critical roles of HnhaC in salt-stress protection and response were identified by a complementation assay using the salt-sensitive mutant Escherichia coli strain TO114. Expression of HnhaC rendered this mutant more tolerant to high concentrations of NaCl and LiCl. Antiporter activity assays showed that HnhaC protein predominantly exhibited Na+/H+ and Li+/H+ antiporter activities under neutral or alkaline pH conditions. Furthermore, expression of HnhaC conferred adaptive benefits onto E. coli by enabling a conditional filamentation phenotype. Dissecting the molecular mechanism of this phenotype revealed that differentially expressed genes were associated with clusters of SOS-cell division inhibitor, SOS response repair, and Z-associated proteins. Together, these results strongly indicate that HnhaC is an Na+/H+ antiporter that contributes to salt tolerance. The ubiquitous existence of several Na+/H+ antiporters represents a complex molecular system in halotolerant cyanobacteria, which can be deployed differently in response to growth and to environmental stresses.

Germination ecology of heteromorphic seeds of slender Russian thistle (Salsola collina)

Abstract Slender Russian thistle (Salsola collina Pall.) is a troublesome weed distributed mainly in the cropping regions of northern China that produces heteromorphic seeds in the same plant. However, limited information is available on the germination ecology of heteromorphic seeds in S. collina. Thus, the present study was conducted to verify the effect of alternating temperature conditions, light conditions, winged perianth, salt concentrations, water stress, and burial depths on the seed germination or seedling emergence of S. collina. The results showed that S. collina produced two different types of fruits/seeds that significantly differed in seed size, seed color, external structure, and germination/dormancy behavior. The type A seeds (green seeds) were nondormant, and the germination percentage was >96% at all alternating day/night temperatures and light conditions; whereas type B seeds (yellow seeds) exhibited dormancy characteristics and poor germination (≤1%). Moreover, the winged perianth did not inhibit the germination of S. collina green seeds. The germination of green seeds declined rapidly when NaCl concentration exceeded 100 mM, and only 2.22% germination was observed at 600 mM NaCl. About 62.00% of green seeds germinated at −0.6 MPa, and 8.00% germination was obtained at −1.2 MPa. The seedling emergence declined with an increase of burial depth, and decreased sharply when the burial depth exceeded 1.0 cm. Only 8.33% seedling emergence occurred at a burial depth of 4.0 cm. The results gathered from present study will help to illustrate the ecological adaptation strategy of S. collina and indicate that shallow tillage can effectively minimize the seedling emergence of S. collina.

Sporosarcina hypophthalmichthys sp. nov. Isolated From Gastrointestinal Tract of Fish Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes, 1844).

A rod-shaped, motile, Gram-stain-positive bacterial strain RKN2T, was isolated from gut of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) residing in Gobindsagar reservoir, Himachal Pradesh, India. Having the greatest sequence similarity to Sporosarcina koreensis F73T (98.51%), Sporosarcina luteola Y1T (98.4%) and Sporosarcina aquimarina SW28T (98.36%), the 16S rRNA gene phylogeny confirmed the belonging of strain RKN2T to genus Sporosarcina. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were 21.7%, 20.6%, and 19.2%, and average nucleotide identity values were 76.42%, 80.16%, 76.51%, of strain RKN2T with Sporosarcina koreensis F73T, Sporosarcina luteola Y1T, and Sporosarcina aquimarina SW28T, respectively. The genomic analysis of strain RKN2T showed various biological properties including nitrate reduction, genes responsible for carbohydrate-active enzymes production, antimicrobial compounds, as well as potential metabolism of aromatic compounds and heavy metals. G+C composition of RKN2T genome was 52.7%. This strain can grow in temperatures between 10°C and 40°C (optimum, 28°C-30°C), NaCl concentrations up to 6.0% (w/v), and 6.0-8.0 (optimum, 6.5-7.5) pH range. MK-7 was the dominant respiratory quinone, A-4 type cell wall peptidoglycan was present with anteiso-C15:0, iso-C15: 0, and anteiso-C17:0 being the major fatty acids and Lys-Glu being main amino acids. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine were the strain RKN2T's three main polar lipids. The strain is a novel species under genus Sporosarcina based on polyphasic approach and the name Sporosarcina hypophthalmichthys sp. nov. is given for strain RKN2T. RKN2T is a type strain (= MCC 4365T = JCM34522T = CCM9112T).

Stability analysis of CO2 microbubble for CO2 sequestration and mobility control in enhanced oil recovery

This study addresses the challenge of CO2 microbubble stability in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), with a focus on the combined effects of surfactant concentration, brine concentration, brine-oil ratio, and gas flow rate. Microbubble destabilization, driven by phase separation and improper brine-oil ratios, is a critical issue in EOR. The novelty of this research lies in the use of Acacia concinna, a natural, non-ionic surfactant, to enhance microbubble stability sustainably. The study systematically investigates foamability, drainage kinetics, surface tension, rheology, and bubble size distribution to assess microbubble stability. The results showed that increasing surfactant concentration and brine-oil ratio significantly impacted foam stability and bubble size distribution, with optimal stability conditions observed at 2 wt% surfactant concentration (53.6 min), 5000 ppm brine concentration (47.6 min), a brine-oil ratio of 1:2 (52.4 min), and a CO2 gas flow rate of 1 lpm. Key findings also indicate that increasing NaCl concentration from 5000 to 20,000 ppm caused an increase in microbubble diameter, while higher gas flow rates reduced bubble size. The work introduces new empirical correlations for predicting bubble size distribution based on column diameter, surfactant and brine concentrations, viscosity, density, and gas superficial velocity. These correlations provide a more accurate means of optimizing EOR processes, improving oil recovery efficiency while enhancing CO2 sequestration, contributing to both energy production and environmental sustainability.

Impact of calcium-reinforcement on stability, bioavailability, and bioactivity of quercetin-loaded zein/alginate-pectin nanoparticles.

Cationic calcium ions can crosslink anionic alginate and pectin molecules. It was hypothesized that calcium crosslinking would improve the stability and functionality of biopolymer nanoparticles consisting of zein cores coated by alginate-pectin shells. The effects of calcium ion addition on the structural, physicochemical, and gastrointestinal properties of quercetin-loaded zein/alginate-pectin nanoparticles were therefore investigated. The nanoparticles remained stable to aggregation at calcium ion concentrations of 9 mmol/L or less but aggregated and sedimented at higher concentrations. Calcium ion reinforcement increased the particle dispersion stability even at NaCl concentrations up to 1.4 molL-1. The presence of the calcium ions also reduced quercetin release during the early stages of simulated gastrointestinal digestion but increased its release during the later stages. The relatively high release (56.1%) of quercetin from the calcium-reinforced nanoparticles after digestion resulted in higher intracellular antioxidant activities. The pharmacokinetics of the encapsulated quercetin was measured after its oral administration to rats. The maximal concentration (Cmax) of quercetin in rat plasma for calcium-reinforced nanoparticles was 6.1% higher than non-reinforced nanoparticles; the half-life (t1/2) increased by 17.5%, and the mean retention time (MRT) was 10.0% higher (P < 0.05). These results suggest that calcium ion addition improved the performance and bioavailability of nutraceutical-loaded biopolymer nanoparticles. This might find application in the food and beverage industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Enhanced Extraction of Tanshinones from Salvia miltiorrhiza Using Natural-Surfactant-Based Cloud Point Extraction

Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) contains the tanshinones, a compound with various pharmacological effects, and has been extensively studied as a pharmaceutical material. However, conventional methods for extracting tanshinones face challenges such as environmental hazards and high cost. In this study, we aimed to effectively extract tanshinones from SM using cloud point extraction (CPE) with lecithin, a natural surfactant. By optimizing various extraction conditions including the solid-to-liquid ratio, lecithin concentration, NaCl concentration, pH, and equilibrium temperature, the optimal extraction efficiency was achieved using 20 mL of solvent per 1 g of sample, 3% lecithin (w/v), 2% NaCl (w/v), pH 6, and room temperature (25 ± 2 °C). The CPE method, which minimizes the use of organic solvent and is eco-friendly, demonstrated improvements in extraction efficiency, with a 4.55% increase for dihydrotanshinone I, 8.32% for cryptotanshinone, 15.77% for tanshinone I, and 6.81% for tanshinone IIA compared to the conventional water extraction method. These results suggest that CPE is a promising, environmentally friendly, and efficient approach for extracting hydrophobic components from pharmacologically active materials such as SM, with potential applications across various fields of natural product extraction.

Salt Supersaturation as an Accelerator of Influenza A Virus Inactivation in 1 μL Droplets.

Influenza A virus (IAV) spreads through exhaled aerosol particles and larger droplets. Estimating the stability of IAV is challenging and depends on factors such as the respiratory matrix and drying kinetics. Here, we combine kinetic experiments on millimeter-sized saline droplets with a biophysical aerosol model to quantify the impact of NaCl on IAV stability. We show that IAV inactivation is determined by NaCl concentration, which increases during water evaporation and then decreases again when efflorescence occurs. When drying in air with relative humidity RH = 30%, inactivation follows an inverted sigmoidal curve, with inactivation occurring most rapidly when the NaCl concentration exceeds 20 mol/(kg H2O) immediately prior to efflorescence. Efflorescence reduces the NaCl molality to saturated conditions, resulting in a significantly reduced inactivation rate. We demonstrate that the inactivation rate k depends exponentially on NaCl molality, and after the solution reaches equilibrium, the inactivation proceeds at a first-order rate. Introducing sucrose, an organic cosolute, attenuates IAV inactivation via two mechanisms: first by decreasing the NaCl molality during the drying phase and second by a protective effect against the NaCl-induced inactivation. For both pure saline and sucrose-containing droplets, our biophysical model ResAM accurately simulates the inactivation when NaCl molality is used as the only inactivating factor. This study highlights the role of NaCl molality in IAV inactivation and provides a mechanistic basis for the observed inactivation rates.

Adsorption behavior of nano polyethylene for bensulfuron-methyl in an aqueous environment

Agricultural plastic film, which is widely used to maintain heat and moisture during agricultural production, could gradually degrade into micro- and nano-scale polyethylene plastic fragments when not properly treated. The polyethylene plastic fragments, with ideal properties to carry hydrophobic compounds, interact with pesticide molecules, forming co-exposed residues that persist in the environment. In this work, a small and representative nano-polyethylene particle (PE-NPs, 500 nm) were selected as the adsorption carrier, and bensulfuron-methyl, a commonly used herbicide for crops (e.g. rice and wheat) covered under agricultural plastic films, was chosen as the target analyte to investigate their adsorption behavior. The adsorption equilibrium time of bensulfuron-methyl on PE-NPs increases(6–12 h) with the increase of plastic dosage(500 mg/L-2000 mg/L). The adsorption capacity showed an increasing and then decreasing trend as the dosage of plastic increased, with the highest value achieved at around 500 mg/L. The adsorption behavior was influenced by environmental factors, for example, adsorption was significantly inhibited at pH=9.0 or NaCl concentrations above 0.05 mg/g or dissolved organic matter (oxalic acid) concentrations above 10 mg/L. In addition, The adsorption of bensulfuron-methyl aligned relatively close with pseudo-secondary kinetics and the Freundlich model, suggesting that surface adsorption, intraparticle diffusion, and mass transfer might play a role in the process of non-uniform multilayer adsorption. The adsorption thermodynamics experiment indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous, heat-absorbing, and mainly physisorption.

Cobaltabis(dicarbollide) Interaction with DNA Resolved at the Atomic Scale.

Boron neutron capture therapy represents a promising avenue for cancer treatment that requires nontoxic drugs with a high boron content efficiently distributed into cancerous cells. The metallacarborane o-cobaltabis(dicarbollide) ([COSAN]-) fulfills these requirements and constitutes an attractive candidate. Nevertheless, the interaction of this promising drug with nucleic acids, the assumed target of the biological damage, is poorly understood since contradictory results are reported in the literature. This work establishes the DNA/[COSAN]- interaction strength, mechanism, and time scale at the atomistic level by using a combination of microsecond-molecular dynamics and hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics simulations and by quantifying the absolute binding free energy. Results show that the DNA/[COSAN]- interaction is highly dependent on the ionic strength of the medium. A relatively weak DNA major groove binding (ΔGbind= -2.49 kcal/mol) driven mostly by dihydrogen B-H···H-N bonding is observed in the simulations only at a high NaCl concentration, whereas DNA intercalation mode is deemed highly unlikely.

High Temperature, Isothermal Growth Promotes Close Packing and Thermal Stability in DNA-Engineered Colloidal Crystals.

We report a strategy to accelerate the synthesis and increase the crystallinity of colloidal crystals (CCs) engineered with DNA. Specifically, by holding the DNA-modified Au particle building blocks above the Tm of the DNA bonding elements (i.e., free from the particles), but slightly below the Tm of the anticipated CC during the assembly process, crystallinity is increased, and enthalpically favored phases with high degrees of facet registration are observed. We studied the utility of this approach with systems for which the commonly adopted slow-cooling approach yielded primarily amorphous aggregates. In particular, we used it to synthesize high-volume fraction CCs from large (80 nm) anisotropic nanoparticles (cubes and rhombic dodecahedra) with short (<14 nm) DNA designed to restrict the degrees of freedom for the DNA bonds and maintain the anisotropy of the particle building block. Small-angle X-ray scattering and electron microscopy studies show that the crystalline phases synthesized via this method are more thermally stable than their corresponding aggregate phases, likely due to an increased number of DNA-DNA bonds between particles. Crystal size tunability (between 0.5 and 15 μm edge lengths) and epitaxial growth were demonstrated using this strategy by modulating the NaCl concentration in tandem with previously synthesized CC nuclei. Taken together, this isothermal strategy demonstrates how to deliberately crystallize a wide variety of anisotropic colloidal materials and expands the phase space accessible to nanoparticles modified with DNA.

Iron bed accelerator for discharging cylindrical NCA battery in salt solution

This study examines the iron bed accelerator for discharging cylindrical NCA batteries in salt solution. The use of Li-ion batteries has increased due to the rise of e-mobility in computers, cell phones, and electric vehicles. Recycling Li-ion batteries for raw material in lithium-ion battery production is increasingly important as the revolution unfolds. When disposing of, transporting, and recycling the battery, it is important to crush it to separate the black mass, plastic, and metal components. However, there is a potential explosion risk due to the remaining voltage in the battery. In recycling, the discharge step is significant. The research aimed to test a new method for discharging cylinder batteries using saltwater and an iron bed. Higher NaCl content increases pH and lowers electrochemical potential for water electrolysis. This unique combination enables the battery to discharge at a high rate. In 6 hours, the battery discharged in a 20 wt.% salt solution with 99.6% efficiency. The battery discharge efficiency decreased when exposed to 25 wt% and 30 wt% salt solutions, attributed to reduced water electrolysis intensity. According to the results of various experiments, it has been observed that as the temperature of the salt solution rises, there is a slight increase in the rate of battery discharge; however, no significant difference has been observed. This article talks about how batteries are discharged. It shows the electrochemical reaction using the Eh-pH diagram for Fe-Na-Cl. It also has a schematic diagram that shows the process and a chemical analysis of the precipitate that forms during the discharge test.

Mitigating Salt Stress with Biochar: Effects on Yield and Quality of Dwarf Tomato Irrigated with Brackish Water.

The increase in the frequency and magnitude of environmental stresses poses a significant risk to the stability of food supplies. In coastal areas of the Mediterranean, brackish water has long been considered a limitation on horticultural production. In this scenario, the use of biochar in agriculture could be considered a valuable tool to cope with the deleterious effects of salt stress. This work aimed to investigate, in a protected environment, the effects of different concentrations of biochar (0, 1, and 2% v/v) obtained from poplar (Populus L.) biomass on the yield and quality of dwarf San Marzano ecotype tomatoes irrigated with saline water at different concentrations of NaCl (0, 40 and 80 mM). The increase in salt concentration from 0 to 80 mM NaCl reduced the total yield (-63%) and the number of fruits (-25%), but improved the main quality parameters such as dry matter (+75%), total soluble solids (+56%), and polyphenol content (+43%). Compared to control conditions, biochar supplementation improved the total yield (+23%) and number of fruits (+26%) without altering the functional and organoleptic characteristics of the fruits. The promising results underscore the potential of biochar as a sustainable solution to amend soils in order to improve tomato production under unfavorable conditions such as high salinity. However, there is a need to clarify which adaptation mechanisms triggered by biochar amending improve production responses even and especially under suboptimal growing conditions.

Study on Preparation and Properties of Pickering Emulsions Prepared by Carboxymethyl Starch‐Xanthan Gum Nanoparticles

AbstractIn this work, carboxymethyl starch‐xanthan gum nanoparticles (CXN) with different ratios are prepared by ethanol precipitation method. The effects of different ratios, NaCl content, and pH on the particle size and zeta potential of the nanoparticles are investigated, as well as the rheological properties and stability of the CXN emulsions. The results show that with the increase of xanthan gum (XG), the particle size, and zeta potential of the nanoparticles decrease and the prepared emulsions have higher shear stress and viscosity, as well as greater thermal and storage stability. Changes in pH and NaCl concentration significantly affect the particle size and zeta potential values of the nanoparticles. Excess acids or bases increase the viscosity of the emulsions. At low salt concentrations (0.05 M), the emulsion viscosity increases significantly, after which the emulsion viscosity decreases with increasing salt concentration. Neutral pH conditions at room temperature are not conducive to the stability of the emulsions. At high temperatures (100 °C), high salt concentrations, excessive acids or bases can destabilize emulsions. This study provides a new way to reduce the particle size of nanoparticles and a feasible strategy for developing long‐term stable Pickering emulsion.

Ultrastable and Redispersible Zwitterionic Bottlebrush Micelles for Drug Delivery.

Bottlebrush copolymers are increasingly used for drug delivery and biological imaging applications in part due to the enhanced thermodynamic stability of their self-assemblies. Herein, we discuss the effect of hydrophilic block chemistry on the stability of bottlebrush micelles. Amphiphilic bottlebrushes with zwitterionic poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) and nonionic polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrophilic blocks were synthesized by "grafting from" polymerization and self-assembled into well-defined spherical micelles. Colloidal stability and stability against disassembly were challenged under high concentrations of NaCl, MgSO4, sodium dodecyl sulfate, fetal bovine serum, and elevated temperature. While both types of micelles appeared to be stable in many of these conditions, those with a PMPC shell consistently surpassed their PEG analogs. Moreover, when repeatedly subjected to lyophilization/resuspension cycles, PMPC micelles redispersed with no apparent variation in size or dispersity even in the absence of a cryoprotectant; PEG micelles readily aggregated. The observed excellent stability of PMPC micelles is attributed to the low critical micelle concentration of the bottlebrushes as well as to the strong hydration shell caused by ionic solvation of the phosphorylcholine moieties. Zwitterionic micelles were loaded with doxorubicin, and higher loading capacity/efficiency, as well as delayed release, was observed with increasing side-chain length. Finally, hemocompatibility studies of PMPC micelles demonstrated no disruption to the red blood cell membranes. The growing concern regarding the immunogenicity of PEG-based systems propels the search for alternative hydrophilic polymers; in this respect and for their outstanding stability, zwitterionic bottlebrush micelles represent excellent candidates for drug delivery and bioimaging applications.

Eco-friendly encapsulation: Investigating plant-based protein-alginate shells for efficient delivery and digestion of hemp seed oil encapsulated via supercritical CO2 dispersion

In this study, supercritical carbon dioxide solution-enhanced dispersion (SEDS) was used to encapsulate hemp seed oil (HSO) within matrices of hemp seed protein isolate (HPI), pea protein (PPI) and soy protein (SPI) (0.5 % w/v) in complex with alginate (AL) (0.01 % w/v). The effects of different pH levels (3–9), NaCl concentrations (0–200 mmol/L) and simulated gastrointestinal conditions on HSO release and digestion patterns were analyzed. The findings revealed that SPI/AL microcapsules effectively maintained structural integrity and controlled oil release across diverse pH levels and salt concentrations. During gastrointestinal phases, minimal oil release was observed during oral digestion (<25 % for all samples), while significant (P < 0.05) gastric release occurred in PPI/AL (55.4 %) and SPI/AL (78.1 %) microcapsules. Surprisingly, HPI/AL microcapsules exhibited delayed and sustained release (27.9 %), indicating their potential as ideal wall material for delivering sensitive food and pharmaceutical ingredients to the intestinal stage while minimizing damage in the harsh gastric environment.

Silver carp swim bladder collagen derived from deep eutectic solvents: Enhanced solubility against pH and NaCl stresses

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are renowned in chemical and food industries for their eco-friendly extraction efficacy. Silver carp swim bladders, a collagen-rich byproduct of surimi production, are underutilized, resulting in considerable protein waste. Traditionally, collagen extraction has relied on harsh acids, contributing to environmental pollution and producing collagens with limited solubility, thus constraining their applications. This study evaluated DESs compared to conventional acids in extracting collagen, focusing on structural and solubility variations. Notably, urea-based DESs (urea-lactic acid: U-LA, 1:10, w/v) achieved the highest hydroxyproline recovery rates (∼ 94 %), comparable to acetic acid (AA, 1:20, w/v), but with half the solid-liquid ratio. Unlike acid-extracted collagen, which preserved the triple-helical structure, urea-based DESs partially disrupted this configuration by reducing intramolecular hydrogen bonding within collagen. However, these solvents simultaneously increased intermolecular hydrogen bonding. This alteration significantly enhanced collagen's solubility, maintaining over 60 % across a broad pH range (1−10) and various NaCl concentrations (0–6 %, w/v). Furthermore, urea-acetic acid (U-AA) extracted collagen exhibited the highest maximum transition temperature (solid state, Tmax = 101.94 °C) and gel strength (165 g). The findings suggest that urea-based DESs not only enhance collagen recovery rates but also its solubility and gelation properties, broadening its potential applications in cosmetics, food products, and biomaterials.