Implications of particle size on the respective solid-state properties of naltrexone in PLGA microparticles.

A thorough understanding of the complexities in formulating and manufacturing polymeric microspheres is required for new and generic drug applications. Specifically, for an ANDA application for polymeric microsphere-based products, the applicant must meet Q1 (qualitative) and Q2 (quantitative) sameness, and in some cases, Q3 (e.g.

Cold Denaturation of Proteins: Where Bioinformatics Meets Thermodynamics to Offer a Mechanistic Understanding: Pea Protein As a Case Study.

Protein structure can be altered with heat, but models which predict denaturation show that globular proteins also spontaneously unfold at low temperatures through cold denaturation. By an analysis of the primary structure of pea protein using bioinformatic modeling, a mechanism of pea protein cold denaturation is proposed. Pea protein is then fractionated into partially purified legumin and vicilin components, suspended in ethanol, and subjected to low temperatures (-10 to -20 °C).

Novel Nondestructive Biosensors for the Food Industry.

An increasing number of foodborne outbreaks, growing consumer desire for healthier products, and surging numbers of food allergy cases necessitate strict handling and screening of foods at every step of the food supply chain. Current standard procedures for detecting food toxins, contaminants, allergens, and pathogens require costly analytical devices, skilled technicians, and long sample preparation times. These challenges can be overcome with the use of biosensors because they provide accurate, rapid, selective, qualitative, and quantitative detection of analytes.

Latest developments in the applications of microfluidization to modify the structure of macromolecules leading to improved physicochemical and functional properties.

Microfluidization is a unique high-pressure homogenization technique combining various forces such as high-velocity impact, high-frequency vibration, instantaneous pressure drop, intense shear rate, and hydrodynamic cavitation. Even though it is mainly used on emulsion-based systems and known for its effects on particle size and surface area, it also significantly alters physicochemical and functional properties of macromolecules including hydration properties, solubility, viscosity, cation-exchange capacity, rheological properties, and bioavailability. Besides, the transformation of structure and conformation due to the combined effects of microfluidization modifies the material characteristics that can be a base for new innovative food formulations.

Detection of Pyocyanin Using a New Biodegradable SERS Biosensor Fabricated Using Gold Coated Zein Nanostructures Further Decorated with Gold Nanoparticles.

In this paper, a biodegradable gold coated zein film surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) platform, with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) deposited on the surface to further enhance the Raman signal, was used to detect pyocyanin (PYO), the toxin secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. An inverted pyramid structure imprinted on a zein film and gold coated during the transfer process was further improved with the deposition and fixing of gold nanoparticles, which resulted in enhancement of the SERS signal by approximately a decade. This new platform served as a lab-on-a-chip sensor to enable the sensitive and rapid detection of PYO in drinking water.

Mechanical and spectroscopic characterization of crosslinked zein films cast from solutions of acetic acid leading to a new mechanism for the crosslinking of oleic acid plasticized zein films.

This study discovered through FTIR, FT-Raman and rheological measurements that glutaraldehyde binds to zein through the amine groups of glutamine turns by replacing the already-bonded oleic acid molecules and forming imine structures. As a secondary crosslinking mechanism, glutaraldehyde unfolds some of the α-helices and turns them into β-sheets. While crosslinking resulted in stiffer and less ductile zein films, it made the surface of the films rougher, measured using AFM, and more hydrophilic, measured using WCA.

Advances in Understanding the Molecular Structures and Functionalities of Biodegradable Zein-Based Materials Using Spectroscopic Techniques: A Review.

Zein's amphiphilic properties, film forming capability, and biodegradability make it a highly demanded polymer for fabrication of packaging materials, production of drug carrier nanoparticles, scaffolds in tissue engineering, and formation of biodegradable platforms for biosensors including microfluidic devices. Zein properties can be improved by chemical modifications, which are often analyzed with spectroscopic techniques. However, there is not a consensus on the structure of zein.