A B S T R A C TKomagataeibacter rhaeticus, a bacterium isolated from Kombucha tea, was used to produce bacterial cellulose (BC) through its cultivation in a static sugarcane molasses (SCM) supplemented-culture medium (totally or partially), as an alternative carbon source. BC membranes were characterized by different physicochemical analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission gunscanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and PeakForce quantitative nanomechanics atomic force microscopy (PeakForce (QNM-AFM)). FTIR, XRD and TGA results suggest great similarity among all membranes produced by distinct culture media. Although the glucose (F1) and SCM (F6) media presented the lowest BC yield, all SCM-supplemented culture media (from F2 to F5) showed BC yield values similar to the HS culture medium (F0). FEG-SEM analysis showed that as higher SCM concentrations on culture media higher dense nanofibers network could be prepared. Quantitative nanomechanical results obtained by AFM technique corroborate FEG-SEM analysis besides show smoother and more flexible BC membranes as a function of the increasing of the SCM concentrations. The modification of the carbon source of the culture medium with an important by-product of Brazilian agroindustry appears as a viable alternative to reduce cost of BC production (of up to 20.06%) besides increase the possibilities of industrial scale BC preparation.
In this study new compositions of polyphosphate coacervates were obtained with the ions Ni (2+) and Co (2+). Samples of the glassy systems were prepared with proportions P/M (+2) varying between 0.5 and 10. The qualitative and quantitative description of the first coordination shells of the transition metal were obtained through extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) analysis, performed at the Ni (2+) and Co (2+) K-edges. An analysis of the symmetric stretching vibrations of terminal P-O t and bridging P-O b groups performed through Raman spectroscopy revealed the different phases of the coacervation process in terms of bond strengths and corroborates the EXAFS results. The results obtained permitted a detailed structural description of these materials as well as the role played by the metallic ions on the coacervation process.
Although resistant starch/pectin (RS/P) films have previously displayed suitable properties for colon-specific drug delivery, nanocomposite films were developed aiming to enhance physicochemical, thermal, mechanical and barrier properties, as well as the low oral bioavailability of methotrexate (MTX). FEG-SEM micrographs of nanocomposite films showed different interaction patterns occurring among nanocellulose and RS/P. The nanofiller addition led to an increase in the thermal stability, probably due to its interaction with RS crystalline double helices. Results also displayed an improvement of the puncture strength, while barrier properties revealed a low water vapor permeability. Ex vivo bioadhesion test displayed the nanocomposites films to interact strongly with porcine gastrointestinal mucosa. In vitro drug release studies showed that the films developed enhanced the drug dissolution rates with approximately 80% of MTX release in 150min, suggesting the potential of these materials as a poor solubility drugs carrier, which constitutes an important tool for enhancing oral bioavailability.
The emission properties of Ag NCs dispersed in a fluorophosphate glass have been studied. White light is generated under UV excitation due to the presence of a variety of Ag NCs with different sizes, emitting in the blue, green and red regions.
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