Article
Agricultural Engineering
Luana A. Lima, Paula S. Ferreira-Sa, Manoel D. N. Garcia Jr, Vera Lucia P. Pereira, Jose Carlos T. Carvalho, Leandro Rocha, Caio P. Fernandes, Raimundo Nonato P. Souto, Raquel S. Araujo, Gisele Botas, Rodrigo A. S. Cruz
Summary: Nano-emulsions containing essential oil from B. reticularia and some of its monoterpene constituents showed significant repellent activity against Tribolium castaneum, indicating potential for their use as ecofriendly nanopesticides.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Xiuxiu Teng, Min Zhang, Arun S. Mujumdar, Hongqiang Wang
Summary: Microcapsules loaded with garlic essential oils were prepared to lower nitrite content in prepared vegetable dishes, with GA-CS microcapsules showing the best inhibitory effect on nitrites compared to other formulations.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Mondejar-Lopez, Alberto Jose Lopez-Jimenez, Oussama Ahrazem, Lourdes Gomez-Gomez, Enrique Niza
Summary: In this study, chitosan-coated biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNP-CH) were obtained through green chemistry by recycling wheat crop leaf residues. The nanoparticles were characterized and confirmed by various spectroscopy techniques, and their antifungal properties were evaluated. The results showed that AgNP-CH exhibited high antimicrobial activity against certain fungal strains, making it a potential alternative for preventing fungal infections in the early stages of wheat crop development.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Ricardo M. Gonzalez-Reza, Humberto Hernandez-Sanchez, David Quintanar-Guerrero, Liliana Alamilla-Beltran, Yair Cruz-Narvaez, Maria L. Zambrano-Zaragoza
Summary: The study focused on the preparation and storage of chitosan-thyme oil nanocapsules, indicating that storage time and temperature significantly altered the particle size and antioxidant capacity, with the nano-size being maintained and bioactive substance release following specific kinetic models.
Article
Polymer Science
Vanessa Solfa dos Santos, Marcos Vinicius Lorevice, Graziela Solferini Baccarin, Fabiola Medeiros da Costa, Renan da Silva Fernandes, Fauze A. Aouada, Marcia Regina de Moura
Summary: Edible films were produced by combining pectin matrix with chitosan nanoparticles, polysorbate 80, and garlic essential oil as an antimicrobial agent. The films showed stable antimicrobial nanoparticles and had potential for application in novel food packaging.
Review
Plant Sciences
Johan Rodriguez Melo, Florencia Mammarella, Federico Ariel
Summary: The increasing world population and global warming have significantly impacted agriculture, leading to the emergence of new pests and pathogens that threaten crop productivity. To address this, the scientific community is urgently developing innovative solutions, such as using RNA-based technologies as an alternative to synthetic pesticides. The stabilization and delivery of RNA through nanotechnology is crucial for its versatile applications in sustainable agriculture. This eco-friendly approach can also help plants adapt to extreme environmental conditions in the context of climate change.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Tarun Verma, Ankur Aggarwal, Priya Dey, Anil Kumar Chauhan, Summya Rashid, Kow-Tong Chen, Rohit Sharma
Summary: Garlic, an edible tuber from the Liliaceae family, has been used as a spice and remedy for various ailments since ancient times. It contains sulfur compounds such as allicin, ajoene, vinyl-dithiin, and other volatile organosulfur compounds, which have been found to possess antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, antihypertensive, anti-anemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anticarcinogenic, antiaggregant, and immunomodulatory properties.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Murugesan Sindhu, Vallavan Rajkumar, Coimbatore Alagubrahmam Annapoorani, Chinnappan Gunasekaran, Malaichamy Kannan
Summary: The study compared the effectiveness of garlic essential oil (GEO) and its nanoencapsulated form within chitosan nanomatrix (GEO-CSNPs) as a preservative for stored food. GEO-CSNPs showed complete inhibition of Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin B1 synthesis, with improved antioxidant activity compared to GEO alone. The experiments also showed no negative impacts on germinating seeds. Overall, GEO-CSNPs have the potential to be a novel preservative agent for extending the shelf life of stored food commodities.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carolina Santos, Manoela de Araujo Goncalves, Larissa Ferreira de Macedo, Andre Henrique Furtado Torres, Gabriel Davi Marena, Marlus Chorilli, Eliane Trovatti
Summary: This work presents the development of a nanoscale system using alginate to encapsulate a blend of oils that have antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The study investigates the effects of polymer and surfactant concentrations on the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles. The results show that the nanostructured system is stable, has high encapsulation efficiency, and nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 200-400 nm.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rodrigo de Faro Silva, Andre Sales Barreto, Gabriela das Gracas Gomes Trindade, Claudio Moreira Lima, Adriano Antunes de Souza Araujo, Irwin Rose Alencar Menezes, Edna Aragao Farias Candido, Erika Thatyana Nascimento Santana, Walderi Monteiro Silva-Junior, Jullyana Souza Siqueira Quintans, Henrique Douglas Melo Coutinho, Bonglee Kim, Lucindo Jose Quintans-Junior
Summary: This study developed a pharmaceutical formulation containing pequi oil nanoencapsulated in a hydrogel and evaluated its therapeutic effect on knee osteoarthritis. The formulation was found to be safe and effective, improving muscle strength, functionality, reducing pain, and enhancing quality of life in patients.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuri Yoshioka, Shinichi Matsumura, Masanori Morimoto
Summary: The study evaluated the deodorant activity of black cumin seed against organosulfur compounds related to garlic odor, finding that black cumin seed essential oil showed remarkable deodorant activity against garlic essential oil, presumably by covalently reacting with the sulfur compounds. This reaction, particularly with thymoquinone and allyl mercaptan, was identified as a key factor in the deodorizing effect.
Review
Microbiology
Micaela Guidotti-Takeuchi, Ligia Nunes de Morais Ribeiro, Fernanda Aparecida Longato dos Santos, Daise Aparecida Rossi, Flavia Della Lucia, Roberta Torres de Melo
Summary: The use of nanoparticles loaded with essential oils is a promising alternative to improve food quality and safety. They have antimicrobial properties for pathogen control in human and animal production, and contribute to sustainability. They also have benefits for the environment.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thais Danyelle Santos Araujo, Joao Marcos Antonio Rodrigues da Costa, Fabio de Oliveira Silva Ribeiro, Antonia Carla de Jesus Oliveira, Jhones do Nascimento Dias, Alyne Rodrigues de Araujo, Ayslan Batista Barros, Manoel da Paixao Brito, Taiane Maria de Oliveira, Miguel Peixoto de Almeida, Karina Neoob de Carvalho Castro, Fabiola Helena dos Santos Fogaca, Durcilene Alves da Silva, Bartolomeu Warlene Silva de Souza
Summary: In this study, nanoemulsions of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil were produced using low and high energy techniques with cashew gum as a co-surfactant. The nanostructured essential oil exhibited enhanced antibacterial and antioxidant activity compared to free oil, with the low energy synthesis showing greater storage stability. Various analytical techniques were employed to characterize the nanoemulsions and study their effects on pathogenic bacteria, demonstrating promising results for potential applications in food preservation and healthcare.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Lei Huang, Zhenxin Liu, Jing Wang, Jiaolong Fu, Yonglu Jia, Lilian Ji, Taoyun Wang
Summary: Garlic, a common and popular spice, contains a variety of organosulfur compounds that have attracted great interest for their rich biological activities. This paper reviews the research progress on the composition and bioactivities of garlic essential oil mixtures, analyzes the active mechanisms of representative sulfides, and discusses the applications of garlic essential oil in functional food, food additives, and clinical treatment.
FOOD SCIENCE & NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Karla Paiva Bocate, Alberto Goncalves Evangelista, Fernando Bittencourt Luciano
Summary: The study confirmed the effectiveness of garlic essential oil in inhibiting fungal growth and mycotoxin contamination in stored corn kernels. Although garlic essential oil showed potential in reducing mycotoxin production by fungi, it was unable to directly react with mycotoxins during simulated digestion.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Mondejar-Lopez, Alberto Jose Lopez-Jimenez, Oussama Ahrazem, Lourdes Gomez-Gomez, Enrique Niza
Summary: In this study, chitosan-coated biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNP-CH) were obtained through green chemistry by recycling wheat crop leaf residues. The nanoparticles were characterized and confirmed by various spectroscopy techniques, and their antifungal properties were evaluated. The results showed that AgNP-CH exhibited high antimicrobial activity against certain fungal strains, making it a potential alternative for preventing fungal infections in the early stages of wheat crop development.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Lucia Morote, Maria Lobato-Gomez, Oussama Ahrazem, Javier Argandona, Begona Olmedilla-Alonso, Alberto Jose Lopez-Jimenez, Gianfranco Diretto, Rossana Cuciniello, Paolo Bergamo, Sarah Frusciante, Enrique Niza, Angela Rubio-Moraga, Stefania Crispi, Antonio Granell, Lourdes Gomez-Gomez
Summary: Transgenic tomato fruits and hp3/Bsh tomato mutants were combined to increase the levels of crocins in tomato fruits. The crocin-rich juice from these fruits showed high antioxidant capacity and protected neuroblastoma cells against oxidative insult. The bio-accessibility of crocins in the juice was similar to that observed with saffron. Overall, crocin-fortified tomatoes could provide better protection against oxidative stress-related chronic diseases in humans.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Fernando de Lera-Garrido, Rocio Dominguez, M. Paz Fernandez-Liencres, Cristina Martin, Juan Tolosa, Eva M. Garcia-Frutos, Josefina Perles, Johan Hofkens, Joaquin C. Garcia-Martinez, Andres Garzon-Ruiz, Amparo Navarro
Summary: The impact of substituting n-alkyl and n-alkoxy side chains with bulkier side groups on the photophysics of model fluorophores was analyzed. The bulky side groups were found to significantly influence the non-radiative deactivation. Aggregation-induced enhanced emission was attributed to the blocking of photoisomerization and restriction of intramolecular vibrations. In solid state, the bulky side groups played a determining role in the supramolecular structure and photophysical properties, particularly in tetra(styryl)benzene derivatives. Incorporating bulky side groups in oligo(styryl)benzenes improved device performance by reducing electromer formation. Tetra(styryl)benzenes, especially the tert-butyl derivative, exhibited better device performance with lower turn-on voltage, higher current density, and electroluminescent intensity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucia Morote, Angela Rubio-Moraga, Alberto Jose Lopez-Jimenez, Javier Argandona, Enrique Niza, Oussama Ahrazem, Lourdes Gomez-Gomez
Summary: Paulownia tomentosa, a fast-growing tree, is economically important due to its flowers and fruits which contain biologically active secondary metabolites. The flowers have a strong aroma and serve as excellent nectar plants for pollinators. The color changes in the flowers, caused by the presence of carotenoids, act as reliable signals for pollinators and contribute to reproductive success. The gene expression analysis revealed that a gene called CCD4-4 is correlated with the levels of beta-carotene in the nectar guides, indicating a developmental stage-specific regulation of carotenoid cleavage. Analysis of volatile production and color changes suggests that these traits are important for plant-pollinator interactions. Data availability: Data will be made available on request.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Songbai Zhang, Vega Lloveras, Yufei Wu, Juan Tolosa, Joaquin C. Garcia-Martinez, Jose Vidal-Gancedo
Summary: Dual or multimodal imaging probes, such as metal-free organic species based on dendrimers, have been developed as powerful tools for disease diagnosis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical fluorescence imaging (OFI). In this study, six radical dendrimers were synthesized and characterized, demonstrating their paramagnetic properties for MRI contrast generation and fluorescence emission. This represents a significant development in the field of macromolecules with bimodal magnetic and fluorescent properties using organic radicals as the magnetic probe.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sorraya Najma Kinza Lelouche, Laura Albentosa-Gonzalez, Pilar Clemente-Casares, Catalina Biglione, Antonio Rodriguez-Dieguez, Juan Tolosa Barrilero, Joaquin Calixto Garcia-Martinez, Patricia Horcajada
Summary: Two novel metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), IEF-23 and IEF-24, based on an antibacterial tricarboxylate linker and zinc or copper cations, were synthesized and characterized. The antibacterial activity of these MOFs against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli was investigated, showing higher activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis. This suggests the potential of these MOFs as antibacterial agents.
Article
Plant Sciences
Lucia Morote, Angela Rubio-Moraga, Alberto Jose Lopez Jimenez, Veronica Aragones, Gianfranco Diretto, Olivia Constantina Dermutas, Sarah Frusciante, Oussama Ahrazem, Jose-Antonio Daros, Lourdes Gomez-Gomez
Summary: In this study, eight enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of crocins were identified in two Verbascum species. Four of them were similar to enzymes found in Buddleja and were identified to be involved in crocin biosynthesis. These enzymes were able to efficiently produce crocins using beta-carotene and zeaxanthin as substrates in bacterial and plant systems. The discovery of these enzymes, which have a broad substrate spectrum, provides new opportunities for biotechnological production of apocarotenoids.
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Xingran Kou, Dongdong Su, Fei Pan, Xiwei Xu, Qingran Meng, Qinfei Ke
Summary: This review provides a systematic discussion of the application of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in aroma compounds (ACs)/cyclodextrins (CDs) inclusion complexes (ICs). It covers the establishment of the simulation process, parameter selection, model evaluation, and various application cases, summarizing the major achievements and challenges of this method.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2024)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Haoyu Yu, Quanbin Zhang, Ammad Ahmad Farooqi, Jing Wang, Yang Yue, Lihua Geng, Ning Wu
Summary: Brown algae are rich in fucoidan, which has been found to have anti-cancer and anti-metastasis effects. Fucoidan inhibits tumor cell growth, proliferation, and metastasis, and also promotes immune responses in the tumor microenvironment.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2024)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Liang Dong, Yanan Li, Hailin Cong, Bing Yu, Youqing Shen
Summary: Gene therapy is a revolutionary treatment that requires suitable vectors for protecting and releasing exogenous nucleic acids in target cells. Chitosan, as a non-viral vector, has gained attention due to its good biocompatibility and ability to load large amounts of nucleic acids. This paper summarizes the potential of chitosan and its derivatives as gene delivery vector materials, discusses factors influencing transfection efficiency, performance evaluation, ways to optimize infectious efficiency, and current research development directions. It also provides an outlook on the future prospects of chitosan.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Ana Iglesias-Mejuto, Beatriz Magarinos, Tania Ferreira-Goncalves, Ricardo Starbird-Perez, Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo, Catarina Pinto Reis, Ines Ardao, Carlos A. Garcia-Gonzalez
Summary: This study developed a novel processing strategy to manufacture drug-loaded and personalized aerogels with nanostructures. The aerogels demonstrated bioactivity and antimicrobial effects, promoting bone regeneration and preventing infections in bone tissue engineering.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Zhenxu Shi, Dimei Yang, Yan Zhou, Xinyu Chen, Lin Gan, Jin Huang
Summary: This study proposes a micro-assembly method to improve the photoluminescent properties of crystalline cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) by organizing them within a sub-micrometer-sized metal-organic framework and coating with TiO2. The TiO2 coating prevents CNC assembly breakdown and allows information to be revealed using screenprinted labels for anti-counterfeiting purposes.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Xuejiao Liu, Bin Fu, Jierong Chen, Zhenyu Sun, Dongdong Zheng, Zhonghua Li, Bing Gu, Ying Zhang, Haojie Lu
Summary: Liver disease is a major cause of global mortality, and identifying biomarkers for diagnosing its progression is crucial for improving outcomes. Targeted mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for verifying biomarker candidates and clinical applications, particularly for glycoproteins translation. However, the limitation of analyzing only one sample per run has become apparent. In this study, a high-throughput intact N-glycopeptides quantification strategy was developed, allowing the validation of 20 samples per run with an average analysis time of 3 minutes per sample. The strategy was applied in a cohort of 461 serum samples and identified a panel of 10 IgG N-glycopeptides that have strong clinical utility in evaluating the severity of liver disease.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Qian Wang, Hao Jiang, Hongli Zhang, Weiqiao Lu, Xiao Wang, Wenfeng Xu, Jia Li, Youjing Lv, Guoyun Li, Chao Cai, Guangli Yu
Summary: This study proposes a novel strategy of antibody-beta-glucan conjugates (AGC) to enhance the antitumor immune response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. AGC demonstrated powerful tumor suppression and promoted interaction between tumor cells and dendritic cells (DCs), thereby enhancing immunotherapeutic benefits.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Chaeyeon Lee, Sojeong Lee, Sang Wook Kang
Summary: The study aims to enhance the properties of porous membranes by addressing the limitations associated with phase separation. By using cellulose acetate and citric acid, the researchers were able to fabricate membranes with improved mechanical strength and thermal stability. The cross-linking effect of citric acid resulted in a more uniform pore structure and higher porosity.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2024)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Tejaswini Kolipaka, Giriraj Pandey, Noella Abraham, Dadi A. Srinivasarao, Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, P. S. Rajinikanth, Vidya Tickoo, Saurabh Srivastava
Summary: This review focuses on the design and application of polysaccharide-based hydrogel wound dressings, highlighting aspects such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, drug entrapment, moisturizing ability, swelling, and mechanical properties. Additionally, various crosslinking methods and recent developments in stimuli-responsive hydrogels are discussed.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Anqi Xu, Nan Zhang, Shixing Su, Hongyu Shi, Daoqiang Lu, Xifeng Li, Xin Zhang, Xin Feng, Zhuohua Wen, Gengwu Ma, Mengshi Huang, Chi Huang, Yuqi Hu, Hao Yuan, Qinwen Liu, Daogang Guan, Jun Wang, Chuanzhi Duan
Summary: The study presents a one-pot radical polymerization method to fabricate a hydrogel with adhesive properties, which can effectively treat bacterial-infected diabetic wounds and accelerate wound healing.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Montarop Yamabhai, Munthipha Khamphio, Thae Thae Min, Chai Noy Soem, Nguyen Cao Cuong, Waheni Rizki Aprilia, Krisanai Luesukprasert, Karsidete Teeranitayatarn, Atthaphon Maneedaeng, Tina R. Tuveng, Silje B. Lorentzen, Simen Antonsen, Paiboon Jitprasertwong, Vincent G. H. Eijsink
Summary: The study investigates the bioconversion of chitosan into soluble anti-inflammatory chitosan oligosaccharides (CHOS) using an enzyme. The results show that the generated CHOS have anti-inflammatory activity, but the magnitude of the activity depends on the substrate and production process. Different methods of dissolving chitosan also affect the properties of CHOS. The study highlights the importance of quality assurance in CHOS preparations.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Wen Cao, Jiangping Wu, Xinya Zhao, Zixu Li, Jie Yu, Taili Shao, Xuefeng Hou, Lutan Zhou, Chunfei Wang, Guodong Wang, Jun Han
Summary: In this study, a water-soluble polysaccharide (PLP1) was successfully isolated and purified from Pueraria lobata. It was found that PLP1 was composed of specific glycosidic units and exhibited a better free radical-scavenging ability. Moreover, PLP1 effectively protected the liver against acute alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in mice.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Ya Su, Yaqian Liu, Xueyan Hu, Yueqi Lu, Jinyuan Zhang, Wenbo Jin, Wang Liu, Yan Shu, Yuen Yee Cheng, Wenfang Li, Yi Nie, Bo Pan, Kedong Song
Summary: A 3D printed scaffold based on carbon dots-curcumin nano-drug release has been developed for drug delivery after breast cancer surgery. The scaffold showed effective inhibition of tumor growth, antibacterial activity, and promotion of wound healing, making it a promising approach for preventing tumor recurrence.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Ekaterina Sokolova, Diane Jouanneau, Antonin Chevenier, Murielle Jam, Nathalie Desban, Pierre Colas, Elizabeth Ficko-Blean, Gurvan Michel
Summary: Carrageenans, a compound synthesized in red algae, have various biological properties and are valuable in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Their fine structure affects wound healing, oxidative processes, hemostasis, and inflammation. Enzymatic modification of carrageenans produces oligosaccharides that bind to natural human serum antibodies and specific antibodies, showing potential for therapeutic applications.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Yan Shi, Miao Yu, Kaijin Qiu, Tiantian Kong, Chunjing Guo, Wenxue Zhang, Daquan Chen, Ming Kong
Summary: In this study, functionalized transfersomes were developed to co-deliver doxorubicin and 1MT towards primary tumors and tumor draining lymph nodes via transdermal administration using microneedles. The results showed that the nano-complexed microneedles exhibited a stronger suppression in tumor growth compared to the intravenous group.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2024)
