58 documents found, page 1 of 6
An integrated green process for the extraction of triterpenic acids fromEucalyp...
Oliveira, Cátia S. D.; Moreira, Patrícia; Cruz, Maria T.; Pereira, Cláudia M. F.; Gaspar, Alexandre; Neto, Carlos Pascoal; Pinto, Paula C. R. O.In this study the viability of the integrated exploitation of E. globulus leaf essential oil and triterpenic acids was evaluated through the development of a novel extraction process that can be implemented sequentially in a biorefinery context. Thus, essential oil (EO) collected by hydrodistillation was used for the first time as a bio-based solvent to recover triterpenic acids (TTAs) from the residue resultin...
Improving the processability and performance of micronized fiber-reinforced gre...
Valente, Bruno F. A.; Silvestre, Armando J. D.; Neto, Carlos Pascoal; Vilela, Carla; Freire, Carmen S. R.Green composites made of bioplastics reinforced with natural fibers have gained considerable attention over recent years. However, the use of natural fibers in composites usually compromise some key properties, such as the impact strength and the processability of the final materials. In the present study, two distinct additives, namely an epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) and a sugar-based surfactant, viz. GlucoPur...
In situ synthesis of bacterial cellulose/polycaprolactone blends for hot pressi...
Figueiredo, Ana R. P.; Silvestre, Armando J. D.; Neto, Carlos Pascoal; Freire, Carmen S. R.A series of bacterial cellulose (BC)/polycaprolactone (PCL) nanocomposite films were successfully prepared by supplementation of the BC culture medium with variable amounts of PCL powder followed by hot-pressing of the BC/PCL mixtures obtained after incubation. PCL powder was fully incorporated into the BC network during its production and did not change the BC network morphology. The obtained films showed a ho...
Protein-based materials: from sources to innovative sustainable materials for b...
Silva, Nuno H. C. S.; Vilela, Carla; Marrucho, Isabel M.; Freire, Carmen S. R.; Neto, Carlos Pascoal; Silvestre, Armando J. D.Proteins display an essential role in numerous natural systems due to their structural and biological properties. Given their unique properties, proteins have been thoroughly investigated in the last few decades, offering a myriad of solutions for the development of innovative biomaterials, including films, foams, composites and gels, in particular for biomedical applications such as drug delivery systems, bios...
Topical caffeine delivery using biocellulose membranes: a potential innovative ...
Silva, Nuno H. C. S.; Drumond, Ines; Almeida, Isabel F.; Costa, Paulo; Rosado, Catarina F.; Neto, Carlos Pascoal; Freire, Carmen S. R.In this study, biocellulose (BC) membranes have been investigated as caffeine topical delivery systems, for the potential treatment of cellulite. BC-caffeine membranes were prepared by a simple approach and the permeation of caffeine through human epidermis, from BC or from conventional formulation systems (solution and gel), was compared in vitro to assess their therapeutic applicability. Diffusion studies wit...
Unveiling the Chemistry behind the Green Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles
Santos, Sonia A. O.; Pinto, Ricardo J. B.; Rocha, Silvia M.; Marques, Paula A. A. P.; Neto, Carlos Pascoal; Silvestre, Armando J. D.Nanobiotechnology has emerged as a fundamental domain in modern science, and metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are one of the largest classes of NPs studied because of their wide spectrum of possible applications in several fields. The use of plant extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents in their synthesis is an interesting and reliable alternative to conventional methodologies. However, the role of the differen...
Screening of lipophilic and phenolic extractives from different morphological p...
Vilela, Carla; Santos, Sonia A. O.; Coelho, Dora; Silva, Artur M. S.; Freire, Carmen S. R.; Neto, Carlos Pascoal; Silvestre, Armando J. D.The chemical composition of the lipophilic and phenolic extractives of the leaves, stems and roots of the salt marsh plant Halimione portulacoides from the Aveiro Lagoon was thoroughly investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), respectively. The lipophilic fraction of leaves and stems is mainly composed of long chai...
Valorization of olive mill residues: antioxidant and breast cancer antiprolifer...
Ramos, Patrícia; Santos, Sónia; Guerra, Ângela; Guerreiro, Olinda; Felício, Laura; Jerónimo, Eliana; Silvestre, Armando; Neto, Carlos PascoalPhenolic composition, antioxidant and breast cancer antiproliferative activities of water and methanol/water derived extracts from olive pomace (OP) and dry olive mill residue (DOR), from Portuguese industries, were studied. DOR water (DORW) extracts showed the highest extraction yield; as well as the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and hydroxytyrosol (HT) (∼25 mg/g extract). HPLC–ESI-MS analysis identifie...
Novel cellulose-based composites based on nanofibrillated plant and bacterial c...
Freire, Carmen S. R.; Fernandes, Susana C. M.; Silvestre, Armando J. D.; Neto, Carlos PascoalThe development of (nano)materials based on the renewable cellulose is a challenge. The present article provides a brief overview of the recent research efforts carried out at the CICECO Laboratory of the University of Aveiro on the development of novel composites based on nanofibrillated plant and bacterial cellulose embedded in natural and synthetic polymeric matrices such as poly(lactic acid), chitosan, star...
Antifungal activity of transparent nanocomposite thin films of pullulan and sil...
Pinto, Ricardo J. B.; Almeida, Adelaide; Fernandes, Susana C. M.; Freire, Carmen S. R.; Silvestre, Armando J. D.; Neto, Carlos Pascoal; Trindade, TitoSilver has been mainly investigated as an antibacterial agent and less as a fungicide in which concerns antimicrobial properties. In this research, the antifungal activity of composite films of pullulan and Ag nanoparticles (NP) against Aspergillus niger was evaluated using standard protocols. These new materials were prepared as transparent cast films (66-74 μm thickness) from Ag hydrosols containing the polys...