Sulfonated nanocellulose for the efficient dispersive micro solid-phase extraction and determination of silver nanoparticles in food products

Production of Nanocellulose from Sugarcane Bagasse and Development of Nanocellulose Conjugated with Polylysine for Fumonisin B1 Toxicity Absorption

The present study aimed to extract nanocellulose (NC) from sugarcane bagasse agricultural waste through a chemical method (sulfuric acid hydrolysis and ultrasonication). Subsequently, the nanocellulose product was conjugated with polylysine (NC-PL) and assessed for its efficacy in reducing the toxicity of Fumonisin B1 (FB1), a mycotoxin produced by fungi commonly found in corn, wheat, and other grains. Experimental results confirmed the successful conjugation of NC and PL, as evidenced by FTIR peaks at 1635 and 1625 cm-1 indicating amide I and amide II vibrations in polylysine (PL). SEM analysis revealed a larger size due to PL coating, consistent with DLS results showing the increased size and positive charge (38.0 mV) on the NC-PL surface. Moreover, the effect of FB1 adsorption by NC and NC-PL was evaluated at various concentrations (0-200,000 μg/mL). NC-PL demonstrated the ability to adsorb FB1 at concentrations of 2000, 20,000, and 200,000 μg/mL, with adsorption efficiencies of 94.4-100%. Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells were utilized to assess NC and NC-PL cytotoxic effects. This result is a preliminary step towards standardizing results for future studies on their application as novel FB1 binders in food, food packaging, and functional feeds.

Definition, detection, and tracking of nanowaste in foods: Challenges and perspectives

Commercial applications of nanotechnology in the food industry are rapidly increasing. Accordingly, there is a simultaneous increase in the amount and diversity of nanowaste, which arise as byproducts in the production, use, disposal, or recycling processes of nanomaterials utilized in the food industry. The potential risks of this nanowaste to human health and the environment are alarming. It is of crucial significance to establish analytical methods and monitoring systems for nanowaste to ensure food safety. This review provides comprehensive information on nanowaste in foods as well as comparative material on existing and new analytical methods for the detection of nanowaste. The article is specifically focused on nanowaste in food systems. Moreover, the current techniques, challenges as well as potential use of new and progressive methods are underlined, further highlighting advances in technology, collaborative efforts, as well as future perspectives for effective nanowaste detection and tracking. Such detection and tracking of nanowaste are required in order to effectively manage this type ofwasted in foods. Although there are devices that utilize spectroscopy, spectrometry, microscopy/imaging, chromatography, separation/fractionation, light scattering, diffraction, optical, adsorption, diffusion, and centrifugation methods for this purpose, there are challenges to be overcome in relation to nanowaste as well as food matrix and method characteristics. New technologies such as radio-frequency identification, Internet of things, blockchain, data analytics, and machine learning are promising. However, the cooperation of international organizations, food sector, research, and political organizations is needed for effectively managing nanowaste. Future research efforts should be focused on addressing knowledge gaps and potential strategies for optimizing nanowaste detection and tracking processes.

Nanocellulose-based platforms as a multipurpose carrier for drug and bioactive compounds: From active packaging to transdermal and anticancer applications

The nanocellulose has unique characteristics, such as biocompatibility, good mechanical strength, and low cytotoxicity. The nanocellulose crystalline portion is responsible for good mechanical resistance, while the amorphous portion is responsible for flexibility. Such features make it a promising candidate for multiple applications related to the modulation of substance release: targeted cancer therapy, transdermal drug delivery, and controlled-release packaging materials. Thus, in this study, we discussed nanocellulose as a multipurpose material for drug delivery and bioactive compound carriers in controlled delivery systems with varied applications in pharmaceutic fields. Herein, we focus on understanding key factors such as i) polymer-drug interactions and surface modification strategies in controlled release rates, ii) therapeutic efficacy, and iii) biocompatibility aspects. The tunable chemistry surface plays a fundamental approach limiting the quick release of active substances in drug delivery systems. Several works on a pre-clinical stage of investigation were overviewed, reporting robust evidence on nanocellulose to design bioactive compounds/drug delivery carriers based on stimuli-responsive drug release and controlled delivery systems for higher efficiency in cancer therapies, purposing target therapy and reduced side effects. Nanocellulose was also identified as a solid candidate material in active packaging for pharmaceutical products. Cellulose nanocrystals and bacterial cellulose demonstrated strong potential to overcome the challenge of controlled release profile and open novel insights in advanced active packaging materials for pharmaceutics with controlled release of antioxidant and antimicrobial substances. Moreover, the concept overview in this work might be extended in active food packaging technologies to flavor-releasing/absorbing systems or antimicrobial/antioxidant carriers for extending the shelf life of foods.

Sulfation of Birch Wood Microcrystalline Cellulose with Sulfamic Acid Using Ion-Exchange Resins as Catalysts

Cellulose sulfates are important biologically active substances with a wide range of useful properties. The development of new methods for the production of cellulose sulfates is an urgent task. In this work, we investigated ion-exchange resins as catalysts for the sulfation of cellulose with sulfamic acid. It has been shown that water-insoluble sulfated reaction products are formed in high yield in the presence of anion exchangers, while water-soluble products are formed in the presence of cation exchangers. The most effective catalyst is Amberlite IR 120. According to gel permeation chromatography, it was shown that the samples sulfated in the presence of the catalysts KU-2-8, Purolit s390 plus, and AN-31 SO₄^2- underwent the greatest degradation. The molecular weight destribution profiles of these samples are noticeably shifted to the left towards low-molecular-weight compounds with an increase in fractions in the regions Mw ~2.100 g/mol and ~3.500 g/mol, indicating the growth of microcrystalline cellulose depolymerization products. The introduction of a sulfate group into the cellulose molecule is confirmed using FTIR spectroscopy by the appearance of absorption bands at 1245-1252 cm^-1 and 800-809 cm^-1, which correspond to the vibrations of the sulfate group. According to X-ray diffraction data, amorphization of the crystalline structure of cellulose is observed during sulfation. Thermal analysis has shown that with an increase in the content of sulfate groups in cellulose derivatives, thermal stability decreases.

Nanocrystalline cellulose incorporated biopolymer tailored polyethersulfone mixed matrix membranes for efficient treatment of produced water

Membrane technology is a sustainable method to remove pollutants from petroleum wastewater. However, the presence of hydrophobic oil molecules and inorganic constituents can cause membrane fouling. Biomass derived biopolymers are promising renewable materials for membrane modification. In this study, fouling resistant biopolymer N-phthaloylchitosan (CS)- based polythersulfone (PES) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) incorporated with nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) was fabricated via phase inversion method and applied for produced water (PW) treatment. The morphological and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses of the as-prepared NCC evidenced the formation of fibrous sheet-like structure and the presence of hydrophilic group. The membrane morphology and AFM analysis showed that the NCC altered the surface and cross-sectional morphology of the CS-PES MMMs. The tensile strength of NCC-CS-PES MMMs was also enhanced. 0.5 wt% NCC-CS-PES MMMs displayed a water permeability of 1.11 × 10^-7 m/s.kPa with the lowest contact angle value of 61°. It affirmed that its hydrophilicity increased through the synergetic interaction between CS biopolymer and NCC. The effect of process variables such as transmembrane pressure (TMP) and synthetic produced water (PW) concentration were evaluated for both neat PES and NCC-CS-PES MMMs membranes. 0.5 wt% NCC-CS-PES MMMs exhibited the highest PW rejection of 98% when treating 50 mgL^-1 of synthetic PW at a transmembrane pressure (TMP) of 200 kPa. The effect of nano silica and sodium chloride on the long-term PW filtration of NCC-CS-PES MMMs was also investigated.

Application of polysaccharide biopolymers as natural adsorbent in sample preparation

Preparing samples for analyses is perhaps the most important part to analyses. The varied functional groups present on the surface of biopolymers bestow them appropriate adsorption properties. Properties like biocompatibility, biodegradability, presence of different surface functional group, high porosity, considerable absorption capacity for water, the potential for modification, etc. turn biopolymers to promising candidates for varied applications. In addition, one of the most important parts of determination of an analyte in a matrix is sample preparation step and the efficiency of this step in solid phase extraction methods is largely dependent on the type of adsorbent used. Due to the unique properties of biopolymers they are considered an appropriate choice for using as sorbent in sample preparation methods that use from a solid adsorbent. Many review articles have been published on the application of diverse adsorbents in sample preparation methods, however despite the numerous advantages of biopolymers mentioned; review articles in this field are very few. Thus, in this paper we review the reports in different areas of sample preparation that use polysaccharides-based biopolymers as sorbents for extraction and determination of diverse organic and inorganic analytes.

Contributions of Capillary Electrophoresis in Analytical Nanometrology: A Critical View

An overview on the increasing role of capillary electrophoresis in characterization and direct analysis of nanomaterials is herein presented. The niche of electrophoretic approaches in nanometrology is so relevant that nonmetallic, metal, metal oxide nanoparticles, and quantum dots have been analyzed to be targeted via capillary electrophoresis with conventional detection systems or coupling arrangements aimed at increasing selectivity and sensitivity toward either pristine or conjugated nanoparticles. Moreover, parameters altering intrinsic properties of nanoparticles may be optimized to gather the desired results and identify nanomaterials according to their size, shape, or associations with binding agents. The usefulness and quickness of capillary electrophoresis for quantifying or screening ultrasmall-sized particles enables this technique to set an example for analysis of standards or previously synthesized nanostructures in research or routine laboratories. Abundant evidence of the suitability of electrophoretic approaches for characterization and direct determination of nanomaterials in actual samples has been provided in this review, together with a discussion about hyphenation with state-of-the art detectors and comparison between capillary electrophoresis with other separation approaches. This permits scientific community to be optimistic in the short term.

Review: Microextraction Technique Based New Trends in Food Analysis

Food chemistry is the study and classification of the quality and origin of foods. The identification of definite biomarkers and the determination of residue contaminants such as toxins, pesticides, metals, human and veterinary drugs, which are a very common source of food-borne diseases. The food analysis is continuously demanding the improvement of more robust, sensitive, highly efficient, and economically beneficial analytical approaches to promise the traceability, safety, and quality of foods in the acquiescence with the consumers and legislation demands. The traditional methods have been used at the starting of the 20th century based on wet chemical methods. Now it existing the powerful analytical techniques used in food analysis and safety. This development has led to substantial enhancements in the analytical accuracy, precision, sensitivity, selectivity, thereby mounting the applied range of food applications. In the present decade, microextraction (micro-scale extraction) pays more attention due to its futures such as low consumption of solvent and sample, throughput analysis easy to operate, greener, robotics, and miniaturization, different adsorbents have been used in the microextraction process with unique nature recognized with wide range applications.

Ionic-liquid-based microextraction method for the determination of silver nanoparticles in consumer products

A simple method to determine hazardous silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) based on ionic liquid (IL) dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and back-extraction is described. This approach involves AgNP stabilization using a cationic surfactant followed by extraction from the sample matrix by means of an IL as an extraction phase. Certain ILs have high affinity for metals, and preliminary experiments showed that those ILs consisting of imidazolium cation efficiently extracted AgNPs in the presence of a cationic surfactant and a chelating agent. Afterward, histamine was used as a dispersing agent to promote phase transfer of differently coated AgNPs from the IL in aqueous solution to be subsequently analyzed by UV-visible spectrometry. The analytical procedure allows AgNPs to be recovered from the sample matrix in an aqueous medium, the enrichment factor being up to 4, preserving both AgNP size and AgNP shape as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy images and the localized surface plasmon resonance band characteristic of each AgNP. The present method exhibited a linear response for AgNPs in the range from 3 to 20 μg/mL, the limit of detection being 0.15 μg/mL. Method efficiency was assessed in spiked orange juice and face cream, yielding recoveries ranging from 75.7% to 96.6%. The method was evaluated in the presence of other nanointerferents (namely, gold nanoparticles). On the basis of diverse electrophoretic mobilities and surface plasmon resonance bands for metal nanoparticles, capillary electrophoresis was used to prove the lack of interaction of the target AgNPs with gold nanoparticles during the whole protocol; thus, interferents do not affect AgNP determination. As a consequence, the analytical approach described has great potential for the analysis of engineered nanosilver in consumer products. Graphical abstract Simple protocol for the determination of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) based on dispersive liquid-liquid extraction with a specific short alkyl side chain ionic liquid and their quantitative detection with a UV-visible spectrometer. HMIM•PF₆ 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, NP nanoparticle, SPR surface plasmon resonance.

Nanocellulose, a Versatile Green Platform: From Biosources to Materials and Their Applications

With increasing environmental and ecological concerns due to the use of petroleum-based chemicals and products, the synthesis of fine chemicals and functional materials from natural resources is of great public value. Nanocellulose may prove to be one of the most promising green materials of modern times due to its intrinsic properties, renewability, and abundance. In this review, we present nanocellulose-based materials from sourcing, synthesis, and surface modification of nanocellulose, to materials formation and applications. Nanocellulose can be sourced from biomass, plants, or bacteria, relying on fairly simple, scalable, and efficient isolation techniques. Mechanical, chemical, and enzymatic treatments, or a combination of these, can be used to extract nanocellulose from natural sources. The properties of nanocellulose are dependent on the source, the isolation technique, and potential subsequent surface transformations. Nanocellulose surface modification techniques are typically used to introduce either charged or hydrophobic moieties, and include amidation, esterification, etherification, silylation, polymerization, urethanization, sulfonation, and phosphorylation. Nanocellulose has excellent strength, high Young's modulus, biocompatibility, and tunable self-assembly, thixotropic, and photonic properties, which are essential for the applications of this material. Nanocellulose participates in the fabrication of a large range of nanomaterials and nanocomposites, including those based on polymers, metals, metal oxides, and carbon. In particular, nanocellulose complements organic-based materials, where it imparts its mechanical properties to the composite. Nanocellulose is a promising material whenever material strength, flexibility, and/or specific nanostructuration are required. Applications include functional paper, optoelectronics, and antibacterial coatings, packaging, mechanically reinforced polymer composites, tissue scaffolds, drug delivery, biosensors, energy storage, catalysis, environmental remediation, and electrochemically controlled separation. Phosphorylated nanocellulose is a particularly interesting material, spanning a surprising set of applications in various dimensions including bone scaffolds, adsorbents, and flame retardants and as a support for the heterogenization of homogeneous catalysts.

Recent advances in the application of capillary electromigration methods for food analysis and Foodomics

This review work presents and discusses the main applications of capillary electromigration methods in food analysis and Foodomics. Papers that were published during the period February 2015-February 2017 are included following the previous review by Acunha et al. (Electrophoresis 2016, 37, 111-141). The paper shows the large variety of food related molecules that have been analyzed by CE including amino acids, biogenic amines, carbohydrates, chiral compounds, contaminants, DNAs, food additives, heterocyclic amines, lipids, peptides, pesticides, phenols, pigments, polyphenols, proteins, residues, toxins, vitamins, small organic and inorganic compounds, as well as other minor compounds. This work describes the last results on food quality and safety, nutritional value, storage, bioactivity, as well as uses of CE for monitoring food interactions and food processing including recent microchips developments and new applications of CE in Foodomics.

Analytical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: Where we are and where we are heading

The main aim of this paper is to offer an objective and critical overview of the situation and trends in Analytical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (AN&N), which is an important break point in the evolution of Analytical Chemistry in the XXI century as they were computers and instruments in the second half of XX century. The first part of this overview is devoted to provide a general approach to AN&N by describing the state of the art of this recent topic, being the importance of it also emphasized. Secondly, particular but very relevant trends in this topic are outlined: the analysis of the nanoworld, the so "third way" in AN&N, the growing importance of bioanalysis, the evaluation of both nanosensors and nanosorbents, the impact of AN&N in bioimaging and in nanotoxicological studies, as well as the crucial importance of reliability of the nanotechnological processes and results for solving real analytical problems in the frame of Social Responsibility (SR) of science and technology. Several reflections are included at the end of this overview written as a bird's eye view, which is not an easy task for experts in AN&N.

Magnetic/non-magnetic argan press cake nanocellulose for the selective extraction of sudan dyes in food samples prior to the determination by capillary liquid chromatograpy

Two methods for the determination of Sudan dyes (Sudan I, Sudan II, Sudan III and Sudan IV) in food samples, by solid phase extraction - capillary liquid chromatography, are proposed. Both methods use nanocellulose (NC) extracted from bleached argan press cake (APC), as a nano-adsorbent recycled from an agricultural waste material. One of the methods involves the dispersion of NC in food sample extracts, along with the waste and eluents being separated by centrifugation. In the other method, NC was modified by magnetic iron nanoparticles before using it in the extraction of Sudan dyes. The use of a magnetic component in the extraction process allows magnetic separation to replace the centrifugation step in a convenient and economical way. The two proposed methods allows the determination of Sudan dye amounts at the 0.25-2.00µgL^-1 concentration range. The limit of detections, limit of quantifications and standard deviations achieved were lower than 0.1µgL^-1, 0.20µgL^-1 and 3.46% respectively, when using NC as a nano-adsorbent, and lower than 0.07µgL^-1_, 0.23µgL^-1 and 2.62%, respectively, with the magnetic nanocellulose (MNC) was used. Both methods were applied to the determination of Sudan dyes in barbeque and ketchup sauce samples, obtaining recoveries between 93.4% and 109.6%.

Applications and toxicity of graphene family nanomaterials and their composites

Graphene has attracted much attention of scientific community due to its enormous potential in different fields, including medical sciences, agriculture, food safety, cancer research, and tissue engineering. The potential for widespread human exposure raises safety concerns about graphene and its derivatives, referred to as graphene family nanomaterials (GFNs). Due to their unique chemical and physical properties, graphene and its derivatives have found important places in their respective application fields, yet they are being found to have cytotoxic and genotoxic effects too. Since the discovery of graphene, a number of researches are being conducted to find out the toxic potential of GFNs to different cell and animal models, finding their suitability for being used in new and varied innovative fields. This paper presents a systematic review of the research done on GFNs and gives an insight into the mode and action of these nanosized moieties. The paper also emphasizes on the recent and up-to-date developments in research on GFNs and their nanocomposites for their toxic effects.

β-Cyclodextrin functionalized carbon quantum dots as sensors for determination of water-soluble C60 fullerenes in water

A selective photoluminescence method based on Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs) functionalized with carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin for the direct determination of water-soluble C₆₀ fullerene has been developed.

Pharmaceutical crystallization with nanocellulose organogels

A carboxylated nanocellulose organogel facilitates crystallization of pharmaceutical solid forms including a new sulfapyridine solvate.