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Viperin is a member of the radical S-adenosylmethionine superfamily and has been shown to restrict the replication of a wide range of RNA and DNA viruses. We recently demonstrated that human viperin (HsVip) catalyzes the conversion of CTP to 3′-deoxy-3′,4′-didehydro-CTP (ddhCTP or ddh-synthase), which acts as a chain terminator for virally encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerases from several flaviviruses. Viperin homologues also exist in non-chordate eukaryotes (e.g., Cnidaria and Mollusca), numerous fungi, and members of the archaeal and eubacterial domains. Recently, it was reported that non-chordate and non-eukaryotic viperin-like homologues are also ddh-synthases and generate a diverse range of ddhNTPs, including the newly discovered ddhUTP and ddhGTP. Herein, we expand on the catalytic mechanism of mammalian, fungal, bacterial, and archaeal viperin-like enzymes with a combination of X-ray crystallography and enzymology. We demonstrate that, like mammalian viperins, these recently discovered viperin-like enzymes operate through the same mechanism and can be classified as ddh-synthases. Furthermore, we define the unique chemical and physical determinants supporting ddh-synthase activity and nucleotide selectivity, including the crystallographic characterization of a fungal viperin-like enzyme that utilizes UTP as a substrate and a cnidaria viperin-like enzyme that utilizes CTP as a substrate. Together, these results support the evolutionary conservation of the ddh-synthase activity and its broad phylogenetic role in innate antiviral immunity.

Cholinium-based ionic liquids (Cho-ILs) are very attractive compounds for medicinal and pharmaceutical applications as bioavailability enhancers in drug formulations and active components in pharma...

Zinc ferrite nanoparticles were obtained by chemical methods (co-precipitation and thermal decomposition of metalorganic compounds) and systematically probed with volume (XRD, VSM), microscopic (TEM) and element sensitive probes (ICP-OES, Mössbauer Spectroscopy, XPS, XAFS). Magnetic studies proved the paramagnetic response of stoichiometric ZnFe2O4 (ZF) nanoparticles, while superparamagnetic behavior was observed in as-synthesized, non-stoichiometric Zn x Fe3−x O (NZF) nanoparticles. Upon annealing up to 1400 °C in an inert atmosphere, a significant change in the saturation magnetization of NZF nanoparticles was observed, which rose from approximately 50 up to 140 emu/g. We attribute this effect to the redistribution of cations in the spinel lattice and reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ during high-temperature treatment. Iron reduction is observed in both ZF and NZF nanoparticles, and it is related to the decomposition of zinc ferrite and associated sublimation of zinc oxide.

Curcumin (1,7-bis (4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) -1,6-heptadine-3,5-dione) is also referred to as diferuloylmethane and it is the main polyphenol founded in Curcuma longa (turmeric). They are three mainly curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin) in the turmeric root [1]. Curcumin belongs to the group of natural compounds and has a number of properties that affect its wide application in many different industries [2,3]. Due to its characteristic yellow colour it is also successfully used as a food coloring. Curcumin is also often used in the pharmaceutical industry. It is used in the treatment of various pathological conditions. It is because of a number of properties like for example anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-rheumatic, antimicrobial and anti-diabetic. Moreover, curcumin has been shown to be protective for the liver, heart, kidneys and neurons [3]. Curcumin is also characterized by a beneficial effect on afflictions such as arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, flatulence, dysentery, jaundice, acne, eye and skin infections. It also works very well as a wound remedy [4]. Curcumin is also used as a seasoning and dye in the food industry because it is a safe substance belonging to the group of polyphenolic compounds [3,5]. Due to many mentioned properties, curcumin is used in an increasing number of preparations which are available all over the world [4]. Unfortunately, the clinical application of described substance, due to its features, may be difficult. Curcumin is characterized by poor water solubility, poor absorption, fast metabolism and elimination, as well as low bioavailability [2]. A number of conducted studies indicates that various methods based on nanoparticles, inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins, liposomes or microemulsions improved the bioavailability of curcumin and they enabled to use a number of properties of this polyphenol [6]. Poor water solubility, poor penetration and absorption capacity and as a results low bioavailability pose challenges during preparing a formulation based on curcumin [7].

In the field of organic electronics, the energy level alignment between the components of a device is crucial for its final performance. Improvement in the final properties can be achieved using hybrids made of organic and inorganic materials. In highly defected systems, like polymers or nanoparticles, every charge carrier matters, and the potential barriers or possible defects must be considered when designing a hybrid consisting of such components. However, the difference in the interface modification in such materials and its influence on final conductivity were never studied before. This paper shows how modification of the medium in iron oxide nanoparticle synthesis can increase the hole transportation efficiency without altering the morphology, magnetic properties, and chemical composition of the obtained nanoparticles. We found that a six-time increase of conductivity can be achieved, mainly due to the shift in the hole injection barrier which was reduced from 1.7 eV for pristine P3HT to 1 eV for materials made of nanoparticles and P3HT, and also by lack of the diffusion barrier between the nanoparticles and conducting polymer. Until now, research on such systems has mainly focused on the dispersity and stability of nanoparticles, which led to the isolation of components in the final product caused by capping agents at the surface of the additive. Our results demonstrate how surface functionalization of iron oxide nanoparticles can reduce the barrier at the nanoparticle/polythiophene interface and influence the energy level alignment, hence improving the electrical conductivity of the final material.

About 40% of newly-discovered entities are poorly soluble in water, and this may be an obstacle in the creation of new drugs. To address this problem, the present review article examines the structure and properties of cyclodextrins and the formation and potential uses of drug – cyclodextrin inclusion complexes. Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligosaccharides containing six or more D-(+)- glucopyranose units linked by α-1,4-glycosidic bonds, which are characterized by a favourable toxicological profile, low local toxicity and low mucous and eye irritability; they are virtually non-toxic when administered orally. They can be incorporated in the formulation of new drugs in their natural form (α-, β-, γ-cyclodextrin) or as chemically-modified derivatives. They may also be used as an excipient in drugs delivered by oral, ocular, dermal, nasal and rectal routes, as described in the present paper. Cyclodextrins are promising compounds with many beneficial properties, and their use may be increasingly profitable for pharmaceutical scientists.

Non-proteinogenic amino acids are widely explored group of compounds due to their chemical properties and great potential of application in the combinatorial chemistry, medicinal investigation etc. Therefore the synthetic methods of their incorporation to the peptide chain are required. l-Mimosine, (S)-α-amino-β-(3-hydoxy-4-oxo-1,4-dihydropyridin-1-yl)-propanoic acid), is a plant amino acid, known to induce apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer xenografts. Here we present our investigations on the synthesis of mimosine-containing peptide and their ESI-MS/MS analysis. We successfully applied Fmoc-protected mimosine a with a free hydroxy ketone group for efficient peptide synthesis in the presence of HATU as a coupling reagent without the formation of side products. Additionally the tandem mass spectrometry analysis revealed the characteristic loss of the heterocyclic ring from mimosine residue side chain. The described method allows insertion of mimosine residue at any endo-position within a peptide sequence. The obtained results may be useful in the synthesis and mass spectrometry analysis of various mimosine-containing peptides.

Some holoparasitic species can become cultivated plants due to their unique chemical composition. A lot of bioactive contents are characteristic for them. Holoparasites of the family Orobanchaceae are known to be an important and rich source of polyphenols, especially metabolites of the phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) group. However, only a minority of the species in this family have been phytochemically tested. They are reported to have multiple biological and therapeutic effects and have been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. This is the first study to present phytochemical profiling for a representative of genus Phelypaea. The chemical composition and biological activity in particular organs of the parasite, P. tournefortii, were determined. The interaction with its host, Tanacetum polycephalum (Asteraceae), from different places and altitudes was also studied. We presented the determination of polyphenolic compounds with the UPLC-PDA-MS/MS method, antioxidative effects and inhibitory activities, polyphenols, and nitrates content, ABTS•+, DPPH, FRAP, as well as colour parameters. The polyphenols profile of the parasite and host were different in quality and quantity. Identification of polyphenolic compounds revealed 41 compounds, 15 in the parasite (12 phenylethanoids and 3 anthocyanins), and 26 in the host (mainly flavonoids and phenolic acids). The amount and biological activity of polyphenolic compounds present in Phelypaea was very diverse and depended on the host plant and the parasite’s organs, as well as on population altitude. The results show that P. tournefortii is a potential source of functional and pro-health components. They also direct researchers’ attention to the parasite’s organs, host, and environmental influence.

A significant increase in highbush blueberry plantings has been observed annually. However, there is a problem with the handling of fruit that does not meet the requirements for dessert berries. One of the methods to use the fruit is drying. The research was conducted in the Department of Horticulture at the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin. The fruit was harvested at a plantation specialising in the production of highbush blueberry from irrigated and non-irrigated plots. This study aimed to assess how cutting or pricking highbush blueberry fruit affects the duration of the sublimation drying process – freeze-drying. The biological value of fresh, freeze-dried, and rehydrated fruit was assessed. The amount of fruit left on bushes depended on the weather prevailing in the growing season, especially during the harvest period. The mass of fruit left on the bushes was approx. 1 to 2 t/ha. Although these fruits were small, they had a very high biological value. After freeze-drying and rehydration, the blueberry fruit retained their colour, high content of polyphenols and showed high antidiabetic activity and antioxidant capacity. The large fruit reached the moisture content of approx. 12%, which ensures safe storage and the appropriate texture, after 46 hours of drying, and the smaller fruit - after 32 hours. Fruit cutting or pricking reduced the drying time by half. Reducing this time decreased drying costs and increased biological value.

There is a growing public interest in fruits labeled as „superfood” (functional food). A “superfood” should have a high content of bioactive substances with a positive impact on human health. Seven different cultivars of goji berry fruits (Lycium chinense Mill.) grown in north-western Poland were evaluated for its physicochemical parameters, antidiabetic and antioxidant activity, and polyphenol content. The length of 1-year-old shoots ranged from 36 cm (‘Big Lifeberry’) to 82 cm (‘Korean Big’). Cultivars from the group of Big were characterized by the biggest fruits (17.3-24.2 mm) with the greatest weight of 100 fruits (96.7­122.1 g). ‘Big Lifeberry’ contained high amounts of L-ascorbic acid (408 mg 1000/g) and provitamin A (190 mg 1000/g) and showed high antidiabetic (α-amylase IC50=33.4 mg/mL; α-glucosidase IC50=9.9 mg/mL) and antioxidant activity (ABTS·+ 6.21 and FRAP 5.58 mmol T/100 g). ‘Big Lifeberry’ was also characterized by a high total content of polyphenols (43.64 mg 100/g). Furthermore, the nitrite content in all the cultivars tested was at a relatively low level. Among the examined cultivars, the most attractive one concerning the consumers’ point of view of the size, weight and high content of health-promoting compounds is ‘Big Lifeberry’.

Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) was extracted forty years ago 1 from calf thymus. Since then, it has been identified as a G-actin binding protein involved in blood clothing, tissue regeneration, angiogenesis, and anti-inflammatory processes. Tβ4 has also been implicated in tumor metastasis and neurodegeneration. However, the precise roles and mechanism(s) of action of Tβ4 in these processes remain largely unknown, with the binding of the G-actin protein being insufficient to explain these multi-actions. Here we identify for the first time the important part of Tβ4 mechanism in ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death, which leads to neurodegeneration and somehow protects cancer cells against cell death. Specifically, we demonstrate four iron2+and iron3+ binding regions along the peptide and show that the presence of Tβ4 in cell growing medium inhibits erastin and glutamate-induced ferroptosis in macrophage cell line. Moreover, Tβ4 increases the expression of oxidative stress-related genes, namely BAX, hem oxygenase-1, Heat shock protein 70 and Thioredoxin reductase 1, which are downregulated during ferroptosis. We state the hypothesis that Tβ4 is an endogenous iron chelator and take part of iron homeostasis in ferroptosis process. We discuss the literature data of parallel involvement of Tβ4 and ferroptosis in different human pathologies, mainly cancer and neurodegeneration. Our findings confronted with literature data shows that controlled Tβ4 release could command on/off switching of ferroptosis, and may provide novel therapeutic opportunities in pathologies of cancer and tissue degeneration.

Diabetes is associated with a number of mental health consequences, including enhanced risk of depression and anxiety, as well as decreased quality of life, and vitamin D deficiency is considered to be one of the factors that influence these outcomes in diabetic patients. The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature presenting the data regarding the influence of vitamin D supplementation on mental health in diabetic adults. This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (Registration number CRD42020155779). A systematic search of the PubMed and Web of Science databases was performed, and the intervention studies published until September 2021 were included in the review. The human studies were included if an adult sample of diabetic individuals received vitamin D supplementation during the intervention and its effect on any mental health aspect was assessed, but studies presenting the influence of combined supplementation of multiple nutrients were excluded. After removing duplicate records, a total of 8514 publications were screened and assessed independently by two researchers, based on their title, abstract, and full text. Finally, six studies were included in the current systematic review, and the risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). The included studies analyzed the influence of a specific dose of vitamin D, or different doses of vitamin D, or compared the results of supplementation with a specific dose of vitamin D against the placebo group. The supplementation was performed for at least 12 weeks. The mental health outcomes analyzed in these studies included health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety, stress, and general mental health status of adult diabetic patients. The results of the majority of the studies confirmed the positive influence of vitamin D supplementation on the mental health of diabetic individuals. Those studies that analyzed the influence of vitamin D supplementation on depression and anxiety established the beneficial effect of the vitamin. In some studies, the influence of vitamin D supplementation on the health-related quality of life was not considered unless combined with mindfulness training. However, it must be emphasized that different dosage regimens and intervention periods were followed in the reviewed studies, and only a small number of studies were randomized against placebo, which should be considered as a limitation of the present study. The findings of the conducted systematic review demonstrated the positive influence of vitamin D supplementation on the mental health of diabetic patients, which was proved for anxiety and depression, but in the case of health-related quality of life, the positive effect was observed only when the intervention included mindfulness training. These outcomes suggest that supplementation should be recommended to improve the vitamin D status and the mental health of patients in this group.

A variety of polymeric scaffolds with the ability to control cell detachment has been created for cell culture using stimuli-responsive polymers. However, the widely studied and commonly used thermo-responsive polymeric substrates always affect the properties of the cultured cells due to the temperature stimulus. Here, we present a different stimuli-responsive approach based on poly(3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride) (poly(APTAC)) brushes with homogeneously embedded superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). Neuroblastoma cell detachment was triggered by an external magnetic field, enabling a non-invasive process of controlled transfer into a new place without additional mechanical scratching and chemical/biochemical compound treatment. Hybrid scaffolds obtained in simultaneous surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) working in the magnetic mode, secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to confirm the magnetic properties and chemical structure. Moreover, neuroblastoma cells were cultured and characterized before and after exposure to a neodymium magnet. Controlled cell transfer triggered by a magnetic field is presented here as well.

We propose a microscopic model describing the process of DNA thermal denaturation. The process consists of the splitting of DNA base pairs, or nucleotides, resulting in the separation of two complementary DNA strands. In contrast to the previous modelling attempts we take into account the states of all base pairs of DNA which in fact imposes the microscopic nature of the approach. The model is a linear integro-differential non-autonomous equation describing the dynamics of probability density which characterizes the distances between the bases within individual base pairs. The non autonomous structure of the equation comes from the dependence on temperature that may be in the general case a (given) function of time. To our knowledge it is the first model taking into account not only the strength of double and triple hydrogen bonds between the complementary bases but also the stacking interactions between neighborhood base pairs. In the present paper the basic preliminary properties of the model including the existence, uniqueness and stability results in various cases are discussed. Moreover the symmetrized version of the model is considered and the “macroscopic limit” is studied. The performed numerical simulations reproduce the sigmoid shape of DNA melting curves and reveal the appearance of experimentally observed denaturation bubbles.

Growing social interest in foods with high biological quality results in the need to look for possibilities of increasing the biological quality of food products. The aim of this research was an attempt to estimate the increase of polyphenolic compounds (by UPLC-PDA-MS/MS) in the flesh and skin of pear under the influence of stress elicitors such as UVC radiation, L-EMF, H-EMF and US with various exposure times. The applied stress factors differentiated the content of phenolic acids, flavan-3-ols and flavonols both in flesh and in skin. In all cases, pear skin demonstrated a decrease in the sum of polyphenolic compounds; however, when it comes to flavan-3-ols and procyanidins, the concentration of the compounds increased in two cases: after a 30-min exposure to L-EMF (+ 18%) and after a 5-min exposure to H-EMF (+ 20%). Following a 30-min flesh exposure to US, the determined sum of polyphenolic compounds was + 28% higher than in the control sample. It was observed that the level of flavan-3-ols and procyanidins in the flesh increased after a 60-min exposure to UVC radiation and low-frequency and high-frequency electromagnetic fields, and after a 20-min and 30-min exposure to ultrasounds. The presence of flavonols was only observed in pear skin. The research results show that it is possible to produce juice with a higher content of polyphenolic compounds, because juice is obtained mainly from the flesh; however, there is a need for further research to confirm the observed tendencies in the changes of polyphenolic compounds in fractions of pears.

Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) was first isolated in the ‘60ies from calf thymus and was initially perceived as a thymic hormone with immunological effects on lymphocytes. It was then identified as a G-actin binding protein, featuring numerous functions in the human body including blood clothing, tissue regeneration, angiogenesis and tumor metastasis. Tβ4 is also involved in anti-inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes. The exact mechanisms of action of Tβ4 are still unknown, and the binding of the G-actin protein cannot itself explain the multi-activity of Tβ4. We hypothesize that the property of Tβ4 regulating the numerous physiological processes involving Tβ4, is its essential metal – binding ability.

The article presents the results of a so far most extensive study on the effect of tree age on variation of the chemical structure of silver birch wood carried out in Poland. Field studies took place in 12 forestry districts distributed throughout the country. In each district, study sites were selected with stands aged approximately 30, 50, and 70 years in fresh broadleaved forest habitats, as well as in five districts in fresh mixed broadleaved forest habitats. Analyses were made of the contents of substances soluble in cold and hot water, ethanol and 1% NaOH, as well as the contents of cellulose, lignin, pentosans and ash, and the pH, of wood from 306 silver birch trees. Tree age was shown to have a significant effect on the contents of cellulose, pentosans, ash, and substances soluble in 1% NaOH. In the case of the other characteristics, age was found to have no significant effect. The cellulose content was lowest in 30-year-old stands and increased with tree age. Similar observations were made regarding ash content. Contents of pentosans and substances soluble in 1% NaOH were highest in the wood of the youngest trees. Since birch wood is used by the pulp and paper, board and energy industries, the knowledge of its chemical composition, depending on the age of the trees, can be of potential practical importance for its further application.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of different drying methods on physicochemical parameters of 3 saskatoon berry cultivars: ‘Honeywood’, ‘Smoky’ and ‘Martin’. Convective drying (CD), microwave-vacuum drying (MVD) and combined drying (CD/MVD) significantly affected moisture content, water activity and colour. Among polyphenolic compounds, 10 flavan-3-ols, 7 anthocyanins, 8 phenolic acids and 11 flavonols were identified by the UPLC-PDA-Q/TOF-MS system in dried saskatoon berries. The total content of identified polyphenolic compounds present in dried saskatoon berries ranged from 21.4 to 66.3 g/kg dry matter, for respectively ‘Martin’ and ‘Smoky’. The strongest ability of extracts to scavenge ABTS radical cations was noted for ‘Honeywood’, followed by both ‘Smoky’ and ‘Martin’. Antioxidant capacity of products was connected with the content of polyphenolic compounds. ‘Honeywood’ and ‘Smoky’ can be best recommended for the production of dried merchandise. The microwave vacuum drying at 480 W with reduction to 120 W give product with the quality similar to this obtained by freeze drying, especially when it comes to the retention of polymeric procyanidins and flavonols present in the fruit. In conclusion, quality of dried saskatoon berry can be successfully moderated by appropriate selection of drying techniques and parameters.

Cereals, including barley, have been playing a key role in human diet for a long time. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of nanosilver (nAg) on limitation of infections, morphological features, and their chemical composition of young barley seedlings under in vitro condition. Addition of 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 mg dm−3 nAg into MS medium was used. Obtained results showed that the effect on the morphological features depended on the nAg concentration. The addition of 6 and 8 mg dm−3 nAg into MS medium limited the number of infected barley embryos in vitro, whereas 4 and 8 mg dm−3 nAg resulted in the highest seedlings with the longest roots. nAg in the medium affected the colour of leaves and increased the contents of chlorophyll and β-carotene, in particular in seedlings growing in MS medium supplied with 6 mg dm−3 nAg. The addition of 8 mg dm−3 had the greatest effect on the contents of vitamin C and E in young barley seedlings. It was found that the contents of K and Ca in the young barley leaves were lower, as compared to control plants. The presence of 6 mg dm−3 nAg in the medium resulted in an increased contents of N, Mg, Zn, Cu, and P. Hence, a diversified effect of nAg on individual groups of polyphenolic compounds was noticed. The presence of 2 and 8 mg dm−3 nAg caused higher content values of polyphenolic compounds in young barley leaves.

Beer is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages consumed by young people. Ethanol intake is associated with harmful effects to the reproductive system. Bioactive compounds present in beer may diminish the toxics effect of ethanol. However, there is still little knowledge about the effect of beer consumption on hormonal regulation of male reproduction in organisms exposed to alcohol after the peripubertal age. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the influence of beer intake on plasma reproductive hormones, immunolocalization of cleaved caspase-3 (casp-3), and the level of the neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in Leydig cells (LCs) in adolescent male Wistar rats. The animals, beginning at the age of 30 days, drank beer (10% ethanol; B2 group [2 weeks' exposure] and B4 group [4 weeks' exposure]), 10% ethanol solution (CE2 group [2 weeks' exposure] and CE4 group [4 weeks' exposure]), or water (C2 group [2 weeks' exposure] and C4 group [4 weeks' exposure]). Rats drinking beer for 4 weeks showed higher phenolic acid intake compared to rats drinking beer for 2 weeks. Rats exposed to beer for 4 weeks showed decreased plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and 17β-estradiol (E2) (3.173 ng/mL and 11.49 pg/mL, respectively), compared to the CE4 (5.293 ng/mL and 43.912 pg/mL, respectively) and the C4 groups (5.002 ng/mL and 41.121 pg mL, respectively). Expression of cleaved caspase-3 in LCs was lower in the B4 group rats, compared to the CE4 group rats (ID score: 1.676 vs. 2.190). No changes in nNOS expression were observed. Beer consumption revealed a similar negative effect on hormonal regulation of male reproductive function, but lower apoptosis in LCs may be beneficial for steroidogenic activity.

The main goals of the study were to determine nutritional parameters including contents of organic acids, sugars, and bioactive compounds as well as the antioxidant activity of fruits and fruit components of seven selected Saskatoon berry (Alnifolia alnifolia) genotypes. Fruits of three Polish clones (‘no 5/6’, ‘type N’, and ‘type S’) and of four Canadian cultivars (‘Martin’, ‘Pembina’, ‘Smoky’, and ‘Thiessen’) and their components including peel, flesh and seeds were used in the study. The antioxidant potential was determined by the radical scavenging capacity assay, the profiles of organic acids and sugars were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography and the bioactive compounds were quantified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography. Fruits of the tested genotypes and their components differed significantly in their antioxidant activity and in their contents of sugars, organic acids and bioactive compounds. Fruits of the ‘clone type S’ showed the highest antioxidant activity, while those of cvs. ‘Thiessen’ and ‘Smoky’ had the highest amount of polyphenols and organic acids. The highest contents of organic acids and bioactive compounds were determined in the fruit peel of the cvs. ‘Thiessen’ and ‘Smoky’ and ‘clone type S’. The total content of organic acids in fruits of the tested genotypes and their components ranged from 2.50 g/100 g dm (seeds) to 20.50 g/100 g dm (flesh). Malic, quinic, and tartaric acids were found to prevail in these fruits. In turn, the cluster analysis and principal components analysis helped determining the most important variables and identifying three groups of genotypes clustered depending on similarities in the content of individual compounds testes. Results indicated that fruits of the tested Saskatoon berry genotypes and their components were valuable sources of natural antioxidants, while fruit components such as peel and seeds could be used to develop new functional foods, and super foods with health-promoting properties, and also as medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic components.

The bioconjugate of alginate and curcumin (AA-CUR) was synthesized in a simple, one-step process and used to prepare the stable calcium cross-linked spherical micelles serving as a delivery vehicle for curcumin. Above its critical micelle concentration (0.6 mg/ml) AA-CUR forms colloidally stable micelles of ca. 200 nm. Prolonged, well controlled release of curcumin was observed from the AA-CUR micelles cross-linked with calcium ions for 5 h under the physiological conditions. To assess the safety of applying the bioconjugate into the bloodstream for possible anti-cancer applications, the interaction between AA-CUR and cells isolated from human blood was analyzed. No red cells aggregation or hemolysis was observed. AA-CUR was also shown to have no significant cytotoxicity to the human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) isolated from peripheral blood of healthy donors and to the mouse primary brain endothelial cells. To evaluate the efficiency of the obtained bioconjugate in the anti-cancer therapy, the micellar solution of AA-CUR was tested against various cancer cells lines: mammary carcinoma 4T1, melanoma B16F10 and colon carcinoma CT26-CEA and MC38-CEA. The bioconjugate at the concentration of 0.7 mg/ml decreased the viability of cancer cells by ca. 80%. The cellular uptake of AA-CUR was rapid and the highest micelles accumulation was detected within 1 h after treatment. The AA-CUR micellar system can serve as an effective and safe delivery vehicle for curcumin.

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are widely used to engineer the surface properties of metals and metal oxide layers. This article reports the fabrication of gemini perfluorinated phosphonic acids SAMs on indium tin oxide (ITO). The self-assembled monolayers are to be used for patterning nickel lines by electroplating on ITO in order to obtain low-cost conductor grids on heterojunction solar cells. The aim is to develop large-scale, low-cost processes that will both reduce production times and produce strong, covalently bonded monolayers of phosphonic acids on metal oxide surfaces along with uniform coverage. The gemini perfluorinated phosphonic acid provides extremely high hydrophobicity at the surface of ITO with a static contact angle of water above 115° and a remarkably low hysteresis of approximately 15° between advancing and receding contact angles. Well-known octadecylphosphonic acid is used as a reference material. Two deposition methods, by immersion and by spray-coating, are compared for the self-assembly of the molecules. The effect of the solvents used during the immersion, spray-coating, and rinsing steps are investigated. The surface properties are characterized by atomic force microscopy, contact angle measurements, and attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy

Metformin has been used for decades in millions of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. In this time, correlations between metformin use and the occurrence of other disorders have been noted, as well as unpredictable metformin side effects. Diabetes is a significant cancer risk factor, but unexpectedly, metformin-treated diabetic patients have lower cancer incidence. Here, we show that metformin forms stable complexes with copper (II) ions. Both copper(I)/metformin and copper(II)/metformin complexes form adducts with glutathione, the main intracellular antioxidative peptide, found at high levels in cancer cells. Metformin reduces cell number and viability in SW1222 and K562 cells, as well as in K562-200 multidrug-resistant cells. Notably, the antiproliferative effect of metformin is enhanced in the presence of copper ions.

Inoculation of sourdough allows the fermentation medium to be dominated by desired microorganisms, which enables determining the kinetics of the conversion of chemical compounds by individual microorganisms. This knowledge may allow the design of functional food products with health features dedicated to consumers with special needs. The aim of the study was to assess the dynamics of transformations of fermentable oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide and polyol (FODMAP) compounds from wheat flour as well as their antioxidant activity during inoculated and spontaneous sourdough fermentation. The FODMAP content in grain products was determined by the fructan content with negligible amounts of sugars and polyols. To produce a low-FODMAP cereal product, the fermentation time is essential. The 72 h fermentation time of L. plantarum-inoculated sourdough reduced the FODMAP content by 91%. The sourdough fermentation time of at least 72 h also positively influenced the content of polyphenols and antioxidant activity, regardless of the type of fermentation. The inoculation of both L. plantarum and L. casei contributed to a similar degree to the reduction in FODMAP in sourdough compared to spontaneous fermentation.

The CSEM reference process comprises a sputtered seed layer and patterning by hotmelt-inkjet printing. As alternative patterning technique the formation of seed-grid lines by screen-printing of silver or copper paste is investigated. The seed-grid is subsequently reinforced by electrodeposition of copper to improve the conductivity. As plating mask either an inorganic dielectric layer or a self-assembled monolayer of organic molecules is used. The resistance of grid lines printed with silver or copper paste and the resulting cell efficiency before and after copper plating are compared.

In recent decades, type 2 diabetes complications have been correlated with amylin aggregation, copper homeostasis and metformin side effects. However, each factor was analyzed separately, and only in some rare cases copper/amylin or copper/metformin complexes were considered. We demonstrate for the first time that binary metformin/amylin and tertiary copper (II)/amylin/metformin complexes of high cellular toxicity are formed and lead to the formation of aggregated multi-level lamellar structures on the cell membrane. Considering the increased concentration of amylin, copper (II) and metformin in kidneys of T2DM patients, our findings on the toxicity of amylin and its adducts may be correlated with diabetic nephropathy development.

The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of polyphenolic and isoprenoid compounds and organic acids in the fruit skin + pulp, seeds, and leaves of six new biotypes of Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb., as well as their in vitro biological potency. The polyphenols and isoprenoids were determined with UPLC-PDA-MS/MS (ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array detection and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry) and RRLC-MS/MS (rapid resolution liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry) methods, the organic acid with HPLC-RID (high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a Refractive Index Detector), and the antioxidant capacity using ABTS and FRAP assays. Enzymatic activity was established as the ability to inhibit α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase. Owing to such an effective technique, 88 compounds were recorded, with 17 polyphenolic compounds and 3 isoprenoids identified for the first time in the seeds and leaves of cherry silverberry. In total, 55 compounds were identified in the leaves, 36 in the seeds, and 31 in the fruit skin + pulp. The predominant polyphenol was polymeric procyanidin (66–95% of total polyphenolics), whereas the predominant isoprenoids were chlorophyll b and (all-E)-lycopene. The results of our work noted that there are significant differences in the profiles of several secondary metabolites between the analyzed parts of the plant, and depending on the need, the compounds can be used to develop different innovative food or cosmetic products. Minister of Science and Higher Education 010/RID/2018/19

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Jerusalem artichoke processing methods and drying methods (freeze drying, sublimation drying, vacuum drying) on the basic physicochemical parameters, profiles and contents of sugars and polyphenolic compounds, and health-promoting properties (antioxidant activity, inhibition of the activities of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase) of the produced purée. A total of 25 polyphenolic compounds belonging to hydroxycinnamic phenolic acids (LC-PDA-MS-QTof) were detected in Jerusalem artichoke purée. Their average content in the raw material was at 820 mg/100 g dm (UPLC-PDA-FL) and was 2.7 times higher than in the cooked material. The chemical composition and the health-promoting value of the purées were affected by the drying method, with the most beneficial values of the evaluated parameters obtained upon freeze drying. Vacuum drying could offer an alternative to freeze drying, as both methods ensured relatively comparable values of the assessed parameters.

Conformational diseases are caused by the aggregation of misfolded proteins. The risk for such pathologies develops years before clinical symptoms appear, and is higher in people with alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) polymorphisms. Thousands of people with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) are underdiagnosed. Enemy-aggregating proteins may reside in these underdiagnosed AATD patients for many years before a pathology for AATD fully develops. In this perspective review, we hypothesize that the AAT protein could exert a new and previously unconsidered biological effect as an endogenous metal ion chelator that plays a significant role in essential metal ion homeostasis. In this respect, AAT polymorphism may cause an imbalance of metal ions, which could be correlated with the aggregation of amylin, tau, amyloid beta, and alpha synuclein proteins in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, respectively.

For the current PV production about 2000 tons of silver are consumed per year, 10% of the entire world annual silver supply. The PV production is expected to grow significantly in the next decades in order to enable the energy transition to 100% renewables. Annual production volumes in the terawatt range are predicted already for 2030 and this may lead to higher silver price and put more pressure on the industry to replace silver by copper.Within the Ameliz project several patterning approaches for copper electrodeposition on heterojunction cells are developed: firstly, patterning by printing a metal seed grid with a dielectric layer as plating mask and secondly masking by a monolayer of self-assembling molecules. These molecules consist of a phosphonic acid group and a hydrocarbon chain. They are bonded to the ITO surface and form a monolayer of well-ordered, densely packed hydrophobic chains, which protects the ITO surface against plating solutions. Furthermore, methods for selective formation of a copper seed layer by electrografting and for improved adhesion by ITO reduction are being investigated.

Low water solubility frequently compromises the therapeutic efficacy of drugs and other biologically active molecules. Here, we report on coacervate polysaccharide nanoparticles (CPNs) that can transport and release a model hydrophobic drug, piroxicam, to the cells in response to changes in temperature. The proposed, temperature-responsive drug delivery system is based on ionic derivatives of natural polysaccharides&mdash, curdlan and hydroxypropyl cellulose. Curdlan was modified with trimethylammonium groups, while the anionic derivative of hydroxypropyl cellulose was obtained by the introduction of styrenesulfonate groups. Thermally responsive nanoparticles of spherical shape and average hydrodynamic diameter in the range of 250&ndash, 300 nm were spontaneously formed in water from the obtained ionic polysaccharides as a result of the coacervation process. Their morphology was visualized using SEM and AFM. The size and the surface charge of the obtained objects could be tailored by adjusting the polycation/polyanion ratio. Piroxicam (PIX) was effectively entrapped inside the nanoparticles. The release profile of the drug from the CPNs-PIX was found to be temperature-dependent in the range relevant for biomedical applications.

There is a growing interest among the public in fruit with a positive impact on human health. Two goji berry cultivars (‘No. 1’ and ‘New Big’) were propagated in vitro, grown in an orchard and then evaluated for macro- and microelements and harmful heavy metals (i.e., Pb, Ni, and Cd). The leaves and fruit were also assessed for nutritional value, polyphenols and the antimicrobial activity of the leaves. ‘New Big’ was characterized by a higher content of macro elements in the leaves (in vitro and orchard) and a higher content of microelements in the fruit. The harmful substances content was below the minimum value. Furthermore, neither the fruit nor the leaves contained cadmium. This study also indicated that leaves had a higher content of polyphenols compared to the fruit. The fruits were characterized by their health-promoting capacities, while the leaves were characterized by their antibacterial activity. Among the Gram-positive bacteria, the most sensitive strain was Bacillus subtilis, and among the Gram-negative bacteria, it was Proteus vulgaris. Taking into consideration the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for minerals, goji berries can be declared to be a source of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and P.

The aim of this study was to compare the nutritional and use value of berries grown in organic and conventional systems. The polyphenol content, fruit colour and firmness, and yeast, mould, and mycotoxin contents were assessed in blueberry fruit freshly harvested and stored for 8 weeks in controlled conditions (CA: CO2-12%; O2-1.5%, temperature 1.5 °C). The Shannon–Wiener diversity index was comparable in both systems and was lower for mould in organic fruit than in conventional fruit. Mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, zearalenone) were found only in organic fruits. The optimal mineral content and pH of the soil allowed the cultivation of blueberry in accordance with organic standards. The storage of highbush blueberry fruit in CA cold storage for 8 weeks resulted in a slight deterioration in fruit quality and polyphenol content. The lower nutritional value of these fruits is compensated by the lack of pesticides and artificial fertilizers residues. The use of fungicides in conventional cultivation reduces the population of sensitive fungi and therefore reduces the contamination of fruits with mycotoxins.

The aim of this study was to accurately determine the profile of polyphenols using the highly sensitive LC&ndash, DAD&ndash, ESI&ndash, QTOF&ndash, MS/MS technique and to determine in vitro antioxidant activity, the ability of inhibition of &alpha, amylase, &alpha, glucoamylase, and pancreatic lipase activity, and antiproliferative activity in leaves, flowers, roots, and stalks of medical plant Sanguisorba officinalis L. The results of the analysis of the morphological parts indicated the presence of 130 polyphenols, including 62 that were detected in S. officinalis L. for the first time. The prevailing group was tannins, with contents ranging from 66.4% of total polyphenols in the flowers to 43.3% in the stalks. The highest content of polyphenols was identified in the flowers and reached 14,444.97 mg/100 g d.b., while the lowest was noted in the stalks and reached 4606.33 mg/100 g d.b. In turn, the highest values of the antiradical and reducing capacities were determined in the leaves and reached 6.63 and 0.30 mmol TE/g d.b, respectively. In turn, a high ability to inhibit activities of &alpha, amylase and &alpha, glucoamylase was noted in the flowers, while a high ability to inhibit the activity of pancreatic lipase was demonstrated in the leaves of S. officinalis L. In addition, the leaves and the flowers showed the most effective antiproliferative properties in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma, bladder cancer, and T-cell leukemia cells, whereas the weakest activity was noted in the stalks. Thus, the best dietetic material to be used when composing functional foods were the leaves and the flowers of S. officinalis L., while the roots and the stalks were equally valuable plant materials.

This study established the appropriate amounts of a functional Saskatoon berry fruit powder in fortified rye bread acceptable to consumers and determined the potential relative bioaccesibility of bioactive compounds exhibiting antioxidant activity, and enzymatic in vitro inhibitory activity against lipoxygenase, cyclooxigenase-1, cyclooxigenase-2, acetylcholinesterase, pancreatic lipase &alpha, glucosidase, and &alpha, amylase, as well as the relative digestibility of nutrients. The content of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant capability were strongly, positively correlated with the content of the functional additive. The highest phenolics content and antioxidant activity were determined in the products enriched with the powders microencapsulated with maltodextrin (an increase by 91% and 53%, respectively, compared with the control). The highest overall acceptability was shown for the products with 3% addition of the functional additive, regardless of its type. The simulated in vitro digestion released phenols (with the highest bioaccessibility shown for anthocyanins) and enhanced the antioxidant activity of rye bread. In turn, the microencapsulation contributed to the improvement in the relative bioaccesibility of antioxidant compounds. Bread fortification led to an increased inhibitory activity against &alpha, amylase, &alpha, glucosidase, and lipoxygenase. Furthermore, the additive microencapsulated with maltodextrin and inulin improved the capacity to inhibit the activities of pancreatic lipase and cyclooxigenase-2. The results presented allowed concluding that the powders from Saskatoon berry fruits, especially microencapsulated ones, may be a promising functional additive dedicated for the enrichment of rye bread.

Replacement of expensive and rare elements like silver and indium becomes necessary to sustain large scale PV production. With our copper plating process high efficiency above 24.7% has been achieved on industrial heterojunction precursors and excellent module reliability confirmed in extended aging tests. The initial process compatible with ITO has been modified for cells having an aluminum zinc oxide (AZO) electrode and first silver- and indium-free heterojunction cells have been fabricated.

We present a process sequence for copper electrodeposition on solar cells, originally developed for heterojunction cells with indium tin oxide and adapted to be compatible for solar cells relying on aluminum zinc oxide electrodes. The process comprises a sputtered seed layer and patterning by hotmelt inkjet printing. Well adherent narrow copper lines have been realized on CIGS-AZO-surface and first mini-modules have been realized. Process improvement to fully eliminate attack on AZO and to optimize the grid layout is ongoing.

We report on the most extensive study to date in Poland concerning the variability in the chemical composition of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) wood depending on the forest habitat type and the location of the forest stand. The research was carried out in 12 forest districts, on two habitat types where silver birch forest stands predominate in respect of coverage area and merchantable volume. Chemical composition analysis was performed on 51 samples from 306 test trees aged approximately 30, 50 and 70 years. In the examined sample material, the sum of the main chemical components for individual locations varied from 89.26 to 91.57%. The content of substances soluble in water and ethanol ranged from 2.30 to 4.03%, and the ash content was measured at between 0.09 and 0.25%. The results showed that the location had a significant influence on the contents of substances soluble in cold water (p = 0.0015), hot water (p = 0.0005), ethanol (p

The purpose of this study was to choose the right size of ceramic membranes in the process of microfiltration as regards the concentration of polyphenols measured by UPLC-PDA-MS/MS, antioxidant capacity analysed by ABTS and FRAP tests, viscosity, turbidity, precipitate, and parameters of colour evaluated in the CIE L*·a*·b* system of chokeberry juice. From all the tested sizes of ceramic membranes in the process of microfiltration, the best results were obtained for membranes with 0.8 µm pores. This juice had a relatively high content of bioactive compounds, and the lowest values of turbidity, viscosity, and precipitation. The colour was an attractive and intense red, with no browning observed, before and after storage. The process of pasteurization caused a decrease in the content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity and physical parameters. The storage time of 5 months at 5 °C stabilized the content of polyphenolic compounds, improved clarity of chokeberry juice, stabilized turbidity, and limited deposit formation during storage.

A broad spectrum of applications of magnetic nanoparticles leads to the need for the precise tuning of their magnetic properties. In this study, a series of magnetite and zinc-ferrite nanoparticles were successfully prepared by modified high-temperature synthesis in a controlled gas atmosphere. Nanoparticles with different zinc to iron ratios and pure Fe3O4 were obtained. The structure of the nanoparticles was studied by transmission electron microscopy and Mossbauer spectroscopy. These revealed the single domain character of the nanoparticles and the influence of the synthesis temperature and zinc to iron ratio on their shape and size. Chemical structure was characterized by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy coupled with an argon gas cluster ion beam (Ar-GCIB) allowed the study of subsequent layers of the nanoparticles without altering their chemical structure. This revealed the presence of a carbon layer on all nanoparticles consisting of capping agents used in the synthesis and revealed the core-shell character of the zinc ferrite particles. In addition, different types of zinc infusions in the nanoparticle structure were observed when using different Zn/Fe ratios. Finally, magnetic studies performed by means of vibrating sample magnetometry proved the superparamagnetic behavior of all the samples.

The design of new and efficient chelators that can remove aluminium(III), a metal with increasing recognition as a potential toxic agent, from biological systems is an area of high therapeutic relevance. In the present paper, we present an extensive computational study of a new promising type of these chelators based on mimosine containing peptides. The reason to choose mimosine is that the sidechain of this residue is similar to deferiprone, a ligand known to tightly interact with highly-valent metals, and in particular with Al(III). In this article we analyze systematically, using a combination of methods that include QM/MM MD simulations, how the size and sequence of the polypeptides can alter the fundamental binding patterns to aluminum, in comparison with the binding to deferiprone. Particular attention is given towards the identification of the smallest peptide that interacts efficiently with aluminum, since polypeptide size is a fundamental factor to allow a given polypeptide to efficiently cross the cell membrane. The results indicate that the longest peptides, with 8 or 9 amino acids, show no difficulties interacting with Al(III) in an optimum arrangement. By contrast, when the peptide contains five or six amino acids Al(III) is pentacoordinated, reducing the stability of the resultant complex. In summary, our study demonstrates that the mimosine containing peptides can efficiently coordinate highly valent metals such as Al(III), with a subtle dependence of the binding on the specific chain-lengths of the polypeptide. We believe that the present study sheds light on the adequacy of this new type of chelator towards aluminum binding.

Here, two new fluorescent squaramides bearing quinoline (L1) and naphthalene (L2) as fluorogenic fragments were synthesized and investigated as possible cellular imaging probes. Results showed that L1 is able to pass through the cell membranes of living tumoral (Caco-2) and non-tumoral (293T) human cell lines, while L2 interacts with the cell membranes but does not enter the tested cells. In addition, L1 and L2 were loaded in monoolein-based cubosomes, and also such fluorescent formulations were successfully used for cellular imaging, showing that in vivo application can be conceived for this kind of imaging probes.

The potential neurotoxic role of Al(iii) and its proposed link with the insurgence of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) have attracted increasing interest towards the determination of the nature of bioligands that are propitious to interact with aluminum. Among them, catecholamine-based neurotransmitters have been proposed to be sensitive to the presence of this non-essential metal ion in the brain. In the present work, we characterize several aluminum-catecholamine complexes in various stoichiometries, determining their structure and thermodynamics of formation. For this purpose, we apply a recently validated computational protocol with results that show a remarkably good agreement with the available experimental data. In particular, we employ Density Functional Theory (DFT) in conjunction with continuum solvation models to calculate complexation energies of aluminum for a set of four important catecholamines: l-DOPA, dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline. In addition, by means of the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) and Energy Decomposition Analysis (EDA) we assessed the nature of the Al-ligand interactions, finding mainly ionic bonds with an important degree of covalent character. Our results point at the possibility of the formation of aluminum-catecholamine complexes with favorable formation energies, even when proton/aluminum competition is taken into account. Indeed, we found that these catecholamines are better aluminum binders than catechol at physiological pH, because of the electron withdrawing effect of the positively-charged amine that decreases their deprotonation penalty with respect to catechol. However, overall, our results show that, in an open biological environment, the formation of Al-catecholamine complexes is not thermodynamically competitive when compared with the formation of other aluminum species in solution such as Al-hydroxide, or when considering other endogenous/exogenous Al(iii) ligands such as citrate, deferiprone and EDTA. In summary, we rule out the possibility, suggested by some authors, that the formation of Al-catecholamine complexes in solution might be behind some of the toxic roles attributed to aluminum in the brain. An up-to-date view of the catecholamine biosynthesis pathway with sites of aluminum interference (according to the current literature) is presented. Alternative mechanisms that might explain the deleterious effects of this metal on the catecholamine route are thoroughly discussed, and new hypotheses that should be investigated in future are proposed.

The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of Saskatoon powder addition on phytochemical parameters, biological activity, and nutritional value of wheat bread. Supplementation increased phenolics content up to 72% in the bread with 6% powder content. This increase was reflected in the improved antioxidative properties of breads, especially after their supplementation with the microencapsulated additives (an increase by 93% in the bread enriched with 6% of powder covered with maltodextrin). The in vitro digestion released the antioxidative compounds, leading to higher bioaccessibility of the breads enriched with the microencapsulated powders. The highest inhibition of activities of cyclooxygenase 1 and -2, as well as amylase and glucosidase was recorded for the breads enriched with the additive microencapsulated with maltodextrin and inulin. Thus, Saskatoon berry powders, especially the microencapsulated ones, may be used as functional components in designing innovative bakery products.

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of inulin and maltodextrin applied during vacuum drying of Saskatoon berry fruit, juice, and pomace on the retention of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity (radical scavenging capacity (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP)) of powders obtained. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS) was used to identify major groups of polyphenolic compounds, such as: flavan-3-ols (35% of all polyphenols for fruit powder, 33% for juice powder, and 39% for pomace powders of all polyphenols), anthocyanins (26% for fruit powder, 5% for juice powder, and 34% for pomace), phenolic acids (33% for fruit powder, 55% for juice powder, and 20% for pomace powder), and flavanols (6% for fruit powder, 6% for juice powder, and 7% for pomace powder). In general, the content of polyphenols was more dependent on the content than on the type of carrier used for drying, regardless of the matrix tested. The average sum of polyphenols and the antioxidant activity (for ABTS and FRAP assay) of the powders with 30% of carrier addition were 5054.2 mg/100 g dry matter (d.m.) as well as 5.3 and 3.6 mmol Trolox/100 g d.m. in the ABTS and FRAP tests, respectively. The increase in carrier concentration by 20% caused a decrease of 1.5-fold in the content of polyphenols and a 1.6-fold and 1.5-fold in the antioxidant potential, regardless of the matrix tested. The principal component analysis (PCA) analysis indicated that the freeze-drying process led to the lowest degradation of the identified compounds, regardless of the matrix tested, with the exception of juice and pomace powders dried by vacuum drying at 60 &deg, C. In this case, the release of (&minus, )-epicatechin was observed, causing an increase in the flavanol contents. Thus, this work demonstrated the effect of processing and matrix composition on the preservation of antioxidant bioactives in Saskatoon berry powders. Properly designed high-quality Saskatoon berry powders with the mentioned carriers may be used as nutraceutical additives to fortify food products and to improve their functional properties.

This paper presents an easy and low cost synthesis of chelating agents for potential medical and environmental applications, and the evaluation of the stability of their complexes with Fe3+, Al3+, Cu2+ and Zn2+. In the last years, we synthesized and characterized effective iron chelators based on two kojic acid units joined by different linkers in position 6. In this study, we preserved kojic acid (a cheap and non-toxic molecule) as the basic unit but joined the two kojic acid units through ethylene diamine, propylene diamine and butylene diamine by reacting them with the OH groups in position 2. The different anchoring position of the linker, as well as the linker length, can affect both protonation and complex formation equilibria. A thorough study of the protonation and complex formation equilibria of the three ligands toward the metal ions is presented based on combined potentiometric and spectroscopic studies, and 1H NMR. The obtained results allow remarking that the orientation of the oxygen atoms in the kojic acid units, related to the anchoring position of the linker, strongly affects the protonation constants, while the chelating ability is practically unaffected. The trivalent metal ions form stable complexes with a 2:3 metal to ligand stoichiometry through the oxygen donor atoms of the ligands, whereas divalent metal ions form binuclear complexes for which the nitrogen atoms from the linker might be involved in the coordination sphere. The stability of the complexes decreases with linker length, and the selectivity of the ligands toward metal ions grows in the order Zn2+