Search Results (194)

Antigen detection provides rapid and convenient diagnosis of respiratory infections. This study develops an innovative dual-fluorescence aptasensing method based on polydopamine-functionalized MXene (PDA-MXene) for the simultaneous detection of spike protein and hemagglutinin protein. The method employs green- and red-emitting quantum dot (QD) probes as fluorescence reporters, and the PDA-MXene as an effective adsorption and separation substrate. Coupled with a centrifugation-assisted separation strategy, this design method reduces background interference and enhances detection reliability. The method demonstrates good analytical performance, with detection limits of 0.82 ng/mL for spike protein and 2.11 ng/mL for hemagglutinin protein in single-channel mode. The dual-channel mode enables reliable and simultaneous quantification of both target proteins with minimal spectral cross-talk. Furthermore, this method exhibits high specificity against interferents including ions, proteins, and toxins. Artificial saliva, chosen as real sample, is spiked with target proteins to investigate the practical applicability of the method, showing recovery rates for both target proteins between 100 and 114 sensing strategy is simple to operate and allows the detection of new targets by simply replacing the azide-modified aptamer lyophilized powder. It therefore holds promising application for the simultaneous detection of multiple proteins in point-of-care testing and health monitoring fields. Full article

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is widely used in cosmetic and topical biomedical applications; however, conventional preparation methods rely heavily on centrifugation, which becomes operationally demanding when processing large blood volumes. In this study, a sedimentation-assisted strategy was investigated as an alternative to the initial centrifugation step for industrial-scale production of porcine PRP lyophilized powder. Whole blood anticoagulated with ACD-A was subjected to gravity sedimentation for 6–12 h, achieving >99.6% erythrocyte removal while maintaining a platelet recovery rate of >64%, comparable to conventional centrifugation. For large-volume batches (e.g., 100 L), this approach significantly reduced operator-intensive handling time. ACD-A outperformed other anticoagulants in preserving platelet integrity and preventing hemolysis during prolonged sedimentation. These findings demonstrate that gravity sedimentation represents a practical, scalable, and cost-effective alternative for the initial separation step in large-scale manufacturing of cosmetic-grade PRP raw material, with quality controlled by TGF-β1 concentration as the key release specification. Full article

Lyophilized black goji berry powder (LBGBP) cultivated in Serbia was evaluated and optimized as a fortification agent in cookie formulation. Nutritional, chemical, technical and biological characteristics, in vitro release and storage stability were analyzed. LBGBP is characterized by a phenolic-rich profile dominated by acylated anthocyanins, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-O-CA), and spermidine-based phenylamides (S1, S2), which are partially retained in LBGBP-enriched cookies and enhance their functional properties. The substitution of different white flour shares with LBGBP in cookies statistically significantly improved their overall nutritional profile by increasing protein, dietary fiber, minerals and bioactive compounds, concurrently reducing fat, sugar and sodium levels. With the increase in the LBGBP in cookies, total phenolics and total anthocyanin content increased to the levels of 58.09 mg GAE/100 g and 10.12 mg CGE/100 g of cookies, respectively. The overall effect of LBGBP cookie fortification led to softer, more crumbly cookies with significant improvement in antioxidant and antidiabetic activity. The Z-score analysis was chosen to perform multi-criteria cookie formulation optimization with the goal of maximal functional enrichment, with minimal decrease in technological quality. The 10% LBGBP substitution was calculated to produce optimal overall quality, obtaining 65.96% of maximal score in comparison to the control sample of only 32.91%. Full article

Background/Objectives: Curcuma longa is widely recognized for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound-related biological effects. The present study aimed to compare two extracts prepared from organic turmeric powder (Curcuma longa), using distilled water (CUR-H₂O) and 96% ethanol (CUR-EtOH), in terms of extraction yield, phytochemical profile, antimicrobial activity, and in vitro biological behavior relevant to future oral-health-oriented applications. Methods: The extracts were prepared by maceration followed by ultrasound-assisted processing, concentration, and lyophilization. Their antioxidant potential (AOP) was evaluated by DPPH assay, total phenolic content (TPC) by the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and targeted polyphenolic profile by UHPLC-MS. Antimicrobial activity was assessed by broth microdilution against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus oralis, and Candida albicans. In vitro biological activity was investigated on HaCaT keratinocytes. Results: CUR-EtOH extract showed a higher extraction yield than CUR-H₂O (5.13% vs. 2.01%), higher AOP (69.54 ± 0.49% vs. 53.35 ± 0.30%), and a higher TPC (163.87 ± 0.32 vs. 78.05 ± 0.28 mg GAE/g dry extract). Consistent with these TPC results, UHPLC-MS revealed a richer targeted polyphenolic profile in CUR-EtOH extract, particularly in terms of p-coumaric and ferulic acid derivatives. CUR-EtOH extract was more active against the tested oral streptococci, especially S. mutans (MIC 10 µL vs. 60 µL for CUR-H₂O), whereas CUR-H₂O extract showed a slightly better antifungal effect against C. albicans (MIC 60 µL vs. 80 µL). In HaCaT cells, CUR-H₂O extract exhibited the more favorable compatibility profile, while CUR-EtOH extract showed stronger cytotoxicity, despite promoting faster wound-gap closure at 10 µg/mL. Conclusions: The extraction solvent strongly influenced both the chemical profile and biological behavior of the turmeric-powder-derived extracts. These findings suggest that solvent selection may be used to tailor the balance between antimicrobial efficacy and epithelial compatibility in future turmeric-powder-derived preparations intended for oral-health-oriented applications. Full article

Enriching honey with plant additives allows for increasing its antioxidant potential in an additive-dependent manner and at the same time shaping new sensory properties, increasing consumer acceptability. Known spices and by-products from fruit processing can also be used to produce such additives. Combined dry extracts of clove buds and mandarin peels were used to enrich antioxidant properties and to flavor rapeseed honey. Four different extracts combining both raw products were produced by ultrasound-assisted extraction using 50% vol. ethanol and converted into powder by vacuum concentration followed by lyophilization. The obtained extracts were evaluated for antioxidant activity (FRAP and DPPH assays) as well as total polyphenols content. Phenolic HPLC-DAD profiles were compared and selected polyphenols (syringic acid, ellagic acid, hesperidin and eugenol) were quantified. The dry extracts were incorporated into rapeseed honey (0.25% w/w) during the creaming process. No significant changes in color and texture were visually noted; whereas, some changes (p < 0.05) in titrable acidity and electrical conductivity were observed. A significant increase (p < 0.05) in antioxidant activity (from 4 to 6-fold) and the beneficial enrichment with well-known bioactive compounds (mainly eugenol and hesperidin) was observed for all produced flavored honeys. Moreover, tested properties of the enriched honeys remained stable during 6 months of storage. The two honeys with the most improved antioxidant activity showed better sensory characteristics and consumer acceptability compared to pure rapeseed honey, but slight extract type-dependent differences were noted. It was shown that the proposed sustainable technological process using waste mandarin peels can lead to the development of a new product referred to as “plant-enriched honey” with increased health-promoting value belonging to the functional food segment. Full article

Background/Objectives: This investigation aims to assess the potential for repurposing nitazoxanide (NIT) as a treatment for COVID-19. NIT was loaded into terpene-enriched chondrosomes (TECs) to assess its anti-hCoV-19 activity through pulmonary delivery. Methods: NIT-TECs were then fabricated utilizing the ethanol injection method. Using a D-optimal design, the effects of factors on entrapment efficiency (EE%), particle size (PS), and zeta potential (ZP) were determined, and the optimal formulation was selected. Results: The optimum TEC exhibited an EE% of 98.87 ± 0.69, a PS of 129.43 ± 5.43 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.433 ± 0.022, and a ZP of −25.99 ± 0.99 mV. The optimum TEC was lyophilized to attain a dry powder. Further, the differential scanning calorimetry test confirmed that NIT was transformed from crystalline to amorphous form inside the optimum TEC. In addition, the mucoadhesion test confirmed the ability of the optimum TECs to adhere to pulmonary tissues. Additionally, NIT binding to the active site of SARS-CoV-2 enzymes was investigated using in silico analysis. When compared to NIT, the aerodynamic characteristics of the lyophilized optimum TECs employing the cascade impactor showed superior residence in the lungs. Conclusions: These findings suggest that loading NIT into TECs enhanced its antiviral activity, as indicated by the in vitro cytotoxicity study. Overall, the results point to NIT-loaded TECs as a potentially effective pulmonary delivery system for COVID-19 treatment. Full article

Gluten-free (GF) products developed for individuals with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity often suffer from low protein and mineral content. Fish proteins offer a promising solution to address these deficiencies; however, the characteristic “fishy odor” and related technological challenges limit consumer acceptance. This study aimed to develop an innovative GF pasta with improved nutritional density and acceptable sensory quality by incorporating deodorized and lyophilized trout powder. GF pasta formulations were prepared using buckwheat flour, xanthan gum, and 5% or 10% odorless trout powder. Vinegar pretreatment was applied to reduce fish odor, while lyophilization was chosen to minimize nutrient losses. The samples were analyzed for nutritional composition, techno-functional properties, in vitro digestibility, and sensory attributes. Results showed that trout powder significantly increased protein and ash content compared to the control (p < 0.05). A slight darkening was observed in color analysis due to fish pigments and buckwheat phenolics, but overall visual stability remained high. In vitro digestibility revealed enhanced protein digestibility (p < 0.05) and a slight reduction in starch digestibility. Sensory evaluation demonstrated that odor scores (8) at 10% trout inclusion remained close to the control, reversing the commonly reported decline in acceptance with increasing fish content. These findings indicate that combining vinegar pretreatment with lyophilization enables the incorporation of fish proteins into GF pasta without sensory disadvantages, while simultaneously improving nutritional quality. Full article

Paclitaxel is a first-line anticancer drug, but its low water solubility impedes bioavailability. The purpose of this study is to estalish a delivery strategy via carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS)-encapsulated 6-deoxy-6-mercapto-β-cyclodextrins (dmβCDs)-modified concave cubic gold (CCGs) to achieve PTX release. CCGs were initially synthesized by the one-pot method and further modified by dmβCDs, the dmβCDs can effectively capture PTX molecules, followed by encapsulation with CMCS, and then prepare pH-responsive CMCS/dmβCDs/CCGs nanocarriers after lyophilization. Results indicated that desirable hexagonal CCGs with 50 ± 5 nm size can be obtained by adjusting H₂O₂ and HClO concentration. FT-IR, Raman and XRD spectra had confirmed dmβCDs successfully grafted to the surface of CCGs. Drug loading experiments demonstrated that the nanocarrier encapsulated PTX in amorphous powder or molecular form have a capacity of 55.05 µg/mL. Drug release experiments revealed PTX release from CMCS/dmβCDs/CCGs nanocarriers carrying a typical pH-responsive profile and indicating earlier release in an acidic environment than in a neutral or alkaline environment. The proposed method can be utilized to effectually achieve high-efficiency solubilization and targeted release inside tumor cells of PTX. Full article

Oak trees are widely distributed nationwide and account for approximately 24% of the total forest area in South Korea. However, these species are currently threatened by oak wilt disease caused by Dryadomyces quercus-mongolicae, leading to significant economic and ecological losses in the forestry industry. This study evaluated the effectiveness of culture suspension and lyophilized powder formulations of Streptomyces blastmyceticus in controlling oak wilt disease on Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica). Field experiments were conducted using trunk and root injection methods in Q. mongolica plantations. The non-conductive area (NCA) of sapwood and colonization rate of the oak wilt fungus were analyzed and compared across treatments. In the Chuncheon experiment, Kangwon province, only the root injection of fungicide showed a significant difference compared to the culture suspension treatments. There were no significant differences between culture suspension and lyophilized powder treatments in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. Specifically, both preventive and curative treatments using culture suspension and lyophilized powder of S. blastmyceticus resulted in significantly different NCA values compared to the negative control (8.7%) and positive control (88.5%). The NCA for culture suspension ranged from 33.3% to 49.9%, and for lyophilized powder, from 37.3% to 43.9%. The colonization rate of the oak wilt fungus was lowest (9.72%) in the preventive treatment using lyophilized powder via trunk injection. For the culture suspension, the lowest colonization rate (20.83%) was observed in the curative treatment using trunk injection. These findings suggest that the lyophilized powder formulation of S. blastmyceticus efficiently suppresses the progression of oak wilt disease under field conditions. Full article

Agri-food industries generate substantial quantities of side streams such as peels, pods, seeds, and leaves. Traditionally regarded as waste, these by-products are now recognized as rich sources of bioactive compounds—often at higher concentrations than those found in edible plant parts. Their recovery reduces environmental impact and enables the development of sustainable ingredients for food and health-related applications, in line with circular economy principles. This study presents the design and metabolomic characterization of a novel lyophilized powder derived from Mediterranean and locally cultivated plant-based by-products (named BIOMEDER), including orange, lemon, olive leaves, carob pods, shiitake mushroom, and salicornia. A multiplatform metabolomics approach was applied, combining high-resolution UPLC-QTOF-MS, UHPLC-QTRAP-MS, SPME-GC-MS, and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy to comprehensively profile phytochemicals, nutrients, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The powder was found to be rich in flavonoids (e.g., luteolin-7-O-glucoside, hesperidin, eriocitrin), phenolic acids, amino acids (e.g., proline, GABA), organic acids (e.g., malic and citric acid), and over 40 VOCs associated with antioxidant and sensory functions. Notably, high concentrations of these compounds suggest potential health-promoting properties. These findings might support the formulation of a potential functional plant-based supplement and reinforce the value of integrating diverse agro-industrial by-products into sustainable, health-oriented food solutions. Full article

The global shift toward antibiotic-free poultry production has created an urgent need for sustainable feed additives that promote gut health and productivity. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a novel double-layered microencapsulated phytosynbiotic (DMP) comprising Tiliacora triandra extract, probiotics, and cereal by-products using lyophilization. In Experiment 1, we investigated the effects of cell wall materials (corn, defatted rice bran, and wheat bran) and different particle sizes (0.6 and 1.0 mm) on the physicochemical characteristics and probiotic encapsulation efficiency. Results revealed that wheat bran, particularly at the smaller particle size of 0.6 mm, enhanced probiotic viability, probiotic stability under simulated gastrointestinal and thermal conditions, and nutrient retention. Compared with other materials, wheat bran also provided superior powder flowability, lower density, and favorable color attributes. In Experiment 2, we assessed the influence of probiotic strains (P. acidilactici, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TISTR 926, and Streptococcus thermophilus TISTR 894) on functional properties of the DMP. All strains exhibited high encapsulation efficiency and stability during gastrointestinal simulation, thermal exposure, and storage. However, P. acidilactici had superior fermentation kinetics and produced greater levels of beneficial short-chain fatty acids, especially acetic and butyric acids. Antibacterial activity was strain-dependent, with notable inhibitory effects against Gram-positive pathogens, primarily through bacteriostatic mechanisms. Overall, these findings confirm that the developed DMP formulations effectively stabilize probiotics and bioactive phytochemicals, offering a promising strategy for enhancing gut health and performance in antibiotic-free broiler production systems. Full article

Pulmonary drug delivery represents a promising approach in the treatment of respiratory diseases, allowing for passive targeting and enhanced drug efficacy. Background/Objectives: The aim of the present study was to develop inhalable dry powders from lyophilized sildenafil citrate (SC)-loaded liposomes made from phosphatidylcholine and either cholesterol (CH) or resveratrol (RSV). Methods: Liposomes were prepared via a pH gradient method to increase drug entrapment efficiency and drug loading, and then the liposomes were lyophilized using different proportions of ethanol, mannitol, and lactose as excipients. The resulting dry cakes were converted into powders and evaluated for aerodynamic performance using a custom-designed air-blowing device. Notably, this is the first time that resveratrol has been used as a substitute for cholesterol in SC-loaded liposomes. Results: Our results demonstrate that RSV is a suitable liposome bilayer component and improves drug loading. Our findings prove that lyophilized cakes containing liposomes produce a dry powder that is suitable for aerosolization with potential application to pulmonary delivery of sildenafil citrate. The results suggest that RSV represents a potential alternative to traditional cholesterol-based liposomal formulations. Conclusions: This work presents a novel strategy for the pulmonary delivery of sildenafil, using biocompatible and FDA-approved mannitol and lactose for this administration route. Full article

This research focuses on the additional valorization of olive leaves, a by-product of regular olive pruning, by increasing their secondary metabolite content through the combined application of biochar and a phenolic extract from olive leaves. A suspension of biochar, obtained by the pyrolysis of grapevine pruning residues, was prepared by mixing it in demineralized water (1.5 g; 5 L; 24 h). The phenolic extract was obtained by extracting lyophilized and ground olive leaves in demineralized water (50 g; 5 L; 24 h), while the combined preparation was obtained in an analogous manner (1.5 g biochar; 50 g olive leaf powder; 5 L water; 24 h). Treatments were applied at the beginning of July, 50 days after anthesis (May 16th) and included the following: (i) control treatment (demineralized water), (ii) biochar solution, (iii) phenolic extract solution, and (iv) a combined aqueous preparation of biochar and phenolic extract, all with the addition of a wetting agent. Trees of the olive cultivars Leccino and Istarska bjelica were sprayed with the corresponding preparation until runoff. Olive leaves were sampled three weeks after treatment (July 26th) and, after washing and drying, and were prepared for LC-MSMS analysis. Both biochar-based treatments induced the most potent effects, although responses differed between cultivars. In particular, apigenin derivatives, hydroxytyrosol, luteolin-7-rutinoside, and the secoiridoid oleacein showed apparent differences between biochar treatments and the control. Overall, higher concentrations of the sum of detected secoiridoids were observed in the leaf samples of ‘Istarska bjelica’ under BCH and BCH+PH treatments, whereas no such differences were found for ‘Leccino’ cultivar. Further research is needed to clarify the cultivar-dependent response of secondary metabolism in these olive cultivars and the mechanisms by which biochar foliar application modulates metabolite profiles. Full article

Background/Objectives: Consuming apples regularly has positive effects on human health due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which have been associated with their phenolic composition. To enhance the bioactive properties of apple phenolic compounds, high-pressure processing (HPP) has been studied as a tool to improve their extraction during gastrointestinal digestion with the aim of increasing their bioaccessibility and the amount that reaches the colon unchanged, which can serve as substrates for bacterial fermentation. This study aimed to analyze the impact of an HPP-apple ingredient on the metabolism of human gut microbiota using an in vitro dynamic simulator of gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation (GID-CF) that allowed us to study the three colon regions separately (ascending—AC; transverse—TC; and descending—DC). Methods: Apples were HPP-treated (400 MPa/5 min) and lyophilized to obtain an HPP-apple ingredient in powder form. A GID-CF was employed to study the continuous intake of the HPP-apple ingredient for 14 days at 37.5 g/day. Results: The HPP-apple ingredient produced a significant accumulation of phenolic metabolites mainly in the DC, with benefits on human health. The main phenolic metabolites formed were phloroglucinol, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetic acid, 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid, and 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid. A PCA revealed a perfect separation of the three colon regions based on the phenolic precursors and metabolites. The microbiota-modulatory effects were attributed to the increase in Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. populations and the butyric acid (SCFA) concentration. Conclusions: The results obtained highlight the health benefits and potential prebiotic-like effect of the HPP-apple ingredient on the gut microbiota. Full article

This study investigated the effects of different microencapsulation wall materials on the physicochemical, textural, thermal, and microstructural properties of probiotic ice cream during frozen storage. Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 was encapsulated using lyophilization with whole milk powder, skim milk powder, whey powder, or sorbitol, and added to the ice cream mix at 1% (w/w). Five formulations were produced (control and four encapsulated variants) and analyzed over 90–150 days of storage at −18 °C. The highest firmness (41.96 g) and consistency (58.65 g·s) values were observed in the skim milk powder group, whereas sorbitol decreased viscosity and increased overrun. Melting resistance improved during storage, particularly in skim milk powder samples, where the complete melting time increased to 87.35 min. DSC results showed significantly higher enthalpy in whey powder samples, while sorbitol reduced ice crystal growth. Cryo-SEM images confirmed smoother, denser microstructures in formulations with milk powders and sorbitol. Encapsulation markedly enhanced probiotic survival: while the control decreased from 5.04 to 2.18 log CFU/g, encapsulated samples maintained counts above the therapeutic threshold (≥6 log CFU/g) up to 150 days, with the highest viability in whole and skim milk powder. Overall, milk-based encapsulation systems provided both cryoprotection and quality enhancement, demonstrating that microencapsulation is an effective strategy to produce stable probiotic ice creams with improved structural and technological attributes. Full article