Review of Functional Aspects of Nanocellulose-Based Pickering Emulsifier for Non-Toxic Application and Its Colloid Stabilization Mechanism

Targeted delivery of curcumin and CM11 peptide against hepatocellular carcinoma cells based on binding affinity of PreS1-coated chitosan nanoparticles to SB3 protein

In recent years, the use of cationic peptides as alternative drugs with anticancer activity has received attention. In this study, the targeted release of curcumin (Cur) and CM11 peptide alone and together against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was evaluated using chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) coated with Pres1 that target the SB3 antigen of HCC cells (PreS1-Cur-CM11-CS NPs). SB3 protein is the specific antigen of HCC and the PreS1 peptide is a part of the hepatitis B antigen, which can specifically bind to the SB3 protein. Chitosan was used to prepare NPs. To Cur and CM11 loading, drugs were added to the CS solution in appropriate concentrations. Pres1 was coupled to the surface of the NPs using EDC catalyst to target NPs against HepG2 cells. SEM and DLS analysis confirmed that the PreS1-Cur-CM11-CS NPs had a size of about 132 nm, the ideal size for penetrating the cell membrane. The loading of Cur and CM11 was equal to 87% and 65%, respectively, which had a sustained and better release in the acidic environment than in the physiological environment. The MTT assay showed that PreS1-Cur-CM11-CS NPs act in a targeted and specific manner with the highest toxicity on the HepG2 cells compared to the control by a decrease in viability of about 26% after 48 h based on cell apoptosis. The results showed that PreS1-Cur-CM11-CS NPs are capable of targeted and specific drug release against HepG2 cancer cells and have significant potential to fight this cancer.

Transitioning from Pickering emulsions to Pickering emulsion hydrogels: A potential advancement in cosmeceuticals

Cosmeceuticals, focusing on enhancing skin health and appearance, heavily rely on emulsions as one of the common mediums. These emulsions pose a challenge due to their dependence on surfactants which are essential for stability but are causing concerns about environmental impact as well as evolving consumer preferences. This has led to research focused on Pickering emulsions (PEs), which are colloidal particle-based emulsion alternatives. Compared to conventional emulsions, PEs offer enhanced stability and functionality in addition to serving as a sustainable alternative but still pose challenges such as rheological control and requiring further improvement in long-term stability, whereby the limitations could be addressed through the introduction of a hydrogel network. In this review, we first highlight the strategies and considerations to optimize active ingredient (AI) absorption and penetration in a PE-based formulation. We then delve into a comprehensive overview of the potential of Pickering-based cosmeceutical emulsions including their attractive features, the various Pickering particles that can be employed, past studies and their limitations. Further, PE hydrogels (PEHs), which combines the features between PE and hydrogel as an innovative solution to address challenges posed by both conventional emulsions and PEs in the cosmeceutical industry is explored. Moreover, concerns related to toxicity and biocompatibility are critically examined, alongside considerations of scalability and commercial viability, providing a forward-looking perspective on potential future research directions centered on the application of PEHs in the cosmeceutical field.

Enhancing cellulose-stabilized multiphase/Pickering emulsions systems: A molecular dynamics perspective

Cellulose stabilized multiphase systems (CSMS) have garnered significant attention due to their ultra-stabilization mechanism and vast potential across different fields. CSMS have found valuable applications in scientific disciplines, including Food Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Material Science, and related fields, owing to their beneficial attributes such as sustainability, safety, renewability, and non-toxicity. Furthermore, MPS exhibit novel characteristics that enable multiple mechanisms to produce HIPEs, aerogels, and oleogels revealing undiscovered information. Therefore, to explore the undiscovered phenomena of MPS, molecular level insights using advanced simulation/computational approaches are essential. The molecular dynamics simulation (MDS), play a valuable role in analyzing the interactions of ternary interphase. The MDS have successfully quantified the interactions of MPS by generating, visualizing, and analyzing trajectories. Through MDS, researchers have explored CSMS at the molecular level and advanced their applications in 3D printing, packaging, preparation, drug delivery, encapsulation, biosensors, electronic devices, biomaterials, and energy conservation. This review highlights the remarkable advancements in CSMS over the past five years, along with contributions of MDS in evaluating the relationships that dictate the functionality and properties of CSMS. By integrating experimental and computational methods, we underscore the potential to innovate and optimize these multiphase systems for groundbreaking applications.

All-natural polysaccharide and protein complex nanoparticles from Clitocybe squamulosa as unique Pickering stabilizers for oil-in-water emulsions

This study aimed to develop novel nanoparticles that can serve as an excellent oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering stabilizer. The polysaccharide-protein complex nanoparticles (PPCNs-20 and PPCNs-40) were prepared at different ultrasonication amplitudes (20 % and 40 %, respectively) from the polysaccharide-protein complexes (PPCs) which were extracted from the residue of Clitocybe squamulose. Compared with PPCs and PPCNs-20, the PPCNs-40 exhibited dispersed blade and rod shape, smaller average size, and larger zeta potential, which indicated significant potential in O/W Pickering emulsion stabilizers. Subsequently, PPCNs-40 stabilized Pickering emulsions were characterized at different concentrations, pHs, and oil phase contents. The average size, micromorphology, rheological properties, and storage stability of the emulsions were improved as the concentration of PPCNs-40, the ratio of the soybean oil phase and pH value increased. Pickering emulsions showed the best stability when the concentration of PPCNs-40 was 3 wt%, and the soybean oil fraction was 30 % under both neutral and alkaline conditions. The emulsions demonstrated shear thinning and gelation behavior. These findings have implications for the use of eco-friendly nanoparticles as stabilizers for Pickering emulsions and provide strategies for increasing the added value of C. squamulosa.

Catalytic and biomedical applications of nanocelluloses: A review of recent developments

Nanocelluloses exhibit immense potential in catalytic and biomedical applications. Their unique properties, biocompatibility, and versatility make them valuable in various industries, contributing to advancements in environmental sustainability, catalysis, energy conversion, drug delivery, tissue engineering, biosensing/imaging, and wound healing/dressings. Nanocellulose-based catalysts can efficiently remove pollutants from contaminated environments, contributing to sustainable and cleaner ecosystems. These materials can also be utilized as drug carriers, enabling targeted and controlled drug release. Their high surface area allows for efficient loading of therapeutic agents, while their biodegradability ensures safer and gradual release within the body. These targeted drug delivery systems enhance the efficacy of treatments and minimizes side effects. Moreover, nanocelluloses can serve as scaffolds in tissue engineering due to their structural integrity and biocompatibility. They provide a three-dimensional framework for cell growth and tissue regeneration, promoting the development of functional and biologically relevant tissues. Nanocellulose-based dressings have shown great promise in wound healing and dressings. Their ability to absorb exudates, maintain a moist environment, and promote cell proliferation and migration accelerates the wound healing process. Herein, the recent advancements pertaining to the catalytic and biomedical applications of nanocelluloses and their composites are deliberated, focusing on important challenges, advantages, limitations, and future prospects.

Preparation of robust silicone superhydrophobic and antibacterial textiles using the Pickering emulsion method

This study aimed to prepare textiles with superhydrophobic and antibacterial properties using the Pickering emulsion impregnation method. Cellulose nanocrystals were synergistically employed with dimethyloctadecyl[3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyl] ammonium chloride as the solid surfactant, and hydrogenated (PHMS) and hydroxyl (MSDS) polysiloxane were used as the oil phase for emulsification. The emulsions were mixed and diluted in specific proportions, and the superhydrophobic and antibacterial textiles were prepared through fabric impregnation-drying strategies. The study optimised factors such as emulsion ratio and surfactant dosage. Results demonstrated that the nanoscale rough structure prepared using Pickering emulsion exhibited remarkable superhydrophobicity with contact and rolling angles of 163.1° ± 0.5° and 7.2° ± 0.2°, respectively. This effect was achieved when the ratio of PHMS emulsion to MSDS emulsion was maintained at 1:2 and the surfactant dosage was set at 2 %. The superhydrophobicity of textiles was maintained even after three washing cycles and 50 abrasion cycles, demonstrating excellent mechanical durability. The developed textiles also exhibited excellent oil/water separation ability, reliable recyclability and stability. Moreover, they demonstrated excellent self-cleaning and antibacterial capabilities. Thus, these valuable functionalities hold the potential to considerably improve the practical feasibility of superhydrophobic textiles in various application scenarios.

Nanocellulose: A comprehensive review investigating its potential as an innovative material for water remediation

Rapid growth in industrialization sectors, the wastewater treatment plants become exhausted and potentially not able to give desirable discharge standards. Many industries discharge the untreated effluent into the water bodies which affects the aquatic diversity and human health. The effective disposal of industrial effluents thus has been an imperative requirement. For decades nanocellulose based materials gained immense attraction towards application in wastewater remediation and emerged out as a new biobased nanomaterial. It is light weighted, cost effective, mechanically strong and easily available. Large surface area, versatile surface functionality, biodegradability, high aspect ratio etc., make them suitable candidate in this field. Majorly cellulose based nanomaterials are used in the form of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), or bacterial nanocellulose (BNC). This review specifically describes about a variety of extraction methods to produced nanocellulose and also discusses the modification of nanocellulose by adding functionalities in its surface chemistry. We majorly focus on the utilization of nanocellulose based materials in water remediation for the removal of different contaminants such as dyes, heavy metals, oil, microbial colony etc. This review mainly emphasizes in ray of hope towards nanocellulose materials to achieve more advancement in the water remediation fields.

Response surface optimization of process parameters for preparation of cellulose nanocrystal stabilized nanosulphur suspension

This study employed response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize various parameters involved in the synthesis of nanosulphur (NS) stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The elemental sulphur (ES) mixed with CNCs was processed in a high-pressure homogenizer to make a stable formulation of CNC-stabilized NS (CNC-NS). RSM was adopted to formulate the experiments using Box-Behnken design (BBD) by considering three independent variables i.e., ES (5, 10, 15 g), CNCs (25, 50, 75 ml), and the number of passes (NP) in the high-pressure homogenizer (1, 2, 3). For the prepared suspensions (CNC-NS), the range of the responses viz. settling time (0.84-20.60 min), particle size (500.41-1432.62 nm), viscosity (29.20-420.60 cP), and surface tension (60.35-73.61 N/m) were observed. The numerical optimization technique was followed by keeping the independent and dependent factors in the range yielded in the optimized solution viz. 46 ml (CNCs), 8 g (ES), and 2 (NP). It was interpreted from the findings that the stability of the suspension had a positive correlation with the amount of CNC while the increasing proportion of ES resulted in reduced stability. The quadratic model was fitted adequately to all the responses as justified with the higher coefficient of determination (R2 ≥ 0.88). The characterization performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed better-stabilizing properties of the optimized CNCs-ES suspension. The study confirmed that CNCs have the potential to be utilized as a stabilizing agent in synthesizing stable nanosulphur formulation by high-pressure homogenization.

Sorption enhancement of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by polyaniline confined in three-dimensional network of composite porous hydrogel

Hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) is a typical harmful pollutant, which is carcinogenic or mutagenic to aquatic animals and humans. In this study, sepiolite/humic acid/polyvinyl alcohol@ polyaniline (SC/HA/PVA@PANI) composite porous hydrogel adsorbent was synthesized by Pickering emulsion template in situ chemical oxidative polymerization for adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The in situ polymerization of aniline at the Pickering emulsion interface and the unique three-dimensional network structure of the hydrogel act as an effective "confinement" for the growth of the polymer. The porous structure of the material acts as a water channel, which effectively accelerates the binding of the adsorbate to the adsorption sites, and significantly improves the adsorption rate and adsorption capacity. The adsorption capacity of PANI for Cr(VI) confined in three-dimensional network of composite porous SC/HA/PVA@PANI hydrogel reached 1180.97 mg/g-PANI, which increased about 27-fold compared the adsorption capacity of pure PANI (43.48 mg/g). It is shown that the experimental design effectively avoids the agglomeration of PANI and improves its potential adsorption performance. In addition, the analysis of FESEM-EDX, FT-IR, and XPS spectra before and after adsorption confirmed that the main adsorption mechanisms of Cr(VI) on SC/HA/PVA@PANI included ion exchange, electrostatic attraction, and redox reaction. In conclusion, SC/HA/PVA@PANI has good stability and excellent adsorption performance, which is a new type of Cr(VI) ion adsorbent with great potential.

Recent Advances in Cellulose-Based Hydrogels: Food Applications

In the past couple of years, cellulose has attracted a significant amount of attention and research interest due to the fact that it is the most abundant and renewable source of hydrogels. With increasing environmental issues and an emerging demand, researchers around the world are focusing on naturally produced hydrogels in particular due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and abundance. Hydrogels are three-dimensional (3D) networks created by chemically or physically crosslinking linear (or branching) hydrophilic polymer molecules. Hydrogels have a high capacity to absorb water and biological fluids. Although hydrogels have been widely used in food applications, the majority of them are not biodegradable. Because of their functional characteristics, cellulose-based hydrogels (CBHs) are currently utilized as an important factor for different aspects in the food industry. Cellulose-based hydrogels have been extensively studied in the fields of food packaging, functional food, food safety, and drug delivery due to their structural interchangeability and stimuli-responsive properties. This article addresses the sources of CBHs, types of cellulose, and preparation methods of the hydrogel as well as the most recent developments and uses of cellulose-based hydrogels in the food processing sector. In addition, information regarding the improvement of edible and functional CBHs was discussed, along with potential research opportunities and possibilities. Finally, CBHs could be effectively used in the industry of food processing for the aforementioned reasons.