Hot air-assisted radio frequency drying of grated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.): Drying behavior and the associated effect on characteristics of potato flour.

In this study, drying of grated potato in a hot air-assisted radio frequency system (HA-RF) and the associated effects on the final potato flour quality were studied. The drying behavior of the grated potatoes at different electrode distances (70-90 mm) and sample thickness (2-4 cm) was investigated. The safe drying (without burning tendency) of the maximum amount of sample (1000 g) in a reasonable drying time was carried out at 80 mm of electrode gap and 4 cm of sample thickness.

Dual polymer networks: a new strategy in expanding the repertoire of hydrogels for biomedical applications.

Inspired by the double network hydrogel systems we report the formulation of dual networks, which expands the repertoire of this class of materials for potential biomedical applications. The tough dual network hydrogels were designed through sequential interpenetrating polymer formation, applying green chemistry and low-cost methods, devoid of any initiator-activator complexes that may pose risks in biomedical applications. The dual networks were synthesized in two steps, firstly the water soluble poly(vinyl alcohol) was subjected to cryogelation that formed the first network, which was then expanded by intrusion of a dilute solution of sodium alginate and complexed with a solution of calcium chloride under ambient conditions and further freeze-thawed.

Magnetic conjugated polymer nanoparticles doped with a europium complex for biomedical imaging.

Self-assembling conjugated polymer nanoparticles containing PVK and PLGA-PEG as a matrix polymer were doped with both a luminescent rare-earth complex and magnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs), giving rise to materials that are both luminescent and magnetic. Nanoparticle sizes ranged from 80-110 nm without SPIONs and showed an increase in size (200-1000 nm) with additional SPION content (11-54%). Quantum yields (QYs) of 24% and 18% were measured for systems without and with 11% SPIONs, respectively.

Bright conjugated polymer nanoparticles containing a biodegradable shell produced at high yields and with tuneable optical properties by a scalable microfluidic device.

This study compares the performance of a microfluidic technique and a conventional bulk method to manufacture conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs) embedded within a biodegradable poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether-block-poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PEG-PLGA) matrix. The influence of PEG-PLGA and conjugated polymers cyano-substituted poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (CN-PPV) and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT) on the physicochemical properties of the CPNs was also evaluated. Both techniques enabled CPN production with high end product yields (∼70-95%).

Red-emitting protein-coated conjugated polymer nanoparticles.

Red emitting materials are desirable in biology due to the transparency of certain biological tissues at these wavelengths. Here, we report the synthesis of aqueous dispersions of amphiphilic protein (hydrophobin) capped red-emitting cyano-substituted poly(p-phenylenevinylene) conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs) and their use in labeling live mammalian (HeLa) cells.

Cardioprotective effects of Nigella sativa oil on cyclosporine A-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

Cyclosporine A is a well-known immunosuppressor agent universally used in allotransplantation. However, it has been demonstrated that this drug produces side-effects in several organs, particularly in the kidney and in the heart. Nigella sativa oil has long been used in folk medicine for a wide range of illnesses.

Prognostic factors in early glottic carcinoma implications for treatment.

Aim: In this study we aimed to determine the prognostic factors affecting local control (LC) in limited glottic carcinoma treated with definitive radiotherapy (RT).

Material And Methods: Between June 1991 and December 2001, 114 patients with early squamous-cell carcinoma of the glottis were treated with definitive RT at our institution. Only four (3.