Effect of oxygen plasma treatment on the release behaviors of poly(ɛ-caprolactone) microcapsules containing tocopherol

Application of Fragrance Microcapsules onto Cotton Fabric after Treatment with Oxygen and Nitrogen Plasma

Cotton fabric was exposed to low-pressure capacitively coupled plasma to enhance the adsorption and adhesion of fragrance microcapsules (FCM). Two plasma-forming gases, namely oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2), were investigated. The untreated and plasma-treated samples were investigated for their morphological changes by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical properties (breaking force, elongation, and flexural rigidity), and wicking properties. The cotton samples were functionalized with FCM and the effect of plasma pretreatment on the adsorption and adhesion of FCM was evaluated using SEM, air permeability, fragrance intensity of unwashed and washed cotton fabrics, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results show that the plasma containing either of the two gases increased the wicking of the cotton fabric and that the O2 plasma caused a slight etching of the fibers, which increased the tensile strength of the cotton fabric. Both plasma gases caused changes that allowed higher adsorption of FCM. However, the adhesion of FCM was higher on the cotton treated with N2 plasma, as evidenced by a strong fragrance of the functionalized fabric after repeated washing.

The application of type II collagen and chondroitin sulfate grafted PCL porous scaffold in cartilage tissue engineering

This study investigates a poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-graft-type II collagen-graft-chondroitin sulfate (PCL-g-COL-g-CS) biomaterial as a scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering. Biodegradable polyester, PCL, was utilized to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) porous scaffolds by particulate leaching. The PCL scaffold was then surface modified by chemical bonding of 1,6-hexanediamine and the grafting of a bioactive polymer layer of COL and CS with the help of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl- aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC)/N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) on the modified PCL surface to produce PCL-g-COL and PCL-g-COL-g-CS, respectively. The characteristics of these modified and grafted matrices were examined by ESCA, aminolysis, collagen and CS assay, porosity and water-binding capacity. Grafted COL and CS markedly increased water-binding capacity, and promoted the spreading and growth of chondrocytes. During a 4-week culture period, PCL-g-COL and PCL-g-COL-g-CS matrices both provided more cell proliferation, as determined by measuring the DNA assay. Additionally, a larger amount of secreted collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) appeared in the PCL-g-COL-g-CS matrices than in the control (PCL) as indicated by the histochemical sections via Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain, Masson trichrome stain and Safranin-O stain. The chondrocytes were induced to function normally; the cell phenotype was maintained, and the GAGs and collagen in the PCL-g-COL-g-CS scaffold were secreted in vitro. These results serve as a basis for future studies of the fabrication process and reveal the potential biocompatibility of the biomimetic matrix for regenerating articular cartilage or other organs.

Improving the stability and antioxidant properties of sesame oil: water-soluble spray-dried emulsions from new transesterified phenolic derivatives

Hydrosoluble sesame oil fatty acid transesters having enhanced antioxidant activities were synthesized in a two-step process. The key step involved the biocatalyzed (lipase from Candida antarctica) acylation of sesame oil methanolic ester with either vanillyl (VNA) or piperonyl benzylic alcohols, or 5-hydroxymethyl resorcinol (5-HMR). These substrates were selected to introduce phenolic or sesamol structurally related frameworks. The VNA and 5-HMR-derived transesters were obtained with 20-40% yields and retained the starting proportions of sesame oil linoleic, oleic, and saturated acids, these fatty acids also being the only constituents of the nonesterified fraction. The VNA-derived transester showed the best antioxidant capacity in standard assays and was processed as the unique lipid phase of spray-dried emulsions containing a high level of linoleic acid phenolic ester. These emulsions provided a high degree of protection to UV-irradiated fibroblasts, through the potential synergy between VNA antioxidant action and replenishment of damaged membranes by unsaturated fatty acids.

Fabrication, in vitro degradation and the release behaviours of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) nanospheres containing ascorbic acid

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is essential for preserving optimal health and is used by the body for many purposes. The problem is that ascorbic acid easily decomposes into biologically inactive compounds making its use very limited in the field of pharmaceuticals, dermatological and cosmetics. By encapsulating the ascorbic acid into a polymer matrix it is assumed that its chemical instability can be overcome as well as higher, more efficient and equally distributed concentration throughout extended period of time can be achieved. This paper is describing the process of obtaining poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) (DLPLG) nanospheres (110-170 nm) using chemical method with solvent/non-solvent systems where obtained solutions have been centrifuged. The encapsulation of the ascorbic acid in the polymer matrix is performed by homogenisation of water and organic phases. Nanoparticles of the copolymer DLPLG with the different contents of the ascorbic acid have different morphological characteristics, i.e. variable degree of uniformity, agglomeration, sizes and spherical shaping. The degradation of the nanospheres of DLPLG, DLPLG/ascorbic acid nanoparticles and release rate of the ascorbic acid were studied for 8 weeks in a physiological solution (0.9% sodium chloride in water). The samples have been characterised by infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), stereological analysis and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy.

Comparison of alpha-tocopherol microparticles produced with different wall materials: pea protein a new interesting alternative

Alpha-tocopherol is a radical chain breaking antioxidant that can protect the integrity of tissues and play an important role in life process. Microparticles containing alpha-tocopherol were produced by spray drying technique using pea protein (PP), carboxymethylcellulose(CMC) and mixtures of these materials with maltodextrin (PP-M and CMC-M) as wall materials. The microparticles produced were characterised as regards the core retention (high performance liquid chromatography), the morphology (scanning electron microscopy) and size distribution (laser diffraction). The retention of alpha-tocopherol within all microparticles was above 77%. They showed a spherical shape and roughness at varied degrees. Their mean particles size remained below 7 microm, and the smallest sizes were found in PP and CMC-M microparticles. The results obtained in this work show that the pea protein use for alpha-tocopherol microencapsulation is a promising system for further application in food.