Quillaja Saponin Research Articles

Therapeutic deep eutectic solvent with saponin, optimized through response surface methodology, exert potent in vivo antimicrobial effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Therapeutic deep eutectic solvents (THEDES) are a type of deep eutectics that can be used as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) by enhancing the drug bioavailability, by increasing the solubility of APIs in aqueous solutions or by increasing their permeability through biological barriers. In this study, we demonstrate the utility of designer THEDES, based on Quillaja Saponin (SAP), a triterpene natural product to unravel the antimicrobial potential of such THEDES. THEDES were prepared by gently mixing and heating five different α- hydroxy acids- malic, citric, tartaric, glycolic, lactic acids and SAP with water as a third component in the THEDES. The antimicrobial assays were performed with the as-prepared SAP-THEDES and among the panel of bacterial strains, saponin-malic acid THEDES [SMA-THEDES] displayed potent activity in disassembling PA biofilms, demonstrating that the SMA-THEDES can serve as therapeutic antibacterial biomaterials. To further optimize, a Box-Behnken- response surface methodology (RSM) experimental design was done and at the optimum conditions of SAP (1.014m.mol), Malic acid (1.003m.mol), Water (0.117m.mol), SMA-THEDES exhibited maximum MIC of P. aeruginosa with the minimum absorbance at 590nm of 0.105. The effectiveness of SMA-THEDES as antibiofilm agents on P. aeruginosa with the mechanism studies have been explored. The colony count from the in vivo infection zebrafish model in the treatment group showed a decline of > 2 fold for SMA-THEDES. Toxicity studies did not reveal any abnormality in liver and brain enzyme levels. Liver morphology images show no severe cytological alterations when treated with SMA-THEDES and were almost similar to the normal liver.

Enhancing the biodegradation of hydrophobic volatile organic compounds: A study on microbial consortia adaptation and the role of surfactants

The emission of hydrophobic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) is a serious environmental issue. Typically, biofilters (BFs) are employed for their treatment, with the potential enhancement of mass transfer through the addition of surfactants. However, disparate results in previous studies have been observed, attributed to uncontrolled conditions during the introduction of surfactants to BFs. Additionally, there has been limited exploration of microbial consortium adaptation to surfactants. To address these gaps, this study followed two approaches. First, the long-term (247 days) removal of cyclohexane was studied in a stirred tank bioreactor (STBR) inoculated with Rhodococcus erythropolys E1 and using Tween 80 at three times the critical micelle concentration (CMC). Second, the short-term (9 days) impact of two (bio)surfactants [Tween 80 (1 × CMC) and Quillaja Saponin (QS, 1 × CMC)] on the removal of cyclohexane, hexane and toluene was investigated in batch tests using three types of inocula: a pure culture of Rhodococcus erythropolys E1 (X0), a microbial consortium adapted to cyclohexane (X1), and a microbial consortium adapted to cyclohexane with Tween 80 (X2). For long-term operation, the addition of Tween 80 at 3 × CMC improved cyclohexane removal efficiency (RE) to 87 ± 1% (elimination capacity, EC = 145 ± 25 mg m−3 h−1, gas residence time, GRT = 20 min, inlet concentration, Cin = 14.9 ± 2.5 ppmv), compared to a RE of 32 ± 9% (EC = 44 ± 8 mg m−3 h−1, GRT = 20 min, Cin = 15.1 ± 0.7 ppmv) under similar conditions without surfactants. For short-term operation, the addition of QS at 1 × CMC significantly increased biomass growth, resulting in lower maximum specific consumption rates for X1 and X2 compared to scenarios without surfactants or 1 × CMC Tween 80. The most abundant genera in X1 and X2 were Paludisphaera (26-23%), 67-14 genus (17–23%), and Rhodococcus (9–18%), respectively.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Quillaja Saponin or Phytase on the Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Faecal Gas Emissions, and Carcass Grade in Growing-Finishing Pigs.

This experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of low doses of Quillaja saponin (QS) or phytase (PHY) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, faecal gas emissions, and carcass grade in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 72 pigs (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc), each weighing 25.82 ± 1.68 kg, were selected and randomly assigned to three treatment groups. Each group had six replicates, with four pigs per pen, and the allocation was based on the four initial body weight and sex of the pigs. They were randomly divided into the following three diet groups: the basal diet as a control (CON) group, the basal diet + 0.02% PHY; and the basal diet + 0.01% QS. The experiment period lasted for 110 days. The results of adding 0.01% QS to the basal diet of pigs show that it can significantly increase the body weight (BW) of growing-finishing pigs on the 110th day (p < 0.05). QS can significantly increase the average daily weight gain (ADG) on Days 80-110 of the experiment (p < 0.05). QS can significantly increase the total average daily weight gain (TADG) of growing-finishing pigs during the entire experimental period (p < 0.05) and has a tendency to improve the average daily feed intake and feed conversion rate during the entire experimental period. However, QS has no significant effect on pig nutrient digestibility and carcass grade. In addition, we also found that QS has a tendency to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. However, adding 0.02% PHY to the basal diet of growing-finishing pigs can only increase the TADG during the entire experimental period. Throughout the experiment, adding PHY to the diet had no significant impact on the nutrient digestibility, faecal gas emissions, and carcass grade of growing-finishing pigs. In summary, adding QS to feed can significantly improve the growth performance of growing-finishing pigs, and has a tendency to improve faecal gas emissions. PHY can only improve the growth performance of growing-finishing pigs.

PSII-28 Comparative analysis on dietary Quillaja Saponin and/or phytase additive on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal gas emission, and carcass grade in growing- finishing pigs

PSII-28 Comparative analysis on dietary Quillaja Saponin and/or phytase additive on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal gas emission, and carcass grade in growing- finishing pigs

Physical stability of α-terpineol-based nanoemulsions assessed by direct and accelerated tests using photo centrifuge analysis

Maintaining the stability and integrity of colloidal systems (CSs) is crucial to ensure the quality of formulated products over time. The longevity of CSs is a critical consideration as it affects the quality of the developed product for an extended period. In this study, emulsions (EMs) and nanoemulsions (NEs) loaded with α-terpineol (α-TOH) were evaluated for their physical stability using Accelerated Shelf-Life Testing (ASLT) with LUMiSizer®. The Instability Index of the α-TOH-based-colloidal delivery system stabilized by Tween®20 (TW20) and Quillaja saponins was evaluated at different temperatures (25 °C, 45 °C) and relative centrifuge force (RCF: 581×g; 1308×g; 2325×g). At 25 °C, NEs displayed roughly 70X (at 581×g), 30X (1308×g), and 20X (2325×g) highest physical stability than EMs. On the other hand, when tested at 45 °C, NEs were 40X (at 581×g), 16X (1308×g), and 10X (2325×g) more physically stable when confronted with EMs, evidencing the crucial role of temperature on the stability of the colloidal systems. EMs showed fragile or negligible physical stability - reaching, in most cases - the highest value of the Instability Index (=1.0) scale in less than 1 min, independently of the tested temperature (25 °C, 45 °C) and RCF used. Nanoemulsions stabilized by Quillaja Saponins demonstrated high resistance to centrifugal force, possibly due to features of this anionic surfactant, such as high bending modulus and a sizeable polar head group, distinguishing it from non-ionic surfactants such as TW20. Lastly, the physical stability of α-TOH-NEs was similar when relying on accelerated stability and real-time observation analysis. Thus, these two methods may correlate.

Selective dual sensing strategy for free and vitamin D3 micelles in food samples based on S,N-GQDs photoinduced electron transfer.

A reliable nanotechnological sensing strategy, based on anS,N-co-doped graphene quantum dot (GQD) platform, has been developed to distinctly detect two key variants of vitamin D3, specifically the free (VD3) and the nanoencapsulated form (VD3Ms). For this purpose, food-grade vitamin D3 micelles were self-assembled using a low-energy procedure (droplet size: 49.6 nm, polydispersity index: 0.34, ζ-potential: -33 mV, encapsulation efficiency: 90 %) with an innovative surfactant mixture (Tween 60 and quillaja saponin). Herein, four fluorescent nanoprobes were also synthesized and thoroughly characterized: S,N-co-doped GQDs, α-cyclodextrin-GQDs, β-cyclodextrin-GQDs, and γ-cyclodextrin-GQDs. The goal was to achieve a selective dual sensing strategy for free VD3 and VD3Ms by exploiting their distinctive quenching behaviors. Thus, the four nanosensors allowed the individual sensing of both targetsto be performed (except α-CD-GQD for VD3Ms), but S,N-GQDs were finally selected due to selectivity and sensitivity (quantum yield, QY= 0.76) criteria. This choice led to a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism associated with static quenching, where differentiation was evidenced through a displayed 13-nm hypsochromic (blue) shift when interacting with VD3Ms. The reliability of this dual approach was demonstrated through an extensive evaluation of analytical performance characteristics. The feasibility and accuracy were proven in commercial food preparations and nutritional supplements containing declared nanoencapsulated and raw VD3, whose results were validated by a paired Student's t-test comparison with a UV-Vis method. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first non-destructive analytical approach addressing the groundbreaking foodomic trend to distinctly detect different bioactive forms of vitamin D3, while also preserving their native nanostructures as achemical challenge, thus providing reliable information about their final stability and bioavailability.

Enhancement of in-vivo cellular uptake of Coenzyme Q10 using saponin derivatives in rTALAP transgenic mice model

Pancreatic cancer remains a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality, with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) being particularly challenging to treat. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a hydrophobic antioxidant crucial for cellular energy production, holds promise in PDAC therapy. However, its limited solubility hinders efficient cellular uptake. To overcome this limitation, we developed micelle formulations incorporating CoQ10 and assessed their potential to enhance cellular delivery. In this particular study, we have utilized some of the most common saponins such as Quillaja saponin, Ginsenoside R0, and Ginsenoside Rb1 as a drug carrier in order to enhance the bioavailability and cellular uptake of CoQ10. Micelles' size and shape were characterized using DLS, TEM, and LC-MS/MS. These all saponin micelles showed better encapsulation, zeta potential, and smaller size compared to Pluronic F127 micelles. Moreover, these formulations induced a notable increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, indicative of potential apoptotic activity. Further investigations revealed that micelle treatments led to modulation of gene expression related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, with an increase in E-cadherin expression and a decrease in claudin, snail, slug, and vimentin. Additionally, in-vivo screening studies in transgenic mice demonstrated promising results as anticancer by reducing apoptosis. In conclusion, our findings suggest that CoQ10-loaded micelles, particularly those incorporating Quillaja saponin and ginsenoside derivatives, hold potential as a novel therapeutic approach for PDAC by enhancing cellular uptake, inducing ROS-mediated apoptosis, and modulating EMT markers. These findings contribute to advancing our understanding of CoQ10's role in pancreatic cancer therapy.

All-natural plant-based HIPE-gels simultaneously stabilizing with Quillaja saponin and soy protein isolate: Influence of environmental stresses on stability

All-natural plant protein-based high internal phase emulsion gels (HIPE-Gels) have attracted increasing attention recently in food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and other fields. Herein, HIPE-Gels were simultaneously fabricated by natural Quillaja saponin (QS) and soy protein isolate (SPI), and investigated the effects of environmental factors i.e., storage, acidic, ionic strength, heating and freeze-thawing on their physical stability. The combination of SPI and QS enabled the highly stable O/W emulsion gels with a shear-thinning behavior. At the appropriate concentration (i.e., 1.5% SPI and 0.09% QS), the emulsion gels exhibited high tolerance toward long-term storage and destabilizing environments. Although poor stability at a pH close to the isoelectric point of SPI, incorporating QS provided excellent acidic stability of plant-based emulsion gels. The strong electrostatic repulsion provided by QS would reduce the aggregation between droplets under acid environment and the electrostatic shielding of salt ions, improving the acid tolerance and salt tolerance of SPI-based emulsion gels. In addition, QS had also improved their thermal stability and freeze-thaw stability. These findings demonstrated that the combination of SPI and QS could provide an effective strategy to fabricate all-natural plant protein-based mayonnaise to withstand several environmental factors, developing label-friendly novel food products.

Plant-Based Oil-in-Water Food Emulsions: Exploring the Influence of Different Formulations on Their Physicochemical Properties.

The global focus on incorporating natural ingredients into the diet for health improvement encompasses ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) derived from plant sources, such as flaxseed oil. ω-3 PUFAs are susceptible to oxidation, but oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions can serve to protect PUFAs from this phenomenon. This study aimed to create O/W emulsions using flaxseed oil and either soy lecithin or Quillaja saponins, thickened with modified starch, while assessing their physical properties (oil droplet size, ζ-potential, and rheology) and physical stability. Emulsions with different oil concentrations (25% and 30% w/w) and oil-to-surfactant ratio (5:1 and 10:1) were fabricated using high-pressure homogenization (800 bar, five cycles). Moreover, emulsions were thickened with modified starch and their rheological properties were measured. The physical stability of all emulsions was assessed over a 7-day storage period using the TSI (Turbiscan Stability Index). Saponin-stabilized emulsions exhibited smaller droplet diameters (0.11-0.19 µm) compared to lecithin (0.40-1.30 µm), and an increase in surfactant concentration led to a reduction in droplet diameter. Both surfactants generated droplets with a high negative charge (-63 to -72 mV), but lecithin-stabilized emulsions showed greater negative charge, resulting in more intense electrostatic repulsion. Saponin-stabilized emulsions showed higher apparent viscosity (3.9-11.6 mPa·s) when compared to lecithin-stabilized ones (1.19-4.36 mPa·s). The addition of starch significantly increased the apparent viscosity of saponin-stabilized emulsions, rising from 11.6 mPa s to 2117 mPa s. Emulsions stabilized by saponin exhibited higher stability than those stabilized by lecithin. This study confirms that plant-based ingredients, particularly saponins and lecithin, effectively produce stable O/W emulsions with flaxseed oil, offering opportunities for creating natural ingredient-based food emulsions.

Quillaja and Sapindus saponins influence on effect on solubilization of Polymyxin B peptide antibiotic in aqueous solutions

Knowing and understanding the interactions between surfactants and pharmaceuticals is crucial for the proper and efficient design of drug delivery systems. The goal of such systems is to ensure that the drug is as bioavailable to cells as possible. The subject of this study was the effect of natural surfactants, saponins from Quillaja saponaria Mol. and Sapindus mukorossi L., on the behavior of the antibiotic Polymyxin B in aqueous solutions at 30 °C and atmospheric pressure. The conducted research showed that the tested surfactants in the concentration range up to 5 mg mL−1 did not affect the solubility of the antibiotic, but increased the value of the octanol–water partition coefficient (Kow). At concentrations of plant saponins from both sources, Kow slightly increased from 0.19 (control sample) to 0.40 (at 5 mg mL−1). The presence of surfactants also led to changes in the particle size distribution of Polymyxin B solutions and also in their zeta potential values. There was also a clear effect of saponins on the freezing point of the Polymyxin solution, but no significant changes in the melting point were observed. The collected results provide new knowledge about the interactions of plant surfactants and peptides based on the example of Polymyxin B, which opens wider possibilities for their use in drug delivery systems.

Effect of surfactant addition on the biofiltration of siloxane-contaminated gas streams

Biogas contains low levels of volatile methyl siloxanes (VMS), which are responsible for severe damage to turbines or internal combustion engines during energy recovery. In this study, we investigated the removal of the linear octamethyltrisiloxane (L3) and cyclic octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) from gas by using two biofilters (BFs) filled with either woodchips and compost (WC) or perlite (PER). To overcome the mass transfer limitation, the addition of a synthetic (Tween 80) and a biological (Quillaja saponin, QS) surfactant on the removal of VMS in both BFs was studied. Tween 80 (added at × 1 critical micelle concentration, CMC) and QS (also at × 1 CMC) enhanced VMS removal in both BFs. Specifically, the performance of both BFs increased from an average VMS elimination capacity (EC) of 0.07 ± 0.04 g VMS m−3 h−1 to 0.24 ± 0.08 g VMS m−3 h−1 (Tween 80) and 0.43 ± 0.02 g VMS m−3 h−1 (QS). However, higher concentrations of Tween 80 ( × 3 CMC) did not further improve VMS removal. The WC BF exhibited a higher maximum EC of 0.63 g VMS m−3 h−1 (0.37 g D4 m−3 h−1 and 0.26 g L3 m−3 h−1), with a VMS RE of 28.4 ± 2.0% (D4 RE = 30.4% and L3 RE = 26.5%). The PER BF obtained a maximum EC of 0.52 g VMS m−3 h−1 (0.28 g D4 m−3 h−1 and 0.23 g L3 m−3 h−1), along with a VMS RE of 32.0 ± 0.8% (D4 RE = 31.2% and L3 RE = 32.8%). The most abundant genera in the WC BF were Mycobacterium (7.5–1.8%), Rhodococcus (1.1–7.2%), and Planctomicrobium (5.1–2.9%). However, given the high microbial diversity present in WC BF and the complex structure of VMS, their removal was most likely due to the joint activity of several microorganisms with VMS-degrading capacity, such as Bacillus (0.58–0.39%), Pseudomonas (0.07–0.04%), Dokdonella (0.50–0.10%), Microbacterium (0.5%), Novosphingobium (0.02%), Gordonia (0.5–0.1%), and Sphingopyxis (0.07%).

Inclusion of dietary Quillaja saponin and seaweed on growth efficiency, noxious gas emissions, and fecal score in weaning pigs

This study aimed to investigate the dietary effects of Quillaja saponin (QS) and seaweed (SW) on growth performance, fecal score, and gas emissions in weaning pigs. A total of 120, 21-day old crossbred ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc) weaning pigs were randomly assigned to three treatment groups. These dietary treatments consisted of (1) TRT1: CON (basal diet), (2) TRT2: CON + 200 mg/kg QS, and (3) TRT3: CON + 500 mg/kg SW. Pigs were raised in 10 replicate pens per treatment (two males per pen and two females per pen) for 5 weeks based on body weight and sex. The inclusion of QS significantly ( p &lt; 0.05) increased average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) during the overall period compared to the control diet. Moreover, the tendency to increase ADG was found at weeks 1 and 5, whereas ADFI showed a tendency to increase at week 1 with the supplementation of QS compared to the CON diet. However, the feed conversion ratio, fecal score, and gas emission failed to show significant effects throughout the experiment. In summary, QS has a beneficial effect on the growth performance of weaning pigs without any negative effect on gas emission and fecal score.

Assessment of Quillaja saponin as a feed supplement in maize-soybean-oilseed rape meal-based diet for enhanced growing pig performance

Assessment of Quillaja saponin as a feed supplement in maize-soybean-oilseed rape meal-based diet for enhanced growing pig performance

Fabrication of curcumin-loaded pea protein isolate-quillaja saponin-tannic acid self-assembled nanoparticles by tuning non-covalent interactions: Enhanced physicochemical, interfacial and emulsifying properties

This study investigated the impact of non-covalent interactions of pea protein isolate (PPI), quillaja saponin (QS) and tannic acid (TA) on the physiochemical, interfacial, and emulsifying properties of curcumin (Cur)-loaded composite nanoparticles from microscopic to macroscopic scales. Hydrogen bonding was important for all the nanoparticles, while hydrophobic interaction was also the dominate driving force to maintain internal structure of Cur/PPI and Cur/PPI-QS 2:1 nanoparticle. The presence of TA decreased the particle size but increased the encapsulation efficiency of Cur. The encapsulation efficiency of Cur/PPI and TA-Cur/PPI were 49.7% and 74.7%, respectively. The thermal and light stability of Cur were enhanced with the addition of TA. X-ray Diffraction result verified that Cur was successfully captured into composite nanoparticles in an amorphous state. Both of Cur/PPI-QS 2:1 and TA-Cur/PPI-QS 2:1 exhibited relative lower interfacial tension (6.3 and 5.2 mN/m, respectively) and the near-neutral wettability (74.5°and 88.1°, respectively), indicating their stronger interfacial adsorption capability. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) analyses confirmed that TA-Cur/PPI-QS 2:1 showed more viscoelasticity interfacial film with highest K4 (0.179 × 10−6 Hz). Furthermore, the TA-Cur/PPI-QS 2:1 Pickering emulsion exhibited solid-like behavior and stronger gel network structure. Both of TA-Cur/PPI-QS 2:1- and Cur/PPI-QS 2:1-stabilized Pickering emulsions showed better storage stability than other samples. This study presents a practical strategy for the structural design of protein nanoparticles by tuning non-covalent interactions, and provides theoretical support for multi-scale exploration of structure-properties relationships of nanoparticle.

Extraction of chrysin from propolis and its selective encapsulation in synthetic/natural surfactant-based micelles

The encapsulation characteristics of chrysin (important flavonoid with potential food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical applications) was studied with nonionic surfactants Triton X-114 (TX) and Quillaja Saponin (QS), individually. The factors influencing the encapsulation efficiency (EE) of standard chrysin that is surfactant concentration, pH, NaCl concentration, and chrysin concentration were analyzed. The maximum EE of standard chrysin was found to be 98.23 ± 1.63% with TX micelles and 83 ± 2.31% with QS micelles under the following conditions: 0.02 mg/mL standard chrysin, 5% NaCl, pH 7, and 4% w/w TX 6% w/w QS. Selective extraction of chrysin from propolis was tried using three extraction techniques namely Maceration, Microwave-assisted Extraction (MAE), and Maceration with Microwave-assisted Extraction (MMAE). MAE, which gave a chrysin yield of 3 mg/g, was deemed the most suitable method for chrysin extraction from propolis. This MAE crude extract was subjected to encapsulation under the conditions previously optimized for standard chrysin. Specific encapsulation of chrysin from the propolis crude extract was achieved, with an EE of 92 ± 0.86% with TX and 84.97 ± 1.34% with QS. The encapsulated chrysin was characterized using particle size analysis and antioxidant activity. TX system was found to be the most suitable for the encapsulation, as it was able to selectively encapsulate chrysin from propolis, despite the presence of other interfering flavonoids in the crude extract. The microwave-assisted extraction combined with surfactant-based micellar encapsulation can be said to be an effective process for the extraction and encapsulation of chrysin from propolis.

Saponin-based natural nanoemulsions as alpha-tocopherol delivery systems for dermal applications

Nanoemulsions can be produced using simple methods and compounds from natural sources. They can increase water dispersibility and bioavailability and optimise active ingredient dispersion in particular skin layers. Lipophilic compounds of the vitamin E family (tocopherols and tocotrienols) are well-known for their high antioxidant activity and capacity to protect the skin from oxidative stress. In this context, oil-in-water (o/w) nanoemulsions with and without α-tocopherol (Vitamin E, VE) were formulated with two emulsifier alternatives, Quillaja saponin (QS), and a combination of QS with Tribulus terrestris (QSTT) (50/50, w/w). The emulsions were evaluated concerning stability, microstructure, droplet size, colour attributes, encapsulation efficiency, UV photostability, antioxidant activity, and in vitro permeation studies to assess the delivery potential. Results showed highly stable systems, with round-shape droplets of 80–121 nm size. QS and QSTT samples' colours were close to white and light brownish, respectively. The topical nano cream had the capacity to entrap VE, producing a protective effect from UV degradation, and very significant antioxidant activity, with IC50 values around 0.01 %wt. The skin permeation profiles showed the efficiency of the formulations in the delivery of VE, with permeabilities between 64 and 74 µg/cm2, while the control sample showed no VE permeation.

Studying the effect of surfactant assisted low-salinity water flooding on clay-rich sandstones

Sandstone reservoirs often contain clay particles that can cause damage and reduce permeability during low-salinity water flooding. In this study, the effect of surfactants on fine migration in clay-rich sandstones and its impact on oil recovery was investigated.First, the impact of surfactants on interparticle forces in fine-matrix, fine-fine, and oil-matrix systems was modeled. The results showed that both CTAB (cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide) and QS (quillaja saponin) cause EDL compaction, weakening the repulsive forces. However, SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and TX (triton X-100) do not affect the EDL. Next, the effect of surfactants on IFT reduction and wettability alteration was experimentally investigated. All surfactants reduced IFT due to the surface excessive concentration mechanism. The wettability alteration experiment illustrated that although QS and CTAB compact EDL around oil and matrix particles leading to attraction force augmentation, they both alter wettability through adsorption on matrix and carboxylic groups present in crude oil, respectively.Surfactant aqueous solutions were then injected into various clay-rich sandstone sanpacks, which resulted in increased oil recovery. However, the mechanisms leading to enhanced oil recovery variedby surfactant type. CTAB increased recovery by 10% through IFT reduction and wettability alteration, while SDS and TX increased recovery by 12% and 9%, respectively, through wettability alteration and extreme fine migration. In contrast, partial fine migration in the QS flooding experiment reached a recovery increase of 18%. Permeability trends through experiments were also recorded. During CTAB injection, permeability did not reduce, while QS aqueous solution reduced rock permeability to 5 mD. SDS and TX reduced the magnitude of permeability to 2 mD.In conclusion, this study demonstrates that surfactants can effectively improve oil recovery in clay-rich sandstones by altering the interparticle forces, reducing IFT, and changing wettability. The results suggest that the type of surfactant used should be carefully selected to achieve the desired recovery increase without affecting the permeability of the reservoir.

Interfacial properties and structure of Pickering emulsions co-stabilized by different charge emulsifiers and zein nanoparticles

The stability of Pickering emulsions can be improved by the synergistic action of colloidal particles and small molecule emulsifiers. In addition, the interaction between particles and different charge emulsifiers at the interface may result in different interfacial film structures, thus affecting the stability of Pickering emulsions. However, little is currently known about the impact of emulsifier charge on the fabrication and characteristics of these co-stabilized Pickering emulsions. Herein, we investigated the influence of Pickering emulsions co-stabilized by zein nanoparticles and anionic (quillaja saponin, QS), non-ionic (Tween 80), or cationic (lauroyl arginate ethyl hydrochloride) emulsifiers on the interfacial properties. The adsorption kinetics and rheological behavior of the molecular emulsifiers at oil/water interfaces were studied. Changes in interfacial structure and adsorption behavior were studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and quartz crystal microbalance-dissipation (QCM-D) analysis. The dynamic interface characteristics showed that QS has good emulsification performance. The CLSM images indicated that the emulsifier charge impacted the interfacial structure of the Pickering emulsions. The combination of QS and zein nanoparticles formed a coating at the oil/water interface that was denser than for the other two emulsifiers, which improved the stability of the Pickering emulsions. QCM-D revealed that the interfacial film formed by anionic emulsifiers and zein nanoparticles was the thickest (about 6.6 nm). Moreover, anionic emulsifiers and zein nanoparticles stabilized Pickering emulsions provided the best protection against curcumin. These results may be important for optimizing the performance of Pickering emulsions in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Mini review: recent advances in biosurfactant-based association colloids–formation of microemulsions

In the context of a more sustainable economy, bio-surfactants become increasingly important, due to their independence of petrol-based chemistry, their usually mild synthesis conditions, and in certain cases their pharmacological activity. We have recently discussed self-assembly studies in binary systems of bio-surfactants of microbial origin, or saponins extracted from plants (Hellweg et al., Frontiers in Soft Matter, 2023, 2). In the present review, we focus on the formation of microemulsions based on these molecules. We review the formation and structure of microemulsion systems formed by oil, water, and biosurfactants, with a particular focus on Quillaja saponins and rhamnolipids.

In Vivo Efficacy of Purified Quillaja Saponin Extracts in Protecting against Piscirickettsia salmonis Infections in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar).

Piscirickettsiosis, the main infectious disease affecting salmon farming in Chile, still has no efficient control measures. Piscirickettsia salmonis is a facultative intracellular bacterium that can survive and replicate within the host macrophages, evading the immune response. Triterpenic saponins obtained from the Quillaja saponaria tree have been widely studied, and have been shown to be immunomodulatory agents, suitable for feed and vaccine applications for veterinary and human uses. The impact of the oral administration of two extracts of Quillaja saponins on the infection of P. salmonis in Salmo salar and the corresponding gene expressions of immunomarkers were studied under three in vivo models. In the intraperitoneal challenge model, the group fed with Quillaja extracts showed lower mortality (29.1% treated vs. 37.5% control). Similar results were obtained in the cohabitation model trial (36.3% vs. 60.0%). In the commercial pilot trial, the results showed a significant reduction of 71.3% in mortality caused by P. salmonis (0.51% vs. 1.78%) and antibiotic use (reduction of 66.6% compared to untreated control). Also, Quillaja extracts significantly modulated the expression of IFN-II and CD8. These results represent evidence supporting the future use of purified Quillaja extracts as a natural non-pharmacological strategy for the prevention and control of P. salmonis infections in salmon.