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Carbohydrate Polymers Jan 2024Thermoplastic starch (TPS), a green and fully biodegradable composite, is considered the most viable option for replacing petroleum-based polymers. However, the poor...
Thermoplastic starch (TPS), a green and fully biodegradable composite, is considered the most viable option for replacing petroleum-based polymers. However, the poor mechanical properties, high flammability and moisture absorption susceptibility of TPS severely restrict its large-scale applications. Through PA phosphorylation and blending with halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), phytic acid (PA)-phosphorylated HNT/TPS composite films (HNTPSFs) were fabricated with enhanced mechanical strength, excellent flame retardancy, and improved barrier properties. The introduction of HNTs substantially increased the mechanical properties (tensile strength increased 54.3 % and elongation at break decreased 37.0 %) of TPS films and reduced the diffusion of water vapor (decreased 34.1 %). Thermogravimetric analysis studies demonstrated that the HNTPSFs had exceptional thermal stability at their anticipated working temperatures. Furthermore, when the PA content in the composite films increased, the peak heat release rate, total heat release and fire growth index of the HNTPSFs all decreased substantially, demonstrating the improved flame retardancy of HNTPSFs. Hence, the synthesized fully biodegradable TPS composites show enormous potential in the field of renewable biopolymers.
PubMed: 37940320
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121465 -
Carbohydrate Polymers Feb 2024Natural polysaccharides are being studied for their biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity, and low cost in the fabrication of various hydrogel devices.... (Review)
Review
Natural polysaccharides are being studied for their biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity, and low cost in the fabrication of various hydrogel devices. However, due to their insufficient physicochemical and mechanical qualities, polysaccharide hydrogels alone are not acceptable for biological applications. Various synthetic crosslinkers have been tested to overcome the drawbacks of standalone polysaccharide hydrogels; however, the presence of toxic residual crosslinkers, the generation of toxic by-products following biodegradation, and the requirement of toxic organic solvents for processing pose challenges in achieving the desired non-toxic biomaterials. Natural crosslinkers such as citric acid, tannic acid, vanillin, gallic acid, ferulic acid, proanthocyanidins, phytic acid, squaric acid, and epigallocatechin have been used to generate polysaccharide-based hydrogels in recent years. Various polysaccharides, including cellulose, alginate, pectin, hyaluronic acid, and chitosan, have been hydrogelized and investigated for their potential in drug delivery and tissue engineering applications using natural crosslinkers. We attempted to provide an overview of the synthesis of polysaccharide-based hydrogel systems (films, complex nanoparticles, microspheres, and porous scaffolds) based on green crosslinkers, as well as a description of the mechanism of crosslinking and properties with a special emphasis on drug delivery, and tissue engineering applications.
Topics: Tissue Engineering; Hydrogels; Polysaccharides; Drug Delivery Systems
PubMed: 38142088
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121584 -
Carbohydrate Polymers Sep 2024Efficient removal of uranium from radioactive wastewater is crucial for both environmental protection and sustainable development of nuclear energy. However, selectively...
Efficient removal of uranium from radioactive wastewater is crucial for both environmental protection and sustainable development of nuclear energy. However, selectively extracting uranium from acidic wastewater remains a significant challenge. Here we present a phytic acid-functionalized polyamidoxime/alginate hydrogel (PAG) via a facile one-step hydrothermal reaction. The PAG, leveraging the robust binding affinity of phytic acid and the selective coordination of amidoxime for U(VI), exhibited high efficiency and selectivity in adsorbing U(VI) from acidic uranium-containing wastewater. At pH 2.50, U(VI) adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 60 min, showcasing a maximum theoretical adsorption capacity of 218.34 mg/g. Additionally, the PAG demonstrated excellent reusability, maintaining a uranium removal rate exceeding 90 % over five adsorption-desorption cycles. Remarkably, the as-synthesized PAG removed 94.1 % of U(VI) from actual acidic uranium-contaminated groundwater with excellent anti-interference performance, reducing U(VI) concentration from 272.0 μg/L to 16.1 μg/L and making it meet the WHO drinking water standards (30 μg/L). The adsorption mechanism was elucidated through XPS and DFT calculation, revealing that the uranyl ion primarily coordinated with phosphate and amidoxime groups on phytic acid and polyamidoxime, respectively. These findings underscore the promising potential of PAG hydrogel for addressing acidic uranium-containing wastewater from uranium mining and metallurgy.
PubMed: 38823934
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122283 -
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach,... Apr 2024The onset of implant-associated infection (IAI) triggers a cascade of immune responses, which are initially dominated by neutrophils. Bacterial aggregate formation and...
The onset of implant-associated infection (IAI) triggers a cascade of immune responses, which are initially dominated by neutrophils. Bacterial aggregate formation and hypoxic microenvironment, which occur shortly after implantation, may be two major risk factors that impair neutrophil function and lead to IAI. Here, the implant surface with phytic acid-Zn coordinated TiO nanopillar arrays (PA-Zn@TiNPs) and oxygen self-supporting CaO nanoparticles, named as CPZTs, is mechanochemically reprogrammed. The engineered CPZTs interface integrates multiple properties to inhibit the formation of nascent biofilm, encompassing antibacterial adhesion, mechanobactericidal effect, and chemobiocidal effect. Meanwhile, continuous oxygenation fuels the neutrophils with reactive oxygen species (ROS) for efficient bacterial elimination on the implant surface and inside the neutrophils. Furthermore, this surface modulation strategy accelerates neutrophil apoptosis and promotes M2 macrophage-mediated osteogenesis both in vitro and in a rat model of IAI. In conclusion, targeting neutrophils for immunomodulation is a practical and effective strategy to prevent IAI and promote bone-implant integration.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Neutrophils; Apoptosis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Macrophages; Prostheses and Implants
PubMed: 38164817
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202311855 -
Sports (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2023The third-largest land plant family, Fabaceae (Papilionaceae), includes trees, shrubs, and perennial or annual herbaceous plants containing both numerous beneficial... (Review)
Review
The third-largest land plant family, Fabaceae (Papilionaceae), includes trees, shrubs, and perennial or annual herbaceous plants containing both numerous beneficial constituents (e.g., proteins, carbohydrates, dietary fibre) and antinutrients (e.g., saponins, tannins, phytic acid, gossypol, lectins). The consumption of leguminous plants allows sports people to complete their requirements for nourishment but, on the other hand, it contributes to digestive system ailments. Therefore, the aim of the presented study was to review the experimental articles and patents referring to the application of common (kidney) bean ( L.)-based nutritional products for athletes. The survey of the literature was carried out according to PRISMA statements by browsing Scopus, PubMed and ISI Web of Science databases, as well as Google Scholar, Google Patents and Espacenet Patent Search engines using factorial combinations of the following keywords: ('common bean' or 'kidney bean' or '') and ('athlete' or 'sport') and ('food' or 'nutrition' or 'diet'). Altogether, 84 patents issued in the years 1995-2023 were noted. The majority of patents were developed by research teams consisting of at least four authors representing scientists affiliated in the United States of America and China. The patents refer to the production of food ingredients, nutritional products, and compositions: (i) for relieving fatigue, enhancing endurance, and increasing muscle mass and strength, (ii) for maintaining physical and mental health, and (iii) for controlling body weight. Moreover, the analysis of 19 original articles indicated the substantial acceptability of meals containing the common bean. To summarize, the performed investigations demonstrate the considerable use of in sport nutrition and the growing acceptance of this trend.
PubMed: 37999428
DOI: 10.3390/sports11110211 -
Food Technology and Biotechnology Sep 2023Teff [ (Zucc.) Trotter] is an underutilised cereal crop grown mainly in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is an excellent source of dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and...
RESEARCH BACKGROUND
Teff [ (Zucc.) Trotter] is an underutilised cereal crop grown mainly in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is an excellent source of dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds. However, it also contains a high amount of phytic acid, which is an antinutrient and reduces the bioavailability of minerals and proteins. To improve the nutritional quality of teff, the phytic acid content should be reduced by an effective dephytinisation method.
EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH
In this study, various dephytinisation methods (fermentation, autoclaving and phytase treatment) were used to dephytinise teff flour. Undephytinised and dephytinised teff flour was mixed into wheat flour (0-40 %) to improve the functional properties of cookies. Twenty different cookie formulations were prepared according to 4x5x2 factorial design. The physical, chemical, nutritional and sensory properties of the cookies were investigated.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
Among the dephytinisation methods, fermentation produced the most effective reduction in phytic acid mass fraction (181 mg/100 g), followed by phytase treatment (198 mg/100 g). The protein, fat, Fe and Zn content and antioxidant activity of cookies enriched with dephytinised teff flour were comparable to cookies fortified with undephytinised teff flour. Moreover, the dephytinised teff cookies had lower phytic acid mass fractions. The cookies containing 40 % teff flour had higher antioxidant activity and nutritional quality than the control wheat cookies. The use of dephytinised teff flour reduced the spread ratio and the and values of cookies compared to undephytinised flour. Cookies containing fermented and phytase-treated teff flour had a harder texture than cookies containing undephytinised flour. In addition, as the amount of teff flour increased, the spread ratio values of cookies gradually incrased while their hardness decreased. Overall acceptability scores of cookies containing 10-20 % teff flour were similar to the control.
NOVELTY AND SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTION
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to determine the quality of cookies containing dephytinised teff flour. The data highlight the potential of dephytinised (especially autoclaved and phytase-treated) teff flour (up to 20 %) as a functional ingredient to enrich the mineral content and antioxidant capacity of foods. Furthermore, this study shows that fermentation, autoclaving and phytase treatment can be used to improve the nutritional quality of grains.
PubMed: 38022881
DOI: 10.17113/ftb.61.03.23.8145 -
International Journal of Biological... Sep 2023Intelligent hydrogel has great application potentials in flexible sensing and artificial intelligence devices due to its intrinsic characteristics. However, developing...
Intelligent hydrogel has great application potentials in flexible sensing and artificial intelligence devices due to its intrinsic characteristics. However, developing an intelligent hydrogel with favorable properties including high strength, superior toughness, excellent conductivity and ionic sensing via a facile route is still a challenge. Herein, inspired by biologically chelating interactions of phytic acid (PA) in plants, a plant-inspired versatile intelligent nanocomposite hydrogel was readily fabricated by incorporating PA into the interface of fluorescent cellulose nanocrystals (F-CNC). Under PA "molecular bridge", the hydrogel simultaneously realized superflexibility (1000 %), high strength, superb self-healing ability, remarkable fluorescence and chloride ion sensibility as well as good ionic conductivity (2.4 S/m). The hydrogel could be assembled as a flexible sensor for real-time monitoring of human motion with excellent sensitivity and stability since high sensitivity toward both strain and pressure. F-CNC acted as a functional trigger could confer the hydrogel good fluorescence and high sensitivity toward chloride ion. This design confirms the synergy of F-CNC in boosting strength, ionic sensing, and ionic conductivity, addressing a long-standing dilemma among strength, stretchability, and sensitivity for intelligent hydrogel. The one-step incorporating tactic under mild ambient conditions may open an innovative avenue for the construction of intelligent hydrogel with novel properties.
Topics: Humans; Nanogels; Artificial Intelligence; Chlorides; Nanoparticles; Cellulose; Coloring Agents; Electric Conductivity; Halogens; Hydrogels; Phytic Acid
PubMed: 37542759
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126019 -
International Journal of Biological... Aug 2023The research of additive biomass flame retardants is becoming more and more popular. In this work, amino modified halloysite nanotubes (A-HNTs), chitosan (CS) and phytic...
The research of additive biomass flame retardants is becoming more and more popular. In this work, amino modified halloysite nanotubes (A-HNTs), chitosan (CS) and phytic acid (PA) were introduced into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix to construct PA/A-HNT/CS/PVA organic-inorganic composite film with hydrogen bond and covalent bond cross-linking network structure. Adding PA/A-HNT/CS can remarkably improve the mechanical strength, UV resistance and thermal stability of PVA film. Compared with control PVA film, the transmittance of composite film in ultraviolet region decreases from 90 % to <15 %, and the tensile strength raises from 19.8 MPa to 31.0 MPa. The thermal decomposition temperature of the composite film increases, the weight loss rate decreases obviously, and the carbon residue can reach 26 wt% at 700 °C. The limiting oxygen index increases from 18.5 % to 32.2 %. Furthermore, the addition of this flame-retardant system can obviously reduce the combustion intensity of PVA, and its flame-retardant grade can reach V-0. It is of great significance to expand the application of PVA and the development of biomass flame retardant.
PubMed: 37406910
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125682 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Apr 2024Zinc anode deterioration in aqueous electrolytes, and Zn dendrite growth is a major concern in the operation of aqueous rechargeable Zn metal batteries (AZMBs). To...
Zinc anode deterioration in aqueous electrolytes, and Zn dendrite growth is a major concern in the operation of aqueous rechargeable Zn metal batteries (AZMBs). To tackle this, the replacement of aqueous electrolytes with a zinc hydrogel polymer electrolyte (ZHPE) is presented in this study. This method involves structural modifications of the ZHPE by phytic acid through an ultraviolet (UV) light-induced photopolymerization process. The high membrane flexibility, high ionic conductivity (0.085 S cm), improved zinc corrosion overpotential, and enhanced electrochemical stability value of ≈2.3 V versus Zn|Zn show the great potential of ZHPE as an ideal gel electrolyte for rechargeable zinc metal hydrogel batteries (ZMHBs). This is the first time that the dominating effect of chelation of phytic acid with M center over H-bonding with water is described to tune the gel electrolyte properties for battery applications. The ZHPE shows ultra-high stability over 360 h with a capacity of 0.50 mAh cm with dendrite-free plating/stripping in Zn||Zn symmetric cell. The fabrication of the ZMHB with a high-voltage zinc hexacyanoferrate (ZHF) cathode shows a high-average voltage of ≈1.6 V and a comparable capacity output of 63 mAh g at 0.10 A g of the current rate validating the potential application of ZHPE.
PubMed: 38616777
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202311923 -
ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering Aug 2023Hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes affect osteoblast function, leading to abnormal bone metabolism and implant failure. Adequate bone volume surrounding an implant...
Sandblasted/Acid-Etched Titanium Surface Modified with Calcium Phytate Enhances Bone Regeneration in a High-Glucose Microenvironment by Regulating Reactive Oxygen Species and Cell Senescence.
Hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes affect osteoblast function, leading to abnormal bone metabolism and implant failure. Adequate bone volume surrounding an implant is essential for osseointegration, which can be improved by implant surface modifications. In this study, titanium surfaces were hydrothermally treated with a mixture of phytic acid (PA) and calcium hydroxide to produce a calcium-decorated surface. The control group comprised pure titanium with a sandblasted/acid-etched (SLA) surface. The elemental composition, hydrophilicity, surface roughness, and morphology of the titanium surfaces were examined. Evaluation of osteogenic differentiation ability in a high-glucose environment using alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, ALP activity assays, Alizarin Red S staining, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and immunofluorescence staining revealed that Ca-PA-modified SLA titanium surfaces can promote osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs). Evaluation of oxidative stress and aging using reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and β-galactosidase staining revealed that Ca-PA-modified SLA titanium surfaces can reduce ROS production and ameliorate oxidative stress damage in hBMSCs. assessment of osteogenesis in a diabetic rat model revealed that Ca-PA coating promotes peri-implant osseointegration. Ca-PA-modified SLA titanium surface is a candidate for improving implant osseointegration in patients with diabetes.
Topics: Humans; Rats; Animals; Osteogenesis; Reactive Oxygen Species; Phytic Acid; Titanium; Cell Proliferation; Cellular Senescence; Osseointegration; Diabetes Mellitus; Glucose
PubMed: 37491189
DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00385