Desarrollo de un sistema de medida basado en espectroscopía de impedancia para la determinación de parámetros fisicoquímicos en alimentos

Una de las áreas prioritarias del Séptimo Programa Marco de la Unión Europea es Smart Control for Improved Food and Feed Technologies, cuyo objetivo es el desarrollo de nuevos métodos que faciliten el control de los procesos productivos y garanticen la calidad y seguridad de los productos agroalimentarios. La relevancia concedida a esta línea de investigación es un claro indicador del interés de todos los agentes implicados en impulsar la introducción de tecnologías innovadoras. La meta es implementar nuevas técnicas analíticas rápidas y económicas, que constituyan una alternativa real a los procedimientos tradicionales de control. El sistema de medida desarrollado se compone de tres partes: - Equipo de medida electrónico. La implementación de la técnica de espectroscopia de impedancia requiere la generación y muestreo de señales senoidales de amplitud variable de hasta 1MHz. Por ello, en el desarrollo del equipo de medida se han empleado técnicas digitales multiproceso, basadas en dispositivos de lógica programable (CPLD). - Aplicación PC. Un software diseñado para que de forma sencilla y rápida el usuario pueda modificar los parámetros (amplitud, rango de frecuencias, escala de corriente, etc.) de las señales que se aplican a las muestras. Además, recepciona los datos de tensión y corriente y calcula, grafica y almacena los valores de los espectros de impedancia. - Electrodos. Diseño de dos tipos de electrodos con geometrías diferentes y de reducidas dimensiones en comparación con las de las muestras para que las determinaciones realizadas tengan un carácter puntual y no destructivo. Se han denominado "Electrodo doble" y "Electrodo punta de flecha". El primero está configurado por dos agujas muy finas de acero inoxidable paralelas entre si. El segundo, diseñado con técnicas serigráficas mediante tecnología thick-film, está constituido por dos electrodos de pasta conductora fijados sobre una base de alúmina, con forma de punta de flecha.Masot Peris, R. (2010). Desarrollo de un sistema de medida basado en espectroscopía de impedancia para la determinación de parámetros fisicoquímicos en alimentos [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/8502Palanci

Freeze-Damage Detection in Lemons Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

[EN] Lemon is the most sensitive citrus fruit to cold. Therefore, it is of capital importance to detect and avoid temperatures that could damage the fruit both when it is still in the tree and in its subsequent commercialization. In order to rapidly identify frost damage in this fruit, a system based on the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique (EIS) was used. This system consists of a signal generator device associated with a personal computer (PC) to control the system and a double-needle stainless steel electrode. Tests with a set of fruits both natural and subsequently frozen-thawed allowed us to differentiate the behavior of the impedance value depending on whether the sample had been previously frozen or not by means of a single principal components analysis (PCA) and a partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used to generate a prediction model able to identify the damaged fruits just 24 hours after the cold phenomenon occurred, with sufficient robustness and reliability (CCR = 100%).This research was funded by the the Spanish Government/FEDER funds (RTI2018-100910-B-C43) (MINECO/FEDER) and the Conselleria d'Educacio, Investigacio, Cultura i Esport de la Generalitat Valenciana (GV/2018/090).Ochandio Fernández, A.; Olguín Pinatti, CA.; Masot Peris, R.; Laguarda-Miro, N. (2019). Freeze-Damage Detection in Lemons Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. Sensors. 19(18):1-12. https://doi.org/10.3390/s19184051S1121918Zabihi, H., Vogeler, I., Amin, Z. M., & Gourabi, B. R. (2016). Mapping the sensitivity of citrus crops to freeze stress using a geographical information system in Ramsar, Iran. Weather and Climate Extremes, 14, 17-23. doi:10.1016/j.wace.2016.10.002Tan, E. S., Slaughter, D. C., & Thompson, J. F. (2005). Freeze damage detection in oranges using gas sensors. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 35(2), 177-182. doi:10.1016/j.postharvbio.2004.07.008Slaughter, D. C., Obenland, D. M., Thompson, J. F., Arpaia, M. L., & Margosan, D. A. (2008). Non-destructive freeze damage detection in oranges using machine vision and ultraviolet fluorescence. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 48(3), 341-346. doi:10.1016/j.postharvbio.2007.09.012Sala, J. M., Sanchez-Ballesta, M. T., Alférez, F., Mulas, M., Zacarias, L., & Lafuente, M. T. (2005). A comparative study of the postharvest performance of an ABA-deficient mutant of oranges. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 37(3), 232-240. doi:10.1016/j.postharvbio.2005.05.006Siboza, X. I., Bertling, I., & Odindo, A. O. (2014). Salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate improve chilling tolerance in cold-stored lemon fruit (Citrus limon). Journal of Plant Physiology, 171(18), 1722-1731. doi:10.1016/j.jplph.2014.05.012Jha, P. K., Xanthakis, E., Chevallier, S., Jury, V., & Le-Bail, A. (2019). Assessment of freeze damage in fruits and vegetables. Food Research International, 121, 479-496. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2018.12.002Sala, J. M., & Lafuente, M. T. (1999). Catalase in the Heat-Induced Chilling Tolerance of Cold-Stored Hybrid Fortune Mandarin Fruits. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 47(6), 2410-2414. doi:10.1021/jf980805eMoomkesh, S., Mireei, S. A., Sadeghi, M., & Nazeri, M. (2017). Early detection of freezing damage in sweet lemons using Vis/SWNIR spectroscopy. Biosystems Engineering, 164, 157-170. doi:10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2017.10.009Obenland, D. M., Aung, L. H., Bridges, D. L., & Mackey, B. E. (2003). Volatile Emissions of Navel Oranges as Predictors of Freeze Damage. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 51(11), 3367-3371. doi:10.1021/jf021109oGambhir, P. N., Choi, Y. J., Slaughter, D. C., Thompson, J. F., & McCarthy, M. J. (2005). Proton spin-spin relaxation time of peel and flesh of navel orange varieties exposed to freezing temperature. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 85(14), 2482-2486. doi:10.1002/jsfa.2266Fuentes, A., Masot, R., Fernández-Segovia, I., Ruiz-Rico, M., Alcañiz, M., & Barat, J. M. (2013). Differentiation between fresh and frozen-thawed sea bream (Sparus aurata) using impedance spectroscopy techniques. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, 19, 210-217. doi:10.1016/j.ifset.2013.05.001Conesa, C., García-Breijo, E., Loeff, E., Seguí, L., Fito, P., & Laguarda-Miró, N. (2015). An Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy-Based Technique to Identify and Quantify Fermentable Sugars in Pineapple Waste Valorization for Bioethanol Production. Sensors, 15(9), 22941-22955. doi:10.3390/s150922941Wu, L., Ogawa, Y., & Tagawa, A. (2008). Electrical impedance spectroscopy analysis of eggplant pulp and effects of drying and freezing–thawing treatments on its impedance characteristics. Journal of Food Engineering, 87(2), 274-280. doi:10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2007.12.003Serrano-Pallicer, E., Muñoz-Albero, M., Pérez-Fuster, C., Masot Peris, R., & Laguarda-Miró, N. (2018). Early Detection of Freeze Damage in Navelate Oranges with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. Sensors, 18(12), 4503. doi:10.3390/s18124503Grossi, M., & Riccò, B. (2017). Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for biological analysis and food characterization: a review. Journal of Sensors and Sensor Systems, 6(2), 303-325. doi:10.5194/jsss-6-303-2017Chowdhury, A., Kanti Bera, T., Ghoshal, D., & Chakraborty, B. (2016). Electrical Impedance Variations in Banana Ripening: An Analytical Study with Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy. Journal of Food Process Engineering, 40(2), e12387. doi:10.1111/jfpe.12387Bauchot, A. D., Harker, F. R., & Arnold, W. M. (2000). The use of electrical impedance spectroscopy to assess the physiological condition of kiwifruit. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 18(1), 9-18. doi:10.1016/s0925-5214(99)00056-3Figueiredo Neto, A., Cárdenas Olivier, N., Rabelo Cordeiro, E., & Pequeno de Oliveira, H. (2017). Determination of mango ripening degree by electrical impedance spectroscopy. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 143, 222-226. doi:10.1016/j.compag.2017.10.018Benavente, J., Ramos-Barrado, J. ., & Heredia, A. (1998). A study of the electrical behaviour of isolated tomato cuticular membranes and cutin by impedance spectroscopy measurements. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 140(1-3), 333-338. doi:10.1016/s0927-7757(97)00290-2Ando, Y., Maeda, Y., Mizutani, K., Wakatsuki, N., Hagiwara, S., & Nabetani, H. (2016). Impact of blanching and freeze-thaw pretreatment on drying rate of carrot roots in relation to changes in cell membrane function and cell wall structure. LWT - Food Science and Technology, 71, 40-46. doi:10.1016/j.lwt.2016.03.019Ando, Y., Maeda, Y., Mizutani, K., Wakatsuki, N., Hagiwara, S., & Nabetani, H. (2016). Effect of air-dehydration pretreatment before freezing on the electrical impedance characteristics and texture of carrots. Journal of Food Engineering, 169, 114-121. doi:10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2015.08.026Fuentes, A., Vázquez-Gutiérrez, J. L., Pérez-Gago, M. B., Vonasek, E., Nitin, N., & Barrett, D. M. (2014). Application of nondestructive impedance spectroscopy to determination of the effect of temperature on potato microstructure and texture. Journal of Food Engineering, 133, 16-22. doi:10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2014.02.016M’hiri, N., Veys-Renaux, D., Rocca, E., Ioannou, I., Boudhrioua, N. M., & Ghoul, M. (2016). Corrosion inhibition of carbon steel in acidic medium by orange peel extract and its main antioxidant compounds. Corrosion Science, 102, 55-62. doi:10.1016/j.corsci.2015.09.017Conesa, C., Ibáñez Civera, J., Seguí, L., Fito, P., & Laguarda-Miró, N. (2016). An Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy System for Monitoring Pineapple Waste Saccharification. Sensors, 16(2), 188. doi:10.3390/s16020188Conesa, C., Sánchez, L. G., Seguí, L., Fito, P., & Laguarda-Miró, N. (2017). Ethanol quantification in pineapple waste by an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy-based system and artificial neural networks. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, 161, 1-7. doi:10.1016/j.chemolab.2016.12.005Ulrich, C., Petersson, H., Sundgren, H., Björefors, F., & Krantz-Rülcker, C. (2007). Simultaneous estimation of soot and diesel contamination in engine oil using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 127(2), 613-618. doi:10.1016/j.snb.2007.05.014Olivati, C. A., Riul, A., Balogh, D. T., Oliveira, O. N., & Ferreira, M. (2008). Detection of phenolic compounds using impedance spectroscopy measurements. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 32(1), 41-46. doi:10.1007/s00449-008-0218-4Martínez Gil, P., Laguarda-Miro, N., Camino, J. S., & Peris, R. M. (2013). Glyphosate detection with ammonium nitrate and humic acids as potential interfering substances by pulsed voltammetry technique. Talanta, 115, 702-705. doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2013.06.030Górski, Ł., Sordoń, W., Ciepiela, F., Kubiak, W. W., & Jakubowska, M. (2016). Voltammetric classification of ciders with PLS-DA. Talanta, 146, 231-236. doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2015.08.027Kumar, G., & Buchheit, R. G. (2008). Use of Artificial Neural Network Models to Predict Coated Component Life from Short-Term Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Measurements. CORROSION, 64(3), 241-254. doi:10.5006/1.3278469Eddahech, A., Briat, O., Bertrand, N., Delétage, J.-Y., & Vinassa, J.-M. (2012). Behavior and state-of-health monitoring of Li-ion batteries using impedance spectroscopy and recurrent neural networks. International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems, 42(1), 487-494. doi:10.1016/j.ijepes.2012.04.050Conesa, C., Seguí, L., Laguarda-Miró, N., & Fito, P. (2016). Microwaves as a pretreatment for enhancing enzymatic hydrolysis of pineapple industrial waste for bioethanol production. Food and Bioproducts Processing, 100, 203-213. doi:10.1016/j.fbp.2016.07.001Masot, R., Alcañiz, M., Fuentes, A., Schmidt, F. C., Barat, J. M., Gil, L., … Soto, J. (2010). Design of a low-cost non-destructive system for punctual measurements of salt levels in food products using impedance spectroscopy. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 158(2), 217-223. doi:10.1016/j.sna.2010.01.010Wold, S., Sjöström, M., & Eriksson, L. (2001). PLS-regression: a basic tool of chemometrics. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, 58(2), 109-130. doi:10.1016/s0169-7439(01)00155-1Legin, Zadorozhnaya, Khaydukova, Kirsanov, Rybakin, Zagrebin, … Legin. (2019). Rapid Evaluation of Integral Quality and Safety of Surface and Waste Waters by a Multisensor System (Electronic Tongue). Sensors, 19(9), 2019. doi:10.3390/s19092019Garcia-Breijo, E., Atkinson, J., Gil-Sanchez, L., Masot, R., Ibañez, J., Garrigues, J., … Olguin, C. (2011). A comparison study of pattern recognition algorithms implemented on a microcontroller for use in an electronic tongue for monitoring drinking waters. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 172(2), 570-582. doi:10.1016/j.sna.2011.09.039Garcia-Breijo, E., Garrigues, J., Sanchez, L., & Laguarda-Miro, N. (2013). An Embedded Simplified Fuzzy ARTMAP Implemented on a Microcontroller for Food Classification. Sensors, 13(8), 10418-10429. doi:10.3390/s130810418Brezmes, J., Cabre, P., Rojo, S., Llobet, E., Vilanova, X., & Correig, X. (2005). Discrimination between different samples of olive oil using variable selection techniques and modified fuzzy artmap neural networks. IEEE Sensors Journal, 5(3), 463-470. doi:10.1109/jsen.2005.846186Ibáñez Civera, J., Garcia Breijo, E., Laguarda Miró, N., Gil Sánchez, L., Garrigues Baixauli, J., Romero Gil, I., … Alcañiz Fillol, M. (2011). Artificial neural network onto eight bit microcontroller for Secchi depth calculation. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 156(1), 132-139. doi:10.1016/j.snb.2011.04.001Fricke, H., & Morse, S. (1925). THE ELECTRIC RESISTANCE AND CAPACITY OF BLOOD FOR FREQUENCIES BETWEEN 800 AND 4½ MILLION CYCLES. Journal of General Physiology, 9(2), 153-167. doi:10.1085/jgp.9.2.153Damez, J.-L., Clerjon, S., Abouelkaram, S., & Lepetit, J. (2007). Dielectric behavior of beef meat in the 1–1500kHz range: Simulation with the Fricke/Cole–Cole model. Meat Science, 77(4), 512-519. doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2007.04.028Zhang, L., Shen, H., & Luo, Y. (2010). Study on the electric conduction properties of fresh and frozen-thawed grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) and tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus). International Journal of Food Science & Technology, 45(12), 2560-2564. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2621.2010.02428.

Software y bibliografía para enseñanza de interpretación de datos en una asignatura de Máster

[EN] In the Master's Degree in Sensors for Industrial Applications of the Universitat Politècnica de València, the subject "Modeling techniques" is taught. "Application of multivariate techniques to real experiences" is one of the 3 didactic units that make up this subject. This unit focuses on the one hand on the explanation of the philosophy of electronic tongues as an example of sensors in the industrial field, and on the other hand, on the use of multivariate statistics for interpretation of the information of these sensors. The teaching of this didactic unit is carried out with an intuitive and simple software such as the SOLO program (Eigenvector Research, Inc.) and its application to a set of data derived from experiments carried out previously by the teacher's research team. As proof of mastery of the subject the students are required to reproduce the process in a new set of data provided by the teacher and obtained also in the laboratory by the teacher's research team. For both sets of data there are the respective research articles in which the student can consult a greater detail of the approach of the work and the discussion of the results.[ES] En el Máster Universitario de Sensores para Aplicaciones Industriales de la Universitat Politècnica de València se imparte la asignatura “Técnicas de modelización”. “Aplicación de técnicas multivariantes a experiencias reales” es una de las 3 unidades didácticas que integran esta asignatura. Esta unidad se centra en por una parte en la explicación de la filosofía de las lenguas electrónicas como ejemplo de sensores en el ámbito industrial y por otra, en el uso de la estadística multivariante para interpretación de la información de estos sensores. La docencia de esta unidad didáctica se realiza con un software intuitivo y sencillo como es el programa SOLO (Eigenvector Research, Inc.) y su aplicación a un conjunto de datos derivados de experimentos llevados a cabo previamente por el equipo de investigación del docente. Como comprobación del dominio de la materia a los alumnos se les requiere la reproducción del proceso en un nuevo conjunto de datos proporcionado por el profesor y obtenido también en el laboratorio por el equipo de investigación del docente. Para ambos conjuntos de datos existen los respectivos artículos de investigación en los que el alumno puede consultar un mayor detalle del planteamiento del trabajo y la discusión de los resultados.Martínez Bisbal, MC.; Masot Peris, R.; Alcañiz Fillol, M. (2019). Software y bibliografía para enseñanza de interpretación de datos en una asignatura de Máster. En IN-RED 2019. V Congreso de Innovación Educativa y Docencia en Red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 235-240. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2019.2019.10409OCS23524

A Rapid Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy and Sensor-Based Method for Monitoring Freeze-Damage in Tangerines

[EN] This study focuses on the analysis and early detection of freeze-damage in tangerines using a specific double-needle sensor and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). Freeze damage may appear in citrus fruits both in the field and in postharvest processes resulting in quality loss and a difficult commercialization of the fruit. EIS has been used to test a set of homogeneous tangerine samples both fresh and later frozen to analyze electrochemical and biological differences. A double-needle electrode associated to a specifically designed electronic device and software has been designed and used to send an AC electric sinusoidal signal 1 V in amplitude and frequency range [100Hz to 1MHz] to the analyzed samples and then receive the electrochemical impedance response. EIS measurements lead to distinct values of both impedance module and phase of fresh and frozen samples over a wide frequency range. Statistical treatment of the received data set by Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) shows a clear classification of the samples depending on the experienced freeze phenomenon, with high sensitivity (1.00), specificity (>= 0.95) and confidence level (95%). Later Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) analysis based on 20-3-1 architecture has allowed to create a mathematical prediction model able to correctly classify 100% of the analyzed samples (CCR =100% for training, validation and test phases, and overall classification), being fast, easy, robust and reliable, and an interesting alternative method to the traditional laboratory analyses.This work was supported by the Spanish Government/FEDER funds [Ministerio de Economia y Empresa (MINECO)/Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)] under Grant RTI2018-100910-B-C43 and in part by the Conselleria d'Educacio, Investigacio, Cultura i Esport de la Generalitat Valenciana under Grant GV/2018/090.Albelda Aparisi, P.; Fortes Sánchez, E.; Contat-Rodrigo, L.; Masot Peris, R.; Laguarda-Miro, N. (2021). A Rapid Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy and Sensor-Based Method for Monitoring Freeze-Damage in Tangerines. IEEE Sensors Journal. 21(10):12009-12018. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2021.3065846S1200912018211

Early Detection of Freeze Damage in Navelate Oranges with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

[EN] The early detection of freeze damage in Navelate oranges (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), which is associated with a specific double-needle sensor. The objective was to identify this problem early in order to help to determine when a freeze phenomenon occurs. Thus, we selected a set of Navelate oranges without external defects, belonging to the same batch. Next, an intense cold process was simulated to analyze the oranges before and after freezing. The results of the spectroscopy analysis revealed different signals for oranges depending on whether they had experienced freezing or not. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) of the obtained data demonstrated that it is possible to discriminate the samples, explaining 88.5% of the total variability (PCA) and being able to design a mathematical model with a prediction sensitivity of 80% (PLS-DA). Additionally, a designed artificial neural network (ANN) prediction model managed to correctly classify 100% of the studied samples. Therefore, EIS together with ANN-based data treatment is proposed as a viable alternative to the traditional techniques for the early detection of freeze damage in oranges.This research was funded by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad of the Spanish Government and European FEDER funds (MAT2015-64139-C4-3-R (MINECO/FEDER)) and the Conselleria d'Educacio, Investigacio, Cultura i Esport de la Gereralitat Valenciana (GV/2018/090).Serrano-Pallicer, E.; Muñoz-Albero, M.; Pérez Fuster, C.; Masot Peris, R.; Laguarda-Miro, N. (2018). Early Detection of Freeze Damage in Navelate Oranges with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. Sensors. 18(12):1-10. https://doi.org/10.3390/s18124503S110181

Use of impedance spectroscopy for predicting freshness of sea bream (Sparus aurata)

In the present study, the use of a rapid portable system based on impedance spectroscopy to assess fish freshness has been tested. The evolution of different physical and chemical parameters (moisture, fat, pH and TVBN) and impedance measurements (modulus and phase at different frequencies) of six different batches of sea bream (Sparus aurata) were analysed. Impedance spectroscopy was able to classify raw matter into six groups according to composition differences, and also to classify those samples stored for a time of between 0 and 15 days into different groups according to degree of freshness. TVB-N is one of the most usual parameters to assess shelf life periods of fish samples; the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.72 obtained in the Partial Least Squares regression for this parameter confirmed the potential application of the impedance spectroscopy for predicting sea bream freshnessThe authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Government (Project AGL2010-20539). E.P. is grateful to the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for his grant (AP2008-00620).Pérez-Esteve, É.; Fuentes López, A.; Grau Meló, R.; Fernández Segovia, I.; Masot Peris, R.; Alcañiz Fillol, M.; Barat Baviera, JM. (2014). Use of impedance spectroscopy for predicting freshness of sea bream (Sparus aurata). Food Control. 35(1):360-365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2013.07.025S36036535

Design of a low-cost equipment for optical hyperthermia

[EN] A laser equipment is presented which has been specifically designed for optical hyperthermia. Such specificity in the design has allowed implementation at costs significantly lower than other options currently available in the market. The developed equipment includes a 808 nm laser whose output power is up to 500 mW. It also incorporates additional devices that help the user in calibrating the system and supervising it while functioning. The performance of a prototype is tested by running two hyperthermia experiments: one involving gold nanorods, and the other using gold nanostars. The specific set-up of this prototype has allowed laser irradiation with radiated power densities up to 4W/cm(2). (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This work has been carried out in the context of project "Development of electronic devices and equipment for detection and actuation based on new electronic technologies. Applications in the field of biomedicine" (grant number: MAT2015-64139-C4-3-R) and in coordination with project number MAT2015-64139-C4-1-R, both of them financed by the Spanish Ministry for Economy and Competitiveness in the framework of the Plan Estatal de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnica y de Innovacion 2013-2016. Financial support from the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEOII/2014/047) and from the UPV (Erasmus Mundus EuroInkaNet project, 2013 call) are gratefully acknowledged too.Montes-Robles, R.; Hernández-Montoto, A.; Ibáñez Civera, FJ.; Masot Peris, R.; De La Torre-Paredes, C.; Martínez-Máñez, R.; Garcia-Breijo, E.... (2017). Design of a low-cost equipment for optical hyperthermia. Sensors and Actuators A Physical. 255:61-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2016.12.018S617025

Gold Nanostars Coated with Mesoporous Silica Are Effective and Nontoxic Photothermal Agents Capable of Gate Keeping and Laser Induced Drug Release

[EN] Herein, a novel drug photorelease system based on gold nanostars (AuNSts), coated with a mesoporous silica shell and capped with paraffin as thermosensitive molecular gate, is reported. Direct measurements of the surface temperature of a single gold nanostar irradiated using a tightly focused laser beam are performed via a heat sensitive biological matrix. The surface temperature of a AuNSt increases by hundreds of degrees (degrees C) even at low laser powers. AuNSts coated with a mesoporous silica shell using a surfactant-templated synthesis are used as chemotherapeutic nanocarriers. Synthetic parameters are optimized to d avoid AuNSt reshaping, and thus to obtain nanoparticles with suitable and stable plasmonic properties for near-infrared (NIR) laser-triggered cargo delivery. The mesoporous silica-coated nanostars are loaded with doxorubicin (Dox) and coated with octadecyltrimethoxysilane and the paraffin heneicosane. The paraffin molecules formed a hydrophobic layer that blocks the pores, impeding the release of the cargo. This hybrid nanosystem exhibits a well-defined photodelivery profile using NIR radiation, even at low power density, whereas the nonirradiated sample shows a negligible payload release. Dox-loaded nanoparticles displayed no cytotoxicity toward HeLa cells, until they are irradiated with 808 nm laser, provoking paraffin melting and drug release. Hence, these novel, functional, and biocompatible nanoparticles display adequate plasmonic properties for NIR-triggered drug photorelease applications.The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Government (Projects AGL2015-70235-C2-2-R and MAT2015-64139-C4-1-R), the Generalitat Valenciana (Project PROMETEOII/2014/047), and European Union (Programme European Union Action 2 Erasmus Mundus Partnerships, Grant-2014-0870/001-001). A. Samadi and L. B. Oddershede acknowledge financial support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF14OC0011361) and from the Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF116). A. H. Montoto thanks Erasmus Mundus Programme for his PhD scholarship at EurolnkaNet project. The authors thank UPV electron microscopy and CIPF confocal and electron microscopy services for technical support.Hernández-Montoto, A.; Montes-Robles, R.; Samadi, A.; Gorbe, M.; Terrés-Haro, JM.; Cao Milán, R.; Aznar, E.... (2018). Gold Nanostars Coated with Mesoporous Silica Are Effective and Nontoxic Photothermal Agents Capable of Gate Keeping and Laser Induced Drug Release. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 10(33):27644-27656. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.8b08395S2764427656103

Glyphosate detection with ammonium nitrate and humic acids as potential interfering substances by pulsed voltammetry technique

Pulsed voltammetry has been used to detect and quantify glyphosate on buffered water in presence of ammonium nitrate and humic substances. Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide active ingredient in the world. It is a non-selective broad spectrum herbicide but some of its health and environmental effects are still being discussed. Nowadays, glyphosate pollution in water is being monitored but quantification techniques are slow and expensive. Glyphosate wastes are often detected in countryside water bodies where organic substances and fertilizers (commonly based on ammonium nitrate) may also be present. Glyphosate also forms complexes with humic acids so these compounds have also been taken into consideration. The objective of this research is to study the interference of these common pollutants in glyphosate measurements by pulsed voltammetry. The statistical treatment of the voltammetric data obtained lets us discriminate glyphosate from the other studied compounds and a mathematical model has been built to quantify glyphosate concentrations in a buffer despite the presence of humic substances and ammonium nitrate. In this model, the coefficient of determination (R-2) is 0.977 and the RMSEP value is 2.96 x 10(-5) so the model is considered statistically valid. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Authors acknowledge financial support from the Universitat Polltecnica de Valencia and its Centre de Cooperacio al Desenvolupament (Programa ADSIDEO-COOPERACIO 2010) for the research fellowship. We also thank MICINN (MAT2012-38429-C04-04) and GVA (PPC/2011/019) for their respective research fellowships.Martínez Gil, P.; Laguarda Miró, N.; Soto Camino, J.; Masot Peris, R. (2013). Glyphosate detection with ammonium nitrate and humic acids as potential interfering substances by pulsed voltammetry technique. Talanta. (115):702-705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2013.06.030S70270511

Predictors of Response to Exclusive Enteral Nutrition in Newly Diagnosed Crohn´s Disease in Children: PRESENCE Study from SEGHNP

Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) has been shown to be more effective than corticosteroids in achieving mucosal healing in children with Crohn´s disease (CD) without the adverse effects of these drugs. The aims of this study were to determine the efficacy of EEN in terms of inducing clinical remission in children newly diagnosed with CD, to describe the predictive factors of response to EEN and the need for treatment with biological agents during the first 12 months of the disease. We conducted an observational retrospective multicentre study that included paediatric patients newly diagnosed with CD between 2014–2016 who underwent EEN. Two hundred and twenty-two patients (140 males) from 35 paediatric centres were included, with a mean age at diagnosis of 11.6 ± 2.5 years. The median EEN duration was 8 weeks (IQR 6.6–8.5), and 184 of the patients (83%) achieved clinical remission (weighted paediatric Crohn’s Disease activity index [wPCDAI] 15 mg/L and ileal involvement tended to respond better to EEN. EEN administered for 6–8 weeks is effective for inducing clinical remission. Due to the high response rate in our series, EEN should be used as the first-line therapy in luminal paediatric Crohn’s disease regardless of the location of disease and disease activityS