The effect of addition of flaxseed gum on the emulsion properties of soybean protein isolate (SPI)

The effect of addition of flaxseed gum on the emulsion properties of soybean protein isolate (SPI) were investigated in this study. Flaxseed gum with 0.05-0.5% (w/v) concentration was used together with 1% (w/v) SPI to emulsify 10% (v/v) soybean oil. The emulsion was analyzed for emulsion activity (turbidity), stability, particle size, surface charge, and rheological properties. The turbidity and absolute zeta-potential values decreased initially by the addition of flaxseed gum and subsequently increased with further increase in the gum concentration to reach their peak around 0.35% (w/v) gum. The particle size of the emulsion decreased and reached a minimum value at 0.1% (w/v) gum concentration. Any increase in gum concentration beyond this value resulted into increase in the particle size. This study would help to widen the application of SPI and flaxseed gum mixture, and also contribute to the understanding of protein-gum interaction in emulsion.     

The effect of protein types and low molecular weight surfactants on spray drying of sugar-rich foods

The effect of protein types and low molecular weight surfactants (LMS) on spray drying of sugar-rich foods has been studied using sucrose as a model sugar and sodium caseinate (NaCas) and pea protein isolate (PPI) as model proteins. Sodium stearoyl lactylate (SSL) and Polysorbate 80 (Tween-80) were chosen as model ionic and non-ionic LMS. The sucrose:NaCas and sucrose:PPI solid ratios were maintained at (99.5:0.5) and (99:1), respectively and spray-dried maintaining 25% solids in feed solutions. It was found that the proteins preferentially migrated to the air–water interface reasonably swiftly and the addition of LMS resulted into partial or complete displacement of the proteins from the air–water interface. More than 80% of amorphous sucrose powder was produced with the addition of 0.13% (w/w) of NaCas in feed solution. PPI was not as effective and produced less than 50% recovery even at 0.26% (w/w) in feed. Addition of 0.01–0.05% SSL displaced 2.0% and 29.3% of proteins from the surface of sucrose–NaCas–SSL droplet, respectively, resulting in a 6.5 ± 1.2% to 51.9 ± 1.9% reduction in powder recovery. The extent of protein displacement was higher when SSL was added into sucrose–PPI solution; however, the powder recovery was not much affected. The addition of 0.01% Tween-80 in sucrose–NaCas solution resulted in a 48.2 ± 1.5% reduction in powder recovery and at 0.05% concentration, it displaced a substantial amount or all the NaCas from the droplet surface and no powder was recovered. The addition of 0.01% and 0.05% Tween-80 into sucrose–PPI solution resulted into very low powder recoveries (24.9 ± 0.4% and 29.5 ± 1.8%, respectively). The glass transition temperature (T_g) results revealed that the amount of protein required for successful spray drying of sucrose–protein solutions depends on the amount of proteins present on the droplet surface but not on the bulk concentration. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy results showed that the powders of sucrose–NaCas/PPI and sucrose–NaCas/PPI with 0.01% SSL were mostly amorphous while those with sucrose–NaCas/PPI–Tween-80 (0.01%), sucrose–PPI–Tween-80 (0.05%) and sucrose–NaCas/PPI–SSL (0.05%) were crystalline.     

A numerical model to predict the powder–binder separation during micro-powder injection molding

The micro-powder injection molding (micro-PIM) process has the potential to bridge the gap between the design and manufacturing of micro-components that are often used in small and handy devices. Numerical modeling helps to analyze and overcome various difficulties of micro-PIM. In the present work, a numerical model is developed to predict the powder–binder separation (a common defect in PIM and especially severe in micro-PIM) during the injection of an alumina feedstock. A powder–binder separation criterion is proposed dealing with applied injection pressure and friction force between the powder and binder. An indirect comparison of feedstock travel time between two locations is used to validate the model. The predicted segregation from the simulated result is supported by a qualitative experimental measurement. The developed model can be used to optimize injection parameters to get a defect-free product.     

Designing Stimuli-Responsive Upconversion Nanoparticles that Exploit the Tumor Microenvironment

Tailoring personalized cancer nanomedicines demands detailed understanding of the tumor microenvironment. In recent years, smart upconversion nanoparticles with the ability to exploit the unique characteristics of the tumor microenvironment for precise targeting have been designed. To activate upconversion nanoparticles, various bio-physicochemical characteristics of the tumor microenvironment, namely, acidic pH, redox reactants, and hypoxia, are exploited. Stimuli-responsive upconversion nanoparticles also utilize the excessive presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), riboflavin, and Zn²⁺ in tumors. An overview of the design of stimulus-responsive upconversion nanoparticles that precisely target and respond to tumors via targeting the tumor microenvironment and intracellular signals is provided. Detailed understanding of the tumor microenvironment and the personalized design of upconversion nanoparticles will result in more effective clinical translation.     

Enhanced efficiency fertilisers: a review of formulation and nutrient release patterns

Fertilisers are one of the most important elements of modern agriculture. The application of fertilisers in agricultural practices has markedly increased the production of food, feed, fuel, fibre and other plant products. However, a significant portion of nutrients applied in the field is not taken up by plants and is lost through leaching, volatilisation, nitrification, or other means. Such a loss increases the cost of fertiliser and severely pollutes the environment. To alleviate these problems, enhanced efficiency fertilisers (EEFs) are produced and used in the form of controlled release fertilisers and nitrification/urease inhibitors. The application of biopolymers for coating in EEFs, tailoring the release pattern of nutrients to closely match the growth requirement of plants and development of realistic models to predict the release pattern of common nutrients have been the foci of fertiliser research. In this context, this paper intends to review relevant aspects of new developments in fertiliser production and use, agronomic, economic and environmental drives for enhanced efficiency fertilisers and their formulation process and the nutrient release behaviour. Application of biopolymers and complex coacervation technique for nutrient encapsulation is also explored as a promising technology to produce EEFs. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation and characterisation of films from xylose‐glycosylated peanut protein isolate powder

This work aimed at producing and characterising xylose‐glycosylated peanut protein isolate (PPI‐X) films by dissolving PPI‐X powder in water at ambient temperature and further plasticising with glycerol. The effect of powder dissolution temperature (20–100 °C) and glycerol concentration (15.0–45.0%, w/w) on mechanical properties and integrity of these films was quantified. The results showed that the powder dissolution temperature had no significant effect on the mechanical and water resistance properties of PPI‐X films within the temperature range tested. With increasing concentration of glycerol, the tensile strength and water resistance of PPI‐X films decreased and elongation increased. The films produced by dissolving the PPI‐X powder at 20 °C and plasticising with 25.0% glycerol had comparable mechanical properties and better water resistance compared to some other plant protein films plasticising with glycerol. The results suggested that PPI‐X films could potentially be used as biodegradable packaging materials.     

Design and analysis of MEMS based piezoelectric energy harvester for machine monitoring application

Microsystem Technologies - In this paper a new structure of MEMS based piezoelectric (PZ) energy harvester with resonant frequency of 100 Hz is proposed which can be integrated with...     

Understanding the morphological effects of WO3 photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants

Dimension and morphology of photocatalysts has extensive interest in order to use the effective concurrence of photon. Despite TiO₂ and ZnO, WO₃ has also been considered as a promising candidate in terms of remediation and purification that owes to its visible light absorption and non-toxic environmental friendliness. In this study, we report the preparation of nanostructured WO₃ with different morphologies for the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants without the presence of any sacrificial agents. The study envisages the effect of the aspect ratio of WO₃ particles on the photochemical process and their inherent reactive species mechanism. Mechanistic reasoning revealed that, apart from the hole and hydroxyl radicals as the participating species in both structures, a significant contribution from superoxide radicals takes place in the presence of nanorods and promotes the photochemical reaction. High aspect ratio facilitates the absorption coefficient and resultant efficiency. Both the catalysts retain its reactivity after regeneration and confirms the consistent catalytic reusability. Reactivity enhancement of any photocatalyst is possible through tuning the inherent structure of the material.     

Injectable Bone Cement Reinforced with Gold Nanodots Decorated rGO-Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposites,Augment Bone Regeneration

Interest in the development of new generation injectable bone cements having appropriate mechanical properties, biodegradability, and bioactivity has been rekindled with the advent of nanoscience. Injectable bone cements made with calcium sulfate (CS) are of significant interest, owing to its compatibility and optimal self-setting property. Its rapid resorption rate, lack of bioactivity, and poor mechanical strength serve as a deterrent for its wide application. Herein, a significantly improved CS-based injectable bone cement (modified calcium sulfate termed as CS_mod), reinforced with various concentrations (0–15%) of a conductive nanocomposite containing gold nanodots and nanohydroxyapatite decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets (AuHp@rGO), and functionalized with vancomycin, is presented. The piezo-responsive cement exhibits favorable injectability and setting times, along with improved mechanical properties. The antimicrobial, osteoinductive, and osteoconductive properties of the CS_mod cement are confirmed using appropriate in vitro studies. There is an upregulation of the paracrine signaling mediated crosstalk between mesenchymal stem cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells seeded on these cements. The ability of CS_mod to induce endothelial cell recruitment and augment bone regeneration is evidenced in relevant rat models. The results imply that the multipronged activity exhibited by the novel-CS_mod cement would be beneficial for bone repair.