Multifunctional nanocarriers capable of integrating imaging, magnetic functionality, and controlled drug delivery represent an important research topic in cancer nanomedicine. Herein, Mn-doped (Fe3O4) magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) were engineered and incorporated into a Maisine CC-based oil-in-water microemulsion (ME) to obtain a multifunctional nanoplatform for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hyperthermia, and controlled drug release. A series of Mn-doped MNPs (1–10% Mn:Fe3O4) was synthesized by coprecipitation. X-ray diffraction confirmed the preservation of the cubic spinel upon Mn incorporation. The Mn incorporation resulted in MNPs made of crystallites (~9–12 nm) whose magnetic properties were improved. Also, 10% Mn led to a very good magnetic heating efficiency under alternating magnetic fields with a specific absorption rate of ~111 W·g−1. The obtained MNPs proved to be T2-weighted MRI contrast agents, with an increase in the r2 values up to ~844 mM−1·s−1 after incorporation into ME. The optimized composition of Mn10% was subsequently loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) and integrated into ME. Drug-release studies revealed a biphasic profile, characterized by an initial burst phase followed by sustained release up to 48 h. These findings demonstrate that dopant-engineered MNPs combined with a ME carrier can provide a versatile platform for integrating magnetic hyperthermia potential, T2-weighted MRI contrast enhancement, and controlled chemotherapeutic delivery within a single nanostructured system.

Herein, we designed and synthesized cobalt-modified magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) in an environmentally safe aqueous medium by using biocompatible Pluronic F127 as dispersant without altering the Fe3+/Fe2+ stoichiometric ratio of 2:1. Gradually increasing amounts of cobalt (1, 5, 10 mol %) were added to this formulation. The obtained MNPs were systematically characterized for their physico-chemical and magnetic properties by ICP-OES, XRD, TEM/EDX, FT-IR, RAMAN, XPS, DLS, Zeta potential, and VSM. Our method ensured that iron oxidation states and their stoichiometry remain unchanged while incorporation of Co was successfully achieved with Co2+ as the oxidation state, according to XPS. XRD confirmed the inverse spinel structure with cobalt ions mainly occupying the interstitial sites although RAMAN revealed a slight contribution of normal spinel. TEM revealed nanoparticles of similar to 11.8 nm, displaying a mixed sphere- and cubic-like morphology while DLS and Zeta showed some Co-induced agglomeration and a shift toward positive values, respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity tests indicated good preliminary biocompatibility for all samples. Co-modified MNPs showed enhanced r(2) values in agarose phantoms on 1T MRI apparatus. These outcomes obviously indicate that cobalt-modified magnetite have promising practical implications, being suitable for cancer diagnosis and recommending further in vivo evaluation (e.g, toxicity, biodistribution, immune-response studies).

In photocatalysis, a common challenge is the rapid recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes, coupled with low surface reaction efficiency in aqueous environments. This study addresses these issues by improving the photocatalytic performance of Al3+-doped SrTiO3 perovskite through the strategic loading of CoOOH onto its surface. We successfully demonstrated that the combined approach of Al3+ doping and CoOOH co-catalyst functionalization significantly enhances the photocatalytic performance of SrTiO3. The Al3%:SrTiO3 was functionalized with CoOOH using a two-step process. This process involved the oxidation of Co2+ ions to Co3+ ions, followed by the precipitation of cobalt oxyhydroxide (CoOOH) onto the surface of Al3%:SrTiO3, resulting in the formation of an Al3%:SrTiO3@CoOOH composite heterostructure. The UV-Vis data shows an enhanced light absorption capabilities into the visible spectrum with a direct band gap of 1.73 eV in contrast to 3.24 eV for the pristine perovskite. XPS analysis confirms the surface functionalization with CoOOH co-catalyst and the determined 1:1 Sr:Ti stoichiometry, the reduced state of Al, and the absence of oxygen vacancies were identified as beneficial properties for photocatalytic applications, as shown in DFT calculations. The oxacillin photodegradation was tested at three different concentrations of Al3%:SrTiO3@CoOOH photocatalyst (0.25 g/L; 0.5 g/L and 1 g/L) and we observed that the removal efficiency significantly varies from 99 % for 1 g/L Al3%: SrTiO3@CoOOH to 78 % and 44 % for 0.5 g/L and, respectively 0.25 g/L. Additionally, under visible light irradiation, the Al3%:SrTiO3@CoOOH composite achieved an exceptional degradation rate of the (3-lactam antibiotic oxacillin of up to 99 %, with holes identified as key players in the photocatalytic process. This study highlights that effective surface modification using a well-chosen co-catalyst can substantially boost the photocatalytic efficiency of semiconductor-based materials, offering a promising strategy for developing advanced photocatalysts for environmental remediation applications.

Lipid-based drug delivery systems are very promising in addressing critical medical needs associated with cancer because they are able to enhance the efficacy of the therapeutic agents loaded in. Yet, their transferability from bench to bedside is still a challenge as it hits many barriers. Among them, the absence of a clear design made on the deeper understanding of the intermolecular forces underlying the formation of the drug-carrier system and the controlled release of the drug is relevant. In this contribution, we rationally designed and prepared lipid-based formulations of an anticancer drug, fluorouracil (FU - hydrophilic) and an anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen (IBU - hydrophobic) to thoroughly characterize the specific intermolecular interactions between drugs and components of the carrier matrix. Microemulsions (ME) were selected as the main carriers for this study, but a comparison with liposomes was performed to observe if different organization of the lipophilic and hydrophilic compartments influences the loading capacity and controlled release of these two drugs. Using Maisine CC, a biocompatible oil, and Tween 20 as the surfactant, normal oil-in-water ME loaded with FU and IBU (1:1, 1:3, 1:6, wt:wt) were prepared by the water titration method. MEs were characterized by DLS, Zeta potential, and DOSY spectroscopies to assess their droplet size, surface charge, structure and type of emulsion. Intermolecular interactions between drugs and components of the ME’s matrix were investigated by FT-IR, RAMAN and 1H-NMR spectroscopies. The experimental results of DOSY revealed that all components of MEs are gathered in normal oil-in-water ME. Due to their different affinities for the main components of the ME, FU, and IBU were mainly distributed in the aqueous and oily phases, respectively, as supported by the droplet size measured by DLS. It was observed that co-loading the two drugs impacted the release behavior, assessed by the dialysis bag method, as compared with the mono-drug formulations. Based on the findings of this work, a release mechanism for FU and IBU was proposed, as well. Overall, the ME proved to be more suitable nanocarriers since the drugs, which were loaded in higher amounts as compared to liposomes, followed a controlled and sustained release of at least 96 h.

Single crystals of(C4H12N2)[Co(H2O)2(H2P2O7)2].2H2O (H2pipCoPPi) were synthesized at room temperature using the slow evaporation method, in the presence of sodium diphosphate, cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate, and piperazine cation ((H2pip)2+) as a structure-directing agent. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the hybrid material crystallizes in the triclinic system (S.G.: P 1), with the lattice parameters (angstrom, degrees): [a = 7.0439(3), b = 7.7650 (3), c = 9.7994 (4), alpha = 112.417 (1), beta = 95.205 (1), gamma = 102.183 (1), V = 475.55 (2) angstrom 3 and Z =1]. Its crystal structure consists of inorganic [Co(H2O)2(H2P2O7)2]2- anions, organic [C4H12N2]2+ cations, and water molecules H2O linked linked together by a three-dimensional hydrogen-bond network. X-ray structural analysis was complemented with Hirshfeld surface (HS) analysis to assess the impact of various intermolecular interactions on the formation of the three-dimensional structure. This analysis indicates that the primary contributions originate from H...O/O...H and H...H interactions, accounting for 60.2 % and 33.3 % of the total contributions to the Hirshfeld surface, respectively. The IR spectrum exhibits the characteristic bands of the diphosphate anion and piperazine cation. The hybrid diphosphate's thermal decomposition primarily involves the removal of the organic entities and water molecules. The biological assay indicates that the hybrid compound exhibits strong antibacterial efficacy against all tested bacterial strains.

Our study focuses on disclosing the mechanisms standing behind the improved photocatalytic performance of SrTiO3, where Al modification of the perovskite structure boosts the photocatalytic O2 evolution activity of the Al:SrTiO3 system. By adapting the synthesis method that produces well-crystallized materials with low defect density and employing surface modification techniques, we aim to enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of SrTiO3 via Al2O3 nanoceramic oxide doping at concentrations ranging from 0 to 10% and further examining of the relationship between doping process and the changes in the electronic and crystalline structure of SrTiO3. The prepared Al-based SrTiO3 perovskite samples (Al3%:SrTiO3, Al7%:SrTiO3, Al10%:SrTiO3) were thoroughly characterized to understand their structural, electronic, and morphological properties. Complementary X-ray techniques were employed to assess the stoichiometry (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy - XPS), local environment, and chemical state (X-ray absorption spectroscopy - XAS in both total electron yield (TEY) and fluorescence yield (TFY). The comprehensive characterization enables us to understand the changes in the electronic properties and morphological features of the modified samples elucidating the surface formation mechanism while providing insights into the structural modifications induced by Al doping in the SrTiO3 perovskite lattice. Our findings give new perspectives for the development of Al-modified SrTiO3 perovskite materials with enhanced photocatalytic performance providing rich insights into the optimization of photocatalytic processes for applications in environmental remediation and sustainable energy production.

The aim of this research was to evaluate some characteristics (moisture, total solid substances, specific gravity, pH, FA, ash, electrical conductivity, TPC and TFC, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, nickel, cobalt, and lead) of fifteen multifloral honey samples. The quality of the investigated honey was confirmed by the obtained results: moisture, FA, and EC values were below the limit value regulated by the legislation. The average content of total polyphenols and total flavonoids of 29.91 mg GAE/100 g and 2.13 mg QE/100 g confirm the antioxidant properties of honey. Determination of minerals showed that potassium (101.4–1212.6 mg kg−1) was the most abundant mineral in honey, followed by sodium (40.7–302.3 mg kg−1) and calcium (41.8–230.9 mg kg−1). Lead was found in two samples, with a content under the limit stipulation by legislation; nickel was found in one sample of 0.10 mg kg−1, and the content of cobalt was below the detection limit. Significant correlations (p < 0.001) were observed between mm Pfund and electrical conductivity, TPC, TFC, P, Ca, and Zn; strong correlations (p < 0.001) were between electrical conductivity with Ash, TPC, TFC, K, and P. FTIR analysis confirmed the differences obtained by analyzing multifloral honey samples.

This article reports on a new way of valorizing vine leaves waste as a renewable resource of polyphenols. The nanoparticles containing zinc complexes were prepared by a green synthesis method using the aqueous extract of vine leaves as a natural source of ligands for the complexation of zinc ions. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Another objective of this study was to obtain a cream into which the biosynthesized nanoparticles would be incorporated. In the formulation of the new cream, we aimed to use the minimal required amounts of synthetic emulsifiers and to use natural products as co-emulsifiers or as viscosity modifiers. The organoleptic characteristics and the physicochemical properties of the obtained creams were evaluated. The experimental results confirmed that the creams wherein the nanoparticles containing zinc complexes were incorporated exhibited antimicrobial activity against the bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and the yeast Candida albicans. The values obtained for pH, viscosity and spreading diameter of the creams produced indicate that these formulations are suitable for topical applications.

The aim of this study was to synthesize a CoFe2O4@HaP nanocomposite (HaP-Hydroxyapatite) through the coprecipitation method in aqueous solution, with the purpose of using it in adsorption processes for the removal of Congo Red dye from aqueous solutions. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to characterize the synthesized material, identifying absorption bands specific to the functional groups of cobalt ferrite (Fe-O and Co-O at 603 and 472 cm−1) and hydroxyapatite PO43− at 1035, 962, 603 and 565 cm−1. Powder X-ray diffraction confirmed the cubic spinel structure of cobalt ferrite (S.G Fd-3m) and the hexagonal structure of hydroxyapatite (S.G P63/m). The nanocomposite’s crystallite size was calculated to be 57.88 nm. Nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms and BET specific surface area measurements were used to monitor textural parameters, revealing an increase in specific BET surface area when cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (15 m2/g) were introduced into the hydroxyapatite heterostructure (34 m2/g). Magnetic properties were investigated by interpreting hysteresis curves in the ±10 kOe range, with the nanocomposite showing a saturation magnetization of 34.83 emu/g and a coercivity value of 0.03 kOe. The adsorption capacity of the CoFe2O4@HaP nanocomposite is up to 15.25 mg/g and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (Type 1) fits the data with a high correlation coefficient of 0.9984, indicating that the chemical adsorption determines the rate-determining step of the process. The obtained nanocomposite is confirmed by the analyses, and the absorption measurements demonstrate that it can be utilized to degrade Congo Red dye.

In recent years, rare earth silicate compounds have attracted the extensive attention of researchers owing to their potential for applications in scintillation crystals in gamma ray or X-ray detectors, as well as in thermal or environmental barrier coatings. Large high quality crystals of three members of the rare earth monosilicates family of compounds, R2SiO5 (with R = Dy, Ho, and Er), have been grown by the floating zone method, using a laser-diode-heated floating zone furnace. Crystal growths attempts were carried out using different parameters in order to determine the optimum conditions for the growth of these materials. The phase purity and the crystalline quality of the crystal boules were analysed using powder and Laue X-ray diffraction. Single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments were carried out to determine the crystal structures of the boules. The optimum conditions used for the crystal growth of R2SiO5 materials are reported. The phase purity and high crystalline quality of the crystals produced makes them ideal for detailed investigations of the intrinsic physical and chemical properties of these materials.

Many natural products contain inhibitory ligands for α-glucosidase, and in recent years, many bioanalytical screening techniques have been developed to help identify and characterize these small molecules from plant extracts. Yet, except Fe3O4 magnetic beads, few other nanoparticles have been described as α-glucosidase immobilization scaffolds for bioanalytical assay development. In this study, we describe the coupling of α-glucosidase to an amino-functionalized magnesium ferrite and hydroxyapatite mesoporous nanocomposite (MgFe2O4@HaP@APTES). The bare nanocomposite was synthesized through the coprecipitation method in aqueous solution, and its structure was investigated by X-ray diffraction and FT-IR, white its textural and magnetic properties were analyzed by BET and VSM analyses, respectively. Amino-functionalization was performed using APTES, and α-glucosidase coupling was achieved through glutaraldehyde crosslinking. We demonstrate that both enzyme activity and magnetic properties are preserved after coupling, suggesting that the nanocomposite system is suitable for further inclusion into bioanalytical platforms for enzyme inhibitor screening.

An important part of the materials used in the everyday life are in polycrystalline form and most of them have been extracted from the earth's crust or synthesized using different synthesis methods.Using the approach of a chemist, we are looking into how to enhance some of the properties (electric, magnetic, and structural) of the materials found in everyday life devices.To this extent, our work focuses on understanding if the properties of interest have their origin in the crystallographic structure of the solid and/or how much they are influenced by microstructural parameters.It is well known, for some time, that nano-particles, the bi-dimensional materials or even thin layers have different properties than the bulk material due to new interesting phenomena originating in their 1D, 2D nano-scale size or resulting from the interaction with the substrate.It is thus crucial to achieve a better understanding of the source of the properties of a "perfect" material, i.e. the single crystal.The availability of a material in the form of a single crystal will give us access to the intrinsic properties of the compound, un-altered by the interaction with the substrate, grain boundaries, etc.Once the origin of the properties of a material has been elucidated, a chemist could envisage applying chemical pressure through doping with a similar sized ion as a mean to change inter-atomic distances and tune the desired property.The present study involves the synthesis, characterization and improvement of a series of compounds that are potential candidates for environmental barriers.Most of the environmental barriers used in different application are polycrystalline samples that are very well compacted.A high number of crystalline materials have anisotropic properties, originating in their crystallographic structure, thus it is important to study the properties of the single crystal form of these materials [1].This will allow the enhancement of the properties that are significant in environmental barrier applications: thermal insulation, chemical resistance, as well as hardness and the compactness through the thermal expansion coefficient.It is well known that the rare earth silicates are a good candidate for such applications that require high temperature, however through studies of their single crystals we can improve the properties and extend their applicability [2].

In this work, we provide a new investigation on the effect of Sm 3+ doping on the sol–gel mixture and stabilization of TiO 2 sol. Sm 3+ dopant was initially dissolved in dilute ethanol solvent to form Sm-ethanol solvation shells. After hydrolysis, the effect of Sm-modified solvent on the growth and aggregation of TiO 2 primary particles was put in evidence. 1 H-NMR spectrum of Sm–TiO 2 sol shows signals broadening of n BuOH and ethanol molecules without splitting effect, indicating that the two alcohols are located in solvation shells surrounding the Sm 3+ cations. The stabilization of TiO 2 colloidal sol is induced by the bound Sm 3+ -solvate species to Ti-oxo-alkoxy polymers, inhibiting the growth of TiO 2 particles. In the absence of Sm 3+ dopant, the TiO 2 colloidal sol shows a high resolution 1 H-NMR spectrum with splitting of 1 H signals of ethanol and free n BuOH. SEM analysis of TiO 2 consists of monodisperse spherical particles, whereas Sm–TiO 2 shows a massive monolith with small particle size. These effects were correlated with TG/DTA and XRD results showing that Sm 3+ dopant induces a more complex and prolonged thermal decomposition, decreasing the crystallization degree of TiO 2 anatase. The effect of Sm 3+ doping on UV-absorption region, adsorption capacity, and photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 nanoparticles was also investigated.

Extensive attention and considerable efforts have been made to construct efficient heterogeneous nano -particulate systems for surface chemical reactions to be active in solar light-driven photodegradation. This work addresses current deficiencies of the nanoparticles-focused systems intended for visible light photodegradation by developing a newly-formulated innovative chemically-engineered multi-component system that functions as a recyclabe, nontoxic, active and inexpensive catalyst for photodegradation of tetracyclne antibiotic. Here, we show a straightforward FeOOH nanografting of Al-based SrTiO3 perovskite material as core-shell nanoflower-like heteronanostructure with enhanced solar light-driven photodegradation capability over harmful antibi-otics. A persuasive surface formation mechanism is proposed based on systematic investigation of the assembly process. In-depth caracterization of structural, optical and morphological properties of the prepared samples was investigated using a series of complementary analytical techniques, such as XRD, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, synchrotron XPS, as well as hard and soft XAS in both total electron yield (TEY) and fluorescence yield (TFY). The oxygen -deficient nature of core and shell interface indicates its n-doping and the availability of free charges in core which can be either transferred to the shell or create localized absorption levels into the valence band. This study provides a real opportunity to rationally photocatalysts design with very promising performance in water treatment.

The progress of the automated industry has introduced many benefits in our daily life, but it also produces undesired electromagnetic interference (EMI) that distresses the end-users and functionality of electronic devices. This article develops new composites based on a polyetherimide (PEI) matrix and cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanofiller (10–50 wt%) by mixing inorganic phase in the poly(amic acid) solution, followed by film casting and controlled heating, to acquire the corresponding imide structure. The composites were designed to contain both electric and magnetic dipole sources by including highly polarizable groups (phenyls, ethers, -CN) in the PEI structure and by loading this matrix with magnetic nanoparticles, respectively. The films exhibited high thermal stability, having the temperature at which decomposition begins in the interval of 450–487 °C. Magnetic analyses indicated a saturation magnetization, coercitive force, and magnetic remanence of 27.9 emu g−1, 705 Oe, and 9.57 emu g−1, respectively, for the PEI/CoFe2O4 50 wt%. Electrical measurements evidenced an increase in the conductivity from 4.42 10−9 S/cm for the neat PEI to 1.70 10−8 S/cm for PEI/CoFe2O4 50 wt% at 1 MHz. The subglass γ- and β-relaxations, primary relaxation, and conductivity relaxation were also examined depending on the nanofiller content. These novel composites are investigated from the point of view of their EMI shielding properties, showing that they are capable of attenuating the electric and magnetic parts of electromagnetic waves.

The objective of this research was to evaluate some quality-defining physicochemical parameters (moisture, specific gravity, pH, free acidity, ash, electrical conductivity, total phenols, and total flavonoids content, K, Ca, Mg, Na, and P) of seven Romanian monofloral honeys (linden, acacia, rapeseed, sunflower, mint, raspberry, and chestnut) collected in 2017. The investigated quality parameters are mainly within the recommended limits set by standards for honey. Sample analyses indicate the presence of antioxidants, such as TPC (17.9–73.2 mg GAE/100 g) and TFC (0.84–4.81 mg QE/100 g), and high amounts of K (101–1462 mg kg−1), Ca (58.3–167.5 mg kg−1), Mg (24.8–330.6 mg kg−1), Na (94.5–233.3 mg kg−1), and P (34.1–137.2 mg kg−1). The Pearson’s correlations between some parameters (such as color/TFC, color/Mg, color/P, EC/Ash, mm Pfund/TFC, TPC/TFC, K/Ash, P/Mg), together with PCA, HCA, and ANOVA statistics, highlight three main factors that explain the variability in the dataset and could be attributed to stability, mineral, and color/antioxidant contributions. FTIR spectra confirm the authenticity of all the monofloral honeys. The results and data processing confirm the influence of environmental elements (soil, water, air) on the honey composition and highlight the quality of honey, as a complete food and a therapeutic product.

Gadolinium (Gd3+) substituted zinc manganese ferrite nanoparticles with nominal compositions Zn0.7Mn0.3GdxFe2-xO4 (where x = 0.000; 0.025; 0.050; 0.075; 0.100) were successfully synthetized using co precipitation method. The synthetized powders were calcined at 500 & nbsp;C and furthermore pressed into pellets and thermally treated at 650 & nbsp;C for a second time to obtain a more compact material. For the 500 C thermal treated samples, X-ray analysis revealed the formation of pure spinel ferrite phase, meanwhile for the 650 C thermal treated samples secondary phases appear which indicate that some of Gd3+ ions aren't able to remain in the structure of ferrite. The morphology of samples was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the images show agglomerated spherical nanoparticles within 20-30 nm size range. The magnetization curves recorded in +/- 10 kOe range indicate a superparamagnetic behavior of the synthetized ferrite samples. At low frequencies, the Gd3+ substituted ferrite samples corresponding to x = 0.050, 0.075 and 0.100 exhibit a resonant behavior of the dielectric losses dependence, while at high frequencies the lowest value was found for the sample with x = 0.025. The introduction of Gd3+ ions in the ferrite structure leads to a non-monotonous variation of AC electrical conductivity, which decrease from 2.55 x10(-6) S/m to 3 x10(-7) S/m. The ferrite samples have shown a good and reproducible response to the saturated acetone vapors and the highest sensitivity value (53%) was obtained for Zn0.7Mn0.3Gd0.025Fe1.9O4 ferrite sample. The response and recovery time varies between 36 and 56 s, respectively 80-116 s and both of these are independent of Gd3+ content.

Zein is a type of prolamin storage protein that has a variety of biomedical and industrial applications. Due to the considerable genetic variability and polyploidity of the starting material, as well as the extraction methods used, the characterization of the protein composition of zein requires a combination of different analytical processes. Therefore, we combined modern analytical methods such as mass spectrometry (MS), Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), atomic force microscopy (AFM), or Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy–attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) for a better characterization of the extracted zein. In this study, we present an enhanced eco-friendly extraction method, including grinding and sieving corn seeds, for prolamins proteins using an ultrasonic extraction methodology. The use of an ultrasonic homogenizer, 65% ethanol extraction buffer, and 710 µm maize granulation yielded the highest protein extraction from all experimental conditions we employed. An SDS PAGE analysis of the extracted zein protein mainly revealed two intense bands of approximatively 20 and 23 kDa, suggesting that the extracted zein was mostly α-zein monomer. Additionally, MS analysis revealed as a main component the α-zein PMS2 (Uniprot accession no. P24450) type protein in the maize flour extract. Moreover, AFM studies show that extracting zein with a 65% ethanol and a 710 µm granulation yields a homogeneous content that could allow these proteins to be employed in future medical applications. This research leads to a better understanding of zeins content critical for developing new applications of zein in food and pharmaceutical industries, such as biocompatible medical vehicles based on polyplexes complex nanoparticles of zein with antimicrobial or drug delivery properties.

Quaternary Ni(1-x)CuxFe(2-y)CeyO(4) complex nano-ferrites system with different cerium content ratio and copper substitution degree were synthesized via co-precipitation wet chemical technique. The newly obtained nanoparticles, with general formula Ni(1-x)CuxFe(2-y)CeyO(4) (where x = 0.0, 0.3, 0.6 and y = 0.00, 0.03, 0.05, 0.08 and 0.10) were heated up to 600 degrees C to stabilize the specific crystalline spinel structure. The limit of cerium content was quantitively determined to be around 0.08 and up to 0.10. Furthermore, the powders were pelletized in a 13 mm wide pellets and thermally treated at 950 degrees C. The thermal treatment affected even more the phases segregation process, as CeO2 was identified in the sample with lowest degree of cerium insertion - 0.03. Also, a difference in color and size of pelletized samples was noticed after the 950 degrees C thermal treatment. The Rietveld refinement, crystal structure confirmation, morphology magnetic and electrical properties of samples have been deeply studied. The cation distribution carried out from Rietveld refinement confirms the occupancy of (Fe3+) on tetrahedral sites and [Ni2+], [Cu2+], [Fe3+] and [Ce2+] on octahedral sites in the crystal lattice. Preliminary information regarding the cation distribution in spinel structures were suggested by FTIR spectral results, precisely in the 650-520 cm(-1) region, as a consequence of peak shape and lack of shiftiness of MTd - O bond. Spherical-shaped quaternary nano-ferrites of 17-28 nm were determined from FE-SEM analysis and the samples composition was confirmed by EDX analysis. Hysteresis loops shows modifications in coercivity, magnetization and magnetic remanence with Ni2+ and Cu2+ ions doping in Ni(1-x)CuxFe(2-y)CeyO(4) complex systems with typical ferrimagnetic behavior. Dielectric measurements were employed in order to determine the electrical permittivity, dielectric losses and conductivity values in a 10 Hz - 1 MHz frequency range.