Nanocomposite coatings of TiN/a-C were prepared on tool steel substrates using a multitarget reactive DC magnetron sputtering process at various TiN layer thicknesses (0.6–2.8 nm). The a-C layer thickness was approximately 0.45 nm. Structural characterisation of the coatings was done by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Incorporation of an a-C phase in TiN matrix reduced crystallite size of the coatings...

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of extraction methods on antioxidant capacities of red dragon fruit peel and flesh. Antioxidant capacities were measured using ethylenebenzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical cation assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP). Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent while quantitative determin...

It is reported that salvianolic acid B, a bioactive phenolic compound contained in the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza, exhibits a much stronger activity in free radical scavenging and antioxidance than those of vitamin E. When a conventional refluxing method is adopted to extract salvianolic acid B from the root, in which the materials are subjected to higher temperature and longer time, the yield...

A case study of Polish Melilotus officinalis honey was presented for the first time. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) (after steam distillation, Soxhlet extraction, ultrasonic solvent extraction, and solid phase extraction (SPE)) and targeted high performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector (HPLC-PAD) were applied to determine the characteristic components of ...

Tapioca starch, poly(lactic acid), and Cloisite NA+ nanocomposite foams, with four clay contents (1, 3, 5, 7, wt %), were prepared by melt-intercalation method. Selected structural, thermal, physical, and mechanical properties were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and an Instron universal testing machine, respectively....

Layered hydroxide nanoparticles are generally biocompatible, and less toxic than most inorganic nanoparticles, making them an acceptable alternative drug delivery system. Due to growing concern over animal welfare and the expense of in vivo experiments both the public and the government are interested to find alternatives to animal testing. The toxicity potential of zinc aluminum layered hydrox...

The P123/ACP nanocomposite with sizes less than 100 nm consisting of triblock copolymer P123 and amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) has been prepared by using an aqueous solution containing CaCl2, (NH4)3PO4, and P123 at room temperature. The P123/ACP nanocomposite is used as the nanocarrier for hydrophobic drug ibuprofen, based on the combined advantages of both amphiphilic block copolymer and c...

In this report, a novel chemical synthesis of polyaniline/gold nanocomposite is explored using ionic liquid (IL) 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate. The direct chemical synthesis of polyaniline/gold nanocomposite was initiated via the spontaneous oxidation of aniline by AuCl(4) (-) in IL. A nearly uniform dispersion of polyaniline/Au particles with a diameter of 450 ± 80 nm was pro...

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles synthesized via microwave irradiation. Polypyrrole (PPy)/HAp nanocomposite was obtained using electropolymerization on nitinol (Ni) titanium (Ti) substrates. Fourier transform infrared was employed to characterize the nanocomposite formation. Electrochemical properties of the nanocomposite were investigated using polarization and electrochemical impedance spec...