Macromolecules-based encapsulation of pesticides with carriers: A promising approach for safe and effective delivery.

The global issue of pollution caused by the misuse and indiscriminate application of pesticides has reached critical levels. In this vein, encapsulating pesticides with carriers offers a promising approach that impacts key parameters such as pesticide release kinetics, stability, and biocompatibility, enhancing the safe and effective delivery of agrochemicals. Encapsulated pesticides hold the potential to reduce off-target effects, decrease environmental contamination, and improve overall crop protection. This review highlights the potential benefits and challenges associated with the use of both organic and in-organic carriers in pesticide encapsulation, and the current state of research in this field. Overall, the encapsulation of pesticides with carriers presents a promising approach for the safe and effective delivery of these vital agricultural compounds. By harnessing the advantages of encapsulation, this technique offers a potential solution to mitigate the adverse effects of conventional pesticides and contribute towards sustainable and environmentally conscious farming practices. Further research and development in this field is necessary to optimize the encapsulation process, carrier properties and advance towards sustainable and environmentally friendly pesticide delivery systems.

Chemistry of heterocycles as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: A pathway to novel research in medicinal chemistry review.

Nowadays, the scientific community has focused on dealing with different kinds of diseases by exploring the chemistry of various heterocycles as novel drugs. In this connection, medicinal chemists identified carbonic anhydrases (CA) as one of the biologically active targets for curing various diseases. The widespread distribution of these enzymes and the high degree of homology shared by the different isoforms offer substantial challenges to discovering potential drugs. Medicinal and synthetic organic chemists have been continuously involved in developing CA inhibitors. This review explored the chemistry of different heterocycles as CA inhibitors using the last 11 years of published research work. It provides a pathway for young researchers to further explore the chemistry of a variety of synthetic as well as natural heterocycles as CA inhibitors.

Augmenting the quality and storage stability of soymilk by incorporation of untreated and ozonated oat 1,4-ß-D-glucan.

The study aimed to improve the quality and storage stability of novel plant-based soymilk with the incorporation of untreated (UtßG) and modified oat derived 1,4-ß-D-glucan (OzßG) at varying concentrations (0, 1, and 2 % labelled as S0, S1 and S2). The treated soymilk was characterized for physical, chemical, nutritional, rheological, particle size, zeta potential, sensory and storage stability characteristics. The results revealed that 1, 4-ß-D-glucan incorporation increased the acidity (0.67 to 0.73 %), viscosity (3.4 to 4.7 Cp) and ash content (0.74 to 0.92 %), however color remains natural. The frequency sweep and shear experiments showed that the 1,4-ß-D-glucan modified the rheological parameters of the soymilk. The sensory analysis (n = 30) indicated that texture, mouthfeel and overall acceptability (8.38). Compared to OzßG-treated soymilk, UtßG soymilk, especially S2, exhibited superior thickening and rheological properties. The storage study indicated minimal phase separation in 1,4-ß-D-glucan-incorporated samples, maintaining stability for 15 days under refrigerated conditions without compromising overall quality. Thus, this study provides valuable insights into the potential application of 1,4-ß-D-glucan for improving the technological quality of soymilk that highlights possible implications for its commercialization potential.

Effect of dry heat and its combination with vacuum heat on physicochemical, rheological and release characteristics of Alocasia macrorrhizos retrograded starches.

Retrograded starches have received increasing attention due to their potential excipient properties in pharmaceutical formulations. However, to evade its application-oriented challenges, modification of retrograded starch is required. The study emphasizes influence of dry heating and the dual heat treatment by dry heating amalgamation with the vacuum heat treatment on quality parameters of retrograded starch. The starch was isolated by using two different extraction media (0.05 % w/v NaOH and 0.03 % citric acid) from Alocasia macrorrhizos and then retrograded separately. Further, retrograded starches were first modified by dry heating and afterwards modified with combination of dry and vacuum heating. Modification decreased moisture, ash content and increased solubility. Modified Samples from NaOH media had higher water holding capacity and amylose content. X-ray diffraction revealed type A and B crystals with increasing crystallinity of retrograded heat-modified samples from NaOH media. Thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry confirmed thermal stability. Shear tests showed shear-thinning behavior whereas dominant storage modulus (G/) over loss modulus (G//), depicting gel-like behavior. Storage, loss, and complex viscosity initially increased, then decreased with temperature. In-vitro release reflects, modified retrograded starches offers versatile drug release profiles, from controlled to rapid. Tailoring starch properties enables precise drug delivery, enhancing pharmaceutical formulation flexibility and efficacy.

Nature's coatings: Sodium alginate as a novel coating in safeguarding plants from frost damages.

Frost damage remains a significant challenge for agricultural practices worldwide, leading to substantial economic losses and food insecurity. Practically, traditional methods for frost management have proven ineffective and come with several drawbacks, such as energy consumption and limited efficacy. Hence, proposing an anti-freezing coating can be an innovative idea. The potential of sodium alginate (SA) to construct anti-freezing hydrogels has been explored in several sciences. SA hydrogels can form protective films around plants as a barrier against freezing temperatures and ice crystals on the plant's surface. Sodium alginate exhibits excellent water retention, enhancing plant hydration during freezing conditions. This coating can provide insulation, effectively shielding the plant from frost damage. The advantages of SA as a coating material, such as its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxic nature, are highlighted. Therefore, the proposed use of SA as an innovative coating material holds promise for safeguarding plants from frost damage. Following SA potential and frost's huge damage, the present review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent developments in SA-based anti-freezing hydrogels, their applications, and their potential in agriculture as anti-freezing coatings. However, further research and field trials are necessary to optimize the application methods and understand the long-term effects on productivity.

Chitin-induced disease resistance in plants: A review.

Chitin is composed of N-acetylglucosamine units. Chitin a polysaccharide found in the cell walls of fungi and exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans, can elicit a potent defense response in plants. Through the activation of defense genes, stimulation of defensive compound production, and reinforcement of physical barriers, chitin enhances the plant's ability to defend against pathogens. Chitin-based treatments have shown efficacy against various plant diseases caused by fungal, bacterial, viral, and nematode pathogens, and have been integrated into sustainable agricultural practices. Furthermore, chitin treatments have demonstrated additional benefits, such as promoting plant growth and improving tolerance to abiotic stresses. Further research is necessary to optimize treatment parameters, explore chitin derivatives, and conduct long-term field studies. Continued efforts in these areas will contribute to the development of innovative and sustainable strategies for disease management in agriculture, ultimately leading to improved crop productivity and reduced reliance on chemical pesticides.

A novel biopolymer technique for encapsulation of Bacillus velezensis BV9 into double coating biopolymer made by in alginate and natural gums to biocontrol of wheat take-all disease.

Bacillus velezensis has been known for its high potential in controlling agricultural diseases. Technological advances have opened new perspectives for producing effective formulations by reducing some of the obstacles to their use, such as instability and loss of activity due to exposure to adverse environmental conditions. Encapsulation is one of the new approaches in agricultural science. This research describes discoveries related to processes for the microencapsulation of B. velezensis with natural gums. The efficiency, survival, and controlled release of B. velesensis BV9 encapsulated with alginate mixed with zedo gum, mastic gum, and tragacanth gum were evaluated for this aim. Furthermore, under greenhouse conditions, the encapsulated cells were assessed to control Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici in wheat. The results indicated that all tested microcapsules protected >60 % of the bacterial cells. The Alginate-Zedo Gum (Alg-ZG) microcapsules showed a better-controlled release over two months. The greenhouse study indicated that treating wheat plants with Alg-ZG microcapsules was the most efficient treatment, suppressing 100 % of the pathogen. The results indicated that Alg-ZG is the most promising mixture to improve the survivability of B. velezensis BV9. Also, using natural gums and great potential of this formulation provides an effective and affordable fertilizers for agriculture.

Advancements in coating technologies: Unveiling the potential of chitosan for the preservation of fruits and vegetables.

Post-harvest losses of fruits and vegetables pose a significant challenge to the agriculture industry worldwide. To address this issue, researchers have turned to natural and eco-friendly solutions such as chitosan coatings. Chitosan, a biopolymer derived from chitin, has gained considerable attention due to its unique properties such as non-toxicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility and potential applications in post-harvest preservation. This review article provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of research on chitosan coatings for the preservation of fruits and vegetables. Moreover, it highlights the advantages of using chitosan coatings, including its antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, as well as its ability to enhance shelf-life and maintain the quality attributes of fresh product. Furthermore, the review discusses the mechanisms by which chitosan interacts with fruits and vegetables, elucidating its antimicrobial activity, modified gas permeability, enhanced physical barrier and induction of host defense responses. It also examines the factors influencing the effectiveness of chitosan coatings, such as concentration, molecular weight, deacetylation degree, pH, temperature, and application methods.

Characterization of novel alginate-Aloe Vera raft systems for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Raft-forming systems are designed to relieve reflux symptoms by forming a physical barrier on top of the stomach. The present study aimed to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of alginate-aloe vera raft-forming systems for the first time. To achieve this goal, aloe vera was used in the proportion of 1 and 1.5 % in raft suspensions containing 5 % alginate as the main component of gel structure. Rafts were characterized by their volume, floating behavior, thickness, swelling properties, strength, resilience, reflux resistance, and acid neutralization capacity (ANC). Results showed the effectiveness of aloe vera in forming rafts that were voluminous, buoyant with greater total floating time (TFT), and stronger than formulations with no aloe vera. Furthermore, data showed that the presence of aloe vera could improve resilience time, swelling proportions, resistance to reflux under simulant conditions of movement in the stomach, and ANC values of rafts. Rafts were further characterized by oscillatory strain sweep test, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Evaluation of the mechanical properties of rafts displayed a viscoelastic behavior of gels corresponding to the internal cross-linked structure of rafts. This study demonstrated that designing of alginate-aloe vera rafts can be suitable for the treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disorders.

Utilization of marine and agro-waste materials as an economical and active food packaging: Antimicrobial, mechanical and biodegradation studies of O-Carboxymethyl chitosan/pectin/neem composite films.

The present work deals with the eco-friendly preparation of highly degradable food packaging films consisting of O-CMC (O-Carboxymethyl Chitosan) and pectin, incorporated with neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves powder and extract. This study aimed to investigate the tensile properties, antimicrobial activity, biodegradability, and thermal behavior of the composite films. The results of tensile strength and elongation at break, showed that the incorporation of neem leaves powder improved the tensile properties (7.11 MPa) of the composite films compared to the neat O-CMC and pectin films (3.02 MPa). The antimicrobial activity of the films was evaluated against a panel of microorganisms including both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as fungi. The composite films exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity with a zone of inhibition (12-17.6 mm) against the tested microorganisms. The opacity of the composite films ranges from 1.14 to 4.40 mm-1 and the addition of fiber causes a decrease in opacity value. Biodegradability studies were conducted by Soil burial method and the films demonstrated complete biodegradability within 75 days. The results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of composite films show that they are thermally stable and might be used in food packaging.

Exploring apple pectic polysaccharides: Extraction, characterization, and biological activities - A comprehensive review.

Apple (Malus domestica) is a popular and ancient fruit of the Myrtaceae family. Apple fruit is well-known for its great nutritional and phytochemical content consisted of beneficial compounds such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, sterols, and organic acids. Polysaccharides extracted from different parts of the apple fruit, including the peel, pomace, or the whole fruit, have been extensively studied. Researchers have investigated the structural characteristics of these polysaccharides, such as molecular weight, type of monosaccharide unit, type of linkage and its position and arrangement. Besides this, functional properties and physicochemical and of apple polysaccharides have also been studied, along with the effects of extraction procedures, storage, and processing on cell wall polysaccharides. Various extraction techniques, including hot water extraction, enzymatic extraction, and solvent-assisted extraction, have been studied. From the findings, it was evident that apple polysaccharides are mainly composed of (1 â†’ 3), (1 â†’ 6): α-ß-glycosidic linkage. Moreover, the apple polysaccharides were demonstrated to exhibit antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer, hypoilipidemic, and enzyme inhibitory properties in vitro and in vivo. The potential applications of apple polysaccharides in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical industries have also been explored in the present review. Overall, the research on apple polysaccharides highlights their significant potential as a source of biologically active compounds with various health benefits and practical applications.

Development and evaluation of anti-reflux functional-oral suspension raft composed of sodium alginate-mung bean protein complex.

This study aimed to develop a sodium alginate (Na alginate) and mung bean protein (MBP) raft complex to improve gastric reflux symptoms. Na alginate and MBP complexes with different ratios (1:1, 2:1, and 3:1, respectively) were used for raft formulations through a wet Maillard reaction. Structural properties of raft strength, reflux resistance, intrinsic fluorescence emission spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were investigated for rafts. The suspension 1:1 Na alginate/MBP with 0 h Maillard reaction time exhibited the lowest sedimentation volume among the suspensions. In contrast, 3:1 Na alginate/MBP with 6 h Maillard reaction time showed the highest sedimentation volume. Based on the results, the 3:1 Na alginate/MBP rafts had the best results, and the results were within acceptable limits. Functional properties, including antioxidant properties, the Helicobacter pylori inhibition assay, the pancreatic lipase inhibition assay, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, were investigated for rafts. The Na alginate/MBP raft has similar characteristics to Gaviscon syrup and can be used for obesity, Helicobacter pylori infection, high blood pressure, and gastric reflux.

ß-glucan-induced disease resistance in plants: A review.

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and induced systemic resistance (ISR) are caused by various factors, including both pathogenic and non-pathogenic ones. ß-glucan primarily originates from bacteria and fungi, some species of these organisms work as biological agents in causing diseases. When ß-glucan enters plants, it triggers the defense system, leading to various reactions such as the production of proteins related to pathogenicity and defense enzymes. By extracting ß-glucan from disturbed microorganisms and using it as an inducing agent, plant diseases can be effectively controlled by activating the plant's defense system. ß-glucan plays a crucial role during the interaction between plants and pathogens. Therefore, modeling the plant-pathogen relationship and using the molecules involved in this interaction can help in controlling plant diseases, as pathogens have genes related to resistance against pathogenicity. Thus, it is reasonable to identify and use biological induction agents at a large scale by extracting these compounds.

Increasing the efficiency of agricultural fertilizers using cellulose nanofibrils: A review.

Developing new agricultural products, such as new fertilizers with high use efficiency and less negative impact on the environment, is required in sustainable agriculture. In this vein, controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) have been designed to decrease nutrient waste and increase nutrients' availability to plants. Various CRFs have been developed based on petroleum-derived polymers with many advantages over conventional fertilizers. Although, their use is limited due to their adverse effects on the soil and environment. To overcome these issues, CRFs based on biopolymers represent a new generation of fertilizers developed by encapsulating nutrients with cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs). CNFs and the hydrogels based on CNFs have great potential to be applied as CRFs matrix as they are biodegradable, minimize environmental pollution, and exhibit a great controlled-release potential and water/nutrient retention capacity. In order to gain a better understanding of the potential benefits of these new fertilizers in agricultural systems, this review summarizes the recent advances in CNFs in CRFs, the coating methods, hydrogel preparation techniques, and their impact on plant growth and soil. By examining these factors in depth, a better understanding can be gained on how these novel fertilizers can help improve agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Effects including photobiomodulation of galactomannan gel from Cassia grandis seeds in the healing process of second-degree burns.

The epithelium recovery of skin-burned wounds has been currently achieved by several therapies, for example, hydrogel-based dressings and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT). Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the healing activity of Cassia grandis seeds' galactomannan gel, associated or not with PBMT, in second-degree burns. Sixty male Wistar rats were assigned to four groups: Control (CG), Gel (GG), Laser/PBMT (LG), and Laser+Gel (GLG). Burns were made with an aluminum bar (90 °C), and submitted to clinical observations diary and area measurements at specific days. Microscopic analysis was based on histological criteria. The results showed that GG, LG, and GLG had a higher contraction rate (p < 0.05) than CG on the 14th experimental day, not differing from each other (∼95 %). At 21 days, all groups showed complete contraction (p > 0.05). Considering the histological results, LG and GLG showed excellent pro-wound healing properties after 14 days; at 21 days, all groups showed wound recovery compared to previous days. In view of the macroscopic and microscopic observations, the isolated treatments (Gel or Laser) effectively accelerated healing; however, the association (Laser+Gel) promoted re-epithelialization and stromal remodeling with better evolution of epithelium recovery due to the positive synergistic effect, thus emerging as a promising therapeutic alternative in the repair of burns.

The application of chitosan as a carrier for fertilizer: A review.

The smart combination of agriculture and other sciences can greatly reduce the limits of fertilizer use. Chitosan is a linear amino polysaccharide with a rigid structure which has hydrophilic and crystal properties. The formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds the presence of reactive groups and cross-linking, the formation of salts with organic and inorganic acids with complexing and chelating properties ionic conductivity, film formation are the characteristics of chitosan. With the presence of amino groups, chitosan can form a complex with other compounds and also enter the vascular system of plants and lead to the activation of metabolic-physiological pathways of plants. This polymeric compound can bond with other natural polymers and in combination with fertilizers and nutritional elements, on the one hand, it can provide the nutritional needs of the plant and on the other hand, it also helps to improve the soil texture. Chitosan nanomaterials as a Next-generation fertilizers act as plant immune system enhancers through slow, controlled, and targeted delivery of nutrients to plants. Chitosan can assist agricultural researchers and has become an ideal and effective option with its many applications in various fields.

Nano/micro-cellulose-based materials as remarkable sorbents for the remediation of agricultural resources from chemical pollutants.

Overusing pesticides, fertilizers, and synthetic dyes has significantly increased their presence in various parts of the environment. The transportation of these pollutants into agricultural soil and water through rivers, soils, and groundwater has seriously threatened human and ecosystem health. Applying techniques and materials to clean up agricultural sources from pesticides, heavy metals (HMs), and synthetic dyes (SDs) is one of the major challenges in this century. The sorption technique offers a viable solution to remediate these chemical pollutants (CHPs). Cellulose-based materials have become popular in nano and micro scales because they are widely available, safe to use, biodegradable, and have a significant ability to absorb substances. Nanoscale cellulose-based materials exhibit greater capacity in absorbing pollutants compared to their microscale counterparts because they possess a larger surface area. Many available hydroxyl groups (-OH) and chemical and physical modifications enable the incorporation of CHPs on to cellulose-based materials. Following this potential, this review aims to comprehensively summarize recent advancements in the field of nano- and micro-cellulose-based materials as effective adsorbents for CHPs, given the abundance of cellulosic waste materials from agricultural residues. The recent developments pertaining to the enhancement of the sorption capacity of cellulose-based materials against pesticides, HMs, and SDs, are deliberated.

Perspectives of nanofibrous wound dressings based on glucans and galactans - A review.

Wound healing is a complex and dynamic process that needs an appropriate environment to overcome infection and inflammation to progress well. Wounds lead to morbidity, mortality, and a significant economic burden, often due to the non-availability of suitable treatments. Hence, this field has lured the attention of researchers and pharmaceutical industries for decades. As a result, the global wound care market is expected to be 27.8 billion USD by 2026 from 19.3 billion USD in 2021, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6 %. Wound dressings have emerged as an effective treatment to maintain moisture, protect from pathogens, and impede wound healing. However, synthetic polymer-based dressings fail to comprehensively address optimal and quick regeneration requirements. Natural polymers like glucan and galactan-based carbohydrate dressings have received much attention due to their inherent biocompatibility, biodegradability, inexpensiveness, and natural abundance. Also, nanofibrous mesh supports better proliferation and migration of fibroblasts because of their large surface area and similarity to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Thus, nanostructured dressings derived from glucans and galactans (i.e., chitosan, agar/agarose, pullulan, curdlan, carrageenan, etc.) can overcome the limitations associated with traditional wound dressings. However, they require further development pertaining to the wireless determination of wound bed status and its clinical assessment. The present review intends to provide insight into such carbohydrate-based nanofibrous dressings and their prospects, along with some clinical case studies.

Recent advances in cellulose, pectin, carrageenan and alginate-based oral drug delivery systems.

Polymers-based drug delivery systems constitute one of the highly explored thrust areas in the field of the medicinal and pharmaceutical industries. In the past years, the properties of polymers have been modified in context to their solubility, release kinetics, targeted action site, absorption, and therapeutic efficacy. Despite the availability of diverse synthetic polymers for the bioavailability enhancement of drugs, the use of natural polymers is still highly recommended due to their easy availability, accessibility, and non-toxicity. The aim of the review is to provide the available literature of the last five years on oral drug delivery systems based on four natural polymers i.e., cellulose, pectin, carrageenan, and alginate in a concise and tabulated manner. In this review, most of the information is in tabulated form to provide easy accessibility to the reader. The data related to active pharmaceutical ingredients and supported components in different formulations of the mentioned polymers have been made available.