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Microneedles offer a promising solution to enhancing dermal delivery of amniotic mesenchymal stem cell metabolite product (AMSC-MP), which contains hydrophilic protein components with high molecular weight, for the purposes of skin rejuvenation and improving human health. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics and in vivo efficacy of AMSC-MP-loaded microneedle patches for effectively regenerating skin tissues in UV-aging induced mice. Dissolving microneedle patches, composed of polyvinyl alcohol with an MW of 9-10 kDa and polyvinylpyrrolidone with an MW of 56 kDa, were fabricated using the double-casting method at three AMSC-MP concentrations: i.e., 30 % (MN30), 25 % (MN25), and 20 % (MN20). The microneedles patches were then evaluated for morphological, mechanical resistance, and insertion properties. An ex vivo release study was also conducted using the Franz cell method, and in vivo efficacy and irritation were then determined through collagen density scores, fibroblast cell counts, and skin irritation studies of UV-aging induced mice. The AMSC-MP microneedles displayed a pyramidal shape with 500 µm sharp tips. Mechanical testing revealed that MN30 achieved its deepest insertion into Parafilm® M (447.44 ± 37.21 µm), while MN25 achieved its deepest insertion into full-thickness porcine skin (717.92 ± 25.40 µm). The study revealed a controlled EGF release for up to 24 h, with MN20 exhibiting the highest deposition (55.94 ± 12.34 %). These findings demonstrate the successful penetration of microneedles through the stratum corneum and viable epidermis. Collagen density scores and fibroblast cell counts were significantly higher in all microneedle formulations than the control, with MN30 having the highest values. Inflammatory cell counts indicated minimal presence suggesting non-irritation in the in vivo study. Dissolving microneedle patches exhibited favorable characteristics and efficiently delivered AMSC-MP with minimal potential for irritation, providing potential technology for delivering biological anti-aging agents for the purposes of fostering skin regeneration., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Biomedical imaging plays a critical role in early detection, precise diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring responses, but traditional methods encounter challenges such as limited sensitivity, specificity, and inability to monitor therapeutic responses due to factors like short circulation half-life and potential toxicity. Nanoparticles are revolutionizing biomedical imaging as contrast agents across modalities like computed tomography (CT), optical, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound, exploiting unique attributes such as those of metal-based, polymeric, and lipid nanoparticles. They shield imaging agents from immune clearance, extending circulation time, and enhancing bioavailability at tumor sites. This results in improved imaging sensitivity. The study highlights advancements in multifunctional nanoparticles for targeted imaging, tackling concerns regarding toxicity and biocompatibility. Critically evaluating conventional contrast agents, emphasizes the shortcomings that nanoparticles aim to overcome. This review provides insight into the current status of nanoparticle-based contrast agents, illuminating their potential to reshape therapeutic monitoring and precision diagnostics., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: The surge in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has been linked to excessive sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption. In response, the World Health Organization advocates for SSB taxes as a preventive measure. This study conducts a systematic literature review, encompassing simulation modeling and empirical evidence, to evaluate the effectiveness of SSB taxes in diminishing NCD prevalence., Method: A systematic search from August 2002 to August 2022, utilizing databases like ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar, Wiley Online Library, Springer, and ResearchGate, identified 29 relevant articles worldwide following PRISMA 2020. The Critical Appraisal Skill Programme (CASP) 2018 tool was employed for economic evaluation., Result: Among the selected articles, 22 utilized simulation models in group of countries such as South Africa, the US, the UK, Asia (Philippines, India, Indonesia, Thailand), Australia, and Europe (Germany), while seven were based on US and UK evidence. Simulation modeling consistently demonstrated that SSB taxes significantly reduced NCD incidence, prevalence, and mortality, also bolstering government revenue. Tax rates in simulations ranged from 10 to 25%. However, empirical evidence indicated a limited impact, primarily due to low tax rates. Notably, a UK-specific tax led to a 2.7% reduction in SSB sugar purchases and 40.2% higher purchases of no-levy drinks., Discussion: The findings suggest that while simulation models demonstrate the potential effectiveness of SSB taxes in reducing NCDs, empirical evidence reveals there is no significant effect of the SSB tax, Based on the study conducted in this study, the SSB tax is not effective in reducing the prevalence of NCDs due to consumer preferences that have not changed. , likely due to the implementation of lower tax rates and failure to fulfill the assumption of subtitution product, physical activity, and so on. The study highlights that SSB tax is not effective in reducing the prevalence of NCDs due to consumer preference that have not change. Multi-actions are needed to support the sustainability of the implementation of the SSB tax, including education and promotion of healthy lifestyles and encouragement to reformulate SSB products by industry., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Firdaus, Andarwulan and Hariyadi.)

The most bothersome weed in rice fields in the Indonesian province of West Java is Monochoria vaginalis (Burm. F.) C. Presl, an aquatic herbaceous plant. Metsulfuron-methyl has long been used in wetland rice in West Java with a high enough intensity. However, the case of Monochoria vaginalis resistance to metsulfuron-methyl herbicides in Indonesia has not been widely reported and investigated. The study aims to (1) classify the resistance level of M. vaginalis toward metsulfuron-methyl, (2) identify Target Site Resistance (TSR) mechanism mutations in the MvALS1 gene of the resistant biotype of M. vaginalis. The Whole Plant Pot Test method was utilized to assess the resistance level of Monochoria vaginalis. Following that, all samples were subjected to DNA sequencing using the PCR method to identify mutations in the MvALS1 gene from the resistant biotype. After then, this study used DUET, a server with an integrated computational methodology, to anticipate the effect of mutations on protein stability. The result showed that Monochoria vaginalis from Rawamerta, Karawang showed a moderate level of resistance to metsulfuron-methyl with a resistance ratio of 6.00, Patokbeusi, Subang showed a low level of resistance to metsulfuron-methyl with a resistance ratio of 3.89, compared to susceptible Monochoria vaginalis. Nucleotide base alignment in the MvALS1 gene revealed that base substitutions occurred in the Monochoria vaginalis biotype from Rawamerta and Patokbeusi, resulting in 5 amino acid substitutions: Ser-64-Ala, Asp-66-Glu, Asn-240-Asp, Glu-426-Asn, and Ser-469-Asn and Sukra: Ser-64-Ala, Asp-66-Glu, and Asn-240-Asp. The analysis showed that S64A, D66E, and N240D stabilize the protein, whereas E426N and S469N destabilize it. This study confirms for the first time that Ser-64-Ala, Asn-240-Asp, and Glu-426-Asn amino acid mutations were found in cases of M. vaginalis resistance to metsulfuron-methyl (ALS inhibitor)., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Putri et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Indonesia is the second country with the highest number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the world and the first in Southeast Asia, according to WHO Global Report 2020. Quercetin has been tried as an alternative therapy and was found effective. This study aims to optimize quercetin pulmospheres using combination polymers and study its characteristics as an inhalation delivery system. Combination polymers provide the advantages of safe, mucoadhesive, and compact pulmospheres. Pulmospheres were made as formula F1, F2, and F3 (polymer ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3), respectively. Pulmospheres were made with quercetin 0.2%, alginate-carrageenan (total concentration of 1.8%), and CaCl 2 0.5 M. Characterization of particle size, morphology, moisture content (MC), yield, drug loading, and entrapment efficiency (EE) were conducted. The yield range was from 83.89 to 86.30% ± 4.59%. MC range was from 4.23 to 5.12% ± 0.05%. Particle size was <3 µm (between 2.19 and 2.76 ± 0.149 µm), spherical shape and smooth surface. EE range was 60.69% ± 4.45% to 77.86% ± 1.74% and the drug loading range was 1.66-2.09% ± 0.15%. F2 formula with a polymer ratio of 1:2 was the best quercetin pulmospheres. Potential pulmospheres will then be recommended for in vitro release and in vivo study., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research.)

Aim: Inhalable microspheres made of polymers as a targeted drug delivery system have been developed to overcome the limitation of current treatments in Tuberculosis. Materials & methods: Isoniazid inhalable microspheres were created using a gelation ionotropic method with sodium alginate, carrageenan and calcium chloride in four different formulations. Result: The particle morphology has smooth surfaces and round spherical shapes with sizes below 5 μm; good flowability. The drug loading and entrapment efficiency values ranged from 1.69 to 2.75% and 62.44 to 85.30%, respectively. The microspheres drug release followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, indicating Fickian diffusion. Conclusion: Isoniazid inhalable microspheres achieved as targeted lung delivery for tuberculosis treatment.

Fabrication of chitosan Schiff bases (ChSB) from giant tiger prawn shells (Penaeus monodon) using an environmentally friendly method has been conducted successfully. Transformation of Prawn Shells (PS) as raw material into chitin then chitosan was executed under ambient temperature. Later, three Ch Schiff bases (ChSB-A, ChSB-S, and ChSB-V) were successfully synthesized for the first time via solvent-free mechanochemical grafting with 2-hydroxy benzaldehyde, 4-methoxy benzaldehyde, and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy benzaldehyde, respectively. Synthesis was carried out with Shaker Mill-Ultimate Gravity equipped with a Teflon jar with zirconia balls; then the product was characterized. FTIR analysis proved the conversion of free amine to imine groups. The degree of substitution (DS) and crystallinity index (CrI) were determined by elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction. The DS values obtained were about 0.343, 0.795, and 0.055 for ChSB-A, ChSB-S, and ChSB-V, respectively. The CrI of ChSB-A, ChSB-S, and ChSB-V was 53.3, 51.7, and 46.9 %, respectively. The thermal gravimetric analysis showed that the mechanochemical grafting of Ch improves the thermal stability of ChSB. This developed method provides a novel potential technique to convert PS into ChSB products by solvent-free mechanochemical grafting., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Osteoarthritis is a disease associated with articular cartilage degradation, intra-articular area inflammation, and subchondral bone replacement. Cytokine IL-1β has a prominent function in the inflammations process that passes in the joints. The 70% ethanol extracts of deer antler (250 and 500 mg/kg BW) and glucosamine sulfate (250 kg/BW) were evaluated for four weeks in reducing cytokine IL-1β to rat model OA-induced Monosodium iodoacetate. Measurements of joint diameter in rat's knee and hyperalgesia were performed on weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. The presence of a significant difference in the stimulation thermal latency (p = 0.00) and the resulting increase in swelling of joint diameter (p = 0.00) are evidence that MIA has successfully induced the rat modeling of OA. A significant decrease in cytokine IL-Iβ levels was shown on week 3 after MIA injection (p = 0.00). Both concentrations of deer extracts significantly reduced knee joint diameter (p = 0.00), latency thermal stimulation (p = 0.00), and cytokine IL-1β levels (p = 0.00). Based on the results, it can be concluded that the 70% ethanol extract of deer antler is a potential medicine for OA therapy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Background: Aged skin is characterized by wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and roughness. Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body and it's responsible for skin health and it's mostly influenced by factors that accelerated aging such as UV., Objective: This study aimed to identify the potential use of collagen as skin supplementation and the challenges and strategies for its delivery., Methods: The articles were first searched through the existing database with the keyword of "collagen antiaging". The 585 articles were then screened by year of publication (2012-2022) resulted in 475 articles. The articles were then selected based on the delivery of collagen either orally or topically, resulted in 12 articles for further analysis., Results: Collagen has important roles in skin physiology by involving some mechanisms through inhibition of Mitogen- Activated Protein Kinase, induction of Tissue Growth Factor β (TGF-β), and inhibition of Nuclear Factor kappa beta (NF-κβ). The oral administration of collagen has an effective biological activity but requires large doses (up to 5 g daily). Meanwhile, the topical administration of collagen is limited by poor permeability due to high molecular weight (±300 kDa). Several strategies need to be carried out mainly by physical modification such as hydrolyzed collagen or entrapment of collagen using a suitable delivery system., Conclusions: Collagen could improve the skin properties, but further research should be conducted to increase its penetration either by physical modification or entrapment into suitable carrier., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declare no potential conflict of interest., (©Copyright: the Author(s).)

Background: Coenzyme Q10 is formulated into Nanostructured Lipid Carrier (NLC) added with peppermint oil (PO) 0% (F1), 1% (F2), 1.5% (F3) and 2% (F4) to increase its penetration., Objective: This study aims to determine the effect of PO addition on the irritability, stability, and penetration of Coenzyme Q10 in the NLC., Methods: Coenzyme Q10 NLC was prepared using the High Shear Homogenization method. Furthermore, physical characterization was carried out. Physical stability testing was carried out for 90 days at a temperature of 25±5 o C and an RH of 60±10%. The in vivo irritation test was observed for mice's back skin after 24 hours while the penetration study was further evaluated at 2 hours of the sample application., Results: Increasing the PO amount into Coenzyme Q10 NLC reduced the viscosity which was 329.1±15.5 cps for PO 0% to 219.9±2.9 cps for 2% addition. The observation of particle morphology showed that all NLC Coenzyme Q10 has a spherical particle shape with particle size between 188.25±13.22 to 197.80±14.19 nm. All formulas had high entrapment efficiency (>80%). PO addition did not cause changes in physical characteristics during 90 days of storage. The 24 hours' irritation test showed that F2 and F3 are non-irritating. By PO addition skin penetration improved at 2 hours' penetration study., Conclusion: PO addition up to 2% reduced viscosity, but did not affect particle size and morphology of Coenzyme Q10 NLC. Addition of PO up to 1.5% increased entrapment efficiency, did not irritate and increased the penetration of Coenzyme Q10 NLC., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest., (©Copyright: the Author(s).)

Chronic disease can cause tissue and organ damage constituting the largest obstacle to therapy which, in turn, reduces patients' quality-adjusted life-year. Degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and infectious conditions such as hepatitis, cause physical injury to organs. Moreover, damage resulting from chronic conditions such as diabetes can also culminate in the loss of organ function. In these cases, organ transplantation constitutes the therapy of choice, despite the associated problems of immunological rejection, potential disease transmission, and high morbidity rates. Tissue regeneration has the potential to heal or replace tissues and organs damaged by age, disease, or trauma, as well as to treat disabilities. Stem cell use represents an unprecedented strategy for these therapies. However, product availability and mass production remain challenges. A novel therapeutic alternative involving amniotic mesenchymal stem cell metabolite products (AMSC-MP) has been developed using metabolites from stem cells which contain cytokines and growth factors. Its potential role in regenerative therapy has recently been explored, enabling broad pharmacological applications including various gastrointestinal, lung, bladder and renal conditions, as well as the treatment of bone wounds, regeneration and skin aging due to its low immunogenicity and anti-inflammatory effects. The various kinds of growth factors present in AMSC-MP, namely bFGF, VEGF, TGF-β, EGF and KGF, have their respective functions and activities. Each growth factor is formed by different proteins resulting in molecules with various physicochemical properties and levels of stability. This knowledge will assist in the manufacture and application of AMSC-MP as a therapeutic agent., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This study compared the ability of Nanostructured Lipid Carrier (NLC), Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN), and Cream systems in delivering para Methoxycinnamic Acid (PMCA) to the dermis layer of the skin. Wistar rats were used as research subjects. NLC and SLN were made by applying the high shear homogenization method. Nile red was used as a penetration indicator based on its fluorescence. The interaction between fluorescence labeled NLC, SLN, or Cream and rat skin was visualized by fluorescence microscopy. Observations were made after 2 and 4.5 h of smearing the test sample. From the observations, it was known that the system/lipid base could penetrate the stratum corneum for delivering drugs. Penetration speed differs among systems as does the number of PMCAs that can be delivered. In this study, it can be concluded that the NLC system is able to deliver PMCA more quickly and in greater quantities to the dermis than SLN and Cream., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) with potential fatty acid content has a strong antibacterial effect for drug and cosmetics. VCO was hydrolyzed as hydrolyzed VCO (HVCO) to increase its activity. This study aims to optimize VCO and HVCO microspheres. Examination was included fatty acid content, density, and organoleptic. VCO and HVCO microspheres were characterized by yield, moisture content (MC), morphology, and size. Fatty acid content was done through gas chromatography mass spectrometry whereas for microspheres, effect of alginate concentration (1%-2%), and addition of poly ethylene glycol (PEG) were studied. VCO and HVCO microspheres formulas showed that an increase in polymer concentration, increasing yield, and improving MC. The most optimal 2% alginate with the addition of PEG increased yield up to 59% and reduced size. F4 microspheres resulted the highest yield, low MC, and high fatty acids. Morphology was spherical and smooth with small size. Optimization of HVCO microspheres showed its potential which recommend for antibacterial and antifungal activity., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research.)

The accumulation of plastic waste in the marine environment has increased the global risk of marine pollution due to its negative impact on land, ecosystems, and especially the food chain and marine organisms. Ineffective plastic waste management has reduced the quality of the coastal environment including community sanitation and health, landscapes, and coastal views, and influenced economic sectors such as tourism, fisheries, and shipping. The economic and public activities within coastal areas have consistently as the source of plastic waste leakage either directly or indirectly. Various variables involved and connected each other, some influential and other existing variables were not working effectively and do not support each other optimally in the system. The policy without limitation on the plastic production and certain type of plastic such as packaging or single-use, bags, and a lack of management capacity have led to the establishment of a burden on current plastic waste management within the coastal and marine of Jakarta Bay. Therefore, the study aims to analyze the roles and interrelation of variables that influence plastic waste management in Jakarta Bay. Public participation through group discussion, interview, and Micmac analysis method was used to identify, map, and analyze their interrelationships, roles, and hierarchy in the plastic waste management system. The results showed that the dynamics of variables' interaction affect their level of performance and contribution. The variables with strong influence have the potential to strengthen others, while some had a high dependence which was vulnerable to have ineffective performance in the waste management system as their stability relied on other variables' performance. A group of variables were greatly affected by others and indicates that they had lower influence and higher dependence, while the rest of the variables were relatively disconnected from the system. The key to better waste management is to improve the performance and the quality of relationships of variables that were found in the influential and intermediate quadrants. Furthermore, the indirect influence variables also need to be considered as they have the potential to contribute to the future system strategy or scenario planning., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest/Competing interests:• The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article. All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript. The authors have no financial or proprietary interests in any material discussed in this article., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2022, Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

This study purposes to develop solid lipid microparticles (SLM) inhalation delivery system for respiratory diseases with Quercetin as the active agent. Quercetin has various functions, such as for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulator, and antivirus. SLM is formed from a mixture of lipids and surfactants, namely, Glyceryl Behenate as solid lipid, Poloxamer 188 as the surfactant, and production of SLM using the melt o/w emulsification technique and was dried using freeze dryer. The effect of lipid concentration was studied in this research. Quercetin SLM was characterized by moisture content, Fourier transform infrared, particle size, yield, drug loading, and encapsulation efficiency. The SLM particles produced were spherical in shape and had a smooth surface with sizes of F1, F2, and F3 were 1.79 μm, 1.88 μm, and 1.91 μm, respectively. According to the target particle size of inhalation, Quercetin SLM had good flowability according to Carr's Index (F1 = 12.73% ± 0.38, F2 = 14.28% ± 0.65, F3 = 14.65% ± 0.62), in which the highest drug loading and EE of F3 were 10.94% and 88.48%, respectively. In vitro release study showed that in 630 min about 31%-33% Quercetin released indicated sustained release following Higuchi kinetics and quercetin release rate was not affected by the amount of lipid. To sum up, quercetin SLM demonstrates its potential as an inhalation delivery system and it is recommended to study its stability., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research.)

Human milk fat substitute (HMFS) is a structured lipid designed to resemble human milk fat. It contains 60-70% palmitic acid at the sn -2 position and unsaturated fatty acids at the sn -1,3 positions in triacylglycerol structures. HMFS is synthesized by the enzymatic interesterification of vegetable oils, animal fats or a blend of oils. The efficiency of HMFS synthesis can be enhanced through the selection of appropriate substrates, enzymes and reaction methods. This review focuses on the synthesis of HMFS by lipase-catalyzed interesterification and provides a detailed overview of biocatalysts, substrates, synthesis methods, factors influencing the synthesis and purification process for HMFS production. Major challenges and future research in the synthesis of HMFS are also discussed. This review can be used as an information for developing future strategies in producing HMFS., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

It has been known that in respiratory disease, antibiotic is selected for respiratory diseases or lung infections and this research focused on ciprofloxacin HCl as a model. The aim was to evaluate the effect of kappa-carrageenan polymer concentrations on characteristics, release, and drug deposition in the lung. Ciprofloxacin HCl-carrageenan microspheres were produced with kappa carrageenan (0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25%) as polymer and KCl (1.5%) as crosslinker. Physical characteristics were included morphology, size, moisture content, swelling index, mucoadhesivity, drug loading, entrapment efficiency, and yield. Freeze-dried microspheres were inhaled by animal, and drug deposition was observed. Results showed that dried, smooth, and spherical microspheres of size of 1.34 to 1.70 μm and loading of 15.63% to 38.72%. Entrapment efficiency and yield were 25.38%-51.61% and 52.53%-63.19%, respectively. Mucoadhesivity was 0.0059-0.0096 kg force, and release in 24 h was 74.38%-81.02%. Release kinetics demonstrated Higuchi mechanism. Increasing carrageenan concentration affected size, loading, and efficiency but did not influence adhesivity, yield, and release. Higher amount of polymer caused the lower deposit on the lungs. Respirable size of ciprofloxacin HCl-kappa carrageenan microspheres was successfully achieved target site and prolonged residence time in lungs., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2021 Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research.)

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate pain levels before and after Su Jok therapy., Methods: This research was a retrospective study from data collected in September-December 2019 in Indonesia. A total of 33 females and 13 males complaining of physical pain when visiting community services' activities and treated by a certified Su Jok therapist were included in this study. Physical pain scale was analyzed before and after therapy. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for statistical analysis., Results: As many as 57 physical complaints were recorded from 46 respondents. The most common area of pain was the extremities (32%). The types of therapy were energy therapy, correspondence therapy and combined therapy (energy and correspondence therapy). Combination therapy had 100% success in reducing the pain scale. There were significant differences in pain level before and after Su Jok therapy (p < 0.01)., Conclusion: Su Jok therapy provides an effective treatment in reducing pain., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Indonesian government committed to restoring over 2 million ha of degraded peatland by the end of 2020, mainly to reduce peat fires and greenhouse gas emissions. Although it is unlikely the government will meet this target, restoration projects are still underway. One restoration strategy involves blocking peatland drainage canals, but the consequences of this for smallholder farmers whose livelihoods are dependent on agriculture are unclear. This paper investigates perceived impacts of canal blocks on smallholder farmers and identifies factors that affect their willingness to accept canal blocks on their land. We use data from 181 household questionnaires collected in 2018 across three villages in Jambi province, Sumatra. We found that the majority of respondents would accept canal blocks on their farms, perceiving that the blocks would have no impact on yields or farm access, and would decrease fire risk. Respondents who would not accept blocks on their farms were more likely to use canals to access their farms and perceive that canal blocks would decrease yields. The majority of farmers unwilling to accept canal blocks did not change their mind when provided with an option of a block that would allow boat travel. Our results improve understanding of why some smallholders may be unwilling to engage with peatland restoration. Further research is needed to understand the impact of canal blocks on smallholders' yields. Engaging with stakeholders from the outset to understand farmers' concerns, and perceptions is key if the government is to succeed in meeting its peatland restoration target and to ensure that the costs and benefits of restoration are evenly shared between local stakeholders and other actors., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10113-020-01737-z., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

Cocos nucifera Linn., which contain lauric acid has been known had antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes that usually improve severe of pimple. Current study investigated optimum formula of emulgel mask based on the C. nucifera L. Extract from Kopyor coconut. Extract were tested for antibacterial against P. acnes ATCC 11827. In this research, C. nucifera L. extract of 1 and 5% were formulated as an active agent of peel off antiacne emulgel mask-containing carbomer 940 in various concentration (1% and 1.5%). The peel-off emulgel mask of C. nucifera L extract was then evaluated in terms of viscosity, pH, drying time, spreadability, and antibacterial activity. The selected formula was formula containing 5% of extract and 1% of carbomer 940. This formula had pH that suitable with skin pH 4.5-6.5, had good spreadability, and also produced highest antibacterial activity against P. acnes ., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research.)

Alginate is one of the natural polymers that are often used in drug- and protein-delivery systems. The use of alginate can provide several advantages including ease of preparation, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and nontoxicity. It can be applied to various routes of drug administration including targeted or localized drug-delivery systems. The development of alginates as a selected polymer in various delivery systems can be adjusted depending on the challenges that must be overcome by drug or proteins or the system itself. The increased effectiveness and safety of sodium alginate in the drug- or protein-delivery system are evidenced by changing the physicochemical characteristics of the drug or proteins. In this review, various routes of alginate-based drug or protein delivery, the effectivity of alginate in the stem cells, and cell encapsulation have been discussed. The recent advances in the in vivo alginate-based drug-delivery systems as well as their toxicities have also been reviewed., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Dewi Melani Hariyadi and Nazrul Islam.)

Worms are still a serious problem for poor and developing countries. Children, especially school-age children, are more at risk of infection. Efforts need to be made to prevent the effects of worms. Prevention can be done through a promotive approach. This observational study with a pre-posttest and cross-sectional approach is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of health education on healthy and helminthic behavior and analyzing the impact of helminthiasis on the deficit in the diet and children's learning achievement. The number of samples is 60 students from five grade 3 and 4 elementary schools in North Pontianak, West Kalimantan. The sampling technique was carried out by proportional random sampling. Worm infection in elementary school students was 16.7%, anemia was 55%, and learning achievement scores were less than the average grade of 55%. There was a significant difference in health counseling towards a decrease in the worm number ( p = 0.046). There was a significant relationship between healthy living behavior and helminthiasis ( p = 0.005). There was a significant relationship between helminthiasis and anemia ( p = 0.017). There is a relationship between helminthiasis and learning achievement in elementary school children ( p = 0.017). There is a relationship between anemia and learning achievement ( p = 0.005). It is necessary for public health centers to provide treatment services for worms and health education about the effects of helminthiasis on health and learning achievement. The school should provide hand washing facilities in schools, and parents should play an active role in improving clean and healthy lifestyle habits at home., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Widyana Lakshmi Puspita et al.)

This research aimed to evaluate the effect of acid stress on the expression of stress regulator ( grxB and rpoS ) and virulence ( ompA, hfq, and cpa ) genes of Cronobacter sakazakii Yrt2a. The results showed that C. sakazakii Yrt2a experienced decrease in number during acid stress and was no longer culturable 90 min post exposure to pH 3.0. During acid stress, the expression of grxB, rpoS , ompA , cpa and hfq was upregulated by 2.15; 2.19; 1.55; 1.1 and 1.41 log, respectively. However, all genes expression was downregulated when the bacteria entered the unculturable state. The expression of gene grxB, rpoS, ompA, cpa decreased to 1.04; 0.37; 0.84 and 1.71 log, respectively; while hfq gene expression reached a level lower than that of control. This research implies a supposition that during acid stress, C. sakazakii was capable of maintaining its culturability and pathogenicity until they are no longer culturable., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interests., (© The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology 2020.)

Increasing energy cost has driven the food canning industries to optimize their energy consumption in order to produce safe and shelf-stable foods efficiently. In the mushroom canning industry, energy efficiency is very critical to improve product (price) competitiveness. This research aimed at demonstrating total steam consumption to achieve the same sterility level ( F 0 -value) of canned mushroom by using different combinations of times and temperatures of retorting. Agaricus bisporus in brine contained in 300 × 407 cans was heat processed in a horizontal static retort. Three different retort temperatures (115, 121, and 130°C) and different operator processing times ranging from 2 to 97 minutes were employed to achieve different levels of F 0 -values. Our results showed that at the same level of sterility, steam consumption inversely decreased with the increase of retort temperature. At the same F 0 -value of 10 minutes, energy efficiency for up to 72.9% and 58.1% per batch of retorting was achieved by increasing the temperature from 115 to 130°C and 115 to 121°C, respectively. Since steam consumption is a major element of production costs in the canning industry, the selection of higher temperatures and shorter time of retorting will have a positive commercial impact due to the reduction of production costs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Didik J. Pursito et al.)

Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disease associated with intermittent airflow obstruction caused by airway inflammation, mucus overproduction, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Despite current treatment and management options, a large number of patients with asthma still have poorly controlled disease and are susceptible to acute exacerbations, usually caused by a respiratory virus infection. As a result, there remains a need for novel therapies to achieve better control and prevent/treat exacerbations. Nanoparticles (NPs), including extracellular vesicles (EV) and their synthetic counterparts, have been developed for drug delivery in respiratory diseases. In the case of asthma, where airway epithelium dysfunction, including dysregulated differentiation of epithelial cells, impaired barrier, and immune response, is a driver of disease, targeting airway epithelial cells with NPs may offer opportunities to repair or reverse these dysfunctions with therapeutic interventions. EVs possess multiple advantages for airway epithelial targeting, such as their natural intrinsic cell-targeting properties and low immunogenicity. Synthetic NPs can be coated with muco-inert polymers to overcome biological barriers such as mucus and the phagocytic response of immune cells. Targeting ligands could be also added to enhance targeting specificity to epithelial cells. The review presents current understanding and advances in NP-mediated drug delivery to airway epithelium for asthma therapy. Future perspectives in this therapeutic strategy will also be discussed, including the development of novel formulations and physiologically relevant preclinical models.

Medium-long-medium (MLM) structured lipids typically contain medium-chain fatty acids (C6-C12) at sn -1,3 and long-chain fatty acids (C14-C24) at sn -2 positions. They have reduced calories and are suitable for the control of obesity, lipid malabsorption and other metabolic disorders. This review focuses on the synthesis of MLM lipids by the enzymatic interesterification. It gives detailed description of biocatalysts, substrates, reactors and synthesis methods, and discusses the use of MLM lipids in food products. The information provided in this review can be considered as the current state-of-the art for developing a future strategy for the synthesis of MLM structured lipids.

Aim: (-)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has been reported as inducing apoptosis in cervical cancer. However, EGCG demonstrates low skin permeability. In order to develop topical delivery of EGCG, the partition coefficient, log P, was modified using a reverse micelle method. Results & methodology: During this study, Tween 80 and Span 80 were added to EGCG at hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) values of 4.3, 6 and 8. The results showed that lowering the HLB value increases the log P value of EGCG and results in higher IC 50 values in Henrietta Lacks (HeLa) cancer cells than that of EGCG. Surfactant-modified EGCG-HLB 6 produced faster and deeper skin penetration than EGCG. Conclusion: Modification of log P value using a combination of Tween 80 and Span 80 improved cytotoxicity and topical delivery of EGCG.

Indonesian kefir grains are potential sources of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that may act as probiotics with specific functional properties. In this study we explored the potential of the probiotic and cholesterol-lowering effect of LAB isolated from Indonesian kefir grains obtained from Bogor, Bandung, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta. The results revealed that 10 isolates showed considerable survivability at low pH and bile salt with total cell reduction of ~3 log colony-forming units per milliliter after exposure to pH 2.5 and 0.5% (w/v) bile salt for 1 and 3 h, respectively. All strains exhibited strong antimicrobial activities against pathogenic bacteria and were sensitive to a wide spectrum of antibiotics but exhibited weak bile salt hydrolase activity. Identification based on 16S RNA suggested that nine isolates were Lactobacillus kefiri and one was Lactobacillus rhamnosus . The ability of the isolates to reduce cholesterol from the media varied, ranging from 22.08% to 68.75% with the highest reduction shown by L. kefiri JK17. The ability to remove cholesterol from the media decreased greatly in resting and dead cells, ranging from 14.58% to 22.08% in resting cells and from 7.89% to 18.17% in dead cells. It can be concluded that Indonesian kefir grains contain LAB potentially acting as probiotics capable of reducing cholesterol. The cholesterol-lowering effect especially occurs when the cells are metabolically active.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of oral administration of Myrmeleon formicarius (antlion) extract on liver and kidney histology in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice., Methods: Twenty-four mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and were then divided into six groups. Untreated diabetic mice served as the negative control group, and glibenclamide-treated mice served as the positive control group. Mice in the other four groups, namely T1, T2, T3, and T4 groups, received M. formicarius (antlion) extract at 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 mg/kg, respectively. Permanent thin sections were used to examine liver and kidney histology., Results: The most appropriate antihyperglycaemic dosage of the M. formicarius extract was 10 mg/kg for 2 days. Histological examination of the liver and kidneys showed that the antlion extract at 10 and 5 mg/kg exhibited significant tissue-repair effects., Conclusion: M. formicarius (antlion) extract can not only reduce blood glucose levels but also repair hyperglycaemia-induced tissue damage.

The objective of this study was to determine and evaluate a controlled release implant of ciprofloxacin using bovine hydroxyapatite (BHA)-chitosan composite and glutaraldehyde or genipin as crosslinking agents. Ciprofloxacin implants were prepared using BHA, chitosan, ciprofloxacin at 30:60:10 and using three different concentrations of glutaraldehyde or genipin (0.3, 0.5, or 0.7%) as crosslinkers. Implants were formed as mini-tablet with 4.0 mm diameter weighing 100 mg using compression method. Further, the prepared ciprofloxacin implants were characterized for porosity, density, water absorption capacity, swelling, degradation, compressive strength, compatibility (Fourier transforms-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR)), morphology (scanning electron microscope (SEM)), X-ray diffraction (X-RD), and in vitro drug release. The addition of glutaraldehyde or genipin as crosslinkers in ciprofloxacin implant showed controlled release profile of ciprofloxacin over a time period of 30 days. SEM photomicrograph revealed low porosity of the implant after crosslinking with glutaraldehyde or genipin. The FTIR study confirmed the formation of covalent imine bonds between chitosan and glutaraldehyde. Moreover, the addition of glutaraldehyde or genipin as crosslinkers caused a decrease in the mechanical strength of the implant. Increased concentration of glutaraldehyde or genipin reduced the crystallinity of BHA and chitosan, which were confirmed by X-RD studies. The results obtained from this study indicated that glutaraldehyde or genipin had the potential effect to retard ciprofloxacin release from BHA-chitosan-ciprofloxacin implant for 30 days.

Cronobacter spp. in powdered infant formula has been etiologically linked to meningitis and necrotizing enterocolitis in certain groups of infants. This study aimed to determine whether C. sakazakii Yrt2a strain experiencing desiccation stress could enter viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state as well as to examine the expression of genes associated with stress and virulence during the above states. Stress and VBNC conditions were determined based on viability and culturability assays. Expression of genes related to stress ( rpo S) and virulence ( hfq and omp A) was evaluated by real-time PCR. The results showed that C. sakazakii Yrt2a entered VBNC 24 days post exposure to 2 h of desiccation treatment. The expression of rpo S, hfq and omp A genes was up-regulated during stress conditions, suggesting that Cronobacter successfully managed stress to maintain its culturability while maintaining its virulence. The expression of the target genes decreased at VBNC state but remained higher than that of a normal state. These findings reinforce the assumption that C. sakazakii undergoing VBNC state maintains its pathogenicity.

Objectives: The development of oral vaccine formulations has been widely investigated to overcome oral route problems. This research investigated the in vivo immune response of ovalbumin-alginate microspheres by uptake compared with a commercial oral vaccine product., Materials and Methods: Ovalbumin-loaded alginate microspheres were prepared using aerosolization. Ovalbumin antigen in vivo uptake was investigated in order to understand the distribution and uptake by Peyer's plaque (PP) after oral administration using fluorescence microscopy. The histopathology of ovalbumin-alginate microspheres in the liver and kidney was also investigated., Results: The use of alginate microspheres to deliver vaccines could be a promising delivery system for the development of oral vaccines because uptake by PP is an essential step in oral vaccination., Conclusion: Fluorescence visualization revealed the uptake of ovalbumin-loaded alginate microspheres with and without lyoprotectant maltodextrin by PP was equal to the oral vaccine product and no liver or kidney damage was found., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors., (©Copyright 2017 Turk J Pharm Sci, Published by Galenos Publishing House.)

A spectroscopic study was conducted to evaluate the colour degradation mechanism of anthocyanin-rich extract from butterfly pea petal. The extract was diluted in four different solvent systems, which were buffer solution pH 7 (AQ7) and the mixture of organic solvent with buffer solution pH 7 (4:1 v/v). The organic cosolvent involved were methanol (ME7), ethanol (ET7) and acetone (AC7). The samples were stored in containers with 0% and 50% headspace, and their colour intensity, total anthocyanin and hypsochromic shift were evaluated periodically. The rank of colour and anthocyanin degradation from the biggest was AQ7 > ME7 > ET7 > AC7. The longest hypsochromic shift was AQ7 > ME7 > ET7, while in AC7 the shift was absent. There was evidence that the volume of package headspace provoked colour stability. The colour degradation in AC7 was proposed to occur through hydrophobic interaction unfolding, and in AQ7 was through the deacylation, while in ME7 and ET7 was due to both mechanisms.

Effect of tocols, β-carotene, and chlorophyll on photo-oxidative stability of red palm oil (RPO) were studied. Model systems of triacylglycerols+tocols, triacylglycerols+β-carotene, triacylglycerols +tocols+β-carotene, and triacylglycerols+tocols+β-carotene+chlorophyll were exposed to fluorescent light at intensities of 5,000, 10,000, and 15,000 lux for 7 h at 30±2°C. Changes in concentrations of tocopherols, tocotrienols, β-carotene, chlorophyll, and peroxide values were evaluated every hour. Light intensity accelerated degradation of tocols in the triacylglycerols+tocols system and β-carotene in the triacylglycerols+β-carotene system. Gamma-tocotrienol showed the highest degradation rate and β-carotene was the most sensitive compound to changes in light intensity, indicated by the lowest light intensity coefficient (z i ) value. The presence of tocols and β-carotene together showed protective effects for the photo-oxidative stability of RPO. The presence of chlorophyll increased the rate of photo-oxidation at high light intensities. Interactions between tocols and β-carotene contributed to the photo-oxidative stability of RPO.

Unbranded palm cooking oil has been fortified for several years and can be found in the market with different oxidation levels. This study aimed to investigate the stability and shelf life of unbranded, bulk, vitamin A-fortified palm oils with the most commonly observed oxidation levels in Indonesia. Three types of cooking oils were tested: (i) cooking oil with a peroxide value (PV) below 2 mEq O2/kg (PO1); (ii) cooking oil with a PV around 4 mEq O2/kg (PO2); and (iii) cooking oil with a PV around 9 mEq O2/kg (PO3). The oil shelf life was determined by using accelerated shelf life testing (ASLT), where the product was stored at 60, 75 and 90 °C, and then PV, free fatty acid and vitamin A concentration in the oil samples were measured. The results showed that PO1 had a shelf life of between 2-3 months, while PO2's shelf life was a few weeks and PO3's only a few days. Even given those varying shelf lives, the vitamin A loss in the oils was still acceptable, at around 10%. However, the short shelf life of highly oxidized cooking oil, such as PO3, might negatively impact health, due to the potential increase of free radicals of the lipid peroxidation in the oil. Based on the results, the Indonesian government should prohibit the sale of highly-oxidized cooking oil. In addition, government authorities should promote and endorse the fortification of only cooking oil with low peroxide levels to ensure that fortification is not associated with any health issues associated with high oxidation levels of the cooking oil.

Propranolol hydrochloride was directly encapsulated in alginate gel microspheres (40-50 µm in diameter) using a novel method involving impinging aerosols of CaCl(2) cross-linking solution and sodium alginate solution containing the drug. Microspheres formulated using 0.1 M CaCl(2) exhibited the highest drug loading (14%, w/w of dry microspheres) with 66.5% encapsulation efficiency. Less than 4% and 35% propranolol release occurred from hydrated and dried microspheres, respectively, in 2 h in simulated gastric fluid (SGF). The majority of the drug load (90%) was released in 5 and 7 h from hydrated and dried microspheres, respectively, in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). Prior incubation of hydrated microspheres (cross-linked using 0.5 M CaCl(2)) in SGF prolonged the time of release in SIF to 10 h, which has implications for the design of protocols and correlation with in vivo release behaviour. Restricted propranolol release in SGF and complete extraction in SIF demonstrate the potential of alginate gel microspheres for oral delivery of pharmaceuticals.

Lysozyme and insulin were encapsulated in alginate gel microspheres using impinging aerosols method. High loadings of around 50% weight/dry microspheres weight were obtained with encapsulation efficiencies of at least 48%. Environmental scanning electron microscopy revealed smooth spherical hydrated microspheres (30-60 µm) in diameter. No lysozyme or insulin release was measured in simulated gastric fluid (HCl, pH 1.2, 37°C). Total insulin release occurred in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF; phosphate buffer saline, pH 7.4, 37°C) in 8 h following 2 h incubation in SGF and was found to retain 75% activity using the ARCHITECT® assay. Lysozyme was released completely in SIF in 10 h following 2 h incubation in SGF and was found to exhibit at least 80% bioactivity using the Micrococcus lysodeikticus assay. The absence of protein release in HCl and the retention of high levels of biological activity demonstrate the potential of alginate gel microspheres, for improving oral delivery of biopharmaceuticals.

Microencapsulation of a hydrophilic active (gentamicin sulphate (GS)) and a hydrophobic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (ibuprofen) in alginate gel microparticles was accomplished by molecular diffusion of the drug species into microparticles produced by impinging aerosols of alginate solution and CaCl(2) cross-linking solution. A mean particle size in the range of 30-50 µm was measured using laser light scattering and high drug loadings of around 35 and 29% weight/dry microparticle weight were obtained for GS and ibuprofen respectively. GS release was similar in simulated intestinal fluid (phosphate buffer saline (PBS), pH 7.4, 37°C) and simulated gastric fluid (SGF) (HCl, pH 1.2, 37°C) but was accelerated in PBS following incubation of microparticles in HCl. Ibuprofen release was restricted in SGF but occurred freely on transfer of microparticles into PBS with almost 100% efficiency. GS released in PBS over 7 h, following incubation of microparticles in HCl for 2 h was found to retain at least 80% activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis while Ibuprofen retained around 50% activity against Candida albicans. The impinging aerosols technique shows potential for producing alginate gel microparticles of utility for protection and controlled delivery of a range of therapeutic molecules.

The paper describes a set of simple experiments performed to develop an optical model to describe Si/SiO(2) substrates coated with two transparent films of carbon nanotubes. The final goal is to use such optical model to investigate the interaction of proteins with carbon nanotubes. Experiments were performed to assess light reflection as a function of the wavelength or angle of incidence using two substrates (same material, different amounts) composed of oxidized carbon nanotubes. The experimental results indicate that the selected carbon nanotubes layers are anisotropic and significantly different from each other. Experiments performed by spectroscopic ellipsometry (as a function of the wavelength and incident angle) enabled the development of an Effective Medium Approximation model consisting in a two-fraction phase (arc-evaporated carbon and void space). Furthermore, the model enabled calculating the amount of protein adsorbed on the surface of the carbon nanotubes film.

Bacillus licheniformis MB-2, isolated from a hot spring water in Manado, Indonesia, secreted a unique chitosanase. Media consisted of 0.24% chitosan, 0.25% casiton, 1% MgSO4, 1.4% K2HPO4, 0.02% CaCl2 x 2H2O, 0.002% FeSO4 x 7H2O (w/v) was used for enzyme production. Purification of the enzyme through the hydrophobic interaction chromatography system (butyl Sepharose 4 FF) resulted in two major active fractions; the F2 fraction was shown as a single band at both sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and zymogram analysis with apparent molecular mass of 75 kDa. The enzyme worked best at 70 degrees C and pH between 6.0 and 7.0. When incubated at 70, 80, and 90 degrees , the t(1/2) values were 26.56, 18.44, and 16.74 min, respectively with the k constant being at 0.026, 0.037, and 0.04/min. When heated at 90 degrees C, the enzyme retained its activity up to 8 h in the presence of 1 mM MnCl2. The enzyme's activity was unaffected by the presence of 1 M NaCl and 6 M urea but was decreased by 2 M of guanidine hydrochloride. Albeit the enzyme did not degrade colloidal and glycol chitin, it hydrolyzed glycol chitosan up to 0.8% and colloidal chitosan up to 11%. The 85% deacetylated (DDA) soluble chitosan was the most susceptible to this enzyme, followed by 90% and 100% DDA chitosan. The K(m app) values of the 85, 90, and 100% DDA soluble chitosans were found as 0.23, 0.24, and 0.58 mg/mL, whereas the Vmax values were 843, 668, and 261 U/mg, respectively. The hydrolysis products of F2 chitosanase at 24 h incubation (70 degrees C) were pentasaccharide (GlcN)5 and hexasaccharide (GlcN)6. The preliminary test showed inhibitory effect of chitooligosaccharides resulted from enzymatic degradation toward Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus.

In this study properties of a contaminant material on the surface of a probe window (prism) were investigated. The probe window, i.e., the prism, is part of the reflectometer apparatus exploited in this study. The contaminant layer was considered to originate from a pulping solution containing lignin contacting the surface of the prism. In these experiments the contact time was up to 5.0 hours. To find the values of the contaminant material properties, i.e., refractive index (n), extinction coefficient (k), and effective thickness (d), an optical model was proposed assuming that the contaminant layer is continuous and homogenous. In addition, the model includes an inter-diffusion layer existing between the contaminant layer and the lignin solution. From the fitting procedure using the optical model of depth profiling, it was found that the growth rate of the contaminant layer was approximately 60 nm per hour. The results obtained by theory and experiments were consistent for both s- and p-polarizations and for the various wavelengths of the light source (300, 400, and 500 nm).