Benício de Barros Neto

Nanoencapsulation of quercetin and resveratrol into elastic liposomes.

Based on the fact that quercetin (QUE) and resveratrol (RES) induce a synergic inhibition of the adipogenesis and increase apoptosis in adipocytes, and that sodium deoxycholate (SDC) has necrotic effects, the nanoencapsulation of QUE and RES into SDC-elastic liposomes is proposed as a new approach for dissolving the subcutaneous fat. The concentration of constituents and the effect of the drug incorporation into cyclodextrin inclusion complexes on the stability of QUE/RES-loaded liposomes were studied. The best liposomal formulation reduced the use of phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol in 17.7% and 68.4%, respectively. Liposomes presented a mean diameter of 149nm with a polydispersion index of 0.3. The zeta potential of liposomes was slightly negative (-13.3mV) due to the presence of SDC in the phospholipid bilayer. Encapsulation efficiency of QUE and RES into liposomes was almost 97%. To summarize, QUE/RES-loaded elastic liposomes are stable and suitable for subcutaneous injection, thereby providing a new strategy for reducing subcutaneous fat.

Chitosan effect on dental enamel de-remineralization: An in vitro evaluation

OBJECTIVES The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro effect of chitosan (concentration and time of action) treatment on enamel de-remineralization behavior upon a pH cycling assay. METHODS Different group of human tooth samples were exposed to de-remineralizing solutions of controlled pH using a random experimental design. Microhardness and phosphorus chemical analysis were employed to evaluate the loss of phosphorus from the samples. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images were obtained for selected specimens in order to evaluate the degree of penetration of chitosan into enamel. RESULTS Vickers microhardness results were higher for samples treated with chitosan for concentration between 2.5mg/mL and 5.0mg/mL and time of action between 60s and 90 s. A maximum inhibition of mineral loss of 81% was obtained. Chemical analysis indicated lower net pohosphorus loss (net P loss) for samples treated with chitosan. Best results were obtained in the same conditions found out with microhardness measurements. Chitosan had little effect on the remineralization process. OCT results indicated a correlation of chitosan penetration with chitosan concentration. For chitosan concentrations of 2.5 g/mL and 5.0 g/mL the penetration was up to the dentin-enamel junction. CONCLUSIONS Chitosan interferes with the process of demineralization of the tooth enamel inhibiting the release of phosphorus in this laboratory study. Demineralization is influenced by the concentration and exposure time of the biopolymer to the enamel. Microhardness measurements may be used as an indication of mineral loss from tooth enamel. Additionally, OCT images support the idea that chitosan may act as a barrier against acid penetration, contributing to its demineralization inhibition.

Phenanthrene and pyrene oxidation in contaminated soils using Fenton's reagent.

Fentons reagent has shown its applicability to oxidizing these biorefractory organic contaminants. The purpose of this contribution was to investigate the influence of operating parameters on the process efficiency for soil highly contaminated by PAHs. Five variables were selected: pH, reaction time, UV irradiation, hydrogen peroxide concentration and Fe (II) amendment. Their effects on the oxidation of (i) phenanthrene and on (ii) phenanthrene and pyrene present in freshly contaminated soil samples were studied through batch reactor experiments following factorial designs. For phenanthrene oxidation run with a soil contaminated at 700 mg kg(-1), one set of variables enabled us to reach a residual concentration lower than 40 mg kg(-1) (Dutch legislation threshold). The most important factor was the reaction time, followed at a certain distance by UV irradiation, Fe (II), H(2)O(2) concentration and pH, this last variable being the least significant. The possibility of operating without pH adjustment is of importance in the treatment at the field scale. This shows the feasibility of photo-Fenton-like oxidation for the treatment of soil highly contaminated with PAH and the relative importance of the process variables.

Free-grown polypyrrole thin films as aroma sensors

We describe the use of free-grown thin polypyrrole films as fast response sensors of volatile compounds. Using a variety of dopants, the polymeric films were prepared directly on conducting glass substrates. Ultraviolet-visible and near infrared regions absorbance measurements were used to investigate the deposition process and the doping level of the films. We identify the polymerization time as the fundamental parameter for determining the characteristics of the sensor, since it affects not only the final level of doping but also the kinetics of adsorption and the homogeneity of the films. Electrical measurements confirmed the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensors to the presence of vapors of volatile organic solvents. A fast response time was observed in all cases, although the intensity of the corresponding signal was in general larger for the polar than for the nonpolar compounds. The sensitiveness of the sensors towards simple organic solvents is analyzed as well as their reproducibility and the aging effect upon the specific responses.

Growth of Cunninghamella elegans UCP 542 and production of chitin and chitosan using yam bean medium

Microbiological processes were used for chitin and chitosan productions by Cunninghamella elegans (UCP 542) grown in a new economic culture medium. The assay was carried out to evaluate the growth of C. elegans using yam bean ( Pachyrhizus erosus L. Urban) medium, in different times of growth (24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs), incubated at 28oC in an orbital shaker at 150 rpm. The lyophilized biomass was determined by gravimetry. The polysaccharides were extracted by alkali-acid treatment, and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, titration and viscosity. C. elegans grown in the yam bean medium and produced higher yields of biomass (24.3 g/ mL) in 96 hrs. The high level was chitosan (66 mg/g), and chitin (440 mg/g) were produced at 48 and 72 hrs of growth, respectively. The polysaccharides showed degree of deacetilation and viscosimetric molecular weight as: 6.2% and 3.25 x10 4 g/mol for chitin, and 85% and 2.72 x 10 4 g/mol for chitosan, respectively. The results obtained suggest high biotechnological potential of yam bean as an economic source to produce chitin and chitosan by C. elegans . In addition, the new medium using yam bean for production of the chitin and chitosan may be used for many purposes to reduce the cost price of fermentation processes.

Polypyrrole based aroma sensor

The change in conductivity of conducting polymers when exposed to volatile gases can be exploited for the construction of aroma sensors. In this communication we report the preliminary tests of two versions of an aroma sensor based on arrays of doped polypyrrole films. We have used these prototypes for the identification of simple organic vapors and complex aromas. The input signal was the fractional change in the resistance of the films and the data acquisition was performed automatically. The pattern recognition process was implemented by a multivariate analysis and by neural network processing. The discriminating power among different odorants was better than 90%.

25 anos de quimiometria no Brasil

Chemometric activities in Brazil are described according to three phases: before the existence of microcomputers in the 1970s, through the initial stages of microcomputer use in the 1980s and during the years of extensive microcomputer applications of the ´90s and into this century. Pioneering activities in both the university and industry are emphasized. Active research areas in chemometrics are cited including experimental design, pattern recognition and classification, curve resolution for complex systems and multivariate calibration. New trends in chemometrics, especially higher order methods for treating data, are emphasized.

Potassium permanganate oxidation of phenanthrene and pyrene in contaminated soils.

Potassium permanganate, widely used in water treatment, has shown its applicability to reduce PAH contamination in groundwater and soils. The first stage to design a treatment at the site scale is the feasibility study at the bench scale, generally performed by means of batch experiments. The aim of the present contribution was to investigate the influence of two factors on PAH degradation in spiked soils, following the method of factorial designs. These factors were the weight ratio KMnO(4)/PAH and the reaction time. Three factorial designs were performed and batch experiments were run to study the degradation of phenanthrene and pyrene on soils spiked at different concentrations, between 700 and 2100 mg kg(-1). We showed that treatment with potassium permanganate significantly reduced PAH concentration, but pyrene was more recalcitrant than phenanthrene. Both variables had negative main effects and a positive two-factor interaction effect: increasing the weight ratio or the reaction time enhanced PAH degradation but the reduction produced by the two factors was lower than the sum of the individual contributions. The comparison of these results with results that we published previously under comparable conditions showed that Fentons reagent was more efficient than potassium permanganate.

A comparative study of pulsed current formation for positive plates of automotive lead acid batteries

Abstract Positive plate formation with pulsed current is investigated under a wide range of pulse characteristics and compared with continuous current formation. The results indicate that pulsed current formation has a higher faradaic efficiency for conversion into lead dioxide than formation with continuous current. On the other hand, with pulsed current, there is always some residual tetrabasic lead sulfate, not observed on plates formed with continuous current. Pulsed current formation yields higher β-PbO 2 /α-PbO 2 ratio than continuous current formation, and is more efficient at longer times of formation.

Arsenic determination in naphtha by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after preconcentration using multiple injections

Naphtha is a petroleum fraction containing C4–C15 hydrocarbon compounds and is used as feedstock for petrochemical processes which are affected profoundly by trace amounts of arsenic. A simple method for arsenic determination in naphtha using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with polarized Zeeman-effect background correction was developed. Multiple injections were used for direct preconcentration in the graphite tube, eliminating sample pretreatment. Doehlert experimental designs were used to find the best settings for the furnace program parameters. Modifier concentration, number of multiple injections and sample volume were also optimized with the same multivariate approach. With three 45 µL sample injections, ashing temperature 1200 °C, atomization temperature 2700 °C and ashing time 60 s, a detection limit of 0.5 µg L−1 and a characteristic mass of 61 pg were achieved, using 3000 mg L−1 Pd(NO3)2 as the chemical modifier. The relative signal standard deviation was found to be 9.0% at the 2.3 µg.L−1 level. Results from several naphtha test samples showed arsenic levels typically below 3.0 µg L−1. The high degree of automation of the proposed method minimized technician sample handling allowing its application for routine analysis. This procedure has been used for arsenic determination in naphtha feeds processed in the Braskem Petrochemical (Salvador, Bahia, Brazil).