Ethanol Pretreatment Research Articles

Evaluating performance of CrCl3-catalyzed ethanol pretreatment of poplar on cellulose conversion

As green and effective depolymerization processes, CrCl3 and CrCl3-catalyzed ethanol pretreatment were comprehensively investigated to improve cellulose conversion from pretreated residues in poplar in the present study. The influence of pretreatment temperature on delignification, structural characteristics of lignin, and the yield of glucose and ethanol was comparatively analyzed to emphasize the synergy effect of CrCl3 and ethanol solvent. Particularly, CrCl3-catalyzed ethanol pretreatment at 200 °C resulted in the pretreated substrates with >94% removal of hemicellulose and lignin, consequently reaching 88.88% and 56.11% yields of glucose and ethanol, respectively. Lignin's structural change was observed by Gel permeation chromatography and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and its relationship with the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation was determined. Results indicated that the increased pretreatment temperature enhanced the lignin depolymerization with smaller molecular weight, fewer β-O-4 linkages, and higher S/G ratio, especially in CrCl3-catalyzed ethanol pretreatment, which was positively associated with poplar cellulose conversion. In addition to offering a comprehensive illustration of the sugar/ethanol generation during CrCl3-catalyzed organosolv pretreatment, this work also provided theoretical support for biofuel and biochemical production from poplar.

An optimum biomass fractionation strategy into maximum carbohydrates conversion and lignin valorization from poplar

Appropriate fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass into useable forms is a key challenge to achieving an economic bioethanol production. In the present study, four different fractionation strategies of hydrothermal-, NaOH-, ethanol-, and NaOH catalyzed ethanol pretreatment were investigated to compare their abilities of cellulose conversion. Results showed that NaOH catalyzed ethanol pretreatment showed a rather high extent of delignification of 85.92%, which also enhanced the retention of cellulose (92.56%) and hemicellulose (76.57%); while other pretreatments tended to produce cellulose fraction which was insufficient to achieve the whole component utilization. After simultaneous saccharification and fermentation at high solids loading, synergistic maximization of xylose (42.47 g/L) and ethanol (85.74 g/L) output was achieved via alkaline ethanol pretreatment. Lignin characterization information showed that alkaline ethanol pretreatment facilitates the cleavage of β-O-4 linkage and further converts into arylglycerol. Moreover, less condensed substructure units with high processing activity were also generated in S- and G- lignin.

Ethanol preservation and pretreatments facilitate quality DNA extractions in recalcitrant plant species.

The preservation of plant tissues in ethanol is conventionally viewed as problematic. Here, we show that leaf preservation in ethanol combined with proteinase digestion can provide high-quality DNA extracts. Additionally, as a pretreatment, ethanol can facilitate DNA extraction for recalcitrant samples. DNA was isolated from leaves preserved with 96% ethanol or from silica-desiccated leaf samples and herbarium fragments that were pretreated with ethanol. DNA was extracted from herbarium tissues using a special ethanol pretreatment protocol, and these extracts were compared with those obtained using the standard cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method. DNA extracted from tissue preserved in, or pretreated with, ethanol was less fragmented than DNA from tissues without pretreatment. Adding proteinase digestion to the lysis step increased the amount of DNA obtained from the ethanol-pretreated tissues. The combination of the ethanol pretreatment with liquid nitrogen freezing and a sorbitol wash prior to cell lysis greatly improved the quality and yield of DNA from the herbarium tissue samples. This study critically reevaluates the consequences of ethanol for plant tissue preservation and expands the utility of pretreatment methods for molecular and phylogenomic studies.

Formation of thermo-reversible gels from whey proteins after combined thermal and ethanol pretreatment

Τhis study investigates the ability of whey proteins, which were pre-treated with ethanol (0–70%) and subjected tothermal treatment (70 °C for 60 min), to form thermo-reversible gels after removing the alcohol through freeze-drying. The ethanol-free gels were monitored by means of rheology and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Moreover, the role of ethanol during heating of whey proteins was investigated by UV difference spectroscopy. The results showed a retention of the denatured character (30–35%) of whey proteins after removal of ethanol, regardless of whether heating was applied. Intermolecular disulfide connections increased in whey protein solutions pretreated with 30 and 50% w/w ethanol. The determination of free –SH groups demonstrated that their number was increased by heating in the presence of ethanol and after ethanol's removal. Dynamic rheological measurements showed that ethanol-free gels, previously heated with 50% w/w ethanol, formed thermo-reversible gels upon cooling to 5 °C and exhibited significantly higher storage modulus values (G’∼300 Pa) than the counterparts without pretreatment of the proteins with ethanol (G’ = 0.0002 Pa). Generally, the partial retention of the denaturing effect of ethanol on whey proteins after its removal and their ability to form thermo-reversible gels could lead to new applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Effect of ozonation on biodegradability enhancement and biomethanation potential of pretreatment process wastewaters from 2G ethanol production

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe production of second‐generation (2G) ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass generates large quantities of high‐strength complex wastewaters from various stages of the process. An effective pretreatment is necessary in order to overcome the low biodegradability of these wastewaters for further biomethane recovery. The present study reports the effect of ozonation on the biodegradability enhancement and biomethanation potential of complex 2G ethanol pretreatment process wastewaters, from acid (H2SO4) and alkali (NaOH) pretreatment process.RESULTSOzonation (9.33 g m−3) was performed for both acid and alkali pretreatment wastewaters at a flow rate of 10 L min−1 for 1 h. Ozonation of both wastewaters increased biodegradability index (BI) up to 36% along with minimal chemical oxygen demand (COD; 7 ± 3%), color (10 ± 4%), and toxicity (22.5 ± 7.5%) reduction. Biomethane potential tests were carried out for the control and ozonated wastewaters having BI > 0.4. The acid‐pretreatment wastewater indicated poor biomethanation potential due to high presence of sulfates (COD/SO4 ~ 3.0). However, ozonation of alkali‐pretreatment wastewater facilitated up to twofold enhancement in the cumulative methane volume, while the enhancement in the rate of methane production was found to be up to 47%. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis of control and ozonated wastewaters revealed the breakdown of complex organic molecules and aromatics to readily biodegradable intermediates. The kinetics of methane generation could be predicted by the modified Gompertz model.CONCLUSIONThe study demonstrated the efficacy of ozonation as an effective pretreatment option to facilitate biodegradability enhancement of 2G ethanol pretreatment process wastewaters. The enhancement in biodegradability was observed to enable subsequent biogas recovery via anaerobic digestion along with COD removal. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Effects of ethanol pretreatment on osteogenic activity and off-flavors in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) enzymatic hydrolysates

Aquatic protein hydrolysates have many biological activities, but the off-flavor seriously decreases their commercial acceptability. Therefore, it is important to invest in finding an effective deodorization of aquatic hydrolysates that do not affect activities. In this study, ethanol pretreatment of mussel was applied to establish a new method to deodorize the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) hydrolysates. LC-MS and GC–MS analysis results showed that 87.34% of fatty acids, 83.94% of aldehydes, most volatile flavor compounds including aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, acids, and hydrocarbons were decreased after ethanol pretreatment. Besides, it was found that the enzymatic hydrolysates of mussel with or without ethanol pretreatment showed high osteogenic activity, which induced an increase of 33.65 ± 4.36% and 31.77 ± 5.45% in MC3T3-E1 cell growth. These results suggest that ethanol pretreatment has beneficial potential for improving the flavor aspects of blue mussel peptides which may have the potential to stimulate bone regeneration and formation.

A novel integrated biorefinery approach for apple pomace valorization with significant socioeconomic benefits

Ethanolic organosolv pretreatment was used to enhance the yield of ethanol production from apple pomace through a biorefinery. The pretreatment was conducted at various conditions (100, 150, and 180 °C; 30 and 60 min; 50 and 85% ethanol) in the absence or presence of 0.5% sulfuric acid. Then, pectin was extracted from the pretreatment liquor, the solvent (i.e., ethanol) was recovered by distillation, lignin was separated, and the pretreated solid was subjected to simultaneous saccharification and fermentation for ethanol production. The highest ethanol yield was achieved when the pretreatment was performed at 100 °C for 30 min with 50% ethanol in the absence of sulfuric acid, giving an overall yield of 173.3 g ethanol per 1 kg of untreated pomace. Besides, under these conditions, the amounts of extracted pectin and lignin were 76 g and 3 g per each kg of the untreated pomace, respectively. The study of socioeconomic impacts of the optimized biorefinery indicated that a total of 59.3 million liters of ethanol could potentially be generated from collectible apple pomace in Iran per annum, leading to a significant reduction in well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions of 84.9 and 85.6 (kt CO2 equivalent) using apple-pomace-ethanol-blended fuels of E85 and E10, respectively.

Effects of drying conditions and ethanol pretreatment on the techno-functional and morpho-structural properties of avocado powder produced by foam-mat drying

Effects of drying conditions and ethanol pretreatment on the techno-functional and morpho-structural properties of avocado powder produced by foam-mat drying

Quantitative structure-property relationships of thermoset pea protein gels with ethanol, shear, and sub-zero temperature pretreatments

Pea protein is often processed to alter the protein's native structure, enhancing desirable textures in meat and dairy analog products. Cold denaturation is a universal phenomenon in protein that exposes hydrophobic amino acids, though little information exists about this in food science research. In this work, ethanol, shear forces, and low temperatures were used to modify the structure of commercial pea protein isolate, and impacts on gelation are characterized. Treatment at −10 °C in ethanol with applied shear forces led to gels with the lowest tan δ values during temperature ramps and frequency sweeps. A quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) method found that hydrogen bonding can be derived from secondary structure (R 2 = 0.960), and hydrogen bonding correlated with the temperature dependence of G′ during cooling in treatments. This work suggests cold denaturation forms hydrophobically bound gels that may aid in replacing fatty textures, and a QSPR framework aids in interpreting rheological data. • Ethanol, shear forces, and low-temperature treatment increase pea protein gel strength. • The number of hydrogen bonds can be estimated from protein secondary structure resulting from FTIR. • Hydrogen bonding correlates to the degree of stiffening during gelation. • Hydrogen bonding correlates to the number of crosslinks estimated using rubber elasticity theory. • Cold denaturation facilitates the design of new cold processing methods to enhance functionality of proteins.

Hydrodynamic Cavitation–Assisted Oxidative Pretreatment and Sequential Production of Ethanol and Xylitol as Innovative Approaches for Sugarcane Bagasse Biorefineries

Hydrodynamic Cavitation–Assisted Oxidative Pretreatment and Sequential Production of Ethanol and Xylitol as Innovative Approaches for Sugarcane Bagasse Biorefineries

Effects of ethanol pretreatment on drying kinetics and quality attributes of scallop adductors during heat pump drying

Scallop adductors were pretreated with different ethanol concentration, viz., 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% (coded as CK, E-25, E-50, E-75, and E-100, respectively) to enhance drying efficiency and quality of heat pump dried products. The drying time of scallop adductors was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by 13.3% for E-100 in comparison to CK at the end of drying process. Low field nuclear magnetic resonance revealed that the immobilized water (T 22) was the predominant water status in scallop adductors. With drying proceeding, T 22 decreased by more than 60% from initial values in all samples and tended to convert to bound water and/or free water. The Weibull model and Dincer model were well fitted to describe the drying behavior of scallop adductors with high R 2 and low RMSE values. The effective moisture diffusivity calculated by Fick’s diffusion model, Weibull model, and Dincer model ranged 9.345 − 9.948 × 10−11, 2.453–2.670 × 10−9, and 9.68–11.45 × 10−9m2 s−1, respectively. The total color difference, shrinkage rate and hardness of dried samples with suitable ethanol concentration pretreatment were lower, and rehydration ratio was higher than those of CK. Ethanol pretreatment could be a promising method to effectively enhance drying efficiency and improve product quality of scallop adductors.

Converting textile waste into value-added chemicals: An integrated bio-refinery process

The rate of textile waste generation worldwide has increased dramatically due to a rise in clothing consumption and production. Here, conversion of cotton-based, colored cotton-based, and blended cotton-polyethylene terephthalate (PET) textile waste materials into value-added chemicals (bioethanol, sorbitol, lactic acid, terephthalic acid (TPA), and ethylene glycol (EG)) via enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation was investigated. In order to enhance the efficiency of enzymatic saccharification, effective pretreatment methods for each type of textile waste were developed, respectively. A high glucose yield of 99.1% was obtained from white cotton-based textile waste after NaOH pretreatment. Furthermore, the digestibility of the cellulose in colored cotton-based textile wastes was increased 1.38–1.75 times because of the removal of dye materials by HPAC-NaOH pretreatment. The blended cotton−PET samples showed good hydrolysis efficiency following PET removal via NaOH–ethanol pretreatment, with a glucose yield of 92.49%. The sugar content produced via enzymatic hydrolysis was then converted into key platform chemicals (bioethanol, sorbitol, and lactic acid) via fermentation or hydrogenation. The maximum ethanol yield was achieved with the white T-shirt sample (537 mL/kg substrate), which was 3.2, 2.1, and 2.6 times higher than those obtained with rice straw, pine wood, and oak wood, respectively. Glucose was selectively converted into sorbitol and LA at a yield of 70% and 83.67%, respectively. TPA and EG were produced from blended cotton−PET via NaOH–ethanol pretreatment. The integrated biorefinery process proposed here demonstrates significant potential for valorization of textile waste.

Comparison of organosolv pretreatment of masson pine with different solvents in promoting delignification and enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency

Organosolv pretreatment has been verified to facilitate the enzymatic hydrolysis by efficient delignification. Recently, novel solvents derived from biomass have been applied in lignocellulose pretreatment. However, few studies on the pretreatment of softwood with novel solvents have been reported. In this study, organosolv pretreatments with three green solvents, including γ-valerolacton (GVL), tetrahydrofuran (THF), and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MTHF), were performed on masson pine, and compared with conventional ethanol (EtOH) pretreatment. The results showed that GVL pretreatment exhibited the best performance for removing lignins from masson pine, achieving a pretty high lignin removal ratio of 87.2 % at 150 °C with 75 mM H2SO4. Correspondingly, the highest glucose yield of 76.8 % was observed in the enzymatic hydrolysis of GVL pretreated masson pine with a relatively low cellulase loading (20 FPU/g glucan). The relations between relative energy difference of the solvent-lignin interactions and both of the lignin removal and enzymatic digestibility of organosolv pretreated substrates were evaluated. Furthermore, the structural features of four organosolv lignins were characterized, including molecular weights, functional groups, inter-unit linkages and aromatic information. The results provide a better understanding of organosolv pretreatment effects on enzymatic digestibility of softwood biomass, and give comprehensive lignin properties for valorization of organosolv lignins from softwood.

Ethanol pretreatment and infrared drying of melon: Kinetics, quality parameters, and NIR spectra

AbstractThere is a growing interest in drying methods focusing on the reduction of drying time, and improvement of product quality. This work aimed to study the use of ethanol as a pretreatment to melon infrared drying (IRD), evaluating its effect on the drying kinetics and quality parameters. The pretreatment step included the melon immersion in different ethanol concentrations (50% and 100%) and immersion times (10, 20, and 30 min). IRD was performed at 60°C with control (untreated) and pretreated samples. Melon pretreated in 100% ethanol for 30 min had the shortest drying time and highest diffusivity value. The Page model obtained the best fit for the experimental data. All dried melons showed water activity below .60, and a reduction in the bioactive compounds. Samples immersed in 50% ethanol, in general, showed lower losses of total phenolics and carotenoids. Concerning color, there was a decrease in the luminosity (L*), while redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) were intensified. Principal component analysis applied to the near infrared (NIR) spectra of the dried samples showed a tendency of separation between samples pretreated with different concentrations of ethanol. In conclusion, IRD and ethanol pretreatment can be useful tools to reduce drying time, but some limitations on bioactive compounds were discussed.Practical applicationsThe concentration and the time of ethanol pretreatment application can result in different melon infrared drying rates and can influence important qualitative parameters. Therefore, it is important to evaluate these factors to optimize the dried melon production, resulting in lower drying time and better quality preservation.

Effective decontamination and multiplication of Croton membranaceus in vitro

Abstract. Adukonu IA, Ayeh KO, Acheampong E. 2022. Effective decontamination and multiplication of Croton membranaceus in vitro. Cell Biol Dev 6: 68-81. Croton membranaceus Müll. Arg. is a useful herb with medicinal properties, and its leaves, roots, and bark are used to treat diverse ailments. However, the harvesting method by traditional medical practitioners without replacement exposes it to extinction. Therefore, the only means of propagating is by relatively slow use of seeds, and an alternative propagation method is needed for field establishment and nursery. Therefore, this study aims at determining an effective propagation by sterilization regime and subsequent in vitro regeneration using different explants; intact seeds, isolated embryos, coatless seeds, and nodal-cutting. The explants were decontaminated using double sterilization; the best was achieved by pre-treatment with 70% ethanol for 3 min before immersion in sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). Intact seeds were effectively decontaminated by immersion in 15% NaOCl solution for 20 min, then by 10% NaOCl for 15 min. Conversely, coatless seeds were effectively decontaminated when isolated from intact seeds immersed in 20% NaOCl solution for 20 min and 15% NaOCl for 15 min. Further, embryos isolated from intact seeds were effectively decontaminated in 20% NaOCl for 15 min, then by 15% NaOCl for 10 min sequentially. These sterilization regimes successfully decontaminated 86% intact seeds, 100% isolated embryos, and 80% coatless seeds. Nodal-cutting explants were best decontaminated by immersion in 20% NaOCl solution for 15 min, followed by 15% NaOCl for 10 min sequentially without ethanol pre-treatment. This sterilization regime successfully decontaminated 100% of the nodal-cutting explants. However, the development of shoot explants varied in response to sterilization. Intact seeds did not develop into shoots, while isolated embryos, coatless seeds, and nodal-cutting explants developed into shoots independent of the sterilization regime. Shoot development was highest with the medium’s shoot-tip explants added with BAP, NAA, and GA3. Shoot multiplication was best achieved on an MS basal medium with 5.0 ?M BAP, 0.5 ?M NAA, and 5.0 ?M GA3 amendment.

Effect of gum Arabic and ethanol pretreatments on drying kinetics and quality attributes of dried carrot slices

Carrot is an important root vegetable to the food industry and consumers due to its nutritional and health benefits. Given the high moisture content and low shelf life of fresh carrots, preserving this highly demanded vegetable is vital. This current research modelled the drying kinetics and evaluated the quality of ultrasonic-assisted gum Arabic and ethanol pretreated and oven-dried carrot slices. Fresh carrots were processed into thin slices and immersed in 3% gum Arabic (GA), ethanol (99.9%), and distilled water (control), followed by ultrasonication (frequency: 50 Hz, power: 500 W, temperature: 25 °C) for 10 min and drying in a hot air oven at 50 °C. The loss of moisture from the carrots was periodically recorded, converted to moisture ratio before fitted to eleven semi-theoretical thin layer drying mathematical models. The effects of the pretreatments on the retention of bioactive compounds and carrots' physical and chemical properties were also evaluated. From the tested models, the Diffusion, Modified Henderson and Pabis, and Two-term models showed the best fitting (R2 = 0.9944–0.9985; RSME = 0.0103–0.0227) to the experimental data from 3% GA and ethanol pretreated carrots, while control samples followed the Aghbasho model (R2 = 0.9999; RMSE = 0.0033). Overall, the 3% GA pretreated carrot slices exhibited better colour (yellowness: 25.82–34.50; total colour differences: 8.12–13.06), water activity (0.37–0.44), total phenolic content (1.34–2.99 mg GAE/100 g DM), β-carotene (7.63–13.07 mg/100 g DM), and DPPH radical scavenging activity (5.67–8.02 mM AAE/100 g DM) than ethanol pretreated carrot slices and control samples. At the same time, 3 % GA pretreatment did not affect the drying rate of the carrot slices. The total soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio, rehydration capacity, and shrinkage ratio did not significantly (p > 0.05) vary among the treatments. The findings of this study can be used to develop an optimal drying protocol for pretreated carrot slices and to produce shelf-stable carrot products that can be used dried, rehydrated, or in combination with other products.

Green production of lignocellulose nanofibrils by FeCl3-catalyzed ethanol treatment

The traditional strategy for isolating cellulose nanomaterials requires various chemicals and a high energy input, while achieving a low product yield owing to lignin removal during pulping and bleaching. Here, we propose a green ethanol pretreatment process with a synergistic effect using ultrasound and FeCl3 to produce lignocellulose nanofibrils (LCNF) with a high yield (over 67 %) from thermomechanical pulp. Notably, a high-aspect-ratio LCNF with uniformly distributed lignin nanoparticles, a high lignin content, and excellent thermostability (Tmax > 330 °C) with a typical cellulose I crystalline structure were successfully obtained. In addition, reduced distillation can easily retrieve the FeCl3 solution and ethanol, reducing reagent waste. In general, FeCl3-catalyzed ethanol pretreatment can serve as a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach for converting sustainable lignocelluloses into high value-added nanomaterials. Moreover, the obtained LCNF can be applied in diverse fields.

Steam blanching and ethanol pretreatment enhance drying rates and improve the quality attributes of apple slices via microstructure modification

The effect of steam blanching (SB) and ethanol pretreatment (EP) (75–95% [v/v], 10–25 min) on the drying characteristics and quality attributes of apple slices with hot air drying (HD) (60°C, 1.5 m/s) was evaluated. The drying time was reduced by 10.71% and 19.64–47.32% with SB and various EPs compared with fresh; the drying rate and effective moisture diffusion coefficient significantly accelerated. EP resulted in a higher water loss and solid loss of the apple samples. Furthermore, EP greatly affected the rehydration rate and microstructure of dried apple slices. In addition, SB and EP played a positive role in improving the quality of dried apple slices, particularly a higher phytochemical concentration, and antioxidant activities compared with fresh, and EP groups exhibited higher retention of phenolic compounds. Besides, all the dried apple slices with SB and EPs showed a brighter color than the fresh. Therefore, SB and EP can be used as appropriate pretreatment methods for the HD of apples. This combination of the two pretreatment methods provides a theoretical basis for the pretreatment technology before drying of apple and broadens the train of thought in the selection of osmotic media. Novelty impact statement Steam blanching and ethanol pretreatments contribute to the drying rate and quality of apple slices. The pretreatments of E85T25 and E95T25 significantly shorten the drying time, E95T25 shows the highest retention of phenolic compounds, and E85T25 shows the highest phytochemical concentration. E85T25 and E95T25 are suitable pretreatment methods for the HD of apple slices.

Inhibition of advanced glycation end product formation and serum protein infiltration in bioprosthetic heart valve leaflets: Investigations of anti-glycation agents and anticalcification interactions with ethanol pretreatment

Bioprosthetic heart valves (BHV) fabricated from heterograft tissue, such as glutaraldehyde pretreated bovine pericardium (BP), are the most frequently used heart valve replacements. BHV durability is limited by structural valve degeneration (SVD), mechanistically associated with calcification, advanced glycation end products (AGE), and serum protein infiltration. We investigated the hypothesis that anti-AGE agents, Aminoguanidine, Pyridoxamine [PYR], and N-Acetylcysteine could mitigate AGE-serum protein SVD mechanisms in vitro and in vivo, and that these agents could mitigate calcification or demonstrate anti-calcification interactions with BP pretreatment with ethanol. In vitro, each of these agents significantly inhibited AGE-serum protein infiltration in BP. However, in 28-day rat subdermal BP implants only orally administered PYR demonstrated significant inhibition of AGE and serum protein uptake. Furthermore, BP PYR preincubation of BP mitigated AGE-serum protein SVD mechanisms in vitro, and demonstrated mitigation of both AGE-serum protein uptake and reduced calcification in vivo in 28-day rat subdermal BP explants. Inhibition of BP calcification as well as inhibition of AGE-serum protein infiltration was observed in 28-day rat subdermal BP explants pretreated with ethanol followed by PYR preincubation. In conclusion, AGE-serum protein and calcification SVD pathophysiology are significantly mitigated by both PYR oral therapy and PYR and ethanol pretreatment of BP.

Effects of Skin Environmental Changes by Steam Towel, Ethanol, l-Menthol and Carpronium on the Drug Behavior in the Minoxidil Nanoparticles-applied Mice

We previously designed the formulation containing minoxidil (MXD) nanoparticles (MXD-NPs), and found that the MXD-NPs can mainly deliver MXD into hair bulbs via hair follicles pathway, and that the therapeutic efficiency for hair growth is higher in comparison with the formulation containing dissolved MXD. In this study, we investigated whether the skin environmental changes by the treatment of steam towel, ethanol, l-menthol and commercially available (CA) carpronium affect the drug behavior in the MXD-NPs-applied mice. The steam towel, ethanol, l-menthol and CA-carpronium were pre-treated 3 min before MXD-NPs application, and the MXD content in the hair bulge, bulb, skin tissue and blood of mice were measured 4 h after MXD-NPs application. No significant difference of MXD levels in the blood was observed by the pre-treatment of steam towel, ethanol, l-menthol and CA-carpronium. On the other hand, the pre-treatment of steam towel and l-menthol enhanced the MXD levels in hair bulge and/or bulb. Although, the MXD levels in hair bulge and bulb were not changed by the pre-treatment of ethanol, the MXD levels in skin tissue was higher than that of saline-pre-treated group (control). The MXD levels in hair bulge, bulb and skin tissue of mice pre-treated with CA-carpronium were remarkably higher in comparison with control. In conclusion, we showed that the changes in skin environment by the steam towel, ethanol, l-menthol and CA-carpronium affected the absorption of MXD-NPs, and these increased MXD levels in the hair bulb and blood by the combination may enhance the therapeutic efficiency without side effects.