Open Access
Extraction of phenolic compounds from populus salicaceae bark
(MDPI, 2022) Autor, Elsa; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; Bimbela Serrano, Fernando; Maisterra Udi, Maitane; Gandía Pascual, Luis; Martínez Merino, Víctor; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate
Lignocellulosic residues have the potential for obtaining high value-added products that could be better valorized if biorefinery strategies are adopted. The debarking of short-rotation crops yields important amounts of residues that are currently underexploited as low-grade fuel and could be a renewable source of phenolic compounds and other important phytochemicals. The isolation of these compounds can be carried out by different methods, but for attaining an integral valorization of barks, a preliminary extraction step for phytochemicals should be included. Using optimized extraction methods based on Soxhlet extraction can be effective for the isolation of phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties. In this study, poplar bark (Populus Salicaceae) was used to obtain a series of extracts using five different solvents in a sequential extraction of 24 h each in a Soxhlet extractor. Selected solvents were put in contact with the bark sample raffinate following an increasing order of polarity: n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water. The oily residues of the extracts obtained after each extraction were further subjected to flash chromatography, and the fractions obtained were characterized by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and the antioxidant activity (AOA) of the samples was evaluated in their reaction with the free radical 2,2-Diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH method). Polar solvents allowed for higher individual extraction yields, with overall extraction yields at around 23% (dry, ash-free basis). Different compounds were identified, including hydrolyzable tannins, phenolic monomers such as catechol and vanillin, pentoses and hexoses, and other organic compounds such as long-chain alkanes, alcohols, and carboxylic acids, among others. An excellent correlation was found between TPC and antioxidant activity for the samples analyzed. The fractions obtained using methanol showed the highest phenolic content (608 g of gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/mg) and the greatest antioxidant activity.
Open Access
The effectiveness of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) extraction methods in gram-negative pseudomonas putida U
(MDPI, 2025-01-09) Getino, Luis; García, Irene; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; Mateos, Raúl; Ariza-Carmona, Luisa M.; Sánchez-Castro, Natalia; Morán Juez, José Fernando; Olivera, Elías R.; Chamizo Ampudia, Alejandro; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2
Bioplastics are emerging as a promising solution to reduce pollution caused by petroleum-based plastics. Among them, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) stand out as viable biotechnological alternatives, though their commercialization is limited by expensive downstream processes. Traditional PHA extraction methods often involve toxic solvents and high energy consumption, underscoring the need for more sustainable approaches. This study evaluated physical and chemical methods to extract PHAs from Pseudomonas putida U, a bacterium known to produce poly-3-hydroxyoctanoate P(3HO). Lyophilized cells underwent six extraction methods, including the use of the following: boiling, sonication, sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and chloroform. Physical methods such as boiling and sonication achieved yields of 70% and 60%, respectively, but P(3HO) recovery remained low (30–40%). NaClO extraction provided higher yields (80%) but resulted in significant impurities (70%). NaOH methods offered moderate yields (50–80%), with P(3HO) purities between 50% and 70%, depending on the conditions. Spectroscopic and analytical techniques (FTIR, TGA, NMR, GPC) identified 0.05 M NaOH at 60 °C as the optimal extraction condition, delivering high P(3HO) purity while minimizing environmental impact. This positions NaOH as a sustainable alternative to traditional halogenated solvents, paving the way for more eco-friendly PHA production processes.
Open Access
ModulaTransprot: explorando el uso de la nutrición amoniacal para reducir contenidos de nitrato en hortalizas de hoja en sistemas de cultivo sin suelo
(Interempresas Media, 2021) Ariz Arnedo, Idoia; Rivero Marcos, Mikel; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; García-Mina Freire, Jose María; Cavero, Rita Yolanda; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2
Encontrar alternativas a través del diseño de productos y sistemas sostenibles que aumenten la eficiencia en el uso del nitrógeno y disminuya los contenidos de nitratos en tejidos comestibles es una necesidad científica, social y económica.
Open Access
Effects of polyols at low concentration on the release of sweet aroma compounds in model soda beverages
(Elsevier, 2024) Barba González-Albo, Carmen; Angós Iturgaiz, Ignacio; Maté Caballero, Juan Ignacio; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
This study investigated the effect of polyols erythritol, D-mannitol, and maltitol on the volatility of aroma compounds γ-butyrolactone, 3-methyl-1-butanol, and 2-phenylethanol in aqueous solution. Headspace solidphase microextraction/gas chromatography and diffusion-ordered nuclear magnetic resonance techniques were used to obtain information on aroma–food matrix interaction. Results demonstrated that adding polyols at final low concentrations of 5% or 10% (w/w) to an aqueous solution of 2-phenylethanol reduced the release of vapor-phase aromas, except in the case of 3-methyl-1-butanol, which was not affected by the presence of polyols in the liquid matrix. Polyols also reduced the diffusion coefficients of all three aroma compounds, probably due to friction between the molecules. At low polyol concentrations, aroma compound volatility and diffusion coefficient values were altered compared to those of aromas released from pure water. This observation is related to the physicochemical properties of the aroma compounds. These insights may help guide the use of the combination of aroma compounds and polyols in the formulation of sugar-free and reduced-sugar beverages. Chemical compounds: γ-butyrolactone (PubChem CID: 7302), 3-methyl-1-butanol (PubChem CID: 31260), 2-phenylethanol (PubChem CID: 6054), erythritol (PubChem CID: 222285), D-mannitol (PubChem CID: 6251), maltitol (PubChem CID: 493591).
Open Access
Synthesis and Leishmanicidal activity of novel urea, thiourea, and selenourea derivatives of diselenides
(American Society for Microbiology, 2019) Díaz, Marta; Lucio, Hector de; Moreno, Esther; Espuelas, Socorro; Aydillo, Carlos; Jiménez Ruiz, Antonio; Toro, Miguel Ángel; Gutiérrez, Killian Jesús; Martínez Merino, Víctor; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; Ciencias; Zientziak
A novel series of thirty-one N-substituted urea, thiourea, and selenourea derivatives containing diphenyldiselenide entities were synthesized, fully characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods, and screened for their in vitro leishmanicidal activities. The cytotoxic activity of these derivatives was tested against Leishmania infantum axenic amastigotes, and selectivity was assessed in human THP-1 cells. Thirteen of the synthesized compounds showed a significant antileishmanial activity, with 50% effective concentration (EC50) values lower than that for the reference drug miltefosine (EC50, 2.84 mu M). In addition, the derivatives 9, 11, 42, and 47, with EC50 between 1.1 and 1.95 mu M, also displayed excellent selectivity (selectivity index ranged from 12.4 to 22.7) and were tested against infected macrophages. Compound 11, a derivative with a cyclohexyl chain, exhibited the highest activity against intracellular amastigotes, with EC50 values similar to those observed for the standard drug edelfosine. Structure-activity relationship analyses revealed that N-aliphatic substitution in urea and selenourea is recommended for the leish-manicidal activity of these analogs. Preliminary studies of the mechanism of action for the hit compounds was carried out by measuring their ability to inhibit trypanothione reductase. Even though the obtained results suggest that this enzyme is not the target for most of these derivatives, their activity comparable to that of the standards and lack of toxicity in THP-1 cells highlight the potential of these compounds to be optimized for leishmaniasis treatment.
Open Access
The importance of the urea cycle and its relationships to polyamine metabolism during ammonium stress in Medicago truncatula
(Oxford University Press, 2022) Urra Rodríguez, Marina; Buezo Bravo, Javier; Royo Castillejo, Beatriz; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; López Gómez, Pedro; Cerdán Ruiz, Daniel; Esteban Terradillos, Raquel; Martínez Merino, Víctor; Gogorcena, Yolanda; Tavladoraki, Paraskevi; Morán Juez, José Fernando; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernuaren
The ornithine–urea cycle (urea cycle) makes a signifcant contribution to the metabolic responses of lower photosynthetic eukaryotes to episodes of high nitrogen availability. In this study, we compared the role of the plant urea cycle and its relationships to polyamine metabolism in ammonium-fed and nitrate-fed Medicago truncatula plants. High ammonium resulted in the accumulation of ammonium and pathway intermediates, particularly glutamine, arginine, ornithine, and putrescine. Arginine decarboxylase activity was decreased in roots, suggesting that the ornithine decarboxylase-dependent production of putrescine was important in situations of ammonium stress. The activity of copper amine oxidase, which releases ammonium from putrescine, was signifcantly decreased in both shoots and roots. In addition, physiological concentrations of ammonium inhibited copper amine oxidase activity in in vitro assays, supporting the conclusion that high ammonium accumulation favors putrescine synthesis. Moreover, early supplementation of plants with putrescine avoided ammonium toxicity. The levels of transcripts encoding urea-cyclerelated proteins were increased and transcripts involved in polyamine catabolism were decreased under high ammonium concentrations. We conclude that the urea cycle and associated polyamine metabolism function as important protective mechanisms limiting ammonium toxicity in M. truncatula. These fndings demonstrate the relevance of the urea cycle to polyamine metabolism in higher plants.
Open Access
Fe3O4-SiO2 mesoporous core/shell nanoparticles for magnetic field-induced ibuprofen-controlled release
(American Chemical Society, 2022-12-23) García Rodríguez, Lucía; Garayo Urabayen, Eneko; López Ortega, Alberto; Galarreta Rodríguez, Itziar; Cervera Gabalda, Laura María; Cruz Quesada, Guillermo; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; Garrido Segovia, Julián José; Gómez Polo, Cristina; Pérez de Landazábal Berganzo, José Ignacio; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa, PJUPNA2020; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Hybrid magnetic nanoparticles made up of an iron oxide, Fe3O4, core and a mesoporous SiO2 shell with high magnetization and a large surface area were proposed as an efficient drug delivery platform. The core/shell structure was synthesized by two seed-mediated growth steps combining solvothermal and sol—gel approaches and using organic molecules as a porous scaffolding template. The system presents a mean particle diameter of 30(5) nm (9 nm magnetic core diameter and 10 nm silica shell thickness) with superparamagnetic behavior, saturation magnetization of 32 emu/g, and a significant AC magnetic-field-induced heating response (SAR = 63 W/gFe3O4, measured at an amplitude of 400 Oe and a frequency of 307 kHz). Using ibuprofen as a model drug, the specific surface area (231 m2/g) of the porous structure exhibits a high molecule loading capacity (10 wt %), and controlled drug release efficiency (67%) can be achieved using the external AC magnetic field for short time periods (5 min), showing faster and higher drug desorption compared to that of similar stimulus-responsive iron oxide-based nanocarriers. In addition, it is demonstrated that the magnetic field-induced drug release shows higher efficiency compared to that of the sustained release at fixed temperatures (47 and 53% for 37 and 42 °C, respectively), considering that the maximum temperature reached during the exposure to the magnetic field is well below (31 °C). Therefore, it can be hypothesized that short periods of exposure to the oscillating field induce much greater heating within the nanoparticles than in the external solution.
Open Access
Innovative flow-through reaction system for the sustainable production of phenolic monomers from lignocellulose catalyzed by supported Mo2C
(Wiley, 2024) Maisterra Udi, Maitane; Atienza Martínez, María; Hablich Alvarracin, Karina Lissett; Moreira, Rui; Martínez Merino, Víctor; Gandía Pascual, Luis; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; Bimbela Serrano, Fernando; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Universidad Pública de Navarra - Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Molybdenum carbide supported on activated carbon (β-Mo2C/AC) has been tested as catalyst in the reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) of lignocellulosic biomass both in batch and in Flow-Through (FT) reaction systems. High phenolic monomer yields (34 wt.%) and selectivity to monomers with reduced side alkyl chains (up to 80 wt.%) could be achieved in batch in the presence of hydrogen. FT-RCF were made with no hydrogen feed, thus via transfer hydrogenation from ethanol. Similar selectivity could be attained in FT-RCF using high catalyst/biomass ratios (0.6) and high molybdenum loading (35 wt.%) in the catalyst, although selectivity decreased with lower catalyst/biomass ratios or molybdenum contents. Regardless of these parameters, high delignification of the lignocellulosic biomass and similar monomer yields were observed in the FT mode (13-15 wt.%) while preserving the holocellulose fractions in the delignified pulp. FT-RCF system outperforms the batch reaction mode in the absence of hydrogen, both in terms of activity and selectivity to reduced monomers that is attributed to the two-step non-equilibrium processes and the removal of diffusional limitations that occur in the FT mode. Even though some molybdenum leaching was detected, the catalytic performance could be maintained with negligible loss of activity or selectivity for 15 consecutive runs.
Open Access
IAOx induces the SUR phenotype and differential signalling from IAA under different types of nitrogen nutrition in Medicago truncatula roots
(Elsevier, 2019) Buezo Bravo, Javier; Esteban Terradillos, Raquel; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; López Gómez, Pedro; Marino Bilbao, Daniel; Chamizo Ampudia, Alejandro; Gil Idoate, María José; Martínez Merino, Víctor; Morán Juez, José Fernando; Zientziak; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Indole-3-acetaldoxime (IAOx) is a particularly relevant molecule as an intermediate in the pathway for tryptophan-dependent auxin biosynthesis. The role of IAOx in growth-signalling and root phenotype is poorly studied in cruciferous plants and mostly unknown in non-cruciferous plants. We synthesized IAOx and applied it to M. truncatula plants grown axenically with NO3-, NH4+ or urea as the sole nitrogen source. During 14 days of growth, we demonstrated that IAOx induced an increase in the number of lateral roots, especially under NH4+ nutrition, while elongation of the main root was inhibited. This phenotype is similar to the phenotype known as “superroot” previously described in SUR1- and SUR2-defective Arabidopsis mutants. The effect of IAOx, IAA or the combination of both on the root phenotype was different and dependent on the type of N-nutrition. Our results also showed the endogenous importance of IAOx in a legume plant in relation to IAA metabolism, and suggested IAOx long-distance transport depending on the nitrogen source provided. Finally, our results point out to CYP71A as the major responsible enzymes for IAA synthesis from IAOx.
Open Access
Antibacterial performance of Co-Zn ferrite nanoparticles under visible light irradiation
(Wiley, 2024-11-20) Gubieda, Alicia G.; Abad Díaz de Cerio, Ana; García-Prieto, Ana; Fernández-Gubieda, María Luisa; Cervera Gabalda, Laura María; Ordoqui Huesa, Eduardo; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; Gómez Polo, Cristina; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2
BACKGROUND: To address water scarcity and promote sustainable resource management, more efficient and cost-effective water treatment solutions are necessary. Particularly, pathogens in drinking water are a topic of growing concern. One promising technology is the use of photocatalytic nanoparticles activated by visible light as antibacterial agents. This study focuses on the characterization and antibacterial properties of Co-Zn ferrite nanocatalysts, tested against Escherichia coli. RESULTS: The CoxZn1¿xFe2O4 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.4 and 0.6) ferrites were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. Structural, morphological and optical analyses confirmed that these nanoparticles have a cubic spinel structure, with sizes of around 10 nm, and band gap energies suitable for visible light activation (1.4¿1.7 eV). The antibacterial efficacy of the nanoparticles against E. coli was tested and compared with their photocatalytic performance employing phenol as organic pollutant model (highest phenol degradation for x = 0.6). Specifically, the antibacterial capacity of these nanoparticles was evaluated by comparing the ability of bacteria to grow after being incubated with the nanoparticles under visible light and in the dark. It was found that nanoparticles with lower cobalt content (x = 0 and 0.1) significantly reduced bacterial culturability under visible light. Transmission Electron Microscopy analysis revealed that nanoparticles with cobalt content caused bacteria to secrete biofilm, potentially offering some protection against the nanoparticles. CONCLUSION: ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles show the highest antibacterial effect amongst those tested. This is attributed to the combined action of Zn2+ ion release and the photocatalytic effect under visible light. Furthermore, Zn might inhibit protective biofilm secretion, leading to higher antibacterial effects.