Novel electrospun fibrous biocomposites have been fabricated, based on two naturally derived materials, namely wool keratin and cinnamon essential oil, and their efficacy as treatment of skin burns caused by...
Here, the development
of highly porous colorimetric indicators
that are able to rapidly sense the presence of amine vapors is presented.
Specifically, porous, curcumin-loaded polycaprolactone fibers are
formed by electrospinning through non-solvent-induced phase separation.
In comparison to the non-porous fibers, the developed system shows
significantly higher sensitivity and responsivity to the presence
of dimethylamine vapors, with a distinct color change at very low
vapor concentrations (2.33 ppm compared to 9.26 ppm) within the first
5 s of exposure. Indeed, CIELAB analysis proves that the induced color
changes can be easily perceived visually, as the differences between
the initial and the final color of the indicator after its interaction
with the modified environment are well above the limit for visual
perception, even by inexperienced users. Furthermore, the color changes
are reversible, enabling the use of the same indicator several times,
making it, thus, a sustainable colorimetric indicator system that
can be used in applications where the rapid detection of low concentration
of alkaline vapors is necessary.
Microalgae are generally considered an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and bioactive molecules that make them suitable to be introduced in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food industries. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA), an edible microalga, contains numerous biomolecules potentially able to prevent some pathologies including age-related disorders. With the aim to include an AFA extract (Klamin®) as a functional ingredient in baked products, we investigated if its bioactive molecules are destroyed or inactivated after standard cooking temperature. The AFA extract was exposed to heat stress (AFA-HS), and no significant decrease in pigment, polyphenol, and carotenoid content was detected by spectroscopic analysis. Thermal stability of AFA-HS extract was demonstrated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and no change in the morphology of the granules of the powder was noticed by SEM microscopic observation. By Folin-Ciocalteu, ORAC, and ABTS assays, no change in the antioxidant activity and polyphenol contents was found after high-temperature exposition. When added in cell culture, solubilized AFA-HS lost neither its scavenging ability against ROS generation nor its protective role against Abeta, the main peptide involved in Alzheimer's disease. Prebiotic and antioxidant activities of AFA extract that are not lost after thermal stress were verified on E. coli bacteria. Finally, AFA-HS cookies, containing the extract as one of their ingredients, showed increased polyphenols. Here, we evaluate the possibility to use the AFA extract to produce functional food and prevent metabolic and age-related diseases.
Malva
sylvestris
(MS) is a medicinal
herb known worldwide for its beneficial effects due to the several
active molecules present in its leaves and flowers. These compounds
have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and thus can
be helpful in treatments of burns and chronic wounds, characterized
mainly by high levels of free radicals and impairments of the inflammatory
response. In this work, we propose bilayer films as wound dressings,
based on poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and sodium alginate loaded with
M. sylvestris
extracts from leaves and flowers and
fabricated by combining solvent-casting and rod-coating methods. The
top layer is produced in two different PVP/alginate ratios and loaded
with the MS flowers’ extract, while the bottom layer is composed
of PVP and MS leaves’ extract. The bilayers were characterized
morphologically, chemically, and mechanically, while they showed superior
self-adhesive properties on human skin compared to a commercial skin
patch. The materials showed antioxidant activity, release of the bioactive
compounds, and water uptake property. Moreover, the anthocyanin content
of the flower extract provided the films with the ability to change
color when immersed in buffers of different pH levels. In vitro tests
using primary keratinocytes demonstrated the biocompatibility of the
MS bilayer materials and their capacity to enhance the proliferation
of the cells in a wound scratch model. Finally, the best performing
MS bilayer sample with a PVP/alginate ratio of 70:30 was evaluated
in mice models, showing suitable resorption properties and the capacity
to reduce the level of inflammatory mediators in UVB-induced burns
when applied to an open wound. These outcomes suggest that the fabricated
bilayer films loaded with
M. sylvestris
extracts are promising formulations as active and multifunctional
dressings for treating skin disorders.
This review explores the colorimetric indicators based on anthocyanin polymer composites fabricated in the last decade, in order to provide a comprehensive overview of their morphological and compositional characteristics and their efficacy in their various application fields. Notably, the structural properties of the developed materials and the effect on their performance will be thoroughly and critically discussed in order to highlight their important role. Finally, yet importantly, the current challenges and the future perspectives of the use of anthocyanins as components of colorimetric indicator platforms will be highlighted, in order to stimulate the exploration of new anthocyanin sources and the in-depth investigation of all the possibilities that they can offer. This can pave the way for the development of high-end materials and the expansion of their use to new application fields.
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