Preparation and Characterization of Black Pomegranate Peel Extract-Loaded Nanofibers Using Electrospinning

Background: Blended electrospun nanofibrous mats containing black pomegranate peel extract (BPPE) were prepared using different proportions of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polycaprolactone as the filament-forming polymers. Methods: The electrospinning process was conducted by simultaneously injecting PVP and polycaprolactone spinning solutions from two opposite sides on a rotary collector. The films were characterized in morphology, mechanical features, water vapor transmission rate, swelling properties, and drug release profile. Results: The uniform white porous nanofibrous mats were achieved using the optimized method. As the concentration of PVP in the formula increased, the average diameter of the fibers increased, and fibers containing spindle bodies appeared. Though, the moisture content is one of the most essential issues with a wound dressing to promote the healing process, excessive water absorption by PVP produced highly erodible mats with weak tensile strength and elongation. The higher content of polycaprolactone created narrower and more uniform fibers and improved the mechanical features and water swelling properties of the blended mats. Furthermore, the nanofibrous membrane composed of a 70:30 polycaprolactone/PVP weight ratio resulted in a more sustained drug release. Conclusion: The favorable properties mentioned above, along with the wound healing effect of BPPE, make it an attractive candidate for application in wound dressing products

Chemical composition and antifungal effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Allium tripedale (Tvautv.) against Candida species

Background and Purpose: Treatment of life-threatening fungal infections caused by Candida species has become a major problem. Candida spp. are the most important causative agents of candidiasis. Allium tripedale is a medicinal plant that has been traditionally used to treat infections. In the present study, we aimed to determine the chemical compounds and antimicrobial activity of hydroalcoholic extract of A.tripedale against different species of Candida. Materials and Methods: Phytochemical analysis was performed to identify the possible bioactive components of this extract by using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The hydroalcoholic extract of A. tripedale were collected.Different concentrations of A. tripedale (50, 25, 12.5, and 6.25 mg/ml) were used to evaluate its antifungal activity against Candida species (C. albicans, C. parapsilosis,and C. krusei) using disk diffusion assay. Results: The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 40 different phytoconstituents with peak area; the major compounds were tetracosane, hexadecanoic acid, 1-eicosanol, 1,2-dihydro-pyrido[3,2,1-kl]phenothiazin-3-one, 2-hexadecen-1-ol, and 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl. Hydroalcoholic extract showed strong antimicrobial activity (inhibition zone ⩾ 20 mm), moderate antimicrobial activity (inhibition zone < 12-20 mm), and no inhibition (zone < 12 mm). In addition, the hydroalcoholic extract exhibited the highest antimicrobial properties against C. albicans strains. Conclusion: A. tripedale extract had a considerable inhibitory effect against various Candida species, but its highest inhibitory effect was against Candid albicans. Further investigations are required to detect the performance of this plant in the treatment of Candida infection. &nbsp

Asphaltene deposition during CO2 injection and pressure depletion: a visual study

Carbon dioxide miscible flooding has become a popular method for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) because it not only efficiently enhances oil recovery but also considerably reduces green house gas emissions. However, it can significantly cause asphaltene deposition, which leads to serious production problems such as wettability alteration, plugging of the reservoir formation, blocking the transportation pipelines, etc. It is crucial to investigate the effects of different factors on asphaltene deposition. A novel experimental setup was prepared to employ a high-pressure visual cell for investigation of asphaltene deposition on a model rock under typical reservoir conditions. The evolution of asphaltene deposition was monitored via a high-resolution microscope. Image processing software was utilized to check the amount of deposited asphaltene and its size distribution under different conditions. Crudes from two Iranian oil fields were used in the experiments. The amount of asphaltene deposition was measured during pressure depletion under two operating conditions: with/without CO -injection. It was observed that the amount of deposited asphaltene decreases with pressure depletion. For instance, asphaltene deposition at 140 bar and 90 °C is 5.7 times greater compared to 30 bar and 90 °C condition. The results of CO gas injection confirm that the deposited asphaltene increases with the concentration of injected CO . According to the results, a temperature increase from 35 to 90 °C contributes to growth and aggregation of asphaltene particles. A comparison of two different asphaltene sources in terms of aggregation and flocculation behavior revealed that the asphaltene molecular structure could have a noticeable influence on asphaltene deposition. A new parameter was defined as the potential of deposition to describe, quantify, and compare the tendency of different asphaltene samples for flocculation and deposition