Powdered barley sprouts: composition,functionality and polyphenol digestibility

This study was performed to evaluate the phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant capacity, antihyperglycaemic and anti‐inflammatory activities, and simulated gastrointestinal digestion of 7‐day‐old freeze‐dried barley sprouts (BS), one hybrid and one nonhybrid variety: ‘NS565’ (BSNS) and ‘Golozrni’ (BSG), respectively. BSNS expressed significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) content of total phenols, chlorophyll and carotenoids. Phenolic compounds were the most dominant bioactives in both BSNS and BSG (713.25 and 479.02 mg GAE 100 g^?1 DW, respectively). BSNS possessed significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) antioxidant capacity, evaluated by DPPH and ABTS assays, and reducing power ( = 0.54 mg mL^?1; IC₅₀^ABTS = 0.79 mg mL^?1; RP_0.5 = 9.35 mg mL^?1). Antihyperglycaemic and anti‐inflammatory activities of BSNS ( = 1.43 mg mL^?1;  = 1.86 mg mL^?1) were also significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than BSG ( = 1.97 mg mL^?1;  = 4.40 mg mL^?1). In vitro simulation of gastrointestinal digestion showed higher release of phenolic compounds in intestinal fluid than in gastric fluid.     

Biodegradable zinc-based materials with a polymer coating designed for biomedical applications

Over the last decades, biodegradable metals have gained popularity for biomedical applications due to their ability to assist in tissue healing. These materials degrade in vivo, while the corrosion products formed are either absorbed or excreted by the body, and no further surgical intervention is required for removal. Intensive research has been carried out mainly on degradable biomaterials based on Mg and Fe. In recent years, zinc-based degradable biomaterials have been explored by the biomedical community for their intrinsic physiological relevance, desirable biocompatibility, intermediate degradation rate, tuneable mechanical properties and pro-regeneration properties. Since pure Zn does not exhibit sufficient mechanical properties for orthopedic applications, various Zn alloys with better properties are being developed. In this work, the combined effect of minor Fe addition to Zn and a polyethyleneglycol (PEG) coating on the surface morphology, degradation, cytotoxicity and mechanical properties of Zn-based materials was studied. There are several studies regarding the influence of the production of Zn alloys, but the effect of polymer coating on the properties of Zn-based materials has not been reported yet. A positive effect of Fe addition and polymer coating on the degradation rate and mechanical properties was observed. However, a reduction in biocompatibility was also detected.     

Preparation of galacto-oligosaccharides using membrane reactor

Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) have many biological functions. They are produced from lactose by a glycosyl transfer of one or more d-galactosyl units onto the d-galactose moiety of lactose catalysed by β-galactosidase. This reaction can proceed in batch or in continuous system. Membrane reactor with ultrafiltration ceramic membrane (150 kDa) was used and batch system as well. Lactose in phosphate buffer (197.9 g L⁻¹), recombined whey (197 g L⁻¹) and evaporated ultrafiltration permeate (200.7 g L⁻¹) were used as substrates. The used concentration of enzyme Maxilact LX 5000 was 6 U mL⁻¹. The highest concentration of GOS in buffer was reached after 30 min of batch reaction and it was 25.5 g L⁻¹, for recombined whey it was 31.1 g L⁻¹ and for ultrafiltration permeate it was 32.9 g L⁻¹. For continuous process was obtained 8.8 g L⁻¹ of GOS for buffer and 21.0 g L⁻¹ for recombined whey and 16.7 g L⁻¹ of GOS for ultrafiltration permeate.     

Effect of heat treatment on structure and magnetic properties of Fe65.5Cr4Mo4Ga4P12C5B5.5 bulk amorphous alloy

This study deals with the Fe65.5Cr4Mo4Ga4P12C5B5.5 ferromagnetic bulk amorphous alloy. XRD analysis showed an amorphous structure of the as-cast sample. The same method revealed that, after annealing at 973 K for τ=10 min, the sample displayed a crystalline structure with crystalline phases formed. The crystallization process of the alloy was examined by DTA analysis. It was shown that crystallization took place in the temperature range between 810 K and 860 K with the exo-maximum peak temperature at 846 K with a heating rate of 20 K·min-1. The method also showed that, at temperatures ranging from 753 K to 810 K, the alloy exhibited the properties of supercooled liquids. A correlation between heat-induced structural changes and magnetic properties of the alloy was determined by thermomagnetic measurements. Maximum magnetization M=3.7 Am2·kg-1 of the alloy was reached after its annealing at 733 K for τ=10 min. Upon annealing, the alloy exhibited a relaxed amorphous structure. Annealing the alloy above the crystallization temperature led to a decrease in bulk magnetization. After annealing at 973 K for τ=10 min, the bulk magnetization of the alloy was M'=0.45 Am2·kg-1. Accordingly, after crystallization and formation of new compounds, the magnetization of the alloy was decreased by a factor of about 7.7. The strength of the magnetic field applied during the measurements was H=10 k A·m-1. The samples were tested for changes in the microstructure and hardness of both the amorphous phase and the resulting crystalline phase.     

Insight into the structural,electrical and photoresponse properties of individual Fe:SrTiO3 nanotubes

Titanates are suitable for many applications such as oxygen sensing and tunable HTS (high temperature superconducting) microwave filters. The potential advantages of the nanostructured forms have been however scarcely explored compared to other oxides. In this work, the structural and electrical properties of individual iron-doped strontium titanate nanotubes (Fe:SrTiO₃) grown by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) were assessed for the first time, showing high stability and reproducibility. This result paves the way to further development of more complex titanate-based devices, as for instance nanostructured oxygen STFO sensors. From experimental data, it was concluded that the polycrystalline form of Fe:SrTiO₃ nanotubes is the major limitation to attain high photoconductivity gains when exposed to UV-light.     

A Laser Synthesis Route to Boron-Doped Gold Nanoparticles Designed for X-Ray Radiotherapy and Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Assisted by CT Imaging

New multifunctional theranostic vectors allow the expansion of cancer therapeutic approaches toward scarcely investigated fields. One example is the combination of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) and X-ray radiotherapy (XRT) for treating normal and XRT-resistant hypoxic tumor regions and reduce recurrence. Of great relevance for BNCT is also the support of viable, rapid, safe, and reliable techniques for the localization and quantification of the radiosensitizers in the tissues. To address these challenges, polymer-coated Au-B nanoparticles (NPs) are obtained starting from a laser ablation in liquid process. Despite thermodynamic constraints, the two elements coexist by short-range boron segregation in the gold lattice, as demonstrated experimentally and explained with the support of density functional theory calculations. Thus, the Au-B NPs maintain a marked gold character such as biocompatibility, stability, and straightforward surface chemistry with thiolated compounds, desirable for the integration with agents capable of cell targeting and internalization. Overall, the Au-B NPs exhibit the appropriate features for the investigation of combined BNCT and XRT, supported by the localization and quantification with X-ray computed tomography imaging. Besides, the Au-B nanotechnology tool is achievable without renouncing to reproducibility, environmental sustainability, and cost affordability thanks to the laser-assisted synthetic pathway.