Impact of inorganic mercury on carotenoids in freshwater algae: Insights from single-cell resonance Raman spectroscopy.

The influence of inorganic mercury (Hg(II)) exposure on photosynthetic microorganisms and their pigments remains understudied. Here, we employed resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy to investigate the responses of two freshwater phytoplankton species, the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and the diatom Cyclotella meneghiniana to Hg(II) exposure. We selectively recorded the spectral RR signature of carotenoids in intact cells exposed to concentrations of 10 nM and 100 nM of Hg(II), representative for contaminated environment and unexposed control cells.

Calcium Acetate Drug Produced from Invasive Gastropod Shells: Green Process Control Assisted by Raman Technology.

The highly demanded calcium acetate (Ca(CHCOO)) for biomedicine and various industries constantly requires green and low-cost methods of synthesis. In the present work, a sustainable approach to produce Ca(CHCOO) is reported as a proof of concept, processing for the first time as a starting material the worldwide highly abundant shells, which is a neglected biogenic waste with high economical potential due to the rich mineral and organic pigmentary content. A green synthesis involving an eco-friendly acetic acid has been optimized at room temperature, without any additional energy consumption, and the resulting saturated Ca(CHCOO) solution was further slowly evaporated in three stages to obtain white Ca(CHCOO) crystalline powder, without impurity traces.

Fusing H NMR and Raman experimental data for the improvement of wine recognition models.

The present study proposes the development of new wine recognition models based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) applied to the mid-level data fusion of H NMR and Raman data. In this regard, a supervised machine learning method, namely Support Vector Machines (SVMs), was applied for classifying wine samples with respect to the cultivar, vintage, and geographical origin. Because the association between the two data sources generated an input space with a high dimensionality, a feature selection algorithm was employed to identify the most relevant discriminant markers for each wine classification criterion, before SVM modeling.

Pilot SERS Monitoring Study of Two Natural Hypersaline Lake Waters from a Balneary Resort during Winter-Months Period.

Water samples from two naturally hypersaline lakes, renowned for their balneotherapeutic properties, were investigated through a pilot SERS monitoring program. Nanotechnology-based techniques were employed to periodically measure the ultra-sensitive SERS molecular characteristics of the raw water-bearing microbial community and the inorganic content. Employing the Pearson correlation coefficient revealed a robust linear relationship between electrical conductivity and pH and Raman and SERS spectral data of water samples, highlighting the interplay complexity of Raman/SERS signals and physicochemical parameters within each lake.

Subterranean transport of microplastics as evidenced in karst springs and their characterization using Raman spectroscopy.

The increasing use of plastic materials has led to accumulation of large amounts of plastic waste in environment and a global challenge to be tackled with. The natural process of macro-plastics aging generates a multitude of secondary microplastic fragments accumulating in all areas of the planet. The pollution with microplastics of large water bodies, such as rivers, seas and oceans was already proven, but the presence of microplastics even in karst spring water was not reported yet.

pH-Dependent Behavior of Novel 5-FU Delivery System in Environmental Conditions Comparable to the Gastro-Intestinal Tract.

A biogenic carrier for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) loading and subsequent tableting as a new drug formulation for slow release has been proposed using the biomineral from blue crab carapace. Due to its highly ordered 3D porous nanoarchitecture, the biogenic carbonate carrier could achieve increased effectiveness in colorectal cancer cure provided that the formulation would successfully pass through the gastric acid conditions. Following the recently proven viability of the concept by demonstrating the slow release of the drug from the carrier using the highly sensitive SERS technique, here we investigated the 5-FU release from the composite tablet drug in pH conditions replicating the gastric environment.

Detection and Characterization of Nodularin by Using Label-Free Surface-Enhanced Spectroscopic Techniques.

Nodularin (NOD) is a potent toxin produced by cyanobacteria. Usually, NOD co-exists with other microcystins in environmental waters, a class of cyanotoxins secreted by certain cyanobacteria species, which makes identification difficult in the case of mixed toxins. Herein we report a complete theoretical DFT-vibrational Raman characterization of NOD along with the experimental drop-coating deposition Raman (DCDR) technique.

Rutin bioconjugates as potential nutraceutical prodrugs: An and toxicological screening.

Rutin (RUT) is considered one the most attractive flavonoids from a therapeutic perspective due to its multispectral pharmacological activities including antiradical, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and antimetastatic among others. Still, this compound presents a low bioavailability what narrows its clinical applications. To overcome this inconvenience, the current paper was focused on the synthesis, characterization, and toxicological assessment of two RUT bioconjugates obtained by enzymatic esterification with oleic acid (OA) and linoleic acid (LA)-rutin oleate (RUT-O) and rutin linoleate (RUT-L), as flavonoid precursors with improved physicochemical and biological properties.

Comparative screening the life-time composition and crystallinity variation in gilthead seabream otoliths Sparus aurata from different marine environments.

Differences in crystallinity, structure and composition variation along the growing direction in gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata otoliths that inhabited different environments were determined to evaluate the correlation of spectroscopic and chemical data with the lifetime development and movement pattern. The Raman spectroscopy signal provided the characteristic bands whose Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) were used to track the signal variability. The FWHM showed an initial increase in the core area, followed by a decrease depicting two minima coinciding growth rings.

Raman technology application for plastic waste management aligned with FAIR principle to support the forthcoming plastic and environment initiatives.

Plastic production and worldwide use of plastic materials have continued to rise due to their convenience and excellent marketing advantages. This is generating an environmental crisis and global scale pollution which is one of the greatest threats to our planet. One of the best responses could be accomplished by improving recycling and waste management strategies.

Novel Drug Carrier: 5-Fluorouracil Formulation in Nanoporous Biogenic Mg-calcite from Blue Crab Shells-Proof of Concept.

The ever-growing demand for novel, cheaper, and more effective drugs has put nanomedicine and targeted drug delivery to the forefront of scientific innovation. Owing to its porous three-dimensional (3D)-nanostructure and properties, the biogenic calcite from wasted blue crab shells is employed in the present work as a new drug carrier for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a drug widely used in cancer therapy. The drug solution has been loaded in the porous nanoarchitecture of the powdered biogenic material and further pelleted in tablets with a 5-FU concentration of 1.

Rapid and Application-Tailored Assessment Tool for Biogenic Powders from Crustacean Shell Waste: Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy Complemented with X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Due to their chemical composition, richness in calcium carbonate, chitin, proteins, and pigments, and nanoporous structure, crustacean shell waste shows great potential for a wide variety of applications. Large quantities of waste shells are produced annually, meaning that they can be considered a renewable source of ecofriendly biogenic materials, which can be turned into value-added byproducts. In this paper, an IR-based technique is developed to differentiate various biogenic powders originated from crude or food-processed crustacean shells.

Comprehensive mineralogical and physicochemical characterization of recent sapropels from Romanian saline lakes for potential use in pelotherapy.

In this study we aimed to compare the mineralogical, thermal, physicochemical, and biological characteristics of recent organic carbon-rich sediments ('sapropels') from three geographically distant Romanian lakes (Tekirghiol and Amara, SE Romania, and Ursu, Central Romania) with distinct hydrogeochemical origins, presently used for pelotherapy. The investigated lakes were classified as inland brackish Na-Cl-sulfated type (Amara), coastal moderately saline and inland hypersaline Na-Cl types (Tekirghiol and Ursu, respectively). The settled organic matter is largely composed of photosynthetic pigments derived from autochthonous phytoplankton.

Wasted Biomaterials from Crustaceans as a Compliant Natural Product Regarding Microbiological, Antibacterial Properties and Heavy Metal Content for Reuse in Blue Bioeconomy: A Preliminary Study.

The compliance of crab shells traditionally used as a complex natural product for agricultural soil amendment with modern biofertilizers' quality and safety requirements was investigated. Shells waste from the Blue crab, and the Green crab, were tested for macronutrients, heavy metals, bacteria content, and antimicrobial properties. Such information is crucial for further utilization of the biogenic powders for any composite formulation in added-value by-products.

Development and Characterization of FeO@Carbon Nanoparticles and Their Biological Screening Related to Oral Administration.

The current study presents the effect of naked FeO@Carbon nanoparticles obtained by the combustion method on primary human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and primary gingival keratinocytes (PGKs)-relevant cell lines of buccal oral mucosa. In this regard, the objectives of this study were as follows: (i) development via combustion method and characterization of nanosized magnetite particles with carbon on their surface, (ii) biocompatibility assessment of the obtained magnetic nanoparticles on HGF and PGK cell lines and (iii) evaluation of possible irritative reaction of FeO@Carbon nanoparticles on the highly vascularized chorioallantoic membrane of a chick embryo. Physicochemical properties of FeO@Carbon nanoparticles were characterized in terms of phase composition, chemical structure, and polymorphic and molecular interactions of the chemical bonds within the nanomaterial, magnetic measurements, ultrastructure, morphology, and elemental composition.

Biocompatible Magnetic Colloidal Suspension Used as a Tool for Localized Hyperthermia in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cells: Physicochemical Analysis and Complex In Vitro Biological Profile.

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are the most desired nanomaterials for biomedical applications due to their unique physiochemical properties. A facile single-step process for the preparation of a highly stable and biocompatible magnetic colloidal suspension based on citric-acid-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles used as an effective heating source for the hyperthermia treatment of cancer cells is presented. The physicochemical analysis revealed that the magnetic colloidal suspension had a z-average diameter of 72.

Promoting hidden natural design templates in wasted shells of the mantis shrimp into valuable biogenic composite.

The mineralized cuticle of the mantis shrimps Squilla Mantis which serve as natural hammers, spears and armors, have attracted research attention from various fields due to its amazing mechanical properties which were studied from evolutionary and ecological points of view. Here we aimed to valorize the astonishing mantis shrimp shell waste resulted from fishery and seafood industry as valuable biogenic composite derived from nature, potentially re-usable for novel, smart materials or added-value by-products, aspect which was not deeply considered before. Employing multi-laser Raman spectroscopy and imaging, supported by x-ray diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy, we discover that the peripheral segments anatomically known as claws and telson, featured completely different composition and morphology, suggesting different applicability.

Color-specific porosity in double pigmented natural 3d-nanoarchitectures of blue crab shell.

3D-engineered nano-architectures with various functionalities are still difficult to obtain and translate for real-world applications. However, such nanomaterials are naturally abundant and yet wasted, but could trigger huge interest for blue bioeconomy, provided that our understanding of their ultrastructure-function is achieved. To date, the Bouligand pattern in crustaceans shell structure is believed to be unique.

Testing the limits of FT-Raman spectroscopy for wine authentication: Cultivar, geographical origin, vintage and terroir effect influence.

FT-Raman spectroscopy represents an environmentally friendly technique, suitable for the analysis of high-water content food matrices, like wines, due to its relatively weak water bending mode in the fingerprint region. Based on metabolomics applied to FT-Raman spectra, this study presents the classifications achieved for a sample set comprising 126 wines, originated from Romania and France, with respect to cultivar, geographical origin and vintage. Cultivar recognition was successfully performed among four varieties (Sauvignon, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris) while subtle particularities exiting between the Chardonnay wines, coming from the two countries, because of terroir influences were pointed out.

Microsphere packages of carotenoids: intact sea urchin eggs tracked by Raman spectroscopy tools.

Although natural exposure to ambient UV radiation in oligotrophic seawater at small depths can reach the levels responsible for cellular damage, the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus is frequently in such sites, particularly on the southern Adriatic Sea shore. Spawning their eggs and spending their early life stage in rocky shores at depths of 0.5-2 m are the results of their successful adaptation strategies, although adults may dwell at greater depths.

Lipophilic marine biotoxins SERS sensing in solutions and in mussel tissue.

To detect and recognise three structurally related marine biotoxins responsible for the diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP) symptom, namely okadaic acid (OA), dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX-1) and dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX-2) respectively, as well as the structurally different yessotoxin (YTX), we developed a novel surface-enhanced micro-Raman scattering (micro-SERS) approach to investigate for the first time their micro-SERS signalling in solution and jointly analysed them in conjunction with the normal and toxic mussel tissue. YTX provided the main SERS feature surprisingly similar to DTX-1 and DTX-2, suggesting similar molecular adsorption mechanism with respect to the AgNPs. A fingerprint SERS band at 1017 cm characteristic for the C-CH stretching in DTX-1 and DTX-2 and absent in OA SERS signal, allowed direct SERS discrimination of DTX-1,2 from OA.

Citrus fruits freshness assessment using Raman spectroscopy.

The freshness of citrus fruits commonly available in the market was non-destructively assessed by Raman spectroscopy. Intact clementine, mandarin and tangerine species were characterised concerning their carotenoids skin Raman signalling in a time course from the moment they were acquired as fresh stock, supplying the market, to the physical degradation, when they were no longer attractive to consumers. The freshness was found to strongly correlate to the peel Raman signal collected from the same area of the intact fruits in a time course of a maximum of 20days.

Amnesic shellfish poisoning biotoxin detection in seawater using pure or amino-functionalized Ag nanoparticles and SERS.

Domoic acid (DA) biotoxin responsible for the amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) has been unambiguously detected in seawater in a broad range of concentration, with both pure and amino-functionalized Ag nanoparticles employed for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). To achieve this, a comprehensive SERS study on DA dissolved in distilled water has been conducted. SERS of DA dissolved in seawater in concentrations ranging from 3.