Active Cellulose-Based Food Packaging and Its Use on Foodstuff.

The essential role of active packaging is food quality improvement, which results in an extension of shelf life. Active packaging can also further enhance distribution from the origin point, and contributes to food waste reduction, offering greater sustainability. In this study, we introduced a new method for obtaining cellulose-based active packages, combining gamma irradiation as an eco-friendly activation process, and clove essential oil and cold-pressed rosehip seed oil as bioactive agents.

Synthesis and Application of Reactive Acrylic Latexes: Effect of Particle Morphology.

The aim of the study is the synthesis and characterization of epoxy functional reactive polyacrylic latexes, e.g., poly (BA-co-MMA-co-AN-co-GMA) with core/shell and non-structured (random) particle morphologies.

Saponification Value of Fats and Oils as Determined from H-NMR Data: The Case of Dairy Fats.

The saponification value of fats and oils is one of the most common quality indices, reflecting the mean molecular weight of the constituting triacylglycerols. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-NMR) spectra of fats and oils display specific resonances for the protons from the structural patterns of the triacylglycerols (i.e.

Bio-Responsive Carriers for Controlled Delivery of Doxorubicin to Cancer Cells.

The cellular internalization of drug carriers occurs via different endocytic pathways that ultimately involve the endosomes and the lysosomes, organelles where the pH value drops to 6.0 and 5.0, respectively.

Effects of Biological and Chemical Degradation on the Properties of Scots Pine Wood-Part I: Chemical Composition and Microstructure of the Cell Wall.

Research on new conservation treatment for archaeological wood requires large amounts of wooden material. For this purpose, artificial wood degradation (biological-using brown-rot fungus , and chemical-using NaOH solution) under laboratory conditions was conducted to obtain an abundance of similar samples that mimic naturally degraded wood and can serve for comparative studies. However, knowledge about its properties is necessary to use this material for further study.

Factors That Affect the Mechanical Strength of Archaeological Wood-A Case Study of 18th-Century Wooden Water Pipes from Bóżnicza Street in Poznań, Poland.

Large amounts of archaeological wood are often excavated during groundworks in cities and towns. Part of the unearthed artefacts is usually saved, conserved and then presented in museums. However, if the finding contains several similar objects, some of them could potentially be further employed for some other practical purposes.

Effect of Cellulose Nanocrystals Nanofiller on the Structure and Sorption Properties of Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Glycerol-Cellulose Nanocrystals Nanocomposite Systems.

Biobased materials present a great interest due to their properties and biodegradability. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) nanofiller, in various amounts, was incorporated into a carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-glycerol (G) matrix in order to obtain nanocomposite systems with improved properties. The effect of the nanofiller on the structural features was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, principal component analysis (PCA), two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS), and X-ray diffraction, while the sorption properties were evaluated by water vapor isotherms using the gravimetric method coupled with infrared spectroscopy.

Synthesis and characterization of κ-carrageenan bio-nanocomposite films reinforced with bentonite nanoclay.

Due to ecological reason, in the last period there is an increased interest for changing the synthetic based materials with biodegradable ones. In this study, we prepared bio-nanocomposite formulations based on κ-Carrageenan (κ) and bentonite nanoclay (BT) with different component concentrations (0% BT, 5% BT, 10% BT and 15% BT respectively) and investigated their structural features, with focus on the interactions, sorption properties, and how the combination between them influences these properties. By infrared spectroscopy was identified that in the blending process hydrogen bonds and/or electrostatic interactions may have occurred between BT and κ.

Organosilicons of different molecular size and chemical structure as consolidants for waterlogged archaeological wood - a new reversible and retreatable method.

Ineffectiveness of the chemicals applied so far for waterlogged wood conservation created the need to develop new more, efficient and reliable agents. As an alternative, a new method with the use of organosilicon compounds differing in chemical composition and molecular weight has been investigated. The results obtained show the potential of organosilicons as consolidants in waterlogged wood conservation able to effectively stabilise wood dimensions upon drying.

Structural characterization and mechanical properties of wet-processed fibreboard based on chemo-thermomechanical pulp, furanic resin and cellulose nanocrystals.

Fibreboards are made of lignocellulosic fibres and synthetic adhesive which connect them. These synthetic adhesives, while relatively low-cost, are usually non-biodegradable and may cause health and environmental issues. Therefore, in recent years, there has been an increased demand for replacing these adhesives with bio-derived adhesives.

New Alginate/PNIPAAm Matrices for Drug Delivery.

This paper deals with a comparative study on the interpolymeric complexes of alginate poly(-isopropyl acryl amide (PNIPAAm) and corresponding graft copolymers with various compositions in respect to their toxicity, biocompatibility and in vitro and in vivo release of theophylline (THP). Loading of the various matrices with theophylline and characterization of loaded matrices was studied by near infrared spectroscopy⁻chemical imaging (NIR⁻CI) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was appreciated that THP loading is higher than 40% and the drug is relatively homogeneous distributed within all matrices because of some specific interactions between components of the system.

Natural decay of archaeological oak wood versus artificial degradation processes - An FT-IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction study.

Wood has been extensively used as a material for different applications over the years, therefore the understanding of different degradation processes in various environments is of great importance. In this study, the infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and chemometric methods were used to evaluate and compare the structure of archaeological and artificially degraded oak wood. The results clearly show that modifications in the structure of archaeological wood are related to the position of the material in the log (sapwood and heartwood), thus the extent of wood degradation.

Toxicity, Biocompatibility, pH-Responsiveness and Methotrexate Release from PVA/Hyaluronic Acid Cryogels for Psoriasis Therapy.

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/hyaluronic acid cryogels loaded with methotrexate were studied. The physical⁻chemical characterization of cryogels was performed by FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Acute toxicity and haematological parameters were determined by "in vivo" tests.

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of a cyanide-bridged heterometallic {CoMn} chain.

The assembly reaction between the low-spin [Co(dmphen)(CN)] metalloligand and the [Mn(salen)(HO)] complex cation yielded the one-dimensional compound {[Mn(salen)(μ-NC)Co(dmphen)(CN)]·2HO} (1), which behaves as a ferrimagnetic chain, the intrachain magnetic coupling being J = -1.71(1) cm.

Positive regulation of NADPH oxidase 5 by proinflammatory-related mechanisms in human aortic smooth muscle cells.

NADPH oxidase Nox5 subtype expression is significantly increased in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) underlying fibro-lipid atherosclerotic lesions. The mechanisms that up-regulate Nox5 are not understood. Consequently, we characterized the promoter of the human Nox5 gene and investigated the role of various proinflammatory transcription factors in the regulation of Nox5 in human aortic SMCs.

Nox enzymes and oxidative stress in atherosclerosis.

Oxidative stress is a major contributor to the etiology of all severe vascular pathologies, such as atherosclerosis. NADPH oxidases (Nox) are a class of multicomponent enzymes whose unique function is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the vascular cells and in circulating immune cells interacting with blood vessels. Physiological production of Nox-derived ROS contributes to the maintenance of vascular homeostasis.