Polymer-based nanostructures loaded with piperine as a platform to improve the larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti.

Piperine is an alkaloid extracted from the seed of Piper spp., which has demonstrated a larvicidal effect against Ae. aegypti.

Bio-packaging based on cellulose acetate from banana pseudostem and containing Butia catarinensis extracts.

Banana (Musa acuminata) pseudostem cellulose was extracted and acetylated (CA) to prepare membranes with potential use as bio-packages. The CA membrane was embedded by Butia seed (CA-BS) or Butia pulp (CA-BP) extracts obtained from Butia catarinenses (Butia). The produced CA, CA-BS, and CA-BP membranes were evaluated for their physical-chemical, mechanical, thermal, and antibacterial properties.

Treatment with isolated gold nanoparticles reverses brain damage caused by obesity.

In this study, we performed two experiments. In the first experiment, the objective was to link gold nanoparticles (GNPs) with sodium diclofenac and/or soy lecithin and to determine their concentration in tissues and their toxicity using hepatic and renal analyzes in mice to evaluate their safety as therapeutic agents in the subsequent treatment of obesity. In the second experiment, we evaluated the effect of GNPs on inflammatory and biochemical parameters in obese mice.

Smart wound dressing based on κ-carrageenan/locust bean gum/cranberry extract for monitoring bacterial infections.

A smart wound dressing based on carrageenan (κC), locust bean gum (LBG), and cranberry extract (CB) for monitoring bacterial wound infections was developed and characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, and SEM. The mechanical, swelling, cytotoxic and pH sensor properties were also investigated. UV-vis spectra demonstrated that the obtained κC:LBG:CB hydrogel film exhibited a visible change of colors as it was immersed in PBS solution pH 5.

Facile, green and scalable method to produce carrageenan-based hydrogel containing in situ synthesized AgNPs for application as wound dressing.

This manuscript was focused on introducing a facile, green and scalable method to produce kappa-carrageenan (κC) hydrogel membranes containing in situ synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). In a typical protocol, κC hydrogels were obtained by heating (sol phase), followed by cooling (gel phase) the polysaccharide solution, which enabled the simultaneous synthesis of AgNPs during the heating time. The as synthesized AgNPs were characterized spectrophotometrically, and by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy.

Characterization of membranes based on cellulose acetate butyrate/poly(caprolactone)triol/doxycycline and their potential for guided bone regeneration application.

This paper discusses the feasibility of using membranes based on cellulose acetate butyrate/poly(caprolactone)triol loaded with doxycycline for guided bone regeneration. Those membranes were obtained by solvent casting varying the cellulose acetate butyrate: poly(caprolactone)triol:doxycycline (CAB:PCL-T:DOX) mass ratios and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamical mechanical analysis, swelling and weight loss, drug release, in vitro antimicrobial activity and in vivo inflammatory response. Neat CAB and CAB:PCL-T:DOX membranes exhibited inner porous structure, which has a pore-size reduced with increasing of the PCL-T ratio.

A biodegradable device for the controlled release of Piper nigrum (Piperaceae) standardized extract to control Aedes aegypti (Diptera, Culicidae) larvae.

Introduction:: The significant increase in dengue, Zika, and chikungunya and the resistance of the Aedes aegypti mosquito to major insecticides emphasize the importance of studying alternatives to control this vector. The aim of this study was to develop a controlled-release device containing Piper nigrum extract and to study its larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti.

Methods:: Piper nigrum extract was produced by maceration, standardized in piperine, and incorporated into cotton threads, which were inserted into hydrogel cylinders manufactured by the extrusion of carrageenan and carob.

Glyco-Nanoparticles Made from Self-Assembly of Maltoheptaose-block-Poly(methyl methacrylate): Micelle, Reverse Micelle, and Encapsulation.

The synthesis and the solution-state self-assembly of the "hybrid" diblock copolymers, maltoheptaose-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (MH-b-PMMA), into large compound micelles (LCMs) and reverve micelle-type nanoparticles, are reported in this paper. The copolymers were self-assembled in water and acetone by direct dissolution method, and the morphologies of the nanoparticles were investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR), and fluorescence spectroscopy as a function of the volume fraction of the copolymer hydrophobic block, copolymer concentration, stirring speed, and solvent polarity. The DLS measurements and TEM images showed that the hydrodynamic radius (Rh) of the LCMs obtained in water increases with the copolymer concentration.

Production and characterization of cornstarch/cellulose acetate/silver sulfadiazine extrudate matrices.

The production and evaluation of cornstarch/cellulose acetate/silver sulfadiazine extrudate matrices are reported herein. The matrices were melt extruded under nine different conditions, altering the temperature and the screw speed values. The surface morphology of the matrices was examined by scanning electron microscopy.

Cellulose acetate butyrate/poly(caprolactonetriol) blends: Miscibility, mechanical properties, and in vivo inflammatory response.

This study reports the results of the characterization of cellulose acetate butyrate and polycaprolactone-triol blends in terms of miscibility, swelling capacity, mechanical properties, and inflammatory response in vivo. The cellulose acetate butyrate film was opaque and rigid, with glass transition (T g ) at 134℃ and melting temperature of 156℃. The cellulose acetate butyrate/polycaprolactone-triol films were transparent up to a polycaprolactone-triol content of 60%.

Larvicidal activity of Copaifera sp. (Leguminosae) oleoresin microcapsules against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae.

Studies have demonstrated the potential of Copaifera sp. oleoresin to control Aedes aegypti proliferation. However, the low water solubility is a factor that limits its applicability.