Physicochemical Research Articles

Designing and the anticancer activity of chitosan and chitosan oligosaccharide lactate nanobeads loaded with Biginelli hybrid.

This study focuses on the designing and characterization, and anticancer evaluation of chitosan-based nanoparticles (NPs) loaded (enriched) with a Biginelli hybrid compound (BH). NPs based on chitosan (CH) or chitosan oligosaccharide lactate (CHOL), are carefully designed to encapsulate a tetrahydropyrimidine derivative (BH) with already proven anticancer properties. The formulations were evaluated for their physicochemical properties, including particle size distribution and morphology, using techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The cytotoxicity profiles were assessed on different cancer cell lines, showing a higher selectivity towards HeLa and A549 cells related to BH. BH-CH showed better cytotoxic profile related to BH-CHOL NPs. A cell cycle analysis revealed an accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase after a treatment with these NPs, indicating the ability to induce mitotic arrest in cancer cells. In summary, the results underscore the promising application of CH-based natural nanocarriers for the targeted delivery of Biginelli hybrids, showcasing a significant potential for further in vivo testing.

In vitro digestion and fecal fermentation behaviors of exopolysaccharide from Morchella esculenta and its impacts on hypoglycemic activity via PI3K/Akt signaling and gut microbiota modulation

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of gastrointestinal digestion on the physicochemical properties and hypoglycemic activity of extracellular polysaccharides from Morchella esculenta (MEPS). The results showed that the MEPS digestibility was 22.57 % after saliva-gastrointestinal digestion and only partial degradation had occurred. Contrarily, after 48 h of fecal fermentation, its molecular weight and molar ratios of the monosaccharide composition varied significantly due to being utilized by human gut microbiota, and the final fermentation rate was 76.89 %. Furthermore, the MEPS-I, the final product of saliva-gastrointestinal digestion still retained significant hypoglycemic activity, it alleviated insulin resistance and increased the IR cells glucose consumption by activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. MEPS-I treatment reduced the proportion of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes, and the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria that enhanced insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake was promoted. This research can provide a theoretical basis for the further development of Morchella esculenta as a health functional food.

Comparative Evaluation of the Phytochemical Composition of Fruits of Ten Haskap Berry (Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica Sevast.) Cultivars Grown in Poland

The aim of this study was to investigate the qualitative and quantitative fruit profiles of ten cultivars (cvs.) of haskap berry (Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica Sevast.) to determine their antioxidant activity (ABTS test, CUPRAC test, ability to capture superoxide (O2˙−) and hydroxyl radicals (OH˙)), cytotoxic activity (against cancer cell lines breast, MCF-7; colon, HT-29; and melanoma, SK-Mel-28) and physicochemical properties. Most of the selected cultivars had not previously been analyzed for these properties. A total of 19 polyphenolic compounds were identified in the fruits of the tested genotypes, with a quantitative range of 2166.3–3597.0 µg/g. The polyphenol profile was dominated by anthocyanins (90.0–92.4%), and the remaining classes occurred in the following order: phenolic acids > flavonols > flavan-3-ols. The highest concentrations of these polyphenol groups were found in the cultivars ‘Honeybee’, ‘Sinij Uties’ and ‘Usłada’. The fruits of these cultivars were also characterized by the highest antioxidant activity (546.6–683.5 µg/mL for O2˙− and 541.2–652.1 µg/mL for OH˙) and cytotoxic activity (103.6–649.2 µg/mL). The data obtained indicate that the fruits of the new haskap cultivars are a good source of bioactive compounds with possible health-promoting properties.

Innovative probiotic yogurt: Leveraging green banana peel for enhanced quality, functionality, and sensory attributes

Yogurt, a popular dairy product renowned for its nutritional benefits and probiotic content, serves as a functional food with potential health-promoting properties. The objective of this study was to investigate whether incorporating green banana peel polyphenol extract (GBPPE) into yogurt formulations enhances the viability and functionality of probiotics while also potentially improving the overall quality and health-promoting properties of the yogurts. GBPPE was extracted and added to the yogurt formulation at 0.0 %, 0.5 %, 1 %, and 2 %. Various physico-chemical properties of GBPPE as well as a range of physical, biochemical, sensory, and microbial assessments of formulated yogurts were carried out. Compared to the control, yogurt containing GBPPE improves functional characteristics by increasing antioxidant activity while having no detrimental impact on physicochemical and organoleptic properties. In terms of antioxidant capabilities, all fortified yogurts showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher total phenolic, flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities than the control yogurt. The addition of GBPPE also affected (p < 0.05) pH, titratable acidity, viscosity, water-binding capacity, syneresis, and total soluble solids, while no significant differences in the color parameters were detected in both control and all fortified yogurts with reduced brightness (L∗) and increased redness (a∗) of the product. The initial viable counts of all yogurt samples were almost similar, and the maximum and minimum viability loss of probiotics were observed in control and 2 % GBPPE fortified samples, respectively. Sensory assessment revealed that yogurt with 0.5 % banana peel extract outperformed all other treatments except the control. These findings support the sustainable use of GBPPE to create probiotic yogurt with improved physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory qualities.

Genome wide analysis of HMA gene family in Hydrangea macrophylla and characterization of HmHMA2 in response to Aluminum stress

Aluminum toxicity poses a significant threat to plant growth, especially in acidic soils. Heavy metal ATPases (HMAs) are crucial for transporting heavy metal ions across plant cell membranes, yet their role in Al3+ transport remains unexplored. This study identified eight HmHMA genes in the genome of Hydrangea macrophylla, categorizing them into two major clades based on phylogenetic relationships. These genes were found unevenly distributed across six chromosomes. Detailed analysis of their physicochemical properties, collinearity, and gene structure was conducted. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that specific HmHMA genes, notably HmHMA2, were predominantly expressed in roots and flowers under Al3+ stress, indicating their potential role in Al3+ tolerance. HmHMA2 showed significant expression in roots, especially under Al3+ stress conditions, and when expressed in yeast cells, it conferred resistance to aluminum and zinc but increased sensitivity to cadmium. Overexpression of HmHMA2 in hydrangea leaf discs significantly improved Al3+ tolerance, reduced oxidative stress markers like hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde, and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity such as SOD, POD and CAT compared to controls. These findings shed lights on the potential role of HmHMAs in Al transport and tolerance in H. macrophylla.

Enhancing nutritional composition and aroma characteristics of kiwifruit wines through indigenous non-Saccharomyces yeast extracellular extract treatment

To unlock the potential of strains for further enhancing the aromatic complexity of kiwifruit wines while avoiding undesirable flavors, indigenous non-Saccharomyces yeast extracellular extract treatment for fermentation was established. The extracellular extract from Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, Pichia kudriavzevii, and Meyerozyma guilliermondii were prepared and supplemented individually or in pairs to the kiwifruit wine fermentation system. Subsequently, the changes in physicochemical properties, antioxidants, and volatile characteristics of kiwifruit wines produced by different protocols were comprehensively evaluated, and the major aroma descriptors affecting sensory acceptability were analyzed by sensory evaluation and partial least squares regression. The results showed that extracellular extract treatment significantly improved the organic acids and monomeric phenols content, antioxidant capacity, and volatiles of kiwifruit wines. Compared to Sc, the increase in esters and alcohols, along with the decrease in aldehydes and acids in Pk-Zr and Mg-Zr, enhanced the aromatic complexity while reduce grassy and fungal flavors, resulting in higher sensory acceptability.

Effect of mineral additives and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria additions on physicochemical properties, nitrogen retention and microbial dynamics during vermicomposting of chicken manure and green waste

Vermicomposting is an effective technology to transform organic wastes into organic fertilizers. However, a large amount of nitrogen will be lost through ammonia (NH3) volatilization during verimicomposting. Herein, in this study, we investigated the effects of mineral additives (diatomite, zeolite) and exogenous ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) (Nitrosomonas europaea, Nitrosospira multiformis) added individually or combinedly on the physicochemical changes, the conversion of nitrogen, and the resident microbial community succession during chicken manure and green waste co-vermicomposting. The results showed that the combined addition of AOB and mineral additives significantly improved vermicompost quality and maturity in terms of humus, carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N), humic acid/fulvic acid ratio (HA/FA) and germination index. Compared with the control, jointly adding AOB and mineral additives reduced NH3 emissions by 65.72%~71.05%, accelerated the conversion of NH4+-N to NO3−-N, increased total nitrogen (TN) contents by 23.22%~25.21%. The combination of AOB and mineral additives significantly increased the activities of ammonia monooxygenase, hydroxylamine oxidase, and nitrate oxidoreductase, and enhanced the amount of AOB community. Additionally, the combined addition of AOB and mineral additives increased bacterial richness and diversity, accompanied by increased relative abundances of Luteimonas, Cellvibrio, Saccharimonadales, and Pseudomonas. These microbial shifts were correlated with enhanced lignocellulose degradation, organic phosphate mineralization, and promotion of plant growth. Moreover, vermiompost-based growing media with mineral additives and AOB can significantly promote the growth of purple cabbage as compared to the vermicompost without additives. Overall, the synergistic use of AOB and mineral additives (diatomite, zeolite) was recommended as a favorable approach for reducing nitrogen losses and improving the efficiency of chicken manure and green waste vermicomposting. This study offers a novel approach to mediated nitrogen transformation processes and reduce nitrogen loss.

Structure sensitivity in the formic acid-driven catalytic transfer hydrogenation of maleic acid to succinic acid over Pd/C catalysts

A series of carbon-supported palladium catalysts (Pd/C) with average particle size in the range from 3 to 7 nm was prepared by varying the Pd loading. These materials and the influence of their physicochemical properties in the catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) of maleic acid (MAc) to succinic acid (SAc) using formic acid (FAc) as H2 donor were evaluated. The chemical, textural, and surface properties were studied by a number of characterization techniques (ICP-OES, XRD, TEM, and XPS). It was found that the intrinsic rate of SAc formation per surface Pd atom (turn-over frequency, TOF Pdsur) is structure-sensitive. The TOF Pdsur rate increases with the particle size following a volcano-type curve, reaching a maximum for an average particle size of ca. 6 nm. Assuming a cuboctahedral shape with a cubic close-packed structure, an approximation frequently adopted for Pd particles, it was found that, for the series of catalysts, neither the calculated TOF of Pd surface atoms at low coordination sites nor at high coordination are constant. This suggests that no geometric effect is responsible for the structure-sensitivity. Among the different Pd species present in the catalysts (i.e., metallic Pd (Pd0), palladium carbide (PdCx), and oxidized Pd), it was observed that the relative number of surface Pd0 sites also follows a volcano-type curve, which indicates that Pd0 sites are necessarily involved in the most active centers. For particles with an average size larger than 4 nm, the TOF rate of surface Pd0 sites was constant and in the range of 0.12 s−1. For smaller sizes, a more accurate determination of their Pd0 surface concentration is required to obtain reliable surface Pd0 TOF rates.

Synthesis, In vitro Antibacterial and Antioxidant Evaluation, DFT Calculation, Molecular Docking, and ADMET Studies of Novel N-Acyl-6-Chloro-2(3H)-Benzoxazolone Derivatives

A new series of N-acyl-6-Chloro-2(3H)-benzoxazolone derivatives (4a-4g) were synthesized using an eco-friendly catalyst. The compounds were characterized using spectroscopic techniques, including FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and GC-MS. Their antimicrobial activity against various bacterial strains, including both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, was evaluated and yielded promising results. The synthesized compounds were also tested for their antioxidant properties using the DPPH radical-scavenging method, where compound 4f exhibited the highest activity with an IC50 of 1.54 μg/mL, surpassing that of ascorbic acid (IC50 = 1.7 μg/mL). Additionally, DFT calculations were performed to investigate the compounds’ chemical reactivity, including the analysis of HOMO and LUMO frontier molecular orbitals, global reactivity descriptors, and molecular electrostatic potential. Molecular docking studies were conducted to explore the interactions between the synthesized compounds (4a-4g) and the standard drug ciprofloxacin at the active site of DNA gyrase. Furthermore, physicochemical properties, lipophilicity, water solubility, pharmacokinetics, drug-likeness, and medicinal chemistry properties were estimated using SwissADME. Toxicological profiles, including hepatotoxicity, carcinogenicity, immunotoxicity, mutagenicity, cytotoxicity, and LD50, were predicted using the ProTox-III web tool. The findings suggest potential therapeutic applications for combating bacterial strains, indicating that these synthesized compounds could serve as lead compounds for antibiotic drug development.

Physicochemical properties and their impact on ice nucleation efficiency of respiratory viral RNA and proteins.

Ice nucleation processes in the earth's atmosphere are critical for cloud formation, radiation, precipitation, and climate change. We investigated the physicochemical properties and ice nucleation potential of selected viral aerosols, including their RNA and proteins, using advanced techniques such as scanning-transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), particle analyzers, and a peltier chamber. The experiments revealed that RNA particles obtained from MS2 bacteriophage had a mean freezing point of -13.9 ± 0.3 °C, comparable to the average ice nucleation temperature of global dust particles, which is approximatively -15 °C. RNA from MS2, Influenza, SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 demonstrated average ice nucleation temperatures of -13.9 ± 0.3 °C, -13.7 ± 0.3 °C, -13.7 ± 0.3 °C, and -15.9 ± 0.4 °C, respectively. SAXS analysis indicated a high local crystallinity value of 0.5 of MS2 RNA particles, hinting that high crystalline nature may contribute to their effectiveness as ice nuclei. Dilution experiments show that viral RNA consistently catalyzes ice nucleation. The addition of dust-containing particles, such as Fe2O3, CuO, and TiO2, to MS2 bacteriophage droplets enhanced ice nucleation, as did UV radiation. We herein discuss the implications of this work on ice nucleation and freezing processes.

Insight into the structure-activity relationship of thermal hysteresis activity of cod collagen peptides through peptidomics and bioinformatics approaches

To elucidate the correlation between variations in thermal hysteresis activity (THA) and the physicochemical properties and structure, antifreeze peptides (AFPs) of isolated fractions (CCP-1 and CCP-2) were characterized on based peptidomics and bioinformatics. The results revealed a positive correlation between the THA of cod collagen antifreeze peptide (CCAFP) and peptide chain length, isoelectric point, and hydrophobic amino acid content. Notably, the THA of CCP-1, which has higher alkaline amino acid content, was 2.60 °C at a concentration of 10 mg/mL, significantly higher than CCP (1.90 °C) and CCP-2 (2.27 °C). Glycine, proline, and valine were the vital amino acids to the formation of hydrogen bonds. Conversely, aspartic and glutamic acids at terminal regions of AFPs tended to introduce kinks in their structures. This distortion reduced binding sites for ice crystals, thereby decreasing their THA, providing a theory for understanding the physicochemical properties and structure of AFPs that influence their THA.

Microwave-assisted Synthesis of Benzimidazole Derivatives: A Green and Effective Approach

Benzimidazole derivatives are pivotal in medicinal chemistry due to their diverse therapeutic applications. Traditional synthesis methods often require catalysts and long reaction times, which can be inefficient and environmentally unfriendly. Hence, there is a growing need for more efficient and eco-friendly synthetic methodologies. A newly devised and efficacious synthetic methodology has been established for the synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives, employing microwave assistance without the requirement for a catalyst. This method facilitated the synthesis of fifteen derivatives with notable efficiency, characterized by significantly reduced reaction times ranging from 5 to 10 minutes and impressive yields ranging from 94% to 98%. The identity and purity of the synthesized benzimidazole derivatives were meticulously verified through a comprehensive analysis, encompassing a comparison of their physicochemical properties and spectral characteristics with authenticated reference data. This method represents a significant advancement in the synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives, offering a rapid and high-yielding alternative to traditional synthetic routes.

Synergy of Magnetic Nanoparticles and Sodium Alginate-Coated Lignin for Effective Pollutant Remediation, Simple Recovery, and Cost-Effective Regeneration.

In the pursuit of sustainable materials for environmental remediation, this study presents the development and comprehensive characterization of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CFNPs) incorporated in lignocellulosic-derived sodium alginate (CFNPs@LCG-SA) biocomposite beads. These biobased beads exhibit exceptional adsorption capabilities, particularly for methylene blue (MB) dyes, rendering them promising candidates for wastewater treatment. Using a comprehensive range of analytical techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis-derivative thermogravimetry (TGA/DTG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), etc., we elucidated their structural, physicochemical, and thermal properties. Their multifunctional nature, derived from lignin and sodium alginate components, provides ample active sites for both physical interactions and chemical bonding with contaminants apart from the magnetic character attributed by the CFNPs. With a freeze-drying approach, the optimal adsorption capacity and removal rate of MB reached 97 mg/g and 99%, respectively, and no meaningful decline in their activity was noted even after six cycles. The CFNPs@LCG-SA biocomposite beads emerge as a cost-efficient and sustainable remedy for environmental cleanup, offering valuable perspectives in environmental preservation and advancing green energy technologies.

Evaluation of nature-based climate solutions for agricultural landscapes in the Galapagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands are highly vulnerable to climate and environmental change, and nature-based solutions can help local communities adapt local agricultural systems. Through a comparative analysis, we evaluated the effects of three land management strategies on soil temperature, soil water availability and storage, and carbon stocks in Santa Cruz Island (Galapagos Archipelago). We installed six monitoring sites that consisted of two replicates per pathway: (i) the avoided loss of tropical forest, (ii) the conservation of scattered trees and living fences in at-risk agroforestry system, and (iii) the increase in biomass after a reduction of the grazing intensity. The monitoring sites were equipped with a dense network of rain gauges, air temperature and relative humidity sensors, and capacitance/frequency probes that registered volumetric water content and soil temperature. After pedological characterization of the soil profiles, the soil physico-chemical and hydrophysical properties were determined in laboratory. Over a period of 30 months (July 2019 to December 2021), hydrometeorological and soil environmental data were collected.We assessed differences in soil temperature, moisture availability and soil organic carbon content between native forests, sites under traditional agroforestry and under passive restoration. Forest soils were 12 % cooler;, and soil moisture under forest was 20 % higher than in parcels with silvopastural management. Forest soils had a lower dry bulk density, lower saturated hydraulic conductivity and higher water retention capacity in comparison with the other two management types. In silvopastural systems, a decrease of grazing intensity had a positive effect on soil carbon stocks, that were about 50 % higher than in soils under traditional management. This study shows that avoided loss of tropical forest within an agricultural landscape is a promising strategy to mitigate increasing soil temperatures, agricultural drought, and decline in soil organic carbon content. Continued monitoring of the experimental sites is necessary to corroborate the findings of this investigation at longer temporal scales.

Cerium as a crystalline phase stabilizer of α-TCP and its hydration and photothermal properties

Bone cement with photothermal properties can treat bone defects caused by bone tumors while killing residual tumor cells or preventing recurrence. In this study, trace amounts of cerium ions were introduced to enhance the crystal stability of α-TCP, thereby improving the hydration properties of α-TCP and obtaining excellent photothermal properties. The experimental results showed that the content of α-TCP in CON-TCP was 96.05 %, and the content of α-TCP in 1% Ce-TCP was 99.77 %, with an increase of 3.87 %; the compressive strength of 0.5% Ce-CPC hydrated for 5d increased from 16.6 MPa±2.18 MPa to 32.16 MPa±2.77 MPa, with an increase of 93.73 %. The temperature of 0.5% Ce-CPC can be raised to 50.9°C in two minutes under the irradiation of 808 nm laser, which is an increase of 31.5% compared with that of 38.7°C in the blank group. Therefore, trace cerium-doped calcium phosphate bone cement has excellent physicochemical and photothermal properties, and it is a promising composite bone cement material, and the results of the present study are expected to be used to treat bone defects in bone tumors.

Effect of packaging technology on ripening events occurring during storage of portioned PDO Italian semi-hard cheese

The aim of the present study was to assess the ability of the packaging technology (vacuum, VAC, and modified atmosphere, MAP) to preserve the microbiological, physicochemical, and sensorial properties of already ripened and portioned PDO Italian semi-hard cheese during 120 days of storage at 8 °C. Results were compared with those obtained by analyzing the original not-packed cylindrical wheel stored at 8 °C (NP). Samples packed under MAP showed yeasts’ proliferation with a final count of 4.68 Log cfu g-1, similar to that detected in the NP cheese wheels at 120 days of storage. In VAC samples yeasts did not proliferate, maintaining constant levels during time. Differently from the original wheels which showed a hardness increase in concomitant with a moisture loss during storage, packed samples under both VAC and MAP did not lose water preserving the original hardness of the product. At the same time, the packaging technology did not influence the proteolysis index in comparison to NP cheese. However, in MAP samples already at 30 days of storage different volatile compounds were produced in comparison with NP and VAC cheeses, suggesting that the modified atmosphere into the MAP pack promoted alternative microbial metabolisms and final products characterized by different volatile profiles. The study clearly demonstrated that the choice of packaging technology has an impact on the development of peculiar attributes of PDO cheeses, that are required by specific regulations in order to preserve their typicality and satisfy the consumers.

Transition‐Metal‐Mediated Fluoroalkylation of Carbon Electrophiles through Cross‐Electrophile Couplings

Comprehensive SummaryOrganofluorine compounds have attracted substantial interest in life and materials sciences due to the unique properties of fluorine atom(s) that often change the physicochemical and biological properties of organic molecules. Transition‐metal‐mediated cross‐electrophile coupling between carbon electrophiles and fluoroalkyl electrophiles has emerged as a straightforward and efficient route for the synthesis of a wide range of fluoroalkylated compounds because of its synthetic convenience without the tedious synthesis of organometallic reagents. Moreover, alkenes or alkynes‐involved three‐component cross‐electrophile couplings provide rapid and effective access to carbonfunctionalized fluoroalkylated alkanes and alkenes. Herein, we comprehensively summarize the transition‐metal‐mediated reductive fluoroalkylation of diverse carbon electrophiles through a historical perspective, including trifluoromethylation, difluoroalkylation, monofluoroalkylation, and so on. Different transition metals (Cu, Ni, etc.) and strategies are discussed, in which nickel‐catalyzed reductive fluoroalkylation reactions represent an attractive and efficient synthetic route to site‐selectively access organofluorine compounds. Key ScientistsAs early as 1965, McLoughlin and Thrower finished the first stoichiometric copper‐mediated fluoroalkylation of aromatic iodides with fluoroalkyl iodides. However, excess aromatic iodides and elevated temperature were used for this method. In 1969, Kobayashi and Kumadaki reported studies on the copper‐mediated trifluoromethylation of aromatic halides with excess trifluoromethyl iodide. After more than four decades, the Zhang group developed a nickel‐catalyzed β‐fluorinated alkylation of (hetero)aryl iodides with fluoroalkylated secondary alkyl bromides in 2015, and a nickel‐catalyzed difluoromethylation of (hetero)aryl chlorides with chlorodifluoromethane ClCF2H in 2017. The Zhang group also developed enantioselective nickel‐catalyzed reductive alkyl‐arylation of 3,3,3‐trifluoropropene with (hetero)aryl and tertiary alkyl iodides. In 2018, the MacMillan group developed a novel copper/photoredox dual catalytic system for the trifluoromethylation of aryl bromides or alkyl bromides with (S)‐(trifluoromethyl) dimesitylsulfonium triflate in the presence of tris‐(trimethylsilyl) silanol. They also developed a nickel/photoredox catalyzed difluoromethylation of aryl bromides in the presence of silane. During this time, the Wang group reported a nickel‐catalyzed monofluoroalkylation of aryl halides with monofluoroalkyl halides. From 2021 to 2023, the same group further developed a series of enantioselective nickel‐catalyzed trifluoroalkylation of aryl, alkenyl, and acyl halides. Moreover, nonfluorinated alkenes or alkynes could also be used in three‐component cross‐electrophile couplings. In 2018, the Chu group reported a nickel‐catalyzed fluoroalkyl‐acylation of alkenes with acyl chlorides and fluoroalkyl iodides. Later, they developed a nickel‐catalyzed enantioselective fluoroalkyl‐arylation of unactivated alkenes tethering with a pendant chelating group. In 2019, the Chaładaj group reported a palladium‐catalyzed reductive perfluoroalkyl‐arylation of alkynes with perfluoroalkyl and aryl iodides.

Renewable Resources as Promising Materials for Obtaining Graphene Oxide-like Structures

Currently, one of the topical directions in the field of production and application of graphene-like nanostructures is the use of renewable natural raw materials, which have unlimited resources for an economically efficient large-scale yield of a product with environmental safety. In this regard, we present the production of graphene oxide (GO) from a renewable natural raw material of plant biomass, birch activated carbon (BAC), and a comparison of the obtained physicochemical, mechanical, and electrical properties of birch activated carbon–graphene oxide (BAC–GO) and graphite–graphene oxide (G–GO) synthesized from the initial materials, BAC and graphite (G). Results obtained from this study confirm the successful oxidation of BAC, which correlates well with the physical–chemical dates of the G–GO and BAC–GO samples. Change in data after the oxidation of graphite and BAC was facilitated by the structure of the starting materials and, presumably, the location and content of functional oxygen-containing groups in the G–GO and BAC–GO chains. Based on the results, the application of a cost-effective, eco-friendly colloidal solution of nanodispersed BAC–GO from a plant biomass-based high-quality resource for producing large-scale nanostructured graphene is validated which has potential applicability in nanoelectronics, medicine, and other fields.

Physicochemical and digestive properties of curcumin stabilized by quaternized chitosan/sodium alginate nanoemulsion coatings

Curcumin (Cur) is a bioactive substance, but its instability limits its use in the food system. Thus, a new polysaccharide-based coating is developed by combining quaternized chitosan (QCS) with sodium alginate (SA) in this study to improve the bioaccessibility and stability of Cur. The microstructure of the emulsion was characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and low-field pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (LF-NMR). The thermal, ionic strength, and pH stability of emulsions were measured. Results indicate that QCS/SA (1:1)-Cur is more stable than other three nanoemulsion systems and the encapsulation rate of which reaches 90.62 %. It also shows higher stability in gastric fluid, excellent bioaccessibility and FFAs in intestinal fluid, as well as significant antibacterial property, antioxidant activity and water dispersibility. This study introduces a new method for obtaining stable, functional Cur-coated systems for food applications.

Biopolymeric emulsions with added silicon as pork fat substitutes in the reformulation of healthy pâtés: Effect on technological, nutritional and sensory properties and on lipid digestibility after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

Four different pork lard emulsions were elaborated in order to be used as pork backfat replacers in the reformulation of healthy pâtés: an emulsion stabilized with soy protein concentrate (SPC, E1), E1 with added silicon (Si) (E2), E1 with a mixture of methylcellulose (MC) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) (E3), and E3 with added Si (E4). These four emulsions were characterized in terms of texture, color and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (GID) and were then used in the reformulation of four pork liver pâtés (PE1-PE4). These pâtés were compared to a control pâté elaborated with 100% pork backfat (PC). The technological, nutritional and sensory properties of the pâtés were assessed, along with lipid digestibility based on the content of free fatty acids (FFAs) released after in vitro GID. The reformulated pâtés had highly adequate physicochemical and sensory properties, comparable to those of the PC control. The addition of a mixture of MC/CMC and Si in the SPC-stabilized emulsion caused a slow down of in vitro GID and, consequently, lower lipid bioaccessibility (BA) of the main fatty acids when E3 and E4 were incorporated into the reformulated pâtés PE3 and PE4. Si BA was higher in the absence of cellulose ethers (14.6%) that in their presence (8.84%).