NVCL-Based Hydrogels and Composites for Biomedical Applications: Progress in the Last Ten Years.

Hydrogels consist of three-dimensionally crosslinked polymeric chains, are hydrophilic, have the ability to absorb other molecules in their structure and are relatively easy to obtain. However, in order to improve some of their properties, usually mechanical, or to provide them with some physical, chemical or biological characteristics, hydrogels have been synthesized combined with other synthetic or natural polymers, filled with inorganic nanoparticles, metals, and even polymeric nanoparticles, giving rise to composite hydrogels. In general, different types of hydrogels have been synthesized; however, in this review, we refer to those obtained from the thermosensitive polymer poly(-vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL) and we focus on the definition, properties, synthesis techniques, nanomaterials used as fillers in composites and mainly applications of PNVCL-based hydrogels in the biomedical area.

Different Strategies for the Preparation of Galactose-Functionalized Thermo-Responsive Nanogels with Potential as Smart Drug Delivery Systems.

Different synthetic strategies were tested for the incorporation of galactose molecules on thermoresponsive nanogels owing to their affinity for receptors expressed in cancer cells. Three families of galactose-functionalized poly(-vinylcaprolactam) nanogels were prepared with the aim to control the introduction of galactose-moieties into the core, the core-shell interface and the shell. First and second of the above mentioned, were prepared via surfactant free emulsion polymerization (SFEP) by a free-radical mechanism and the third one, via SFEP/reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization.

Enzyme-Catalyzed Production of Potato Galactan-Oligosaccharides and Its Optimization by Response Surface Methodology.

This work shows an optimized enzymatic hydrolysis of high molecular weight potato galactan yielding pectic galactan-oligosaccharides (PGOs), where endo-β-1,4-galactanase (galactanase) from and was used. For this, response surface methodology (RSM) by central composite design (CCD) was applied. The parameters varied were temperature (°C), pH, incubation time (min), and enzyme/substrate ratio (U/mg).

Effects of ripening on the in vitro antioxidant capacity and bioaccessibility of mango cv. 'Ataulfo' phenolics.

Fruit ripening induces changes that strongly affect their matrices, and consequently, the bioaccessibility/bioavailability of its phenolic compounds. Flesh from 'slightly' (SR), 'moderately' (MR) and 'fully' (FR) ripe 'Ataulfo' mangoes were physicochemically characterized, and digested in vitro to evaluate how ripening impacts the bioaccessibility/bioavailability of its phenolic compounds. Ripening increased the flesh's pH and total soluble solids, while decreasing citric acid, malic acid and titratable acidity.

Diversity of mucoralean fungi in soils of papaya (Carica papaya L.) producing regions in Mexico.

Mexico is the fifth largest producer of papaya worldwide and has recently reported problems with mucoralean fungi in this crop. These fungi are considered saprophytes in the soil and are ubiquitous in nature. In this work, they were isolated from soil in regions of intensive papaya cultivation in Mexico.

Gene expression of an arabinogalactan lysine-rich protein AGP18 during vegetative and reproductive development of bell pepper ( L.).

Lysine-rich (Lys-rich) proteins encoded by , , and genes are cell wall-associated glycopeptides related to sexual reproduction in flowering plants. This subclass belongs to classical arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) widely studied in model plants like . In this study, we identified the cDNA from bell pepper ( L.

Fast technique for the identification of Gilbertella persicaria via optical microscopy.

Gilbertella persicaria is an important phytopathogen that is confused with Mucor spp. and Rhizopus spp. The main distinguishing characteristic of G.

Biochemistry and Cell Wall Changes Associated with Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) Fruit Ripening.

Quality and compositional changes were determined in noni fruit harvested at five ripening stages, from dark-green to thaslucent-grayish. Fruit ripening was accompanied by acidity and soluble solids accumulation but pH diminution, whereas the softening profile presented three differential steps named early (no significant softening), intermediate (significant softening), and final (dramatic softening). At early step the extensive depolymerization of hydrosoluble pectins and the significantly increment of pectinase activities did not correlate with the slight reduction in firmness.