Chemically modified nanoparticles for enhanced antioxidant and antimicrobial properties with cinnamon essential oil

Aaron Azael Lopez Cano VERONICA MARTINEZ AGUILAR Mariana Peña-Juárez Ricardo López Esparza Enrique Delgado Alvarado Emmanuel Gutierrez MAYRA DEL ANGEL MONROY Elias Perez Agustin L. Herrera-May JOSE AMIR GONZALEZ CALDERON (2023, [Artículo])

We explored the potential of different nanoparticles (TiO2, CaCO3, and Al2O3), considering their pure form and modified with cinnamon essential oil (CEO). These materials were characterized using various techniques, including FTIR spectroscopy, XRD analysis, TGA, and SEM. The interaction between CEO and nanoparticles changed depending on the nanoparticle type. Al2O3 nanoparticles exhibited the strongest interaction with CEO, increasing their antioxidant capacity by around 40% and their transfer of antimicrobial properties, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria. In contrast, TiO2 and CaCO3 nanoparticles showed limited interaction with CEO, resulting in lower antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity. Incorporating pure and CEO-modified nanoparticles into polylactic acid (PLA) films improved their mechanical and thermal properties, which are suitable for applications requiring greater strength. This research highlights the potential of metal oxide nanoparticles to enhance the antimicrobial and antioxidant capabilities of polymers. In addition, incorporating cinnamon essential oil can increase the antioxidant and antimicrobial effectiveness of the metal oxide nanoparticles and improve the mechanical and thermal properties of PLA films. Thus, these PLA films exhibit favorable characteristics for active packaging applications.

Author contributions: conceptualization, V.M.-A. and J.A.G.-C.; formal analysis, A.A.L.-C., V.M.-A., M.G.P.-J. and M.D.A.-M.; funding acquisition, A.L.H.-M.; methodology, A.A.L.-C. and V.M.-A.; investigation, E.P.; supervision, R.L.-E., E.D.-A., and E.J.G.-C.; validation, A.L.H.-M. and J.A.G.-C.; writing—original draft, V.M.-A.; writing—review and editing, M.G.P.-J. and J.A.G.-C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding: J.A. Gonzalez-Calderon thanks CONAHCYT for supporting the Catedras-CONAHCYT Program, and Verónica Martinez thanks CONAHCYT for the Doctoral Fellowship. The authors also want to thank CONAHCYT for funding the project CF2019 265239 “Ciencia de Frontera”, which made this work possible.

Institutional review board statement: Not applicable.

Informed consent statement: Not applicable.

Data availability statement: Data is contained within the article.

Acknowledgments: The authors acknowledge Claudia Hernández and Rosa Lina Tovar for their support during the XRD and SEM analyses.

Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Cinnamon essential oil Antioxidant activity Antimicrobial properties Nanoparticles Polylactic acid films INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS OTRAS ESPECIALIDADES TECNOLÓGICAS OTRAS OTRAS

Approaches in Polymeric Nanoparticles for Vaginal Drug Delivery: A Review of the State of the Art

GERARDO LEYVA GOMEZ ELIZABETH PIÑON SEGUNDO NESTOR MENDOZA MUÑOZ MARIA DE LA LUZ ZAMBRANO ZARAGOZA SUSANA ELISA MENDOZA ELVIRA DAVID QUINTANAR GUERRERO (2018, [Artículo])

The vagina is a region of administration with a high contact surface to obtain local or systemic effects. This anatomical area represents special interest for government health systems for different sexually transmitted infections. However, the chemical changes of the vagina, as well as its abundant mucus in continuous exchange, act as a barrier and a challenge for the development of new drugs. For these purposes, the development of new pharmaceutical forms based on nanoparticles has been shown to offer various advantages, such as bioadhesion, easy penetration of the mucosa, and controlled release, in addition to decreasing the adverse effects of conventional pharmaceutical forms. In order to obtain nanoparticles for vaginal administration, the use of polymers of natural and synthetic origin including biodegradable and non-biodegradable systems have gained great interest both in nanospheres and in nanocapsules. The main aim of this review is to provide an overview of the development of nanotechnology for vaginal drug release, analyzing the different compositions of polymeric nanoparticles, and emphasizing new trends in each of the sections presented. At the end of this review, a section analyzes the properties of the vehicles employed for the administration of nanoparticles and discusses how to take advantage of the properties that they offer. This review aims to be a reference guide for new formulators interested in the vaginal route.

MEDICINA Y CIENCIAS DE LA SALUD Vagina nanoparticles

Nanovacunas que valen oro

Carlos Eliud Angulo Valadez LUIS HERNANDEZ ADAME Ana Aguilera-Juarez (2022, [Artículo])

nanopartículas de oro BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA INMUNOLOGÍA VACUNAS VACUNAS

Synthesis of hollow carbon spheres by chemical activation of carbon nanoparticles for their use in electrochemical capacitor

Cesar Eduardo Sanchez Rodriguez EDUARDO TOVAR MARTINEZ MARISOL REYES REYES Luis Felipe Cházaro Ruiz ROMAN LOPEZ SANDOVAL (2022, [Artículo])

"Naphthalene combustion has been used to synthesize grams per hour of solid carbon spheres (CS). The carbon soot was activated by acid treatment consisting in a mixture of HNO3 and H2SO4 (1/3 v/v) to produce hollow carbon spheres (HCS). The effect of two concentrations of CSs (5 and 10 mg mL−1) in the acid mixture, on the physicochemical properties of the activated HCSs was studied. The HSCs were subjected to a thermal treatment to increase their graphitization to enhance their electrical conductivity. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of HCSs due to the acid treatment whereas FTIR spectra showed that the chemical activation produced functional groups on the carbon spheres surface and the heat treatment effect to remove some of them as well. A specific surface area of 300 m2 g−1 and a large density of micropores for the acid-treated CSs as well as the heat-treated CSs were estimated by analysis of N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. A specific capacitance 70 F g−1 was calculated by cyclic voltammetry of the acid and thermally treated HCSs at 5 mV s−1, for both CS concentrations, indicating the possibility of synthesizing these HCSs using a simple method in large quantities for their use in electrochemical capacitors."

Physicochemical properties Carbon nanoparticles Chemical activation Electrochemical capacitor BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA QUÍMICA QUÍMICA

Facile synthesis of a TiO2-Al2O3-GnPs compound and its application in the photocatalytic degradation of Diuron

Alina De J. Zurita Yduarte Diana J. Gallegos Hernández URIEL ALEJANDRO SIERRA GOMEZ GLADIS JUDITH LABRADA DELGADO SALVADOR FERNANDEZ TAVIZON Pedro Jesús Herrera Franco SRINIVAS GODAVARTHI JOSE GILBERTO TORRES TORRES ADRIAN CERVANTES URIBE CLAUDIA GUADALUPE ESPINOSA GONZALEZ (2022, [Artículo])

"New ternary materials TiO2-Al2O3-GnPs (TAG) were prepared by using an innocuous sol-gel method with a slight modification for the addition of graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs), under room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The materials TiO2-Al2O3-GnPs were prepared with variations of concentration between 0.05 and 1 wt % of GnPs. In this study, we analyzed the physicochemical properties by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-Vis spectroscopy, textural properties by N2 physisorption, morphology by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) and a chemical species analysis was carried out by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS). The photocatalytic activity of each material was evaluated in the degradation of a model molecule, Diuron, a carcinogenic and cytotoxic herbicide used in farm fields. To determine reaction selectivity and mineralization degree, the photocatalytic reaction was monitored by using UV-Vis spectroscopy and total organic carbon (TOC). In samples with higher GnPs’ concentration, a good enough specific surface area of up to 379 m2/g was observed, and reduced band gap energy (2.8 eV) with respect to TiO2 and mixed oxide (3.2 and 3.1 eV respectively), was obtained. These resulting properties were the key indicator so that the materials could be applied as photocatalysts. In the photocatalytic activity determination, TAG-0.75 was the sample that showed the best results with respect to the mixed oxide; the highest photocatalytic conversion, the reduced average life time, and increased mineralization and reaction selectivity."

Graphene nanoplatelets Mixed oxides Sol-gel Photocatalytic degradation BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA QUÍMICA QUÍMICA

Synthesis of Ferroelectric and Multiferroics Thin films of BiMnO3/ SrTiO3 and Structural, Piezoelectric, Magnetic, Optical, and Mechanical Properties Characterization

Glory Valentine Umoh (2022, [Tesis de doctorado])

Multiferroic characteristics of BiMnO3 thin films offer great prospects to explore, either

in terms of ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism, or ferroelasticity. Ferroelectric and

ferromagnetic materials can be used in data storage due to their electrical and magnetic

properties. Ferroelastic can find its application in microelectromechanical systems

devices. This dissertation focused on the synthesis, characterization, and improvement of

the multiferroic properties of polycrystalline BiMnO3 thin films as well as the elaboration

influence of Cu on the magnetism of BiMnO3 thin films. BiMnO3 films were grown on

three different substrates, Si (001), Pt-buffered Si (001), Nb-doped SrTiO3 (100), and also

doped with different amounts of Cu. The films were characterized using techniques such

as X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), HRTEM

observations, by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), atomic force microscopy

(AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, Visible-near-IR

spectroscopy (Vis-NIR), electron energy loss spectrometer (EELS), nanoindenter,

superconductor quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer, and finally, the

polarization-electric field (P-E) hysteresis loops of the BiMnO3 thin films were conducted

at 200 and 300 K. There are several studies on the growth of thin films, however, they are

not clear and in some cases contradictory, therefore, different parameters were controlled

during the deposition in terms of working pressure, RF power, substrate, deposition

10

temperature, and target to substrate distance. After deposition ex-situ thermal treatment

was carried out in order to compensate for the volatility of bismuth and also to eliminate

secondary phase.

Kramer’s–Krӧnig analysis was used to determine bandgap, via a polynomial fit in the

energy loss function (ELF) plot with an Eg = 1.63 eV, complex dielectric function, and

static dielectric constant, ε* = 4.68 of the grown BiMnO3 thin films. The reflection

coefficient Ґl of the BiMnO3 thin films was used to elucidate the reflection loss in the

BiMnO3 thin films. XPS analysis revealed the existence of Mn charge transition of 3+

and 4+ states. Resistivity result describes BIMnO3 as a semiconductor. The

nanomechanical characterization demonstrated that the region of penetration depth was

below 10% of BiMnO3 film thickness. Young's modulus (E), hardness (H), and Stiffness

(S) were measured to be 142 ± 3 GPa, 8 ± 0.2 GPa, and 44072 ± 45 N/m respec

SÍNTESIS DE MATERIALES Materiales Multiferroicos CIENCIAS FÍSICO MATEMÁTICAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA FÍSICA OTRAS ESPECIALIDADES FÍSICAS OTRAS OTRAS

Tensile behavior of 3D printed polylactic acid (PLA) based composites reinforced with natural fiber

Eliana M Agaliotis BALTAZAR DAVID AKE CONCHA ALEJANDRO MAY PAT Juan Pablo Morales Arias Celina Bernal Alex Valadez González Pedro Jesús Herrera Franco Gwenaelle Proust JUAN FRANCISCO KOH DZUL José Gonzalo Carrillo Baeza Emmanuel Alejandro Flores Johnson (2022, [Artículo])

Natural fiber-reinforced composite (NFRC) filaments for 3D printing were fabricated using polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with 1–5 wt% henequen flour comprising particles with sizes between 90–250 μm. The flour was obtained from natural henequen fibers. NFRCs and pristine PLA specimens were printed with a 0° raster angle for tension tests. The results showed that the NFRCs’ measured density, porosity, and degree of crystallinity increased with flour content. The tensile tests showed that the NFRC Young’s modulus was lower than that of the printed pristine PLA. For 1 wt% flour content, the NFRCs’ maximum stress and strain to failure were higher than those of the printed PLA, which was attributed to the henequen fibers acting as reinforcement and delaying crack growth. However, for 2 wt% and higher flour contents, the NFRCs’ maximum stress was lower than that of the printed PLA. Microscopic characterization after testing showed an increase in voids and defects, with the increase in flour content attributed to particle agglomeration. For 1 wt% flour content, the NFRCs were also printed with raster angles of ±45° and 90° for comparison; the highest tensile properties were obtained with a 0° raster angle. Finally, adding 3 wt% content of maleic anhydride to the NFRC with 1 wt% flour content slightly increased the maximum stress. The results presented herein warrant further research to fully understand the mechanical properties of printed NFRCs made of PLA reinforced with natural henequen fibers. © 2022 by the authors.

POLYLACTIC ACID (PLA) NATURAL FIBER HENEQUEN FIBER NATURAL FIBER REINFORCED COMPOSITE (NFRC) ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING 3D PRINTING MECHANICAL PROPERTY INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS TECNOLOGÍA DE MATERIALES PROPIEDADES DE LOS MATERIALES PROPIEDADES DE LOS MATERIALES

Thermal and mechanical properties of PLA-based multiscale cellulosic biocomposites

MIGUEL ANGEL RUZ CRUZ Pedro Jesús Herrera Franco Emmanuel Alejandro Flores Johnson MARIA VERONICA MORENO CHULIM LUCIANO MIGUEL GALERA MANZANO Alex Valadez González (2022, [Artículo])

In this work polylactic acid (PLA) based multiscale cellulosic biocomposites were prepared with the aim to evaluate the effect of the incorporation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) on the PLA biocomposites reinforced with cellulose microfibers (MFCs). For this, PLA composite materials reinforced with both MFCs and with a combination of MFCs and CNCs were prepared, while keeping the content of cellulosic reinforcements constant. The thermal and mechanical properties of these multiscale PLA biocomposites were characterized by thermogravimetry (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), flexural mechanical and, dynamic mechanical (DMA) tests. Likewise, they were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the replacement of MFCs by CNCs in the 1–5% range appreciably modifies the thermal and mechanical properties of multiscale compounds. For example, they increase the thermal stability of the materials, modify the PLA crystallization process and play the role of adhesion promoters since the mechanical properties in flexure increase in the order of 40% and the storage modulus increases in the order of 35% at room temperature. Also, the addition of CNCs increases the relaxation temperature of the material from 50 to 60 °C, thereby expanding the temperature range for its use. © 2022 The Author(s)

MULTISCALE BIOCOMPOSITES CELLULOSE MICROFIBER CELLULOSE NANOCRYSTALS HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE PROPERTIES INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS TECNOLOGÍA DE MATERIALES PROPIEDADES DE LOS MATERIALES PROPIEDADES DE LOS MATERIALES

First-principles calculations focused on the study of MXenes with potential applications in energy storage devices

First-principles calculations focused on the study of MXenes with potential applications in energy storage devices

Victor Hugo Medina Macias (2023, [Tesis de maestría])

First-principles studies of Ti/Ta-based ordered alloy MXenes have demonstrated their viability as anode material in Li-ion batteries due to their promising electrochemical properties. However, the influence of surface functional groups on the atomic-scale lithiation processes remains unknown. In this thesis, we employ first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the thermodynamic stability, structural characteristics, and electrochemical properties of O-, F-, Cl-, and OH-functionalized Ti2Ta2C3 ordered alloy MXenes during Li intercalation. Our calculations reveal surface functionalization with O, F, Cl, and OH is thermodynamically stable, indicating their viability as functional groups. Also, we identify the H3 high symmetry site as the most favorable configuration for Li intercalation. To evaluate electrochemical performance, electrochemical characterization is carried out employing open circuit voltage (OCV) curves. Our findings demonstrate changes in storage capacities depending on the functional group, with O-functionalized MXenes exhibiting larger storage capacities in contrast to other functional groups in Ti2Ta2C3 MXene anode materials. The theoretical single-layer gravimetric storage capacities for O-, F-, and Cl-functionalized Ti2Ta2C3 MXene anodes are 91.77, 52.38, and 24.21 mAh/g, respectively. OH-functionalized MXenes failed to show thermodynamic stability during lithiation and favored Li cluster formation over an intercalation process. These results show how functional groups affect the potential performance of Ti2Ta2C3 MXene materials in energy storage applications and provide insights for correctly selecting the functional group of the host material.

Mediante cálculos de primeros principios se ha demostrado la viabilidad del MXene formado por la aleación ordenada Ti/Ta como material anódico en baterias de iones de litio, esto debido a sus propiedades electroquímicas prometedoras. Sin embargo, la influencia de los grupos funcionales superficiales en el proceso atómico de litiación permanecen desconocidos. En esta tésis, empleamos cálculos de primeros principios basados en la Teoría del Functional de la Densidad (DFT) para investigar la estabilidad termodinámica, las características estructurales y las propiedades electroquímicas del MXene de aleación ordenada Ti2Ta2C3 funcionalizado con grupos O, F, Cl y OH, durante el proceso de intercalación de iones de litio. Nuestros cálculos demuestran la estabilidad termodinámica de la funcionalización superficial con grupos O, F, Cl y OH, indicando su viabilidad como grupos funcionales. Adicionalmente, identificamos el sitio de alta simetría H3 como la configuración más estable para la intercalación de Li. Para evaluar el rendimiento electroquímico, se realizó la caracterización electroquímica empleando curvas de voltage de circuito abierto (OCV). Nuestros hallazgos demuestran cambios en la capacidad de almacenamiento dependiendo del grupo funcional, siendo el MXene funcionalizado con oxígenos el que exhibe mayores capacidades de almacenamiento en contrastre con los otros grupos funcionales presentes en el MXene Ti2Ta2C3. Las capacidades gravimétricas de almacenamiento para los ánodos de Ti2Ta2C3 de una sola capa funcionalizados con O, F y Cl son 91.77, 52.38 y 24.21 mAh/g, respectivamente. Los MXenes funzionalizados con grupos OH no mostraron estabilidad termodinámica durante el proceso de litiación y favorecieron la formación de clusters de Li en su lugar. Estos resultados demuestran cómo los grupos funcionales cambian el rendimiento potencial de MXenes de Ti2Ta2C3 en aplicaciones de almacenamiento de energía y proporciona información para seleccionar correctamente el grupo funcional del material base.

MXene, MXene de aleación ordenada, Bateria de Li-ion, Material anódico MXene, ordered alloy MXene, Li-ion battery, Anode material INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS TECNOLOGÍA DE MATERIALES PROPIEDADES DE LOS MATERIALES PROPIEDADES DE LOS MATERIALES

Preparation and characterization of strongly sulfonated acid block and random copolymer membranes for acetic acid esterification with 2-Propanol

Verónica Rosiles González Ronan Le Lagadec ARELLY PAULINA VARGUEZ CATZIM María Isabel de los Dolores Loría Bastarrachea Abigail Gonzalez Diaz EMANUEL HERNANDEZ NUÑEZ Manuel de Jesús Aguilar Vega MARIA ORTENCIA GONZALEZ DIAZ (2022, [Artículo])

In this paper, we report the synthesis of block and random copolymers of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and methyl methacrylate (MMA), with different AMPS feed ratios. These solution-processable copolymers with strongly sulfonated acid groups resulted in membranes with tunable ion exchange (IEC) and water absorption capacities. AFM images confirmed the microphase separation of PAMPS-b-PMMA-1:1 block copolymer membrane, annealed under the appropriate conditions. The resulting copolymers from the random combination of a 1:1 molar ratio of AMPS and MMA monomers are effective at enhancing the esterification conversion of acetic acid, when compared with a reaction catalyzed by PAMPS-b-PMMA block copolymers and the previously studied catalytic membranes. With the PAMPS-co-PMMA-1:1 membrane, the esterification reaction using acetic acid achieved 85% isopropyl acetate. These results are closely correlated with the increase in IEC (2.63 mmol H+ g−1 ) and the relationship between weight loss (20.3%) and swelling degree (68%) in 2-propanol. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

BLOCK COPOLYMERS RANDOM COPOLYMERS CATALYTIC MEMBRANES ESTERIFICATION ISOPROPYL ACETATE INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS TECNOLOGÍA DE MATERIALES PROPIEDADES DE LOS MATERIALES PROPIEDADES DE LOS MATERIALES