Publications

Abstract Solution‐processed semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides commonly serve as quintessential 2D substrates and templates to develop hybrid structures with novel and/or enhanced properties and performance. However, the effects and control of their ubiquitous and abundant structural defects are still poorly explored and understood. Here, exploiting their highly reactive and defective edges, an unprecedented strategy is introduced for their toposelective functionalization with noble metal nanoparticles through galvanic displacement. Selectively edge‐decorated transition metal dichalcogenides nanosheets are successfully produced with gold, palladium, or platinum nanoparticles, showing tunable loading and size. As proof of concept, the hybrid systems are tested for optical and photothermal sensing, as well as electrocatalysis and electronics, demonstrating their enhanced functionality and broad applicability. These findings pave the way for the versatile production of mixed‐dimensional multifunctional materials, achieved by harnessing the defective nature of solution‐processed transition metal dichalcogenides via molecular chemistry approaches.

Tannins are polyphenolic compounds historically utilized in textile and adhesive industries, but also in traditional human and animal medicines or foodstuffs. Since 20th-century, advances in analytical chemistry have allowed disclosure of the chemical nature of these molecules. The chemical profile of extracts obtained from previously selected species was investigated to try to establish a bridge between traditional background and scientific data. The study of the chemical composition of these extracts has permitted us to correlate the presence of tannins and other related molecules with the effectiveness of their apparent uses. The revision of traditional knowledge paired with scientific evidence may provide a supporting background on their use and the basis for developing innovative pharmacology and food applications based on formulations using natural sources of tannins. This traditional-scientific approach can result useful due to the raising consumers’ demand for natural products in markets, to which tannin-rich extracts may pose an attractive alternative. Therefore, it is of interest to back traditional applications with accurate data while meeting consumer’s acceptance. In this review, several species known to contain high amounts of tannins have been selected as a starting point to establish a correlation between their alleged traditional use, tannins content and composition and potential bioaccessibility.

Melons (Cucumis melo L.) are highly popular due to its delicate and delightful flavor in the worldwide. However, the flavor of the melon juice was easily affected by thermal treatments and unpleasant cooking smell during production process. Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) juice is a proven nutritious beverage with high levels of antioxidants, polyphenols, and other beneficial nutrients. Due to its low sugar content, combined with sugarcane, muskmelon-sugarcane blend juice gives an appealing and exotic drink. The research was planned to evaluate the effect of thermo-sonication (20 kHz, 70% amplitude, 5, 10 and 15 min) and microwave (90 °C, 400 W, 120 sec) on physicochemical parameters including pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids (TSS), total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC) and antioxidant capacity of muskmelon and sugarcane juice blend, during storage of 90 days at refrigeration (4±1 °C). The statistical results showed that synergism of sonication and microwave treatments had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) influence on pH, TSS, titratable acidity, TPC, TFC and antioxidant capacity. T₃ (15 min of sonication and 120 s of microwave) showed the maximum TSS (12.00±0.40 °B), pH (5.07±0.02), TPC (484.33±10.41 mg GAE/100 mL), TFC (261.73±11.32 mg CE/100 mL), and antioxidant activity (381.62±17.72 µg AAE/100 mL), as compared to untreated samples. Thermosonication for 15 min caused maximum retention of TPC, TFC and antioxidant capacity of blend juice during 90 days of storage, whereas in untreated samples these parameters were found highly decreased during storage. Thus, sonication and microwave can be recommended as an alternative to both conventional pasteurization processes and chemical preservatives.

In the present study, the co-expression of AaPMT and AaTRI genes in A. acutangulus hairy roots significantly improved the yields of TA and showed higher antioxidant activity than control because of higher total TA content, which is the first report on simultaneous introduction of PMT and TRI genes into TA-producing plant by biotechnological approaches.

Lavandula dentata L. is a medicinal plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family, frequently used in traditional medicine to treat various pathologies such as diabetes, inflammation, microbial infections, and other disordors. The present work aims to explore this medicinal plant by highlighting its ethno-medicinal uses, its phytochemical characteristics, as well as its pharmacological and industrial properties on a global scale. Thus, in this review, the highlighted properties are reported to explore possible therapeutic pathways of L. dentata. As reported, this medicinal species is rich in different phytochemicals belonging to several chemical families, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Indeed, L. dentata chemical compounds are characterized by several promising biological and pharmacological properties. These bioactivities include antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory effects, etc. In fact, and even at low concentrations, L. dentata essential oils (EOs) and organic extracts specifically inhibit enzymes, membrane or intracellular receptors, proteins or signaling pathways involved in the genesis of these pathologies. The findings of this work revealed that the pharmacological activities of L. dentata confirm the importance, the diversified use, and the effectiveness of this plant in the traditional remedies of many diseases. Nevertheless, pharmacokinetic validation and toxicological examinations are required to detect any possible toxicity for future clinical trials.

Changing faces: The shape of gold nanorods can be finely tuned by controlled growth under sonication in DMF in the presence of poly(vinylpyrrolidone). Reshaping involves the formation of rods with sharp tips and strongly faceted lateral faces, and ultimately leads to perfect, single-crystal octahedrons (see images). Mechanistic considerations indicate a shape-inducing effect of the polymer through different binding interactions for the different faces. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2007/z703259_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

In this work, the chemical and nutritional composition of three Amaranthaceae species (Alternanthera sessilis, Dicliptera chinensis, and Dysphania ambrosioides) was studied. The results showed a differential flavonoid content in the three species: A. sessilis and D. ambrosioides showed similar flavonoid contents (15.1 ± 0.6 and 15.1 ± 0.1 mg/g extract, respectively), followed by D. chinensis (11.4 ± 0.1 mg/g extract). On the other hand, the nutritional results showed a high protein content in all species (16.9–13.9 ± 0.1 g/100 g dw) and revealed the presence of organic acids, such as oxalic and succinic acid. Therefore, bioactive compounds, together with protein and organic acids, could be of great value to the food industry.