Search results for "Halloysite"
showing 10 items of 185 documents
Halloysite nanotubes as a carrier of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) bioactives
2020
Abstract Cornelian cherry fruit extract rich in anthocyanins and iridoids was encapsulated in the halloysite nanotubes in order to obtain a stable nanoscale system for better delivery and prolonged release of bioactive constituents. The cyclic vacuum technique was used for halloysite nanotubes-cornelian cherry composite preparation and the loading of 8.5 wt% was achieved. Pure cornelian cherry extract exhibited antiproliferative effect on HT-29, MCF7, and MRC-5 cells, pristine halloysite nanotubes affected the growth of MCF7 cells, while halloysite nanotubes-cornelian cherry composites demonstrated proliferative activity in all tested cells. The sustained release of anthocyanins was achieve…
Functionalized halloysite nanotubes: Efficient carrier systems for antifungine drugs
2018
Abstract Halloysite-cyclodextrin hybrid was employed as carrier for sustained release of clotrimazole for vaginal or buccal treatment of Candidiasis. The nanocarrier was obtained by functionalization of halloysite surface with cyclodextrin moieties by means of microwave irradiation, with the final goal to obtain a scaffold for the covalent linkage of cysteamine hydrochloride. The interaction between clotrimazole and the pristine components, namely cyclodextrin and halloysite, was thoroughly investigated by several techniques such as DSC, TGA, UV–vis spectroscopy and some adsorption studies were, also, carried out. The release of the antifungine molecule was finally investigated in a medium …
Selective Cytotoxic Activity of Prodigiosin@halloysite Nanoformulation
2020
Prodigiosin, a bioactive secondary metabolite produced by Serratia marcescens, is an effective proapoptotic agent against various cancer cell lines, with little or no toxicity toward normal cells. The hydrophobicity of prodigiosin limits its use for medical and biotechnological applications, these limitations, however, can be overcome by using nanoscale drug carriers, resulting in promising formulations for target delivery systems with great potential for anticancer therapy. Here we report on prodigiosin-loaded halloysite-based nanoformulation and its effects on viability of malignant and non-malignant cells. We have found that prodigiosin-loaded halloysite nanotubes inhibit human epithelia…
Past, Present and Future Perspectives on Halloysite Clay Minerals
2020
Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), clay minerals belonging to the kaolin groups, are emerging nanomaterials which have attracted the attention of the scientific community due to their interesting features, such as low-cost, availability and biocompatibility. In addition, their large surface area and tubular structure have led to HNTs’ application in different industrial purposes. This review reports a comprehensive overview of the historical background of HNT utilization in the last 20 years. In particular it will focus on the functionalization of the surfaces, both supramolecular and covalent, following applications in several fields, including biomedicine, environmental science and catalysis.
Halloysite/Keratin Nanocomposite for Human Hair Photoprotection Coating
2020
We propose a novel keratin treatment of human hair by its aqueous mixtures with natural halloysite clay nanotubes. The loaded clay nanotubes together with free keratin produce micrometer-thick protective coating on hair. First, colloidal and structural properties of halloysite/keratin dispersions and the nanotube loaded with this protein were investigated. Above the keratin isoelectric point (pH = 4), the protein adsorption into the positive halloysite lumen is favored because of the electrostatic attractions. The ζ-potential magnitude of these core-shell particles increased from -35 (in pristine form) to -43 mV allowing for an enhanced colloidal stability (15 h at pH = 6). This keratin-cla…
Selective adsorption of oppositely charged PNIPAAM on halloysite surfaces: a route to thermo-responsive nanocarriers.
2018
Halloysite nanotubes were functionalized with stimuli-responsive macromolecules to generate smart nanohybrids. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-methacrylic acid (PNIPAAM-co-MA) was selectively adsorbed into halloysite lumen by exploiting electrostatic interactions. Amine-terminated PNIPAAM polymer was also investigated that selectively interacts with the outer surface of the nanotubes. The adsorption site has a profound effect on the thermodynamic behavior and therefore temperature responsive features of the hybrid material. The drug release kinetics was investigated by using diclofenac as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug model. The release kinetics depends on the nanoarchitecture of th…
Selective Antimicrobial Effects of Curcumin@Halloysite Nanoformulation: A Caenorhabditis elegans Study
2019
Alterations in the normal gastrointestinal microbial community caused by unhealthy diet, environmental factors, and antibiotic overuse may severely affect human health and well-being. Novel antimicrobial drug formulations targeting pathogenic microflora while not affecting or even supporting symbiotic microflora are urgently needed. Here we report fabrication of a novel antimicrobial nanocontainer based on halloysite nanotubes loaded with curcumin and protected with a dextrin outer layer (HNTs+Curc/DX) and its effective use to suppress the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria in Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes. Nanocontainers have been obtained using vacuum-facilitated loading of hydrophobic …
Natural Compounds as Sustainable Additives for Biopolymers
2020
In the last few decades, the interest towards natural compounds, coming from a natural source and biodegradable, for biopolymers is always increasing because of a public request for the formulation of safe, eco-friendly, and sustainable materials. The main classes of natural compounds for biopolymers are: (i) naturally occurring fillers (nFil), such as nano-/micro- sized layered alumino-silicate: halloysite, bentonite, montmorillonite, hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate, etc.; (ii) naturally occurring fibers (nFib), such as wood and vegetable fibers; (iii) naturally occurring antioxidant molecules (nAO), such as phenols, polyphenols, vitamins, and carotenoids. However, in this short review, …
Separation of halloysite/kaolinite mixtures in water controlled by sucrose addition: The influence of the attractive forces on the sedimentation beha…
2022
In this work, we propose an easy strategy for the separation of halloysite/kaolinite mixtures in sucrose aqueous solution. Preliminarily, we investigated the influence of the sucrose addition on the colloidal stability of kaolinite nanoplates and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) dispersed in water. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) measurements revealed that the HNTs aqueous mobility is dependent on the sucrose concentration, while the ζ-potential is negligibly affected by the addition of the carbohydrate in the aqueous solvent. On the other hand, any variations on the surface charge and dynamic behavior of kaolinite were detected in the presence of sucrose. The obtained ζ-potential and DLS results…
Halloysite nanotubes filled with MgO for paper reinforcement and deacidification
2021
Abstract A novel material for the deacidification and protection of paper has been designed by using MgO filled halloysite nanotubes (Hal). The ability of MgO loaded nanotubes to control the acidic conditions was evaluated by pH measurements in aqueous solvent. Afterwards, paper was impregnated into hydroxypropyl cellulose dispersions containing the consolidating material. A simulation of strong acidic conditions allowed us to evaluate the deacidification effect of the composite material on the samples. In particular, the paper reaches a pH of 7.7 after 1 h exposition to HNO3 vapours when MgO-Hal nanoparticles are added to the impregnation mixture at a concentration of 10 wt% and it remains…