Unlocking the Real Potential of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae Protein Derivatives in Pet Diets

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL)-derived proteins are gaining popularity as sustainable pet food ingredients. According to the literature, these ingredients have strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Due to the ability of BSFL protein derivatives to donate hydrogen atoms and/or electrons to counterpoise unstable molecules, they could possibly help in the prevention of osteoarthritis. During this study, the antiarthritic potential of BSFL protein derivatives was evaluated using the following assays: (1) proteinase inhibition, (2) erythrocyte membrane stability, (3) reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by activated macrophages, (4) ROS production by monocytes, and (5) cellular toxicity. Additionally, the glucosamine content of these ingredients was also evaluated. Chicken meal is commonly used in pet food formulations and was used as an industrial benchmark. The results obtained during this study demonstrated the strong antiarthritic potential of BSFL protein derivatives. We found that BSFL protein derivatives are not only useful in preventing the development of arthritis but could also help to cure it due to the presence of glucosamine. We also found that chicken meal could contribute to the development of arthritis by increasing ROS production by monocytes.     

Signal amplification based on the local nonlinear Mach–Zehnder interferometer

Using the phase modulation of spatial solitons, a new scheme for all-optical signal amplification has been proposed in this paper. The considered structure is composed of the nonlinear Mach–Zehnder interferometer (NMZI) with the straight control waveguide (CWG), the uniform nonlinear medium (NLM) and the linear output waveguide. The local NMZI functions like a phase shifter. The light-induced index changes in the local nonlinear MZI are responsible for the input beam routing in the uniform nonlinear medium. The coupling of the input beam to the output waveguide depends on its propagation direction in the NLM. It is shown that the signal launched at CWG can deflect the beam launched at the NMZI (input beam) and a modulated (amplified) output could be obtained at the output waveguide. Further, signal pulse may be reshaped by appropriately increasing the NLM length. In addition, amplification factor may be enhanced by increasing the NLM length and injecting an appropriate continuous wave beam along with the signal beam at CWG.     

Gravimetric determination of tungsten(vi) with n-benzoyl-n-phenylhydroxylamine

Tungsten can be quantitatively precipitated with N-benzoylphenyl-N-hydroxylamine in presence of hydrochloric acid (0.5–1 N). The precipitate can be weighted as WO₂(C₁₃H₁₀O₂N)₂ or WO₃. Molybdenum, vanadium, titanium, and iron can be separated by prior precipitation of these mutais with the above reagent in presence of tartrate ions; tungsten is then determined in tlie filtrate. L'ranium does not interfere, but chromium (VI), fluoride and phosphate do.     

Modulation of metal-azolate frameworks for the tunable release of encapsulated glycosaminoglycans

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are biomacromolecules necessary for the regulation of different biological functions. In medicine, GAGs are important commercial therapeutics widely used for the treatment of thrombosis, inflammation, osteoarthritis and wound healing. However, protocols for the encapsulation of GAGs in MOFs carriers are not yet available. Here, we successfully encapsulated GAG-based clinical drugs (heparin, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate) and two new biotherapeutics in preclinical stage (GM-1111 and HepSYL proteoglycan) in three different pH-responsive metal-azolate frameworks (ZIF-8, ZIF-90, and MAF-7). The resultant GAG@MOF biocomposites present significant differences in terms of crystallinity, particle size, and spatial distribution of the cargo, which influences the drug-release kinetics upon applying an acidic stimulus. For a selected system, heparin@MOF, the released therapeutic retained its antithrombotic activity while the MOF shell effectively protects the drug from heparin lyase. By using different MOF shells, the present approach enables the preparation of GAG-based biocomposites with tunable properties such as encapsulation efficiency, protection and release.

Clinical and pre-clinical GAG-based biotherapeutics were encapsulated within three metal-azolate frameworks (ZIF-8, ZIF-90, and MAF-7). The resulting MOF biocomposites show different loading capacity, biopreservation properties and release profiles.     

Gravimetric determination of beryllium with n-benzoylphenylhydroxylamine

N-Benzoylphenylhydroxylamine has been employed in the gravimetric determination of beryllium and in its separation from iron, aluminium and titanium. After suitable adjustment of pH iron, aluminium or titanium is precipitated quantitatively with the reagent; beryllium is subsequently precipitated after raising the pH of the filtrate. The metal may be determined by either igniting the precipitate to beryllium oxide or weighing it as Be(C₁₃H₁₀O₂N)₂.     

Gravimetric and spectrophotometric determination of mercury with n-benzoyl-n-phenylhydroxylamine

N-Benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine (BPHA) is suggested for the gravimetric determination of mercury(II) at pH 3.0–6.0; the precipitate, Hg(C₁₃H₁₀O₂N)₂, is dried at 105° and weighed. Separation from NH₄⁺, Pb, Bi, Sb, As, Cd, Sn, etc. is possible, but chloride, cyanide and (EDTA) interfere. Mercury(II) can also be extracted with a BPHA solution in chloroform: the extracted mercury complex is yellow and shows an absorbance maximum at 340 mμ. The optimum concentration range for determination is 15–52 μg Hg/ml, the molar extinction coefficient is 2693 ±10 and the sensitivity is 0.075 μg/cm². Interferences are similar to those found in the gravimetric method.     

Crystal structure of 14, α-hydroxy,sandarocopimar-7, 15-diene-19-oic acid

C₂₀H₃₀O₃, M _r =318.46, Monoclinic,P2₁,a=12.232(2) ,b=11.491(2) ,c=14.160(3) , =115.2°(3),V=1800.3(7) ³,Z=4,D _x =1.18 Mg m^–3, (CuK)=1.5418 , =5.3 cm^–1,F(000)=696,T=298 K. FinalR=0.044 for 2645 reflections withI>2. The two crystallographically independent molecules in the unit cell adopt essentially similar conformations. The structure reveals atrans relationship between the hydrogen at C(9) and the methyl group at C(20). The stereochemistry at C(13) is S. Apart from van der Waals forces the structure is stabilized by hydrogen bonds.     

Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots Functionalized by Poly L-Lysine: Efficient Material for Antibacterial,Bioimaging and Antiangiogenesis Applications

Journal of Fluorescence - This study illustrates the synthesis of functionalized carbon quantum dots (CQDs) by the one-pot pyrolysis method. The functionalization agent used in CQD synthesis was...