HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF SPIRULINA PLATENSIS ON FETAL LIVER OF MICE WITH ACUTE FATTY LIVER OF PREGNANCY

Objective: The protective effect of Spirulina platensis on the fetal liver of mice with acute fatty liver of pregnancy was investigated. Methods: Small female mice were divided into four groups: A control group with a standard diet, a high-fat diet to induce liver steatosis, a high-fat diet plus Spirulina, and a high-fat diet plus Simvastatin given through gavage to protect the liver against steatosis. After 2 months, the female mice became pregnant by polygamy method at the same time they were treated by different diets. On day 17, the fetuses were removed by C-section, and histological studies were carried out on their livers. Results: The results showed a significant decrease in liver steatosis in the group treated by Spirulina compared with the other groups (p<0.05). The fatty liver of pregnancy could lead to liver failure and death in both mother and fetus, and medications like Simvastatin that is used for the treatment of fatty liver are harmful to the fetus. However, Spirulina shows a positive effect on the treatment of both fetus and mother. Conclusions: The results of this study show that Spirulina is an effective medical supplement in the treatment of fatty liver of pregnancy

Using lignocellulosic fractions of coffee husk to improve properties of compatibilised starch-PLA blend films

[EN] The effectiveness of the incorporation of cellulosic reinforcing agents (cellulosic fibres: CF and cellulose nanocrystals: CNC) and antioxidant aqueous extract (AE) from coffee husk at improving the functional properties of compatibilised starch-PLA blend films was studied. Tensile and barrier properties, crystallization pattern and thermal behaviour were analysed in films containing 1 wt% of CF or CNC incorporated by two different methods or 5.8 wt% of antioxidant extract. The antioxidant properties of the films were also tested through their efficacy at preserving sunflower oil from oxidation. Of the cellulosic fractions, CNC directly blended with the starch phase were the most effective at reinforcing tensile properties of the material (148% and 45% increase in elastic modulus and tensile strength, respectively) and at reducing their water vapour and oxygen permeability (28% and 42% reduction, respectively). The AE did not improve the mechanical performance of the blend films, but conferred antioxidant capacity useful for food packaging applications.The authors thank the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Spain) for the financial support provided through Project AGL2016-76699-R. The authors also wish to thank the Electron Microscopy Service of the UPV for their technical assistance.Collazo-Bigliardi, S.; Ortega-Toro, R.; Chiralt Boix, MA. (2019). Using lignocellulosic fractions of coffee husk to improve properties of compatibilised starch-PLA blend films. Food Packaging and Shelf Life. 22:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fpsl.2019.100423S1102

Comparative study of the electrochemical, biomedical, and thermal properties of natural and synthetics nanomaterials

In this research, natural nanomaterials including cellulose nanocrystal (CNC), nanofiber cellulose (NFC), and synthetic nanoparticles such as carbon nanofiber (CNF) and carbon nanotube (CNT) with different structures, sizes, and surface areas were produced and analyzed. The most significant contribution of this study is to evaluate and compare these nanomaterials based on the effects of their structures and morphologies on their electrochemical, biomedical, and thermal properties. Based on the obtained results, the natural nanomaterials with low dimension and surface area have zero cytotoxicity effects on the living cells at 12.5 and 3.125 μg/ml concentrations of NFC and CNC, respectively. Meanwhile, synthetic nanomaterials with the high surface area around 15.3–21.1 m2 /g and significant thermal stability (480 °C–600 °C) enhance the output of electrode by creating a higher surface area and decreasing the current flow resistance

Improving properties of thermoplastic starch films by incorporating active extracts and cellulose fibres isolated from rice or coffee husk

[EN] Hydrothermal (60 min, 180 degrees C) extracts and cellulose fibres from coffee and rice husks were obtained to be incorporated into corn starch films, in order to improve the film functional properties as food packaging material and confer them active properties. Extracts exhibited antioxidant properties (EC50: 5.37-5.29 mg extract solids/ mg DPPH) and antibacterial activity against Listeria innocua and Escheriquia coil (MIC values: 35-45 and 34-35 mg extract solids/mL, respectively). The active extracts improved tensile properties of the starch films; elastic modulus increased by about 350% and films become less stretchable. The cellulosic fibres from both residues were more effective as reinforcing agents in films containing extract solids than in net starch films. Extracts also provoked 30% reduction in the WVP of starch films and 50-85 % reduction in the oxygen permeability, depending on their amount in the films, but no effect of cellulose fibres was observed on barrier properties.The authors thank the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Spain) for the financial support provided through Project AGL2016-76699-R. The authors wish to thank Professor Yineth Pineros-Castro PhD from Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano (Bogota, Colombia) and Professor Misael Cortes PhD from Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Medellin, Colombia) for their assistance in the extraction process and spray drying. Authors also thank the Electron Microscopy Service of the UPV for their technical assistance.Collazo-Bigliardi, S.; Ortega-Toro, R.; Chiralt Boix, MA. (2019). Improving properties of thermoplastic starch films by incorporating active extracts and cellulose fibres isolated from rice or coffee husk. Food Packaging and Shelf Life. 22:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fpsl.2019.100383S1102

Effects of silane surface treatment of cellulose nanocrystals on the tensile properties of cellulose-polyvinyl chloride nanocomposite

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) from mengkuang leaves (Pandanus tectorius) were investigated as potential reinforcement in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix. The surface of CNC was modified with silane coupling agent to improve filler-matrix adhesion. Solution casting method was used to prepare PVC nanocomposites with various amounts of modified (SCNC) and unmodified (CNC) nanocrystals. Both SCNC and CNC were examined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) which showed that surface chemical modification has occurred. An increase in tensile strength was observed with the addition of SCNC compared to the CNC. However, the elongation at break of the nanocomposites was found to decrease with the increase of both fillers loading. An increasing trend was observed in the tensile modulus with the addition of CNC to the PVC matrix, but decreasing with the addition of SCNC. The morphology of a fractured surface of nanocomposites showed silane modification reduced the number of voids in the structure of PVC. The observation indicated the adhesion between the fiber and the matrix had improved upon surface modification of the nanocrystals with silane

Application of Cellulose-Based Materials as Water Purification Filters; A State-of-the-Art Review

Water scarcity, identified as the most serious global risk by the World Economic Forum, poses significant challenges due to its potential impact over the next decade. This study focuses on addressing the pressing issues of water scarcity and water quality through the use of cellulose-based materials for manufacturing water filters. Industrial wastewater containing dyes and heavy metal ions is a major contributor to water pollution, affecting underground water sources. Copper, mercury, chromium, lead, and tin are among the most common and environmentally damaging heavy metal ions due to their high toxicity, low biodegradability, and persistence in the food chain. Water purification processes are crucial for ensuring safe consumption. Bio-compatible and renewable materials have gained attention for water treatment applications in recent years. Cellulose-based materials, such as cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), possess unique characteristics including biodegradability, suitable aspect ratio, thermal stability, high strength, stiffness, renewability, and accessibility. This research aims to review the utilization of cellulose-based materials, particularly modified CNC and CNF aerogels, for manufacturing water filters. These materials exhibit high porosity, large specific surface area, and functional groups on their surfaces, making them promising adsorbents for removing water pollutants such as heavy metals, organic dyes, pharmaceutical waste, and oils. Our study demonstrates that modified CNFs and CNCs have shown an exceptional absorption capacity of approximately 98% for heavy metals. By focusing on the specific application of cellulose-based materials for water filtration, this research contributes to the development of effective and sustainable solutions for water purification, addressing the critical challenges posed by water scarcity and pollution