Concentration by pervaporation of aroma compounds from Fucus serratus

The aromatic compositions of a marine alga (Fucus serratus) and its maceration were determined. Sixteen major volatile compounds were selected as being representative of algal aroma components. Pervaporation performance was investigated using a model multicomponent solution and low aroma compound fluxes were obtained. Interesting selectivities were calculated showing the concentration potential of pervaporation. Comparison with maceration pervaporation was made and showed similar selectivity values. Finally, the sensorial quality of the maceration pervaporate was evaluated regarding the operating parameters of pervaporation. The permeate pressure had a statistically significant effect upon aromatic quality. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Antitumor Activity of Fucus vesiculosus-Derived Phlorotannins through Activation of Apoptotic Signals in Gastric and Colorectal Tumor Cell Lines

Seaweeds are one of the largest producers of biomass in the marine environment and a source of multiple bioactive metabolites with valuable health benefits. Among these, phlorotannins have been widely recognized for their promising bioactive properties. The potential antitumor capacity of Fucus vesiculosus-derived phlorotannins remains, however, poorly explored, especially in gastrointestinal tract-related tumors. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic properties and possible mechanisms by which F. vesiculosus crude extract (CRD), phlorotannin-rich extract (EtOAc), and further phlorotannin-purified fractions (F1–F9) trigger cell death on different tumor cell lines of the gastrointestinal tract, using flow cytometry. The results indicate that F. vesiculosus samples exert specific cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines without affecting the viability of normal cells. Moreover, it was found that, among the nine different phlorotannin fractions tested, F5 was the most active against both Caco-2 colorectal and MKN-28 gastric cancer cells, inducing death via activation of both apoptosis and necrosis. The UHPLC-MS analysis of this fraction revealed, among others, the presence of a compound tentatively identified as eckstolonol and another as fucofurodiphlorethol, which could be mainly responsible for the promising cytotoxic effects observed in this sample. Overall, the results herein reported contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms behind the antitumor properties of F. vesiculosus phlorotannin-rich extracts.     

Studies on Saccharification from Alginate using Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Various environmental factors affecting saccharification from alginate using Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were investigated in flask cultures. The cell concentrations increased from 0.6 to 0.92 optical density (OD) at 660 nm when the agitation rate increased from 15 to 90 rpm. On the other hand, the maximum concentration of sugar was obtained at 3.8 g/l after 4 days of culture at 15 rpm. After 3 days of preculture at 33 °C, the sugar concentration peaked at 5.0 g/l after 5 days of culture. When 10 g/l of NaCl was used, the maximum concentration of sugar, 5.3 g/l, was obtained after 5 days of culture. Yeast extract and peptone were the best nitrogen source for effective saccharification. Especially, the sugar concentration was 6.1 g/l after 5 days of culture using a mixture of 1.0 g/l of yeast extract and 1.0 g/l of peptone.

Under optimum conditions of culture and media, scale-up for effective saccharification from alginate was carried out in 5 l flasks. The cell concentration after 2 days of culture was 0.61 OD at 660 nm and showed no further increase after 3 days of culture. The sugar concentrations from alginate were increased with increasing culture time to 7.9 g/l after 9 days of culture.     

Degradation of Alginate and Polymerization of Styrene Initiated by Alginate Macroradicals under Ultrasonic Irradiation

Ultrasonic irradiation is a promising method used for polymer degradation and polymerization. In this study, the degradation of alginate under ultrasonic irradiation was investigated. The macroradicals produced in the degradation process were used to initiate polymerization of styrene without adding any initiators and surfactants, and copolymers of styrene and alginate were obtained. The amphiphilic copolymers could form nano particles in aqueous solutions. A hydrophobic drug, ibuprofen, was loaded onto the copolymer gels for controlled release. The results showed that the hydrophobically modified alginate had higher drug loading and prolonged release time compared to those of the neat alginate.     

Enzyme-Assisted Aqueous Extraction of Oil from Isolated Oleosomes of Soybean Flour

Enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction of oil from isolated soybean oleosomes was evaluated as an alternative to the conventional organic solvent extraction. Three different processes: hydrolysis of oleosomes, thermal demulsification of the skim or the slurry, and destabilization of the cream by the churning butter process were examined to enhance the release of free oil from isolated oleosomes. The oil extraction involved incubating the oleosomes with either 0, 2.5 or 5% protease (Protex 6L^®) at 60 °C, pH 9 for 18 h, destabilizing the slurry by three thermal strategies: freeze/thaw, freeze/thaw and heating, and destabilizing the cream by the churning butter process without and with 5% of phospholipase A₂ (Multifect L1 10L^®), at 40 °C, pH 8 for 4 h. The best total free oil yield was 83–88% by hydrolyzing oleosomes with 2.5 or 5% Protex 6L^®, destabilizing the slurries by heating and destabilizing the resulting cream by the churning butter process. The oleosomes treated with 2.5 and 5% proteases generated hydrolyzed soybean storage proteins at 18–20% degree of hydrolysis, with all the storage proteins hydrolyzed to peptides smaller than 6.5 kDa, compared to the oleosomes disrupted without proteases.     

Biosorption of heavy metals by chemically‐activated alga Fucus vesiculosus

The sorption capacity of the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus for copper, cadmium, lead and nickel was investigated. Metal sorption yields were modified using different kinds of pretreatment reagents: HCl, CaCl₂, formaldehyde, Na₂CO₃ and NaOH. The Langmuir isotherm was applied to both the non‐treated and all treated biomass tests. Calcium chloride was the only chemical that improved the maximum sorption capacity of the biomass. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of Drying Conditions on Physical Properties of Alginate Films

The effect of drying conditions of the film-forming solution on thickness, moisture content, water vapor permeability, and tensile properties of alginate films were investigated. A long period of constant rate was observed in all conditions and the model proposed by Wang and Singh was able to adjust the drying data. As expected, there was a clear effect of temperature on drying kinetics; that is, increasing the drying temperature decreased the drying time. Considerable glycerol losses were observed when alginate gel was oven dried at temperatures above 40°C. Compared to other drying conditions, films oven dried at 60°C were thinner, had lower moisture content, and were less flexible.     

Enzyme-Assisted Aqueous Extraction of Oil and Protein from Soybeans and Cream De-emulsification

The effects of two commercial endoproteases (Protex 6L and Protex 7L, Genencor Division of Danisco, Rochester, NY, USA) on the oil and protein extraction yields from extruded soybean flakes during enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction processing (EAEP) were evaluated. Oil and protein were distributed in three fractions generated by the EAEP: cream + free oil, skim and insolubles. Protex 6L was more effective for extracting free oil, protein and total solids than Protex 7L. Oil and protein extraction yields of 96 and 85%, respectively, were obtained using 0.5% Protex 6L. Enzymatic and pH treatments were evaluated to de-emulsify the oil-rich cream. Cream de-emulsification generated three fractions: free oil, an intermediate residual cream layer and an oil-lean second skim. Total cream de-emulsification was obtained when using 2.5% Protex 6L and pH 4.5. The extrusion treatment was particularly important for reducing trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) in the protein-rich skim fraction. TIA reductions of 69 and 45% were obtained for EAEP skim (the predominant protein fraction) from extruded flakes and ground flakes, respectively. Protex 6L gave higher degrees of protein hydrolysis (most of the polypeptides being between 1,000 and 10,000 Da) than Protex 7L. Raffinose was not detected in the skim, while stachyose was eliminated by α-galactosidase treatment.     

Two-Stage Countercurrent Enzyme-Assisted Aqueous Extraction Processing of Oil and Protein from Soybeans

Enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction processing (EAEP) is an increasingly viable alternative to hexane extraction of soybean oil. Although considered an environmentally friendly technology where edible oil and protein can be simultaneously recovered, this process employs much water and produces a significant amount of protein-rich aqueous effluent (skim). In standard EAEP, highest oil, protein and solids yields are achieved with a single extraction stage using 1:10 solids-to-liquid ratio (extruded flakes/water), 0.5% protease (wt/g extruded flakes), pH 9.0, and 50 °C for 1 h. To reduce the amount of water used, two-stage countercurrent EAEP was evaluated for extracting oil, protein and solids from soybeans using a solids-to-liquid ratio of 1:5–1:6 (extruded flakes/water). Two-stage countercurrent EAEP achieved higher oil, protein and solids extraction yields than using standard EAEP with only one-half the usual amount of water. Oil, protein and solids yields up to 98 and 96%, 92 and 87%, and 80 and 77% were obtained when using two-stage countercurrent EAEP (1:5–1:6) and standard single-stage EAEP (1:10), respectively. Recycling the second skim obtained in two-stage countercurrent EAEP enabled reuse of the enzyme, with or without inactivation, in the first extraction stage producing protein with different degrees of hydrolysis and the same extraction efficiency. Slightly higher oil, protein and solids extraction yields were obtained using unheated skim compared to heated skim. These advances make the two-stage countercurrent EAEP attractive as the front-end of a soybean biorefinery.     

Scale-up of Enzyme-Assisted Aqueous Extraction Processing of Soybeans

The effects of scaling-up enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction process (EAEP) using 2 kg of flaked and extruded soybeans as well as the effects of different extrusion and extraction conditions were evaluated. Standard single-stage EAEP at 1:10 solids-to-liquid ratio (SLR) was used to evaluate the effects of different extruder screw speeds and whether or not collets were extruded directly into water. Increasing extruder screw speed from 40 to 90 rpm improved oil extraction yield from 85 to 95%. Oil, protein, and solids extraction yields of 97, 86, and 78% were obtained when extruding directly into water and 95, 84, and 77% when not extruding into water. When not extruding into water, standard single-stage EAEP (1:10 SLR) yielded 95, 84, and 77% of total oil, protein, and solids extraction, respectively, and two-stage countercurrent EAEP (1:6 SLR) yielded 99, 94, and 83% total oil, protein, and solids extraction, respectively. These yields were similar to those previously obtained in the laboratory (0.08 kg soybeans), but higher oil contents were observed in the skim fractions produced at pilot-plant scale for both processes. Modifying processing parameters improved the oil distribution among the fractions, increasing oil yield in the cream fraction (from 76 to 86%) and reducing oil yield in the skim fraction (from 23 to 12%). Steady-state oil extraction was achieved after two 2-stage extractions. Two-stage countercurrent EAEP is particularly attractive due to reduced water usage compared to conventional single-stage extraction.     

海藻酸纤维在医用敷料中的应用

近年来,由海藻酸纤维制成的非织造布在医用敷料上得到了广泛的应用,比起传统的棉纱布,海藻酸纱布吸湿性高,止血性能好,并能在潮湿的伤口表面形成一层水凝胶,这层水凝胶体既能给伤口提供一个良好的愈合环境,又能在伤口复愈后无疼痛地去除,从而使海藻酸纱布拥有其独特的伤口保护性能。本文介绍了海藻酸纤维的制造工艺及物化性能,并对海藻酸纱布的临床应用作了一些描述。     

海藻酸钠复合凝胶球的制备及其吸附性能研究

利用机械搅拌和超声波辅助法将多壁碳纳米管(MWNTs)分散于海藻酸钠(SA)水溶液中,然后将混合溶液滴入CaCl2水溶液中,制备了具有高吸附性的复合凝胶球(SA/MWNTs-Ca),研究了包埋不同含量MWNTs的SA/MWNTs-Ca凝胶球对甲基橙(MO)溶液的吸附脱色性能.结果表明:SA/MWNTs-Ca凝胶球对甲基...     

Size and Shape of Calcium Alginate Beads Produced by Extrusion Dripping

Alginate hydrogel beads are widely used as an encapsulation medium for biomedical, bioprocessing, and pharmaceutical applications. The size and shape of the beads are often critically controlled since in many usages the beads are monodisperse in size and spherical in shape. Extrusion dripping is a well‐known method to produce alginate beads. Nevertheless, the production of beads of desired size and spherical shape is often achieved based on one's experience or trial and error. An overview is provided on alginate properties, formulation and preparation of alginate and gelling solutions, production conditions, and post‐production treatment that may influence the bead size and shape. Various methods of bead size and shape measurement are also discussed.     

Fabrication and Mechanical Characterization of Calcium Alginate Fiber-Reinforced Polyvinyl Alcohol Based Composites

Calcium alginate fibers were prepared from sodium alginate by extruding aqueous sodium alginate solution (4% by weight) into a calcium chloride (2% by weight) bath. Water uptake and mechanical properties of the calcium alginate fiber were investigated. Water uptake tests of calcium alginate showed that it absorbed 50% of water within a minute and indicated strong hydrophilic nature. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based calcium alginate fiber reinforced unidirectional composites (10% fiber by weight) were fabricated by compression molding. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), bending strength (BS), bending modulus (BM) and impact strength (IS) of the PVA matrix and the composite were evaluated. TS, BS, TM, and BM of the PVA matrix were found 10, 18, 320 and 532 MPa, respectively. TS and BS of the PVA based composite were found to be 16 and 27 MPa, respectively, which were 60 and 50% higher than that of the PVA matrix. TM and BM of the composite were found to be 620 and 1056 MPa, respectively, which were improved by 94 and 98% over the matrix material. Degradation tests of the composites were performed for up to 2 months in soil medium and found that composites lost almost 50% of its original mechanical properties. The interfacial properties of the composite were also investigated by using the single fiber fragmentation test (SFFT).     

Characteristics of Oil and Skim in Enzyme-Assisted Aqueous Extraction of Soybeans

The economic viability of enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction processing (EAEP) of soybeans depends on properties and potential applications of all fractions (skim and insolubles as well as oil). EAEP oil contained lower free fatty acid, phosphorus, and tocopherol contents, similar unsaponifiable matter levels, and higher degrees of oxidation (peroxide and p-anisidine values) than hexane-extracted oil. The phospholipid profile of EAEP fractions was mainly composed of phosphatidic acid, followed by phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidylethanolamine. Most of phospholipids were present in the skim, except for phosphatidic acid, which was the major phospholipid in the cream fraction. Skim and cream contained 55 and 3 % of the soluble carbohydrates in the original extruded flakes, respectively. Soluble carbohydrates of the skim were mainly composed of stachyose (5.8 ± 0.8 mg/mL) and sucrose (9.9 ± 0.8 mg/mL), which were hydrolyzed into glucose, galactose, and fructose after addition of α-galactosidase. Skim and cream peptides contained <20 kDa MW molecules. About 71 % of the skim peptides were <20 kDa MW, with 49 % being <1.35 kDa MW, 22 % being 17–1.35 kDa MW, and 29 % being 44–670 kDa MW. Skim protein and carbohydrate contents make this fraction suitable for replacing water in ethanol fermentations, thereby improving the fermentation rate/production and the nutritional quality of distiller’s dried grains with solubles.     

Properties of Soy Protein Produced by Countercurrent,Two-Stage,Enzyme-Assisted Aqueous Extraction

Enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction processing (EAEP) is an environmentally friendly technology where oil and protein can be simultaneously extracted from soybeans by using water and protease. Countercurrent, two-stage, EAEP was performed at a 1:6 solids-to-liquid ratio, 50 °C, pH 9.0, and 120 rpm for 1 h to extract oil and protein from soybeans. The skim fractions were produced by three methods: (1) by treating with 0.5 % protease (wt/g extruded flakes) in both extraction stages; (2) by treating with 0.5 % protease in the 2nd extraction stage only; and (3) by using the same two-stage extraction procedure without enzymes in either extraction stages. Countercurrent, two-stage, protein extraction of air-desolventized, hexane-defatted, soybean flakes was used as a control. Solubility profiles of the skim proteins were the typical U-shaped curves with the lowest solubility at the isoelectric point of soy protein (pH 4.5). The use of the enzyme slightly improved solubility of the recovered protein with hydrolyzed proteins having higher solubilities at acid pH. Emulsification and foaming properties were generally reduced by the use of enzyme during EAEP extractions. The skims produced with protease-extracted (hydrolyzed) proteins gave gels with lower hardness than did unhydrolyzed proteins when heated at 80 °C. The essential amino acid compositions and protein digestibilities were not adversely affected by either extrusion or extraction treatments.     

基于UGI反应制备海藻酸衍生物及其载药微胶囊的释药性

将海藻酸钠(SA)、正辛胺、对甲苯磺酰甲基异腈和甲醛(或正丙醛)通过UGI 4组分缩合反应制备海藻酸衍生物Ugi-Alg-1和Ugi-Alg-2.通过FTIR和1HNMR对Ugi-Alg的结构进行表征,并采用TGA、XRD、荧光光谱(FM)、表面张力(SFT)、TEM、激光粒度和Zeta电位分析仪对其性能进行测试.结果...     

Current research on the blends of natural and synthetic polymers as new biomaterials: Review

This review reports recent advances in the field of the blends of natural and synthetic polymers as new biomaterials. These materials have attracted both academic, and, for several blends, industrial attention because they exhibit improvements in properties required in the biomedical field. Herein, the structure, preparation and properties of the blends of natural and man-made polymer are discussed in general, and detailed examples are also drawn from scientific literature and practical work. The most common natural polymers: collagen, chitosan, elastin, keratin and silk are discussed as a components of blends with man-made polymers.