Browsing by Author "Nesic, Aleksandra"

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    Biocomoposites of polylactic acid/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) blends loaded with quinoa husk agro-waste: thermal and mechanical properties
    (2022) Ponce, Giovanni; Rodriguez-Llamazares, Saddys; Rivera, Patricia Castano; Castano, Johanna; Oporto-Velasquez, Gloria; Sabando, Constanza; Ide, Walter; Nesic, Aleksandra; Cabrera-Barjas, Gustavo
    Quinoa husk (QH) is often discarded without being utilized. This study investigates an alternative route for this agro-waste resource as a raw material in the preparation of bioplastic composites. The effect of QH on the mechanical and thermal properties of thermoplastic poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) blends was evaluated. The composites were prepared by melting compounding. The content of quinoa husk in composite materials varied from 0-30 wt%. The results demonstrated that addition of quinoa husk in PLA/PBAT blend induced slight increase in crystalline phase of PLA, which was evidenced by FTIR and DSC analysis. However, it reduced the mechanical and thermal properties of materials. The 30 wt% load of quinoa husk in formulation led to decreased tensile strength (by 45.5%), elongation at break (by 85.8%), thermal stability (by 23.5%) and flexural strength (by 36%) of final biocomposite material, when compared to the control biopolymer blend. Although addition of quinoa husk in bioplastic material did not improve mechanical properties, load of 20 wt% QH in PLA/PBAT still provided satisfied tensile strength of 19 MPa and flexural strength of 27 MPa, showing that quinoa husk can add value to lignocellulosic by-product/agro waste, particularly decreasing the cost and increasing the sustainability of bioplastic materials for use in the agriculture industry.
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    Condensed tannins from Pinus radiata bark: Extraction and their nanoparticles preparation in water by green method
    (2024) Cabrera-Barjas, Gustavo; Butto-Miranda, Nicole; Nesic, Aleksandra; Moncada-Basualto, Mauricio; Segura, Rodrigo; Bravo-Arrepol, Gaston; Escobar-Avello, Danilo; Moeini, Arash; Riquelme, Sebastian; Neira-Carrillo, Andronico
    This work reports for the first time the production of condensed tannin nanoparticles stable in water via modification with glycine betaine. Pine bark, as a byproduct from the paper industry, was used as a source of condensed tannins of high molecular weight. Different glycine betaine concentrations were tested to produce condensed tannin nanoparticles, and the obtained nanoparticles were subjected to several characterization techniques (Dynamic Light Scattering, Field emission scanning electron microscopy, Zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-Attenuated total reflectance, thermogravimetric analysis). The results showed that the highest stability possessed nanoparticles with 40 wt% glycine betaine. The average particle size distribution evaluated by scanning microscopy was 124 nm. Besides, the glycine betaine-modified condensed tannin nanoparticles demonstrated higher thermal stability with the starting degradation temperature at 238 degrees C. Finally, obtained nanoparticles showed an antioxidant capacity of 34,209 +/- 2194 mu mol ET/100 g and low cytotoxicity towards healthy human cells, representing the high potential to be used as a carrier of active compounds in agriculture, food, drug and medical sector.
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    Influence of chitin nanofibers and gallic acid on physical-chemical and biological performances of chitosan-based films
    (2024) Cabrera-Barjas, Gustavo; Albornoz, Karin; Belchi, Maria Dolores Lopez; Giordano, Ady; Bravo-Arrepol, Gaston; Moya-Elizondo, Ernesto; San Martin, Juan; Valdes, Oscar; Nesic, Aleksandra
    In this work, chitosan films loaded with gallic acid and different content of chitin nanofibers were prepared and subjected to different characterization techniques. The results showed that the inclusion of gallic acid to chitosan films caused moderate decrease in water vapor permeability (by 29 %) and increased tensile strength of films (by 169 %) in comparison to the neat chitosan films. Furthermore, it was found that the addition of chitin nanofibers up to 30 % into chitosan/gallic acid films additionally improved tensile strength (by 474 %) and reduced plasticity of films (by 171 %), when compared to the chitosan/gallic acid films. Increased concentration of chitin nanofibers in films reduced the overall water vapor permeability of films by 51 %. In addition, gallic acid and chitin nanofibers had synergic effect on high chitosan film's antioxidant and antifungal activity toward Botrytis cinerea (both above 95 %). Finally, chitosan/gallic acid/chitin nanofibers films reduced decay incidence of strawberries, increased total soluble solid content, and promoted high production of some polyphenols during cold storage, in comparison to the control chitosan films and uncoated strawberry samples. Hence, these results suggest that chitosan/gallic acid/chitin nanofibers can present eco-sustainable approach for preservation of strawberries, giving them additional nutritional value.
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    Polyphenolic Composition and Antioxidant Activity (ORAC, EPR and Cellular) of Different Extracts of Argylia radiata Vitroplants and Natural Roots
    (2022) Giordano, Ady; Morales-Tapia, Pablo; Moncada-Basualto, Mauricio; Pozo-Martinez, Josue; Olea-Azar, Claudio; Nesic, Aleksandra; Cabrera-Barjas, Gustavo
    Plant biochemistry studies have increased in recent years due to their potential to improve human health. Argylia radiata is an extremophile plant with an interesting polyphenolic profile. However, its biomass is scarce and occasionally available. Argylia in vitro biomass was obtained from tissue culture and compared with in vivo roots regarding its polyphenolic and flavonoid content. Different solvents were used to prepare extracts from the in vitro tissue of callus and aerial plant organs and in vivo roots. UPLC-MS/MS was used to assess the chemical composition of each extract. ORAC-FL and scavenging of free radicals (DPPH and OH) methods were used to determine the antioxidant capacity of extracts. Furthermore, the biological activity of the extracts was established using the cellular antioxidant activity method. The vitroplants were a good source of polyphenols (25-68 mg GAE/100 g tissue FW), and methanol was the most efficient solvent. Eight polyphenolic compounds were identified, and their antioxidant properties were investigated by different chemical methods with EPR demonstrating its specific scavenging activity against free radicals. All extracts showed cellular dose-dependent antioxidant activity. The methanolic extract of vitroplants showed the highest cellular antioxidant activity (44.6% and 51%) at 1 and 10 mu g/mL of extract, respectively. Vitroplants of A. radiata are proposed as a biotechnological product as a source of antioxidant compounds with multiple applications.
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    Sulfated Polysaccharide Extracted from the Green Algae Codium bernabei: Physicochemical Characterization and Antioxidant, Anticoagulant and Antitumor Activity
    (2022) Figueroa, Fabian A.; Abdala-Diaz, Roberto T.; Perez, Claudia; Casas-Arrojo, Virginia; Nesic, Aleksandra; Tapia, Cecilia; Duran, Carla; Valdes, Oscar; Parra, Carolina; Bravo-Arrepol, Gaston; Soto, Luis; Becerra, Jose; Cabrera-Barjas, Gustavo
    Codium bernabei is a green alga that grows on Chilean coasts. The composition of its structural polysaccharides is still unknown. Hence, the aim of this work is to isolate and characterize the hot water extracted polysaccharide fractions. For this purpose, the water extracts were further precipitated in alcohol (TPs) and acid media (APs), respectively. Both fractions were characterized using different physicochemical techniques such as GC-MS, GPC, FTIR, TGA, and SEM. It is confirmed that the extracted fractions are mainly made of sulfated galactan unit, with a degree of sulfation of 19.3% (TPs) and 17.4% (ATs) and a protein content of 3.5% in APs and 15.6% in TPs. Other neutral sugars such as xylose, glucose, galactose, fucose, mannose, and arabinose were found in a molar ratio (0.05:0.6:1.0:0.02:0.14:0.11) for TPs and (0.05:0.31:1.0:0.03:0.1:0.13) for ATs. The molecular weight of the polysaccharide samples was lower than 20 kDa. Both polysaccharides were thermally stable (Tonset > 190 degrees C) and showed antioxidant activity according to the ABTS(center dot+) and DPPH tests, where TPs fractions had higher scavenging activity (35%) compared to the APs fractions. The PT and APTTS assays were used to measure the anticoagulant activity of the polysaccharide fractions. In general, the PT activity of the TPs and APs was not different from normal plasma values. The exception was the TPs treatment at 1000 mu g mL(-1) concentration. The APTTS test revealed that clotting time for both polysaccharides was prolonged regarding normal values at 1000 mu g mL(-1). Finally, the antitumor test in colorectal carcinoma (HTC-116) cell line, breast cancer (MCF-7) and human leukemia (HL-60) cell lines showed the cytotoxic effect of TPs and APs. Those results suggest the potential biotechnological application of sulfate galactan polysaccharides isolated from a Chilean marine resource.