Extraction and characterization of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) from Rhododendron ponticum isolated using cryocrush pre-treatment and its potential for mycelium cultivation.

Rhododendron ponticum (R. ponticum), a rapidly spreading invasive species in Ireland, was investigated for its potential use in creating sustainable bioproducts. This study explored the utilization of R.

Tailoring Hydrogel Structures: Investigating the Effects of Multistep Cellulose Defibrillation on Polyvinyl Alcohol Composites.

Defibrillating cellulose through various grinding steps and incorporating it into hydrogels introduces unique properties that warrant thorough exploration. This study investigates cellulose defibrillation at different steps (15-120) using an ultra-fine friction grinder, blended with high-molecular-weight polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and crosslinked via freeze-thawing. A critical discovery is the influence of defibrillation on the hydrogel structure, as evidenced by reduced crystallinity, thermal degradation, and the enhanced swelling of PVA chains.

Nanofibrillated cellulose originated from Rhododendron ponticum to produce scaffolds using 3D printing for biomedical applications.

Rhododendron ponticum is an invasive species that spreads rapidly and is described as one of the biggest threats to peatlands in Ireland. This study offers an innovative approach to utilizing Rhododendron waste. Initially, sawdust was submitted to a bleaching treatment and the nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) was obtained using two different methods: ultra-fine friction grinding and twin-screw extrusion with the assistance of TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy) pre-treatment.

Micro-Injection Moulding of PEO/PCL Blend-Based Matrices for Extended Oral Delivery of Fenbendazole.

Fenbendazole (FBZ) is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic administered orally to ruminants; nevertheless, its poor water solubility has been the main limitation to reaching satisfactory and sustained levels at the site of the target parasites. Hence, the exploitation of hot-melt extrusion (HME) and micro-injection moulding (µIM) for the manufacturing of extended-release tablets of plasticised solid dispersions of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/polycaprolactone (PCL) and FBZ was investigated due to their unique suitability for semi-continuous manufacturing of pharmaceutical oral solid dosage forms. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis demonstrated a consistent and uniform drug content in the tablets.

Supraparticles as slow-release fertiliser in seedling potential growth of Eucalyptus urograndis and greenhouse gas flux impacts.

Slow-release urea fertilisers have been shown to present acceptable values for plant yield and mitigate the harmful effect of soil emission gases. This study synthesises a slow-release fertiliser containing fumed-nanosilica, nanofibrillated cellulose as well as sodium alginate as a urea carrier to analyse the growth parameters of Eucalyptus urograndis seedlings and potential emission of soil gases, NO, CH, CO and ammonia volatilisation. The developed supraparticles, arranged layered nanoparticle structure, presented a decrease in the normal nitrogen content of urea of 19%, which is attributed to the binding of this element.

Linking geographical origin with nutritional, mineral, and visual proprieties of pinhão (Araucaria angustifolia seed) from the south of Brazil.

The effect of harvest location on cooked pinhão seeds (Araucaria angustifolia) was investigated with regard to its centesimal composition, minerals, and color, and later correlated with environmental and soil variables. Significant differences between cooked pinhão from various harvesting locations were seen; also, principal component analysis was performed for the minerals, protein, moisture, total starch, and color parameters. The geographic location was one of the most important factors.

Characterization of Gels and Films Produced from Pinhão Seed Coat Nanocellulose as a Potential Use for Wound Healing Dressings and Screening of Its Compounds towards Antitumour Effects.

The reuse of agro-industrial waste assumes great importance today. Pinhão is the seed of , which is native to the mountains of southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. The coat is a by-product of this seed and is rich in phenolic compounds.

In Vivo Evaluation and Nutritional Quality of By-Products Subjected to Solid-State Fermentation Using Shiitake Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom, Lentinula edodes (Agaricomycetes).

This study evaluates the nutritional quality and in vivo biological activity of a peach palm by-product food ingredient processed via solid-state fermentation by shiitake culinary-medicinal mushroom, Lentinula edodes. The group of Wistar rats that consumed this diet had higher total dietary fiber content, digestibility, rate of protein quality, and protein efficiency. They also presented a late and softer insulinemic peak with an increase in the glycemic index, demonstrating amino acid limitation but with a feasible matrix as a complement protein.

Self-Photopolymerizable Hydrogel-Ceramic Composites with Scavenger Properties.

The photocatalytic behaviours of semiconductive ceramic nanoparticles such as TiO, ZnO, FeO, and FeO, have been extensively studied in photocatalysis and photopolymerization, due to their ability to produce radical species under ultraviolet-visible light, and even in dark conditions. In addition, in the form of microparticles, TiO and its Magnéli phases are capable of neutralizing radical species, and a heterogeneous catalytic process has been suggested to explain this property, as it is well known as scavenging activity. Thus, in this study, we demonstrate that these ceramic powders, in the form of microparticles, could be used as photoinitiators in UV polymerization in order to synthesize a hydrogel matrix.

Brushite bone cement containing polyethylene glycol for bone regeneration.

Background: Bone cements aid in bone regeneration; however, if the handling time is not well established for the material to harden, complications may arise.

Objective: This work investigates the effect of using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and characterize it in brushite bone cement in order to obtain desirable handling times as well as its regeneration in vivo to analyse if addition of this polymer may significantly modify its properties.

Methods: PEG 4000 was synthesised with wollastonite by phosphorization reaction in order to form brushite which was further cured by oven drying.

Development, Characterization and Cell Viability Inhibition of PVA Spheres Loaded with Doxorubicin and 4'-Amino-1-Naphthyl-Chalcone (D14) for Osteosarcoma.

Chalcones (1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones) are naturally occurring polyphenols with known anticancer activity against a variety of tumor cell lines, including osteosarcoma (OS). In this paper, we present the preparation and characterization of spheres (~2 mm) from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) containing a combination of 4'-Amino-1-Naphthyl-Chalcone (D14) and doxorubicin, to act as a new polymeric dual-drug anticancer delivery. D14 is a potent inhibitor of osteosarcoma progression and, when combined with doxorubicin, presents a synergetic effect; hence, physically crosslinked PVA spheres loaded with D14 and doxorubicin were prepared using liquid nitrogen and six freeze-thawing cycles.

Nanocellulose for peripheral nerve regeneration in rabbits using citric acid as crosslinker with chitosan and freeze/thawed PVA.

This work investigates peripheral nerve regeneration using membranes consisting of pure chitosan (CHI), which was further blended with nanofibrillated cellulose, with citric acid as crosslinker, with posterior addition of polyvinyl alcohol, with subsequent freeze thawing. Nanocellulose improves the mechanical and thermal resistance, as well as flexibility of the film, which is ideal for the surgical procedure. The hydrogel presented a slow rate of swelling, which is adequate for cell and drug delivery.

Microfibrillated cellulose films containing chitosan and tannic acid for wound healing applications.

The effectiveness of tannic acid as antimicrobial and wound healing for burns have been shown for a century; however, uncontrolled target dosage may result in undesirable side-effects. Remarkably, tannic acid polyphenols compounds crosslinked with polymeric materials produce a strong composite containing the beneficial properties of this tannin. However, investigation of the crosslink structure and its antibacterial and regenerative properties are still unknown when using nanocellulose by mechanical defibrillation; additionally, due to the potential crosslink structure with chitosan, its structure can be complex.

Yerba Mate Extract in Microfibrillated Cellulose and Corn Starch Films as a Potential Wound Healing Bandage.

Microfibrillated cellulose films have been gathering considerable attention due to their high mechanical properties and cheap cost. Additionally, it is possible to include compounds within the fibrillated structure in order to confer desirable properties. A.

Antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumoural activities of kraft lignin from hardwood fractionated by acid precipitation.

Kraft lignin, so far useful for energy generation, has been gathering considerable attention as an alternative material to replace fossil-based resources mainly due to its high phenolic content. However, the wide molecular weight distribution and chemical composition heterogeneity led to the development of fractionation methods. Herein, to narrow such characteristics we used eucalypt kraft lignin fractionated at pH's 9, 7, 5 and 3 by sequential acid precipitation.

Characterisation and evaluation of pinhão seed coat nanosuspension as a functional food source.

Araucaria angustifolia seeds from South America are culturally important; however, the seed coat is generally discarded and it has yet to find a beneficial commercial impact. Herein, we propose a new formulation for the use of the seed coat for the production of a food source. A nanosuspension was developed under two conditions, bleached and unbleached treatment.

Development of alginate beads with encapsulated jabuticaba peel and propolis extracts to achieve a new natural colorant antioxidant additive.

This work aims to encapsulate anthocyanins and phenolic compounds extracted from a native Brazilian fruit peel - jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora (Mart.) Kausel) and propolis from Tubuna (Scaptotrigona bipunctata) stingless bees, with great potential benefits for human health. The alginate encapsulation was conducted by the ionotropic gelation through the dripping into the CaCl solution.

Effect of cellulose size-concentration on the structure of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels.

Microfibrillated cellulose as a reinforcement agent has been investigated extensively due to their unique characteristics, which can reorder the structure of polymers and hydrogels leading to improved mechanical properties with minimal disadvantages in terms of the targeted original applications. However, effect of using a macro- to a micro-fibrillated cellulose onto polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels is still unknown, because of the unique ability for both to be produced as hydrogels from freeze-thawing mechanisms - hydrogen bonding - there is a potential synergism. Therefore, macro and microfibrillated kraft bleached paper was synthesised at various concentrations on polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels.

Injectable bone substitute based on chitosan with polyethylene glycol polymeric solution and biphasic calcium phosphate microspheres.

We described a method to produce an injectable bone substitute consisting of a solid and liquid phase, this solid was formed using the coacervation method consisting of a mixture of Hydroxyapatite (HAp) and beta-Tricalcium Phosphate (β-TCP) which the sodium alginate - precursor - was removed during sinterization. The biphasic calcium phosphate microspheres had varying size distributions depending on the flow rate and these microspheres were mixed with a polymeric solution, chitosan and polyethylene glycol, and depending on the ratio of these phases, the injectability results varied. Nonetheless, the force required for complete removal will not disrupt the accuracy of injection into the bone defect while the biomaterial exhibited no cytotoxicity with promising results from in vivo using tibia bone defect in rabbits at 30 and 60 days whereas bone repair was more intense and accentuated with the usage of the biomaterial, and was gradually absorbed during the evaluated periods.

Synthesis and in vivo evaluation of a scaffold containing wollastonite/β-TCP for bone repair in a rabbit tibial defect model.

Scaffolds are models designed to aid the interaction between cells and extracellular bone matrix, providing structural support for newly formed bone tissue. In this work, wollastonite with β-TCP porous ceramic scaffolds was developed by the polymer sponge replication. Their microstructure, cell viability and bioactivity were tested.

A tough and novel dual-response PAA/P(NiPAAM-co-PEGDMA) IPN hydrogels with ceramics by photopolymerization for consolidation of bone fragments following fracture.

In this work, a novel dual-response hydrogel for enhanced bone repair following multiple fractures was investigated. The conventional treatment of multiple bone fracture consists on removing smaller bone fragments from the body in a surgery, followed by the fixation of the bone using screws and plates. This work proposes an alternative for this treatment via in situ UV-initiated radical polymerization of a novel IPN hydrogel composed of PAA/P(NiPAAM-co-PEGDMA) incorporated with ceramic additives.

The evaluation of the potential ecotoxicity of pyroligneous acid obtained from fast pyrolysis.

Pyroligneous acid (PA) is a by-product of bio-oil, which is obtained by pyrolysis of the wood. This product has been tested for use in several areas, such as agriculture, as a promising green herbicide; however, there are few scientific data regarding its environmental impacts. For this study, an ecotoxicity testing battery, composed of Daphnia magna acute toxicity test, Allium cepa test and in vitro Comet assay with the rainbow trout gonad-2 cell fish line (RTG-2) were used to evaluate the acute toxicity and genotoxicity of PA obtained from fast pyrolysis of eucalyptus wood fines.

Synthesis and in Vivo Behavior of PVP/CMC/Agar Hydrogel Membranes Impregnated with Silver Nanoparticles for Wound Healing Applications.

The field of wound healing has seen an increase in research activity in wound care and hydrogel-based dressings have been targeted as a solution for these applications. Hydrogels with silver nanoparticles can present many advantages for this field. However, if the aggregation and sterilization of this product have not been carefully considered, the effectiveness or use could be limited.

Platelet-Rich Plasma, Hydroxyapatite, and Chitosan in the Bone and Cartilaginous Regeneration of Femoral Trochlea in Rabbits: Clinical, Radiographic, and Histomorphometric Evaluations.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the trochlear bone and cartilaginous regeneration of rabbits using the association of PRP, chitosan, and hydroxyapatite. Hole was made in rabbit troches, one hole in each animal remained empty (group C), and one was filled by a combination of PRP, chitosan, and hydroxyapatite (group T). Clinical-orthopedic, radiographic, and histomorphometric evaluations were performed.

Mechanical properties of anodic titanium films containing ions of Ca and P submitted to heat and hydrothermal treatment.

Anodic oxidation is a technique widely used to improve the bioactivity of Ti surface. In this study, micro-arc oxidation (MAO) was used to obtain an anodic film incorporating Ca and P ions to evaluate the effect of heat and hydrothermal treatment on the mechanical and in vitro bioactivity properties of these new layers. The MAO process was carried out using (CH3COO)2Ca·H2O and NaH2PO4·2H2O electrolytes under galvanostatic mode (150mA/cm(2)).