Effect of microencapsulation and spray drying on oxidative stability of flaxseed oil and its release behavior under simulated gastrointestinal conditions

Flaxseed oil is one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acid (α-linolenic acid, ALA). It contains high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, making it extremely susceptible to oxidation. In the present study, flaxseed oil was stabilized using microencapsulation followed by spray drying and studied for its oxidative stability in terms of peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid, and p-anisidine value at room temperature (35 ± 1°C) and low temperature (4–7°C) storage for 6 months. Results revealed that the developed flaxseed oil powder was stable throughout the storage period and PV remained below to the maximum permissible limit (≤5 mEq/kg oil) prescribed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The fatty acids profile measured by gas–liquid chromatography indicated a 14.28–15.13% decrease in ALA content in flaxseed oil as a result of microencapsulation and storage at room temperature. In vitro digestion behavior of microcapsules showed 4.39 ± 0.53 to 19.87 ± 0.47% release of flaxseed oil under simulated gastric continued, whereas under gastrointestinal conditions it was 20.00 ± 3.66 to 59.99 ± 9.29%.     

Nitroarenes as Antitubercular Agents: Stereoelectronic Modulation to Mitigate Mutagenicity

Nitroarenes are less preferred in drug discovery due to their potential to be mutagenic. However, several nitroarenes were shown to be promising antitubercular agents with specific modes of action, namely, nitroimidazoles and benzothiazinones. The nitro group in these compounds is activated through different mechanisms, both enzymatic and non‐enzymatic, in mycobacteria prior to binding to the target of interest. From a whole‐cell screening program, we identified a novel lead nitrobenzothiazole (BT) series that acts by inhibition of decaprenylphosphoryl‐β‐d ‐ribose 2′‐epimerase (DprE1) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The lead was found to be mutagenic to start with. Our efforts to mitigate mutagenicity resulted in the identification of 6‐methyl‐7‐nitro‐5‐(trifluoromethyl)‐1,3‐benzothiazoles (cBTs), a novel class of antitubercular agents that are non‐mutagenic and exhibit an improved safety profile. The methyl group ortho to the nitro group decreases the electron affinity of the series, and is hence responsible for the non‐mutagenic nature of these compounds. Additionally, the co‐crystal structure of cBT in complex with Mtb DprE1 established the mode of binding. This investigation led to a new non‐mutagenic antitubercular agent and demonstrates that the mutagenic nature of nitroarenes can be solved by modulation of stereoelectronic properties.     

Graphene oxide reinforced polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene glycol blend composites as high-performance dielectric material

Novel flexible dielectric composites composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and graphene oxide (GO) with high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss have been developed using facile and eco-friendly colloidal processing technique. The structure and morphology of the PVA/PEG/GO composites were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy (UV-vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The dielectric behavior of PVA/PEG/GO composites was investigated in the wide range of frequencies from 50 Hz to 20 MHz and temperature in the range 40 to 150 °C using impedance spectroscopy. The dielectric constant for PVA and PVA/PEG (50/50) blend film was found to be 10.71 (50 Hz, 150 °C) and 31.22 (50 Hz, 150 °C), respectively. The dielectric constant for PVA/PEG/GO composite with 3 wt% GO was found to be 644.39 (50 Hz, 150 °C) which is 60 times greater than the dielectric constant of PVA and 20 times greater than the dielectric constant of PVA/PEG (50/50) blend film. The PVA/PEG/GO composites not only show high dielectric constant but also show low dielectric loss which is highly attractive for practical applications. These findings underline the possibilities of using PVA/PEG/GO composites as a flexible dielectric material for high-performance energy storage applications such as embedded capacitors.     

Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon,Toxic Equivalency Factor and Related Carcinogenic Potencies in Roadside Soil within a Developing City of Northern India

Preliminary analysis was performed to assess contamination levels in roadside soils, distribution behavior and human exposure with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) during summer, winter, rainy, and autumn during 2013 in one of the developing cities of northern India. The concentration of PAHs was measured at ten different locations (at 1, 2, and 3 m) from roadside soil. Recovery range was 30% and 80% with lower value corresponding to the lower molecular weight PAHs compound. Identification and quantification of PAHs was done by GC-FID. Average PAHs concentration (city average) was found to be 16.53, 4.04, 17.49, and 7.82 μg g^?1, during summer, winter, autumn, and the rainy seasons, respectively. Average concentration of low and high carcinogenic PAHs during summer, winter, autumn, and rainy was 5.1 and 31.29, 2.1 and 6.4, 4.74 and 35.08, 3.97 and 12.77μg g^?1_, respectively. The average ratio of low and high carcinogenic PAHs was found to be 1:6, 1:3, 1:7.6, and 1:3.21 during summer, winter, autumn, and the rainy seasons at most intercepts. Dib(ah)A and B(a)P were the two individual PAHs found in highest concentration during summer, winter, and the rainy seasons, whereas B(a)P and IP were individual PAHs found in highest concentration during autumn. It was also analyzed that high carcinogenic PAHs concentration was quite higher (around 85%) in comparison to low carcinogenic PAHs (around 15%) at most intercepts. This article also deals with the behavior of PAHs at places of average/high population and traffic density intercepts. Five-ringed PAHs were in highest concentration at all intercepts and seasons. Two-tailed T test was applied for authenticity of the data and results. Toxic equivalency factor of B(a)P and Dib(ah)A was maximum as compared to other PAHs.     

Occurrence and Source Apportionment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Urban Residential Soils from National Capital Region,Uttar Pradesh,India

This study aims to investigate the level of priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and identification of their potential sources in residential soils. During the study, a total 36 soil samples collected from twelve residential locations at Sahibabad-Ghaziabad area of western Uttar Pradesh, India, a constituted part of the National Capital Region of India. Samples extracted using ultrasonication, cleaned with silica and analyzed by diode array detector–high-performance liquid chromatography using acetonitrile/water as mobile phase. The 25th and 75th percentile concentration of ∑PAHs was 264 μg kg^?1 and 584 μg kg^?1, respectively, with mean and median of 445 μg kg^?1 and 421 μg kg^?1. The detection frequency of PAHs in all samples was lower for low molecular weight PAHs (19%) than high molecular weight PAHs (81%). The concentration of seven probable carcinogenic PAHs accounted for 67% of the ∑PAHs. PAHs toxicity potential as benzo(a)pyrene toxicity equivalent ranged between 2.52–253 μg BaP_TEQ kg^?1. Composition profile of PAHs with different aromatic rings and selected diagnostic molecular ratios suggested the local pyrogenic sources of PAHs from vehicular emissions, diesel engines, biomass combustion, gasoline, and coal combustions.     

Minocycline Loaded Hybrid Composites Nanoparticles for Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiation into Osteogenesis

Bone transplants are used to treat fractures and increase new tissue development in bone tissue engineering. Grafting of massive implantations showing slow curing rate and results in cell death for poor vascularization. The potentials of biocomposite scaffolds to mimic extracellular matrix (ECM) and including new biomaterials could produce a better substitute for new bone tissue formation. A purpose of this study is to analyze polycaprolactone/silk fibroin/hyaluronic acid/minocycline hydrochloride (PCL/SF/HA/MH) nanoparticles initiate human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) proliferation and differentiation into osteogenesis. Electrospraying technique was used to develop PCL, PCL/SF, PCL/SF/HA and PCL/SF/HA/MH hybrid biocomposite nanoparticles and characterization was analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), contact angle and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The obtained results proved that the particle diameter and water contact angle obtained around 0.54 ± 0.12 to 3.2 ± 0.18 µm and 43.93 ± 10.8° to 133.1 ± 12.4° respectively. The cell proliferation and cell-nanoparticle interactions analyzed using (3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium inner salt) MTS assay (Promega, Madison, WI, USA), FESEM for cell morphology and 5-Chloromethylfluorescein diacetate (CMFDA) dye for imaging live cells. Osteogenic differentiation was proved by expression of osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) and mineralization was confirmed by using alizarin red (ARS). The quantity of cells was considerably increased in PCL/SF/HA/MH nanoparticles when compare to all other biocomposite nanoparticles and the cell interaction was observed more on PCL/SF/HA/MH nanoparticles. The electrosprayed PCL/SF/HA/MH biocomposite nanoparticle significantly initiated increased cell proliferation, osteogenic differentiation and mineralization, which provide huge potential for bone tissue engineering.     

Organochlorine Formation in Tertiary Amine Catalyzed Pulp Bleaching

An oxygen delignified eucalyptus kraft pulp was bleached by applying a catalytic amount of a tertiary amine, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane, and hypochlorous acid at varying pH, temperature, and time. The bleaching filtrate was analyzed for chloroform and AOX and the pulp for residual lignin, hexenuronic acid, and OX. In comparison with chlorine dioxide bleaching, the novel catalytic bleaching (pH < 6) generated only traces of chloroform and low contents of AOX and OX. Separate catalytic oxidations of authentic hexenuronic acid showed that it was a major precursor of chloroform. The results demonstrate a practical way to reduce organochlorine formation in pulp bleaching and provide new understanding on the reaction pathways that yield chloroform.