Highly Active, Entirely Biobased Antimicrobial Pickering Emulsions.

We present the development of surfactant-free, silica-free and fully biobased oil-in-water antimicrobial Pickering emulsions, based on the self-assembly of ß-cyclodextrin and phytoantimicrobial oils (terpinen-4-ol or carvacrol). Undecylenic acid (UA), derived from castor oil, can be used as bio-based drug to treat fungal infection, but is less effective than petroleum-based drugs as azole derivatives. To maximize its antifungal potential, we have incorporated UA in fully biobased Pickering emulsions. These emulsions are effective against fungi, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The carvacrol emulsion charged with UA is +390 % and +165 % more potent against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), compared to UA and azole-based commercial formulations. Moreover, this emulsion is up to +480 % more efficient that UA ointment against C. albicans. Finally, remarkable eradication of E. coli and MRSA biofilms was obtained with this environmental-friendly emulsion.

Polyelectrolyte-coated nanocapsules containing undecylenic acid: Synthesis, biocompatibility and neuroprotective properties.

The main objectives of the present study were to investigate the biocompatibility of polyelectrolyte-coated nanocapsules and to evaluate the neuroprotective action of the nanoencapsulated water-insoluble neuroprotective drug-undecylenic acid (UDA), in vitro. Core-shell nanocapsules were synthesized using nanoemulsification and the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique (by saturation method). The average size of synthesized nanocapsules was around 80 nm and the concentration was 2.5 × 10(10) particles/ml. Their zeta potential values ranged from less than -30 mV for the ones with external polyanion layers through -4 mV for the PEG-ylated layers to more than 30 mV for the polycation layers. Biocompatibility of synthesized nanocarriers was evaluated in the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line using cell viability/toxicity assays (MTT reduction, LDH release). The results obtained showed that synthesized nanocapsules coated with PLL and PGA (also PEG-ylated) were non-toxic to SH-SY5Y cells, therefore, they were used as nanocarriers for UDA. Moreover, studies with ROD/FITC-labeled polyelectrolytes demonstrated approximately 20% cellular uptake of synthetized nanocapsules. Further studies showed that nanoencapsulated form of UDA was biocompatible and protected SH-SY5Y cells against the staurosporine-induced damage in lower concentrations than those of the same drug added directly to the culture medium. These data suggest that designed nanocapsules might serve as novel, promising delivery systems for neuroprotective agents.

Synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of 10-undecenoic acid-based epithio derivatives as multifunctional additives.

Novel epithio compounds from alkyl epoxy undecanoates (n-alkyl, C1, C4, and C6; isoalkyl, C3, C4, and C8) were synthesized using an ammonium thiocyanate in ionic liquid 1-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate/H2O (2:1) solvent system in 85-90% yields by gas chromatographic (GC) analysis. The synthesized products were characterized by (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography, and GC mass spectral (GC-MS) analyses and evaluated for their antioxidant, extreme pressure (EP), and antiwear (AW) properties in three different base oils, namely, epoxy jatropha fatty acid n-butyl esters (EJB), di-2-ethylhexyl sebacate (DOS), and mineral oil (S-105). Among the synthesized products, n-butyl epithio undecanoate exhibited superior antioxidant property (229.2 °C) compared to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT, 193.8 °C) in base oil DOS and comparable performance in EJB and S-105 base oils. All of the epithio derivatives exhibited significantly enhanced weld point for the base oils EJB and DOS at 2 wt % level and displayed moderate enhancement in S-105 base oil. Methyl epithio undecanoate at 0.6% concentration exhibited considerable improvement in the wear scar of DOS base oil. The synthesized epithio derivatives have potential as multifunctional additives in lubricant formulations.

Thermoplastic polyurethanes from undecylenic acid-based soft segments: structural features and release properties.

A set of thermoplastic polyurethanes is synthesized, combining undecylenic acid-derived telechelic diols as soft segments and 1,4-butanediol/4,4'-methylenebis(phenylisocyanate) as a hard segment (HS). These polymers are fully chemically and physically characterized by means of NMR and Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopy, size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), DSC, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile testing, and contact angle measurements. The obtained results reveal that both the molecular weight of the diol and the HS content greatly influence the physical and mechanical properties of these polymers. In addition, given the potential use of these materials for biomedical applications, hydrolytic degradation, their biocompatibility using a human fibroblast cell line, and performance as drug delivery carriers are evaluated.

"Click" synthesis of fatty acid derivatives as fast-degrading polyanhydride precursors.

Fast-degrading linear and branched polyanhydrides are obtained by melt-condensation of novel di- and tri-carboxylic acid monomers based on oleic and undecylenic acid synthesized using photoinitiated thiol-ene click chemistry. (1)H NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and FT-IR spectroscopy have been used to fully characterize these polymers. The hydrolytic degradation of these polymers was studied by means of weight loss, anhydride bond loss, and changes in molecular weight, showing fast degrading properties. Drug release studies from the synthesized polyanhydrides have also been conducted, using rhodamine B as a hydrophobic model drug, to evaluate the potential of these polymers in biomedical applications.

Undecylenic acid: a valuable and physiologically active renewable building block from castor oil.

A lot of attention is currently being paid to the transition to a biobased economy. In this movement, most efforts concentrate on the development of bioenergy applications including bioethanol, biodiesel, thermochemical conversion of biomass, and others. However, in the energy sector other nonbiomass alternatives are known, whereas no valuable alternatives are available when thinking about chemical building blocks. Therefore, it is also essential to develop new routes for the synthesis of bio-based chemicals and materials derived thereof. Such intermediates can originate either from plants or from animals. Castor oil is a non-edible oil extracted from the seeds of the castor bean plant Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae), which grows in tropical and subtropical areas. Globally, around one million tons of castor seeds are produced every year, the leading producing areas being India, PR China, and Brazil.2 10-Undecenoic acid or undecylenic acid is a fatty acid derived from castor oil that, owing to its bifunctional nature, has many possibilities to develop sustainable applications.

Enzymatic synthesis of hydrophilic undecylenic acid sugar esters and their biodegradability.

To enhance water solubility of 10-undecylenic acid, which has anti-fungus, anti-bacterial and anti-virus activity, D-glucose, trehalose and sucrose were regioselectively esterified with vinyl 10-undecylenic acid ester in dimethyl formamide by a commercial protease, Bioprase conc., from Bacillus subtilis. 6-O-(10-Undecylenoyl) D-glucose, 6-O-(10-undecylenoyl) trehalose and 1'-O-(10-undecylenoyl) sucrose were obtained. The influence of structural variation by changing the sugar moiety was analyzed the surface tension and biodegradability.

Synthesis and structure-affinity of a series of 7 alpha-undecylestradiol derivatives: a potential vector for therapy and imaging of estrogen-receptor-positive cancers.

A series of 7 alpha-undecylestradiol derivatives, featuring various substituents at the end of the undecyl spacer chain, were synthesized and evaluated for their interaction with the estrogen receptor and nonreceptor sites. Their relative binding affinities (RBA) for calf uterine estrogen receptors were measured by competitive binding assays and varied between 0.5 and 8.4% of that of unlabeled 17 beta-estradiol. Enhanced lipophilicity and steric hindrance of the substituent on the end of the spacer chain resulted in decreased binding affinity for the estrogen receptor, while interactions with nonreceptor sites increased. RBA values were not affected by prolonged incubation times, suggesting a stable ligand-receptor complex. The potential to use the 7 alpha-undecylestradiol as a vector for site-selective delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic moieties to estrogen-receptor-positive human cancers is discussed.