Search Results (1,810)

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease characterized by insulin resistance and impaired beta-cell secretory function. Since existing treatments often present side effects based on different mechanisms, alternative therapeutic options are needed. In this scenario, the present study first evaluates the cytotoxicity of decoctions from the leaves, stems, and roots of Cucumis prophetarum L. on HepG2 and L6C5 cells. The extracts were chemically investigated by UV–Vis and ATR-FTIR spectroscopic techniques and by ultra high-performance chromatographic techniques, coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Briefly, decoctions from the leaves and stems were mainly composed of apigenin C-glycosides, while the root decoction was rich in raffinose and cucumegastigmane II. To evaluate the insulin-sensitizing properties of the extracts in insulin-resistant L6 myoblasts, an evaluation by Western blot analysis of the proteins in the insulin signaling pathway was then performed. Particularly, key proteins of insulin signaling were investigated, i.e., insulin receptor substrate (IRS-1), protein kinase B (PKB/AKT), and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3β), which have gained considerable attention from scientists for the treatment of diabetes. Under all conditions tested, the three decoctions showed low cytotoxicity. The stem and root decoction (300 μg/mL) resulted in a significant increase in the levels of p-IRS-1 (Tyr612), GSK3β (Ser9), and p-AMPK (Thr172) compared to those of the palmitic acid-treated group, and the leaf decoction resulted an increase in the level of p-IRS-1 (Tyr612) and p-AMPK (Thr172) and a decrease in p-GSK3β (Ser9) compared to the levels for the palmitic acid-treated group. The root decoction also reduced the level of p-mToR (Ser2448). Overall, the acquired data demonstrate the effect of reducing insulin resistance induced by the investigated decoctions, opening new scenarios for the evaluation of these effects aimed at counteracting diabetes and related diseases in animal models. Full article

Cellulose tosylate (MCC-Tos) is a key derivative for surface modification and a crucial precursor for cellulose compatibilization in click reactions, enabling its functionalization for advanced applications. Replacing tosyl groups with alkyne groups broadens cellulose’s potential in biocompatible reactions, such as thiol-yne click chemistry and protein/enzyme immobilization. To achieve this, we optimized the heterogeneous synthesis of MCC-Tos using a Doehlert matrix statistical design, evaluating the influence and interaction of the reaction conditions. The optimized conditions—144 h reaction time, 10:1 molar ratio, and 30 °C—yielded a degree of substitution for tosyl groups (DS_tos) of 1.80, determined via elemental analysis and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. The reaction kinetics followed a first-order model. A subsequent reaction with propargylamine produced aminopropargyl cellulose (MCC-P_NH), reducing DS_tos by 65%, which was confirmed via FTIR, and improving thermal stability by a margin of 30 °C (TGA/DTG). ¹³C CP/MAS NMR confirmed the alkyne group attachment, further validated via coupling an azide-functionalized coumarin through copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC). Fluorescence microscopy and UV spectroscopy were used to estimate a substitution degree of 0.21. This study establishes a feasible route for synthesizing alkyne-functionalized cellulose, paving the way for eco-friendly materials, including protein/enzyme bioconjugates, composites, and advanced materials via thiol-yne and CuAAC reactions. Full article

The current trend in food innovations includes developing products containing plant ingredients or extracts rich in bioactive compounds. This study aimed to prepare and characterize skimmed thermally treated goat’s milk powders enriched with lyophilized fruit extracts of Lycium ruthenicum Murray (GMLR) and Lycium barbarum L. (GMLB). Proximate analysis, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy using attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR), and electrophoretic analysis were assessed. Total phenolic content (TPC), total protein content, and antioxidant properties of enriched goat milk powders were determined spectrophotometrically, and prebiotic potential was evaluated by the broth microdilution method. A total of 25 phenolic compounds and 18 phenylamides were detected in the enriched goat milk powders. Electrophoretic analysis showed the absence of proteolysis in the prepared powders. The GMLR showed the highest TPC and displayed a ferric ion-reducing power, probably contributed by anthocyanins and some phenylamides. GMLR and GMLB had higher ABTS radical scavenging activity but lower ferrous ion-chelating capacity than control goat′s milk powder. GMLB and GMLR in a dose-dependent manner (0.3–5 mg/mL) showed a growth-promoting effect on probiotic strains. In summary, prepared goji/goat milk powders, primarily GMLR, might be used as prebiotic supplements or functional food additives. Full article

Background/Objectives: Marine organisms, including shrimps, have gained research interest due to containing an abundance of bioactive lipid molecules.This study evaluated the composition and the in vitro biological activities of amphiphilic bioactive compounds from four different wild shrimp species: Litopenaeus vannamei, Penaeus kerathurus, Aristaeomorpha foliacea, and Parapenaeus longirostris. Methods: Total lipid (TL) extracts were obtained from shrimp and separated into total amphiphilic (TAC) and total lipophilic (TLC) compounds. Phenolic (TPC) and carotenoid (TCC) contents, antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP assays), and biological effects on platelet-activating factor (PAF) and ADP-induced platelet activation were evaluated. Structural analyses were performed using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, while LC-MS was used to elucidate the fatty acid composition and overall structure of polar lipids (PLs) present in shrimp TAC extracts. Results: TAC extracts, rich in phenolics, carotenoids, PL, and unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), exhibited stronger anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic activities compared with TLC extracts, which showed potent antioxidant capacity. Significant amounts of UFAs, such as the monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) oleic acid (C18:1n9) and omega-3 (n3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) like eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5n3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6n3), were detected in the PLs of shrimp TAC extracts, with favorable anti-inflammatory values for their n6/n3 PUFA ratio. Shrimp amphiphilic bioactives present in the TAC extracts provide anti-inflammatory effects against the PAF pathway and antithrombotic effects against ADP and eicosanoid pathways. Conclusions: The overall findings support further study on the use of shrimp extracts rich in anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, and antioxidant amphiphilic bioactives as ingredients to produce new bio-functional health-promoting products, in the context of sustainable development and circular economy. Full article

Extracts from natural waste like bark or leaves are great sources of phytochemicals, which contain functional groups (hydroxyl, carboxylic, vinyl, allyl) attractive in terms of polymer synthesis. In this study, the synthesis of epoxy with an extract of Scots pine bark as a natural co-hardener was evaluated. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy was used for the identification of phytochemicals with conjugated dienes and quantification of TPC. Also, the total solid content (TSC) of representative extracts was calculated. The best extract in terms of total phenolic content (TPC) value was selected as a co-hardener and investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for thermal effects and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FTIR) for reactions between functional groups. Also, the mechanical properties (flexural modulus, flexural strength, impact strength, Shore D hardness) and density of composition were obtained for extract-based epoxy and compared to reference sample values. Results were discussed in terms of future research and improvement of compositions. Also, potential applications were proposed. Full article

Background: The study exploited, for the first time, Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform-InfraRed (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy on human dental pulps at different timings of root resorption (RR) to deepen the biological mechanisms occurring in deciduous teeth (De) during their replacement with permanent ones. Methods: N:36 dental pulps from sound De were divided into the following: G0 (no RR); G1 (RR less than 1/3 of root length); G2 (RR not exceeding 2/3 of root length); and G3 (RR more than 2/3 of root length). Samples were analyzed by ATR-FTIR, and the spectral data were submitted to univariate (One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison tests; statistical significance set at p < 0.05) and multivariate (Principal Component Analysis, PCA) analyses. Results: PCA displayed good discrimination among groups, ascribable to: (i) the intensity of the peaks of nucleic acids (~1715 cm⁻¹, ~1237 cm⁻¹, ~964 cm⁻¹, and ~815 cm⁻¹) and carbohydrates (~1159 cm⁻¹) which increased from G0 to G3 (p < 0.05); (ii) the relative amount of lipids which decreased from G0 to G3 (p < 0.05); and (iii) the intensity of the peaks at ~1014 cm⁻¹, and ~875 cm⁻¹ (phosphates and carbonates in hydroxyapatite), which decreased from G0 to G3 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study confirmed ATR-FTIR as a reliable and quick technique for the characterization of the dental pulp and highlighted a correlation between specific molecular changes in the dental pulp of deciduous teeth and different RR stages, shedding new light on this process and paving the way for future research, which could improve the clinical management of the primary dentition. Full article

Curcumae Longae Rhizoma (CLRh), Curcumae Radix (CRa), and Curcumae Rhizoma (CRh), derived from the different medicinal parts of the Curcuma species, are blood-activating analgesics commonly used for promoting blood circulation and relieving pain. Due to their certain similarities in chemical composition and pharmacological effects, these three herbs exhibit a high risk associated with mixing and indiscriminate use. The diverse methods used for distinguishing the medicinal origins are complex, time-consuming, and limited to intraspecific differentiation, which are not suitable for rapid and systematic identification. We developed a rapid analysis method for identification of affinis and different medicinal materials using attenuated total reflection-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) combined with machine learning algorithms. The original spectroscopic data were pretreated using derivatives, standard normal variate (SNV), multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), and smoothing (S) methods. Among them, 1D + MSC + 13S emerged as the best pretreatment method. Then, t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) was applied to visualize the results, and seven kinds of classification models were constructed. The results showed that support vector machine (SVM) modeling was superior to other models and the accuracy of validation and prediction was preferable, with a modeling time of 127.76 s. The established method could be employed to rapidly and effectively distinguish the different origins and parts of Curcuma species and thus provides a technique for rapid quality evaluation of affinis species. Full article

Recent advancements in nanotechnology have improved the application of copper oxide (CuO) nanostructures, known for their diverse antibacterial, electrical, catalytic, optical, and pharmacological properties, which depend on nanoparticle morphology. This study investigated two synthesis methods for structured CuO: microwave-assisted hydrolysis and ultrasound using copper acetate and KOH, and an eco-friendly method involving cholesterol-free egg white albumin and Solanum lycopersicum extract. Characterization techniques, including XRD, FTIR, and SEM-EDS, were utilized to analyze the produced CuO. XRD confirmed high-purity monoclinic CuO structures in the sample obtained via the chemical method, while characteristic peaks of tenorite and dolerophanite were observed in the albumin-synthesized sample. ATR-FTIR analysis revealed O-H stretching bands around 3400 cm⁻¹, indicating adsorbed H-OH or -OH and strong Cu-O bond peaks at 434 cm⁻¹. The CuO synthesized via microwave and ultrasound methods displayed superior crystallinity compared to commercial CuO. SEM illustrated various morphologies, such as flakes, microspheres, and irregular polyhedra, influenced by the presence of proteins and organic acids. Antibacterial tests demonstrated the effective inhibition of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, confirming the potential of CuO as a promising antibacterial agent. Overall, the findings highlight the effectiveness of green chemistry in developing crystalline CuO for various applications. Full article

Background: Curcumin appears to be well tolerated and effective for managing chronic inflammatory pain, but its poor oral bioavailability has been a hurdle in its use as a therapeutic agent. The current study was performed to characterize a novel co-amorphous compound based on curcumin/L-arginine 1:2 (CAC12). Methods: Stability, solubility and structural characterization of the CAC12 were carried out by spectrometry techniques and in vitro assays, whereas the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated by CFA or carrageenan models. The mechanism of action was determined by cytokine quantification, and pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained through UPLC-MS/MS. The co-amorphous compound was prepared by fast solvent evaporation. Powder XRD, ¹³C-NMR, ATR-FTIR and TGA/DSC thermal analysis showed a 1:2 stoichiometry for the CAC12. Results: CAC12 was 1000 times more soluble than curcumin, and it was stable for 1 month at 40 °C and 75% relative humidity or for 60 min in physiological medium at pH 4.5–6.8. Co-amorphous curcumin/L-arginine, but not curcumin + L-arginine, decreased carrageenan- or CFA-induced inflammation and nociception by decreasing IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1 and CXCL1 cytokines. The bioavailability of free plasmatic curcumin increased about 22.4 times when it was given as CAC12 relative to a phytosome formulation at the equivalent dose. Conclusions: Results suggest the possible use of CAC12 to treat inflammatory pain disorders in human beings. Full article

Wastewater treatment processes can fragment microplastics (MPs), which may subsequently enter fertilizers applied in agricultural settings. This study aimed to quantify the occurrence of MPs in stabilized sewage sludge intended for fertilizer production. Matrix elimination was performed using an oxidative method to isolate MPs, followed by MPs separation with a saturated salt solution of appropriate density to enhance the accuracy of identification. The resulting samples were analyzed using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques to provide the detailed characterization of MPs content. The highest concentrations of MPs were recorded during the months of June, July, and May, with average values of 2942, 2341, and 1746 fragments per 100 g of dry weight, respectively. The analysis revealed that fragments were the dominant morphological form, and low-density polyethylene was the most common polymer type detected. These findings underscore a significant risk of MPs re-emission into the environment through the agricultural application of fertilizers derived from sewage sludge. Such practices may lead to the introduction of between 6110 and 13,889 MPs per square meter of soil, depending on the application rates, thereby posing potential risks to soil health and the broader ecosystem. This study highlights the importance of monitoring MPs content in fertilizers derived from wastewater treatment by-products. Full article

The properties of thin polymer films are influenced by the size of the fillers, their morphology, the surface properties and their distribution/interaction in the polymer matrix. In this work, thin polymer composite films with MoO₃ or SiO₂ nano and micro fillers in PVDF-HFP/PVP polymer matrix were successfully fabricated using the solvent casting method. The effects of different types, sizes and morphologies of the inorganic fillers on the crystallization of the PVDF-HFP polymer were investigated, as well as the effects on the thermal and mechanical properties of the composites. Scanning electron microscopy, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, nanoindentation and uniaxial mechanical tests were used for characterization. The results showed that MoO₃ nanowires thermally stabilized the polymer matrix, induced crystallization of the PVDF-HFP polymer in all three polymorphs (α-, β-, γ-phase) and formed a geometrical network in the polymer matrix, resulting in the highest elastic moduli, hardness and Young’s modulus. Full article

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs), a by-product of coffee brewing, have high application potential. However, their high moisture content complicates conventional conversion without energy-intensive drying. This study explores a new route to convert SCGs to high-carbon bioproducts, such as hydrochar and bio-oil, through hydrothermal processing. The effect of the processing variables, i.e., temperature, residence time, and the application of the binary solvent as a reaction medium, on the distribution of the resultant bioproducts was investigated. The quality of the fabricated bioproducts was analyzed by means of instrumental techniques such as EA, ATR-FTIR, GC-MS, and GC-TCD-FID. Two dominant fractions were liquid bio-oil and solid hydrochar. The highest char yield (39 wt.%) was observed under milder conditions (low T and short residence times), while more severe conditions led to an increase in bio-oil formation, which reached a maximum of 46 wt.%. The resulting bio-oils were of similar quality, presenting high carbon content (71–74 wt.%) and energetic values (approximately 35 MJ/kg). Also, hydrochars showed a noticeable energy densification compared to raw materials, where the C content and HHV reached up to 73.8 wt.% and 30 MJ/kg, respectively. The addition of co-solvent to water improves the bio-oil yield as a result of the enhanced stabilization of reactive intermediates. Full article

The removal of copper from wastewater of mine origin requires the use of an appropriate method. Sorption methods are considered to be one of the best solutions for removing copper from industrial wastewater at low levels. Metal(IV) phosphates have been reported as excellent sorption materials that can be highly selective for copper. Therefore, the aim of this research was to synthesize titanium(IV), zirconium(IV), and cerium(IV) phosphates with a wide range of P:Metal(IV) molar ratios (0.5–10) in the reaction mixture and under mild conditions, using a simple scalable approach which requires minimal financial outlays. The obtained materials were characterized using XRD, ATR-FTIR, SEM-EDS techniques, and pH titration. To evaluate the performance of the resulting materials, their sorption properties towards copper ions were examined in comparison with selected commercially available ion-exchange resins. In each group of metal(IV) phosphates, the best material has a high ion-exchange capacity: 16.9 meq/g for titanium sorbent, 8.8 meq/g for zirconium sorbent, and 7.0 meq/g for cerium sorbent. Zirconium phosphate synthesized at a P:Zr molar ratio in the reaction mixture of 10:1 exhibits the best sorption properties towards copper ions in a solution similar to mining wastewater (acidic, saline, and containing heavy metals), better than some commercial ion-exchange resins. Full article

This study investigates the effect of microstructural changes in polyurethane coatings on their water resistance properties. Polyurethane coatings with varying diluent contents were prepared and tested for water penetration resistance and mechanical property retention. The time-dependent behavior of water within the coatings at different immersion durations was analyzed using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Furthermore, the free volume and characteristic molecular groups of each coating were analyzed using microscopic techniques, including positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR−FTIR). Results indicate that diluent content significantly alters the microstructure of the coatings. With increasing diluent content, both the average pore volume and free volume fraction initially decrease and then increase, while characteristic molecular groups, including hydrophilic groups, gradually decline. The water resistance performance of the coatings was significantly influenced by the combined effects of free volume and characteristic molecular groups. Among the five tested coating formulations, coatings with diluent contents of 20% and 25% showed a superior water penetration resistance, higher retention of mechanical properties after immersion, and relatively low total content of bound and free water at all immersion ages. The entropy weight method and the equal weight method were used to assess the overall water resistance, with the following ranking of scores: f₂₀ > f₂₅ > f₃₀ > f₁₅ > f₁₀. This study offers theoretical support to guide the design and practical application of polyurethane coatings in real-world engineering projects. Full article

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are hybrid inorganic–organic 3D coordination polymers with metal sites and organic linkers, which are a “hot” topic in the research of sorption, separations, catalysis, sensing, and environmental remediation. In this study, we explore the molecular mechanism and kinetics of interaction of the new copper porphyrin aluminum metal–organic framework (actAl-MOF-TCPPCu) compound 4 with a vapor of the volatile organic sulfur compound (VOSC) diethyl sulfide (DES). First, compound 4 was synthesized by post-synthetic modification (PSM) of Al-MOF-TCPPH₂ compound 2 by inserting Cu²⁺ ions into the porphyrin ring and characterized by complementary qualitative and quantitative chemical, structural, and spectroscopic analysis. Second, the interaction of compound 4 with DES vapor was analyzed dynamically by the novel method of in situ time-dependent attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy at controlled humidity levels. The sorbent–adsorbate interactions, as analyzed by the shifts in IR peaks, indicate that the bonding includes the hydroxy O-H, carboxylate COO⁻, and phenyl groups. The kinetics of sorption obeys the Langmuir pseudo-first-order rate law. The pre-adsorption of water vapor by compound 4 at the controlled relative humidity under static (equilibrium) conditions yields the binary stoichiometric adsorption complex (Al-MOF-TCPPCu)_1.0(H₂O)_8.0. The pre-adsorption of water vapor makes the subsequent sorption of DES slower, while the kinetics obey the same rate law. Then, static pre-adsorption of water vapor was followed by static sorption of DES vapor, and the ternary adsorption complex (Al-MOF-TCPPCu)_1.0(H₂O)_8.0(DES)₃.₈ was obtained. Despite the pre-adsorption of significant amounts of water, the binary complex adsorbs a large amount of DES: ca. 36.6 wt. % (per compound 4). Finally, the ternary complex is facilely regenerated by gentle heating under vacuum. Compound 4 and related MOFs are promising for adsorptive removal of vapor of DES and related VOSCs from dry and humid air. Full article