Abstract: The effect on the physical, mechanical, and antibacterial properties of films composed of alginate-chitosan with the incorporation of oregano (EOO) or thyme (EOT) essential oils was evaluated. The results indicated that the incorporation of essential oil increased the thickness of the films, in addition to evidencing a significant effect on the colour variation towards the yellow tone, especially in the b* factor. On the other hand, the incorporation of essential oil significantly decreased the tensile strength, simultaneously increasing elasticity. Regarding antibacterial capacity, as the concentration of essential oil increases, the antibacterial capacity also increases. On average, the increase from 1% to 3% of EOO increased the antimicrobial capacity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. These results suggest that films with the addition of oregano and thyme essential oils can be promising for food packaging applications with the ability to improve food safety and increase product shelf life by achieving functional packaging characteristics.

Abstract: We present a novel solution to prepare bioactive, biomineralized calcium phosphate (mCP) loaded biopolymer composites scaffold material with porous structure. We investigated two types of polymers as matrices, one natural, such as cellulose acetate (CA) and one synthetic such as polycaprolactone (PCL). Owing to the intrinsic biodegradable nature of these polymers, they can be innovatively utilized as resorbable fillers or bone grafts in bone tissue engineering or even in drug-releasing systems. The biomineralized calcium phosphate particles were prepared via wet chemical precipitation and addition of organic biominerals like magnesium gluconate and zinc gluconate to boost the bioactivity of the pure CP phase. We compared the morphological and chemical characteristic of the two types of composites and the effect of the biomineralization on the particle structure of pure CP. The obtained CP was mainly nanocrystalline apatite, and the organic trace element addition strongly affected the morphology by reducing the size of the particles. SEM elemental mapping proved the perfect incorporation of the mCP particles into both CA and PCL polymer matrices forming composites. The short-term immersion test revealed that the decomposition rate of both composites is slow, but moderate and gradual ionic dissolution takes place according to the ICP-AES measurements.

Abstract: Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have become a highly usable system in various sectors because of their highly ordered structure and high porosity providing them with high storage capacity. But their use is sometimes forbidden in the food industry due to the presence of some organic compounds which have undesirable effects. Cyclodextrins which are considered GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) by FDA comes as a very good alternative to previously used compounds for the development of the MOF’s to be used in food packaging industry especially in the packaging sector. These cyclodextrin MOF does possess edible, biocompatible as well as biodegradable characteristics and due to these reasons they have gained attentions from researchers in the food industry. In this review we focus on the recent advancements in the field of CD MOF’s. We have emphasized on the synthesis of these MOF’s through different techniques, formations of their inclusion complex with bioactive compounds and their characterization. Finally, we discussed on the use of CD MOF as a carrier for various highly volatile bioactive compounds and their ability to increase the solubility and stability of these bioactive compounds.

Abstract: A UO22+ complex bearing N,N,N’,N’-tetraisopropyldiglycolamide (TiPDGA) and two DMF molecules was designed and prepared to explore a catalytic activities of the Lewis-acidic U centre. The cationic complex, [UO2(TiPDGA)(DMF)2]2+, was successfully obtained as a ClO4− salt under optimized reaction condition with appropriate mixing ratio between UO22+ and TiPDGA to maintain 1:1 stoichiometry, non-coordinating ClO4− counteranion to reserve coordination sites for substrate activation, and presence of extra HClO4 to suppress undesired hydrolysis of UO22+ competing with the expected complex formation. This UO22+ complex was thoroughly characterized by IR, elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography, and 1H NMR to confirm the desired [3+1+1] equatorial coordination is actually formed in the solid state, and still maintained even after dissolution in CD2Cl2. [UO2(TiPDGA)(DMF)2]2+ was further subjected to nucleophilic acyl substitution reactions of acid anhydrides to assess its activity and capability as a Lewis-acid catalyst there. Although the observed reaction rates are not very rapid, some characteristic aspects to gain reaction- and substrate-selectivity have appeared thanks to the equatorial coordination sphere sterically regulated by the tridentate auxiliary TiPDGA ligand and labile monodentate DMF molecules to activate an acid anhydride after ligand substitution.

Abstract: The separation of oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2) from air is a process of utmost importance today, as both species are vital for numerous fundamental processes essential for our development. Membranes designed for selective molecule separation have become the material of choice for re-searchers, primarily due to their ease of use. The present study proposes grazynes, 2D car-bon-based materials consisting of sp and sp2 C atoms, as suitable membranes for separating O2 and N2 from air. By combining static density functional theory (DFT) calculations with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we address this issue through a comprehensive examination of the thermodynamic, kinetic, and dynamic aspects of molecule diffusion across the nano-engineered pores of grazynes. The studied grazyne structures have demonstrated the ability to physisorb both O2 and N2, preventing material saturation, with diffusion rates exceeding 1 s-1 across a tem-perature range of 100-500 K. Moreover, they exhibit a selectivity of ca. 2 towards O2 at 300 K. In-deed, MD simulations with equimolar mixtures of O2:N2 indicated a selectivity towards O2 in both grazynes with ca. twice as many O2 filtered molecules in the [1],[2]{2}-grazyne and with O2 representing ca. 88% of the filtered gas in the [1],[2]{(0,0)2}-grazyne. [1],[2]{2}-grazyne shows higher permeability for both molecules compared to the other grazyne, with O₂ demonstrating particularly enhanced diffusion capacity across both membranes. Further MD simulations in-corporating CO2 and Ar confirm O2 enrichment, particularly with [1],[2]{(0,0)2}-grazyne, which increased the presence of O2 in the filtered mixture by 26% with no evidences of CO2 molecules.

Abstract:

The cosmetics industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors worldwide. The dynamic evolution of this industry results in an increasingly diverse range of products containing various active ingredients. Ensuring the quality of these products is crucial for consumer safety, necessitating the use of advanced analytical methods and adherence to legal regulations. Electrophoretic techniques, particularly capillary electrophoresis and micellar electrokinetic chromatography, facilitate the rapid and precise separation and identification of cosmetic ingredients. A well-chosen technique and optimized analytical conditions ensure high sensitivity, repeatability, and resolution, achieving detection limits that meet legal requirements. Although electromigration techniques are less common in routine laboratory analyses compared to liquid chromatography, they show potential for broader application in analyzing various substances found in cosmetics. This study reviews the possibilities of applying different electrophoretic techniques to analyze selected cosmetic ingredients serving various functions, including preservatives, dyes, exfoliating agents, UV filters, and also contaminants, while considering sample preparation methods, equipment used, and analysis conditions. The compiled data indicate that capillary electrophoresis, when compared to high-performance liquid chromatography and ion chromatography, shows comparable or superior sensitivity and repeatability, with detection limits adequate to meet regulatory standardsKeywords: cosmetic, electrophoretic techniques, capillary electrophoresis, micellar electrokinetic chromatography, liquid chromatography.

Abstract: A Schiff base ligand is synthesized from the condensation of dapsone and 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde using cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) anacardic acid as a green and natural effective catalyst via solvent-free simple physical grinding technique. Furthermore, metal(II) complexes Co(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) coordinated by a new Schiff base ligand (L) were prepared. The composition of Schiff base ligand and its metal(II) complexes were analyzed by various analytical techniques. The Schiff base ligand and its complexes have been tested in vitro to evaluate their antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans using well-diffusion method. It has been found that the Schiff base ligand and its complexes show significant antimicrobial activity against all tested bacterial species. Molecular docking study of Cu(II) complex with target protein HER2 has revealed good binding energy.

Abstract: The need for efficient adaptation of existing polypropylene (PP) formulations or the creation of new formulations has become increasingly important in various industries. Variations in viscosity resulting from changes in raw materials, fillers and additives can have a significant impact on the processing and quality of PP products. This study presents the development of an analytical model designed to predict the shear viscosity of complex PP blends. By integrating established mixing rules with novel fitting parameters, the model provides a systematic and efficient method for managing variability in PP formulations. Experimental data from binary and multi-component blends were used to validate the model, demonstrating high prediction accuracy over a range of shear rates. The proposed model serves as a valuable tool for compounders and manufacturers to optimise PP formulations and develop new recipes with consistent processing and product quality. Future work will include industrial scale trials and further evaluation against advanced machine learning approaches.

Abstract: Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a potent choice for various applications, serving as an al-ternative and promising methodology for future advancements. They have been explored in nu-merous emerging applications, demonstrating immense promise and high efficiency. NPs can be utilized with various biomolecules for delivery or as surface materials to enhance their capabili-ties. Lactoferrin (Lf) is a glycoprotein recognized for its significant multifunctional properties, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and neuroprotective effects. Its activity has a broad distribution in the human body, with Lf receptors present in multiple regions. Current research shows that Lf is utilized in NP technology as a surface material, encapsulated biomolecule, and even as a NP itself. Due to the abundance of Lf receptors in various regions, Lf can be employed as a surface material in NPs for targeted delivery strategies, particularly in crossing the BBB and targeting specific cancers. Furthermore, Lf can be synthesized in a NP structure, positioning it as a strong candidate in future NPs related applications. In this article, we explored the highlighted and underexplored areas of Lf applications in NPs research.

Abstract: Ultrasound micromolding (USM) is an emerging processing technology that offers advantages concerning spatial resolution, material saving, minimum time residence, minimum exposition to high temperatures and low cost. Recent advances have been focused to the point nodal tech-nology, which improves the homogeneity of the molded samples and the repeatability of the properties of processed specimens. The present work demonstrates the suitability of the modi-fied USM technology to process the biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB), which is a polymer that has well reported difficulties to be processed by conventional methods. Specifical-ly, conventional injection and microinjection, and USM technologies with and without point nodal configurations have been compared. Degradation studies and the evaluation of thermal and mechanical properties confirmed the successful preparation of P3HB micro-specimens, maintaining their functional integrity with minimal molecular weight loss. Exfoliated clay structures were observed for P3HB nanocomposites incorporating the C20 and C166 clays and processed by USM. The results point out the advantages of using the modified USM technology since C116 enhanced the P3HB degradation and consequently processed specimens were impos-sible to be obtained by conventional microinjection.