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Our study investigated the manufacturing of lipid-based nanotherapeutics with stealth properties for siRNA delivery by employing a diffusion-driven microfluidic process in one or two-steps strategies to produce siRNA-loaded lipid nanocarriers and lipoplexes, respectively. In the one-step synthesis, siRNA in the aqueous phase is introduced from one inlet, while phospholipids dispersed in anhydrous ethanol are introduced from other inlets, generating the lipid nanocarriers. In the two-steps strategies, the pre-formed liposomes are complexed with siRNA. The process configuration with an aqueous diffusion barrier exerts a significant effect on the nanoaggregates synthesis. Dynamic light scattering data showed that lipid nanocarriers had a bigger particle diameter (298 ± 24 nm) and surface charge (43 ± 6 mV) compared to lipoplexes (194 ± 7 nm and 37.0 ± 0.4 mV). Moreover, DSPE-PEG(2000) was included in the formulation to synthesize lipid-based nanotherapeutics containing siRNA with stealth characteristics. The inclusion of PEG-lipid resulted in an increase in the surface charge of lipoplexes (from 33.7 ± 4.4-54.3 ± 1.6 mV), while a significant decrease was observed in the surface charge of lipid nanocarriers (30.3 ± 8.7 mV). The different structural assemblies were identified for lipoplex and lipid nanocarriers using Synchrotron SAXS. Lipid nanocarriers present a lower amount of multilayers than lipoplexes. Lipid-PEG insertion significantly influenced lipid nanocarriers' characteristics, drastically decreasing the number of multilayers. This effect was not observed in lipoplexes. The association between process configuration, lipid composition, and its effect on the characteristics of lipid-based vector systems can generate fundamental insights, contributing to gene-based nanotherapeutics development.

Chronic diseases (CDs) are noncommunicable illnesses with long-term symptoms accounting for ~70% of all deaths worldwide. For the diagnosis and prognosis of CDs, accurate biomarker detection is essential. Currently, the detection of CD-associated biomarkers is employed through complex platforms with certain limitations in their applicability and performance. There is hence unmet need to present innovative strategies that are applicable to the point-of-care (PoC) settings, and also, provide the precise detection of biomarkers. On the other hand, especially at PoC settings, microneedle (MN) technology, which comprises micron-size needles arranged on a miniature patch, has risen as a revolutionary approach in biosensing strategies, opening novel horizons to improve the existing PoC devices. Various MN-based platforms have been manufactured for distinctive purposes employing several techniques and materials. The development of MN-based biosensors for real-time monitoring of CD-associated biomarkers has garnered huge attention in recent years. Herein, we summarize basic concepts of MNs, including microfabrication techniques, design parameters, and their mechanism of action as a biosensing platform for CD diagnosis. Moreover, recent advances in the use of MNs for CD diagnosis are introduced and finally relevant clinical trials carried out using MNs as biosensing devices are highlighted. This review aims to address the potential use of MNs in CD diagnosis.

Background Foodborne diseases can be highlighted as one of the most significant health concerns among the last decades. Probiotic food products can be considered as the promising approaches for modulating of gastrointestinal (GIT) microbiota due to their interactions within the GIT. However, no comprehensive review regarding the involved mechanisms in inhibiting foodborne pathogens in foods by probiotics, besides their interaction is available. Scope and approach The current article provides an overview considering the interactions between probiotics and pathogens in hosts as well as in foods aiming to gain insights regarding relevant properties to be used in further developments of probiotic-based food products. Key findings and conclusions The interaction between probiotics and pathogens in foods and in the hosts and different mechanism of probiotics in control of enteric pathogens colonization were reviewed in the current study. While the mechanisms of action correlated with probiotic strains in the GIT are diverse and well-studied, their interactions with pathogens in foods is overlooked. Revealing how probiotic strains interact with foodborne pathogens in foods is of key relevance in a contemporary context that demand the development of more robust formulations. Although several mechanisms such as production of substances such as organic acids, bacteriocins, and hydrogen peroxide have been suggested regarding probiotics actions in food matrices, still substantial challenges exist concerning the molecular mode of their antimicrobial action. Additionally, it is required to comprehend the appreciate dose, species, and a combination of probiotics in controlling the pathogens.

The synthesis of compounds with an excellent adsorption capability plays an essential role to remove contaminants such as phthalic acid esters (PAEs) with potential carcinogenic characteristics from different food products. In this context, for the first time, a novel adsorbent (MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag) was synthesized by using iron (magnetic agent), and silver (catalytic and surface enhancer agent) to further approach in a magnetic SPE-GC/MS method for determining of PAEs in carbonated soft drink samples. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values of MSPE-GC/MS were determined in six PAEs as a range of 10.8–22.5 and 36–75 ng/L, respectively. Also, the calibration curves of PAEs were linear (R2 = 0.9981–0.9995) over the concentration level of 10.000 ng/L and the recoveries of the six PAEs were ranging from 96.60% to 109.22% with the RSDs less than 8%. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and transmission electron microscopy analyses (TEM) were utilized to characterize the produced MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag. Based on the findings, the surface of MWCNT is relatively uniform, which became coarser after loading with Fe3O4/Ag particles. Also, EDX spectrum showed the carbon (C), iron (Fe), oxygen (O), Ag and copper (Cu) are the main components of synthesized MWCNTs-Fe3O4/Ag. The successful adhesion of Fe3O4/Ag on the texture of MWCNTs using a co-precipitation method was confirmed by XRD and FT-IR assays. Additionally, excellent crystallinity and clear lattice nanocrystals fringes of prepared MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag was demonstrated by TEM analysis. Based on the obtained VSM images, the prepared sorbent (MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag) has the good magnetic performance for magnetic separation and extraction processes. It was concluded that the synthesized MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag could be used as an efficient adsorbent for determining contaminants such as PAEs in different beverage samples. Keywords: Magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE), Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), Iron oxide (Fe3O4), Silver (Ag), Phthalic acid esters (PAEs)

This chapter describes the synthesis of stealth and cationic liposomes and their complexation with plasmid DNA to generate lipoplexes for gene delivery applications. Two techniques are presented: a top-down approach which requires a second step of processing for downsizing the liposomes (i.e., ethanol injection method) and a microfluidic technique that explores the diffusion of ethanol in water to allow the proper lipid self-assembly. The synthesis of stealth liposomes is also a challenge since the use of poly(ethylene glycol) favors the formation of oblate micelles. In this protocol, the stealth cationic liposome synthesis by exploring the high ionic strength to overcome the formation of secondary structures like micelles is described. Finally, the electrostatic complexation between cationic liposomes and DNA is described, indicating important aspects that guarantee the formation of uniform lipoplexes.

This chapter describes the synthesis of stealth and cationic liposomes and their complexation with plasmid DNA to generate lipoplexes for gene delivery applications. Two techniques are presented: a top-down approach which requires a second step of processing for downsizing the liposomes (i.e., ethanol injection method) and a microfluidic technique that explores the diffusion of ethanol in water to allow the proper lipid self-assembly. The synthesis of stealth liposomes is also a challenge since the use of poly(ethylene glycol) favors the formation of oblate micelles. In this protocol, the stealth cationic liposome synthesis by exploring the high ionic strength to overcome the formation of secondary structures like micelles is described. Finally, the electrostatic complexation between cationic liposomes and DNA is described, indicating important aspects that guarantee the formation of uniform lipoplexes.

Controlled release of genetic material such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) using lipid-based non-viral vectors has gained substantial importance in gene therapy applications. Therefore, the interaction between siRNA and these vectors must be well understood. This study aims to investigate the effect of different molar charge ratios (R+/-) between positive charges from microfluidics-produced cationic liposomes (CL) (egg phosphatidylcholine, 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine) and negative charges from siRNA and on physico-chemical and morphological properties of the lipoplexes (CL/siRNA) as well as their in vitro luciferase silencing effect in HeLa cells. R+/- 3.27 was found to be the optimum point for complexation. This finding was confirmed by gel retardation and siRNA accessibility assays. According to Cryo-TEM analysis, the lipoplexes had multi-lamellarity. In vitro transfection efficiency of lipoplexes in HeLa cells was tested at three different siRNA concentrations (10, 25, and 35 nM). Significant knockdown of luciferase by siRNA lipoplexes was observed based on reduced luciferase activity of transfected HeLa cells. Our findings were comparable with the silencing effect of siRNA complexed with Lipofectamine®. No cytotoxicity of lipoplexes was detected at the tested concentrations. This study was essential for further complexation studies which will be performed using microfluidic systems to formulate next-generation lipid-based controlled release systems.

The antioxidant and antibacterial activities of fermented sarshir (traditional dairy food), with three probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum strains (LP3, AF1, and LU5), were investigated. The oxidative stability and the lipid profile of non-fermented and fermented sarshir were compared, in addition to radical scavenging activity, as well as peroxide, anisidine and carbonyl values (PV, AnV and CV, respectively).; Results: The strong antibacterial activity of fermented sarshir against common pathogenic bacteria, including Gram-negative Escherichia coli O157: H7 ATCC 35150 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, as well as Gram-positive Bacillus cereus ATCC 10876 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, was established. Among the strains examined, L. plantarum LP3 exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity (53.1 ± 1.8%) and lowest PV (3.0 meq kg-1 ), AnV (1.31 ± 0.06) and CV (1.4 ± 0.08). The pH of sarshir decreased from 6.2 ± 0 to 3.5 ± 0.1 during 14 h of fermentation. Incorporated bacterial cells exhibited notable viability during 10 days of cold storage (4 °C).; Conclusion: The fermentation of sarshir by L. plantarum strains, especially LP3, resulted in beneficial changes in radical scavenging activity, as well as PV, AnV and carbonyl values, in addition to a broad spectrum of inhibitory activity against strains of P. aeruginosa, E. coli O157:H7, B. cereus and S. aureus. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Basil seed gum (BSG) edible films containing with Origanum vulgare subsp . viride essential oil (OEO) (1–6%) were formulated in order to coating of fresh cut apricots. Chemical attributes, microbial load and sensory characteristics of coated fresh apricot-cut during cold storage at 4 °C for 8 d were investigated. The addition of OEO significantly decreased water vapor permeability (WVP) of films while increased their moisture content (p

Lipids can be used to create vectors for delivery of drugs, as well as genetic material. This work focused on the production of complexes between liposomes (with and without polyethylene glycol, PEG) and plasmidial DNA and small interfering RNA. Two mechanisms of production (complexation) were explored, one forms lipoplexes and lipid nanoparticles. Both structures formed were very different, resulting in distinct physical-chemical properties.

Background: Breast milk is considered an essential food segment for children up to 6 months; however, it can be contaminated with some mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) as a consequence of ingestion of dietary mycotoxins by lactating mothers. Moreover, the health of infants can be threatened due to simultaneous exposure to a mixture of mycotoxins mainly due to their potential synergistic effects. Scope and approach: An overview of the prevalence of mycotoxins in breast milk and infant formula, fruit- and cereal-based products as routine diets of infants during the last 10 years, besides the associated health risks, were presented. In this regard, the relevant citations published in international databases such as PubMed, Science direct from 2008 to 2019 were screened by the aid of a systematic review approach. Key findings and conclusions: The high prevalence of AFM1 and OTA in breast milk reported in several countries highlighted the extent of mycotoxin occurrence in the diet of lactating mothers. Furthermore, the exposure rates of infants to mycotoxins in breast milk and infant formula while generated a margin of exposure values lower than 10,000, indicating a huge public health concern. Thus, reducing the dietary exposure of mycotoxins for lactating mothers and approaching the required controlling steps during the processing and distribution of infant formulas are crucial. Further studies are recommended to evaluate the health risks to infants due to dietary exposure to multiple mycotoxins in infant foods. Highlights: Assessment of 73 studies on mycotoxin occurrence in breast milk and infant foods during 2008–2019; AFM1 and OTA were the main occurring mycotoxins in breast milk and infant foods; High health risks associated with the exposure of children to dietary aflatoxins; Co-occurrence of mycotoxins in fruit products and cereal-based infant formula should be a concern. The authors would like to thank Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) for the fellowship (Grant #2017/12956-2). A.S. Sant'Ana acknowledges the financial support from CNPq (Grant #302763/2014-7, #305804/2017-0) and CAPES (Financial code 01). This work was also supported by the National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Projeto Incentivo de Estudos de Biomonitorização Humana de Âmbito Nacional | BioMAN [BioMAN/DAN/01] and CESAM, through the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [UID/AMB/50017/2013], national funds, and the co-funding by the FEDER [POCI-01-0145-FEDER-00763], within the PT2020 Partnership. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Green technologies have emerged as useful tools for the generation of clean fuels with the potential to minimize the effect of human activity on the environment. Currently, these fuels are mainly composed of hydrocarbons obtained from crude oil. Over the past two decades, biomass has gained significant attention as a renewable feedstock for more sustainable biofuel production and has been a great candidate to replace fossil fuels. The principal components of most of the available biomass are cellulose, hemi-cellulose, and lignin. Although the available green technologies for biofuel production are progressing rapidly, productivity and chemical yield from these techniques are still below the required values. Therefore, there is a need for interdisciplinary studies to meet the requirements for more global and efficient production by streamlining processes, integrating technologies and achieving techno-economic improvements. In this context, we aim to give an overview of available biomass such as agricultural wastes suitable for the generation of different classes of biofuels including next-generation biofuels. Unfortunately, expensive, wasteful and energy-consuming pretreatment processes are still used. Therefore, novel technologies that allow a more efficient separation with low resource consumption and the generation of a low number of residues are required. In this regard, novel technologies such as efficient fractionation techniques and genetic and metabolic engineering including the application of CRISPR/Cas tools, as well as microfluidic platforms to improve the overall yield of biofuel production are discussed.

The whole-cell immobilization on chitosan matrix was evaluated. Bacillus sp., as producer of CGTase, was grown in solid-state and batch cultivation using three types of starches (cassava, potato and cornstarch). Biomass growth and substrate consumption were assessed by flow cytometry and modified phenol-sulfuric acid assays, respectively. Qualitative analysis of CGTase production was determined by colorless area formation on solid culture containing phenolphthalein. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrated that bacterial cells were immobilized on chitosan matrix efficiently. Free cells reached very high numbers during batch culture while immobilized cells maintained initial inoculum concentration. The maximum enzyme activity achieved by free cells was 58.15 U ml(-1) (36 h), 47.50 U ml(-1) (36 h) and 68.36 U ml(-1) (36 h) on cassava, potato and cornstarch, respectively. CGTase activities for immobilized cells were 82.15 U ml(-1) (18 h) on cassava, 79.17 U ml(-1) (12 h) on potato and 55.37 U ml(-1) (in 6 h and max 77.75 U ml(-1) in 36 h) on cornstarch. Application of immobilization technique increased CGTase activity significantly. The immobilized cells produced CGTase with higher activity in a shorter fermentation time comparing to free cells.

The purpose of this study is to estimate the concentration of digestion-resistant and bioactive peptides in dairy products using an in silico method. The major contributors of milk protein sequences including αs1-casein, αs2-casein, β-casein, k-casein, β-lactoglobulin, and α-lactalbumin were obtained from UniProt Knowledgebase (UniProtKB). In silico digestion and bioactive fragment, findings were analyzed using the BIOPEP tool. Bioactive peptide content of the dairy products was estimated based on molecular weight, percent of major proteins existing in the food items, and the number of peptides obtained after in silico digestion from each protein. The results showed that 100 g milk contains 6700.241 μmol digestion-resistant peptides; in which 1880.434 μmol out of total peptides have anti-diabetic properties. Of all digestion-resistant peptides, 1978.24, 1955.024, 1700.907, and 1066.07 μmol belong to very low, low, medium, and high bioactivity sub-groups, respectively. Using the data introduced here, risk assessment could be done for dairy originated bioactive peptides and chronic disease.

The research was focused on the production of lipid based vectors for gene therapy by microfluidic devices, particularly carionic liposomes (CL), and their complexation with plasmidic DNA (pDNA). Two types of microfluidic devices were proposed to achieve the goals, a diffusion based microfluidic device (D-MD) and a caotic advection based microfluidic device (CA-MD). The research showed that the CA-MD has a better productivity of CL while maintaining good properties. In the complexation studies, the D-MD was capable of make the complexes of genetic materials and liposomes (Lipoplexes).

International audience; Solar energy has recently attracted the attention of both industry and academia, to be used as a source of clean energy for green production of various products such as food-related commodities. This review aims to explore the applicability of this green energy source for extraction of valuable components (e.g., bioactive compounds and essential oils) from plant materials and waste biomass, dehydration of plant materials, water recovery through desalination, decontamination, cooking, and baking of agri-food products. According to the literature, concentrated solar power systems (CSP) have been successfully employed for bioactive compounds (e.g. essential oils) extraction, drying process, water desalination and decontamination, baking, and cooking. While CSP systems provide several benefits, such as low greenhouse gases emission and reduced production cost, their application is associated with several limitations which are taken into account in this review. Further considerations for improving the performance and applicability of CSP in the food industry are also discussed in the present study.

As consequence of the steady increase in processing foods consumption, especially because of the current lifestyles of the population, the industry is always creating novel process technology to improve quality, productivity, and attendance of the new markets. Nevertheless, these new technologies, covering thermal and non-thermal processing, affect the value nutritional of food. The vitamins play an important role in the health and can be affected by industrial processing. Modern food processing methods based on short-term treatment such as pulsed electric fields; osmotic dehydration, radiation and high-pressure processing cause negligible degradation of carotenoid. For example, it has been reported that ohmic heating causes no change in carotenoid content; while microwave heating and freeze-drying caused the lowest degradation of carotenoid. Ultrasound treatment of food changed carotenoids into colorless and unknown compounds. These results indicate that although heating processes in short time had a lower degrading effect on carotenoid content, they should be used cautiously to cause the lowest impact on carotenoid content. Regarding the light effect on carotenoid degradation, it has been reported that degradation rate is higher in samples stored at light compared to those kept in darkness. In general, carotenoid degradation can be lowered by reduction temperature, processing time, light and oxygen and application of antioxidants. In this chapter, the effects of processing on bioavailability and bioaccessibility of fat-soluble vitamins were discussed.

Water-soluble vitamins play an essential catalytic role as coenzymes in crucial biochemical processes. Different from fat-soluble vitamins, they should be continuously supplied via diet since the human body is not capable of storing this vitamin group for a longer time. Moreover, they are distinct from other biomolecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins in terms of molecular structure and metabolic purposes. Therefore processing methods should be carefully carried out in order to preserve vitamin content. These techniques, which mostly involve thermal processing or application of electric field or high hydrostatic pressures, have great influence on bioavailability and bioaccessibility of these vitamins and therefore should be efficiently optimized so as not to significantly alter these properties. Additionally, determination of these two critical properties plays a key role for further formulation of an efficient diet. However, factors such as age, gender, nutrient status, and health condition of individuals, such us genotype, pregnancy, lactation, or specific disorders, should be taken into account for the determination of bioavailability.

The recent progress in genetic engineering has brought multiple benefits to the food and agricultural industry by enhancing the essential characteristics of agronomic traits. Powerful tools in the field of genome editing, such as siRNA-mediated RNA interference for targeted suppression of gene expression and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) for DNA repair have been widely used for commercial purposes. However, in the last few years, the discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 system has revolutionized genome editing and has attracted attention as a powerful tool for several industrial applications. Herein, we review current progresses in the utilization of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in the food and agricultural industry, particularly in the development of resistant crops with improved quality and productivity. We compare the CRISPR system with the TALEN and ZFN nucleases-based methods and highlight potential advantages and shortcomings. In addition, we explore the state of the global market and discuss the safety and ethical concerns associated with the application of this technology in the food and agricultural industry.

Interest in the utilization of antimicrobial active packaging for food products has increased in recent years. Antimicrobial active packaging involves the incorporation of antimicrobial compounds into packaging materials, with the aim of maintaining or extending food quality and shelf life. Plant extracts, essential oils, organic acids, bacteriocins, inorganic substances, enzymes, and proteins are used as antimicrobial agents in active packaging. Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of packaging materials using different methods has become a critical issue for both food safety and the commercial utilization of such packaging technology. This article reviews the different types of antimicrobial agents used for active food packaging materials, the main incorporation techniques, and the assessment methods used to examine the antimicrobial activity of packaging materials, taking into account their safety as food contact materials.

Immobilization is one of the most effective and powerful tools used in industry, which has been studied and improved since the last century. Various immobilization techniques and support materials have been used on both laboratory and industrial scale. Each immobilization technique is applicable for a specific production mostly depending on the cost and sensibility of process. Compared to free biocatalyst systems, immobilization techniques often offer better stability, increased activity and selectivity, higher resistance, improved separation and purification, reuse of enzymes, and consequently more efficient process. Recently, many reviews have been published about immobilization systems; however, most of them have focused on a specific application or not emphasized in details. This review focuses on most commonly used techniques in industry with many recent applications including using bioreactor systems for industrial production. It is also aimed to emphasize the advantages and disadvantages of the immobilization techniques and how these systems improve process productivity compared to non-immobilized systems.

Lactic acid, as an organic acid, has essential roles in industrial applications ranging from the food industry to life-sciences. Conventional fermentation methods have been well-studied since late 18th century, but are unable to achieve consumers' expectations regarding both quality and quantity. Therefore, novel technological developments of lactic acid production to increase yield and decrease over-all cost have become the primary goal. Genetic and metabolic engineering are great tools to overcome problems associated with product inhibition, undesired by-product formation, the negative effect of extreme culture conditions and most importantly inefficient use of expensive substrates. Adaptation of immobilization techniques to large-scale production can enhance fermentation yield. Moreover, improving novel techniques such as cell recycle systems, and simultaneous saccharification will lead engineered microorganisms to produce lactic acid with increased concentration, yield, and productivity. The present study reviews the viability and industrial potentiality of the most recent advances in the biotechnological production of lactic acid.

Microfluidics is an emerging technology that allows efficient mixing of fluids on the nanoliter scale and has recently been employed for the production of lipid-based systems. In this study, we investigated the manufacturing of conventional (EPC/DOTAP/DOPE) and stealth (EPC/DOTAP/DOPE/DSPE-PEG(2000)) cationic liposomes (CLs) in a high-throughput chaotic advection-based microfluidic device (CA-MD) using water and ethanol. We assessed the effects of total flow rate (TFR), flow rate ratio (FRR), and flow configuration on CL formation. We compared the results with properties of CLs produced on a diffusion-based microfluidic device (D-MD). FRR (aqueous/solvent ratio) values were found to have a strong correlation with vesicle formation and values close to 1 led to the production of conventional and stealth CLs with diameter and polydispersity indices close to 200 nm and 0.2, respectively. Both liposomes are unilamellar, and stealth CL production could minimize micelle formation and operate at high flow velocities without altering characteristics of CLs. These findings were supported with dynamic light scattering (DLS), cryo-transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM), and synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques. The high solvent content in liposomes after microfluidic synthesis (FRR = 1) was reduced by employing centrifugal vacuum concentrators (CVC) at low pressure and 43 °C as an alternative distillation process for successful ethanol removal without changing the structural properties of these nanoaggregates. Finally, both CLs were able to transfect pDNA into PC-3 cancer cells. The CA-MD coupled to a CVC technique produced conventional and stealth CLs with high productivity, which makes it readily applicable for industrial production.

Herein, an ultrasonic assisted dispersive magnetic solid-phase adsorption method along with a high-performance liquid chromatography system for the diethyl phthalate (DEP) removal was developed. In this regard, magnetic iron oxide/graphene oxide (MGO) nanocomposites were prepared by a simple and effective chemical co-precipitation method, followed by nucleation and growth of nanoparticles. The structure and morphology of MGO was identified by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy X-ray diffraction (XRD), Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and N2 adsorption-desorption techniques. The interactive and main effect of parameters such as pH, adsorbent dosage, sonication time and concentration of DEP involved in the adsorption process were set within the ranges 3.0–11.0, 0.10–0.50 g L−1, 1–5 min, 5–10 mg/L, respectively. Root means square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), absolute average deviation (AAD), and coefficient of determination (R2) was employed to examine the applicability of the response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) models for the description of experimental data. Compared to RSM, the ANN showed a more accurate performance for modeling the process of DEP adsorption. Using genetic algorithm-ANN, optimum conditions were set to 5.38, 334.7 mg/L, 3.723 min and 4.21 mg/L for pH, adsorbent dose, sonication time and concentration of DEP, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, the maximum adsorption capacity and adsorption factors were 116.933 mg/g and 100%, respectively, while the relative standard deviations (RSDs) was

Considerable efforts have been made to develop efficient systems for gene delivery applications. The major challenge of these systems is to overcome different barriers to deliver the genetic material inside the target cells and promote proper transfection. In this way, nonviral gene delivery systems have provided novel possibilities of materials for designing carriers with low immunogenicity, low toxicity, and low cost of production and with the ability of transporting larger nucleic acid molecules. This chapter aims to contribute to the comprehension of the state of the art of biopolymers investigated for gene delivery, including proteins and polypeptides, polysaccharides, and smart nanoparticles, which are biopolymers or the combination of them that show specific characteristics against some stimulus responses. Moreover, physicochemical aspects are presented to relate nanoparticle formation and biological aspects such as type of transfected cells, possible mechanism of internalization, and cytotoxicity.

The antioxidant and antibacterial activities of fermented sarshir (traditional dairy food), with three probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum strains (LP3, AF1, and LU5), were investigated. The oxidative stability and the lipid profile of non-fermented and fermented sarshir were compared, in addition to radical scavenging activity, as well as peroxide, anisidine and carbonyl values (PV, AnV and CV, respectively).The strong antibacterial activity of fermented sarshir against common pathogenic bacteria, including Gram-negative Escherichia coli O157: H7 ATCC 35150 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, as well as Gram-positive Bacillus cereus ATCC 10876 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, was established. Among the strains examined, L. plantarum LP3 exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity (53.1 ± 1.8%) and lowest PV (3.0 meq kgThe fermentation of sarshir by L. plantarum strains, especially LP3, resulted in beneficial changes in radical scavenging activity, as well as PV, AnV and carbonyl values, in addition to a broad spectrum of inhibitory activity against strains of P. aeruginosa, E. coli O157:H7, B. cereus and S. aureus. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.