Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Qiang Zhu, Ming Hui Chua, Pin Jin Ong, Johnathan Joo Cheng Lee, Kang Le Osmund Chin, Suxi Wang, Dan Kai, Rong Ji, Junhua Kong, Zhaogang Dong, Jianwei Xu, Xian Jun Loh
Summary: This review paper summarizes the recent research progress of functional coatings and focuses on their applications in green and smart buildings. The categories of coatings discussed include hydrophobic coatings, hydrophilic and photocatalytic coatings, coatings for reduction in surface solar radiation, and phase change materials (PCM) coatings.
MATERIALS TODAY ADVANCES
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Hamid R. Taghiyari, Dorina Camelia Ilies, Petar Antov, Grama Vasile, Reza Majidinajafabadi, Seng Hua Lee
Summary: Pull-off strength is a crucial property of solid wood, affecting the quality of paints and finishes in the furniture industry and preservation of heritage objects. This research explored the impact of heat treatment on the pull-off strength of three common solid wood species. It was found that lower temperature heat treatment can enhance pull-off strength, while higher temperature can lead to degradation of cell-wall polymers and weaken the effect.
Review
Polymer Science
Mohd Meer Saddiq Mohd Sabee, Zarina Itam, Salmia Beddu, Nazirul Mubin Zahari, Nur Liyana Mohd Kamal, Daud Mohamad, Norzeity Amalin Zulkepli, Mohamad Danial Shafiq, Zuratul Ain Abdul Hamid
Summary: This paper provides an intensive overview of flame retardant coating systems, which are an effective solution to prevent flame occurrence due to thermal degradation. The paper discusses the classifications of coating and their relation to thermal degradation and flammability, as well as the principles, types, mechanisms, and properties of flame retardants and flame retardant coatings. The importance of intumescent flame retardant coatings in preventing flame spread and reducing fire hazards is highlighted.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zahra H. Mohammad, Faizan Ahmad
Summary: Nanocoatings are ultra-thin layers that can be applied to improve the properties of food packaging and processing equipment. They offer important characteristics such as antibacterial, antioxidant, and dirt-repellent properties, which are beneficial for extending food shelf life and enhancing food safety. Nanocoatings can also be used for food packaging and food contact surfaces to improve food quality and hygiene.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2024)
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
Engineering, Environmental
Dilara Hatinoglu, Junseok Lee, John Fortner, Onur Apul
Summary: This article discusses the utilization of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as recoverable microwave absorbers in the prehydrolysis of sludge to reduce costs and environmental impact. The use of microwave irradiation and microwave-absorbing additives can significantly improve the digestion of sludge, and the superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles show great potential in this process.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Mujtaba Hussain, Muhammad Ali Sikandar, Abdul Nasir, Waqas Ahmed
Summary: The study found that silica-coated thermochromic pigment promotes the hydration degree and increases the compressive strength of cement pastes. The SiO2 coating plays a protective role in the harsh cementitious environment.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
M. A. Yewale, A. A. Jadhavar, R. A. Kadam, N. B. Velhal, Umesh T. Nakate, A. M. Teli, J. C. Shin, L. N. Nguyen, D. K. Shin, N. K. Kaushik
Summary: In this study, manganese oxide nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using hydrothermal method at different pH values. The effect of pH variation on the structural and electrochemical properties of the synthesized nanoparticles was investigated. The results showed that the manganese oxide electrode prepared at pH 11 exhibited high specific capacitance and low resistance, indicating its potential application in supercapacitors.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ruzhou Yi, Xianli Xu, Yuanyuan Huang, Shidan Zhu, Chaohao Xu, Yaohua Zhang
Summary: Research has found that tropical plant species adapted to phosphorus deficiency have a higher hydraulic safety margin and are less vulnerable to hydraulic failure. These species have a higher stem-to-leaf ratio and strengthened vessel walls.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Mehran Moradi, Roghayieh Razavi, Abdullah Khalid Omer, Azra Farhangfar, David Julian McClements
Summary: This article reviews the importance of interactions between food-grade nanomaterials and various nutrients in food and their potential impact on the functionality and behavior of nanomaterials.
TRENDS IN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Irini Furxhi, Alessio Varesano, Hesham Salman, Mahsa Mirzaei, Vittoria Battistello, Ivonne Tonani Tomasoni, Magda Blosi
Summary: This paper demonstrates the construction of a template for capturing antimicrobial capacity data of nanomaterials or nanoenabled products, promoting data findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability. By following a roadmap and utilizing the template, scientists can standardize reporting data, improving data quality and usability.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Kritika Dixit, Vikram Karde, Ashish Jauhari, S. C. Bhattacharyya, Chinmay Ghoroi
Summary: Ammonium perchlorate (AP) is a crucial component for solid composite propellants, and the handling and processing of AP powder significantly impact the performance of rocket fuel. This study utilized the dry coating method with nano-additives such as TiO2 and Fe2O3 to improve the flowability of 8 μm and 50 μm AP particles. Additionally, the impact of hydrophobic nano-silica coating on AP particles under high humidity was investigated. The results demonstrated that the nano-additive coating reduced inter-particle forces, enhancing the packing and flowability of fine AP powder. The hydrophobic coating showed added benefits at higher humidity levels. Furthermore, the coating with these nano-additives also improved the exothermicity of AP.
ADVANCED POWDER TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Aleksandr Lozovan, Svetlana Savushkina, Maksim Lyakhovetsky, Ilya Nikolaev, Sergey Betsofen, Ekaterina Kubatina
Summary: Solid lubricating composite TiN coatings with Pb additives were successfully prepared using reactive magnetron sputtering. Different coating structures, including columnar, columnar nanostructured, and composite nanostructured, were obtained by adjusting the Pb content in the TiN matrix. Among them, the nanostructured composite coating with 12% Pb exhibited the best tribological characteristics, with a low friction coefficient and high microhardness, as well as a textureless state and small grain size.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Krisada Auepattana-Aumrung, Treethip Phakkeeree, Daniel Crespy
Summary: A new anticorrosive additive based on polymer-corrosion inhibitor conjugate has been developed to control the release of corrosion inhibitors in commercial epoxy coatings, showing superior performance in slowing the leaching of corrosion inhibitors and enhancing anticorrosion properties. The use of polymer-corrosion inhibitor conjugates as efficient additives in coatings offers a promising strategy for the development and commercialization of materials with high corrosion protection and environmental responsibility.
PROGRESS IN ORGANIC COATINGS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shuyue Yao, Yujie Ma, Tianhao Xu, Zhongyue Wang, Peng Lv, Jiajin Zheng, Chen Ma, Kehan Yu, Wei Wei, Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov
Summary: The study presents a new strategy for designing hybrid-phase electrochemically active nanocomposite materials by using fluidized-bed plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition to prepare carbon coatings on TiO2 nano-powder.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Diego Batista Meneses, Gabriela Montes de Oca-Vasquez, Jose Roberto Vega-Baudrit, Mauricio Rojas-alvarez, Joshua Corrales-Castillo, Luis C. Murillo-Araya
Summary: This review article examines pretreatment methods for reducing the negative impact of agricultural and industrial wastes on the environment and human and animal health. The article discusses the extraction and purification of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin from the waste to produce valuable products. However, further research is needed to improve the efficiency of current methods and discover new procedures.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2022)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Jose-Anibal Mora-Villalobos, Francisco Aguilar, Ana-Francis Carballo-Arce, Jose-Roberto Vega-Baudrit, Humberto Trimino-Vazquez, Luis Roberto Villegas-Penaranda, Anne Stoebener, Daniela Eixenberger, Paul Bubenheim, Manuel Sandoval-Barrantes, Andreas Liese
Summary: Tropical crops, such as coffee, oil palm, sugar cane, banana, and pineapple, are significant sources of wealth in many countries. The by-products generated from their production, known as biowastes, contain bioactive compounds that can be utilized for the development of circular economy and bioeconomy. This review focuses on exploring the potential of agricultural wastes from these tropical crops and discusses their possible use in alternative chemical production and bioenergy generation.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Carmen L. Zegarra-Urquia, Julio Santiago, Joel D. Bumgardner, Jose Vega-Baudrit, Claudia A. Hernandez-Escobar, E. Armando Zaragoza-Contreras
Summary: Nanoparticles of the chitosan-poly((alpha,beta)-DL-aspartic acid) polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) were successfully synthesized in this study, which exhibited biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity. The ionotropic gelation method was employed to prepare these nanoparticles, and preliminary experiments demonstrated their potential for encapsulating hydrophilic drugs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POLYMERIC MATERIALS AND POLYMERIC BIOMATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Johanna Gaitan-Alvarez, Alexander Berrocal, Charalampos Lykidis, Roger Moya, George Mantanis
Summary: The purpose of this study was to assess the combined effect of furfurylation and the addition of silver nanoparticles on the properties of tropical woods. The results showed that higher weight percentage gain improved thermal stability and durability, and reduced water absorption. Improvement in hardness was only observed in species with high permeability. The addition of silver nanoparticles only effectively enhanced wood durability in species with weight percentage gain below 20%.
WOOD MATERIAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Andrea Mariela Araya-Sibaja, Krissia Wilhelm-Romero, Felipe Vargas-Huertas, Maria Isabel Quiros-Fallas, Diego Alvarado-Corella, Juan Jose Mora-Roman, Jose Roberto Vega-Baudrit, Andres Sanchez-Kopper, Mirtha Navarro-Hoyos
Summary: This study reports a detailed investigation of a proanthocyanidin-enriched extract from Uncaria tomentosa leaves using UPLC-QTOF-ESI MS, as well as the synthesis and characterization of hybrid nanoparticles loaded with the extract. The results demonstrate that the nanoparticles enhance the release rate and antioxidant activity of the proanthocyanidin extract, leading to enhanced cellular response in mice. This study provides the first report on the immune modulation effects of proanthocyanidins from Uncaria tomentosa leaves when administered using nanosystems.
Article
Forestry
Carolina Tenorio, Roger Moya, Ricardo Starbird-Perez
Summary: This study investigated the effects of steaming and furfuryl alcohol impregnation pre-treatments on the spring back, set recovery, and thermal degradation of densified wood of Alnus acuminata, Vochysia ferruginea, and Vochysia guatemalensis. The results showed that both pre-treatments improved the dimensional stability of the densified wood. Furfurylation pre-treatment resulted in higher spring back values but lower set recovery, while steaming pre-treatment modified the hemicellulose structure and improved thermal stability.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WOOD AND WOOD PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Roger Moya, Carolina Tenorio, Allen Puente-Urbina, Catalina Rosales-Lopez, Jose Vega-baudrit
Summary: Pineapple leaf fibers were biopulped with Trametes versicolor and further bleached with xylanase-enzymatic treatment. The biopulping process resulted in significant changes in fiber morphology, chemical composition, and thermal stability. The xylanase-enzymatic treatment improved the whiteness and weight of the paper, but also decreased its mechanical properties.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL FIBERS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Roger Moya, Carolina Tenorio, Angel Navarro-Mora, Freddy Munoz
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the application of two species with high specific gravity but lacking commercial value in the market. The results showed that glued laminated timber beams performed better in bending parameters and design values compared to solid timber beams, making them suitable for floor and roof construction.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Badr Bahloul, Luis Castillo-Henriquez, Latifa Jenhani, Nebras Aroua, Mahdi Ftouh, Nesrine Kalboussi, Jose Vega-Baudrit, Nathalie Mignet
Summary: Diabetes is a major health concern in the 21st century, with three different types and associated complications and side effects from drug therapies. Phytotherapy has attracted researchers to explore natural sources for new compounds to treat the disease.
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marco Chaves, Cindy Torres, Carolina Tenorio, Roger Moya, Dagoberto Arias-Aguilar
Summary: This study evaluates the performance and efficiency of an electrical and thermal energy generation system using a downdraft gasifier with five different types of woody biomass in Costa Rica. The results showed that the electrical power generation had suitable performance and an energy efficiency of 11.68-14.25%, while the thermal power generation had lower efficiency at 18.02-20.88%. The properties of the different species had little effect on the production and efficiency of the gasifier, but Eucalyptus saligna was the least efficient for thermal and electrical energy generation.
WASTE AND BIOMASS VALORIZATION
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Cinira Fandaruff, Maria Isabel Quiros-Fallas, Jose Roberto Vega-Baudrit, Mirtha Navarro-Hoyos, Diego German Lamas, Andrea Mariela Araya-Sibaja
Summary: The dissolution rate of the anti-HIV drug saquinavir base was improved through a eutectic mixture formation approach using PIP as a coformer. Solid-state characterization and dissolution test revealed the exact eutectic composition and enhanced dissolution profile of the drug in the eutectic mixture.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Manuel Sandoval-Barrantes, Jose Roberto Vega-Baudrit, Gilberto Piedra-Marin, Randall Syedd-Leon, Andrea Rivera-alvarez, Katya Bermudez Campos, Ricardo Coy Herrera
Summary: From 1988 to 2018, high school students in Costa Rica had to pass a final exam to graduate and be eligible for university education. However, chemistry has historically been the least chosen science subject. In 2016, a national camp called Quimi Camp was organized to promote interest in chemistry among high school students, and it received positive feedback from participants.
Article
Cell Biology
Susana Mesen-Porras, Andrea Rojas-Cespedes, Jose Arturo Molina-Mora, Jose Vega-Baudrit, Francisco Siles, Steve Quiros, Rodrigo Mora-Rodriguez
Summary: Tumor heterogeneity leads to drug resistance in cancer treatment, with sphingolipids playing a crucial role in cell fate and stress signaling. This study analyzed sphingolipid metabolism and autophagic flux in the A549 lung cancer model to study the interactions of chemotherapy drugs. The results showed that combining chemotherapies with autophagy inducers effectively reduced cell viability, but paclitaxel often had antagonistic effects. Further research is needed to identify specific sphingolipids accumulating in autophagosomes.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Gabriela Montes de Oca-Vasquez, Marianelly Esquivel-Alfaro, Jose Roberto Vega-Baudrit, Guillermo Jimenez-Villalta, Victor Hugo Romero-Arellano, Belkis Sulbaran-Rangel
Summary: This study developed nanocomposite chitosan films with antimicrobial activity extracted from agave bagasse and shrimp shells. The addition of nanofibers and silver nanoparticles improved the mechanical properties and antibacterial activity of the films, showing potential as a green alternative for food preservation and packaging.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH
(2023)
