Search Results (36)

The phase-change solidification plugging material (PSPM), a novel type of plugging material for severe fluid loss in demanding formations, necessitates performance enhancement and deeper insight into its hydration mechanism. In this paper, with a foundational formula comprising a nucleating agent (S1), activator (M1), and deionized water, a comprehensive investigation was conducted. This involved basic performance testing, including fluidity, setting or thickening time, hydration heat analysis, SEM and XRD for hydration products, and conduction of kinetics model. The focus was on analyzing the effects of three additives on system properties, hydration process, and hydration products, leading to the inference of the hydration mechanism of PSPM. It was found that the structure additives (SA) and flow pattern regulator (6301) did not partake in the hydration reaction, focusing instead on enhancing structure strength and maintaining slurry stability, respectively. Conversely, the phase regulator (BA) actively engaged in the hydration process, transitioning the system from the KG-N-D to the KG-D model, thereby extending the thickening time without altering the final hydration products. The morphology and composition of the products confirmed that SI and M1 dissolve in the aqueous solution and progressively form Mg(OH)₂ and MgSO₄·zMg(OH)₂·xH₂O. The slurry gradually solidifies, ultimately resulting in the formation of a high-strength consolidated body, thereby achieving the objective of lost circulation control. Full article

Psoriasis is an immune-related disorder that is marked by abnormal thickening of the skin, the rapid multiplication of keratinocytes, and complex interactions between immune cells and the affected areas. Although psoriasis cannot currently be cured, drugs can alleviate symptoms by regulating immune homeostasis and preventing comorbidities. There are many types of drugs to treat psoriasis: small-molecule drugs, including corticosteroids; retinoids; vitamin D analogs; and immunosuppressants, such as glucocorticoid ointment, tretinoin cream, methotrexate tablets, etc. Macromolecular biological drugs, such as Certolizumab, Secukinumab, Guselkumab, etc., include monoclonal antibodies that target various inflammatory signaling pathways. Compared with traditional small-molecule drugs, biological therapies offer better targeting and lower systemic side effects, but their high costs and invasive administration modes constrict their widespread use. Spesolimab is the latest biological agent used to target the interleukin-36 receptor (IL-36R) to be approved for market use, which significantly reduces the risk of general pustular psoriasis (GPP) flare by 84%. Additionally, there are several biological agents used to target the interleukin-23/T helper 17 cell pathway that have already entered Phase II and III clinical trials. At present, the first-line therapeutic strategy for mild psoriasis is topical administration. Systemic therapy and phototherapy are preferred for treating moderate to severe types. However, the current therapeutic drugs for psoriasis cannot completely meet the clinical needs. More advanced drug delivery systems with optimized target effects and better bioavailability are required. Nanocarriers are emerging for the delivery of proteins, nucleic acids, and cell-based therapies. In this review, we analyze the current status of psoriasis therapeutics and discuss novel delivery systems for diverse psoriasis drugs, as well as emerging cell-based therapies. We also summarize the therapeutic effectiveness of different delivery strategies. Full article

The stability of cement slurries under high-temperature conditions poses a significant engineering challenge in cementing operations. This study explored the development of a novel tetrameric thermosensitive thickening polymer (TTSTC) as a solution to this problem. Aqueous free radical polymerization was employed to synthesize the polymer. The base monomers 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS) and acrylamide (AM) were employed, in conjunction with the long-chain thermosensitive monomers octadecyldimethylallylammonium chloride (C18DMAAC) and N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP). The optimal synthesis conditions were determined by orthogonal experiments as follows: monomer molar ratio (AM:AMPS:C18DMAAC:NVP) = 15:10:5:5, initiator concentration of 16 wt%, cross-linker concentration of 0.45 wt%, pH 6, and polymerization temperature of 60 °C. The chemical structure of TTSTC was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), gel permeation chromatography, scanning electron microscopy, Zeta potential, and particle size measurement. The results verified the successful synthesis of the target polymer. Its thermal stability, thermosensitive thickening behavior, and salinity resistance were systematically investigated. Furthermore, the impact of TTSTC on the settling stability, rheological characteristics, and compressive strength of cement paste was assessed. The experimental findings demonstrated that TTSTC displayed noteworthy thermosensitive thickening properties at temperatures up to 279 °C, pH values ranging from 11 to 13, and NaCl/CaCl₂ concentrations between 0.05 and 0.5 g/L. The optimal performance of TTSTC was observed at mass fractions ranging from 0.6 to 0.8 wt%. When incorporated into the slurry at 0.6–1.0 wt%, TTSTC significantly improved the slurry settling stability, thickening properties, and 28d compressive strength at elevated temperatures compared with the control. When comparing the temperature-sensitive thickening performance of the newly developed treatment agent with that of the commercially available xanthan gum thickener, the results showed that for the cement slurry system containing the new treatment agent at a mass fraction of 0.6%, the reduction in consistency was 30.9% less than that of the cement slurry system with xanthan gum at a mass fraction of 0.6%. These findings indicate that TTSTC has the potential to function as a highly effective additive in cementing operations conducted in extreme environments, thereby enhancing the stability and dependability of such operations. Full article

Starch is among the most abundant natural compounds in nature after cellulose. Studies have shown that the structure and functions of starch differ extensively across and among botanical types, isolation procedures, and climate factors, resulting in starch with significant variations in its chemical, physical, morphological, thermal, and functional characteristics. To enhance its beneficial properties and address inherent limitations, starch is modified through various techniques, resulting in significant alterations to its chemical and physical characteristics. These structural modifications impart considerable technological and industrial versatility. In the food sector, modified starch serves as a thickener, shelf-life extender, fat replacer, texture modifier, gelling agent, and stabilizer. In non-food applications, it functions as a sizing agent, binder, disintegrant, absorbent, and adhesive and is employed in construction as a sealant and to improve material bonding strength. The demand for modified starch has surpassed that of its native counterpart, reflecting its growing market value and the industry’s interest in products with novel functional attributes and enhanced value. This study focuses on rice starch, highlighting its structure and composition and their impact on physicochemical properties and functionality. Additionally, it examines the enhancement of its techno-functional characteristics, achieved through various modification processes. Full article

The utilization of CO₂ foam gel fracturing fluid offers several significant advantages, including minimal reservoir damage, reduced water consumption during application, enhanced cleaning efficiency, and additional beneficial properties. However, several current CO₂ foam gel fracturing fluid systems face challenges, such as complex preparation processes and insufficient viscosity, which limit their proppant transport capacity. To address these issues, this work develops a novel CO₂ foam gel fracturing fluid system characterized by simple preparation and robust foam stability. This system was optimized by incorporating a thickening agent CZJ-1 in conjunction with a foaming agent YFP-1. The results of static sand-carrying experiments indicate that under varying temperatures and sand–fluid ratio conditions, the proppant settling velocity is significantly low. Furthermore, the static sand-carrying capacity of the CO₂ foam gel fracturing fluid exceeds that of the base fluid. The stable and dense foam gel effectively encapsulates the proppant, thereby improving sand-carrying capacity. In high-temperature shear tests, conducted at a shear rate of 170 s⁻¹ and a temperature of 110 °C for 90 min, the apparent viscosity of the CO₂ foam gel fracturing fluid remained above 20 mPa·s after shear, demonstrating excellent high-temperature shear resistance. This work introduces a novel CO₂ foam gel fracturing fluid system that is specifically tailored for low-permeability reservoir fracturing and extraction. The system shows significant promise for the efficient development of low-pressure, low-permeability, and water-sensitive reservoirs, as well as for the effective utilization and sequestration of CO₂. Full article

Bleeding resulting from surgical procedures or trauma, including gunshot wounds, represents a life-threatening health issue. Therefore, the development of safe, effective, and convenient hemostatic agents is critical in securing the “golden time” to save patients’ lives. Plant-derived compounds and plant extracts have been regarded as promising sources of hemostatic agents in previous studies, regulating hemostatic function with low toxicity and minimal side effects within the human body. Aloe vera-based hydrogels, which are characterized by flexible strength and high functionality, have emerged as a promising platform for wound applications due to their unique biocompatibility features. This study provides a comprehensive exploration of the utilization of thickening agents and natural agents such as xanthan gum, carrageenan, Carbomer, and alginate in applying aloe vera-based hydrogels as a hemostatic. Furthermore, it also tests the use of aloe vera-based hydrogels for therapeutic delivery at wound sites through the incorporation of various antimicrobial agents to extend the utility of the hydrogels beyond hemostasis. Our novel applied research utilizes aloe vera-based hydrogel as an antimicrobial hemostatic agent, providing valuable insights for a wide range of applications and highlighting its potential to enhance hemorrhage control in various emergency scenarios. Full article

Supercritical CO₂ has wide application in enhancing oil recovery, but the low viscosity of liquid CO₂ can lead to issues such as poor proppant-carrying ability and high filtration loss. Therefore, the addition of thickening agents to CO₂ is vital. Hydrocarbon polymers, as a class of green and sustainable materials, hold tremendous potential for acting as thickeners in supercritical CO₂ systems, and PVAc is one of the best-performing hydrocarbon thickeners. To further improve the viscosity enhancement and solubility of PVAc, here we designed a novel polymer structure, PVAO, by introducing CO₂-affine functional groups to PVAc. Molecular dynamics simulations were adopted to analyze viscosity and relevant solubility parameters systematically. We found that PVAO exhibits superior performance, with a viscosity enhancement of 1.5 times that of PVAc in supercritical CO₂. While in the meantime, PVAO maintains better solubility characteristics than PVAc. Our findings offer insights for the future design of other high-performance polymers. Full article

In the context of the ongoing evolution of the global economy and increasing environmental awareness, green sustainable development has emerged as a crucial pathway for future advancements in the lubrication industry. In this study, we prepared bio-based greases by employing a thickener system consisting of polyhydroxyalkanoate (P34HB) and ethyl cellulose, with castor oil serving as a base oil. The results indicate that ethyl cellulose significantly and effectively enhances the grease system’s mechanical and colloidal stability. Notably, the addition of 5 wt% ethyl cellulose leads to superior mechanical and colloidal stability, while increasing concentrations gradually result in rheological properties similar to those of oleogels. Furthermore, the wear volume of grease containing 5 wt% ethyl cellulose was reduced by 39.20% compared to that of a reference P34HB grease, demonstrating its exceptional wear resistance. The present study provides a theoretical foundation and empirical evidence for the future development of biodegradable greases as substitutes for non-degradable materials, thereby expanding the range of environmentally friendly greases formulated with biomass-based thickeners. Full article

Cereal (1,3)(1,4)-β-d-glucans, known as β-d-glucans, are cell wall polysaccharides observed in selected plants of grasses, and oats and barley are their good natural sources. Thanks to their physicochemical properties β-d-glucans have therapeutic and nutritional potential and a specific place for their functional characteristics in diverse food formulations. They can function as thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers, and textural and gelation agents in beverages, bakery, meat, and extruded products. The objective of this review is to describe the primary procedures for the production of β-d-glucans from cereal grains, to define the processing factors influencing their properties, and to summarize their current use in the production of novel cereal-based foods. Additionally, the study delves into the utilization of β-d-glucans in the rapidly evolving field of nanotechnology, exploring potential applications within this technological realm. Full article

Instances of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract, are rapidly increasing in western and newly industrialized countries. Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are one of the strategies to enhance the gut microbiota and modulate the immune-inflammatory response deregulation in IBD patients. EPSs are produced by commensal bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Additionally, Cyanobacteria species are promising sources of novel EPS and have potential pharmaceutical and therapeutic applications. The presence of uronic acids and sulphate groups in Cyanobacterial EPSs is an important factor that gives EPSs an anionic charge that is not seen in other prokaryotic species. This feature may impact their physico-chemical characteristics and biological properties. Additionally, Cyanobacterial EPSs have a wide range of biotechnological applications that include use as thickeners, stabilizers, and gelling agents in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. The present review focuses on the role of EPSs in IBD, with a special focus on EPSs derived from Cyanobacteria. This review also covers the biological properties of Cyanobacterial EPS in immuno-inflammatory responses and against pathogens as well as its role in biotechnological applications. Overall, Cyanobacterial EPSs have therapeutic potential against IBD due to their anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties that can reduce inflammation and regulate the immune response and restore the gut microbiota of patients. Full article

This review paper focuses on the recent advancements in the large-scale and laboratory-scale isolation, modification, and characterization of novel starches from accessible botanical sources and food wastes. When creating a new starch product, one should consider the different physicochemical changes that may occur. These changes include the course of gelatinization, the formation of starch–lipids and starch–protein complexes, and the origin of resistant starch (RS). This paper informs about the properties of individual starches, including their chemical structure, the size and crystallinity of starch granules, their thermal and pasting properties, their swelling power, and their digestibility; in particular, small starch granules showed unique properties. They can be utilized as fat substitutes in frozen desserts or mayonnaises, in custard due to their smooth texture, in non-food applications in biodegradable plastics, or as adsorbents. The low onset temperature of gelatinization (detected by DSC in acorn starch) is associated with the costs of the industrial processes in terms of energy and time. Starch plays a crucial role in the food industry as a thickening agent. Starches obtained from ulluco, winter squash, bean, pumpkin, quinoa, and sweet potato demonstrate a high peak viscosity (PV), while waxy rice and ginger starches have a low PV. The other analytical methods in the paper include laser diffraction, X-ray diffraction, FTIR, Raman, and NMR spectroscopies. Native, “clean-label” starches from new sources could replace chemically modified starches due to their properties being similar to common commercially modified ones. Human populations, especially in developed countries, suffer from obesity and civilization diseases, a reduction in which would be possible with the help of low-digestible starches. Starch with a high RS content was discovered in gelatinized lily (>50%) and unripe plantains (>25%), while cooked lily starch retained low levels of rapidly digestible starch (20%). Starch from gorgon nut processed at high temperatures has a high proportion of slowly digestible starch. Therefore, one can include these types of starches in a nutritious diet. Interesting industrial materials based on non-traditional starches include biodegradable composites, edible films, and nanomaterials. Full article

Linitis Plastica (LP) is a rare and aggressive tumor with a distinctive development pattern, leading to the infiltration of the gastric wall, the thickening of the gastric folds and a “leather bottle appearance”. LP is an extremely heterogeneous tumor caused by mutations in oncogenic and tumor suppressive genes, as well as molecular pathways, along with mutations in stromal cells and proteins related to tight junctions. Elucidating the molecular background of tumorigenesis and clarifying the correlation between cancerous cells and stromal cells are crucial steps toward discovering novel diagnostic methods, biomarkers and therapeutic targets/agents. Surgery plays a pivotal role in LP management, serving both as a palliative and curative procedure. In this comprehensive review, we aim to present all recent data on the molecular background of LP and the novel approaches to its management. Full article

In this work, a screen-printing method was developed to create porous particle-based materials as layers with specifically designed shape to produce microfluidics systems. Among several tested binding agents, xanthan gum was found to be an excellent choice for a printing mixture thickener as well as a durable binder for the resulting material. In addition to demonstrating control over the shape of the printed microfluidics chips, control over material thickness, wetting characteristics and general method accuracy were also investigated. The applicability of the introduced method was further demonstrated with a development of an exemplary microfluidics chip for quantitative detection of Fe (III), Ni (II), Cu (II), Cd (II), and Pb (II) from a mixed sample at millimolar levels. The novel approaches demonstrated in this article offer new perspective into creating multiplexed on-site chemical analysis tests. Full article

Humankind has been unknowingly utilizing food fermentations since the first creation of bread, cheese, and other basic foods. Since the beginning of the last century, microbial fermentation has been extensively utilized for production of commodity chemicals. It has also gained substantial interest in recent decades due to its underlying applications in the preparation of natural and safe food ingredients including enzymes, antimicrobial agents, vitamins, organic acids, sweeteners, stabilizers, emulsifiers, oligosaccharides, amino acids, and thickening agents. In addition, some novel food ingredients that were conventionally made from some other sources such as plant tissue cultures or animals are now being introduced in the industry as ‘fermentation products.’ Some examples of such novel fermentation food ingredients include flavonoids, cultured meat products, food colorants, antioxidants, lipids, and fatty acids. This review summarizes some of the most prominent food ingredients and novel fermentation food products currently being produced via microbial fermentation as well as the strategies to enhance such fermentation processes. Additionally, economical feedstocks are discussed with their potential to be converted into value-added products with the help of microbial fermentations. Full article

Pereskia aculeata Miller is an edible plant species belonging to the Cactaceae family. It has the potential to be used in the food and pharmaceutical industries due to its nutritional characteristics, bioactive compounds, and mucilage content. Pereskia aculeata Miller is native to the Neotropical region, where it is traditionally employed as food in rural communities, being popularly known as ‘ora-pro-nobis’ (OPN) or the Barbados gooseberry. The leaves of OPN are distinguished by their nontoxicity and nutritional richness, including, on a dry basis, 23% proteins, 31% carbohydrates, 14% minerals, 8% lipids, and 4% soluble dietary fibers, besides vitamins A, C, and E, and phenolic, carotenoid, and flavonoid compounds. The OPN leaves and fruits also contain mucilage composed of arabinogalactan biopolymer that presents technofunctional properties such as thickener, gelling, and emulsifier agent. Moreover, OPN is generally used for pharmacological purposes in Brazilian folk medicine, which has been attributed to its bioactive molecules with metabolic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Therefore, in the face of the growing research and industrial interests in OPN as a novel food source, the present work reviews its botanical, nutritional, bioactive, and technofunctional properties, which are relevant for the development of healthy and innovative food products and ingredients. Full article