The objective of this research was to study the biochemical composition and physicochemical properties of three different flours prepared from broccoli crop remains. Florets, leaves and stalks of broccoli were dried at 60 degrees C, and the flours obtained were analysed for proximate composition, amino acid profile, fatty acid composition, and physicochemical properties. The florets flour showed the highest protein content (22.41 g/100 g dry weight); ash was higher in leaves flour (14.67 g/100 g dry weight), and the lipid content was similar in the flours of leaves and stalks. The stalks flour had high crude fibre content and low protein content. All flours presented a high water absorption index. Tyrosine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, proline and valine were found in larger concentration. The most abundant fatty acids in the lipids were linolenic acid (C18:3n3), palmitic acid (C16:0) and linoleic acid (C18:2n6). Broccoli flours prepared in this study are good source of nutrients and could be utilized as dietary supplements.

Cellulose nanofibers from durum wheat straw ( Triticum durum ) were produced and characterized to study their potential as reinforcement fibers in biocomposites. Cellulose was isolated from wheat straw by chemical treatment. Nanofibers were produced via an electrospinning method using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as the solvent. The nanofibers were 270 ± 97 nm in diameter. Analysis of the FT-IR spectra demonstrated that the chemical treatment of the wheat straw removed hemicellulose and lignin. XRD revealed that the crystallinity of the cellulose was reduced after electrospinning, but nanofibers remained highly crystalline. The glass transition temperature (T(g) value) of the fibers was 130 °C, higher than that of cellulose (122 °C), and the degradation temperature of the fibers was 236 °C. Residual TFA was not present in the nanofibers as assessed by the FT-IR technique.

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Collagen is a natural polymer widely used in pharmaceutical products and nutritional supplement due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. Collagen is a fibrous protein that supports various tissues, and its primary structure is formed by repeated units of glycineproline-hydroxyproline. Traditional sources of collagen, such as bovine and pig skins or chicken waste, limit their use due to the dangers of animal-borne diseases. Thus, marine animals are an alternative for the extraction of collagen. The common name of Oreochromis aureus is tilapia, widely cultivated for sale as frozen fillets. During its processing, a large amount of collagen-rich wastes are generated. Therefore, the objective of this book chapter is to prove the potential of tilapia skin as an alternative source of collagen for the elaboration of biomaterials. Additionally to the literature review, experimental results of the extraction and characterization of tilapia skin collagen for use in medical dressings are presented.

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Xyloglucan is a polysaccharide isolated from chia seed gum (Salvia hispanica L.) and can act as a soluble fiber. In this investigation, several porous hydrogels were prepared from mixtures of chitosan and xyloglucan. To characterize these biomaterials, their mechanical, hydrophilic, structural, and morphological properties were measured, as well as their biodegradability and antimicrobial activity. The pore sizes of the porous hydrogels were 32.8-101.6 μm, and their water retention capacity is proportional to the added amount of xyloglucan. Dynamic degradation of the porous hydrogels with lysozymes showed progressive weight loss during the 14 days of testing. The mechanical properties improved slightly after the addition of xyloglucan. All of these results indicate that the incorporation of vegetable-derived polymers such as xyloglucan improves the properties of chitosan without affecting its antimicrobial capacity. Thus, biomaterials based on chitosan and xyloglucan are a promising option for the design of hydrogel wound dressings for medical applications.

Chitosan has a medical application because of its natural origin and properties of biodegradability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and antimicrobial capacity. Electrospinning produces non-woven nanofibers to wound dressing with high specific surface area and small pores. These properties are favorable for absorption of exudates and prevent the penetration of bacteria, thus promoting wound healing. For this reason, chitosan blends are used to produce nanofiber dressings, and the characterization of the structural, mechanical, and biological properties is very promising for further studies. Nowadays, the researchers are seeking for biomaterials that provide modern dressings with many qualities, which are designed to promote wound healing. In this chapter, the electrospinning parameters that affect the nanofiber properties based on chitosan to prepare wound dressings are highlighted.