Preparation, Characterization and Biological Activities of an Oil-in-Water Nanoemulsion from Fish By-Products and Lemon Oil by Ultrasonication Method.

Fish by-product oil and lemon oil have potential applications as active ingredients in many industries, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food. However, the physicochemical properties, especially the poor stability, compromised the usage. Generally, nanoemulsions were used as an approach to stabilize the oils.

Phytochemical Constituents of Leaf Extract and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activity against LPS/IFN-γ-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Cell Line.

This study aims to identify the major phytochemical constituents in (Thymelaeaceae) ethanolic leaf extract (ALEX-M) and elucidate their ability to suppress nitric oxide (NO) production from a murine macrophage-like cell line (RAW 264.7) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Dichloromethane (DCM) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fractions of ALEX-M were subjected to column chromatography.

Fabrication and characterization of Agarwood extract-loaded nanocapsules and evaluation of their toxicity and anti-inflammatory activity on RAW 264.7 cells and in zebrafish embryos.

has been traditionally used to treat several medical disorders including inflammation. However, the traditional claims of this plant as an anti-inflammatory agent has not been substantially evaluated using modern scientific techniques. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of leaf extract (ALEX-M) and potentiate its activity through nano-encapsulation.

Optimization of ultraviolet/ozone (UVO) process conditions for the preparation of gelatin coated polystyrene (PS) microcarriers.

The aim of this study was to develop gelatin coated polystyrene (PS) microcarriers with good cell adhesion and proliferation properties. PS microspheres, prepared using oil-in water (o/w) solvent evaporation method, were loaded with oxygen containing functional groups using an ultraviolet/ozone (UVO) system. Using water-soluble carbodiimide chemistry, gelatin was subsequently immobilized on UVO treated PS microspheres.

Optimization of thermostable organic solvent-tolerant lipase production by thermotolerant sp. using solid-state fermentation of palm kernel cake.

This study enhanced the production of thermostable organic solvent-tolerant (TS-OST) lipase by locally isolated thermotolerant sp. strain using solid-state fermentation (SSF) of palm kernel cake (PKC). The optimum conditions were achieved using a series of statistical approaches.

Optimization of ultraviolet ozone treatment process for improvement of polycaprolactone (PCL) microcarrier performance.

Growing cells on microcarriers may have overcome the limitation of conventional cell culture system. However, the surface functionality of certain polymeric microcarriers for effective cell attachment and growth remains a challenge. Polycaprolactone (PCL), a biodegradable polymer has received considerable attention due to its good mechanical properties and degradation rate.

Fabrication of Fucoxanthin-Loaded Microsphere(F-LM) By Two Steps Double-Emulsion Solvent Evaporation Method and Characterization of Fucoxanthin before and after Microencapsulation.

Microencapsulation is a promising approach in drug delivery to protect the drug from degradation and allow controlled release of the drug in the body. Fucoxanthin-loaded microsphere (F-LM) was fabricated by two step w/o/w double emulsion solvent evaporation method with poly (L-lactic-coglycolic acid) (PLGA) as carrier. The effect of four types of surfactants (PVA, Tween-20, Span-20 and SDS), homogenization speed, and concentration of PLGA polymer and surfactant (PVA), respectively, on particle size and morphology of F-LM were investigated.

Enhancing the efficiency of polymerase chain reaction using graphene nanoflakes.

The effect of the recently developed graphene nanoflakes (GNFs) on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been investigated in this paper. The rationale behind the use of GNFs is their unique physical and thermal properties. Experiments show that GNFs can enhance the thermal conductivity of base fluids and results also revealed that GNFs are a potential enhancer of PCR efficiency; moreover, the PCR enhancements are strongly dependent on GNF concentration.

Recombinant bromelain production in Escherichia coli: process optimization in shake flask culture by response surface methodology.

Bromelain, a cysteine protease with various therapeutic and industrial applications, was expressed in Escherichia coli, BL21-AI clone, under different cultivation conditions (post-induction temperature, L-arabinose concentration and post-induction period). The optimized conditions by response surface methodology using face centered central composite design were 0.2% (w/v) L-arabinose, 8 hr and 25°C.

Localization of the antigenic sites of newcastle disease virus nucleocapsid using a panel of monoclonal antibodies.

A panel of six monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the nucleocapsid (NP) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) was produced by immunization of Balb/c mice with purified recombinant NP protein. Western Blot analysis showed that all the mAbs recognized linearized NP epitopes. Three different NP antigenic sites were identified using deleted truncated NP mutants purified from Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli glucuronylsynthase: an engineered enzyme for the synthesis of beta-glucuronides.

The glycosynthase derived from E. coli beta-glucuronidase catalyzes the glucuronylation of a range of primary, secondary, and aryl alcohols with moderate to excellent yields. The procedure provides an efficient, stereoselective, and scalable single-step synthesis of beta-glucuronides under mild conditions.

Phytate-degrading enzyme production by bacteria isolated from Malaysian soil.

Over two hundred bacteria were isolated from the halosphere, rhizosphere and endophyte of Malaysian maize plantation and screened for phytases activity. Thirty isolates with high detectable phytase activity were chosen for media optimization study and species identification. Ten types of bacterial phytase producers have been discovered in this study, which provides opportunity for characterization of new phytase(s) and various commercial and environmental applications.

The use of a molecular technique for the detection of porcine ingredients in the Malaysian food market.

Objective: To develop a molecular technique that is fast and reliable in detecting porcine contamination or ingredients in foods.

Methods: The method applied involved DNA amplification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology. Thus, the sequence of a certain gene found uniquely in pork was identified and its sequence was used to design specific primers for the PCR.

Cloning and characterization of Thermotoga maritima beta-glucuronidase.

The putative beta-glucuronidase from Thermotoga maritima, comprising 563 amino acid residues conjugated with a Hisx6 tag, was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The enzyme has a moderately broad specificity, hydrolysing a range of p-nitrophenyl glycoside substrates, but has greatest activity on p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucosiduronic acid (kcat=68 s(-1), kcat/K(M)= 4.5x10(5) M(-1) s(-1)).