Solubility Properties Research Articles

Solubility and magnetic properties of Ag−Co−Si alloy synthesized by mechanical alloying and annealing

AbstractThis present work concerns the effect of ternary addition of non‐metallic and diamagnetic silicon on the metastable solubility of the immiscible silver‐cobalt system during the course of ball milling, annealing of the ball milled samples and the corresponding magnetic properties. It should be noted that silicon has a smaller goldsmidt radius (111 pm) than silver (144 pm) and silicon+4 has more valence electrons than silver+1. Keeping the objectives of the current study in mind, silicon may thus be considered as an option for ternary addition, in contrast to metallic components. An attempt has been made to examine the phase changes that occurred in the 50 silver‐40 cobalt‐10 silicon (atom percent) system during ball milling and the subsequent isothermal annealing of the ball milled product. Phase evolution during mechanical alloying and isothermal annealing is identified by means of x‐ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and magnetic measurements. The addition of silicon facilitates cobalt‘s formation of a metastable alloy with copper after 50 hours of ball milling. Annealing significantly improves the magnetic characteristics of materials that have been ball milled; the optimal combination of magnetic properties was obtained after an hour of annealing at 550 °C.

High-intensity ultrasound modification of techno-functional and structural properties of white finger millet protein fractions.

In this study, albumin, globulin, and glutelin were extracted from white finger millet, and their amino acid content, functional and structural properties were investigated. The protein concentration of albumin, globulin, and glutelin were 76.01%, 74.32%, and 69.55%, respectively. The results showed that all the fractions had a significant amount of essential amino acids. Aqueous protein dispersions (10%, w/v) were treated for 12min at different ultrasound power levels (100, 200, and 300W). The solubility, emulsifying, and foaming properties of albumin and glutelin were significantly (p<0.05) improved after ultrasound treatment (20kHz) which indicates that ultrasound could unfold protein aggregates. A decrease in particle size, increase in surface hydrophobicity, and zeta potential correlated with improved functional properties. Ultrasound treatment reduced the size of all proteins except for fractions at 300W and also sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a significant change in the molecular weight of albumin and glutelin at 300W. Scanning electron microscopy of treated protein fraction showed distinctive microstructure with irregular structure compared to untreated protein fraction. Although Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra of proteins were similar after ultrasonication, a partial increase in the intensity of the Amide A band was observed. In conclusion, the ultrasound-treated protein fraction can be used as a high-value plant-based emulsifier.

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch) nuts as an emerging source of protein: extraction, physicochemical and functional properties.

The increasing demand for sustainable alternatives to traditional protein sources, driven by population growth, underscores the importance of protein in a healthy diet. Pecan (Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch) nuts are currently underutilized as plant-based proteins but hold great potential in the food industry. However, there is insufficient information available on pecan protein, particularly its protein fractions. This study aimed to explore the physicochemical and functional properties of protein isolate and the main protein fraction glutelin extracted from pecan nuts. The results revealed that glutelin (820.67 ± 69.42 g kg-1) had a higher crude protein content compared to the protein isolate (618.43 ± 27.35 g kg-1), while both proteins exhibited amino acid profiles sufficient for adult requirements. The isoelectric points of protein isolate and glutelin were determined to be pH 4.0 and pH 5.0, respectively. The denaturation temperature of the protein isolate (90.23 °C) was higher than that of glutelin (87.43 °C), indicating a more organized and stable conformation. This is further supported by the fact that the protein isolate had a more stable main secondary structure than glutelin. Both proteins demonstrated improved solubility, emulsifying, and foaming properties at pH levels deviating from their isoelectric points in U-shaped curves. Compared to the protein isolate, glutelin displayed superior water and oil absorption capacity along with enhanced gelling ability. The protein isolate and glutelin from pecan nuts exhibited improved stability and competitive functional properties, respectively. The appropriate utilization of these two proteins will support their potential as natural ingredients in various food systems. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of mono- and dual-frequency ultrasounds on structure and physicochemical properties of faba bean proteins

Faba bean proteins are currently viewed as promising animal protein alternatives. However, certain functional properties e.g. relatively low solubility compared to whey protein isolates, can limit the application of faba bean protein isolates (FPIs) in certain food products. Therefore, it may be desirable to use modification approaches such as the application of ultrasound to alter such limiting physicochemical properties. In this study, Faba Bean Protein Isolates (FPI) were treated by ultrasound with different frequencies (20 kHz, 40 kHz and 20 + 40 kHz) prior to hydration (1 %) at different pH levels (3, 7, and 9). Then the structure and physicochemical properties (i.e. particle size, ζ-potential, surface hydrophobicity, thermal behavior, and solubility) of control and untreated FPIs were investigated. Ultrasound treatment had no obvious effect on the molecular weight of FPIs, whereas it changed the secondary structure of FPIs from a more ordered structure to a more disordered structure. The applied treatment resulted in an increase in surface hydrophobicity across all treatment levels and pHs. It also decreased the particle size of FPI at pH 3, while it increased the particle size at pH 7 and 9, compared to the untreated FPI. In addition, the solubility and thermal properties of FPI were modified through the ultrasound treatment. The higher solubility of FPI could improve its potential to be used as a functional ingredient for many food applications. Ultrasound treatment at 20 kHz and 20 + 40 kHz had more effects on the physiochemical properties of FPI compared to that at 40 kHz. Overall, ultrasound treatment with different frequencies (20 kHz, 40 kHz, and 20 + 40 kHz) modified the structure and physiochemical properties of FPI to different degrees and may be beneficial for the development of FPI for certain food applications.

A novel cocrystal of indole-3-propionic acid and nicotinamide: structure design, preparation, characterization and preliminary physiochemical properties evaluation

Indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), an intestinal microbiota produced metabolite, has been supposed as a promising clinical drug candidate to ameliorate progressive neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis due to age-related infirmity. In this study, in order to enhance the aqueous solubility of IPA, nicotinamide (NIC) was selected as a coformer to synthesize a novel cocrystal (IPA-NIC) which was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermal analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The cocrystal structure was found to be in a 2:1 stoichiometric ratio consisting of four IPA molecules and two NIC molecules linked through heteromolecular hydrogen bonds within an asymmetric unit. The physiochemical properties of solubility, dissolution and permeability were demonstrated to be simultaneously improved. Preliminary forced studies under thermal (60 °C) and humid (92.5% RH) conditions indicated that the cocrystal remained stable which would be beneficial to the further development as a potential drug candidate.

Enzymatic Glycosylation of 4′-Hydroxychalcones: Expanding the Scope of Nature’s Catalytic Potential

Chalcones, including 4′-hydroxychalcones, have garnered significant attention in the area of drug discovery due to their diverse pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anticancer effects. However, their low water solubility and bioavailability limit their efficacy in vivo. Glycosylation presents a promising approach to enhance the water solubility, stability, and metabolic properties of chalcones. This study investigates the enzymatic glycosylation of eight chemically synthesized 4′-hydroxychalcones using a diverse set of sugar glucosyltransferases from bacterial, plant, and fungal sources, alongside Glycine max sucrose synthase (GmSuSy) in a cascade reaction. Among the tested enzymes, five exhibited a remarkable versatility for glycoside production, and for large-scale biotransformation, flavonoid 7-O-glucosyltransferase Sbaic7OGT from Scutellaria baicalensis was selected as the most effective. As a result of the experiments conducted, eight trans-chalcone glycosides were obtained. During the purification of the reaction products, we also observed the isomerization of the products by simple sunlight exposure, which resulted in eight additional cis-chalcone glycosides. This study highlights the novel use of a cascade reaction involving Glycine max sucrose synthase (GmSuSy) for the efficient glycosylation of trans-4′-hydroxychalcones, alongside the unexpected discovery of cis-chalcone glycosides during the purification process.

Physicochemical and biological evaluation of ‘click’ synthesized vinyl epoxide-chitosan film for active food packaging

Chitosan (Cs) being a natural biopolymer serves as an excellent template to construct active packaging materials for achieving sustainable development. In this study, Cs was chemically modified via epoxide ring opening click reaction using vinyl epoxide to obtain a novel chitosan vinyl epoxide (Cs-VE) derivative with hydroxyl and olefinic functional groups. The Cs-VE transparent film was fabricated through the eco-friendly solution casting technique. A meticulous investigation into the chemical structure and physicochemical properties of the synthesized films was conducted using FT-IR, 1H NMR and XRD analyses. The thermal stability and homogeneity of the film were verified by thermogram and FE-SEM images respectively. Improved mechanical properties (tensile strength of 24.64 MPa and 12.08 % elongation at break) and excellent UV-light blocking ability (9.3 % transmittance at 350 nm and 22.15 % transparency at 600 nm) were observed. Also, important parameters such as water vapor permeability (WVP), swelling degree, water solubility and UV-barrier properties were found to be adequate for food packaging application. Similarly, enhanced antioxidant activity with 27.2 % and 73.6 % radical scavenging against DPPH and ABTS radicals respectively was observed for the synthesized Cs-VE film. The film showed antimicrobial activity against both bacteria and fungi. These results along with food packaging studies on Grewia asiatica fruit established the developed Cs-VE film as a suitable candidate for active food packaging application.

Synthesis and self-assembly of perylene-cored poly(amidoamine) dendrimers with poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]-modified arms as fluorescent bio-imaging probes and doxorubicin carriers

A poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer is prepared using a divergent method, with perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI) as luminescent core. The peripheral amines are modified using α-bromoisobutyryl bromide, allowing the dendrimers to act as macroinitiators for the synthesis of poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with three different degrees of polymerization. The successful synthesis is verified by conducting a range of analyses, including Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additionally, the impact of changes in solution pH on the self-assembly of dendrimers is explored. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) showed unique morphologies, including spherical micelles and cubic-hexagonal structures, at varying pH levels. The self-assembled dendrimers are utilized to load doxorubicin (DOX) and the drug release kinetics are studied under various conditions. The biocompatibility of the dendrimers is assessed using the MTT assay against SH-SY5Y cells. Additionally, higher dendrimer generations improved the solubility, compatibility, and fluorescent properties of the core. The dendrimers' capacity for cellular uptake and fluorescence imaging is also evaluated using SH-SY5Y cells, demonstrating their effectiveness in live-cell fluorescence imaging.

Investigation into the swelling and dissolution behaviour of Polymer-Excipient blends of PEO Utilising dissolution imaging

The use of dissolution imaging in analysing the behaviourof hydrophilic matrices and various types of excipients is examined in this study.The main aim was to investigate how different ratios of excipients with different solubility properties, such as lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, and dicalcium phosphate impact on the swelling properties and propranolol hydrochloride (PPN) release characteristics of polyethylene oxide matrix compacts. The surface properties of the compacts were investigated using a focus variation microscope after which dissolution studies were conducted to determine compact swelling and drug release properties. Smr2, a surface parameter representing the percentage of deeper valley structures on the surface, was used to calculate the proportion of the compact surface available for retaining lubrication (dissolution media in this case). Smr2 values of 83 and 84 were measured for the 1:1 and 1:3 PEO lactose compacts, respectively. This parameter utilised in this experiment gives an indication of the compact surface available for the initial hydration process and suggests a higher rate of hydration for the 1:1 and 1:3 PEO lactose compacts. The swelling studies revealed that a higher PEO ratio (3:1) resulted in more extensive gel layer formation as compared to the 1:3 compacts. All PEO:excipient compacts exhibited faster drug release than the compacts comprising PEO as the sole excipient. The quantity of PEO present was thus crucial in influencing the capacity of the matrix to control the release of PPN. This study underscores the potential for modifying drug release by altering the quantity of the matrix gel-former (PEO in this case) as well as the type or ratio of excipient used. The study also highlights the novelty of using UV dissolution imaging to image and quantify swelling and drug dissolution processes as well as providing qualitative observations such as channel formation which can support formulation optimisation and mechanistic understanding.

Mild and Subtle Synthesis of β-Ketoenamine COFs with High Crystallinity and Controllable Solubility Guided by a Monomer Preassembly Strategy.

The stability of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) is crucial for their applications in demanding environments. However, increasing the stability of COFs often comes with challenges such as higher synthesis difficulty, lower crystal quality, and reduced controllability during synthesis, making it difficult to regulate dimensions and morphology, thereby impacting the processing and shaping of stable COFs. Herein, the study presents a novel confined polymerization approach guided by hydrogen bonding preassembly to synthesize a soluble and stable COF featuring β-ketoenamine linkage. The presence of relatively weaker hydrogen bonds accelerates the orderly arrangement of monomers, ensuring appropriate spacing, and orientations among functional groups. This facilitates efficient covalent polymerization, leading to the creation of the framework while minimizing the "self-correction" mechanism during crystal growth, thereby enhancing the efficiency of COF synthesis. Furthermore, this method offers precise control over the size of the synthesized COF. The resulting crystalline COF can be toggled between dissolution and precipitation states, facilitating the fabrication of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) through leveraging the solubility properties of COF. Overall, this pioneering strategy yields valuable insights for advancing weak bond assembly-mediated confined polymerization approaches, the controlled synthesis of stable COFs, and the preparation and processing of soluble COFs in diverse applications.

Aging behaviour and mechanical characterisation of maltenes and asphaltenes

The analysis of bitumen is challenging due to its complex and ever-changing chemical composition. Fractionation techniques based on solubility and polarity properties facilitate the examination process, shedding more light on composition, structure and aging behaviour. However, these separation experiments are often performed post-aging, making it difficult to understand the behaviour and mechanical properties of individual subfractions. Hence, the focus of this study was to separate maltenes and asphaltenes in large quantities and age them at various temperatures (80, 130 and 180°C), followed by analysis with chemical and mechanical methods. Results showed that both maltenes and asphaltenes display viscoelastic properties: maltenes are more viscous, while asphaltenes are more elastic compared to the base binder. Maltenes aged at 180°C became extremely stiff with a nearly temperature-independent phase angle, while asphaltenes aged at 130°C exhibited the stiffest and most elastic behaviour. Decomposition of sulfoxides at high temperatures was observed for both fractions, while additional decarboxylation occurred in the asphaltenes. During the aging of the maltenes, a significant amount of asphaltenes were formed, which most likely originated from both the aromatics and resins fraction. Furthermore, no major discrepancies between oxidation products in bitumen and in the maltenes were detected, indicating that asphaltenes might not crucially influence the qualitative aging process. This study demonstrated a possible approach for obtaining bituminous subfractions in large quantities, allowing for a detailed analysis of their mechanical and aging properties.

Synthesis of 6-dialkylaminopyrimidine carboxamide analogues and their anti-tubercular properties

AbstractTuberculosis (TB) continues to be a threat to global health stability. Pyrimidine carboxamides have demonstrated potent anti-tubercular properties against clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB. Herein, we report a follow-up study on the synthesis of pyrimidine carboxamide molecular analogues and their anti-TB evaluation. In total, a library consisting of 37 new compounds is reported. Seven compounds (7b, 7d, 7m, 7p, 7q, 7aa, and 7ah) demonstrated excellent in vitro activities with MIC90 values below 1.00 µM. Apart from compound 7ah, compounds with improved aqueous solubility properties had lower anti-TB potency. Preliminary mode of action studies using bioluminescence assays indicate that the active compounds do not affect the integrity of mycobacterial DNA or the cell wall. The active compounds were also found to be bactericidal against replicating H37Rv Mtb strain.

Cyclodextrin effects on the distribution, solubility and transport properties of umifenovir

The present study was initiated by an ambiguous opinion on the therapeutic efficacy of antiviral and potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug umifenovir (UMF). With a high degree of probability, low efficacy of UMF can be due to its poor solubility and, as follows, inefficient bioavailability after oral administration. In our investigation we aimed at improving the UMF solubility with cyclodextrins and its correlation to distribution (1-octanol/buffer and n-hexane/buffer systems) and permeability (biomimetic PermeaPad barrier). The experiments demonstrated a strong dependence of the UMF solubility and distribution parameters on the pH of the aqueous medium. The solubility of UMF was maximally increased up to 11.2-fold and 29.5-fold in HP-β-CD and SBE-β-CD solutions, respectively, with buffer pH 7.4. The distribution tests with the additions of several CDs concentrations to the buffer phase allowed to determine the intrinsic value of the distribution coefficient - the parameter important for the evaluation of the compound lipophilicity. The permeability-distribution interplay demonstrated the permeability to be mainly governed by the high lipophilicity of UMF.

Jicama (Pachyrhizus spp.), a nonconventional starch: Effects of citric acid and heat−moisture treatment on properties of starch and its application in film

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThis study investigated the effects of citric acid (CA) and heat–moisture treatment (HMT) on the properties of jicama starch (JS). Furthermore, it explores the potential of modified jicama starch for film preparation.FindingsThe amylose content of the JS increases after HMT and decreases for CA‐modified starch. CA and HMT modification lowered the swelling power, solubility, peak viscosity, breakdown viscosity, final viscosity, setback viscosity, and crystallinity percentage compared to the native JS. After modification, there was an increase in the transition and pasting temperature of JS. The strong peak for the control and treated JS was observed at around 1008 cm−1 wavenumber in the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. SEM showed the overlapping and clusters of the granules in all the modified JS. Modified JS‐based film significantly affects the water solubility, barrier, and mechanical properties of film. The film's SEM showed that the CA‐ and HMT‐modified films had more homogeneous surfaces than the native JS film.ConclusionsHMT and CA modification significantly impacted JS properties and improved the film properties for further application.Significance and NoveltyThis study's findings will facilitate selecting an appropriate treatment to enhance the properties of JS for applications in food formulation and sustainable packaging.

Enhanced performance of low-dielectric siloxane-polyimide copolymers: Synthesis and properties

Low-dielectric polyimides (PI) films with outstanding overall performance are attractive for next generation microelectronic applications. Herein, a series of two different FPIs and BPIs derived from 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (ODA) and two different functional dianhydrides, 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) biphthalic anhydride (6FDA) and 4,4′-(4,4′-isopropyldiphenoxy) biphthalic anhydride (BPADA), respectively, were synthesized by a conventional two-step methodology that included thermoimidatization. Additionally, employing aminopropyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane PDMS (molecular weight = 1000) as the source of siloxane-oxygen bonds, a series of polyimide siloxane (SiFPIs and SiBPIs) copolymers were synthesized by varying the siloxane content (ranging from 0 to 5 wt%) within the copolymer structure. The effects of siloxane bond on the thermal, solubility, water resistance, dielectric and mechanical properties of polyimide were investigated systematically. The integration of siloxane significantly enhanced the solubility of these copolymers in polar aprotic solvents (DMAC, DMF, NMP), expanding their applicability in diverse processing environments. Crucially, these copolymers exhibited remarkably low dielectric constants—2.90 for SiFPI at 3% PDMS and 2.92 for SiBPI at 4% PDMS—coupled with low loss values, positioning them as prime candidates for advanced microelectronic applications. All the composite films have high thermal stability near pure PI. The introduction of PMDS into PI can improve the elongation at break and at the same time, the composite films still remained with higher modulus and tensile strength. Extensive hydrophobicity assessments through contact angle and water absorption studies underscored the copolymers’ superior moisture resistance, a critical parameter for their potential deployment in high-performance, environmentally sensitive electronic components.

Cocrystal screening of benznidazole based on electronic transition, molecular reactivity, hydrogen bonding, and stability.

Screening of cocrystals of active pharmaceutical ingredients is important in the development of pharmaceutical compounds because it improves bioavailability, stability, solubility, and many other physicochemical properties. In this work, quantum chemical calculations were utilized for the computational evaluation of the cocrystal screening of benznidazole (BZN) API via hydrogen bonding with four coformers (maleic acid, malonic acid, oxalic acid, and salicylic acid), and they contain carboxylic groups. The nitrogen of the imidazole ring in benznidazole and the carboxylic group of the coformer form a hetero-synthon connected by a strong hydrogen bond. The strength of the hydrogen bonding interaction O-H…N was measured using various tools. It was found that in comparison to BZN cocrystals with malonic acid, oxalic acid, and salicylic acid, the O-H…N interaction in the BZN-maleic acid cocrystal had higher interaction energy, indicating it had stronger hydrogen bonding. The strength of the hydrogen bond O-H…N for synthons was discovered to be more beneficial than the C-H…O interaction, as confirmed by ESP analysis. The BZN-salicylic acid cocrystal was found to be more reactive and polarizable, whereas the BZN-malonic acid cocrystal was more stable. Cocrystals of benznidazole exhibited better physicochemical characteristics than API benznidazole, as indicated by electron transition properties between the most significant orbitals. The computational evaluation for the screening of benznidazole cocrystals was performed in Gaussian 16 software using density functional theory (DFT) with the hybrid functional B3LYP and the basis set 6-311 + + G(d,p). The UV-Vis absorption spectrum in solvent water was analyzed using the TD-DFT/6-311 + + G(d,p) method to determine the influence of the solvent in cocrystals using a polarizable continuum model. The strength of the hydrogen bonding interactions O-H…N in each of those mentioned cocrystals was used to screen the cocrystals using tools such as thermodynamic probability, ESP analysis, QTAIM analysis, and NBO analysis. The pairing energy of interaction was measured by determining H-bond donor ( ) and H-bond acceptor ) parameters for hydrogen bonds from maxima and minima on the ESP surface. GaussView 06 software was used to create, visualize, and plot the optimized structure of the cocrystal and HOMO-LUMO orbitals. The AIMALL (10.05.04) software package generated the molecular graph for intra- and intermolecular interactions. The RDG-scatter plot, MEP map, and ELF plot were rendered from Multiwfn 8.0 and VMD 1.9.1 software.

Enhancing perovskite solar cells performance through tailored design: pyridine-functionalized phenothiazine derivatives with modified end-capped acceptor moieties

Abstract Future energy resources are being developed using clean and renewable energies since these sources offer environmentally friendly and sustainable choices to traditional sources like fossil fuels. Among various renewable energy sources, solar energy is becoming increasingly efficient with advancements in organic photovoltaic systems. Organic semiconductor materials, which require high electron affinity and possess desirable optical and electronic properties, are crucial for these systems. Researchers are constantly trying to increase the role of photovoltaic materials in optoelectronic applications. With current energy demands, there is a shift from traditional solar cells to perovskite photovoltaic materials due to their significant contributions to renewable energy. Therefore, we have designed a new stream of donor- π -acceptor (D- π -A) type pyridine functionalized phenothiazine derivates-based donor materials, resulting in nine fabricated HTMs (PT1-PT9), by substituting the terminals with thiophene and acceptors moieties respectively to enhance the photovoltaic properties of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). All newly proposed materials were computationally examined to estimate their optoelectronics, geometrical, and photovoltaic properties using quantum chemical approach, and then compared to the reference. For organic hole-transporting materials, a heterocyclic phenothiazine core (PTZ) has been proven effective as it has feasible structure modifications, excellent electron-donating properties, and straightforward synthesis. The study of electronic parameters (density of state, frontier molecular orbitals, and electrostatic potential ESP), optical properties (light harvesting efficiency, absorption maxima, dipole moment, and first excitation energies) and charge transfer characteristics (electron–hole overlap, transition density matrix) of designed materials revealed that there is an increase in absorption range under the influence of terminal acceptor groups, with lowering the bandgap values compared to the reference. A density of state (DOS) graph and HOMO–LUMO schema are evidence of the electron-withdrawing effect of acceptor moieties. Transition density matrix (TDM) analysis proves reliable charger transfer in designed molecules. Reorganization energy values for designed molecules are lower than the reference making charge transfer carriers more efficient. Additionally, solvation-free energy values (−17.28 to −33.19 Kcalmol−1) and higher dipole moments suggest better surface-wetting and solubility properties. In general, the fabricated materials have exceptional charge mobilities with higher absorption and reduced band gap values that make them suitable and stable candidates for photovoltaic devices.

Lipase Substrate Anchoring Dynamics Guided the Rational Design of Novel Deep Eutectic Solvents for Glucose Ester Synthesis.

Glucose esters, heralded for their emulsifying and solubilizing properties, have found increasing application in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic sectors. However, the environmental impact of chemical synthesis and the problem of enzyme inactivation in enzymatic synthesis have hindered their application. To this end, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) with stabilized enzyme activity and better solubility properties are considered a promising solution. In the study, 12 kinds of hydrophilic DESs and 22 kinds of hydrophobic DESs were screened, and we examined their efficiency in the synthesis of glucose esters. The results indicated that d,l-menthol-based DESs have excellent performance, with the highest yield of 92.85%. The molecular dynamics simulations suggested that it can be attributed to DESs changing the size of substrate binding pocket, which in turn affects the substrate anchoring ability and the catalytic efficiency of lipase. To further evaluate the effects of the solvent on the substrate anchoring ability of enzymes, a novel strategy, namely, substrate anchoring index, which is based on the stability of the tetrahedral intermediate, was proposed and used for the designing of more efficient DESs. Fortunately, novel DESs based on cyclohexanone (menthol analogues) were successfully developed with a yield of 98.85%.

Pulmonary delivery of forsythin-phospholipid complexes improves the lung anti-inflammatory efficacy in mice by enhancing dissolution and lung tissue affinity

Forsythin, currently in phase II clinical trials in China for the treatment of the common cold and influenza, faces challenges in achieving adequate lung drug exposure due to its limited dissolution and permeability, thereby restricting its therapeutic efficacy. The objective of this work was to formulate a forsythin-phospholipid complex (FPC) to enhance its dissolution properties and lung affinity with a particular view to improving pulmonary drug exposure and anti-inflammatory response. The results revealed that forsythin reacted with dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine to form a stable, nanosized FPC suspension. This formulation significantly improved the in vitro drug's dissolution, cellular uptake, and lung affinity compared to its uncomplexed form. Intratracheal administration of FPC in a mouse model of acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in a substantial increase in drug exposure to lung tissues (39.6-fold) and immune cells in the epithelial lining fluid (198-fold) compared to intraperitoneal injection. In addition, FPC instillation exhibited superior local anti-inflammatory effects, leading to improved survival rates among mice with LPS-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome, outperforming both instilled forsythin and injected FPC. Overall, this work demonstrated the potential of phospholipid complexes as a viable option for developing inhalation products for drugs with limited solubility and permeability properties.

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

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