Preparation Method Research Articles

Ethnobotanical Documentation of Yerba Mate in Syria

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Yerba Mate (_Ilex paraguariensis_) is a traditional herbal beverage consumed for its stimulating effects and health benefits, with a deep cultural association in Syria following its introduction by migrants from South America in the early 20th century. This study documents the cultural, social, and health-related practices surrounding Yerba Mate in Syria, highlighting its integration into local customs and herbal preparations. OBJECTIVE: To explore and document the traditional uses, social practices, and preparation methods of Yerba Mate among Syrian consumers, and to investigate the health benefits and cultural significance attributed to it. METHODS: An electronic survey was distributed to 430 participants from different regions across Syria, collecting data on Yerba Mate consumption habits, social practices, reasons for use, perceived effects, and traditional preparation methods. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using statistical software. The Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) index was used to assess the prevalence of herbal additives in Yerba Mate preparations. RESULTS: Yerba Mate is consumed regularly by 89.2% of participants, with health benefits being a key motivator for 60% of users. Syrian traditions enhance Yerba Mate with local and imported herbs, with 68.6% of regular drinkers incorporating herbs like wormwood (_Artemisia herba-alba_) and chamomile (_Matricaria chamomilla_), each offering specific health benefits. The survey revealed high consumption patterns, particularly in group settings (51.6%), and frequent daily use by 50% of participants. CONCLUSION: Yerba Mate has become a deeply rooted part of Syrian culture, with local adaptations that incorporate traditional medicinal herbs. These combinations not only enhance the health benefits of the drink but also reflect a blend of imported traditions with Syrian herbal knowledge. The study highlights Yerba Mate's social significance in Syria and suggests the need for further research into its potential therapeutic uses in traditional medicine. Given the unique Syrian practice of mixing Mate with various herbs, further investigation is needed to assess the differences in effects, flavor, and prevalence among these herbal combinations.

Toward a green economy: Lignin-based hybrid materials as functional additives in flame-retardant polymer coatings

This study describes the combination of unique properties of lignin with TiO2 as an innovative and effective preparation method for high-performance flame-retardant additives that may be utilized as polymer coatings. The use of lignin resulted in numerous advantages including an increased number of functional groups, satisfactory biocompatibility, low toxicity, and high carbon content. The major benefit of lignin is associated with the reduced carbon footprint of the manufactured product. Lignin can be classified as a natural flame-retardant agent owing to the high amount of char formed during combustion. In turn, TiO2 exhibits high chemical stability and low operating costs and is considered a non-toxic and environmentally friendly material. During the experiments, commercial TiO2 in anatase crystallographic form, TiO2 synthesized from titanyl sulfate hydrate, and kraft lignin as well as organic–inorganic hybrid materials composed of these materials were evaluated as functional additives in epoxy-resin-based polymer coatings (Epidian 601) and their properties were investigated in detail. The cone colorimetry test confirmed that the obtained hybrids are effective flame-retardant additives for polymer coatings, with a notable fire hazard reduction observed for samples containing a synergistic system of titanium oxide and lignin. The coating with lignin was the most effective in fire suppression processes. The conducted thermal and mechanical investigations confirmed good performance properties of the coatings indicating thermal resistance up to 360 °C and Shore D hardness in a range of 80.36–86.28°Sh, accordingly. Optical profilometry investigations show that the lignin/TiO2 hybrids exhibit a stable topological surface shape as well as good dispersion and uniformity in the polymer matrix. All the conducted tests allowed confirmation that the presence of functional additives in polymer coatings in the form of lignin and TiO2 can be a promising alternative to non-biodegradable synthetic materials which improve flame-retardant properties.

Formation and Applications of Typical Basic Protein-Based Heteroprotein Complex Coacervations.

Lactoferrin, lysozyme, and gelatin are three common basic proteins known for their ability to interact with acidic proteins (lactoglobulin, ovalbumin, casein, etc.) and form various supramolecular structures. Their basic nature makes them highly promising for interaction with other acidic proteins to form heteroprotein complex coacervation (HPCC) with a wide range of applications. This review extensively examines the structure, properties, and preparation methods of these basic proteins and delves into the internal and external factors influencing the formation of HPCC, including pH, ionic strength, mixing ratio, total protein concentration, temperature, and inherent protein properties. The applications of different HPCCs based on these three basic proteins are discussed, including the encapsulation of bioactive molecules, emulsion stabilization, protein separation and extraction, nanogel formation, and the development of formulas for infants. Furthermore, the challenges and issues that are encountered in the formation of heteroprotein complexes are addressed and summarized, shedding light on the complexities and considerations involved in utilizing HPCC technology in practical applications. By harnessing the basic proteins to interact with other proteins and to form complex coacervates, new opportunities arise for the development of functional food products with enhanced nutritional profiles and functional attributes.

Autologous platelet concentrates in root coverage procedures.

Gingival recessions are vastly prevalent among the general population. With regards to their treatment, recent advancements in periodontal and microsurgical procedures, focusing on minimal invasiveness and patient-centered therapies, have propelled a shift in their contemporary treatment, highlighting the field of biologics and bioactive mediators. Among different classes and types of biologics, autologous platelet concentrates (APCs), also referred to as autologous blood-derived products, are commonly used and preferred among many clinicians. These are essentially obtained via venipuncture (intravenous access) followed by centrifugation, for which numerous protocols and preparation methods have been used, leading to varieties of blood-derived products. In this review, via a systematic search, we explored the efficacy of the different utilized preparation methods and centrifugation protocols of APCs (e.g., platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), leucocyte-PRF, advanced-PRF, concentrated growth factor (CGF), etc.) for the treatment of type 1 gingival recessions (RT1, without interproximal attachment loss or noticeable tooth displacement), as well as their effectiveness relative to a common control (treatment with flap advancement alone without any additional material). Based on the available literature from randomized trials found in our systematic search, we observed that utilization of PRF can significantly enhance treatment outcomes when performing a coronally advanced flap, in terms of the amount of root coverage. The improvement in root coverage was further enhanced in the presence of baseline keratinized tissue width, and with an increasing relative magnitude (the more the baseline keratinized tissue width, the better the root coverage outcomes when using PRF). The efficacy of these products needs to be further explored with different graft substitutes and matrices, as well as relative to other commonly applied biologics, through well-conducted and adequately-powered randomized clinical trials.

Emerging two-dimensional ferromagnetic semiconductors.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors have attracted considerable attention for their potential in extending Moore's law and advancing next-generation electronic devices. Notably, the discovery and development of 2D ferromagnetic semiconductors (FMSs) open exciting opportunities in manipulating both charge and spin, enabling the exploration of exotic properties and the design of innovative spintronic devices. In this review, we aim to offer a comprehensive summary of emerging 2D FMSs, covering their atomic structures, physical properties, preparation methods, growth mechanisms, magnetism modulation techniques, and potential applications. We begin with a brief introduction of the atomic structures and magnetic properties of novel 2D FMSs. Next, we delve into the latest advancements in the exotic physical properties of 2D FMSs. Following that, we summarize the growth methods, associated growth mechanisms, magnetism modulation techniques and spintronic applications of 2D FMSs. Finally, we offer insights into the challenges and potential applications of 2D FMSs, which may inspire further research in developing high-density, non-volatile storage devices based on 2D FMSs.

Highly efficient dip catalysts using bacterial cellulose impregnated with self-crosslinked glycol chitosan and silver nanoparticles for 4-nitrophenol reduction

The application of environmentally friendly and sustainable catalysts requires efficient and safe preparation methods using cheap and renewable materials. Although many metal nanoparticles (NPs) have low colloidal stability, they are still very effective as catalysts. Using a straightforward method, we developed a bacterial cellulose–glycol chitosan–silver (BC–GCS–Ag) nanocomposite, by introducing both AgNPs and self-crosslinked GCS within the BC network. Self-crosslinking of GCS occurred during the formation of AgNPs by employing the glycol moieties for reduction to produce aldehyde functionalities, thereby forming Schiff's base bonds within the GCS structure. Using GCS, well-defined AgNPs within the BC matrix. The formation of AgNPs and the self-crosslinking of GCS were characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that spherical AgNPs with a mean diameter of 10 nm exhibited a well-organized structure within the BC–GCS matrix. The BC–GCS–Ag nanocomposite was applied as dip catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4NP) to 4-aminophenol (4AP), chosen as a model reaction. The results showed that the catalytic reaction was completed within 4 min, with high reusability (10 times) and without loss of catalyst. The reaction followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with a high rate constant of 0.582 min−1. Therefore, the BC–GCS–Ag dip catalyst is an attractive alternative for environmentally friendly and sustainable catalysis, owing to its exceptional catalytic performance, high recyclability, and stability, as well as the minimal environmental footprint of the supporting materials.

Validation of a radiosynthesis method and a novel quality control system for [68 Ga]Ga-MAA: is TLC enough to assess radiopharmaceutical quality?

BackgroundTechnetium-99 m-labelled macroaggregated human serum albumin ([99mTc]Tc-MAA) is commonly used for lung perfusion scintigraphy. The European Pharmacopoeia (Eu.Ph.) specifies thin-layer chromatography (TLC) as the only method to assess its radiochemical purity (RCP). Similarly, TLC is the sole method reported in the literature to evaluate the RCP of Gallium-68-labelled MAA [68 Ga]Ga-MAA, recently introduced for lung perfusion PET/CT imaging. Since [68 Ga]Ga-MAA is prepared from commercial kits originally designed for the preparation of [99mTc]Tc-MAA, it is essential to optimize and validate the preparation methods for [68 Ga]Ga-MAA.ResultsWe tested a novel, simplified method for the preparation of [68 Ga]Ga-MAA that does not require organic solvents, prewash or final purification steps to remove radioactive impurities. We assessed the final product using radio-TLC, radio-UV-HPLC, and radio SDS-PAGE. Overall, our quality control (QC) method successfully detected [68 Ga]Ga-MAA along with all potential impurities, including free Ga-68, [68 Ga]Ga-HSA, unlabeled HSA, which may occur during labelling process and HEPES residual, a non-toxic but non-human-approved contaminant, used as buffer solution. We then applied our QC system to [68 Ga]Ga-MAA prepared under different conditions (25°–40°–75°–95 °C), thus defining the optimal temperature for labelling. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis of the products obtained through our novel method confirmed that most [68 Ga]Ga-MAA particles preserved the morphological structure and size distribution of unlabeled MAA, with a particle diameter range of 25–50 μm, assuring diagnostic efficacy.ConclusionsWe optimized a novel method to prepare [68 Ga]Ga-MAA through a QC system capable of monitoring all impurities of the final products.

Utilisation of in situ formed cyano-bridged coordination polymers as precursors of supported Ir-Ni alloy nanoparticles with precisely controlled compositions and sizes.

Ir-Ni alloys supported on SiO2 have been reported to show high catalytic activity for styrene hydrogenation; however, precise control of compositions and sizes of the Ir-Ni alloys is difficult when conventional metal salts are used as precursors. Furthermore, the concomitant formation of unalloyed Ni nanoparticles disturbs quantitative discussion about Ir-Ni alloy compositions. We report herein a preparation method of Ir-Ni alloys with precisely controlled compositions on SiO2 using Ni(NO3)2 and an Ir complex possessing CN- ligands, [Ir(CN)6]3- or [Ir(ppy)2(CN)2]- (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine), as precursors. The in situ formation of cyano-bridged coordination polymers involving Ir and Ni promotes the formation of Ir-Ni alloys, whose compositions are virtually the same as expected from the amounts of Ir and Ni used for the preparation, after heat treatment under H2. The use of [Ir(ppy)2(CN)2]- as the precursor resulted in the formation of smaller Ir-Ni alloy particles than those with [Ir(CN)6]3- related to the structures of the formed coordination polymers.

Conversion of hazardous waste into thermal conductive polymer: A prediction and guidance from machine learning

The preparation methods and thermal conductivity (TC) of the reported thermal conductive polymers vary significantly. A method to clarify the relationship between TC and influencing factors and to reach consistent conclusions is needed. In this study, we compiled 403 sets of data from the literature. Six typical features and three machine learning (ML) algorithms were selected and optimized. XGBoost algorithm achieved the best prediction of TC of thermal conductive polymer (correlation coefficient with 0.855). To further investigate the influence of the 6 features on the TC of thermal conductive polymer, we conducted the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis. Based on the above results, pyrrhotite tailings were determined as the filler and the corresponding process parameters were also determined. However, the above model built based on literature was still unsatisfactory. We further optimized XGBoost and built XGBoost-Exp through data from the real experiment. Finally, a small percentage (23%) of real experimental data can significantly improve the prediction power of XGBoost-Exp for unseen data (correlation coefficient with 0.815). To summarize, XGBoost-Exp exhibits exceptional predictive performance for the TC of the unseen data, offering valuable insights into the influence of various features. Meanwhile, this method provides a new perspective for the utilization of hazardous sulfide minerals.

Electrospun PVDF-Based Polymers for Lithium-Ion Battery Separators: A Review

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been widely applied in electronic communication, transportation, aerospace, and other fields, among which separators are vital for their electrochemical stability and safety. Electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based separators have a large specific surface area, high porosity, and remarkable thermal stability, which significantly enhances the electrochemistry and safety of LIBs. First, this paper reviewed recent research hotspots and processes of electrospun PVDF-based LIB separators; then, their pivotal parameters influencing morphology, structures, and properties of separators, especially in the process of electrospinning solution preparation, electrospinning process, and post-treatment methods were summarized. Finally, the challenges of PVDF-based LIB separators were proposed and discussed, which paved the way for the application of electrospun PVDF-based separators in LIBs and the development of LIBs with high electrochemistry and security.

Introduction and Development of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Substrates: A Review.

Since its discovery, the phenomenon of Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) has gradually become an important tool for analyzing the composition and structure of substances. As a trace technique that can efficiently and nondestructively detect single molecules, the application of SERS has expanded from environmental and materials science to biomedical fields. In the past decade or so, the explosive development of nanotechnology and nanomaterials has further boosted the research of SERS technology, as nanomaterial-based SERS substrates have shown good signal enhancement properties. So far, it is widely recognized that the morphology, size, composition, and stacking mode of nanomaterials have a very great influence on the strength of the substrate SERS effect. Herein, an overview of methods for the preparation of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates is provided. Specifically, this review describes a variety of common SERS substrate preparation methods and explores the potential and promise of these methods for applications in chemical analysis and biomedical fields. By detailing the influence of different nanomaterials (e.g., metallic nanoparticles, nanowires, and nanostars) and their structural features on the SERS effect, this article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of SERS substrate preparation techniques.

Development and mechanical properties of nano SiO2 modified photosensitive resin for high-strength and high-brittleness 3D printing in rock reconstruction

3D printing technology, as a rapid prototyping method, can accurately reconstruct the internal structural characteristics of samples, making it highly promising for rock engineering applications. However, current 3D printing materials used to reconstruct rocks suffer from low strength and high ductility, which is inconsistent with the high strength and brittleness of natural rocks. This paper explores the use of silane coupling agents KH550 (γ-aminopropyl triethoxysilane) and KH570 (γ-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane) to modify nano SiO2 powder. Through sample preparation and uniaxial compression tests, the mechanical properties and failure characteristics of the modified nano SiO2 powder were analyzed. The results indicate that, using the preparation method with a mass ratio of E-44 epoxy resin, KH550 modified nano SiO2 powder, and 593 curing agent at 80:40:26, the samples achieved an uniaxial compressive strength of up to 30.55 MPa without enhanced brittle post-processing. The failure characteristics exhibited significant axial tensile damage. Additionally, combining CT scanning technology demonstrated that the structural and mechanical properties of the samples can be effectively reproduced. Therefore, the 3D printing materials discussed in this paper provide a viable reference for accurately reconstructing high-strength and high-brittleness rock masses.

Ethnopharmacological Insights into the Use of Chenopodium ambrosioides for Cough Treatment among Togolese Traditional Healers

Togo has an ethnobotanical potential with a great diversity of medicinal plants widely used to treat human diseases. Cough associated with respiratory diseases is one of the pathologies traditionally treated with medicinal plants in Togo. Chenopodium ambrosioides (L.) is a species used in the traditional treatment of cough in Togo. The aim of this study was to document the ethnopharmacological uses of Chenopodium ambrosioides in Togolese traditional medicine for treatment of cough. An ethnopharmacological survey was conducted using the semi-structured interview method among Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) from six health districts spread across four health regions. The ethnopharmacological and ethnobotanical data collected were analyzed using the User Value (UV) and Frequency of Citation (FC) of medicinal plants associated with the species. A total of 127 TMPs participated in this study and 96 (76%) of them were male and 31 (34%) were female. 73% of the informants claimed usually use Chenopodium ambrosioides in the cough treatment compared to 27% who claimed to not use it to treat cough. Chenopodium ambrosioides was used in combination with fifty-two (52) other botanical species in the treatment of cough and in the study area, Abrus precatorius Linn. (13.59%) followed by Ocimum gratissimum Linn. (11.58%), Zingiber officinale Rosc. Trans. Linn. (9.73%), Mangifera indica Linn. (6.21%), Eucalyptus citriodora Hooker (4.87%), Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich. (4.36%) and Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb. (4.19%) were the most popular plants used for cough treatment among the plants recorded. Sixteen (16) other pathologies including pulmonary infections are also treated by Chenopodium ambrosioides (L.). Abscesses, intestinal parasitic diseases, incurable wounds, stomach aches and headaches are the most pathologies commonly treated by this plant. The whole plant (72%) and leaves (22%) are the primary parts utilized for medicinal purposes. Decoction (77.50%) is the main preparation method, with oral (80.83%) and cutaneous (10.83%) routes being the most common modes of administration. The findings from this study provide a solid ethnopharmacological foundation for future pharmacological and toxicological investigations into Chenopodium ambrosioides (L.).

Novel method for gel preparation of amine-templated SAPO-34: fractured crystals for enhanced methanol-to-olefin catalysis

Novel method for gel preparation of amine-templated SAPO-34: fractured crystals for enhanced methanol-to-olefin catalysis

Pangenome – its Aspect and Prospect

Pangenome is a very new discipline showing a collection of unique and variable genomes of any species in one model. This discipline is a combination of three subjects of Biology like Computer Science and Applied Mathematics. All genes from all species or strains are called Pangenomes. Pangenome was first discovered during the preparation of protein-based vaccine of the G group of Streptococcus sp. which is the main cause of neonatal life-threatening disease by a team of scientists led by Tettelin. Conventional method of Vaccine preparation was not successful due to the existence of five different serotypes in this organism. Then Tettelin with groups of scientists tried to use the genome sequence information for preparing protein- based vaccine in G group of Streptococcus. During their studies, two gap free genomes were found in this G group of bacteria. After sequencing studies of many strains, they found several regions of diversity (genomic diversity) among different isolates of same strain. After sequencing a large number of genomes, they realized that genes belong to isolates present in the species but not present in genomes. Then the Pangenome concept came to their mind and genes were classified into Core genome, Accessory or Dispensable genome and Species-specific genomes. Bacteria genomes have a distinct number of genes but there are differences in the genomes of different strains of a single species that is mainly due to horizontal gene transfer of genes from other bacteria. The Pangenome concept and its discovery was discussed. Plant genomes are dynamic with whole genome duplication, tandem duplication, transposable element duplication, chromosomal rearrangements or structural variations like deletion, inversion, translocation and recombination between species. Several methods have already been tried for the improvement of crop plants like Marker Assisted Selection (MAS), QTL mapping, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP), Copy number variations and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) by comparing with Reference Genome Assemblies representing the genome sequence of the genome of an individual or organism. But the Reference genome is not able to locate all genetic variations of a species. To overcome this limitation the concept of Pangenomes may help in the crop improvement which has been discussed. Pangenomic studies have already been done in many crop plants like Rice, Wheat, Maize, Brassica, Soybean etc. Some of all these aspects have been discussed.

A novel feathery nanoporous magnesium synthesized by ethanol vapor assisted physical vapor deposition

Nanoporous magnesium exhibits outstanding performance in hydrogen absorption and desorption, rendering it a promising candidate for hydrogen storage applications. Nevertheless, there is limited discussion on the preparation method and growth mechanism of nano-porous magnesium. In this paper, a novel nanoporous magnesium material characterized by a feathery morphology was successfully synthesized at 823 K for 2 h under a vacuum pressure of 3 Pa, assisted by ethanol vapor through the physical vapor deposition method. The ethanol vapor was identified as the crucial factor in the synthesis of the feathery nanoporous magnesium. A vacancy-assisted formation mechanism is proposed to elucidate the creation of feathery nanoporous magnesium, whereby the ethanol vapor occupies specific positions within the magnesium vapor, resulting in the formation of nano and submicron pores.

Reaction Dynamics between Formamidinium Lead Iodide and Copper Oxide.

Copper oxide (CuOx) has been announced as a very promising hole-transporting layer for perovskite solar cells. However, in our previous work, we have shown that once a formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPI) perovskite is spin-coated on a spray-coated cuprous oxide (Cu2O) substrate, the Cu2O diffuses into and reacts with the FAPI film. In order to verify if the degradation products are related to the oxidation state of CuOx and/or its preparation method, in this work, we first prepared CuOx films by thermal oxidation at temperatures ranging from 120 to 300 °C. While increasing the process temperature, a transformation from copper I (Cu2O) to copper II (CuO) oxidation states was observed. For both oxidation states of copper, FAPI perovskite degradation was found; however, some alterations in the reaction products were noticed. In contrast to our expectations, the introduction of an ultrathin plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposited Al2O3 layer in between both films only partially blocked the CuOx migration into the FAPI film. It can be concluded that regardless of the chemical composition and/or preparation method of CuOx, the overlayered FAPI film gets decomposed. In order to use CuOx as a hole-transporting layer in solar cells, new strategies must be developed to limit these unwanted chemical reactions.

Sulfur dioxide gas sensor based on vanadium oxide doped TiO2 nanopaper

Abstract The gas sensor based on TiO2 nanomaterials is promising for both industry and daily life because of its simple fabrication, low cost, high sensitivity, and easy application to micro-devices. However, its selectivity is relatively low and strongly influenced by the environment, thus limiting its practical application. In this work, we prepared TiO2 nanopaper by methods of hydrothermal synthesis and conventional paper preparation. To improve the selectivity, we added V2O5 by immersing the as-prepared nanopaper in an ammonium metavanadate (NH4VO3) solution evenly dispersed in ethanol. Nanopaper is a random array of long nanowires and nanofibers, which retains its shape and structure at high temperature, unlike pure nanowires, due to its high porosity and mechanical stability. V2O5 leads to a selective sensing performance with high catalytic activity for SO2 gas. The surface structure of the sensing material and its porosity were characterized by SEM, XRD, XPS. The improved sensing material exhibited a high response of about 22.6 for 100 ppm SO2 and a fast response and recovery of 9 s and 14 s, respectively. It also exhibited good reproducibility and selectivity in other interfering gases. Furthermore, the long-term sensing performance in the atmospheric environment was maintained for about 50 days.

Recent Advances in Monitoring Microbial Toxins in Food Samples by HPLC-Based Techniques: A Review

This study examines the significant impact of bacterial, algal, and fungal toxins on foodborne illnesses, and stresses the importance of advanced detection techniques, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based methodologies. It emphasizes the urgent need for further advancements in these techniques to ensure food safety, as they offer significant benefits, including low detection limits and the ability to be combined with other techniques to detect a wide range of toxins. In this regard, HPLC has emerged as a versatile and sensitive analytical technique for this purpose. Various HPLC methods, often enhanced with detectors such as ultraviolet (UV), fluorescence (FD), and mass spectrometry (MS), have been developed to identify and quantify microbial toxins in a wide variety of food samples. Recent advancements include HPLC-FD methods that utilize the natural fluorescence of certain aflatoxins, improving detection sensitivity. HPLC-MS/MS and UHPLC-MS/MS techniques offer high selectivity and sensitivity, making them suitable for detecting a wide range of toxins in trace quantities. The adaptability of HPLC, combined with innovative detection technologies and sample preparation methods, holds significant potential for enhancing food safety monitoring and reducing the global burden of foodborne diseases.

Innovative sample preparation using alcohol dehydration and high refractive index medium enables acquisition of two-channel super-resolution 3D STED image of an entire oocyte.

Super-resolution (SR) microscopy is a cutting-edge method that can provide detailed structural information with high resolution. However, the thickness of the specimen has been a major limitation for SR methods, and large biological structures have posed a challenge. To overcome this, the key step is to optimise sample preparation to ensure optical homogeneity and clarity, which can enhance the capabilities of SR methods for the acquisition of thicker structures. Oocytes are the largest cells in the mammalian body and are crucial objects in reproductive biology. They are especially useful for studying membrane proteins. However, oocytes are extremely fragile and sensitive to mechanical manipulation and osmotic shocks, making sample preparation a critical and challenging step. We present an innovative, simple and sensitive approach to oocyte sample preparation for 3D STED acquisition. This involves alcohol dehydration and mounting into a high refractive index medium. This extended preparation procedure allowed us to successfully obtain a unique two-channel 3D STED SR image of an entire mouse oocyte. By optimising sample preparation, it is possible to overcome current limitations of SR methods and obtain high-resolution images of large biological structures, such as oocytes, in order to study fundamental biological processes. Lay Abstract: Super-resolution (SR) microscopy is a cutting-edge tool that allows scientists to view incredibly fine details in biological samples. However, it struggles with larger, thicker specimens, as they need to be optically clear and uniform for the best imaging results. In this study, we refined the sample preparation process to make it more suitable for SR microscopy. Our method includes carefully dehydrating biological samples with alcohol and then transferring them into a mounting medium that enhances optical clarity. This improved protocol enables high-resolution imaging of thick biological structures, which was previously challenging. By optimizing this preparation method, we hope to expand the use of SR microscopy for studying large biological samples, helping scientists better understand complex biological structures.