1,721,064 research outputs found
Structural analysis and diffusional behavior of molecularly imprinted polymer networks for cholesterol recognition
No full textNovel configurational biomimetic polymers for the recognition of cholesterol were prepared by molecular
design of methacrylate-based structures containing poly(ethylene glycol) in moderately and highly crosslinked
networks. Preparation in thermodynamically balanced solvents such as tetrahydrofuran and dimethyl
sulfoxide led to recognitive systems with increased recognitive capacity after 30 min. Microporous and
nanoporous networks were prepared. Their molecular structure was analyzed using a cross-linked network
structure theory. It was determined that the recognitive capacity of these gels would be influenced by the
diffusive resistance, as the molecular ratio of the template to the nanopore (mesh) size was in the range
of 0.3-0.8. Use of porogens improved the porous structure, while at the same time significantly decreasing
the time lag of recognition
Functional Polymers as Innovative Tools in the Delivery of Antimicrobial Agents
No full textUbiquitous microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, algae, and fungi induce several infectious diseases, representing crucial health challenges worldwide, due to increased antimicrobial resistance, high antimicrobial cost and adverse effects [...
Functional Polymers for Controlled Drug Release
No full textIn the last decade, the pharmaceutical application of hydrophilic materials has emerged as one of the most significant trends in the biomedical and pharmaceutical areas [...
Food safety: Innovative analytical tools for safety assessment
No full textFood safety and quality are key objectives for food scientists and industries all over the world. To achieve this goal, several analytical techniques (based on both destructive detection and nondestructive detection) have been proposed to fit the government regulations. The book aims to cover all the analytical aspects of the food quality and safety assessment. For this purpose, the volume describes the most relevant techniques employed for the determination of the major food components (e.g. protein, polysaccharides, lipds, vitamins, etc.), with peculiar attention to the recent development in the field. Furthermore, the evaluation of the risk associated with food consumption is performed by exploring the recent advances in the detection of the key food contaminants (e.g. biogenic amines, pesticides, toxins, etc.)
Functional hydrogels in drug delivery: Key features and future perspectives
No full textThe book deals with the synthesis and characterization of hydrogels specifically used as drug delivery systems. Each chapter includes the most recent updates about the different starting materials employed and the improvement of their physicochemical and biological properties to synthetize high performing carriers for specific uses
Multi-responsive hydrogels as biomedical devices
No full textPharmaceutical and biomedical application of hydrophilic materials has emerged as one of the most signifi cant
trends in the area of nanotechnology. “Intelligent” polymeric devices able to undergo morphological
modifi cations in response to an internal or external stimulus, such as pH, redox balance, temperature,
magnetic fi eld, and light have been actively pursued. In an effort to further improve the performances of the
biomedical device, novel dual and multistimuli-responsive hydrogels responding to a combination of two or
more signals have recently been developed by incorporating different stimulus-responsive elements into a
network via polymerization processes. Notably, these combined responses take place either simultaneously
at the pathological site, or sequentially from hydrogel preparation, hydrogel transporting pathways, to
cellular compartments. These dual and multistimuli-responsive polymeric materials lead to superior in
vitro and/or in vivo therapeutic effi cacy, with programmed site-specifi c feature and remarkable potential for
targeted therapy. This entry highlights the recent developments in the synthesis of dual and multistimuliresponsive
hydrogels for applications in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fi elds, with a particular focus on
the correlation between the hydrogel physical feature and the precision situ-controlled delivery of bioactive
compounds
Recent development in the synthesis of eco-friendly polymeric antioxidants
No full textThe growing impact of environmental concerns of industrial processes carried out to the development of the socalled “Green Chemistry” approaches. By these technologies, the use of any hazardous substances within the synthesis of chemicals, nutraceuticals or therapeutics, is avoided, and considerable safety and biocompatibility advantages are raised.Among the different products prepared by Green Chemistry, high molecular weight antioxidants show remarkable appeal within the scientific community by virtue of their advantageous chemical and biological properties. These functional materials have been prepared by different synthetic strategies, classified in condensation methods, radical grafting and enzymatic catalysis. This review summarizes the chemical mechanisms of these strategies, and elucidates some of the most significant applications of the obtained products.- See more at: http://www.eurekaselect.com/124858/article#sthash.FYdLDiDb.dpu
Biogenic amines profile and concentration in commercial milks for infants and young children
No full textCommercial milks for infants and young children (CMIYC) received much attention during last years for
their impact on the nutritional status, health and development of the new-born and babies. Among
possible contaminants contained in these foods, biogenic amines (BAs) have rarely been determined
although they can exert toxic effects in humans if ingested at high concentrations. Spermine, spermidine,
putrescine, histamine, tyramine, β-phenylethylamine and cadaverine have been quantified in
CMIYC samples by LC-UV after derivatisation with dansyl-chloride. Once optimised in terms of linearity
(R2 ≥ 0.989), recovery percentages (92.9–97.3), LOD (0.2–0.4 μg g−1 or 0.03–0.05 μgmL−1 depending on
the samples), LOQ (0.5–1.0 μg g−1 and 0.08–0.13 μgmL−1 depending on the samples) and repeatability
(0.1–0.2 intra-day; 0.2–0.4 inter-day), the method has been applied to real samples. Very low total BAs
concentrations have been found in reconstituted (1.18–3.12 mg L−1) and liquid milks (0.33–2.30 mg
L−1), with different biogenic amine profiles and distributions. A risk assessment based on the available
information regarding Acute Reference Doses of histamine and tyramine, as well as the application of
common Biogenic Amine Indexes, showed that none of the analysed samples represented a possible
risk for babies, also considering a worst case evaluation. These findings confirmed the strict safety and
quality protocols adopted during the production of CMIYC
Natural Compounds and Biopolymers-Based Hydrogels Join Forces to Promote Wound Healing
No full textRapid and complete wound healing is a clinical emergency, mainly in pathological conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes mellitus. Many therapeutic tools are not resolutive, and the research for a more efficient remedial remains a challenge. Wound dressings play an essential role in diabetic wound healing. In particular, biocompatible hydrogels represent the most attractive wound dressings due to their ability to retain moisture as well as ability to act as a barrier against bacteria. In the last years, different functionalized hydrogels have been proposed as wound dressing materials, showing encouraging outcomes with great benefits in the healing of the diabetic wounds. Specifically, because of their excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, natural bioactive compounds, as well as biomacromolecules such as polysaccharides and protein, are usually employed in the biomedical field. In this review, readers can find the main discoveries regarding the employment of naturally occurring compounds and biopolymers as wound healing promoters with antibacterial activity. The emerging approaches and engineered devices for effective wound care in diabetic patients are reported and deeply investigated
Accumulation of Biogenic Amines in Wine: Role of Alcoholic and Malolactic Fermentation
No full textBiogenic amines (BAs) are detrimental to health and originate in foods mainly from
decarboxylation of the corresponding amino acid by the activity of exogenous enzymes released by
various microorganisms. BAs can be generated at different stages of the wine production. Some of
them are formed in the vineyard and are normal constituents of grapes with amounts varying with
variety, soil type and composition, fertilization and climatic conditions during growth and degree of
maturation. BAs can be also formed by the yeasts during the alcoholic fermentation (AF), as well as
by the action of bacteria involved in the malolactic fermentation (MLF). As aminogenesis is a complex
and multifactorial phenomenon, the studies carried out to identify the main vinification stage of
BAs production yielded contradictory results. In particular, there is not a general consensus yet on
which fermentation supports mostly the accumulation of BAs in wine. In this context, the aim of the
present paper deals with the most recent results related with the influence of alcoholic and malolactic
fermentation parameters on BAs-producer microorganism in wine
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