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We have evaluated the effect of POLI-CHI hydrogel based on policaju (POLI) from cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.) gum and chitosan (CHI), associated or not with Low level laser therapy (LLLT), in wound healing. Sixty male Wistar rats were assigned into four groups: POLI-CHI hydrogel (H); LLLT (L); POLI-CHI with LLLT (HL) and saline control (C). Macroscopic evaluations were carried out using clinical observations and area measurements, as well as microscopic analysis by histological criteria. H and HL presented more esthetical scar tissue and larger wound contraction compared to C. Histopathological analyzes showed: stronger presence of fibrin-leukocyte crust in L and HL at day 3; stronger collagen presence in H, L and HL; weak presence of focal necrosis at 7 and 14days in H; weak neutrophilic exudate in H, L and HL; regression of the vascular neoformation at 7days in H, and modulation of the same in L and HL. These results demonstrated that POLI-CHI contributed to more efficient healing process and modulation of the inflammation; furthermore, the combined use with LLLT subtle potentiated this process., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The development of hydrogels based on natural polysaccharides was investigated by preparing mixtures of policaju/chitosan at weight ratios of 1:4 and 2:3. Utilizing dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques for these mixtures, an increase on the hydrodynamic particle radius was observed varying their pH from 3.0 to 12.0. Furthermore, a reduction of ζ-potential was also observed for the same pH interval. Following rounds of drying/hydration cycles at a specific pH value, hydrogel matrices were formed. The pore size distribution of these formed hydrogels was examined using scanning electron microscopy. Further FT-IR analyses confirmed a physical interaction between the polysaccharides policaju and chitosan. Swelling experiments revealed water uptake values, after 24h of immersion in water, close to 270% for 1:4, and 320% for 2:3 hydrogels. Finally, rheological measurements were then conducted in order to confirm hydrogel viscoelastic features. These results indicate a promising road to biomaterials fabrication and biomedical applications., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The present work aimed at the construction and characterization of a multilayer coating based on κ-carrageenan and quercetin-loaded lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles (Np) by the layer-by-layer technique and the evaluation of its antioxidant capacity and potential cytotoxicity in vitro. The multilayered coating was successfully self-assembled, as confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, contact angle, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Multilayered coatings showed to have antioxidant capacity, with a DPPH• radical scavenging activity of 31.32 ± 3.13% and a result of the FRAP assay of 799.41 ± 95.39 μM of ferrous ion (Fe2+) equivalent. These coatings were also shown to be devoid of cell toxicity, as evaluated by determination of nitric oxide production and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test. The alveolar macrophages culture was tested in the presence of the κ-carrageenan/quercetin-Np multilayer coating and showed a cell viability of 91.3 ± 9.6%. These results suggest that this multilayered coating is adequate for surfaces modification in view of biomedical and food industry applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of liquid smoking and chitosan coating on the shelf life of Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus) fillets. Fillets without liquid smoked and chitosan coating (control), liquid smoked fillets (LS), and liquid smoked and chitosan coated fillets (LSCh) were stored at 4 ± 1 °C for 30 days. The physicochemical (pH, moisture content, water activity-a, color, texture, total volatile bases nitrogen-TVB-N and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances-TBARS) and microbiological analyses (mesophilic and psychrotrophic counts) and the electrophoresis profile of samples were carried out. Physicochemical parameters, such as TVB-N and TBARS, were reduced in the tilapia fillets with liquid smoking. The presence of the coating of chitosan was effective for the control of the microorganisms during storage. This work showed that the addition of a chitosan coating in liquid-smoked fillets further enhanced the effect of preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims at developing an active chitosan film through the incorporation of quercetin and the evaluation of physical and functional properties of the films made thereof. The addition of quercetin showed to influence films' properties in terms of surface morphology, tensile strength, and opacity while elongation-at-break, thickness, water vapor, and oxygen permeability were not significantly affected with incorporation of quercetin. The color parameters of chitosan films were affected by quercetin incorporation with a decrease of the values of L* and a*. The film exhibited a high free-radical scavenging activity, showing antioxidant activity. The film-forming solutions of chitosan with or without quercetin showed antibacterial activity against four Gram-negative and three Gram-positive bacteria. These results showed that quercetin incorporation in chitosan-based films has potential to be used as a solution for active food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at the encapsulation of quercetin into lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles using the electrostatic self-assembly technique, followed by evaluation of their functionality (antioxidant activity) and stability at different environmental conditions. These nanoparticles were characterized in terms of: average size, morphology, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, loading, and spectroscopic characteristics. Quercetin has been successfully encapsulated in lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles with an efficiency of 96.13 ± 0.44 %. Nanoparticles presented a spherical morphology with an average size of 168.58 ± 20.94 nm and a zeta potential of 56.46 ± 1.94 mV. Stability studies showed that nanoparticles are stable to temperatures ranging between 5 and 70 °C and a pH variation from 3.3 to 5.0. Moreover, encapsulated quercetin showed improved antioxidant properties when compared to free-quercetin. Our results suggest that quercetin-loaded lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles can be used in the manufacture of functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Polysaccharide multinanolayers are becoming a new and general means of modifying and functionalizing surfaces of several materials. This is achieved through changing the interfacial properties of those surfaces followed by sequential adsorption of e.g., polysaccharides. Knowledge of properties of polysaccharide solutions such as zeta potential (Zp) and mean hydrodynamic diameter (Z-average) is crucial to obtain stable, functional nanostructures. In this work sodium alginate, carragennan, chitosan, and two galactomannans were characterized in terms of Zp and Z-average, as a function of polysaccharides and NaCl concentrations and pH. The most relevant effects of these factors on Zp and on Z-average were analysed using a 23 full factorial design. With a few exceptions, the effect of independent variables on Zp and Z-average values is statistically significant. In general (except for k-carragennan solutions) higher polysaccharide concentrations lead to higher Z-average values; and higher pH values lead to higher Z-average values (except for solutions of chitosan and galactomannan of Gleditsia triacanthos). NaCl addition decreases Z-average. For the galactomannans solutions Zp values were found to be neutral (ranging from −13.7 to −2.1mV) independently of the combinations of variables used. This work establishes a relationship between important polysaccharides properties and the values of pH, polysaccharide and salt concentrations, thus providing insight on how to control the structure and texture of multinanolayered films in view of their potential application e.g., in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nanolaminates have been reported to have applications in different areas, such as the preparation of multilayer films, coating biomedical appliances or multilayer edible coatings with enhanced properties for applications in the food industry. This work aims at characterizing the surface properties, water vapor permeability, and thermal and mechanical properties of a nanolayered film. The film was produced using two polysaccharides with opposite charges, chitosan and sodium alginate deposited on to aminolyzed/charged PET. Contact angle measurements showed differences in the films with a successively higher number of layers. SEM images allowed the measurement of the thickness of the layers. The nanolayered film had a water vapor permeability of (0.85±0.04)×10−11 gm−1 s−1 Pa−1 and a hardness increase of 0.245±0.06GPa. DSC and TG analyses of the nanolayered film showed increases of 39.2% in the melting energy when compared with the PET film used as support, and a decrease in the decomposition temperature from 386 to 331°C. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A nanomultilayer coating made of food-grade, bio-based materials (consisting of five nanolayers of pectin and chitosan) was produced. This coating was firstly characterized in terms of the water vapor, oxygen and carbon dioxide permeabilities; these parameters exhibited values of 0.019±0.005×10−11, 0.069±0.066×10−14 and 44.8±32×10−14 gm/(Pasm2), respectively, and are of the same order of magnitude of those found in other nanomultilayer systems. The nanomultilayer system was applied on whole ‘Tommy Atkins’ mangoes and the layers’ adsorption was confirmed by changes in the contact angle of the coated fruits’ skin. After 45d of storage, uncoated mangoes presented a higher mass loss, higher total soluble solids and lower titratable acidity in comparison with coated mangoes. Uncoated mangoes had also a damaged and wrinkled appearance, showing evidence of microbial spoilage, and the flesh exhibited a slightly brownish color, in comparison with the coated mangoes. These results suggest a positive effect of the coating on gas flow reduction and on the consequent extension of the shelf-life of mangoes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The interactions between κ-carrageenan and chitosan, two oppositely charged polysaccharides, have been investigated through microcalorimetric and quartz crystal microbalance measurements. Microcalorimetric measurements show that κ-carrageenan/chitosan interaction is an exothermic process and that the alternate deposition of κ-carrageenan and chitosan results in the formation of a nanolayered coating mainly due to the electrostatic interactions existing between the two polyelectrolytes (though other types of interactions may also be involved). Quartz crystal microbalance measurements confirmed that the alternating deposition of κ-carrageenan and chitosan resulted in the formation of a stable multilayer structure. The κ-carrageenan/chitosan nanolayered coating, assembled on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) support, was characterized in terms of its surface (contact angle measurements) and gas barrier properties (water vapor and O2 permeabilities) and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The water vapor permeability (WVP) and the oxygen permeability (O 2 P) of the κ-carrageenan/chitosan nanolayers were found to be 0.020±0.002×10−11 and 0.043±0.027×10−14 gm−1 s−1 Pa−1, respectively. These results contribute to a better understanding of the type of interactions that play role during the construction of this type of nanostructures. This knowledge can be used in the establishment of an approach to produce edible, biodegradable multilayered nanostructures with improved mechanical and barrier properties for application in, e.g. food and biomedical industries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]