Synthesis and characterization of sago starch nanocrystal laurate as a food grade particle emulsifier.

Starch nanocrystals (SNCs) are tiny particles that possess unique qualities due to their small size, such as increased crystallinity, thin sheet structure, low permeability, and strong resistance to digestion. Although sago starch nanocrystals (SNCs) are naturally hydrophilic, their properties can be modified through chemical modifications to make them more versatile for various applications. In this study, the esterification process was used to modify SNCs using lauroyl chloride (LC) to enhance their surface properties.

Tropical sharks feasting on and swimming through microplastics: First evidence from Malaysia.

Plastic can be degraded into microplastic (<5 mm) and has been polluting worldwide marine environment and negatively impact human health. Microplastics in marine organisms are still understudied in Malaysia, let alone from a subclass Elasmobranchii. Five tropical shark species (Carcharhinus dussumieri, Carcharhinus sorrah, Chiloscyllium hasseltii, Chiloscyllium punctatum, and Scoliodon laticaudus) were examined for the presence of microplastics.

Occurrence, distribution and characteristics of microplastics in gastrointestinal tract and gills of commercial marine fish from Malaysia.

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles with size below 5 mm, prevalence in marine environments and the occurrence have been reported in commercial marine fish worldwide. Microplastics' abilities to absorb various marine contaminants raised considerable concern on their role as a vector to spread harmful pollutants to the alienated environment. This study focussed on the occurrence of microplastics in gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and gills of 158 fishes across 16 species from two locations in Malaysia coastal waters.

Sago starch nanocrystal-stabilized Pickering emulsions: Stability and rheological behavior.

This study presents the isolation of SNC from sago starch and its performance as proficient particle emulsifier. It highlights the impact of SNC on the stability and rheological properties of oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions. The percentage yield of the SNC obtained was equivalent to 25 ± 0.

Improving the efficiency of post-digestion method in extracting microplastics from gastrointestinal tract and gills of fish.

Post-digestion treatment is an important step during sample preparation to facilitate the removal of undigested materials for better detection of ingested microplastics. Sieving, density separation with zinc chloride solution (ZnCl), and oil extraction protocol (OEP) have been introduced in separating microplastics from sediments. The clean-up methods are rarely highlighted in previous studies, especially in the separation of microplastics from marine biota.

Alcoholic fermentation of soursop (Annona muricata) juice via an alternative fermentation technique.

Background: Wines are produced via the alcoholic fermentation of suitable substrates, usually sugar (sugar cane, grapes) and carbohydrates (wheat, grain). However, conventional alcoholic fermentation is limited by the inhibition of yeast by ethanol produced, usually at approximately 13-14%. Aside from that, soursop fruit is a very nutritious fruit, although it is highly perishable, and thus produces a lot of wastage.

Comprehensive spectroscopic studies of synergism between Gadong starch based carbon dots and bovine serum albumin.

Carbon dots (C-dots) were used to study the binding mechanisms with serum protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA) by using two notable binding systems known as non-covalent and covalent interaction. Interaction between C-dots and BSA were estimated by Stern-Volmer equation and Double Log Regression Model (DLRM). According to the fluorescent intensity, quenching of model carrier protein by C-dots was due to dynamic quenching for non-covalent and static quenching for covalent binding.

Cytotoxicity and Toxicity Evaluation of Xanthone Crude Extract on Hypoxic Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Zebrafish () Embryos.

Xanthone is an organic compound mostly found in mangosteen pericarp and widely known for its anti-proliferating effect on cancer cells. In this study, we evaluated the effects of xanthone crude extract (XCE) and α-mangostin (α-MG) on normoxic and hypoxic human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells and their toxicity towards zebrafish embryos. XCE was isolated using a mixture of acetone and water (80:20) and verified via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Methylene blue removal by using pectin-based hydrogels extracted from dragon fruit peel waste using gamma and microwave radiation polymerization techniques.

This research aims to compare the ability of smart hydrogel in removing the methylene blue prepared by using two different radiation methods. The extracted pectin from the dragon fruit peel (Hylocereus polyrhizus) was used with acrylic acid (AA) to produce a polymerized hydrogel through gamma and microwave radiation. The optimum hydrogel swelling capacity was obtained by varying the dose of radiation, pectin to AA ratio and pH used.

Modified Dioscorea hispida starch-based hydrogels and their in-vitro cytotoxicity study on small intestine cell line (FHS-74 Int).

Starch-based hydrogels are promising smart materials for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications, which offer exciting perspectives in biophysical research at molecular level. This work was intended to develop, characterize and explore the properties of hydrogel from starch extracted from new source, Dioscorea hispida Dennst. Starch-mediated hydrogels were successfully synthesized via free radical polymerization method with varying concentrations of acrylic acid (AA),N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in aqueous system.

Varieties, production, composition and health benefits of vinegars: A review.

Vinegars are liquid products produced from the alcoholic and subsequent acetous fermentation of carbohydrate sources. They have been used as remedies in many cultures and have been reported to provide beneficial health effects when consumed regularly. Such benefits are due to various types of polyphenols, micronutrients and other bioactive compounds found in vinegars that contribute to their pharmacological effects, among them, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidative, antiobesity and antihypertensive effects.

Physicochemical Properties of Starch from Dioscorea pyrifolia tubers.

Starch from Dioscorea pyrifolia tubers was characterized for its proximate composition, physicochemical properties and toxicity. This starch contains 44.47±1.

Transformation of crystalline starch nanoparticles into highly luminescent carbon nanodots: Toxicity studies and their applications.

Being abundant in many tropical part of the world, Dioscorea sp. as food is limited due to its toxicity. However polysaccharides derive from these tubers could be important for other applications.

Synthesis of a novel acrylated abietic acid-g-bacterial cellulose hydrogel by gamma irradiation.

Acrylated abietic acid (acrylated AbA) and acrylated abietic acid-grafted bacterial cellulose pH sensitive hydrogel (acrylated AbA-g-BC) were prepared by a one-pot synthesis. The successful dimerization of acrylic acid (AA) and abietic acid (AbA) and grafting of the dimer onto bacterial cellulose (BC) was confirmed by 13C solid state NMR as well as FT-IR. X-ray diffraction analysis showed characteristic peaks for AbA and BC; further, there was no effect of increasing amorphous AA content on the overall crystallinity of the hydrogel.

Controlling gold nanoparticle stability with triggerable microgels.

The interaction of a photodegradable surfactant (PS, 4-hexylphenylazosulfonate, C(6)PAS) with microgels (MGs) of poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (MGA) in the protonated state (pH 3) has been investigated. Electrophoretic mobility measurements confirm that negatively charged PS interacts with positively charged MGA to form mixed PS-MG complexes. This was sensed by a decrease in the effective PS-MGA charge and a switch in sign of electrophoretic mobility, from positive to negative, with increasing PS concentration.