Backgrounds and Objectives : Ganoderic acids are the most valuable secondary metabolites in Ganod... more Backgrounds and Objectives : Ganoderic acids are the most valuable secondary metabolites in Ganoderma lucidum traditional medicinal mushrooms, which have shown antitumor properties in many studies. However, application of ganoderic acids is limited due to low yield production. Recently, it was shown that static liquid culture could be a proven technology for producing ganoderic acids in Ganoderma lucidum , and that applying elicitors could be a potential strategy to improve their production. Materials and Methods: In this work, the effect of rifampin, a cyto-chromes P450 inducer, on production of ganoderic acids was studied, and Response Surface Methodology was applied to optimize the elicitor induction. Then total ganoderic acid in the harvested mycelia was extracted and its absorbency was measured. Results and C onclusion: The results showed an increase in the concen-tration of ganoderic acid in all samples. Moreover, optimum concentration and induction time of rifampin were obtai...
Background and Objective: Ganoderma lucidum is one of the medicinal fungi frequently used as supp... more Background and Objective: Ganoderma lucidum is one of the medicinal fungi frequently used as supplement. The intracellular polysaccharides of this fungus include high molecular weights and help strengthen the immune system. Furthermore, these polysaccharides act as antioxidants by inhibiting free radicals and enhancing activity of the enzymes. Addition of various elicitors to the fungi submerged culture media affects the cell growth and metabolite production. Fungal extracts are one of these elicitors. Material and Methods: In this study, Ganoderma lucidum was first cultured in various culture media to investigate the base media. Using three various methods (soaking the fruit body in water, disintegrating the fruit body with a blender and boiling the fruit body), Agaricus bisporus fruit body extract was prepared as elicitor and the extract with the highest sugar content was used. For the optimization of growth and antioxidant activity of the intracellular polysaccharides, effects of...
International journal of Advanced Biological and Biomedical Research, 2021
Background: Demand for degradable and biocompatible polymers is rapidly increasing, especially in... more Background: Demand for degradable and biocompatible polymers is rapidly increasing, especially in the food packaging sector where it is highly encouraged by environmental management policies.Methods: This study aimed to prepare zein/Montmorillonite (MMT) and zein/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite films by a high power ultrasonic probe method for use as a food coating. The film was produced through solvent casting method. In all the films, glycerol and Polyethylene glycol were used to improve the fragility properties. The biodegradability, color characteristics and surface roughness of the films were evaluated.Results: Based on the results of the statistical analysis, the clay dispersion method a, Montmorillonite (MMT) and poly (vinyl alcohol) content significantly affected the mechanical and properties of the composite films. The results showed that mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were improved in the presence of small amounts (up to 3%) of MMT, while increased montmorilloni...
Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus is the fifth leading cause of death in the world. Dam... more Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus is the fifth leading cause of death in the world. Damaging effects of diabetes include advanced metabolic complications and various organ lesions. More than 90% of diabetic cases belong to type 2 diabetes. For decades, medicinal fungi such as Trametes versicolor have been considered as treatments for diabetes. The fungi exopolysaccharides show α-glucosidase activity in the intestinal membrane. Material and Methods: In this study, Iranian Trametes versicolor was cultured in various media based on soy milk, cow milk and soy protein extraction. After selecting appropriate culture media for biomass and exopolysaccharide production, response surface method with Box-Behnken design was used to investigate effects of independent variables of glucose (g l-1), soy milk (v v-1) and pH on biomass and exopolysaccharide production and optimization of these products. An animal (rat) model of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was used to investigate ef...
The pollution of water environments is a challenging issue especially in developing countries. Co... more The pollution of water environments is a challenging issue especially in developing countries. Contamination of drinking water with heavy metals has been reported in many parts of the world. Arsenic, chromium and lead are dangerous heavy metals and also common contaminants of drinking water. In this study, the capacity and performance of the surfactant-modified Sabzevar natural nanozeolite (SMSNZ) on the removal of heavy metals from an aqueous solution was investigated. Initially, the appropriate concentration of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide HDTMA-Br solution for modification was investigated; it was found that it must be higher than the critical concentration micelle (CMC). Then, the removal of As (V), Cr (VI), and Pb(II) from an aqueous solution was studied using SMSNZ. The results indicated that the removal efficiency was very high in different initial concentrations of heavy metals. The Linear, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were used to investigate the adsorption...
Nanofiber dressings, a group of bioactive wound dressings, have received a great deal of attentio... more Nanofiber dressings, a group of bioactive wound dressings, have received a great deal of attention due to their unique properties, such as surface-to-volume ratio, three-dimensional structure, and porosity. These wound dressings accelerate wound healing by maintaining moisture at the injury site, preventing infection, and increasing oxygen delivery. Due to its high compatibility, biodegradability, and bioactivity, chitosan is a widely used compound in wound dressings. According to studies, one of the best sources for chitosan is its extraction and production from medicinal fungi. Mycelium of the fungus Trametes versicolor is used to produce chitosan. In this study, nanofibers containing T. versicolor chitosan and PVA were prepared by electrospinning, and their wound healing properties were investigated. The manufacturing conditions for nanofibers were optimized, and their properties were investigated using various analytical techniques, including SEM, FTIR, and tensile mechanical testing. Nanofibers’ biological properties (antibacterial and cytotoxicity) and their effects on wound healing were investigated. T. versicolor chitosan/PVA nanofibers with a ratio of 25:75, a feed rate of 0.6 mL/min, and a voltage of 20 kV were prepared. SEM images showed that the nanofibers were 276 nm in diameter; the nanofibers were uniform and had no beads. Bacterial growth inhibition for T. versicolor chitosan/PVA nanofibers was 57.5 % and 93 % against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. Animal experiments evaluating the efficacy of nanofibers revealed that T. versicolor chitosan/PVA nanofibers had wound healing rate of 95 %. T. versicolor chitosan/PVA nanofibers allow fibroblast cells to adhere and grow by facilitating the exchange of moisture and oxygen and accelerating the wound healing process. T. versicolor chitosan/PVA nanofibers have good potential for use as wound dressings.
Background: One of the medicinal fungi that has been used in traditional medicine for a long time... more Background: One of the medicinal fungi that has been used in traditional medicine for a long time is the Basidiomycete fungus Fomes fomentarius, which is widely distributed in Iran. Polysaccharides as one of the metabolites of this fungus have anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties. Materials & Methods: Optimization of independent variables of MgSO4.7H2O concentration, initial pH, yeast extract, and inoculum percentage to increase biomass and polysaccharide production of F. fomentarius was investigated using the Taguchi method. Then, the biological properties of the produced polysaccharide including antibacterial activity was investigated by bacterial colony counting method, antioxidant activity using DPPH free radical, and antiproliferative effect on 5 cancer cell lines MKN-45, AGS, A549, KYSE-30 and 5637 using MTS test. Results: The concentration of MgSO4.7H2O and initial pH had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the production of F. fomentarius polysaccharide and in optimal conditions polysaccharide production reaches 5.410 g/L. The polysaccharide of this fungus inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria by 50% and 25%, respectively. The antioxidant activity of this polysaccharide in the DPPH test is 16.11%. The antiproliferative effect of this polysaccharide on cancer cells is different (KYSE-30> A549 ≥5637> AGS> MKN-45). This effect increases with increasing concentration. In KYSE-30 cell line treatment with 200 g/mL polysaccharide, cell viability reaches 40% after 72 hours. Conclusion: Optimizing the culture medium of the medicinal fungus Fomes fomentarius increases the production of polysaccharides up to 5.410 g/L. Optimization increases the biological activity of polysaccharides. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli is 50% and 25%, respectively. The antioxidant activity of polysaccharides is 16.11% and the viability of KYSE-30 cancer cells reaches 40% after 72 hours.
The use of natural polymers and electrospinning as a new method of wound dressing production is o... more The use of natural polymers and electrospinning as a new method of wound dressing production is one of the things that can revolutionize the medical world. Due to the importance of wound healing and characteristics such as anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, it is possible to use natural compounds such as fungi and metabolites derived from them to produce wound dressing. In this study, schizophyllan (SPG) as an extracellular polysaccharide was extracted from Iranian Schizophyllum commune (NCBI MG761830) and then the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were produced by the in-situ method in 1.5 % SPG solution. Afterward, they were combined with polyvinyl alcohol 10 % (PVA) polymer to strengthen the fiber structure. We investigated the properties of nanofibers containing PVA/SPG-AgNPs and PVA/SPG20 %. The physicochemical properties of two fibers were investigated by SEM, TEM, FTIR, contact angle, water uptake, nanoparticle release, and biological test (antibacterial, and MTT). The diameter of the nanofiber-containing the AgNPs was about 169 nm and the other nanofiber was about 212 nm. The highest inhibition of the growth of the bacterium by PVA/SPG-AgNPs against E. coli and S. aureus was about 88.34 % and 64.7 %, respectively. The silver ion release from PVA/SPG-AgNPs nanofibers was 21 μg/ml after fifth day. Both nanofibers had no toxic effect on L929 fibroblast cells.
Abstract Chitin and chitosan with unique properties and numerous applications can be produced fro... more Abstract Chitin and chitosan with unique properties and numerous applications can be produced from fungus. The production of chitin and chitosan from the mycelia of an Iranian Ganoderma lucidum was studied to improve cell growth and chitin productivity. Inoculum size and initial pH as two effective variables on the growth of G. lucidum and chitin production were optimized using response surface method (RSM) by central composite design (CCD). The results verified the significant effect of these two variables on the cell growth and chitin production. In optimum conditions, including pH = 5.7 and inoculum size of 7.4%, the cell dry weight was 5.91 g/L and the amount of chitin production was 1.08 g/L with the productivity of 0.083 g/(L day). The produced chitin and chitosan were characterized using XRD and FTIR. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the produced chitosan was investigated and compared with the commercial chitosan. The results showed that the produced chitin and chitosan had suitable quality and the Iranian G. lucidum would be a great source for safe and high-quality chitin and chitosan production.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
In this study, aqueous Schizophyllan (SPG) (1.5 w/v%) was mixed with aqueous polyvinyl alcohol (P... more In this study, aqueous Schizophyllan (SPG) (1.5 w/v%) was mixed with aqueous polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (10 w/v%) at various volume ratios and electrospun to prepare nanofibers. The fiber diameter was decreased by increasing the SPG content. A reliable linear relationship (p < 0.01) was established between the solution properties and fiber diameter. Contiguous, bead-free, and smooth fibers were obtained when the SPG/PVA ratios were 20:80, 30:70, and 40:60. FT-IR spectra, SEM images, tensile testing, swelling ratios, and water contact angle were utilized to characterize this glutaraldehyde (Glu) vapor cross-linked nanofibers in order to analyze the morphology, functional groups, mechanical attributes, hydrophilicity, and humidity of the nanofibers for skin tissue regeneration. Furthermore, the cell culture that was studied by the use of fibroblast (L929) cells showed that these SPG-based nanofibrous scaffolds could generate the improved cell adhesion. In conclusion, it was observed that SPG/PVA nanofiber mat in a volume ratio of 20:80 after 3 day was a suitable material for improving the wound healing, as it could increase cell proliferation and migration that possessed fiber diameter. The characteristics of this nanofiber were 267 nm, contact angle of 47.75°, good swelling behavior (289%), the ultimate strength of 6.513 MPa, Young modulus of 2.665 MPa, and cell viability of 150%.
Chemical Industry and Chemical Engineering Quarterly, 2016
Disposal of storage tank sludge in oil depots is a major environmental concern due to the high co... more Disposal of storage tank sludge in oil depots is a major environmental concern due to the high concentration of hydrocarbons involved. This paper investigates the reduction of the sludge oil pollutants with initial oil and grease concentration of about 50 mass% using low cost adsorbents. Among the examined adsorbents, sawdust indicated the maximum removal of oil and grease. The screening and optimizing of process parameters were evaluated employing Plackett-Burman design and response surface method. For the optimized conditions, more than 60 mass% of oil and grease from the sludge was removed. Moreover, it was found that sawdust adsorption of the oil and grease approximately followed the Freundlich isotherm. The results indicated that oil pollutants of sludge could be reduced using sawdust as a low-cost, available and flammable adsorbent so that thus saturated adsorbents could be used as fuel in certain industries.
The study aims at performing a comparative assessment of two types of burn wound treatment. The p... more The study aims at performing a comparative assessment of two types of burn wound treatment. The present study was designed to prepare crosslinked and blended two natural polymers nanofiber scaffolds using gelatin (GE) and hyaluronic acid (HA). The GE/HA composite nanofibrous membranes with varied GE/HA weight ratio have also been successfully fabricated by an electrospinning method. The average diameter of GE/HA fibers was in the range of 20 to 150 nm. In vivo efficacy was also investigated based on a deep second degree burns model for Wistar rats. At 14 days post-operation, the dermal defect basically recovered its normal condition. A percentage of wound closure of GE/HA composite nanofibrous membranes and ChitoHeal gel reached up to 81.9 % and 77.8 % respectively, compared with 65 % of the untreated control (p<0.05). Also, histological parameters were assessed on postoperative day 7 and 14. The results of in vivo experiments showed that more epidermis was formed in the gel and scaffold groups compared to the control group. The numbers of inflammatory cells in these two groups were also smaller as compared with the control group, which could well be the reason for the delayed healing in the control group.
Ammonium removal from aqueous solution was investigated using natural zeolite. Operating variable... more Ammonium removal from aqueous solution was investigated using natural zeolite. Operating variables were optimized by statistical design for this process. Eight variables including pH, contact time, dose and size of adsorbent, initial ammonia concentration, temperature, agitation and concentration of other adsorbate were screened by Placket-Burman design. The results indicated particle size, contact time, dose of zeolite and initial ammonia concentration are effective on removal efficiency with p-value<0.02. Optimizations of three important factors were conducted by response surface method. The optimal condition of ammonia removal in terms of removal efficiency was found to be at 0.18-0.4 mm particle size, 4 min contact time and 111 g L-1 dose of zeolite. The removal efficiency was found to be 98.25% at optimal condition. The maximum adsorption capacity of ammonium was 1.276 mg g-1 that was obtained at 0.18-0.4 mm zeolite size, 60 min contact time and 20 g L-1 zeolite dosage. The ...
Backgrounds and Objectives : Ganoderic acids are the most valuable secondary metabolites in Ganod... more Backgrounds and Objectives : Ganoderic acids are the most valuable secondary metabolites in Ganoderma lucidum traditional medicinal mushrooms, which have shown antitumor properties in many studies. However, application of ganoderic acids is limited due to low yield production. Recently, it was shown that static liquid culture could be a proven technology for producing ganoderic acids in Ganoderma lucidum , and that applying elicitors could be a potential strategy to improve their production. Materials and Methods: In this work, the effect of rifampin, a cyto-chromes P450 inducer, on production of ganoderic acids was studied, and Response Surface Methodology was applied to optimize the elicitor induction. Then total ganoderic acid in the harvested mycelia was extracted and its absorbency was measured. Results and C onclusion: The results showed an increase in the concen-tration of ganoderic acid in all samples. Moreover, optimum concentration and induction time of rifampin were obtai...
Background and Objective: Ganoderma lucidum is one of the medicinal fungi frequently used as supp... more Background and Objective: Ganoderma lucidum is one of the medicinal fungi frequently used as supplement. The intracellular polysaccharides of this fungus include high molecular weights and help strengthen the immune system. Furthermore, these polysaccharides act as antioxidants by inhibiting free radicals and enhancing activity of the enzymes. Addition of various elicitors to the fungi submerged culture media affects the cell growth and metabolite production. Fungal extracts are one of these elicitors. Material and Methods: In this study, Ganoderma lucidum was first cultured in various culture media to investigate the base media. Using three various methods (soaking the fruit body in water, disintegrating the fruit body with a blender and boiling the fruit body), Agaricus bisporus fruit body extract was prepared as elicitor and the extract with the highest sugar content was used. For the optimization of growth and antioxidant activity of the intracellular polysaccharides, effects of...
International journal of Advanced Biological and Biomedical Research, 2021
Background: Demand for degradable and biocompatible polymers is rapidly increasing, especially in... more Background: Demand for degradable and biocompatible polymers is rapidly increasing, especially in the food packaging sector where it is highly encouraged by environmental management policies.Methods: This study aimed to prepare zein/Montmorillonite (MMT) and zein/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite films by a high power ultrasonic probe method for use as a food coating. The film was produced through solvent casting method. In all the films, glycerol and Polyethylene glycol were used to improve the fragility properties. The biodegradability, color characteristics and surface roughness of the films were evaluated.Results: Based on the results of the statistical analysis, the clay dispersion method a, Montmorillonite (MMT) and poly (vinyl alcohol) content significantly affected the mechanical and properties of the composite films. The results showed that mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were improved in the presence of small amounts (up to 3%) of MMT, while increased montmorilloni...
Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus is the fifth leading cause of death in the world. Dam... more Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus is the fifth leading cause of death in the world. Damaging effects of diabetes include advanced metabolic complications and various organ lesions. More than 90% of diabetic cases belong to type 2 diabetes. For decades, medicinal fungi such as Trametes versicolor have been considered as treatments for diabetes. The fungi exopolysaccharides show α-glucosidase activity in the intestinal membrane. Material and Methods: In this study, Iranian Trametes versicolor was cultured in various media based on soy milk, cow milk and soy protein extraction. After selecting appropriate culture media for biomass and exopolysaccharide production, response surface method with Box-Behnken design was used to investigate effects of independent variables of glucose (g l-1), soy milk (v v-1) and pH on biomass and exopolysaccharide production and optimization of these products. An animal (rat) model of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was used to investigate ef...
The pollution of water environments is a challenging issue especially in developing countries. Co... more The pollution of water environments is a challenging issue especially in developing countries. Contamination of drinking water with heavy metals has been reported in many parts of the world. Arsenic, chromium and lead are dangerous heavy metals and also common contaminants of drinking water. In this study, the capacity and performance of the surfactant-modified Sabzevar natural nanozeolite (SMSNZ) on the removal of heavy metals from an aqueous solution was investigated. Initially, the appropriate concentration of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide HDTMA-Br solution for modification was investigated; it was found that it must be higher than the critical concentration micelle (CMC). Then, the removal of As (V), Cr (VI), and Pb(II) from an aqueous solution was studied using SMSNZ. The results indicated that the removal efficiency was very high in different initial concentrations of heavy metals. The Linear, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were used to investigate the adsorption...
Nanofiber dressings, a group of bioactive wound dressings, have received a great deal of attentio... more Nanofiber dressings, a group of bioactive wound dressings, have received a great deal of attention due to their unique properties, such as surface-to-volume ratio, three-dimensional structure, and porosity. These wound dressings accelerate wound healing by maintaining moisture at the injury site, preventing infection, and increasing oxygen delivery. Due to its high compatibility, biodegradability, and bioactivity, chitosan is a widely used compound in wound dressings. According to studies, one of the best sources for chitosan is its extraction and production from medicinal fungi. Mycelium of the fungus Trametes versicolor is used to produce chitosan. In this study, nanofibers containing T. versicolor chitosan and PVA were prepared by electrospinning, and their wound healing properties were investigated. The manufacturing conditions for nanofibers were optimized, and their properties were investigated using various analytical techniques, including SEM, FTIR, and tensile mechanical testing. Nanofibers’ biological properties (antibacterial and cytotoxicity) and their effects on wound healing were investigated. T. versicolor chitosan/PVA nanofibers with a ratio of 25:75, a feed rate of 0.6 mL/min, and a voltage of 20 kV were prepared. SEM images showed that the nanofibers were 276 nm in diameter; the nanofibers were uniform and had no beads. Bacterial growth inhibition for T. versicolor chitosan/PVA nanofibers was 57.5 % and 93 % against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. Animal experiments evaluating the efficacy of nanofibers revealed that T. versicolor chitosan/PVA nanofibers had wound healing rate of 95 %. T. versicolor chitosan/PVA nanofibers allow fibroblast cells to adhere and grow by facilitating the exchange of moisture and oxygen and accelerating the wound healing process. T. versicolor chitosan/PVA nanofibers have good potential for use as wound dressings.
Background: One of the medicinal fungi that has been used in traditional medicine for a long time... more Background: One of the medicinal fungi that has been used in traditional medicine for a long time is the Basidiomycete fungus Fomes fomentarius, which is widely distributed in Iran. Polysaccharides as one of the metabolites of this fungus have anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties. Materials & Methods: Optimization of independent variables of MgSO4.7H2O concentration, initial pH, yeast extract, and inoculum percentage to increase biomass and polysaccharide production of F. fomentarius was investigated using the Taguchi method. Then, the biological properties of the produced polysaccharide including antibacterial activity was investigated by bacterial colony counting method, antioxidant activity using DPPH free radical, and antiproliferative effect on 5 cancer cell lines MKN-45, AGS, A549, KYSE-30 and 5637 using MTS test. Results: The concentration of MgSO4.7H2O and initial pH had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the production of F. fomentarius polysaccharide and in optimal conditions polysaccharide production reaches 5.410 g/L. The polysaccharide of this fungus inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria by 50% and 25%, respectively. The antioxidant activity of this polysaccharide in the DPPH test is 16.11%. The antiproliferative effect of this polysaccharide on cancer cells is different (KYSE-30> A549 ≥5637> AGS> MKN-45). This effect increases with increasing concentration. In KYSE-30 cell line treatment with 200 g/mL polysaccharide, cell viability reaches 40% after 72 hours. Conclusion: Optimizing the culture medium of the medicinal fungus Fomes fomentarius increases the production of polysaccharides up to 5.410 g/L. Optimization increases the biological activity of polysaccharides. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli is 50% and 25%, respectively. The antioxidant activity of polysaccharides is 16.11% and the viability of KYSE-30 cancer cells reaches 40% after 72 hours.
The use of natural polymers and electrospinning as a new method of wound dressing production is o... more The use of natural polymers and electrospinning as a new method of wound dressing production is one of the things that can revolutionize the medical world. Due to the importance of wound healing and characteristics such as anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, it is possible to use natural compounds such as fungi and metabolites derived from them to produce wound dressing. In this study, schizophyllan (SPG) as an extracellular polysaccharide was extracted from Iranian Schizophyllum commune (NCBI MG761830) and then the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were produced by the in-situ method in 1.5 % SPG solution. Afterward, they were combined with polyvinyl alcohol 10 % (PVA) polymer to strengthen the fiber structure. We investigated the properties of nanofibers containing PVA/SPG-AgNPs and PVA/SPG20 %. The physicochemical properties of two fibers were investigated by SEM, TEM, FTIR, contact angle, water uptake, nanoparticle release, and biological test (antibacterial, and MTT). The diameter of the nanofiber-containing the AgNPs was about 169 nm and the other nanofiber was about 212 nm. The highest inhibition of the growth of the bacterium by PVA/SPG-AgNPs against E. coli and S. aureus was about 88.34 % and 64.7 %, respectively. The silver ion release from PVA/SPG-AgNPs nanofibers was 21 μg/ml after fifth day. Both nanofibers had no toxic effect on L929 fibroblast cells.
Abstract Chitin and chitosan with unique properties and numerous applications can be produced fro... more Abstract Chitin and chitosan with unique properties and numerous applications can be produced from fungus. The production of chitin and chitosan from the mycelia of an Iranian Ganoderma lucidum was studied to improve cell growth and chitin productivity. Inoculum size and initial pH as two effective variables on the growth of G. lucidum and chitin production were optimized using response surface method (RSM) by central composite design (CCD). The results verified the significant effect of these two variables on the cell growth and chitin production. In optimum conditions, including pH = 5.7 and inoculum size of 7.4%, the cell dry weight was 5.91 g/L and the amount of chitin production was 1.08 g/L with the productivity of 0.083 g/(L day). The produced chitin and chitosan were characterized using XRD and FTIR. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the produced chitosan was investigated and compared with the commercial chitosan. The results showed that the produced chitin and chitosan had suitable quality and the Iranian G. lucidum would be a great source for safe and high-quality chitin and chitosan production.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
In this study, aqueous Schizophyllan (SPG) (1.5 w/v%) was mixed with aqueous polyvinyl alcohol (P... more In this study, aqueous Schizophyllan (SPG) (1.5 w/v%) was mixed with aqueous polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (10 w/v%) at various volume ratios and electrospun to prepare nanofibers. The fiber diameter was decreased by increasing the SPG content. A reliable linear relationship (p < 0.01) was established between the solution properties and fiber diameter. Contiguous, bead-free, and smooth fibers were obtained when the SPG/PVA ratios were 20:80, 30:70, and 40:60. FT-IR spectra, SEM images, tensile testing, swelling ratios, and water contact angle were utilized to characterize this glutaraldehyde (Glu) vapor cross-linked nanofibers in order to analyze the morphology, functional groups, mechanical attributes, hydrophilicity, and humidity of the nanofibers for skin tissue regeneration. Furthermore, the cell culture that was studied by the use of fibroblast (L929) cells showed that these SPG-based nanofibrous scaffolds could generate the improved cell adhesion. In conclusion, it was observed that SPG/PVA nanofiber mat in a volume ratio of 20:80 after 3 day was a suitable material for improving the wound healing, as it could increase cell proliferation and migration that possessed fiber diameter. The characteristics of this nanofiber were 267 nm, contact angle of 47.75°, good swelling behavior (289%), the ultimate strength of 6.513 MPa, Young modulus of 2.665 MPa, and cell viability of 150%.
Chemical Industry and Chemical Engineering Quarterly, 2016
Disposal of storage tank sludge in oil depots is a major environmental concern due to the high co... more Disposal of storage tank sludge in oil depots is a major environmental concern due to the high concentration of hydrocarbons involved. This paper investigates the reduction of the sludge oil pollutants with initial oil and grease concentration of about 50 mass% using low cost adsorbents. Among the examined adsorbents, sawdust indicated the maximum removal of oil and grease. The screening and optimizing of process parameters were evaluated employing Plackett-Burman design and response surface method. For the optimized conditions, more than 60 mass% of oil and grease from the sludge was removed. Moreover, it was found that sawdust adsorption of the oil and grease approximately followed the Freundlich isotherm. The results indicated that oil pollutants of sludge could be reduced using sawdust as a low-cost, available and flammable adsorbent so that thus saturated adsorbents could be used as fuel in certain industries.
The study aims at performing a comparative assessment of two types of burn wound treatment. The p... more The study aims at performing a comparative assessment of two types of burn wound treatment. The present study was designed to prepare crosslinked and blended two natural polymers nanofiber scaffolds using gelatin (GE) and hyaluronic acid (HA). The GE/HA composite nanofibrous membranes with varied GE/HA weight ratio have also been successfully fabricated by an electrospinning method. The average diameter of GE/HA fibers was in the range of 20 to 150 nm. In vivo efficacy was also investigated based on a deep second degree burns model for Wistar rats. At 14 days post-operation, the dermal defect basically recovered its normal condition. A percentage of wound closure of GE/HA composite nanofibrous membranes and ChitoHeal gel reached up to 81.9 % and 77.8 % respectively, compared with 65 % of the untreated control (p<0.05). Also, histological parameters were assessed on postoperative day 7 and 14. The results of in vivo experiments showed that more epidermis was formed in the gel and scaffold groups compared to the control group. The numbers of inflammatory cells in these two groups were also smaller as compared with the control group, which could well be the reason for the delayed healing in the control group.
Ammonium removal from aqueous solution was investigated using natural zeolite. Operating variable... more Ammonium removal from aqueous solution was investigated using natural zeolite. Operating variables were optimized by statistical design for this process. Eight variables including pH, contact time, dose and size of adsorbent, initial ammonia concentration, temperature, agitation and concentration of other adsorbate were screened by Placket-Burman design. The results indicated particle size, contact time, dose of zeolite and initial ammonia concentration are effective on removal efficiency with p-value<0.02. Optimizations of three important factors were conducted by response surface method. The optimal condition of ammonia removal in terms of removal efficiency was found to be at 0.18-0.4 mm particle size, 4 min contact time and 111 g L-1 dose of zeolite. The removal efficiency was found to be 98.25% at optimal condition. The maximum adsorption capacity of ammonium was 1.276 mg g-1 that was obtained at 0.18-0.4 mm zeolite size, 60 min contact time and 20 g L-1 zeolite dosage. The ...
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