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Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a genetic condition characterized by an excessive response to androgens, leading to hairline regression in men and hair thinning at the vertex in women, which can negatively impact self-esteem. Conventional synthetic treatments for AGA are often limited by their side effects. In contrast, Thai medicinal plants offer a promising alternative with fewer adverse effects. This study investigates the synergistic phytochemical and pharmacological effects of a novel Hair Rise TM microemulsion, formulated with bioactive extracts from rice bran ( Oryza sativa ), shallot bulb ( Allium ascalonicum ), licorice root ( Glycyrrhiza glabra ), and corn kernels ( Zea mays ), for the treatment of hair loss. The microemulsion, in concentrations of 50%, 75%, and 100% ( v / v ), significantly enhanced the proliferation of human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) compared to minoxidil. Additionally, it upregulated critical hair growth signaling pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin ( CTNNB1 ), Sonic Hedgehog ( SHH , SMO , GLI1 ), and vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ), surpassing standard controls such as minoxidil and purmorphamine. The microemulsion also demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties by reducing nitric oxide production and oxidative stress, factors that contribute to inflammation and follicular damage in AGA. Furthermore, Hair Rise TM inhibited 5 α -reductase (types 1-3), a key enzyme involved in androgen metabolism, in both human prostate cancer cells (DU-145) and HFDPCs. These findings suggest that Hair Rise TM microemulsion presents a promising natural therapy for promoting hair growth and reducing hair loss via multiple synergistic mechanisms, offering a potent, plant-based alternative to synthetic treatments.

The utilization of biopolymers incorporated with antimicrobial agents is extremely interesting in the development of environmentally friendly functional materials for food packaging and other applications. In this study, the effect of calcium oxide (CaO) on the morphological, mechanical, thermal, and hydrophilic properties as well as the antimicrobial activity of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCH) bio-composite films was investigated. The CMCH was synthesized from shrimp chitosan through carboxymethylation, whereas the CaO was synthesized via a co-precipitation method with polyethylene glycol as a stabilizer. The CMCH-CaO bio-composite films were prepared by the addition of synthesized CaO into the synthesized CMCH using a facile solution casting method. As confirmed by XRD and SEM, the synthesized CaO has a cubic shape, with an average crystalline size of 25.84 nm. The synthesized CaO exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) (>99.9% R). The addition of CaO into CMCH improved the mechanical and hydrophobic properties of the CMCH-CaO films. However, it resulted in a slight decrease in thermal stability. Notably, the CMCH-CaO10% films exhibited exceptional antimicrobial activity against E. coli (98.8% R) and S. aureus (91.8% R). As a result, such bio-composite films can be applied as an active packaging material for fruit, vegetable, or meat products.

The present study aimed to extract nanocellulose (NC) from sugarcane bagasse agricultural waste through a chemical method (sulfuric acid hydrolysis and ultrasonication). Subsequently, the nanocellulose product was conjugated with polylysine (NC-PL) and assessed for its efficacy in reducing the toxicity of Fumonisin B1 (FB1), a mycotoxin produced by fungi commonly found in corn, wheat, and other grains. Experimental results confirmed the successful conjugation of NC and PL, as evidenced by FTIR peaks at 1635 and 1625 cm -1 indicating amide I and amide II vibrations in polylysine (PL). SEM analysis revealed a larger size due to PL coating, consistent with DLS results showing the increased size and positive charge (38.0 mV) on the NC-PL surface. Moreover, the effect of FB1 adsorption by NC and NC-PL was evaluated at various concentrations (0-200,000 μg/mL). NC-PL demonstrated the ability to adsorb FB1 at concentrations of 2000, 20,000, and 200,000 μg/mL, with adsorption efficiencies of 94.4-100%. Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells were utilized to assess NC and NC-PL cytotoxic effects. This result is a preliminary step towards standardizing results for future studies on their application as novel FB1 binders in food, food packaging, and functional feeds.

Ethyl cellulose (EC)-based composite sponges were developed for oil spillage treatment. The EC sponge surface was decorated with helical carbon nanotubes (HCNTs) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) (1 phr) using the inside-out sugar templating method. The inside surface of a sugar cube was coated with HCNTs and MoS 2 . After filling the sugar cube pores with EC and the subsequent sugar leaching, the decorating materials presented on the sponge surface. The EC/HCNT/MoS 2 sponge had a high level of oil removal based on its adsorption capacity (41.68 g/g), cycled adsorption (∼75-79 %), separation flux efficiency (∼85-95 %), and efficiency in oil/water emulsion separation (92-94 %). The sponge maintained adsorption capacity in acidic, basic, and salty conditions, adsorbed oil under water, and functioned as an oil/water separator in a continuous pump-assisted system. The compressive stress and Young's modulus of the EC sponge increased following its decoration using HCNTs and MoS 2 . The composite sponge was robust based on cycled compression and was thermally stable up to ∼120 ο C. Based on the eco-friendliness of EC, the low loading of HCNTs and MoS 2 , and sponge versatility, the developed EC/HCNT/MoS 2 sponge should be good candidate for use in sustainable oil adsorption and separation applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Prolonged exposure to environmental oxidative stress can result in visible signs of skin aging such as wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and thinning of the skin. Oryza sativa variety Sang 5 CMU, an inbred rice cultivar from northern Thailand, contains phenolic and flavonoid compounds in its bran and husk portions that are known for their natural antioxidant properties. In this study, we evaluated the cosmetic properties of crude extracts from rice bran and husk of Sang 5 CMU, focusing on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-melanogenesis, and collagen-regulating properties. Our findings suggest that both extracts possess antioxidant potential against DPPH, ABTS radicals, and metal ions. Additionally, they could downregulate TBARS levels from 125% to 100% of the control, approximately, while increasing the expression of genes related to the NRF2-mediated antioxidant pathway, such as NRF2 and HO-1 , in H 2 O 2 -induced human fibroblast cells. Notably, rice bran and husk extracts could increase mRNA levels of HO-1 more greatly than the standard L-ascorbic acid, by about 1.29 and 1.07 times, respectively. Furthermore, the crude extracts exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing nitric oxide production in both mouse macrophage and human fibroblast cells. Specifically, the bran and husk extracts inhibited the gene expression of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in LPS-induced inflammation in fibroblasts. Moreover, both extracts demonstrated potential for inhibiting melanin production and intracellular tyrosinase activity in human melanoma cells by decreasing the expression of the transcription factor MITF and the pigmentary genes TYR , TRP-1 , and DCT . They also exhibit collagen-stimulating effects by reducing MMP-2 expression in H 2 O 2 -induced fibroblasts from 135% to 80% of the control, approximately, and increasing the gene associated with type I collagen production, COL1A1 . Overall, the rice bran and husk extracts of Sang 5 CMU showed promise as effective natural ingredients for cosmetic applications.

Anti-inflammatory wound healing involves targeted drug delivery to the wound site using hydrogel materials to prolong drug effectiveness. In this work, hydrogel films were fabricated using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) crosslinked with citric acid (CA) and glutaraldehyde (GA) at different concentrations. The crosslinker densities were optimized with various CA (2-10% w / v ) and GA (1-5% v / v ) concentrations. The optimized crosslink densities in the hydrogel exhibited additional functional group peaks in the FT-IR spectra at 1740 cm -1 for the C=O stretching of the ester linkage in CA and at 1060 cm -1 for the C-O-C stretching of the ether group in GA. Significantly, the internal porous structures of hydrogel composite films improved density, swelling capacities, solubility percentage reduction, and decreased water retention capacities with optimized crosslinker densities. Therefore, these hydrogel composite films were utilized as drug carriers for controlled drug release within 24 h during medical treatment. Moreover, the hydrogel films demonstrated increased triamcinolone acetonide (TAA) absorption with higher crosslinker density, resulting in delayed drug release and improved TAA efficiency in anti-inflammatory activity. As a result, the modified hydrogel showed the capability of being an alternative material with enhanced anti-inflammatory efficiency with hydrogel films.

Clean water and sanitation issues motivate researchers to develop water evaporators for freshwater generation. The composite membrane evaporator was electrospun herein based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and Ti 3 AlC 2 MAX phase as a property enhancer. As a precursor for the MXenes synthesis, the MAX phase has never been explored with PLA for water evaporator potential. Alternative use of the MAX phase can reduce the production cost arising from chemical synthesis. This work explored the potential of the MAX phase as an additive to enhance PLA membrane performance for steam generation and desalination applications. Under the infrared irradiation (∼1.0 kW/m 2 ), the mechanically-improved PLA/MAX phase membrane showed an enhanced water evaporation rate of 1.70 kg/m 2  h (93.93 % efficiency), with an approximately 52 % rate increment relative to the PLA membrane. Based on the artificial seawater (3.5 % w/w), the membrane exhibited an evaporation rate of 1.60 kg/m 2  h (87.57 % efficiency). The membrane showed self-floating ability at the air-water interface, excellent thermal stability over the entire operating temperatures, and reusability after repeated cycles. Moreover, the generated freshwater contained exceptionally low cations concentrations, as low as those in potable water. The developed composite membrane also had proved its potential for solar desalination in the water generation field., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Bamboo cellulose fiber (BF)-reinforced epoxy (EP) composites were fabricated with BF subjected to plasma treatment using argon (Ar), oxygen (O 2 ), and nitrogen (N 2 ) gases. Optimal mechanical properties of the EP/BF composites were achieved with BFs subjected to 30 min of plasma treatment using Ar. This is because Ar gas improved the plasma electron density, surface polarity, and BF roughness. Flexural strength and flexural modulus increased with O 2 plasma treatment. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the etching of the fiber surface with Ar gas improved interfacial adhesion. The water contact angle and surface tension of the EP/BF composite improved after 10 min of Ar treatment, owing to the compatibility between the BFs and the EP matrix. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results confirmed a reduction in lignin after treatment and the formation of new peaks at 1736 cm -1 , which indicated a reaction between epoxy groups of the EP and carbon in the BF backbone. This reaction improved the compatibility, mechanical properties, and water resistance of the composites.

MXenes, synthesized from their precursor MAX phases, have been extensively researched as additives to enhance the drug delivery performance of polymer matrices, whereas there is a limited number of previous reports on the use of MAX phases themselves for such applications. The use of MAX phases can exclude the complicated synthesis procedure and lessen resultant production and environmental costs required to convert MAX phases to MXenes. Herein, electrospun membranes of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and a MAX phase (Ti 3 AlC 2 ) have been fabricated for curcumin delivery. The composite membrane exhibits significantly higher toughness (8.82 MJ m -3 ) than the plasticized PLA membrane (0.63 MJ m -3 ) with low cytotoxicity, supporting proliferation of mouse fibroblast L929 cells. The curcumin-loaded composite membrane exhibits high water vapor transmission (∼7350 g m -2  day -1 ), porosity (∼85 %), water wettability, and antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus. Seven-day curcumin release is enhanced from 45 % (PLA) to 67 % (composite) due to curcumin diffusion from the polymer fibers and MAX phase surface that contributes to overall increased curcumin adsorption and release sites. This work demonstrates the potential of the MAX phase to enhance both properties and curcumin delivery, promising for other eco-friendly systems for sustainable drug delivery applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) is an ideal bioink that is commonly used in bioprinting. GelMA is primarily acquired from mammalian sources; however, the required amount makes the market price extremely high. Since garbage overflow is currently a global issue, we hypothesized that fish scales left over from the seafood industry could be used to synthesize GelMA. Clinically, the utilization of fish products is more advantageous than those derived from mammals as they lower the possibility of disease transmission from mammals to humans and are permissible for practitioners of all major religions. In this study, we used gelatin extracted from fish scales and conventional GelMA synthesis methods to synthesize GelMA, then tested it at different concentrations in order to evaluated and compared the mechanical properties and cell responses. The fish scale GelMA had a printing accuracy of 97%, a swelling ratio of 482%, and a compressive strength of about 85 kPa at a 10% w / v GelMA concentration. Keratinocyte cells (HaCaT cells) were bioprinted with the GelMA bioink to assess cell viability and proliferation. After 72 h of culture, the number of cells increased by almost three-fold compared to 24 h, as indicated by many fluorescent cell nuclei. Based on this finding, it is possible to use fish scale GelMA bioink as a scaffold to support and enhance cell viability and proliferation. Therefore, we conclude that fish scale-based GelMA has the potential to be used as an alternative biomaterial for a wide range of biomedical applications.

Cellulosic bioethanol production generally has a higher operating cost due to relatively expensive pretreatment strategies and low efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis. The production of other high-value chemicals such as xylitol and phenylacetylcarbinol (PAC) is, thus, necessary to offset the cost and promote economic viability. The optimal conditions of diluted sulfuric acid pretreatment under boiling water at 95°C and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis steps for sugarcane bagasse (SCB), rice straw (RS), and corn cob (CC) were optimized using the response surface methodology via a central composite design to simplify the process on the large-scale production. The optimal pretreatment conditions (diluted sulfuric acid concentration (% w/v), treatment time (min)) for SCB (3.36, 113), RS (3.77, 109), and CC (3.89, 112) and the optimal enzymatic hydrolysis conditions (pretreated solid concentration (% w/v), hydrolysis time (h)) for SCB (12.1, 93), RS (10.9, 61), and CC (12.0, 90) were achieved. CC xylose-rich and CC glucose-rich hydrolysates obtained from the respective optimal condition of pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis steps were used for xylitol and ethanol production. The statistically significant highest ( p ≤ 0.05) xylitol and ethanol yields were 65% ± 1% and 86% ± 2% using Candida magnoliae TISTR 5664. C. magnoliae could statistically significantly degrade ( p ≤ 0.05) the inhibitors previously formed during the pretreatment step, including up to 97% w/w hydroxymethylfurfural, 76% w/w furfural, and completely degraded acetic acid during the xylitol production. This study was the first report using the mixed whole cells harvested from xylitol and ethanol production as a biocatalyst in PAC biotransformation under a two-phase emulsion system (vegetable oil/1 M phosphate (Pi) buffer). PAC concentration could be improved by 2-fold compared to a single-phase emulsion system using only 1 M Pi buffer., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Porninta, Khemacheewakul, Techapun, Phimolsiripol, Jantanasakulwong, Sommanee, Mahakuntha, Feng, Htike, Moukamnerd, Zhuang, Wang, Qi, Li, Liu, Kumar, Nunta and Leksawasdi.)

In this study, the efficacy of ionomers and poly-lactic acid (PLA) as an alternative solid material combined with scFv antibodies specific to bovine Y-sperm (Y-scFv) was studied to create a novel method of sexing technology. The coupling efficiency of Y-scFv to the surface of PLA, Na + and Zn 2+ ionomer film was between 2 and 8 mg/mL. Fourier transform infrared spectra confirm that Y-scFv was bound with a carboxylic acid group in each film. Therefore, Na + , Zn 2+ ionomers and PLA films conjugated with 4 and 8 mg/mL Y-scFv showed the highest concentration of Y-sperm in the eluted fraction. Considering that the elute fraction was enriched Y-sperm fraction, it contained 67.70-77.94 % of the Y-sperm ratio related to the produced supernatant fraction, which contained up to 69.31-76.01 % enriched X-sperm. In addition, the sperm quality after the sexing process was analyzed by CASA and imaging flow cytometry, which showed that each polymer did not have a negative effect on sperm motility and acrosome integrity for X-sperm. The capacity of ionomer and PLA combined with Y-scFv are used for bovine sperm sexing., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Korawan Sringarm reports financial support was provided by Chiang Mai University. Korawan Sringarm has patent #2101007525 pending to Licensee., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a biomaterial being investigated for a range of applications. Herein, BC films derived from nata de coco pieces are reinforced by two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) and helical carbon nanotubes (HCNTs) to enhance their tensile mechanical properties, and the biocompatibility of the BC composite films is demonstrated. A simple preparation is presented using a kitchen blender to disperse and blend the BC fibers and additives in a common fabrication medium, followed by vacuum filtration. The mechanical properties of the BC/MoS 2 /HCNTs composite films are enhanced due to the synergistic effect of MoS 2 and HCNTs embedded in the BC films. The MoS 2 /HCNTs binary additive (1 phr) is capable of increasing the strength and Young's modulus by 148 % and 333 %, respectively, relative to the BC films. The cell cytotoxicity of the BC/MoS 2 /HCNTs films was assessed using an MTT assay. The composite films are biocompatible with a cell viability of L929 fibroblast cells >70 %, coupled with observations of direct cell attachment on the films. The composite films also exhibited good performance in absorbing and releasing gentamicin antibiotics to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The BC/MoS 2 /HCNTs films are thus potential BC-based candidates as biocompatible robust antibiotic carriers., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Novel biodegradable thermoplastic starch (TPS) with high mechanical properties and water resistance was developed using reactive blending technique. Effect of zinc oxide (ZnO) addition to TPS properties and reaction was investigated. Thermoplastic modified starch (TPMS) was prepared by melt-mixing modified starch with glycerol 70/30%wt/wt. Carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) 5%wt was incorporated with modified starch, glycerol, and zinc oxide (ZnO) 0-5 %wt. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of the carboxyl anion (OZn) between the -COO - of CMC and the free Zn + ion of ZnO. The tensile strength of the TPMS/CMC/ZnO blend increased 7 time with ZnO 5 % (14 MPa) addition compared to TPMS (2 MPa). The color (∆E) of TPMS/CMC/ZnO differed notably at high ZnO concentrations (1-5 %wt). The TPMS/CMC blend displayed a smooth fracture surface due to the miscibility of the materials. Small particles of ZnO dispersed finely in the TPMS matrix and increased the interfacial tension and water contact angle of the blends. The miscibility of TPS with CMC and the occurrence of ionic interactions of -COO - of CMC and -OH of starch with the Zn + ion as physical crosslinking were indicated to improve the mechanical properties and water resistance of the blends., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

A study evaluated nine kinetic data and four kinetic parameters related to growth, production of various phytase activities (PE act ), and released phosphate ion concentration ([Pi]) from five lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains cultivated in three types of media: phytate (IP6), milling stage rice bran (MsRB), and whitening stage rice bran (WsRB). Score ranking techniques were used, combining these kinetic data and parameters to select the most suitable LAB strain for each medium across three cultivation time periods (24, 48, and 72 h). In the IP6 medium, Lacticaseibacillus casei TISTR 1500 exhibited statistically significant highest ( p ≤ 0.05) normalized summation scores using a 2:1 weighting between kinetic and parameter data sets. This strain also had the statistically highest levels ( p ≤ 0.05) of produced phosphate ion concentration ([Pi]) (0.55 g/L) at 72 h and produced extracellular specific phytase activity (ExSp-PE act ) (0.278 U/mg protein ) at 48 h. For the MsRB and WsRB media, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TISTR 877 performed exceptionally well after 72 h of cultivation. It produced ([Pi], ExSp-PE act ) pairs of (0.53 g/L, 0.0790 U/mg protein ) in MsRB and (0.85 g/L, 0.0593 U/mg protein ) in WsRB, respectively. Overall, these findings indicate the most promising LAB strains for each medium and cultivation time based on their ability to produce phosphate ions and extracellular specific phytase activity. The selection process utilized a combination of kinetic data and parameter analysis.

Coffee has been a common ingredient in many traditional hair loss remedies, but limited scientific evidence supports its use, particularly in coffee pulp. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is caused by androgens, inflammation, and oxidative stress. In the present study, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was used under various conditions to obtain six coffee pulp extracts. The SFE-4 extract, using 50% ( v /v) ethanol as a co-solvent at conditions of 100 °C and 500 bars for 30 min, exhibited the highest phenolic, flavonoid, and caffeine contents. Additionally, the SFE-4 extract increased the migration and cell proliferation of HFDPCs (human hair follicle dermal papilla cells), which control hair cycle regulation, and had scavenging effects on ABTS and DPPH radicals. Additionally, the SFE-4 extract showed potassium ion channel opener activity in HFDPCs, as well as a stimulation effect on the enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) (28.53 ± 1.08% of control), which may be related to the vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) gene upregulation. In human prostate cancer cells (DU-145) and HFDPC cells, the SFE-4 extract significantly decreased the expression of SRD5A1 , SRD5A2 , and SRD5A3 , an essential pathway involved in AGA. Hair growth factor genes in the Wnt/-catenin ( CTNNB1 ) and Sonic Hedgehog ( SHH , SMO , and GLI1 ) pathways could be significantly activated by the SFE-4 extract. These results imply that employing SFE in coffee pulp extraction could help AGA treatment by preventing hair loss and promoting hair growth pathways. This would help small coffee producers gain economic empowerment and ensure the long-term sustainability of agricultural waste utilization.

A novel poly (lactic acid) (PLA) composite with excellent mechanical properties, toughness, thermal stability, and water resistance was developed using a reactive melt-blending technique. PLA was melt mixed with epoxy resin (EPOXY) and bamboo pulp (PULP) to improve its reaction and mechanical properties. FTIR analysis confirmed the successful reaction of the PLA/EPOXY/PULP composites; the epoxy groups of EPOXY reacted with the -COOH groups of PLA and the -OH groups of PULP. The PLA/EPOXY/PULP5 composite showed a high tensile strength (67 MPa) and high toughness of 762 folding cycles, whereas the highest tensile strength was 77 MPa in the PLA/EPOXY5/PULP20 sample. SEM images presented a gap between the PLA and PULP; gap size decreased with the addition of EPOXY. The T g of the PLA decreased with the EPOXY plasticizer effect, whereas the T m did not significantly change. PULP induced crystallinity and increased Vicat softening of the PLA/PULP and PLA/EPOXY/PULP composites. The EPOXY reaction of the PLA/PULP composites improved their tensile properties, toughness, thermal stability, and water resistance.

Filtration of biological liquids has been widely employed in biological, medical, and environmental investigations due to its convenience; many could be performed without energy and on-site, particularly protein separation. However, most available membranes are universal protein absorption or sub-fractionation due to molecule sizes or properties. SPMA, or syringe-push membrane absorption, is a quick and easy way to prepare biofluids for protein evaluation. The idea of initiating SPMA was to filter proteins from human urine for subsequent proteomic analysis. In our previous study, we developed nanofiber membranes made from polybutylene succinate (PBS) composed of graphene oxide (GO) for SPMA. In this study, we combined molecular imprinting with our developed PBS fiber membranes mixed with graphene oxide to improve protein capture selectivity in a lock-and-key fashion and thereby increase the efficacy of protein capture. As a model, we selected albumin from human serum (ABH), a clinically significant urine biomarker, for proteomic application. The nanofibrous membrane was generated utilizing the electrospinning technique with PBS/GO composite. The PBS/GO solution mixed with ABH was injected from a syringe and transformed into nanofibers by an electric voltage, which led the fibers to a rotating collector spinning for fiber collection. The imprinting process was carried out by removing the albumin protein template from the membrane through immersion of the membrane in a 60% acetonitrile solution for 4 h to generate a molecular imprint on the membrane. Protein trapping ability, high surface area, the potential for producing affinity with proteins, and molecular-level memory were all evaluated using the fabricated membrane morphology, protein binding capacity, and quantitative protein measurement. This study revealed that GO is a controlling factor, increasing electrical conductivity and reducing fiber sizes and membrane pore areas in PBS-GO-composites. On the other hand, the molecular imprinting did not influence membrane shape, nanofiber size, or density. Human albumin imprinted membrane could increase the PBS-GO membrane's ABH binding capacity from 50 to 83%. It can be indicated that applying the imprinting technique in combination with the graphene oxide composite technique resulted in enhanced ABH binding capabilities than using either technique individually in membrane fabrication. The suitable protein elution solution is at 60% acetonitrile with an immersion time of 4 h. Our approach has resulted in the possibility of improving filter membranes for protein enrichment and storage in a variety of biological fluids., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Phenylacetylcarbinol (PAC) is a precursor for the synthesis of several pharmaceuticals, including ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and norephedrine. PAC is commonly produced through biotransformation using microbial pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) in the form of frozen-thawed whole cells. However, the lack of microorganisms capable of high PDC activity is the main factor in the production of PAC. In addition, researchers are also looking for ways to utilize agro-industrial residues as an inexpensive carbon source through an integrated biorefinery approach in which sugars can be utilized for bioethanol production and frozen-thawed whole cells for PAC synthesis. In the present study, Candida tropicalis , Saccharomyces cerevisiae , and the co-culture of both strains were compared for their biomass and ethanol concentrations, as well as for their volumetric and specific PDC activities when cultivated in a sugarcane bagasse (SCB) hydrolysate medium (SCBHM). The co-culture that resulted in a higher level of PAC (8.65 ± 0.08 mM) with 26.4 ± 0.9 g L -1 ethanol production was chosen for further experiments. Biomass production was scaled up to 100 L and the kinetic parameters were studied. The biomass harvested from the bioreactor was utilized as frozen-thawed whole cells for the selection of an initial pyruvate (Pyr)-to-benzaldehyde (Bz) concentration ([Pyr]/[Bz]) ratio suitable for the PAC biotransformation in a single-phase emulsion system. The initial [Pyr]/[Bz] at 100/120 mM resulted in higher PAC levels with 10.5 ± 0.2 mM when compared to 200/240 mM (8.60 ± 0.01 mM). A subsequent two-phase emulsion system with Pyr in the aqueous phase, Bz in the organic phase, and frozen-thawed whole cells of the co-culture as the biocatalyst produced a 1.46-fold higher PAC level when compared to a single-phase emulsion system. In addition, the cost analysis strategy indicated preliminary costs of USD 0.82 and 1.01/kg PAC for the single-phase and two-phase emulsion systems, respectively. The results of the present study suggested that the co-culture of C. tropicalis and S. cerevisiae can effectively produce bioethanol and PAC from SCB and would decrease the overall production cost on an industrial scale utilizing the two-phase emulsion system with the proposed multiple-pass strategy.

The surface modification of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) using a 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)/sodium bromide (NaBr)/sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) system was successful in improving their hydrophilicity. Following that, we fabricated hydrogels containing carboxylated cellulose nanofibers (c-CNFs) and loaded them with polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) using a physical crosslinking method, aiming for efficient antimicrobial uses. The morphological and physicochemical properties of all hydrogel formulations were characterized, and the results revealed that the 7% c-CNFs-2 h loaded with PHMB formulation exhibited desirable characteristics such as regular shape, high porosity, good mechanical properties, suitable gel content, and a good maximum swelling degree. The successful integration of PHMB into the c-CNF matrix was confirmed by FTIR analysis. Furthermore, the 7% c-CNFs-2 h loaded with the PHMB formulation demonstrated PHMB contents exceeding 80% and exhibited a prolonged drug release pattern for up to 3 days. Moreover, this formulation displayed antibacterial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. In conclusion, the novel approach of c-CNF hydrogels loaded with PHMB through physical crosslinking shows promise as a potential system for prolonged drug release in topical drug delivery while also exhibiting excellent antibacterial activity.

Biodegradable starch-based polymers were developed by melt-blending modified thermoplastic starch (MTPS) with poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) blended with epoxy resin (Er). A modified thermoplastic starch blend with chlorhexidine gluconate (MTPSCh) was prepared by melt-blending cassava starch with glycerol and chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) 1.0% wt. The Er was melt-blended with PBS (PBSE) at concentrations of 0.50%, 1.0%, 2.5%, and 5.0% (wt%/wt%). The mechanical properties, water resistance, and morphology of the MTPSCh/PBSE blends were investigated. The MTPSCh/PBSE2.5% blend showed an improvement in tensile strength (8.1 MPa) and elongation at break (86%) compared to the TPSCh/PBS blend (2.6 MPa and 53%, respectively). In addition, water contact angle measurements indicated an increase in the hydrophobicity of the MTPSCh/PBSE blends. Thermogravimetric analysis showed an improvement in thermal stability when PBS was added to the MTPSCh blends. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data confirmed a new reaction between the amino groups of CHG in MTPSCh and the epoxy groups of Er in PBSE, which improved the interfacial adhesion of the MTPSCh/PBSE blends. This reaction improved the mechanical properties, water resistance, morphology, and thermal stability of the TPSCh/PBSE blends.

Using vegetable oils as a plasticizer or processing aid in green rubber products is becoming popular due to environmental concerns. However, differences in vegetable oil processing result in varying amounts of low-molecular-weight (low-MW) free fatty acids (FFAs) in their composition, which range from 2% to 30%. This research investigated how the properties of silica-filled styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and butadiene rubber (BR) blends were affected by the presence of FFAs in palm oil (PO). The rubber compounds containing a 70/30 SBR/BR blend, 30 phr of silica, and 2 phr of bis-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide (TESPT), and the vulcanizing agents were prepared and tested. The PO content was kept constant at 20 phr, while the number of FFAs, i.e., lauric acid (LA), palmitic acid (PA), and oleic acid (OA), in PO varied from 10-30%. The viscosity, dynamic mechanical properties, morphology, cure characteristics, and mechanical properties of the rubber blend were then measured. Regardless of the FFA types, increasing FFA content in PO decreased scorch time, cure time, minimum torque, and viscosity. As the FFA content increased, the torque difference and crosslink density also increased, which led to higher hardness, modulus, tensile strength, and abrasion resistance. The FFA types had a slight effect on the vulcanizate properties, even though LA showed slightly better mechanical properties than PA and OA. The results reveal that FFAs in PO not only improve processability but also function as a co-activator in silica-filled sulfur-vulcanized SBR/BR blend compounds.

With the increasing water consumption, water evaporators have been investigated for clean water production. Herein, the fabrication of electrospun composite membrane evaporators based on ethyl cellulose (EC), with the incorporation of light-absorption enhancers 2D MoS 2 and helical carbon nanotubes, for steam generation and solar desalination is described. Under natural sunlight, the maximum water evaporation rate was 2.02 kg m -2  h -1 with an evaporation efficiency of 93.2 % (1 sun) and reached 2.42 kg m -2  h -1 at 12:00 pm (1.35 sun). The composite membranes demonstrated self-floating on the air-water interface and minimal accumulation of superficial salt during the desalination process due to the hydrophobic character of EC. For concentrated saline water (21 wt% NaCl), the composite membranes maintained a relatively high evaporation rate of up to ~79 % compared to the freshwater evaporation rate. The composite membranes are robust due to the thermomechanical stability of the polymer even while operating under steam-generating conditions. Over repeated use, they exhibited excellent reusability with a relative water mass change of >90 % compared to the first evaporation cycle. Moreover, desalination of artificial seawater produced a lower cation concentration (~3-5 orders of magnitude) and thereby yielded potable water, indicating the potential for solar-driven freshwater generation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Garlic, a common culinary spice, is cultivated and used around the globe. Consumption of garlic and its supplements reduces the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease and boosts the immune system with antibacterial, antifungal, anti-aging, and anti-cancer properties. Diallyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide, triallyl trisulfide, phenolics, flavonoids, and others are the most commercially recognized active ingredients in garlic and its products. In recent years, global demand for medicinal or functional garlic has surged, introducing several products such as garlic oil, aged garlic, black garlic, and inulin into the market. Garlic processing has been demonstrated to directly impact the availability of bioactive ingredients and the functionality of products. Depending on the anticipated functional qualities, it is also recommended that one or a combination of processing techniques be deemed desirable over the others. This work describes the steps involved in processing fresh garlic into products and their physicochemical alterations during processing. Their nutritional, phytochemical, and functional properties are also reviewed. Considering the high demand for functional food, this review has been compiled to provide guidance for food producers on the industrial utilization and suitability of garlic for new product development., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Sunanta, Kontogiorgos, Pankasemsuk, Jantanasakulwong, Rachtanapun, Seesuriyachan and Sommano.)

The aim of the present study was to maximize the extraction of gymnemic acid (GA) from Phak Chiang Da (PCD) leaves, an indigenous medicinal plant used for diabetic treatment in Northern Thailand. The goal was to overcome the low concentration of GA in the leaves, which limits its applications among a larger population and develop a process to produce GA-enriched PCD extract powder. The solvent extraction method was employed to extract GA from PCD leaves. The effect of ethanol concentration and extraction temperature were investigated to determine the optimum extraction conditions. A process was developed to produce GA-enriched PCD extract powder, and its properties were characterized. In addition, color analysis (L*, a*, and b*) was performed to evaluate the overall appearance of the PCD extract powder. Antioxidant activity assay was conducted to assess the ability of the PCD extract powder to neutralize DPPH free radicals. The results showed that the concentration of 50% (v/v) ethanol at 70 °C for 2 h resulted in a higher GA concentration of 8307 mg/kg from dried PCD leaves. During the drying process, the use of maltodextrin at a concentration of 0.5% (w/v) was found to produce PCD extract powder with the maximum GA concentration. The color analysis revealed that the PCD extract powder had a dark greenish tint mixed with yellow. The antioxidant activity assay showed that 0.1 g of PCD extract powder was able to neutralize 75.8% of DPPH free radicals. The results concluded that PCD extract powder could potentially be used as a source of nutraceuticals or as a functional food ingredient. These findings suggest the potential value of GA-rich PCD extract powder in various applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, or food industries., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Plastic waste is one cause of climate change. To solve this problem, packaging films are increasingly produced from biodegradable polymers. Eco-friendly carboxymethyl cellulose and its blends have been developed for such a solution. Herein, a unique strategy is demonstrated to improve the mechanical and barrier properties of carboxymethyl cellulose/poly(vinyl alcohol) (CMC/PVA) blended films for the packaging of nonfood dried products. The blended films were impregnated with buckypapers containing different combinations of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (2D MoS 2 ) nanoplatelets, and helical carbon nanotubes (HCNTs). Compared to the blend, the polymer composite films exhibit significant increases in tensile strength (~105 %, from 25.53 to 52.41 MPa), Young's modulus (~297 %, from 155.48 to 617.48 MPa), and toughness (~46 %, from 6.69 to 9.75 MJ m -3 ). Polymer composite films containing HCNTs in buckypapers offer the highest toughness. For barrier properties, the polymer composite films are opaque. The water vapor transmission rate of the blended films decreases (~52 %, from 13.09 to 6.25 g h -1  m -2 ). Moreover, the maximum thermal-degradation temperature of the blend rises from 296 to 301 °C, especially for the polymer composite films with buckypapers containing MoS 2 nanosheets that contribute to the barrier effect for both water vapor and thermal-decomposition gas molecules., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

An epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) blend with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) was prepared using a two-roll mill at 130 °C. CHG was added at concentrations of 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 10% (w/w) as an antimicrobial additive. The ENR blend with 10% (w/w) CHG showed the best tensile strength, elastic recovery, and Shore A hardness. The ENR/CHG blend exhibited a smooth fracture surface. The appearance of a new peak in the Fourier transform infrared spectrum confirmed that the amino groups of CHG reacted with the epoxy groups of ENR. The ENR with 10% CHG exhibited an inhibition zone against Staphylococcus aureus. The proposed blending improved the mechanical properties, elasticity, morphology, and antimicrobial properties of the ENR., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Cellulose from different species of bamboo ( Thyrsostachys siamesi Gamble, Dendrocalamus sericeus Munro (DSM), Bambusa logispatha , and Bambusa sp.) was converted to cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) by a chemical-mechanical method. First, bamboo fibers were pre-treated (removal of lignin and hemicellulose) to obtain cellulose. Next, the cellulose was hydrolyzed with sulfuric acid using ultrasonication to obtain CNCs. The diameters of CNCs are in the range of 11-375 nm. The CNCs from DSM showed the highest yield and crystallinity, which was chosen in the film fabrication. The plasticized cassava starch-based films with various amounts (0-0.6 g) of CNCs (from DSM) were prepared and characterized. As the number of CNCs in cassava starch-based films increased, water solubility and the water vapor permeability of CNCs decreased. In addition, the atomic force microscope of the nanocomposite films showed that CNC particles were dispersed uniformly on the surface of cassava starch-based film at 0.2 and 0.4 g content. However, the number of CNCs at 0.6 g resulted in more CNC agglomeration in cassava starch-based films. The 0.4 g CNC in cassava starch-based film was found to have the highest tensile strength (4.2 MPa). Cassava starch-incorporated CNCs from bamboo film can be applied as a biodegradable packaging material.

This research aimed to optimize pressure (10-20 MPa) and temperature (45-60 °C) conditions for supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of Makwaen pepper ( Zanthoxylum myriacanthum ) extract (ME) in comparison to conventional hydro-distillation extraction. Various quality parameters, including yield, total phenolic compounds, antioxidants, and antimicrobial activities of the extracts, were assessed and optimized using a central composite design. The optimal SFE conditions were found to be 20 MPa at 60 °C, which resulted in the highest yield (19%) and a total phenolic compound content of 31.54 mg GAE/mL extract. IC 50 values for DPPH and ABTS assays were determined to be 26.06 and 19.90 μg/mL extract, respectively. Overall, the ME obtained through SFE exhibited significantly better physicochemical and antioxidant properties compared to ME obtained through hydro-distillation extraction. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that beta-pinene was the major component in the ME obtained through SFE (23.10%), followed by d-limonene, alpha-pinene, and terpinen-4-ol at concentrations of 16.08, 7.47, and 6.34%, respectively. On the other hand, the hydro-distillation-extracted ME showed stronger antimicrobial properties than the SFE-extracted ME. These findings suggest that both SFE and hydro-distillation have the potential for extracting Makwaen pepper, depending on the intended purpose of use.

Background: This study aimed to isolate a novel thermotolerant bacterium that is capable of synthesizing polyhydroxyalkanoate from glycerol under high temperature conditions., Results: A newly thermotolerant polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) producing bacterium, Cupriavidus sp. strain CB15, was isolated from corncob compost. The potential ability to synthesize PHA was confirmed by detection of PHA synthase (phaC) gene in the genome. This strain could produce poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] with 0.95 g/L (PHA content 75.3 wt% of dry cell weight 1.24 g/L) using glycerol as a carbon source. The concentration of PHA was enhanced and optimized based on one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) experiments and response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum conditions for growth and PHA biosynthesis were 10 g/L glycerol, 0.78 g/L NH 4 Cl, shaking speed at 175 rpm, temperature at 45 °C, and cultivation time at 72 h. Under the optimized conditions, PHA production was enhanced to 2.09 g/L (PHA content of 74.4 wt% and dry cell weight of 2.81 g/L), which is 2.12-fold compared with non-optimized conditions. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis confirmed that the extracted PHA was a homopolyester of 3-hydyoxybutyrate., Conclusion: Cupriavidus sp. strain CB15 exhibited potential for cost-effective production of PHA from glycerol., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The effect of argon (Ar) and oxygen (O 2 ) gases as well as the treatment times on the properties of modified bamboo fibers using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma at generated power of 180 W were investigated. The plasma treatment of bamboo fibers with inert gases leads to the generation of ions and radicals on the fiber surface. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed that the functional groups of lignin and hemicellulose were reduced owing to the removal of the amorphous portion of the fibers by plasma etching. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) results in an increased crystallinity percentage. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results showed the oxygen/carbon (O/C) atomic concentration ratio increased with increasing treatment time. The fiber weight loss percentage increased with increased treatment time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that partial etching of the fiber surface led to a higher surface roughness and area and that the Ar + O 2 gas plasma treatment provided more surface etching than the Ar gas treatment because of the oxidation reaction of the O 2 plasma. The mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced epoxy (FRE) matrix composites revealed that the F (tr) RE-Ar (30) samples showed a high tensile strength, whereas the mechanical properties of the F (tr) RE-Ar + O 2 sample decreased with increased treatment time.

Oryza sativa L. cv. Pieisu 1 CMU (PES1CMU) has a high anthocyanin content in the colored bran and high phenolic content in the husk. Biologically active compounds in plants are available as dietary supplements and cosmetics. To expand the utilization of natural resources, PES1CMU will be a natural remedy for skin hyperpigmentation and aging. Cell-free tyrosinase inhibition and scavenging assays were used to screen all extracts, including PES1CMU-rice bran oil (RBO), PES1CMU-defatted rice bran (DFRB), and PES1CMU-husk (H). PES1CMU extracts were first examined in IBMX-stimulated B16 cells and H 2 O 2 -induced fibroblasts. The results exhibited that PES1CMU-DFRB was the most effective inhibitor of mushroom tyrosinase, intracellular melanin production (fold change of 1.11 ± 0.01), and tyrosinase activity (fold change of 1.22 ± 0.10) in IBMX-stimulated B16 cells. Particularly, PES1CMU-DFRB showed a comparable whitening effect to the standard arbutin with no significant difference ( p > 0.05). Moreover, PES1CMU-DFRB and PES1CMU-H demonstrated strong scavenging activities. After accelerated cell aging caused by H 2 O 2 exposure in fibroblasts, the levels of malondialdehyde production in all PES1CMU-treated fibroblasts were comparable with those of standard l-ascorbic acid ( p > 0.05). Besides, PES1CMU-DFRB and PES1CMU-H treatment significantly inhibited collagen degradation against MMP-2 compared to l-ascorbic acid-treated cells ( p > 0.05). PES1CMU rice-processing wastes (DFRB and H) could become potential natural sources for dermatocosmetic constituents in skin anti-aging and whitening products.

The pulsed electric field (PEF) was applied to improve the extraction yield and properties of rice bran proteins from two rice varieties ("Kum Chao Mor Chor 107" and "Kum Doi Saket"). As compared to the conventional alkaline extraction, PEF treatment at 2.3 kV for 25 min increased the protein extraction efficiency by 20.71-22.8% ( p < 0.05). The molecular weight distribution detected by SDS-PAGE and amino acid profiles of extracted rice bran proteins was likely unchanged. The PEF treatment influenced changes in the secondary structures of rice bran proteins, especially from the β-turn to the β-sheet structure. Functional properties of rice bran protein including oil holding capacity and emulsifying properties were significantly improved by PEF treatments by about 20.29-22.64% and 3.3-12.0% ( p < 0.05), respectively. Foaming ability and foam stability increased by 1.8- to 2.9-fold. Moreover, the in vitro digestibility of protein was also enhanced, which was consistent with the increment of DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activities of peptides generated under in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (37.84-40.45% and 28.46-37.86%, respectively). In conclusion, the PEF process could be a novel technique for assisting the extraction and modification of the protein's digestibility and functional properties.

Alopecia and gray hair are common hair abnormalities affecting physical appearance and causing psychological problems. Chemical treatments partially restore hair disorders but have distressing side effects. Bioactive plant compounds constitute promising sources of potential medicinal substances instead of chemical agents, producing high side effects. In this study, we focused on the waste of local rice cultivars: Bue Bang 3 CMU (BB3CMU) and Bue Bang 4 CMU (BB4CMU) from the north of Thailand. The rice bran oil (RBO), defatted rice bran extract (DFRB), and rice husk (H) were determined for in vitro hair revitalization in melanin production, nitric oxide (NO) secretion, and steroid 5α-reductase inhibition. The results indicated that BB4CMU-RBO with high contents of iron, zinc, and free fatty acids showed a comparable induction of melanin production on melanocytes (130.18 ± 9.13% of control) to the standard drug theophylline with no significant difference ( p > 0.05). This promising melanin induction could be related to activating the NO secretion pathway, with the NO secretion level at 1.43 ± 0.05 µM. In addition, BB4CMU-RBO illustrated a significant inhibitory effect on both steroid 5α-reductase genes ( SRD5A ) type 1 and type 2, which relates to its primary source of tocopherols. Hence, rice bran oil from the Thai rice variety BB4CMU could be applied as a promising hair revitalizing candidate, from natural resources, to help promote hair growth and re-pigmentation effects.

An antimicrobial thermoplastic starch (TPS) was developed by melt-mixing TPS with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and epoxy resin (Er). The tensile strength and hardness of the TPSCh blend increased with the addition of Er (TPSCh/Er), especially at 5 wt% Er (TPSCh/Er5) (19.5 MPa and 95 %, respectively). The water contact angle of TPSCh/Er was higher than those of TPS and TPSCh because of the improved interfacial tension. Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses confirmed the reaction between the epoxy groups of Er, hydroxyl groups of starch, and amino groups of CHG. TPSCh/Er5 exhibited a significantly lower CHG release than TPSCh owing to the rearrangement of TPSCh chains via Er crosslinking. TPSCh/Er0.5 and TPSCh/Er1 showed inhibition zones against both tested bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus), whereas TPSCh/Er2.5, TPSCh/Er5, and TPSCh/Er10 showed inhibition zones only against S. aureus. Moreover, TPSCh and TPSCh/Er0.5-2.5 exhibited inhibition zones with Saccharomyces cerevisiae., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Open burning of agricultural residues causes numerous complications including particulate matter pollution in the air, soil degradation, global warming and many more. Since they possess bio-conversion potential, agro-industrial residues including sugarcane bagasse (SCB), rice straw (RS), corncob (CC) and sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) were chosen for the study. Yeast strains, Candida tropicalis, C. shehatae, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Kluyveromyces marxianus var. marxianus were compared for their production potential of bioethanol and phenylacetylcarbinol (PAC), an intermediate in the manufacture of crucial pharmaceuticals, namely, ephedrine, and pseudoephedrine. Among the substrates and yeasts evaluated, RS cultivated with C. tropicalis produced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher ethanol concentration at 15.3 g L -1 after 24 h cultivation. The product per substrate yield (Y eth/s ) was 0.38 g g -1 with the volumetric productivity (Q p ) of 0.64 g L -1  h -1 and fermentation efficiency of 73.6% based on a theoretical yield of 0.51 g ethanol/g glucose. C. tropicalis grown in RS medium produced 0.303 U mL -1 pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC), a key enzyme that catalyzes the production of PAC, with a specific activity of 0.400 U mg -1 protein after 24 h cultivation. This present study also compared the whole cells biomass of C. tropicalis with its partially purified PDC preparation for PAC biotransformation. The whole cells C. tropicalis PDC at 1.29 U mL -1 produced an overall concentration of 62.3 mM PAC, which was 68.4% higher when compared to partially purified enzyme preparation. The results suggest that the valorization of lignocellulosic residues into bioethanol and PAC will not only aid in mitigating the environmental challenge posed by their surroundings but also has the potential to improve the bioeconomy., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Leaves of guava ( Psidium guajava L.) have been used in Thai folk medicine without any supporting evidence as a traditional herbal remedy for hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is chronic hair loss caused by effects of androgens in those with a genetic predisposition, resulting in hair follicle miniaturization. Our objectives were to provide the mechanistic assessment of guava leaf extract on gene expressions related to the androgen pathway in well-known in vitro models, hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPC), and human prostate cancer cells (DU-145), and to determine its bioactive constituents and antioxidant activities. LC-MS analysis demonstrated that the main components of the ethanolic extract of guava leaves are phenolic substances, specifically catechin, gallic acid, and quercetin, which contribute to its scavenging and metal chelating abilities. The guava leaf extract substantially downregulated SRD5A1, SRD5A2 , and SRD5A3 genes in the DU-145 model, suggesting that the extract could minimize hair loss by inhibiting the synthesis of a potent androgen (dihydrotestosterone). SRD5A suppression by gallic acid and quercetin was verified. Our study reveals new perspectives on guava leaf extract's anti-androgen properties. This extract could be developed as alternative products or therapeutic adjuvants for the treatment of AGA and other androgen-related disorders.

This research was aimed at developing a dental prototype from 3D printing technology using a synthetic filament of polylactic acid (PLA) and zirconium dioxide (ZrO 2 ) with glycerol and silane coupling agent as a binder. A face-centered central composite design was used to study the effects of the filament extrusion parameters and the 3D printing parameters. Tensile and compressive testing was conducted to determine the stress-strain relationship of the filaments. The yield strength, elongation percentage and Young's modulus were also calculated. Results showed the melting temperature of 193 °C, ZrO 2 ratio of 17 wt.% and 25 rpm screw speed contributed to the highest ultimate tensile strength of the synthetic filament. A Nozzle temperature of 210 °C and an infill density of 100% had the most effect on the ultimate compressive strength whilst the printing speed had no significant effects. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to study the thermal properties and percentage of crystallinity of PLA filaments. The addition of glycerol and a silane coupling agent increased the tensile strength and filament size. The ZrO 2 particles induced the crystallization of the PLA matrix. A higher crystallization was also obtained from the annealing treatment resulting in the greater thermal resistance performance of the dental crown prototype.

This study investigated the effects of different saccharides (inulin and fructooligosaccharides (FOS)), pH (8-10) and thermal treatment time (6-24 h) at 70 °C on the structural, functional properties and antioxidant activities of conjugated cricket protein (CCPs) by wet heating Maillard reaction (MR). Results suggested that the browning intensity, color development and degree of glycation were significantly increased (p < 0.05) under increasing thermal treatment with FOS. SDS-PAGE and FTIR confirmed the formation of a higher molecular weight of CCPs. Water solubility, oil holding capacity, emulsifying properties, and antioxidant properties of CCPs were all superior to the unconjugated products. However, the over-conditioning (treatment time > 6 h, pH > 9) in MR could contribute to a significant decrease (p < 0.05) of CCPs functional properties. The results suggested that the conjugation of cricket protein isolate (CPI) with MR is the most promising way to improve cricket protein properties for food industry applications., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The nano-metal-treated PET films with anti-virus and anti-fogging ability were developed using sparking nano-metal particles of Ag, Zn, and Ti wires on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films. Ag nanoparticles were detected on the PET surface, while a continuous aggregate morphology was observed with Zn and Ti sparking. The color of the Ag-PET films changed to brown with increasing repeat sparking times, but not with the Zn-PET and Ti-PET films. The water contact angle of the nano-metal-treated PET films decreased with increasing repeat sparking times. The RT-PCR anti-virus test confirmed the high anti-virus efficiency of the nano-metal-treated PET films due to the fine particle distribution, high polarity, and binding of the nano-metal ions to the coronavirus, which was destroyed by heat after UV irradiation. A highly transparent, anti-fogging, and anti-virus face shield was prepared using the Zn-PET film. Sparking was an effective technique to prepare the alternative anti-virus and anti-fogging films for medical biomaterial applications because of their low cost, convenience, and fast processing.

In Thai folklore wisdom, shallot ( Allium ascalonicum L.) was applied as a traditional herbal medicine for hair growth promotion with no scientific evidence. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a progressive hair loss caused by multiple factors, including androgen hormones, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Conventional medicines (finasteride, dutasteride, corticosteroids, and minoxidil) have been used with limited therapeutic efficacy and unpleasant side effects. In this study, we aimed to give the first estimation of bioactive compounds in shallot extract and evaluate the hair growth-promoting activities regarding anti-inflammatory and gene expression modulation involving androgen, Wnt/β-catenin, sonic hedgehog, and angiogenesis pathways. The results reveal that phenolic compounds (quercetin, rosmarinic, and p -coumaric acids) are the major constituents of the methanolic shallot extract. Compared with the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated control group (2.68 ± 0.13 µM), nitric oxide production was remarkably diminished by shallot extract (0.55 ± 0.06 µM). Shallot extract improves hair growth promotion activity, as reflected by the downregulation of the androgen gene expression ( SRD5A1 and SRD5A2) and the upregulation of the genes associated with Wnt/β-catenin ( CTNNB1 ), sonic hedgehog ( SHH , SMO , and GIL1 ), and angiogenesis ( VEGF ) pathways. These findings disclose the new insights of shallot extract on hair growth promotions. Shallot extract could be further developed as nutraceutical, nutricosmetic, and cosmeceutical preparations for AGA treatment.