PEGAylated graphene oxide/superparamagnetic nanocomposite as a high-efficiency loading nanocarrier for controlled delivery of methotrexate.

Polymer-coated nanocarriers play an important role in targeted drug delivery. The use of polymers such as polyethylene glycol increases stability, biocompatibility, and blood circulation time of the drug, and may consequently improve the success of drug delivery. In the present work, a simple approach has been reported for synthesizing polyethylene glycol bis amin (PEGA) functionalized graphene oxide/iron oxide nanocomposite as a remarkable unit for loading drugs.

Physicochemical and crystalline properties of standard maize starch hydrothermally treated by direct steaming.

The changes in physicochemical properties of standard maize starch (SMS) by three hydrothermal treatments; DV-HMT (Direct Vapor-Heat Moisture Treatment), RP-HMT (Reduced Pressurized-Heat Moisture Treatment) and DIC (instantaneous controlled pressure drop) were investigated at different processing conditions; steam pressure (SP) varied from 1 to 3bar during 20min. Starch was steamed by direct contact, whose interest was to intensify the heat transfer phenomenon but also the water transfer. The physicochemical changes of SMS depended on process conditions and their extent followed this order: DIC>RP-HMT>DV-HMT.

Role of vacuum steps added before and after steaming treatment of maize starch. Impact on pasting, morphological and rheological properties.

Standard maize starch (SMS) was hydrothermally treated by three processes; DV-HMT (Direct Vapor-Heat Moisture Treatment), RP-HMT (Reduced-Pressurized Heat Moisture Treatment) and DIC (in French: Détente Instantanée Contrôlée, instantaneous controlled pressure drop). Impact of processes were studied in order to determine the role of added steps of vacuum before and after treatment of starch by live steam at different pressures (1, 1.5, 2, 2.