Search Results (265)

Multifunctional nanocarriers capable of integrating imaging, magnetic functionality, and controlled drug delivery represent an important research topic in cancer nanomedicine. Herein, Mn-doped (Fe₃O₄) magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) were engineered and incorporated into a Maisine CC-based oil-in-water microemulsion (ME) to obtain a multifunctional nanoplatform for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hyperthermia, and controlled drug release. A series of Mn-doped MNPs (1–10% Mn:Fe₃O₄) was synthesized by coprecipitation. X-ray diffraction confirmed the preservation of the cubic spinel upon Mn incorporation. The Mn incorporation resulted in MNPs made of crystallites (~9–12 nm) whose magnetic properties were improved. Also, 10% Mn led to a very good magnetic heating efficiency under alternating magnetic fields with a specific absorption rate of ~111 W·g⁻¹. The obtained MNPs proved to be T₂-weighted MRI contrast agents, with an increase in the r₂ values up to ~844 mM⁻¹·s⁻¹ after incorporation into ME. The optimized composition of Mn_10% was subsequently loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) and integrated into ME. Drug-release studies revealed a biphasic profile, characterized by an initial burst phase followed by sustained release up to 48 h. These findings demonstrate that dopant-engineered MNPs combined with a ME carrier can provide a versatile platform for integrating magnetic hyperthermia potential, T₂-weighted MRI contrast enhancement, and controlled chemotherapeutic delivery within a single nanostructured system. Full article

Background: Nanoemulsions are colloidal drug delivery systems consisting of an oil phase dispersed in water and stabilized by surfactants, producing droplets in the nanometer range. By virtue of their small droplet size and large interfacial area, they enhance drug dissolution, intestinal absorption, and site-specific delivery while offering controlled, prolonged release and a reduced risk of systemic side effects. Artemether (ART), an antimalarial agent, suffers from poor aqueous solubility and limited oral bioavailability, which restricts its therapeutic efficacy. Objective: The present study aimed to develop and optimize an Artemether-loaded nanoemulsion to improve the drug’s dissolution rate and oral bioavailability. Methods: The nanoemulsion was formulated using a combination of Sunflower oil and Vippa oil as the oil phase, with Tween 80 and Span 80 as the surfactant system, and was prepared by an ultrasonication technique. A three-factor, three-level Box–Behnken Design (BBD) was employed to systematically optimize the formulation composition and processing parameters. The formulations were evaluated for droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, drug content, entrapment efficiency, pH, viscosity, refractive index, electrical conductivity, and cumulative in vitro drug release. Results: The optimized nanoemulsion exhibited a droplet size of 139.6 ± 1.3 nm, a PDI of 0.256 ± 0.03 indicating a narrow and uniform size distribution, and a zeta potential of −30.08 ± 1.1 mV reflecting good physical stability. The formulation demonstrated a high entrapment efficiency of 95.42 ± 1.18%, confirming efficient drug loading within the lipid core. Additional physicochemical evaluation revealed a pH of 6.4 ± 0.2, a low viscosity of 2.84 ± 0.15 cP, a refractive index of 1.338 ± 0.002, and a conductivity of 215 ± 12 µS/cm, collectively confirming the formation of a physiologically compatible, isotropic oil-in-water nanoemulsion. The formulation achieved 97.90 ± 0.97% cumulative in vitro drug release over a 12 h period, demonstrating a sustained release profile. Conclusions: The optimized Artemether-loaded nanoemulsion, developed using a Box–Behnken Design, significantly enhanced the drug’s dissolution and exhibited favorable physicochemical characteristics, high entrapment efficiency, and controlled release behavior. These findings suggest that nanoemulsion is a promising carrier system warranting further in vivo evaluation to confirm its potential for improving the oral bioavailability of Artemether. Full article

Imperatorin (IPT) is a naturally occurring coumarin with recognized antioxidant and anti-aging properties; unfortunately, its poor water solubility and low oral bioavailability severely limit its practical use. To get around these issues, we formulated IPT-loaded NLCs using grape seed oil and glyceryl monostearate—both food-grade excipients—with the goal of enhancing oral absorption. Optimized IPT@NLCs were prepared by high-pressure homogenization, featuring uniform spherical morphology, an average particle size of 186.63 ± 1.65 nm, a PDI of 0.188 ± 0.008, an encapsulation efficiency of 99.54 ± 0.10%, and a drug loading capacity of 9.08 ± 0.23%. IPT@NLCs remained stable in SGF, while their cumulative in vitro release over 48 h reached 90.56 ± 3.12% in SIF. We established a Caco-2/HT29-MTX-E12 co-culture monolayer to examine mucus penetration, cellular uptake, and transcellular transport routes. In parallel, oxidative stress experiments using 3T3-L1 cells, along with in vivo pharmacokinetic and gastrointestinal safety evaluations, were conducted to provide complementary evidence. Our results indicate that NLC encapsulation significantly improves both the dissolution and intestinal uptake of IPT, primarily by shifting the absorption mechanism from passive diffusion to energy-dependent active transport. In addition, IPT@NLCs effectively reduce intracellular oxidative damage through modulation of endogenous antioxidant enzyme activities. Animal studies further reveal an approximately 9-fold increase in relative oral bioavailability, with no notable irritation to gastrointestinal tissues. Overall, GSO-based NLCs offer safe and efficient oral delivery, enhancing IPT bioavailability and antioxidant activity, providing a strategy for developing natural-product-based formulations. Full article

This study investigates how O₂ concentration affects the combustion performance and kinetic response of Changji and Fushun oil shales under CO₂-based oxy-fuel atmospheres. Coupled TGA–DSC–MS analysis was performed to characterize thermal decomposition, heat release and absorption, gaseous product evolution, and apparent kinetic parameters. The results show that raising the O₂ concentration facilitates oil shale combustion. The TG–DTG and heat flow profiles move to lower-temperature regions as O₂ concentration increases. At 20 °C·min⁻¹, increasing the O₂ concentration from 35% to 100% reduced T_p1 and T_p2 from 357.3 and 519.7 °C to 331.2 and 491.5 °C for CJ oil shale, and from 352.3 and 484.0 °C to 326.6 and 429.7 °C for FS oil shale, respectively. These shifts were accompanied by decreases in ignition and burnout temperatures and an increase in the comprehensive combustion index. Fushun oil shale shows a more concentrated main mass-loss and heat-release region than Changji oil shale. It also exhibits lower ignition and burnout temperatures, indicating stronger overall combustion reactivity. By contrast, Changji oil shale displays more evident mass loss and thermal responses at high temperatures, suggesting a greater contribution from carbonate mineral decomposition in the later reaction stage. MS results further show that CO₂, H₂O, SO₂, and NO₂ release mainly occurs within 300–600 °C. Their release peaks shift toward lower temperatures as the O₂ concentration increases, indicating that oxygen-enriched atmospheres promote the oxidative conversion of organic carbon, hydrogen-containing structures, and S- and N-containing functional groups. The Vyazovkin nonlinear iso-conversional analysis provides conversion-dependent apparent activation energies rather than a single global kinetic parameter. The substantial variation in E_α with conversion highlights the overlapping and multi-stage nature of oil shale combustion. When the O₂ concentration is raised from 21% to 75%, E_α generally follows an upward trend; under pure O₂, however, it drops sharply. This non-monotonic variation suggests that O₂ concentration changes not only the combustion rate but also the dominant reaction routes at different conversion stages. These findings provide experimental support for selecting suitable oxy-fuel combustion conditions and improving the clean and efficient utilization of oil shale. Full article

In this work, we extracted silk fibroin (SF) via a tertiary solvent system (CaCl₂:Ethanol:H₂O) and then blended it with chitosan (CS) solution to construct microparticles using the water-in-oil-emulsion–diffusion method. For the mixture of SF/CS solution aqueous phase (W) was prepared at ratios of 4:0, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, and 0:4, using ethyl acetate as the oil phase (O). After the microparticles were prepared, their morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optimal preparation conditions were determined to be a 1% (w/v) aqueous phase with a volume of 1 milliliter, 100 milliliters of oil phase, and a stirring speed of 700 rpm. The average microparticle size was 50–100 micrometers. ATR−FTIR spectra showed unique functional groups of SF and CS, as well as interactions between the two polymers. The results of the thermal property study using a TGA instrument showed that SF microparticles had a higher maximum decomposition temperature (T_d,max) than chitosan, and the blended microparticles’ T_d,max increased with the proportion of SF. Most microparticles exhibited a semi-crystalline polymer structure, with SF microparticles being the most hydrophobic, followed by blended microparticles and CS, respectively. Testing for absorption capacity, the SF microparticles were more effective at absorbing used engine oil than vegetable oil and chloroform, while CS microparticles showed the highest capacity for vegetable oil. The experimental results indicated that all SF/CS blended particles played an efficiency of absorption variable by ratios of SF or CS blended. This suggested that the prepared microparticles might be useful for oil/water separation application. Full article

Lipids play a central role in poultry nutrition by modulating energy utilization, nutrient digestibility, and metabolic processes related to lipid absorption and deposition. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the main dietary lipid sources used in poultry nutrition and their effects on performance, lipid metabolism, and egg yolk fatty acid composition. Conventional lipid sources, including vegetable oils and animal fats, differ in fatty acid profile, degree of saturation, and digestibility, which directly influence metabolic efficiency and productive responses. In addition, the strategic use of lipid sources enables the modulation of fatty acid profiles in poultry products, particularly through the enrichment of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as omega-3. These effects are associated with mechanisms involving lipid digestion, absorption, and hepatic lipoprotein synthesis, which regulate fatty acid deposition in tissues and egg yolks. However, responses to dietary lipids are influenced by factors such as inclusion level, oxidative stability, and lipid composition. Overall, dietary lipid manipulation represents an effective strategy to optimize production efficiency and enhance the nutritional quality of poultry-derived foods. Full article

Cellulose-based materials have been widely investigated as sustainable sorbents for oil spill remediation due to their renewability, biodegradability, low density, and structural diversity. However, reported performance varies substantially across material classes, modification strategies, and testing conditions, making direct comparison difficult. This review summarizes recent progress in cellulose-based sorbents for oil removal, with emphasis on the relationships between processing methods, pore architecture, surface wettability, and sorption behavior. Native cellulose materials, chemically modified cellulose, aerogels, nanocellulose-based systems, and carbonized cellulose are comparatively discussed in terms of oil uptake, selectivity, sorption kinetics, retention stability, reusability, and mechanical performance. The analysis indicates that sorption efficiency is controlled by the combined effects of hierarchical porosity, surface characteristics, and structural integrity. Native materials provide low cost and rapid uptake but limited selectivity, whereas chemically modified systems show improved hydrophobicity and oil retention. Aerogels generally exhibit some of the highest reported absorption capacities but often suffer from low mechanical durability. Nanocellulose-based materials generally offer a balanced combination of sorption capacity and stability, while carbonized materials typically provide enhanced retention at the expense of transport rate. Current limitations, including scalability, durability, and realistic operating conditions, are also discussed to outline future directions for the design of efficient cellulose-based oil sorbents. Full article

In this study, we investigated the possibility of partially substituting wheat flour in bread-making technology with a by-product (rapeseed meal) obtained after pressing of rapeseed seeds used to obtain edible oil. The research was conducted within the context of sustainable food systems and circular bioeconomy strategies. Experiments were conducted using substitution rates of 10%, 20%, and 30% (RMW1, RMW2, and RMW3), as well as their corresponding breads (RMWB1, RMWB2, and RMWB3). The results reveal a notable improvement in the nutritional profile, correlated with the increase in RM. Indeed, significant increases were observed in protein content (up to 16.64% in flours and 14.19% in breads), fat content (up to 8.72% and 7.89%, respectively), and ash content (up to 2.30% and 2.85%, respectively), while carbohydrates decreased (down to 63.72 g/100 g in flours and 45.76 g/100 g in breads). Furthermore, the phytochemical profile was significantly enhanced, as reflected by the increased antioxidant capacity and elevated total polyphenol concentration, highlighting the functional potential of RM-enriched products. Water absorption increased from 55% to 61%, accompanied by a decrease in dough stability, suggesting modifications in the gluten network. Mixolab analyses indicated reduced viscosity and starch retrogradation, while physical bread properties, including porosity, elasticity, and H/D ratio, decreased with increasing substitution levels. Sensory evaluation revealed that a 10% RM substitution ensured optimal acceptability, whereas higher levels (30%) resulted in significant quality deterioration. From a sustainability perspective, the incorporation of RM contributes to the valorization of agro-industrial by-products, reducing waste streams and promoting resource efficiency. Partial substitution of wheat flour also has the potential to decrease reliance on primary agricultural inputs, thereby lowering the environmental footprint associated with cereal production. Additionally, the improved antioxidant profile may enhance product stability and shelf life, contributing to food loss reduction. In conclusion, an incorporation level of up to 20% provided the most suitable compromise between improved nutritional value, functional and technological properties, consumer acceptability, and sustainability considerations, thereby supporting the formulation of novel bakery products consistent with circular bioeconomy concepts and sustainable dietary approaches. Full article

This study presents the development of an eco-friendly brick for mining, a sustainable composite material manufactured from gold mine tailings and used cooking oil (UCO) through a thermal oxypolymerization process. Unlike conventional stabilization methods, which often require additional materials beyond tailings or have a high carbon footprint in their production, this approach uses oxypolymerization to transform these two waste products into novel building materials. The use of various percentages of UCO at different heating temperatures was evaluated to identify the optimal mixture, determining that a 9% UCO content and a 9 h cycle are key conditions for inducing fatty acid crosslinking. This logical relationship between heat treatment and dosage allows the organic binder to consolidate the mineral matrix, giving the material a compressive strength of 19.12 MPa and a flexural strength of 8.24 MPa, exceeding the thresholds of the NTE INEN 297 standard. The low water absorption (2.86%) is attributed to the densification of the matrix and the hydrophobic nature of the polymerized oil, indicators of its structural durability. This work is the first to use Ecuadorian tailings as the sole mineral aggregate, validating a high-efficiency, low-impact product for sustainable construction under the principles of the circular economy. Full article

Melanin-like polymers, particularly polydopamine, have gained significant attention as photothermal materials due to their broad light absorption (ultraviolet to near-infrared), high photothermal conversion efficiency, negligible fluorescence, good biocompatibility regarding unmodified melanin-like polymers, and universal adhesion. Upon light irradiation, these bioinspired polymers convert absorbed optical energy into heat through molecular vibration and electron–phonon coupling, making them ideal for diverse photothermal applications. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in using melanin-like polymers for photothermal purposes. In biomedical engineering, they serve as efficient agents for photothermal therapy and synergistic antibacterial treatment. In catalysis, their photothermal effect enhances pollutant degradation, hydrogen production, and chemical warfare agent detoxification. For water remediation, melanin-like polymers are fabricated into evaporators, membranes, and aerogels for solar-driven steam generation, desalination, and oil spill cleanup. They also enable sensitive photothermal sensing, near-infrared imaging, and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry imaging. Furthermore, these materials are incorporated into soft actuators and self-healing elastomers for light-controlled shape memory, programmable folding, and remote manipulation. Finally, we discuss remaining challenges such as long-term stability, biocompatibility, scalability, and color limitations and provide future perspectives for advancing melanin-like photothermal materials toward practical applications. Full article

This study evaluated the use of Michigan bean protein concentrate (PC) and maltodextrin (MD) as alternative wall materials for the microencapsulation of gallic acid, selected as a model phenolic compound due to its well-defined structure and suitability for assessing encapsulation efficiency, stability, and matrix–polyphenol interactions. Increasing the inlet temperature enhanced microencapsulation yield (37.25–55.56%) and total color difference (5.23–13.20), but reduced DPPH• radical inhibition from 90.92% to 54.04%, ABTS•+ radical inhibition from 99.43% to 79.98%, moisture content from 4.98% to 3.51%, and water activity from 0.35 to 0.30. Higher PC concentrations increased efficiency (86.45–99.26%), microencapsulation retention (38.06–100%), moisture content (3.51–4.98%), Aw (0.301–0.358), water absorption capacity (0–2.38 g/g), oil absorption capacity (3.31–3.67 g/g), and emulsifying capacity (0–2.2%). The interaction between temperature and PC content significantly improved yield, antioxidant capacity, and moisture content. Optimal conditions were achieved at a PC:MD ratio of 51:49 and a temperature of 116 °C. Under these conditions, yield, efficiency, microencapsulation retention, total phenolic content, and DPPH• radical inhibition were higher than the values predicted by the model. Morphological analysis revealed that the microcapsules exhibited irregular shapes with dents and particle sizes ranging from 5.43 to 10.19 µm. These findings demonstrate that Michigan bean protein concentrate, when combined with maltodextrin, exhibits strong potential as a wall material for gallic acid microencapsulation, achieving high retention and microencapsulation efficiency. Full article

The valorization of agro-industrial byproducts has emerged as an important strategy to improve resource efficiency and promote circular food systems. This study evaluated avocado (Persea americana Mill.) seed as a functional ingredient for frankfurter-type sausages using extrusion followed by enzyme-assisted wet milling. Extrusion modified the techno-functional properties of avocado seed flour, increasing the water absorption index from 2.87 to 3.91 g/g while reducing the oil absorption index from 2.12 to 1.84 g/g. In addition, extrusion reduced the total acetogenin content by approximately 82.8% (11.99 to 2.07 mg/g), indicating a substantial reduction of these endogenous compounds. When incorporated at a concentration of 1% (w/w) to replace commercial soy fiber, avocado seed ingredients produced frankfurter-type sausages with low cooking losses (1.67–3.77%), stable water activity (0.979–0.990), and an acceptable instrumental hardness (1.01–1.41 N) over 35 days of refrigerated storage. Consumer sensory evaluation (n = 106) showed comparable or higher flavor and overall acceptability scores for sausages containing avocado seed flour relative to the control formulation. These findings demonstrate that extruded avocado seed flour can function as a viable upcycled ingredient for emulsified meat products, supporting circular bioeconomy approaches for the development of value-added foods of animal origin. Full article

Crude oil spill incidents have emerged as a prominent source of environmental contamination, adversely affecting marine ecosystems. This paper undertakes a comprehensive examination of the efficiency of utilizing green surfactants followed by a solid biofoam material as a viable remedy to remove crude oil contamination from a simulated mangrove environment within the Bodo region of the Niger Delta, Nigeria. During the study, four distinct soil samples encompassing sand, mud, peat, and peat–mud were meticulously collected to simulate the prevailing conditions in Bodo. Subsequently, surfactants were introduced into contaminated matrices at similar concentration levels over a specific time frame under the same conditions as in Bodo. Afterwards, a lignin-based biofoam material was then created with the goal of advanced remediation improvement. The outcomes show positive potential, presenting an innovative path for researchers to explore further environmentally sustainable solutions for contaminated muddy soils. The findings from the investigation include the following: (1) the interfacial tension caused by the best-performing surfactants was reduced to a level of 10⁻¹ mN/m, demonstrating that the mobilization of contaminants and extraction are efficient using the studied formulations, especially for sand and muddy samples, and (2) advanced biofoam remediation showed an oil absorption level of 40%, with only brine water existing in the contaminated oil. Full article

In this study, a non-typical luminescent organosilicone was synthesized through a click reaction and used as a cross-linker to cure hydroxyl-terminated dimethylsilicone oil at room temperature via the sol–gel process, followed by application as a coating on a glass surface. This organosilicone film functions effectively as a luminescent down-shifting (LDS) material. Additionally, the presence of methyl groups and voids in the structure imparts a low refractive index, allowing it to serve as an anti-reflective (AR) layer. Optical and structural analyses on organosilicone-coated glass samples were conducted, and the dual-functional layer was applied to the glass cover of a perovskite solar panel to evaluate its performance. The coating not only enhanced light transmission as an AR layer but also converted UV light into blue light, which was absorbed by the solar cell. The results indicated improved solar panel performance, particularly in short-circuit current (Isc), external quantum efficiency (EQE) in the UV wavelength range, and overall efficiency. Overall, this material is a promising candidate for solar panel applications owing to maximized UV absorption for LDS, preserved transparency of the top cover glass, and room-temperature gelation, which facilitates repair of the dual-functional coating. Full article

Liquid infant formula has garnered increasing attention due to its mild thermal processing and superior retention of bioactive nutrients. Within such matrices, the lipid source is a critical determinant of protein digestion behavior, yet its influence on peptide bioavailability and intestinal homeostasis remains undefined. Given that efficient peptide absorption is vital for the systemic delivery of bioactivity in infants, understanding the lipid–protein synergy is essential for formula optimization. Moreover, excessive oxidative stress is closely associated with impaired intestinal health and developmental disorders in infants, making the regulation of oxidative stress crucial for maintaining intestinal function. The present study evaluated the effects of three distinct lipid sources—soybean oil (SM), bovine milk fat (BM), and goat milk fat (GM)—on the physicochemical stability, proteolytic digestion, peptide release, intestinal absorption, and oxidative stress modulation of goat-milk-based infant formula. An integrated approach combining physicochemical characterization, in vitro simulated infant digestion, and a Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cell model was employed. we demonstrate that all three lipids (3% w/w) formed stable emulsions with uniform spherical structures and mean particle diameters of 117–300 nm, as visualized by laser confocal microscopy. Following in vitro simulation of infant gastrointestinal digestion, the SM group exhibited the most extensive protein hydrolysis, yielding the highest total peptide content (4.28 ± 0.10 mg/mL) and generated the highest number of peptides identified by LC-MS/MS (474 types). Bioinformatic analysis predicted that peptides from all groups possess potential antihypertensive, hypoglycemic, and immunomodulatory activities. The Caco-2 monolayer cell model demonstrated that although the GM group produced fewer identified peptide species than the SM group (365 types), it achieved significantly higher intestinal peptide absorption rate (55.34 ± 1.05%). Furthermore, the GM digests provided superior protection against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in Caco-2 cells, markedly reducing reactive oxygen species levels and suppressing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. Collectively, these findings reveal that while soybean oil promotes more extensive proteolysis, the use of homologous goat milk lipid enhances peptide bioaccessibility and confers potential cytoprotective effects on intestinal epithelial cells, underscoring its potential as a preferred lipid source in infant formula formulations. Full article