Pickering emulsions stabilized with differently charged particles.

For addressing health issues and ecological concerns, the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries are facing the challenge of designing emulsions without the use of surfactants. Emulsions stabilized by colloidal particles, known as Pickering emulsions, are promising in this matter. In this article, three different types of particles (neutral, anionic and cationic) are used alone or in binary mixtures as stabilizers of Pickering emulsions. The influence of the particles' charge on the emulsions' properties and the synergies between the different types of particles are studied. It is demonstrated that the kinetics of adsorption of the particles at the water/oil interface control the coverage and their organization at the droplet surface, rather than their interactions after adsorption. Binary mixtures of differently charged particles are a powerful way to control the droplet coverage and the particle loading in the emulsions. In particular, the combination of anionic and cationic particles led to smaller droplets and higher particle coverage of emulsion droplets.

Molecular Imprints Frozen by Strong Intermolecular Interactions in Place of Cross-Linking.

A new way to freeze molecular imprints in a polymer material is reported. So far, molecular imprinted polymers (MIP) involve copolymerization of a functional monomer and large amounts of cross-linking agent, which keeps the template shape memory in rigid molecular imprints. MIP materials are prepared herein without cross-linking agent. Stiff chains of polyaniline grafted on a solid support as a brush-like material achieve the necessary rigidity. Differential adsorption to imprinted and non-imprinted materials provides evidence of molecular imprints. A correct adsorption isotherm for mobile adsorbed layers (Volmer isotherm) is introduced instead of the popular but inadequate Langmuir isotherm. Non-selective adsorption is entropic, whereas adsorption to molecular imprints has an enthalpic contribution coming from specific interactions. Fast adsorption kinetics are a definite benefit with regards to applications such as chromatographic separations and chemical sensors.

Surface Plasmon Resonance Monitoring of Mono-Rhamnolipid Interaction with Phospholipid-Based Liposomes.

The interactions of mono-rhamnolipids (mono-RLs) with model membranes were investigated through a biomimetic approach using phospholipid-based liposomes immobilized on a gold substrate and also by the multiparametric surface plasmon resonance (MP-SPR) technique. Biotinylated liposomes were bound onto an SPR gold chip surface coated with a streptavidin layer. The resulting MP-SPR signal proved the efficient binding of the liposomes. The thickness of the liposome layer calculated by modeling the MP-SPR signal was about 80 nm, which matched the average diameter of the liposomes. The mono-RL binding to the film of the phospholipid liposomes was monitored by SPR and the morphological changes of the liposome layer were assessed by modeling the SPR signal. We demonstrated the capacity of the MP-SPR technique to characterize the different steps of the liposome architecture evolution, i.e., from a monolayer of phospholipid liposomes to a single phospholipid bilayer induced by the interaction with mono-RLs. Further washing treatment with Triton X-100 detergent left a monolayer of phospholipid on the surface. As a possible practical application, our method based on a biomimetic membrane coupled to an SPR measurement proved to be a robust and sensitive analytical tool for the detection of mono-RLs with a limit of detection of 2 µg mL-1.

Detection of Gadolinium with an Impedimetric Platform Based on Gold Electrodes Functionalized by 2-Methylpyridine-Substituted Cyclam.

Gadolinium is extensively used in pharmaceuticals and is very toxic, so its sensitive detection is mandatory. This work presents the elaboration of a gadolinium chemical sensor based on 2-methylpyridine-substituted cyclam thin films, deposited on gold electrodes, using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The 2-methylpyridine-substituted cyclam (bis-N-MPyC) was synthesized in three steps, including the protection of cyclam by the formation of its CH2-bridged aminal derivative; the product was characterized by liquid 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Spin-coated thin films of bis-N-MPyC on gold wafers were characterized by means of infrared spectroscopy in ATR (Attenuated Total Reflectance) mode, contact angle measurements and atomic force microscopy. The impedimetric chemical sensor was studied in the presence of increasing concentrations of lanthanides (Gd3+, Eu3+, Tb3+, Dy3+). Nyquist plots were fitted with an equivalent electrical circuit including two RC circuits in series corresponding to the bis-N-MPyC film and its interface with the electrolyte. The main parameter that varies with gadolinium concentration is the resistance of the film/electrolyte interface (Rp), correlated to the rate of exchange between the proton and the lanthanide ion. Based on this parameter, the detection limit obtained is 35 pM. The bis-N-MPyC modified gold electrode was tested for the detection of gadolinium in spiked diluted negative urine control samples.

Formulation of Pickering emulsions for the development of surfactant-free sunscreen creams.

OBJECTIVE: Pickering emulsions are increasingly used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields, especially for topical applications, since these systems require solid particles as emulsifiers instead of surfactants which are known to cause skin irritation. The solid inorganic nanoparticles (TiO2 and ZnO) used as UV filters in sunscreen formulations may also stabilize emulsion droplets, so that the utility of surfactants may be questioned. Surfactant-free sunscreen emulsions solely stabilized by such nanoparticles (NPs) have been studied. METHODS: The ability of these NPs to stabilize o/w emulsions containing a 'model' oil phase, the C12 -C15 alkylbenzoate, has been assessed. ZnO and hydrophilic silica-coated TiO2 NPs widely used in sunscreen products were used together with their mixtures. The emulsification efficiency, the control of droplet size and the stability of o/w Pickering emulsions solely stabilized by NPs were investigated. A ZnO/TiO2 NPs mixture characterized by a theoretical SPF of 45 was finally used as unique emulsifiers to develop a surfactant-free sunscreen emulsion. RESULTS: Stable Pickering emulsions containing 10 up to 60 wt% of C12 -C15 alkyl benzoate were formulated with 2 wt% ZnO in the aqueous phase. The droplet size was controlled by the solid NPs content with respect to oil and the emulsification process. Hydrophilic TiO2 NPs did not allow the stabilization of emulsions. The substitution of TiO2 for ZnO up to 60-70 wt% in a 20/80 o/w emulsion was successfully performed. Finally, a ZnO/TiO2 NP mixture was tested as unique emulsifier system for the formulation of a sunscreen cream. Despite a lower viscosity, the obtained Pickering emulsion was stable and exhibited a photoprotective effect similar to the corresponding surfactant-based sunscreen cream with an in vitro SPF of about 45. CONCLUSION: Surfactant-free Pickering emulsions can be stabilized by the UV-filter nanoparticles for the manufacture of sunscreen products.

OBJECTIFS: Les émulsions de Pickering sont de plus en plus utilisées dans les domaines pharmaceutique et cosmétique, notamment pour les applications topiques, car ces systèmes utilisent des particules solides comme émulsifiants au lieu de tensioactifs qui sont connus pour provoquer des irritations cutanées. Les nanoparticules inorganiques solides (TiO2 et ZnO) utilisées comme filtres UV dans les formulations d'écran solaire peuvent également stabiliser les gouttelettes d'émulsion, de sorte que l'utilité des tensioactifs peut être remise en question. Des émulsions de protection solaire sans tensioactifs et uniquement stabilisées par de telles nanoparticules (NP) ont été étudiées. MÉTHODES: La capacité de ces NP à stabiliser les émulsions H/E contenant une phase huileuse «modèle¼, le benzoate d'alkyle C12 -C15 , a été évaluée. Des NP de ZnO et de TiO2 couvert de silice hydrophile, que l'on trouve largement dans les produits de protection solaire, ont été utilisées séparément et en mélange. L'efficacité d'émulsification, le contrôle de la taille des gouttelettes et la stabilité des émulsions de Pickering H/E uniquement stabilisées par les NP ont été étudiés. Un mélange de NP ZnO/TiO2 caractérisé par un SPF théorique de 45 a finalement été utilisé comme émulsifiant unique pour développer une émulsion de protection solaire sans tensioactif. RÉSULTATS: Des émulsions de Pickering stables contenant 10 à 60% en poids de benzoate d'alkyle C12 -C15 ont été formulées avec 2% en poids de ZnO dans la phase aqueuse. La taille des gouttelettes était contrôlée par la teneur en NP solides par rapport à l'huile et le procédé d'émulsification. Les NP de TiO2 hydrophile n'ont pas permis la stabilisation des émulsions. La substitution des NP de TiO2 par du ZnO jusqu'à 60-70% en poids dans une émulsion 20/80 H/E a été réalisée avec succès. Enfin, un mélange de NP ZnO/TiO2 a été testé en tant que système émulsifiant unique pour la formulation d'une crème solaire. Malgré une viscosité plus faible, l'émulsion de Pickering obtenue était stable et présentait un effet photoprotecteur similaire à la crème solaire à base de tensioactif correspondante avec un SPF in vitro d'environ 45. CONCLUSION: Les émulsions Pickering sans tensioactifs peuvent être stabilisées par les nanoparticules de filtre UV pour la formulation de produits de protection solaire.

Pickering Emulsions of Fluorinated TiO2: A New Route for Intensification of Photocatalytic Degradation of Nitrobenzene.

Fluorination of the TiO2 surface has been often reported as a tool to increase the photocatalytic efficiency due to the beneficial effects in terms of production of oxidizing radicals. Moreover, it is shown that the unique amphiphilic properties of the fluorinated TiO2 (TiO2-F) surface allow one to use this material as a stabilizer for the formulation of Pickering emulsions of poorly soluble pollutants such as nitrobenzene (NB) in water. The emulsions have been characterized in terms of size of the droplets, type of emulsion, possibility of phase inversion, contact angle measurements, and optical microscopy. The emulsified system presents micrometer-sized droplets of pollutant surrounded by the TiO2-F photocatalyst. Consequently, the system can be considered to be composed of microreactors for the degradation of the pollutant, which maximize the contact area between the photocatalyst and substrate. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO2-F was confirmed in the present paper as the apparent rate constants of NB photodegradation were 16 × 10-3 and 12 × 10-3 min-1 for fluorinated and bare TiO2, respectively. At NB concentrations largely exceeding its solubility, the rate constant was 0.04 × 10-3 min-1 in the presence of both TiO2 and TiO2-F. However, unlike TiO2, TiO2-F stabilized NB/water emulsions and, under these conditions, the efficiency of NB photocatalytic degradation in the emulsified system was ca. 18 times higher than in the nonemulsified one. This result is relevant also in terms of practical applications because it opens the route to one-pot treatments of biphasic polluted streams without the need of preliminary physical separation treatments.

Photocatalytic Degradation Enhancement in Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Solid Particles of Bare TiO2.

Pickering emulsions provide a new way to enhance the efficiency of photocatalytic degradation of water-insoluble pollutants. Indeed, the semiconductor solid particles dually act as the photocatalyst and stabilizer of the emulsion droplets whose size dramatically affects the photocatalytic reaction. The present work aims at the validation of this concept by using bare TiO2 without any surface modification. Nanostructured TiO2 has been prepared by a simple sol-gel process and characterized by X-ray diffraction, specific surface area analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The emulsions were prepared by using 1-methylnaphthalene (1-MN) as a model organic contaminant scarcely soluble in water and bare TiO2 as the photocatalyst/stabilizer. The emulsions have been characterized by electrical conductivity, optical microscopy, and light-scattering analyses. The photocatalytic degradation of 1-MN was 50 times faster in stable Pickering emulsions with respect to the case of biphasic liquid systems containing TiO2. This finding allows us to propose Pickering emulsions stabilized by TiO2 nanoparticles as an effective and novel way to intensify the photocatalytic degradation of water-insoluble organic pollutants.

Responsive Polydiacetylene Vesicles for Biosensing Microorganisms.

Polydiacetylene (PDA) inserted in films or in vesicles has received increasing attention due to its property to undergo a blue-to-red colorimetric transition along with a change from non-fluorescent to fluorescent upon application of various stimuli. In this review paper, the principle for the detection of various microorganisms (bacteria, directly detected or detected through the emitted toxins or through their DNA, and viruses) and of antibacterial and antiviral peptides based on these responsive PDA vesicles are detailed. The analytical performances obtained, when vesicles are in suspension or immobilized, are given and compared to those of the responsive vesicles mainly based on the vesicle encapsulation method. Many future challenges are then discussed.

Partitioning of Laponite Clay Platelets in Pickering Emulsion Polymerization.

Partitioning of laponite disklike clay platelets between polymer particles and bulk aqueous phase was investigated in Pickering surfactant-free emulsion polymerization of styrene. Adsorption of laponite clay platelets plays an important role in the stabilization of this system, influencing the particle size and the number of particles, and, hence, the reaction rate. Adsorption isotherms show that, while the laponite clay platelets are almost fully exfoliated in water, they form multilayers on the surface of the polymer particles by the end of polymerization, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This observation is supported by quartz crystal microbalance, conductivity, and TEM measurements, which reveal interactions between the clay and polystyrene, as a function of the ionic strength. The strong adsorption of clay platelets leaves a low residual concentration in the aqueous phase that cannot cause further nucleation of polymer particles, as demonstrated during seeded emulsion polymerization experiments in the presence of a high excess of clay. A Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET)-type model for laponite adsorption on polystyrene particles matches the adsorption isotherms.

Investigation of Four Different Laponite Clays as Stabilizers in Pickering Emulsion Polymerization.

Clay-armored polymer particles were prepared by emulsion polymerization in the presence of Laponite platelets that adsorb at the surface of latex particles and act as stabilizers during the course of the polymerization. While Laponite RDS clay platelets are most often used, the choice of the type of clay still remains an open issue that is addressed in the present article. Four different grades of Laponite were investigated as stabilizers in the emulsion polymerization of styrene. First, the adsorption isotherms of the clays, on preformed polystyrene particles, were determined by ICP-AES analysis of the residual clay in the aqueous phase. Adsorption of clay depended on the type of clay at low concentrations corresponding to adsorption as a monolayer. Adsorption of clay particles as multilayers was observed for all the grades above a certain concentration under the considered ionic strength (mainly due to the initiator ionic species). The stabilization efficiency of these clays was investigated during the polymerization reaction (free of any other stabilizer). The clays did not have the same effect on stabilization, which was related to differences in their compositions and in their adsorption isotherms. The different grades led to different polymer particles sizes and therefore to different polymerization reaction rates. Laponite RDS and S482 gave similar results, ensuring the best stabilization efficiency and the fastest reaction rate; the number of particles increased as the clay concentration increased. Stabilization with Laponite XLS gave the same particles size and number as the latter two clays at low clay concentrations, but it reached an upper limit in the number of nucleated polymer particles at higher concentrations indicating a decrease of stabilization efficiency at high concentrations. Laponite JS did not ensure a sufficient stability of the polymer particles, as the polymerization results were comparable to a stabilizer-free polymerization system.

Pickering emulsions stabilized by charged nanoparticles.

The stabilization of o/w Pickering emulsions in cases of weak adsorption of solid particles at the surface of oil droplets is addressed. Though the adsorption is usually very strong and irreversible when partial wetting conditions are fulfilled, electrostatic repulsions between charged solid particles act against the adsorption. The regime of weak adsorption was reached using charged silica nanoparticles at high pH and low ionic strength. O/w Pickering emulsions of the diisopropyl adipate oil were stabilized by colloidal nanoparticles of Ludox® AS40 consisting of non-aggregated particles of bare silica (hydrophilic). The combination of stability assessment, droplet size and electrokinetic potential measurements at various pH values, adsorption isotherms and cryo-SEM observations of the adsorbed layers disclosed the specificities of the stabilization of Pickering emulsions by adsorption of solid nanoparticles against strong electrostatic repulsions. Not only the long-term stability of emulsions was poor under strong electrostatic repulsions at high pH, but emulsification failed since full dispersion of oil could not be achieved. Emulsion stability was ensured by decreasing electrostatic repulsions by lowering the pH from 9 to 3. Stable emulsions were stabilized by a monolayer of silica particles at 54% coverage of the oil droplet surface at low silica content and an adsorption regime as multilayers was reached at higher concentrations of silica although there was no aggregation of silica in the bulk aqueous phase.

Skin Absorption of Anions: Part One. Methodology for In Vitro Cutaneous Absorption Measurements.

PURPOSE: Measurement of skin absorption of ions requires specific experimental protocols regarding the use of pig skin as a model, the viability of excised skin in water medium over 24 h, the presence of endogenous ions, and evaluation of the contributions of facilitated transport through ion channels and ion transporters. METHOD: Absorption experiments of halide anions F(-), Cl(-), Br(-) and I(-) in excised skin were performed in Franz diffusion cells. Experiments were performed on human and porcine skin under various conditions so as to define and validate experimental protocols. RESULTS: The distributions of endogenous ions and the absorption kinetics of halide ions were similar in both porcine and human skin models. Fresh skin kept its viability over 24 h in salt-free water, allowing experiments following OECD guidelines. Permeation increased in the order F(-) < Cl(-) < Br(-) < I(-) for all receptor media and skin samples. Absorption was larger in fresh skin due to the transport through chloride channels or exchangers. CONCLUSION: Skin absorption experiments of ions in Franz cells rely on working with fresh excised skin (human or porcine) and pure water as receptor fluid. Experiments with chloride blockers or frozen/thawed skin allow discriminating passive diffusion and facilitated transport.

Skin Absorption of Anions: Part Two. Skin Absorption of Halide Ions.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to sort skin penetration of anions with respect to their properties and to assess their mechanisms of penetration. METHODS: Aqueous solutions of halides at two concentrations were prepared and quantitative penetration studies were carried out for 24 h using Franz diffusion cells. The iodide permeation was also measured after blocking of anion channels and transporters to investigate the role of this specific transport. RESULTS: Absorption of halide ions into skin revealed large differences of transport between these anions according to the Hofmeister series. Increasing steady-state fluxes and lag times in the order F(-) < Cl(-) < Br(-) < I(-) were observed in permeation experiments. The steady-state fluxes were proportional to the concentration for each halide ion. Longer lag times for iodide or bromide ions were explained by the ability of such sticky chaotropic anions to interact with apolar lipids especially in the stratum corneum. Inhibiting ion exchangers and channels decreased the flux of iodide ions by 75%, showing the high contribution of the facilitated transport over the passive pathway. CONCLUSION: Ions transport had contributions coming from passive diffusion through the skin layers and transport mediated by ion channels and binding to ion transporters.

Antimicrobial films containing microparticles for the enhancement of long-term sustained release.

Coated packagings with thin films containing antimicrobial agents are an alternative technology to ensure the protection of products against microbial contaminations. Indeed, they allow lowering the antimicrobial concentration in the bulk of the product while meeting the safety requirements and the growing consumer demand for low preservative concentrations. Microencapsulation is a suitable way for controlling active agent release and providing a long-term activity. This work aims at combining both technical solutions with coatings containing antimicrobial microparticles for the achievement of long-term sustained release. Polyethylene surfaces were functionalized with microparticles of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) loaded with phenylethyl alcohol (PEA) as antimicrobial agent by the dip coating process using a polyurethane binder. The release of PEA into water from coated polyethylene surfaces and from PMMA microparticles was investigated to assess the sustained release and its mechanisms. Films with various thicknesses of 400-1000 µm containing antimicrobial microparticles demonstrated unusual long-term release longer than 3 months. The diffusion of the antimicrobial agent through PMMA was the rate limiting step of the sustained release. PEA release increased as the contact area of the protruding microparticles with the external medium increased and the thickness of the film decreased. Such antimicrobial agents encapsulated inside thin coatings are promising with regards to antimicrobial preservation of products along their full shelf-life.

Anionic Dye Removal with a Thin Cationic Polyaniline Coating on Cellulosic Biomaterial.

This paper reports the development of novel adsorbent materials using polyaniline (PANI) grafted onto Posidonia (POS) fibers, aimed at efficiently removing phenol red (PSP), an anionic dye, from aqueous solutions. The synthesis involved the copolymerization of aniline grafted on the surface of the POS and aniline monomer in solution, resulting in a chemically bound thin PANI layer on the POS bioadsorbent. Structural characteristics and binding affinities of these adsorbents with PANI under its emeraldine salt (POS@PANI-ES) or emeraldine base (POS@PANI-EB) forms are reported. The rapid adsorption kinetics observed are attributed to enhanced accessibility to PANI adsorption sites on the POS surface. The binding percentages of PSP to POS@PANI-ES and POS@PANI-EB materials were found to be 97 and 50%, respectively, after 15 min of contact time. The Langmuir model for localized adsorption sites and the Volmer model for nonlocalized adsorption as a mobile layer were fitted to the experimental adsorption isotherms of PSP to POS@PANI-EB and POS@PANI-ES, yielding the thermodynamic parameters of adsorption. The adsorption capacities of PSP on POS@PANI-EB and POS@PANI-ES were 37.8 and 71.5 µmol g-1, respectively. The adsorption of PSP remained above 80% at moderate salt concentrations of around 0.1 mol L-1; however, higher concentrations of NaCl and CaCl2 in PSP solutions significantly reduced the adsorption on POS@PANI-ES.

Negatively charged chitosan nanoparticles prepared by ionotropic gelation for encapsulation of positively charged proteins.

The nanoprecipitation of hydrogel nanoparticles by complex coacervation is investigated through a systematic study of the popular chitosan-polyphosphate pair of polyelectrolytes with opposite charges at pH 4. Polyphosphates of varying molar masses and electrical charges are investigated as alternatives to the commonly used tripolyphosphate, so as to assess the influence of the strength of electrostatic interactions on the fabrication possibility, the size of hydrogel particles, and their overall charge. Sodium hexametaphosphate and sodium polyphosphate allow the manufacture of such nanoparticles with either a positive or a negative charge, depending on the chitosan/polyphosphate ratio and the order of mixing. The classical way of mixing by pouring the polyphosphate solution into the chitosan solution yields microparticles. Inverting the order of mixing by pouring the chitosan solution into the polyphosphate solution allows the precipitation of negatively charged nanoparticles with diameters in the range 100-200 nm. Such charge inversion of the chitosan into negative is not possible with the common TPP. It was achieved using sodium hexametaphosphate and sodium polyphosphate having a larger negative charge. Charge inversion of chitosan allows an efficient encapsulation of positively charged proteins with an improved encapsulation efficiency than in the usual TPP-based coacervate. The encapsulation of the bovine serum albumin at pH 4 is given as a case study of a positively charged protein.

Elastic cationic liposomes for vitamin C delivery: Development, characterization and skin absorption study.

The influence of hydrophilic surfactants acting on the membrane elasticity of liposomes on the skin absorption of vitamin C is investigated. The purpose of encapsulation inside cationic liposomes is to improve the skin delivery of vitamin C. The properties of elastic liposomes (ELs) are compared to that of conventional liposomes (CLs). ELs are formed by the addition of the "edge activator" Polysorbate 80 to the CLs composed of soybean lecithin, cationic lipid DOTAP (1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammoniopropane chloride), and cholesterol. The liposomes are characterized by dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy. No toxicity is detected in human keratinocyte cells. Evidences of Polysorbate 80 incorporation into liposome bilayers and of the higher flexibility of ELs are given by isothermal titration calorimetry and pore edge tension measurements in giant unilamellar vesicles. The presence of a positive charge in the liposomal membrane increases the encapsulation efficacy by approximately 30% for both CLs and ELs. Skin absorption of vitamin C from CLs, ELs and a control aqueous solution measured in Franz cells shows a high delivery of vitamin C into each skin layer and the acceptor fluid from both liposome types. These results suggest that another mechanism drives skin diffusion, involving interactions between cationic lipids and vitamin C depending on the skin pH.

High-resolution synchrotron K-edge subtraction CT allows tracking and quantifying therapeutic cells and their scaffold in a rat model of focal cerebral injury and can serve as a reference for spectral photon counting CT.

Background: The objective of this study was to demonstrate that synchrotron K-edge subtraction tomography (SKES-CT) can simultaneously track therapeutic cells and their encapsulating carrier, in vivo, in a rat model of focal brain injury using a dual-contrast agent approach. The second objective was to determine if SKES-CT could be used as a reference method for spectral photon counting tomography (SPCCT). Methods: Phantoms containing different concentrations of gold and iodine nanoparticles (AuNPS/INPs) were imaged with SKES-CT and SPCCT to assess their performances. A pre-clinical study was performed in rats with focal cerebral injury which intracerebrally received AuNPs-labelled therapeutic cells encapsulated in a INPs-labelled scaffold. Animals were imaged in vivo with SKES-CT and back-to-back with SPCCT. Results: SKES-CT revealed to be reliable for quantification of gold and iodine, whether alone or mixed. In the preclinical model, SKES-CT showed that AuNPs remained at the site of cell injection, while INPs expanded within and/or along the lesion border, suggesting dissociation of both components in the first days post-administration. Compared to SKES-CT, SPCCT was able to correctly locate gold, but not completely located iodine. When SKES-CT was used as reference, SPCCT gold quantification appeared very accurate both in vitro and in vivo. Iodine quantification by SPCCT was also quite accurate, albeit less so than for gold. Conclusion: We here provide the proof-of-concept that SKES-CT is a novel method of choice for performing dual-contrast agent imaging in the context of brain regenerative therapy. SKES-CT may also serve as ground truth for emerging technologies such as multicolour clinical SPCCT.

Low-cost Posidonia oceanica bio-adsorbent for efficient removal of antibiotic oxytetracycline from water.

The presence of antibiotics as micro-contaminants in the water and aqueous environments is a health concern to humans and the ecosystem. Therefore, their elimination by adsorption to available and cheap materials in water treatment plants is a research topic of high relevance. The present paper reports on the adsorption behavior of oxytetracycline on a bio-adsorbent prepared from Posidonia oceanica; an abundant Mediterranean biomass. Characterization of the pretreated Posidonia biomaterial was achieved using several analyses such as Boehm acid-base titration method, pHPZC determination, and analysis techniques (FTIR, 13C CP-MAS NMR, optical microscopy, and TGA). The pHPZC occurred around pH 2.11. Posidonia biomaterial showed a fast and high uptake rate throughout the adsorption process, which is a definite advantage for analytical applications such as water decontamination. The experimental kinetic data fitted very rightly the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the equilibrium uptake can adopt the bi-Langmuir isotherm model for all studied pH values which assumes adsorptions at the two localized sites. Maximum adsorption capacities of 11.8 mg∙g-1 and 4.4 mg∙g-1 for the two adsorption sites are reached at pH 6. The oxytetracycline adsorption process onto Posidonia bio-adsorbent is spontaneous (ΔadsG0 < 0), exothermic (ΔadsH0 < 0), and entropically favorable (ΔadsS0 > 0). The effect of pH on adsorption behavior and the thermodynamic parameters of adsorption are consistent with a possible origin of adsorption of oxytetracycline by means of hydrogen bonding interactions between surface hydroxyl and phenolic groups of the biomaterial and oxytetracycline. The proposed green and environmentally friendly biomaterial offers potential benefits as a bio-adsorbent in the remediation of aquatic environments contaminated by various organic materials.

In vivo evaluation of topical ascorbic acid application on skin aging by 50 MHz ultrasound.

INTRODUCTION: Ascorbic acid (AA) is a powerful antioxidant capable of acting significantly both in the prevention and treatment of the skin aging process. One way to assess the in vivo efficacy of anti-aging treatments is by using the high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) skin image analysis technique, a non-invasive approach that allows for a new level of evaluating the effectiveness of dermatological and cosmetic products. The aim of the present study was to assess the performance of a topical emulsion of liquid crystalline structures containing AA using the 50 MHz HFUS skin image analysis method. METHODS: Twenty-five healthy female participants between 35 and 60 years were included, all of whom randomly applied a placebo formulation and an AA-containing formulation to each forearm, once a day, for 30 days. HFUS measurements were performed before using the products (T0), 2 h later (T2h), and after 30 days of use (T30d). The analyzed parameters included total skin, dermal, and epidermal echogenicity; variation and mean thickness of total skin, the epidermis and dermis; and surface roughness. Statistical analyses were performed using the Friedman test, followed by Dunn's test for comparisons of multiple means (α = 0.05). RESULTS: A significant increase in total skin and dermal echogenicity was observed after topical AA application. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that collagen synthesis significantly increased after topical therapy with AA, which was responsible for the increment in dermal echogenicity. This study showed, through the HFUS technique, that the topical use of AA promoted dermal redensification after 30 days of application.