We have read the article entitled “The effect of goat-milk-based infant formulas on growth and safety parameters: a systematic review and meta-analysis” by Jankiewicz et al ...
Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy and mapping were applied to the analysis of biofilms produced by bacteria of the genus Streptococcus. Bacterial biofilm, also called dental ...plaque, is the main cause of periodontal disease and tooth decay. It consists of a complex microbial community embedded in an extracellular matrix composed of highly hydrated extracellular polymeric substances and is a combination of salivary and bacterial proteins, lipids, polysaccharides, nucleic acids, and inorganic ions. This study confirms the value of Raman and FT-IR spectroscopies in biology, medicine, and pharmacy as effective tools for bacterial product characterization.
Abstract
Bioreactor systems are very precious tools to generate living bone grafts in vitro
.
The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of rotating and perfusion bioreactor in the ...production of a living bone construct. Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMDSCs) were seeded on the surfaces of hydroxyapatite-based scaffolds and cultured for 21 days in three different conditions: (1) static 3D culture, (2) 3D culture in a perfusion bioreactor, and (3) dynamic 3D culture in a rotating bioreactor. Quantitative evaluation of cell number showed that cultivation in the perfusion bioreactor significantly reduced cell proliferation compared to the rotating bioreactor and static culture. Osteogenic differentiation test demonstrated that BMDSCs cultured in the rotating bioreactor produced significantly greater amount of osteopontin compared to the cells cultured in the perfusion bioreactor. Moreover, Raman spectroscopy showed that cultivation of BMDSCs in the rotating bioreactor enhanced extracellular matrix (ECM) mineralization that was characterized by B-type carbonated substitution of hydroxyapatite (associated with PO
4
3−
groups) and higher mineral-to-matrix ratio compared to the ECM of cells cultured in the perfusion system. Thus, it was concluded that the rotating bioreactor was much more effective than the perfusion one in the generation of bone tissue construct in vitro.
Spinacia oleracea L. extract was immobilized on an octadecyl‐bonded silica surface to produce a new sorbent for the solid‐phase extraction of trace amounts of metal ions from aqueous neutral samples. ...A measurement of the metal content has been performed by using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. The affinity of the investigated bivalent metal cations for the modified sorbent are in the order: Pb(II) > Cu(II) > Ni(II) > Zn(II) ≈ Cd(II) ≈ Co(II). The quantum‐chemically calculated chlorophyll‐a–metal ion binding energies were consistent with the measured affinities of the corresponding metal ions to the investigated sorbent. The maximum sorption capacity obtained for Pb(II) was equal to 1.44 μmol/g. The value of lead uptake was significantly higher in comparison to the one reported for other sorbents and biosorbents. Immobilized chlorophyll a is responsible for a chelation process with stoichiometry 1:1 owing to the porphyrin rings, which was confirmed by the quantitative analysis performed by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The Toth adsorption isotherm model was applicable to the description of the adsorption process of either chlorophyll a or Pb(II). The structural analysis of sorbent was done using Fourier‐transform Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X‐ray detector.
The formation of cefuroxime axetil+cyclodextrin (CA+CD) complexes increases the aqueous solubility of CA, improves its physico-chemical properties, and facilitates a biomembrane-mediated drug ...delivery process. In CD-based tablet formulations, it is crucial to investigate the molecular details of complexes in final pharmaceutical preparation. In this study, Raman spectroscopy and mapping were applied for the detection and identification of chemical groups involved in α-, β-, γ-, and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD (2-HP- β-CD)+CA complexation process. The experimental studies have been complemented by molecular dynamics-based investigations, providing additional molecular details of CA+CD interactions. It has been demonstrated that CA forms the guest–host type inclusion complexes with all studied CDs; however, the nature of the interactions is slightly different. It seems that both α- and β-CD interact with furanyl and methoxy moieties of CA, γ-CD forms a more diverse pattern of interactions with CA, which are not observed in other CDs, whereas 2HP-β-CD binds CA with the contribution of hydrogen bonding. Apart from supporting this interpretation of the experimental data, molecular dynamics simulations allowed for ordering the CA+CD binding affinities. The obtained results proved that the molecular details of the host–guest complexation can be successfully predicted from the combination of Raman spectroscopy and molecular modeling.
Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and imaging combined with hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was applied to analyse biochemical properties of Early Middle Ages hemp (
L.) bast fibres ...collected from lake bottom sediment of lake Słone. The examined plant macrofossil material constitutes residues of the hemp retting process that took place in the 7th-8th century. By comparison of three samples: untreated isolated bast fibres, and fibres incubated overnight at 4 and 37 °C, we were able to mimic the retting conditions. Using FT-IR qualitative and semi-quantitative assessment of the primary polysaccharides content, total protein content, and their spatial distribution was performed within the hemp fibres. The concentration of cellulose remained vastly unchanged, while the concentration of lignin and pectin was the highest in the untreated sample. The spatial distributions of compounds were heterogeneous in the untreated and 4 °C-incubated samples, and homogenous in the specimen processed at 37 °C. Interestingly, a higher amide content was detected in the latter sample indicating the highest degree of enzymatic degradation. In this study, we show that the spectroscopic methods allow for a non-destructive evaluation of biochemical composition of plant fibres without preparation, which can be an appropriate approach for studying ancient plant remains.
In order to determine the effect of different gelation temperatures (80 °C and 90 °C) on the structural arrangements in 1,3-β-d-glucan (curdlan) matrices, spectroscopic and microscopic approaches ...were chosen. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy are well-established techniques that enable the identification of functional groups in organic molecules based on their vibration modes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a quantitative analytical method utilized in the surface study, which provided information about the elemental and chemical composition with high surface sensitivity. Contact angle goniometer was applied to evaluate surface wettability and surface free energy of the matrices. In turn, the surface topography characterization was obtained with the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Described techniques may facilitate the optimization, modification, and design of manufacturing processes (such as the temperature of gelation in the case of the studied 1,3-β-d-glucan) of the organic polysaccharide matrices so as to obtain biomaterials with desired characteristics and wide range of biomedical applications, e.g., entrapment of drugs or production of biomaterials for tissue regeneration. This study shows that the 1,3-β-d-glucan polymer sample gelled at 80 °C has a distinctly different structure than the matrix gelled at 90 °C.
The aim of this study was to investigate the potential neurotoxic effect of the new anti-seizure medication candidate-5-(3-chlorophenyl)-4-hexyl-2,4-dihydro-3
-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione (TP-315), after ...chronic administration to mice. TP-315 was administered to mice intraperitoneally for 14 days. At 24 h post the last injection, animals were decapitated, their brains were acquired, flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen and cut into 10 µm slices. The FT-IR chemical imaging technique was used for the investigation of the potential neurotoxic effect in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. The effect on the lipidomic and proteomic profile and on oxidative stress was investigated. The results showed no statistically significant changes in the above-mentioned parameters. TP-315 seems to pose no neurotoxic effect on the mouse brain after chronic use, therefore, its use should be safe.
Graphitic carbon nitride (gCN(H)) is a semiconductor with high mechanical and thermal stability which provides good dispersion of metal particles. As it is resistant to corrosion, it constitutes an ...alternative to carbon black as a catalyst support in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), e.g., in alcohol oxidation reactions. In this research work, gCN (H)-supported catalyst has been characterized by spectroscopic (UV–vis, IR, Raman) and microscopy techniques (SEM, TEM, AFM) in order to gain deeper understanding of the relationship between material properties and electrochemical activity. Ni-doped graphitic carbon nitride (Ni/gCN(H)) was tested in electrooxidation of ethanol demonstrating comparatively high peak current density and interesting photocatalytic properties. The obtained results suggest that the improvement of the activity and selectivity of Ni-modified gCN(H) can be related to the chemical and electronic material modification, while the sample morphology and topology is preserved. Metal–support interactions account for the high photocatalytic activity, superior to that of the Pt counterpart.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disease with recurrent abdominal pain, disturbed bowel emptying, and changes in stool consistency. We compared the effectiveness of three different dietary ...treatment plans (G1-FM-low FODMAP diet, G2-IP IgG based elimination-rotation-diet, and as control group, the G3-K control diet recommended by an attending gastroenterologist) in treating patients diagnosed with mixed irritable bowel syndrome. A total of seventy-three female patients diagnosed with a mixed form of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-M) were enrolled in the study. The diet of each patient in Group 1 (G1-FM) and 2 (G2-IP) was determined individually during a meeting with a dietitian. Patients from Group 3 (G3-K) received nutrition advice from a gastroenterologist. Significant differences in the reduction of IBS symptoms were found between the groups. IBS symptoms as well as comorbid symptoms significantly improved or disappeared completely in the G2-IP group (idiopathic abdominal pain, p < 0.001; abdominal pain after a meal, p < 0.001; abdominal pain during defecation, p = 0.008), while in the G1-FM group, some of the IBS symptoms significantly improved (mucus in stool, p = 0.031; bloating, p < 0.001). In group G3-K no significant improvement was seen. Based on the results of this open-label study, it was concluded that various dietary interventions in the treatment of IBS-M patients do not uniformly affect the course and outcomes of disease management. Rotation diets based on IgG show significantly better results compared to other diets.
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