Guar gum and its composites as potential materials for diverse applications: A review

An Overview of Polymeric Nanoparticles-Based Drug Delivery System in Cancer Treatment

Cancer is recognized as one of the world's deadliest diseases, with more than 10 million new cases each year. Over the past 2 decades, several studies have been performed on cancer to pursue solutions for effective treatment. One of the vital benefits of utilizing nanoparticles (NPs) in cancer treatment is their high adaptability for modification and amalgamation of different physicochemical properties to boost their anti-cancer activity. Various nanomaterials have been designed as nanocarriers attributing nontoxic and biocompatible drug delivery systems with improved bioactivity. The present review article briefly explained various types of nanocarriers, such as organic-inorganic-hybrid NPs, and their targeting mechanisms. Here a special focus is given to the synthesis, benefits, and applications of polymeric NPs (PNPs) involved in various anti-cancer therapeutics. It has also been discussed about the drug delivery approach by the functionalized/encapsulated PNPs (without/with targeting ability) that are being applied in the therapy and diagnostic (theranostics). Overall, this review can give a glimpse into every aspect of PNPs, from their synthesis to drug delivery application for cancer cells.

Polysaccharide-based hydrogel with photothermal effect for accelerating wound healing

Polysaccharide-based hydrogel has excellent biochemical function, abundant sources, good biocompatibility and other advantages, and has a broad application prospect in biomedical fields, especially in the field of wound healing. With its inherent high specificity and low invasive burden, photothermal therapy has shown great application prospect in preventing wound infection and promoting wound healing. Combining polysaccharide-based hydrogel with photothermal therapy (PTT), multifunctional hydrogel with photothermal, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and tissue regeneration functions can be designed, so as to achieve better therapeutic effect. This review first focuses on the basic principles of hydrogel and PTT, and the types of polysaccharides that can be used to design hydrogels. In addition, according to the different materials that produce photothermal effects, the design considerations of several representative polysaccharide-based hydrogels are emphatically introduced. Finally, the challenges faced by polysaccharide-based hydrogels with photothermal properties are discussed, and the future prospects of this field are put forward.

Natural Gum-Based Functional Bioactive Films and Coatings: A Review

Edible films and coatings are a current and future food packaging trend. In the food and envi-ronmental sectors, there is a growing need to understand the role of edible packaging and sus-tainability. Gums are polysaccharides of natural origin that are frequently utilized as thickeners, clarifying agents, gelling agents, emulsifiers, and stabilizers in the food sector. Gums come in a variety of forms, including seed gums, mucilage gums, exudate gums, and so on. As a biodegradable and sustainable alternative to petrochemical-based film and coatings, gums could be a promising option. Natural plant gum-based edible packaging helps to ensure extension of shelf-life of fresh and processed foods while also reducing microbiological alteration and/or oxidation processes. In this review, the possible applications of gum-based polymers and their functional properties in development of edible films and coatings, were comprehensively dis-cussed. In the future, technology for developing natural gum-based edible films and coatings might be applied commercially to improve shelf life and preserve the quality of foods.

Encapsulation with Natural Polymers to Improve the Properties of Biostimulants in Agriculture

Encapsulation in agriculture today is practically focused on agrochemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers to enhance the protective or nutritive aspects of the entrapped active ingredients. However, one of the most promising and environmentally friendly technologies, biostimulants, is hardly explored in this field. Encapsulation of biostimulants could indeed be an excellent means of counteracting the problems posed by their nature: they are easily biodegradable, and most of them run off through the soil, losing most of the compounds, thus becoming inaccessible to plants. In this respect, encapsulation seems to be a practical and profitable way to increase the stability and durability of biostimulants under field conditions. This review paper aims to provide researchers working on plant biostimulants with a quick overview of how to get started with encapsulation. Here we describe different techniques and offer protocols and suggestions for introduction to polymer science to improve the properties of biostimulants for future agricultural applications.

Natural carriers: Recent advances in their use to improve the stability and bioaccessibility of food active compounds

In the last decades, the incorporation of bioactive compounds in food supplements aroused the attention of scientists. However, these ingredients often exhibit both low solubility and stability and their poor bioaccessibility within the gastrointestinal tract limits their effectiveness. To overcome these drawbacks, many carriers have been investigated for encapsulating nutraceuticals and enhancing their bioavailability. It is note that several different vegetable wall materials have been applied to build delivery systems. Considering their encapsulation mechanism, lipid and protein-based carriers display specific interaction patterns with bioactives, whereas polysaccharidic-based carriers can entrap them by creating porous highly stable networks. To maximize the encapsulation efficiency, mixed systems are very promising. Following the current goal of using natural and sustainable ingredients, only a limited number of studies about the isolation of new ingredients from agro-food waste are available. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the state of art in the development of innovative natural lipid-, protein- and polysaccharide-based plant carriers is presented, focusing on their application as food active compounds. Different aspects to be considered in the design of delivery systems are discussed, including the carrier structure and chemical features, the interaction between the encapsulating and the core material, and the parameters affecting bioactives entrapment.

Synthesis of β-cyclodextrin-based nanosponges for remediation of 2,4-D polluted waters

Two cyclodextrin-based nanosponges (CD-NSs) were synthesized using diamines with 6 and 12 methylene groups, CDHD6 and CDHD12, respectively, and used as adsorbents to remove 2,4-D from aqueous solutions. The physico-chemical characterization of the CD‒NSs demonstrated that, when using the linker with the longest chain length, the nanosponges show a more compact structure and higher thermal stability, probably due to hydrophobic interactions. SEM micrographs showed significant differences between the two nanosponges used. The adsorption of 2,4-D was assessed in terms of different parameters, including solid/liquid ratio, pH, kinetics and isotherms. Adsorption occurred preferentially at lower pH values and for short-chain crosslinked nanosponges; while the former is explained by the balance of acid-base characteristics of the adsorbent and adsorbate, the latter can be justified by the increase in the crosslinker-crosslinker interactions, predominantly hydrophobic, rather than adsorbent-adsorbate interactions. The maximum adsorption capacity at the equilibrium (q_e) was 20,903 mmol/kg, obtained using CDHD12 with an initial 2,4-D concentration of 2 mmol/L. An environmentally friendly strategy, based on alkali desorption, was developed to recycle and reuse the adsorbents. On the basis of the results obtained, cyclodextrin-based nanosponges appear promising materials for an economically feasible removal of phenoxy herbicides, to be used as potential adsorbents for the sustainable management of agricultural wastewaters.

Effects of polysaccharides on the hydrodynamic parameters of sheet erosion on loessial slopes

The variations in hydrodynamic parameters at different polysaccharides rates and the relationships between sheet erosion modulus and hydrodynamic parameters were analyzed to reveal the hydrodynamic mechanism of sheet erosion on loessial slopes. Artificially simulated rainfall experiments were carried out under three slope gradients (10°, 15°, and 20°), three rainfall intensities (1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mm·min^-1), and four dry-spreading rates of polysaccharides (0, 1, 3, and 5 g·m^-2). The results showed that (1) four hydrodynamic parameters (flow velocity, shear stress, stream power, and unit stream power) all increased with both rainfall intensities and slope gradients at four rates of polysaccharides. (2) Polysaccharides could effectively reduce hydrodynamic parameters. In contrast to the bare slope, the average flow velocity, shear stress, stream power, and unit stream power diminished by 27.11~41.18%, 9.53~18.67%, 31.82~50.24%, and 27.11~41.18%, respectively. (3) Polysaccharides could effectively reduce the growth rate of the sheet erosion modulus with hydrodynamic parameters, and there were few differences among the different rates (1, 3, and 5 g·m^-2). The increasing rates of the sheet erosion modulus with flow velocity, shear stress, stream power, and unit stream power were 14.0~65.7%, 14.8~33.9%, 7.8~23.7%, and 9.7~29.5%, respectively. (4) At different polysaccharides rates, the relationships between sheet erosion modulus and hydrodynamic parameters were all in logarithmic functions. Moreover, flow velocity (R² ≥ 0.920) and stream power (R² ≥ 0.876) were better hydrodynamic parameters than shear stress (R² ≥ 0.598) or unit stream power (R² ≥ 0.537). Polysaccharides decreased the hydrodynamic parameters and the response rates of sheet erosion to hydrodynamics.

Effective adsorption of crystal violet onto aromatic polyimides: Kinetics and isotherm studies

The motive of this work is to synthesis aromatic polyimides by a two-step poly condensation process and the prepared aromatic polyamides (APIs) is been used as an effective functionalized adsorbent for the removal of carcinogenic crystal violet (CV) from aqueous medium. The adsorption efficiency of the APIs was enhanced by incorporation different functional moieties (varying aromatic dianhydrides with -O-, -(CF₃)₂-, -(CH₃)₂-) in the polymer structure. The initial and final concentration of CV was measured using UV-Vis spectrometer. The adsorption process was optimized by varying the parameters such as the effect of solution pH, contact time, initial dye concentration, and adsorbent dosage. Kinetics and isotherms of the adsorption system were appraised using data obtained from effect of contact time and initial dye concentration with corresponding empirical modelling techniques respectively. The evaluated results of the adsorption kinetic studies confirmed that the adsorption of API onto CV is followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption behaviour and their interactions between APIs and CV are well established. The experimental results of this research output could be confirmed that APIs is a very effective adsorbent for the removal of cationic dye from aqueous.

The role of selected nutraceuticals in management of prediabetes and diabetes: An updated review of the literature

Dysglycemia is a disease state preceding the onset of diabetes and includes impaired fasting glycemia and impaired glucose tolerance. This review aimed to collect and analyze the literature reporting the results of clinical trials evaluating the effects of selected nutraceuticals on glycemia in humans. The results of the analyzed trials, generally, showed the positive effects of the nutraceuticals studied alone or in association with other supplements on fasting plasma glucose and post-prandial plasma glucose as primary outcomes, and their efficacy in improving insulin resistance as a secondary outcome. Some evidences, obtained from clinical trials, suggest a role for some nutraceuticals, and in particular Berberis, Banaba, Curcumin, and Guar gum, in the management of prediabetes and diabetes. However, contradictory results were found on the hypoglycemic effects of Morus, Ilex paraguariensis, Omega-3, Allium cepa, and Trigonella faenum graecum, whereby rigorous long-term clinical trials are needed to confirm these data. More studies are also needed for Eugenia jambolana, as well as for Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus which glucose-lowering effects were observed when administered in combination, but not alone. Further trials are also needed for quercetin.

Construction of a double-responsive modified guar gum nanoparticles and its application in oral insulin administration

The use of intelligent insulin delivery systems has become more important for treating diabetes. In this study, a dual-responsive oral insulin delivery nanocarrier that responds to glucose and pH has been developed. First, the oleic acid hydrophobic modified guar gum (GG) was synthesized by the esterification reaction, and the γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) was coupled with GG by the amidation reaction. The obtained pH-responsive copolymer (γ-PGA-GG) was cross-linked by concanavalin A to obtain pH/glucose dual-responsive nanocarriers, and insulin was effectively loaded into the dual-responsive nanocarriers. The insulin-loaded nanoparticles can achieve effective pH and glucose responses, releasing insulin on demand. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated the dual-responsive nanoparticles can protect insulin against the pH changes in the digestive tract and deliver insulin into the body to exert a hypoglycemic effect. Moreover, the dual-responsive nanoparticles have significant potential to be employed for oral insulin delivery.

Efficient liquid phase confiscation of nile blue using a novel hybrid nanocomposite synthesized from guar gum-polyacrylamide and erbium oxide

In recent times, biopolymer-metal oxide nanocomposites have gained prominent importance in the attenuation of environmental toxicants from aqueous phase. But lanthanide oxide-based biopolymer nanocomposites have scantly been evaluated for their adsorption potential. A novel guar gum-polyacrylamide/erbium oxide nanocomposite (GG-PAAm/Er₂O₃ NC) adsorbent was synthesized by copolymerization of guar gum (GG) and acrylamide (AAm) utilizing N-N′-methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker and Er₂O₃ as a reinforcing agent. The adsorptive efficacy of GG-PAAm/Er₂O₃ nanocomposite was evaluated using nile blue (NB) as a model pollutant dye from aquatic system. The prepared adsorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The optimal process parameters, which include dosage (0.8 g/L), agitation time (40 min), initial solution pH (6), and initial NB concentration (80 mg/L) were determined by batch methodology. The equilibrium data for NB confiscation was better expressed by Langmuir isotherm model, with maximal adsorption effectiveness (Q_m) of 225.88 mg NB/g demonstrating the actively monolayer adsorption onto homogeneous surface of GG-PAAm/Er₂O₃ NC. The kinetics of NB sorption process onto GG-PAAm/Er₂O₃ NC was reliable with pseudo-second order model. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔH^° (15–17 kJ/mol) and ΔS^° (0.079–0.087 kJ/mol/K), and − ΔG^° (8.81–10.55 kJ/mol) for NB validated the endothermic, an increased randomness at the GG-PAAm/Er₂O₃–NB interface, and spontaneity and feasibility of the process, respectively. The spent nanocomposite was effectively regenerated with NaOH, and could be reused proficiently for five runs demonstrating the high reusability potential of the nanocomposite. The commendable removal efficiency and high reusability of GG-PAAm/Er₂O₃ NC recommended it to be a highly competent adsorbent for cationic dyes particularly NB diminution from aqueous waste.

Plant Polysaccharides in Engineered Pharmaceutical Gels

Hydrogels are a great ally in the pharmaceutical and biomedical areas. They have a three-dimensional polymeric structure that allows the swelling of aqueous fluids, acting as an absorbent, or encapsulating bioactive agents for controlled drug release. Interestingly, plants are a source of biogels, specifically polysaccharides, composed of sugar monomers. The crosslinking of these polymeric chains forms an architecture similar to the extracellular matrix, enhancing the biocompatibility of such materials. Moreover, the rich hydroxyl monomers promote a hydrophilic behavior for these plant-derived polysaccharide gels, enabling their biodegradability and antimicrobial effects. From an economic point of view, such biogels help the circular economy, as a green material can be obtained with a low cost of production. As regards the bio aspect, it is astonishingly attractive since the raw materials (polysaccharides from plants-cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, inulin, pectin, starch, guar, and cashew gums, etc.) might be produced sustainably. Such properties make viable the applications of these biogels in contact with the human body, especially incorporating drugs for controlled release. In this context, this review describes some sources of plant-derived polysaccharide gels, their biological function, main methods for extraction, remarkable applications, and properties in the health field.

Optimization of dyes and toxic metals removal from environmental water samples by clinoptilolite zeolite using response surface methodology approach

The present study aimed to remove crystal violet (CV), malachite green (MG), Cd(II), and Pb(II) from an aqueous solution using clinoptilolite zeolite (CZ) as an adsorbent. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD) was used to analyze and optimize the process parameters, such as pH, analyte concentration, adsorbent amount, and sonication time. Quadratic models with the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.99 (p < 0.0001) were compared statistically. The results revealed that the selected models have good precision and a good agreement between the predicted and experimental data. The maximum removal of contaminants was achieved under optimum conditions of pH = 6, sonication time of 22 min, the adsorbent amount of 0.19 g, and analyte concentration of 10 mg L-1. The reusability test of the adsorbent showed that the CZ adsorbent could be used 5 times in water and wastewater treatment processes. According to the results of interference studies, the presence of different ions, even at high concentrations, does not interfere with the removal of contaminants. Applying the CZ adsorbent on environmental water samples revealed that CZ adsorbent could remove CV, MG, Cd(II), and Pb(II) in the range of 84.54% to 99.38% and contaminants present in industrial effluents. As a result, the optimized method in this study can be widely used with high efficiency for removing CV, MG, Cd(II), and Pb(II) from water and wastewater samples.

Synthesis and Rheological Characterization of a Novel Salecan Hydrogel

Salecan (Sal) is a novel microbial polysaccharide. In the present research, thermal treatment was performed to fabricate Sal hydrogel. The effect of Sal concentration on water holding capacity, swelling properties, texture properties, and microstructure of the hydrogels was discussed. It was found that the equilibrium degree of swelling (EDS) of Sal hydrogels was above 1500%, inferred Sal was a highly hydrophilic polysaccharide. As Sal concentration increased from 3.5 to 8.0 wt%, the hardness increased from 0.88 to 2.07 N and the water hold capability (WHC) increased from 91.3% to 98.2%. Furthermore, the internal network structure of Sal hydrogel also became denser and more uniform. Rheological studies suggested that elastic hydrogel formed under the gelation process. All these results demonstrated that Sal hydrogel prepared by thermal treatment had good gelling properties, which opened up a new safe way for the preparation of Sal hydrogel and broadened the application range of Sal.

In silico Identification of miRNAs and Their Targets in Cluster Bean for Their Role in Development and Physiological Responses

Cluster bean popularly known as “guar” is a drought-tolerant, annual legume that has recently emerged as an economically important crop, owing to its high protein and gum content. The guar gum has wide range of applications in food, pharma, and mining industries. India is the leading exporter of various cluster bean-based products all across the globe. Non-coding RNAs (miRNAs) are involved in regulating the expression of the target genes leading to variations in the associated pathways or final protein concentrations. The understanding of miRNAs and their associated targets in cluster bean is yet to be used to its full potential. In the present study, cluster bean EST (Expressed Sequence Tags) database was exploited to identify the miRNA and their predicted targets associated with metabolic and biological processes especially response to diverse biotic and abiotic stimuli using in silico approach. Computational analysis based on cluster bean ESTs led to the identification of 57 miRNAs along with their targets. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on identification of miRNAs and their targets using ESTs in cluster bean. The miRNA related to gum metabolism was also identified. Most abundant miRNA families predicted in our study were miR156, miR172, and miR2606. The length of most of the mature miRNAs was found to be 21nt long and the range of minimal folding energy (MFE) was 5.8–177.3 (−kcal/mol) with an average value of 25.4 (−kcal/mol). The identification of cluster bean miRNAs and their targets is predicted to hasten the miRNA discovery, resulting in better knowledge of the role of miRNAs in cluster bean development, physiology, and stress responses.

Hemocompatibility of Galactomannan and Galactoglucomannan Sulfates in In Vitro Experiments

We identified compounds that do not independently provoke aggregation of human platelets and do not affect hemolysis of human erythrocytes in vitro: lacking anticoagulant activity sulfated galactoglucomannan (polydispersity 1.43; degree of sulfation 0.66) in concentrations ≤0.2 mg/ml; exhibiting anticoagulant activity (in concentrations up to 0.002 mg/ml) sulfated galactoglucomannan (polydispersity 1.5; degree of sulfation 1.81) and galactomannan obtained by sulfation with the sulfamic acid-urea complex (polydispersity 2.75; degree of sulfation 1.25) and galactomannans obtained by sulfation with chlorosulfonic acid in 1,4-dioxane (polydispersity 1.61/22.27; degree of sulfation 1.00/0.74).

Development of Bigels Based on Date Palm-Derived Cellulose Nanocrystal-Reinforced Guar Gum Hydrogel and Sesame Oil/Candelilla Wax Oleogel as Delivery Vehicles for Moxifloxacin

Bigels are biphasic semisolid systems that have been explored as delivery vehicles in the food and pharmaceutical industries. These formulations are highly stable and have a longer shelf-life than emulsions. Similarly, cellulose-based hydrogels are considered to be ideal for these formulations due to their biocompatibility and flexibility to mold into various shapes. Accordingly, in the present study, the properties of an optimized guar gum hydrogel and sesame oil/candelilla wax oleogel-based bigel were tailored using date palm-derived cellulose nanocrystals (dp-CNC). These bigels were then explored as carriers for the bioactive molecule moxifloxacin hydrochloride (MH). The preparation of the bigels was achieved by mixing guar gum hydrogel and sesame oil/candelilla wax oleogel. Polarizing microscopy suggested the formation of the hydrogel-in-oleogel type of bigels. An alteration in the dp-CNC content affected the size distribution of the hydrogel phase within the oleogel phase. The colorimetry studies revealed the yellowish-white color of the samples. There were no significant changes in the FTIR functional group positions even after the addition of dp-CNC. In general, the incorporation of dp-CNC resulted in a decrease in the impedance values, except BG3 that had 15 mg dp-CNC in 20 g bigel. The BG3 formulation showed the highest firmness and fluidity. The release of MH from the bigels was quasi-Fickian diffusion mediated. BG3 showed the highest release of the drug. In summary, dp-CNC can be used as a novel reinforcing agent for bigels.

An efficient biosynthesis of palladium nanoparticles using Bael gum and evaluation of their catalytic and antibacterial activity

We report a facile microwave-assisted synthesis of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) using Bael gum (BG) and it's carboxymethylated (CMBG) derivative. The prepared nanoparticles (BG@PdNPs and CMBG@PdNPs) were evaluated for antibacterial and catalytic activity in the reduction of organic dye pollutants. The developed synthetic method is simple, low cost and eco-friendly, wherein the process requires no additional reducing or capping agents. The CMBG was prepared via etherification reaction between BG and monochloroacetic acid using Williamson synthesis method. The PdNPs were synthesized using BG and CMBG as stabilizers and reducing agents. The PdNPs were found to be well dispersed spherical, with the crystalline size of the order of 7-21 nm. The results showed that the CMBG@PdNPs were smaller in size (7 ± 2 nm) than those capped with BG@PdNPs (10 ± 2 nm). The catalytic ability of CMBG@PdNPs was examined for the reduction of Methyl Orange (MO), Methyl Red(MR), and Rhodamine-B (RhB) in the presence of NaBH₄. The results showed that CMBG@PdNPs exhibited a higher catalytic ability than BG@PdNPs. Moreover, it was found that CMBG@PdNPs served several times as a retrievable and reusable catalyst which is stable even after six cycles of reaction. The CMBG@PdNPs and BG@PdNPs showed excellent antibacterial activity. The results indicate that CMBG@PdNPs have greater potential application as a catalyst in the reduction of organic pollutants and antibacterial activity.

Biomineralisation to Increase Earth Infrastructure Resilience

The vulnerability of buildings and structures to rain and flooding due to a lack of adaptive capacity is an issue all over the world. Exploring the bio-resources availability and engineering performance is crucial to increase infrastructure’s resilience. The current study analyses earth-based mortars using mineral precipitation as a biostabiliser (bio) and compares their performance with cement-based mortars. Cultures of S. oneidensis with a concentration of 2.3 × 10⁸ cfu/mL were used to prepare earth-based and cement-based mortars with a ratio of 6% of binder. Microstructure analyses through SEM/EDS, water absorption, moisture buffering, mechanical strength, and porosity are discussed. The biostabiliser decreases water absorption in tidal-splash and saturated environments for earth and cement mortars due to calcium carbonate precipitation. The biostabiliser can prevent water migration more effectively for the cement-based (60% reduction) than for the earth-based mortars (up to 10% reduction) in the first 1 h of contact with water. In an adsorption/desorption environment, the conditions favour desorption in cem+bio, and it seems that the biostabiliser precipitation facilitates the release of the chemicals into the mobile phase. The precipitation in the earth+bio mortar porous media conditions favours the adsorption of water molecules, making the molecule adhere to the stationary phase and be separated from the other sample chemicals. The SEM/EDS performed for the mortars confirms the calcium carbonate precipitation and shows that there is a decrease in the quantity of Si and K if the biostabiliser is used in cement and earth-mortars. This decrease, associated with the ability of S. oneidensis to leach silica, is more impressive for earth+bio, which might be associated with a dissolution of silicate structures due to the presence of more water. For the tested earth-based mortars, there was an increase of 10% for compressive and flexural strength if the biostabiliser was added. For the cement-based mortars, the strength increase was almost double that of the plain one due to the clay surface negative charge in the earth-based compositions.

Development and evaluation of Moringa extract incorporated Chitosan/Guar gum/Poly (vinyl alcohol) active films for food packaging applications

The present study contributes the synthesis of active films with the incorporation of moringa extract (ME) into chitosan (CS)/guar gum (GG)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix (CGPM) by simple solvent casting technique. The effect of ME on the mechanical, thermal, structural and morphological properties of CGPM active films were investigated. ME has shown a marked influence on the optical, thermal properties and swelling behaviour of CGPM active films. The improvement in the tensile strength of CGPM-1 active film (53.7 MPa) was observed compared to control CS/GG/PVA (CGP) film. DSC study revealed that glass transition temperature (Tg) and melting temperature (Tm) decreased with the addition of ME in the CGP matrix, which confirmed the miscibility among the components of active films. There was an improvement in the thermal stability of the CGPM active films. The FTIR study confirmed the molecular interaction between ME and CS/GG/PVA matrix. The XRD analysis showed a decrease in crystallinity with an increase in the ratio of CS for CGPM active films. The CGPM active films were an excellent barrier to UV- light and have exhibited a decrease in moisture adsorption and water solubility compared to CGP control film. The inclusion of ME in the CGP matrix leads to the formation of a dense compact surface, which in turn enhanced hydrophobicity of active films. The CGPM active films showed minimum WVP, OP values and overall migration values were within the limits of 10 mg/dm2. It was also observed that CGPM active films effectively inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. These findings suggest CGPM active films are biodegradable, biocompatible, non-toxic and hence can find application as food packaging materials.

Recent advances on nanocellulose biomaterials for environmental health photoremediation: An overview

As one of the potential bionanomaterials, nanocellulose has appeared as a favorable candidate for photoremediation of the environment because of its abundance in nature, inexpensive, eco-friendly, decomposable, high surface area, and outstanding mechanical properties. The current review carefully summarized the diverse type of nanocellulose, their preparation approaches, and several previous works on the use of nanocellulose for photoremediation. These include the role of nanocellulose for the increased surface active site of the hybrid photocatalysts by providing a large surface area for enhanced adsorption of photons and pollutant molecules, as a dispersing agent to increase distribution of metal/non-metal dopants photocatalysts, as well as for controlled size and morphology of the dopants photocatalysts. Furthermore, the recommendations for upcoming research provided in this review are anticipated to ignite an idea for the development of other nanocellulose-based photocatalysts. Other than delivering beneficial information on the present growth of the nanocellulose biomaterials photocatalysts, this review is expected will attract more interest to the utilization of nanocellulose photocatalyst and distribute additional knowledge in this exciting area of environmental photoremediation. This could be attained by considering that a review on nanocellulose biomaterials for environmental health photoremediation has not been described elsewhere, notwithstanding intensive research works have been dedicated to this topic.

Recent development in fabrication and evaluation of phenolic-dietary fiber composites for potential treatment of colonic diseases

Phenolics have been shown by in vitro and animal studies to have multiple pharmacological effects against various colonic diseases. However, their efficacy against colonic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn's disease, and colorectal cancer, is significantly compromised due to their chemical instability and susceptibility to modification along the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) before reaching the colonic site. Dietary fibers are promising candidates that can form phenolic-dietary fiber composites (PDC) to carry phenolics to the colon, as they are natural polysaccharides that are non-digestible in the upper intestinal tract but can be partially or fully degradable by gut microbiota in the colon, triggering the release at this targeted site. In addition, soluble and fermentable dietary fibers confer additional health benefits as prebiotics when used in the PDC fabrication, and the possibility of synergistic relationship between phenolics and fibers in alleviating the disease conditions. The functionalities of PDC need to be characterized in terms of their particle characteristics, molecular interactions, release profiles in simulated digestion and colonic fermentation to fully understand the metabolic fate and health benefits. This review examines recent advancements regarding the approaches for fabrication, characterization, and evaluation of PDC in in vitro conditions.

Synthesis, characterization, and humidity-responsiveness of guar gum xanthate and its nanocomposite with copper sulfide covellite

A novel conjugation of guar gum with xanthate groups via facile aqueous xanthation reaction has been reported. Density of grafted xanthate on guar gum product (GG-X) is as high as 4.4%, thus GG-X is conceivably characterized and confirmed by various spectrometric, electrochemical, thermogravimetric, and microscopic methods. Complexation of GG-X with numerous borderline and soft metal ions (e.g. Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Pt²⁺ and Cd²⁺) yields hydrophilic gel-like materials and shows good agreement with hard and soft acid and base (HSAB) theory. This indicates tremendous potential of GG-X in metal ion extraction, removal and hydrogel cross-linking. GG-X is also employed to formulate an aqueous colloidal dispersion of copper sulfide covellite (GG-X/CuS) nanocomposites. GG-X therefore behaves as a surfactant, allowing formation of electronically conductive nanocomposites. XRD indicates apparent beneficial effects of GG-X in the synthesis of CuS with a crystallite size of 15.6 nm. This novel nanocomposite is a promising material for humidity sensing, showing reversible linear responses to relative humidity changes within 10 to 80% range. The interaction between GG-X and water might cause changes in electrical permittivity of GG-X/CuS nanocomposite and/or electrical hopping conductivity between CuS nanoparticles.