Comparing the remineralization potential of undemineralized dentin powder versus chicken eggshell powder on artificially induced initial enamel carious lesions: an in-vitro investigation.

BACKGROUND: White spot lesions are a widespread undesirable effect, especially prevalent during fixed orthodontic treatments. The study compared the in vitro enamel remineralization potential of undemineralized dentin matrix (UDD) versus chicken eggshell powder (CESP) for artificially induced enamel lesions. METHODS: 100 caries-free and sound maxillary premolars were randomly divided into four groups each contain 25 teeth: Group I (Baseline): No treatment was done to the enamel surface. Group II (Negative control ): The enamel surface of the teeth underwent demineralization using demineralizing solution to create artificial carious lesions then kept in artificial saliva. Group III (CESP treated): After demineralizing the tooth surface, the teeth have been suspended in the CESP remineralizing solution. Group IV (UDD treated): After enamel demineralization, the teeth were suspended in UDD remineralizing solution. The remineralization potential was assessed by Vickers microhardness testing, scanning electron microscopic examination (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). RESULTS: The current study demonstrated an increase in the mean microhardness of CESP and UDD-treated groups; however, It was nearer to the baseline level in the UDD group. SEM imaging revealed greater enamel remineralization in the UDD group compared to the remaining groups. The UDD group disclosed complete coverage for the prismatic enamel compared to the CESP group, which revealed a partially remineralized enamel surface. Interestingly, the Ca/P ratio increased significantly in the CESP group compared to the negative control group. In contrast, a higher significant increase in the mean Ca/P ratios was recorded in the UDD group compared to the test groups. CONCLUSION: biomimetic UDD and CESP powder should be utilized to treat enamel early carious lesions. However, UDD demonstrated the most significant remineralization potential.

Valorization of bio-waste eggshell as a viable source of dietary calcium for confectionery products.

BACKGROUND: The market of innovative foods is developing very dynamically and consumers are paying increasingly more attention to the health properties of the food offered. In addition, many studies on food consumption indicate a deficiency of minerals in the diet and experts suggest that the consumption of fortified functional foods in a selected group of consumers may contribute to the improvement of their health and quality of life. RESULTS: The aim of the work was to present the possibility of using bio-waste eggshell as a source of calcium in designing confectionery products. A snack with high calcium (0.567 g Ca kg-1 of product) and fiber (11.44 g kg-1 of product) content and potentially high calcium bioavailability was prepared. The results of the sensory expert-based assessment indicate a high (6-7 conventional units) overall sensory quality (OSQ) of the four flavor versions of the product during up to 3 months storage. In order to accurately illustrate the effect of storage time on the quality of the samples, texture analysis was carried out and the presented results indicate low correlations (r = -0.5554; r = -0.1494) between instrumentally measured hardness and sensory attribute of crispness, as well as hardness and OSQ, respectively. CONCLUSION: It is possible to reuse bio-waste eggshells as a calcium-fortifying substance for food design. The addition of powdered eggshells to food is an interesting direction, both for nutritional reasons (high concentration of calcium and optimal bioavailability) and also for environmental protection (reduction of post-production waste). © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Multiobjective Optimization of Fabrication Parameters of Jute Fiber/Polyester Composites with Egg Shell Powder and Nanoclay Filler.

In the present study, a model is presented to optimize the fabrication parameters of natural fiber reinforced polyester matrix composites with dual fillers. In particular, jute fiber mat was chosen as reinforcement and eggshell powder (ESP) and montmorillonite nanoclay (NC) were selected as fillers. The weight per square meter (GSM) of the fiber, the weight percentage of ESP and NC have been chosen as independent variables and the influence of these variables on tensile, flexural and impact strength of the composite has been inspected. The permutations of the different combinations of factors are intended to accomplish higher interfacial strength with the lowest possible number of tested specimens. The experiments were designed by the Taguchi strategy and a novel multi-objective optimization technique named COPRAS (COmplex PRoportional ASsessment of alternatives) was used to determine the optimal parameter combinations. Affirmation tests were performed with the optimal parameter settings and the mechanical properties were evaluated and compared. Experimental results show that fiber GSM and eggshell powder content are significant variables that improve mechanical strength, while the nanoclay appears less important.

Impact Mineralization of Chokeberry and Cranberry Fruit Juices Using a New Functional Additive on the Protection of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidative Properties.

Chicken eggshells can be used as an attractive dietary source of mineral compounds, including calcium (Ca). However, the effects of chicken eggshell powder (CESP) on berry fruit juices have not been studied to date. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of its addition to juices from chokeberry and cranberry on their phytochemical properties. The juices were determined for contents of polyphenols (determined by ultra-efficient liquid chromatography coupled with a mass detector (UPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS)), macro- and microelements (by inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES)), and organic acids (by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-PDA)) as well as for their antioxidative activity by radical scavenging capacity (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidative power (FRAP) assay, color profile (CIE L* a* b* system), and sensory attributes. The study results demonstrate that CESP addition to chokeberry and cranberry juices enriched them with minerals and increased their Ca content 25.7 times and 66.3 times, respectively, compared to the control samples. Juices supplementation with CESP significantly decreased their acidity and total organic acids content as well as increased their pH value. Chokeberry and cranberry juices supplementation with 1% CESP caused no significant changes in the amount of precipitate and their color, but it significantly improved their taste. For this reason, CESP addition in the amount of up to 1% can be suggested as the optimal supplementation of berry fruit juices. The study also demonstrated that CESP addition in the amount of up to 1% caused no significant differences in the content of polyphenolic compounds and in the antioxidative activity of juices, which can be deemed important from the viewpoint of their putative health benefits. In addition, the heat treatment of juices contributed to only a 4% loss of polyphenolic compounds from the CESP-supplemented juices compared to the 6% loss from the non-supplemented juices.

An effective preserving strategy for strawberries by constructing pectin/starch coatings reinforced with functionalized eggshell fillers.

Food waste occurs frequently worldwide, though hunger and malnutrition issues have received global attention. Short-term spoilage of perishable foods causes a significant proportion of food waste. Developing simple, green, and low-cost strategies to preserve the freshness of perishable foods is important to address this issue and improving food safety. By using strawberries as the model perishable fruit, this study reported a pectin/carboxy methyl starch sodium (PC) based coating using epigallocatechin gallate-loaded eggshell powder (ES@EGCG) as the functional fillers. In comparison to PC coating, the PC-ES@EGCG coating displayed much-enhanced performance, such as enhanced mechanical (2 folds) and barrier (water vapor & oxygen) properties. This composite coating reduced the weight loss of strawberries from over 60% to around 30% after 7-day storage. Coated strawberries exhibit better freshness retention, which achieves the purpose of preserving strawberries during storage. This study provided a cost-effective and eco-friendly coating strategy for reducing food waste.

Influence of Eggshell Powder on the Properties of Cement-Based Materials.

Replacing cement with industrial by-products is an important way to achieve carbon neutrality in the cement industry. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of eggshell powder on cement hydration properties, and to evaluate its feasibility as a substitute for cement. The substitution rates of eggshell powder are 0%, 7.5%, and 15%. Studying the heat of hydration and macroscopic properties can yield the following results. First: The cumulative heat of hydration based on each gram of cementitious material falls as the eggshell powder content rises. This is a result of the eggshell powder's diluting action. However, the cumulative heat of hydration per gram of cement rises due to the nucleation effect of the eggshell powder. Second: The compressive strengths of ES0, ES7.5, and ES15 samples at 28 days of age are 54.8, 43.4, and 35.5 MPa, respectively. Eggshell powder has a greater negative impact on the compressive strength. The effect of eggshell powder on the speed and intensity of ultrasonic waves has a similar trend. Third: As the eggshell powder content increases, the resistivity gradually decreases. In addition, we also characterize the microscopic properties of the slurry with added eggshell powder. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) shows that, as the age increases from 1 day to 28 days, hemicaboaluminate transforms into monocaboaluminate. As the content of the eggshell powder increases, FTIR analysis finds a slight decrease in the content of CSH. Similarly, thermogravimetric (TG) results also show a decrease in the production of calcium hydroxide. Although the additional nucleation effect of eggshell powder promotes cement hydration and generates more portlandite, it cannot offset the loss of portlandite caused by the decrease in cement. Last: A numerical hydration model is presented for cement-eggshell powder binary blends. The parameters of the hydration model are determined based on hydration heat normalized by cement mass. Moreover, the hydration heat until 28 days is calculated using the proposed model. The strength development of all specimens and all test ages can be expressed as an exponential function of hydration heat.

Osteoproductivity of Injectable Bone Grafts with and without Ostrich Eggshell Membrane Protein in Rabbit Femur.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibility and effectiveness in terms of osseointegration of dental implants composed of novel injectable bone grafts with and without ostrich eggshell particles and membrane protein in rabbit femur. METHODS: Sixteen adult male New Zealand rabbits were used in this study. A bone defect was created in each animal's right and left femur, and a dental implant was placed adjacent to the defect. Two graft materials were prepared, one containing the membrane protein and the other not. In two groups, the defects were filled with these materials. In the negative control group (NC, (n:8)), the defects were left empty. A commercial product of biphasic calcium sulfate was used as a positive control material (PC, n = 8). The graft groups were defined as the group with the membrane protein (MP+, (n:8)), and without the membrane protein (MP-, n:8). The animals were euthanized at the 12th week after surgery. The samples were investigated using histology, histomorphometry, and micro-computed tomography. Data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's tests (p = 0.05). RESULTS: Both the PC and MP+ groups had similar newly formed bone areas, and the mean values of these groups were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of the MP- and NC groups. The PC group had the highest amount of unresorbed material, while the MP- group had the lowest amount of unresorbed material. The bone-implant contact (BIC) scores of the PC and MP+ groups were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the NC group. The connective tissue area of the PC group was the lowest, which was significantly lower than the other groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The grafts produced are highly biocompatible and also showed osteoproductivity. Their cost-effectiveness and osteoproductive activity require further investigation.

Effects of eggshell powder emulsion gel on the oxidative stability and sustained-release effect of lavender essential oil.

This study aimed to develop a new type of eggshell powder (EP) emulsion gels for improving the antioxidant ability and sustained release effect of lavender essential oil (LEO). The effects of EP addition on the physicochemical, structural properties, oxidative stability, and sustained-release performance of the emulsion gels were investigated. The results showed that with the increase of EP addition (0-1 %), the gel strength initially increased and then decreased. The emulsion gel with 1 % EP had better freeze-thaw stability (36.77 %), thermal stability (78.63 °C), and water holding capacity (96.57 %). Moreover, the micromorphology results indicated that the EP-ovalbumin (OVA)-konjac glucomannan (KGM) complex showed a connected filamentous network structure, and the emulsion gel with 1 % EP addition had the most uniform and densest network structure. Furthermore, the EP emulsion gel had the highest free sulfhydryl content and hydrophobic interaction, and LEO exhibited the best antioxidant and sustained-release properties at this time. In conclusion, the findings demonstrated the potential of eggshell powder to enhance emulsion gel stability, which could improve the high-value utilization of egg by-products.

Biomimetic dentin remineralization using eggshell derived nanohydroxyapatite with and without carboxymethyl chitosan - An in vitro study.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the synergistic effect of eggshell-derived nanohydroxyapatite (EnHA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) in remineralizing artificially induced dentinal lesions. EnHA and CMC were synthesized using simple chemical processes and characterized using FTIR, XRD, HRSEM-EDX, TEM, DLS and TGA/DTA analyses. A total of 64 pre-demineralized coronal dentin specimens were randomly subjected to following treatments (n = 16):artificial saliva (AS), EnHA, CMC, and EnHA-CMC, followed by pH cycling for 7 days. HRSEM-EDX, Vickers-indenter, and micro-Raman analyses were used to assess surface-topography, microhardness, and chemical analysis, respectively. All tested materials demonstrated non-cytotoxicity when assessed on hDPSCs using MTT assay. FTIR, XRD and thermal analyses confirmed the characteristics of both EnHA and CMC. EnHA showed irregular rod-shaped nanoparticles (30-70 nm) with the presence of Ca,P,Na, and Mg ions. Dentin treated with EnHA-CMC exhibited complete tubular occlusion and highest microhardness whereas the AS group revealed the least mineral deposits (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between EnHA and CMC groups (p > 0.05). In addition, molecular conformation analysis revealed peak intensities in collagen's polypeptide chains in dentin treated with CMC and EnHA-CMC, whereas other groups showed poor collagen stability. The results highlighted that EnHA-CMC aided in rapid and effective biomineralization, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic solution for treating dentin caries.

Evaluation of the remineralizing effect of the chicken eggshell paste after removal of the fixed orthodontic appliance: An in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Demineralization of the enamel surface, which appears as white spot lesions during and after removal of the fixed orthodontic appliance, is the most common disadvantage of the orthodontic treatment course. Using the remineralizing agents during and after orthodontic treatment helps to avoid those enamel defects. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to assess the remineralizing effect of the chicken eggshell powder on the demineralized enamel surfaces after debonding the orthodontic bracket system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current study was performed on 80 prepared premolar crowns embedded into acrylic molds. The samples were prepared to receive routine steps of the bonding process for the bracket system. The paste of the chicken eggshell powder was added to the samples after the debonding process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) were used to evaluate the remineralization effect of the chicken eggshell powder. Also, the Vickers microhardness tester was used to assess the enamel surface microhardness. RESULTS: It was found that the mean value of the Ca/P ratio for the samples before bonding of the orthodontic bracket system was (4.17 ± 2.2). This value significantly decreased to (2 ± 1.3) after debonding of the orthodontic bracket system and then showed a significant increase to (4.79 ± 2.65) after remineralization. These results were assured by the values of the Vickers microhardness tester. CONCLUSION: The chicken eggshell powder has an excellent remineralization effect for the demineralized enamel surface after debonding the orthodontic enamel surface.

Effects of White Chicken Eggshell Powder on Compressive Strength, Water Solubility, and Setting Time of Calcium-Enriched Mixture.

Introduction: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of adding chicken eggshell powder (CESP) to calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement on its compressive strength (CS), solubility, and setting time. Materials and Methods: In this study, CESP was added at weight percentages of 3% and 5% to the powder component of the CEM cement. To measure the CS, a total of 36 samples (height, 6 mm; diameter, 4 mm) were tested in a universal testing machine. The setting time was assessed for 18 disk-shaped samples (diameter, 10 mm; height, 1 mm). Additionally, solubility test was performed on 18 samples (diameter, 8 mm; height, 1 mm) after 24 hours, 72 hours, seven days, and 14 days under dehydration conditions by calculating the weight changes; the results were then subjected to a normality test. Next, for the comparison of different test groups, parametric ANOVA test and post-hoc Tukey's multiple comparison test were performed at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The addition of 5% CESP to the CEM cement significantly reduced its setting time and water solubility (P=0.02 and P=0.01, respectively). Moreover, it significantly increased the CS over a 21-day period (P<0.001). Additionally, the addition of 3% CESP also resulted in a significant increase in CS (P<0.001). While 3% CESP reduced setting time and water solubility, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the addition of 5% CESP to CEM cement has the potential to improve its sealing ability, durability, and ability to withstand chewing forces in endodontic treatments. These results highlight the relevance of CESP as an additive for cement modifications and indicate its potential clinical implications.

In vitro determination of the remineralizing potential and cytotoxicity of non-fluoride dental varnish containing bioactive glass, eggshell, and eggshell membrane.

PURPOSE: This study compares in vitro remineralization potential and cytotoxicity of fluoride-free varnish combinations containing bioactive glass, eggshell, and membrane powder and fluoride varnish formulations on artificial caries lesions. METHODS: Artificial caries lesions were formed in two windows on third molars. One of the windows was coated with one of the following varnish formulations: FV (fluoride varnish), F-BAGV (fluoride and bioactive glass containing varnish), BAGV (bioactive glass containing varnish), EPV (eggshell powder containing varnish), EMP-EPV (eggshell membrane protein and eggshell powder containing varnish), STMP-EMP-EPV (sodium trimetaphosphate-treated eggshell membrane protein and eggshell powder containing varnish). The samples were remineralized, then investigated under scanning electron microscopy, and elemental analyses were performed by X-ray dispersive analysis (EDX). In addition, the traditional colorimetric tetrazolium-based reduction assay (XTT) and the modern impedance-based real-time cell analysis system (RTCA) were used to investigate their cytotoxicity. RESULTS: The varnish applied area's Ca/P ratio was lower than stoichiometric hydroxyapatite except for EPV (1.66) and STMP-EMP-EPV (1.67) groups. Undiluted extracts of all varnishes, 1:2 dilutions of FV and F-BAGV groups were cytotoxic in XTT assay. In RTCA, the normalised cell index of the EMP-EPV and STMP-EMP-EPV groups was higher than the control group. CONCLUSION: Bioactive glass, eggshell, eggshell membrane proteins and STMP-treated eggshell and eggshell membrane protein containing varnish have similar remineralizing effect to fluoride-containing varnish on demineralized enamel. Integrating biological or bioactive components instead of fluoride into the dental varnishes might reduce cytotoxicity.

Effect of Eggshell Powder and Nano-Hydroxyapatite on the Surface Roughness and Microhardness of Bleached Enamel.

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the remineralizing potential of prepared solutions of eggshell powder (ESP) and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) on the surface roughness and microhardness of bleached enamel. Materials and Methods: Fifty bovine anterior teeth were selected and cleaned then bleached using a chemically activated in-office bleaching agent then the teeth were randomly allocated into five groups (n = 10) according to the tested remineralizing agents (10% ESP solution, 10% nHA solution, and MI Paste Plus) into; control, bleached, bleached + ESP solution, bleached + nHA solution, and bleached + MI Paste Plus groups. Then, the teeth were tested for surface roughness and microhardness of the bleached enamel, respectively. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the surface roughness and microhardness values of the tested groups. The highest surface roughness mean value was found in bleached enamel group, while the least mean value was found in the control group. The highest mean microhardness value was found in the bleached enamel + ESP solution group, while the least mean value was found in the bleached enamel group. Conclusions: The application of the tested remineralizing agents following the bleaching procedure had improved the surface roughness and microhardness of the bleached enamel. ESP and nHA present promising and potent remineralizing agents.

A Spectrophotometric comparative evaluation of the sealing ability of various perforation repair materials with a novel eggshell modified GIC.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the sealing ability of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Biodentine, glass ionomer cement, and glass ionomer cement modified with Chicken Eggshell Powder when used as furcation perforation repair material. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 80 human lower first molars were used. Collected teeth had no caries or restoration, and none had fused roots. Every molar had an endodontic access cavity made utilizing a high-speed, long-shank round bur for the initial entry and an Endo-Z for lateral extension and finishing the cavity walls. Each canal's orifice was covered with a temporary filling material. The pulpal floor and cavity walls of every molar were thoroughly coated with two successive coats of clear nail polish. A significant perforation was made between the orifices to the furcation area using a high-speed long shank round bur #4. The perforation centered between the mesial and distal orifice. They were divided into four experimental groups: Group I: 20 molars were repaired using MTA, Group II: 20 molars with Biodentine, Group III: 20 molars were repaired with glass ionomer cement, and Group IV was repaired using glass ionomer cement modified with 7% chicken eggshell powder. Moist cotton pellets were placed over the repair materials, and molars were kept in 100% humidity for 24 h to allow materials to set. Then, according to each group, molars were put in Petri dishes. Methylene blue dye was applied inside the access cavity of all samples for 24 h. Molars were placed under running tap water for 30 min to remove all residues of methylene blue, and then varnish was removed with a Parker blade #15 and polishing discs. Molars were placed in vials containing 1 mL of concentrated (65 wt%) nitric acid for 3 days. Vials were centrifuged at 14,000 rpm for 5 min. The supernatant from each sample was transferred in a quantity of 200 L to a 96-well plate. Sample absorbance was read by an automatic microplate spectrophotometer at 550 nm using concentrated nitric acid as a blank. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance. When the analysis of variance test was significant, the pairwise comparison of the means was done using a Duncan post hoc test. The significance level was set at P < 0.05. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 14.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) for Windows (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA). Results: The highest dye absorbance was seen in Group III, followed by Groups IV, II, and I. Conclusion: Within the limitations of study it was concluded that maximum sealing ability was seen in Biodentine followed by MTA, Glass Ionomer Cement modified with 7% Chicken Eggshell powder and Glass Ionomer Cement.

Mechanical Behaviour and Impact of Various Fibres Embedded with Eggshell Powder Epoxy Resin Biocomposite.

Natural fiber composites are becoming an alternate material to synthetic fiber composites, and the use of eggshell bio-filler has been explored in polymer composites as environmental protection. Jute, coir, and sisal fibers were utilized in this research to make composites out of natural fibers. Polymer composites were made using epoxy resin with different amounts of eggshell powder (ESP) as fillers (2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% of weight). The mechanical and biodegradability properties of the synthesized composites were investigated. The testing results showed that composites with an optimum percentage of 6% ESP as filler improved mechanical characteristics significantly in all three fiber composites. Among the three fibers, coir fiber with 6% ESP added showed a substantial increase in tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness strength properties by 34.64%, 48.50%, 33.33%, and 35.03%, respectively. In addition, the percentage weight loss of coir fiber composites at 9 weeks is noteworthy in terms of biodegradability testing. As a result, epoxy composites containing eggshell fillers could be employed in applications requiring better tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness strength.

Assessing the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of concrete incorporating various fineness of eggshell powder as supplementary cementitious material.

The eggshell powder (ESP) has been used as a partial cement replacement to reduce the cement content in concrete production. According to recent estimates, cement production contributes to 7% of global Carbon Dioxide (CO2) gas emissions. However, most of the studies so far have focused on the mechanical strength aspect of the concrete incorporating ESP; however, there is a lack of information on the influence of ESP on the sustainability of concrete in terms of embodied carbon and eco-strength efficiency. Therefore, this study aims at determining the influence of ESP on the sustainability and cost of an M40 grade concrete when different fineness ESP (50 µm and 100 µm) is utilized as partial cement replacement. The sustainability was assessed in terms of embodied carbon and eco-strength efficiency, while the cost-effectiveness was determined in terms of the overall cost of concrete and cost to produce unit compressive strength. It was observed that the control M40 concrete mix achieved a total embodied carbon of 482.88 kgCO2/m3. With 5 to 15% ESP of 100 µm fineness, the total embodied carbon was successfully reduced, ranging from 3.86 to 11.60%. While 5 to 15% of 50 µm fineness, the reduction ranged from 3.69 to 11.10%. The 50 µm fineness ESP exhibited slightly lower eco-strength efficiency compared to 100 µm fineness ESP; however, both achieved relatively higher eco-strength efficiency. In terms of cost, the inclusion of ESP resulted in a significant reduction in overall cost and was cheaper to produce 1 MPa compressive strength.

Biobased Chicken Eggshell Powder for Efficient Delivery of Low-Dose Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) to Enhance Their Antimicrobial Activities against Foodborne Pathogens and Biofilms.

Despite the current sanitation practices to decontaminate food-contact surfaces, persistent biofilms still pose significant threats to human health by inducing cross-contamination. This study aims to enhance the antimicrobial activity of low-dose silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against foodborne pathogens and their biofilms through the development of a biobased delivery carrier for metallic nanoparticles. In this study, chicken eggshell powder (EP) was used as a biocompatible delivery carrier, and it possesses a strong ability to encapsulate green-synthesized AgNPs with an encapsulation efficiency of 80.18%. The EP carriers stabilized AgNPs in an organic-rich environment and prevented the aggregation of nanoparticles. The results of antimicrobial test demonstrate that EP significantly enhanced the antimicrobial efficacy of low-dose AgNPs (2 µg/mL), enabling 5-log reductions of planktonic Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua within 25 min and 60 min treatments, respectively, even in the presence of high organic content (chemical oxygen demand, COD = 1000 mg/L). Due to the high affinity of EP to bind biofilms, the encapsulated low-dose AgNPs can inactivate approximately 2-log CFU/cm2 of biofilms within a 2-h treatment. The proposed AgNPs@EP composite with a low silver concentration (2 µg/mL) can effectively inactivate and remove biofilms from food-contact surfaces in which such a low concentration of AgNPs is unlikely to induce negative impacts on human health and environment. Therefore, this antimicrobial AgNPs@EP composite can potentially be used as a biobased sanitizer for food-contact surfaces in a food manufacturing plant.

Surface Properties of Eggshell Powder and Its Influence on Cement Hydration.

Using eggshell powder (EP) to replace partial cement in cement-based materials can abate pollution caused by eggshell discard and cement production. In this paper, the surface property of EP and its influence on cement hydration were studied. Quartz powder (QP) and limestone powder (LP) were used as references. First, the chemical composition of EP was characterized. Then, the surface charge properties of these materials were analyzed using zeta potential measurement. The interactions between EP surface and Ca2+ were discussed based on the zeta potential test. Afterward, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was applied to observe the morphology of hydrates on the surfaces of these materials. The results indicated that, although the compositions of EP and LP are similar, the surface charge properties are significantly different. This is likely due to the existence of organic matter on the surface of EP and the difference in the atomic structure. As shown from the zeta potential test, EP exhibits similar interaction with Ca2+ as QP. The interactions between EP surface and Ca2+ are much weaker than that between LP and Ca2+. These weak interactions lead to the growth of C-S-H on the surface of EP particles less than that of LP particles. The chemical reactivity of EP can be improved by using heat treatment, electrical oven, etc. This study will provide theoretical support for the better use of EP in cement-based materials.

Aloe vera incorporated starch-64S bioactive glass-quail egg shell scaffold for promotion of bone regeneration.

Simultaneous promotion of osteoconductive and osteoinductive characteristics through combining bioactive glasses with natural polymers is still a challenge in bone tissue engineering. Starch, 64S bioactive glass (BG), aloe vera (AV) and quail eggshell powder (QE) were utilized to achieve biodegradable, bioactive, biocompatible and mechanically potent multifunctional scaffolds, using freeze-drying mechanism. Cell viability for starch-BG-AV-QE scaffolds at 3 and 7 day intervals was reported to be over 95 %. Acridine orange staining was employed to study live/dead cells cultured on the scaffolds. The high sufficiency of starch-BG-AV-QE scaffolds in osteogenic differentiation and extracellular matrix mineralization was confirmed through alkaline phosphatase activity and alizarin red staining assessments after 7 and 14 days of cell culture. High compressive strength, managed biodegradability and expression of osteocalcin and osteopontin as late markers of osteogenic differentiation were also reached in the range of 30-75 % for starch-BG-AV-QE scaffolds. Hence, starch-BG-AV-QE scaffolds with ideal physico-mechanical and biological characteristics can be considered as promising candidates for promotion of bone regeneration.

Sustainability and mechanical property assessment of concrete incorporating eggshell powder and silica fume as binary and ternary cementitious materials.

Cement production emits a significant carbon dioxide (CO2) gas, dramatically influencing the environment. Furthermore, a large amount of energy is consumed during the cement manufacturing process; since Pakistan is already facing an energy crisis, this high energy consumption by the cement industry puts further stress on Pakistan's energy sector. Hence, the price of cement is rising day by day. Furthermore, waste disposals and concrete ingredients' restoration after demolition have adversative effects on the environment. Therefore, using these wastes decreases cement manufacturing, thereby reducing energy consumption, but it also aids in safeguarding the environment. The study aimed to determine the concrete properties by partially replacing cement with only eggshell powder (ESP) and combining ESP and silica fume (SF) in a ternary binder system in the mixture. However, workability, water absorption, compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength were all investigated in this study. In this experimental study, cement was replaced as 5, 8, 11, 15, and 20% of ESP, along with 5, 10, and 15% of silica by weight of cement in concrete. Approximately 21 mixes were prepared, from which 01 control mix, 05 mixes of ESP alone, and 15 mixes designed with a blend of ESP and SF with a 1:1.25:3 mix ratio and 0.5 water-cement ratios. Study parameters advocate the substitution of 11% ESP and 10% SF as the optimal option for maximum strength. Furthermore, combining ESP and SF diminishes the composite concrete mixture's workability and dry density greatly.