Smart liquids for oral controlled drug release: An overview of alginate and non-alginate based systems

Blood Coagulation Activities of Cotton-Alginate-Copper Composites

Alginate-based materials have gained significant attention in the medical industry due to their biochemical properties. In this article, we aimed to synthesize Cotton-Alginate-Copper Composite Materials (COT-Alg(-)Cu(2+)). The main purpose of this study was to assess the biochemical properties of new composites in the area of blood plasma coagulation processes, including activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT). This study also involved in vitro antimicrobial activity evaluation of materials against representative colonies of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and antifungal susceptibility tests. The materials were prepared by immersing cotton fibers in an aqueous solution of sodium alginate, followed by ionic cross-linking of alginate chains within the fibers with Cu(II) ions to yield antimicrobial activity. The results showed that the obtained cotton-alginate-copper composites were promising materials to be used in biomedical applications, e.g., wound dressing.

Food gels: principles, interaction mechanisms and its microstructure

Food hydrogels are important materials having great scientific interest due to biocompatibility, safety and environment-friendly characteristics. In the food industry, hydrogels are widely used due to their three-dimensional crosslinked networks. Furthermore, they have attracted great attention due to their wide range of applications in the food industry, such as fat replacers, encapsulating agents, target delivery vehicles, and many more. In addition to basic and recent knowledge on food hydrogels, this review exclusively focuses on sensorial perceptions, nutritional significance, body interactions, network structures, mechanical properties, and potential hydrogel applications in food and food-based matrices. Additionally, this review highlights the structural design of hydrogels, which provide the forward-looking idea for future applications of food hydrogels (e.g., 3D or 4D printing).

Chitosan based smart polymer composites: Fabrication and pH-Responsive behavior for bio-medical applications

This research aimed to synthesize Chitosan/PVA-blank and a series of Cs/PVA/Sepolite based pH-sensitive membranes using a solution casting process. The synthesized Cs/PVA-blank and Cs/PVA/Sep based membranes were investigated via SEM, FTIR, XRD, and TGA techniques. The SEM results of Cs/PVA/Sep based membrane reveal that the hydrolytic stability and strength were improved in acidic and basic media owing to the incorporation of sepiolite content into chitosan. The characteristic band at 3741 cm^-1 in the FTIR spectra of the Cs/PVA/Sep membrane confirmed the successful synthesis. The obtained XRD results showed higher d-spacing for Cs/PVA/Sep membranes as compared to the Cs/PVA-blank membranes owing to the intercalation of chitosan in the interlayer spacing of the sepiolite. The obtained TGA results show higher thermally stability for Cs/PVA/Sep membrane as compared to the Cs/PVA-blank sample due to the interaction of sepiolite content with the chitosan matrix. The obtained hydrolytic and swelling studies revealed that the Cs/PVA/Sep membrane displayed enhanced stability in basic and neutral media while showing minimum swelling in an acidic medium. The water uptake ability was checked for Cs/PVA/-blank and Cs/PVA/Sep-60% membrane and the results exhibited that the Cs/PVA/-blank membrane had maximum water uptake value as compared to the Cs/PVA/Sep-60% membrane. While those with a considerable amount of filler had the lowest water uptake values. As Sepolite content increased, the water uptake % values decreases because of weakness in H-bonding (of hydrophilic groups) and due to intercalation in Sepolite layers during polymer formation.

Advances in Algin and Alginate-Hybrid Materials for Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering

In this review, we aim to provide a summary of recent research advancements and applications of algin (i.e., alginic acid) and alginate-hybrid materials (AHMs) in medical fields. Algin/alginate are abundant natural products that are chemically inert and biocompatible, and they have superior gelation properties, good mechanical strengths, and biodegradability. The AHMs have been widely applied in wound dressing, cell culture, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. However, medical applications in different fields require different properties in the AHMs. The drug delivery application requires AHMs to provide optimal drug loading, controlled and targeted drug-releasing, and/or visually guided drug delivery. AHMs for wound dressing application need to have improved mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, cell adhesion, and antibacterial properties. AHMs for tissue engineering need improved mechanical properties that match the target organs, superior cell affinity, and cell loading capacity. Various methods to produce AHMs that meet different needs were summarized. Formulations to form AHMs with improved stability, drug/cell-loading capacity, cell adhesion, and mechanical properties are active research areas. This review serves as a road map to provide insights into the strategies to develop AHMs in medical applications.

Testosterone nanoemulsion produced masculinized Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The objective of this work was to develop a food additive for the sex reversal of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) based on a simple oil in water (O/W) nanoemulsion with testosterone propionate for incorporation into commercial feed. Oil screening and evaluation of the organoleptic and physicochemical characteristics were carried out to determine the best formulation. A palatability test was also performed. Sex reversal test was assayed using 5 experimental groups: negative control - macerated feed without hormone; free testosterone - macerated feed with 60 mg/kg of testosterone propionate diluted in ethanol; and macerated feed with testosterone propionate nanoemulsion at a concentration of 30, 60, and 90 mg/kg. Stable nanoemulsions (size 76-210 nm) with testosterone propionate were produced. All nanoemulsion-added feed was palatable to tilapia. We obtained sex reversal values of ≈65, 75, and 72% in the groups of 30, 60, and 90 mg/kg, respectively. We can conclude that the nanoemulsion showed promising results; it is capable of inducing sex reversal in tilapia, is suitable as a commercial product, and has the potential to promote safety for rural staff and reduce the environmental impact of hormones.