Cochineal ( Costa) Pigment Extraction Assisted by Ultrasound and Microwave Techniques.

Carminic acid is a natural pigment typically found in several insect taxa, including specific insects such as "grana cochinilla fina" in Mexico ( Costa). Commercially, it is also referred to as carmine, which is a more concentrated solution presenting as at least 50% carminic acid. To date, this dye has been used in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries.

Study of the Incorporation of Gel and Peel Extract in a Polymer Matrix Based on Polyvinylpyrrolidone.

The development of dressings based on electrospun membranes with polymers and plant extracts is an interesting approach to skin regeneration, providing elements to prevent contamination and a matrix that accelerates the healing process. We developed a membrane composed of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), gel and peel extract via the electrospinning technique. Additionally, an optimal ratio of PVP/ gel/ skin extract was determined to facilitate membrane formation.

Detection of Sialic Acid to Differentiate Cervical Cancer Cell Lines Using a Lectin Biosensor.

Pap smear screening is a widespread technique used to detect premalignant lesions of cervical cancer (CC); however, it lacks sensitivity, leading to identifying biomarkers that improve early diagnosis sensitivity. A characteristic of cancer is the aberrant sialylation that involves the abnormal expression of α2,6 sialic acid, a specific carbohydrate linked to glycoproteins and glycolipids on the cell surface, which has been reported in premalignant CC lesions. This work aimed to develop a method to differentiate CC cell lines and primary fibroblasts using a novel lectin-based biosensor to detect α2,6 sialic acid based on attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and chemometric.

Generation of PVP Membranes Using Extracts/Phenolic Fraction of , , and .

In the present work, electrospun membranes of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers were manufactured using extracts and phenolic fractions of (epazote), (nopal), and (chicken grass). The characterization of the membranes was carried out by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The membranes synthesized through the use of the extracts generally showed a slight decrease in the diameter of the fibers but an increase in the size of the pores due to the presence of nanoparticles (rosaries) on the surface of the fibers, while the membranes synthesized using the phenolic fraction demonstrated an inversely proportional relationship between the compounds of this family with the diameter of the fibers and the size of the pore, allowing to elucidate part of the polymerization mechanisms of PVP nanofibers, in addition to proposing a reaction mechanism in the interaction between PVP and phenolic compounds for surface functionalization.