Nonionic Surfactant and Interfacial Structure Impact Crystallinity and Stability of β-Carotene Loaded Lipid Nanodispersions

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (16) ◽  
pp. 4126-4135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Malaki Nik ◽  
Sarah Langmaid ◽  
Amanda J. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Nonionic Surfactant ◽  
Interfacial Structure ◽  
Β Carotene

Off-axis electron holography applied to the study of interfaces

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 244-245
Author(s):  
J.K. Weiss ◽  
M. Gajdardziska-Josifovska ◽  
M. R. McCartney ◽  
David J. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Electric Fields ◽  
Resolution Enhancement ◽  
Interfacial Structure ◽  
Atomic Scale ◽  
Bulk Property ◽  
Electron Holography ◽  
Specimen Thickness ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Chemical Segregation ◽  
Diffraction Effects

Interfacial structure is a controlling parameter in the behavior of many materials. Electron microscopy methods are widely used for characterizing such features as interface abruptness and chemical segregation at interfaces. The problem for high resolution microscopy is to establish optimum imaging conditions for extracting this information. We have found that off-axis electron holography can provide useful information for the study of interfaces that is not easily obtained by other techniques.Electron holography permits the recovery of both the amplitude and the phase of the image wave. Recent studies have applied the information obtained from electron holograms to characterizing magnetic and electric fields in materials and also to atomic-scale resolution enhancement. The phase of an electron wave passing through a specimen is shifted by an amount which is proportional to the product of the specimen thickness and the projected electrostatic potential (ignoring magnetic fields and diffraction effects). If atomic-scale variations are ignored, the potential in the specimen is described by the mean inner potential, a bulk property sensitive to both composition and structure. For the study of interfaces, the specimen thickness is assumed to be approximately constant across the interface, so that the phase of the image wave will give a picture of mean inner potential across the interface.

A TEM study of the interface between organic matrix and aragonite in a biological hard tissue, nacre

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 1024-1025
Author(s):  
Jun Liu ◽  
Katie E. Gunnison ◽  
Mehmet Sarikaya ◽  
Ilhan A. Aksay
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Laminated Composite ◽  
Organic Matrix ◽  
Pearl Oyster ◽  
Interfacial Structure ◽  
Interfacial Region ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Organic Layers ◽  
Transmission Electron

The interfacial structure between the organic and inorganic phases in biological hard tissues plays an important role in controlling the growth and the mechanical properties of these materials. The objective of this work was to investigate these interfaces in nacre by transmission electron microscopy. The nacreous section of several different seashells -- abalone, pearl oyster, and nautilus -- were studied. Nacre is a laminated composite material consisting of CaCO3 platelets (constituting > 90 vol.% of the overall composite) separated by a thin organic matrix. Nacre is of interest to biomimetics because of its highly ordered structure and a good combination of mechanical properties. In this study, electron transparent thin sections were prepared by a low-temperature ion-beam milling procedure and by ultramicrotomy. To reveal structures in the organic layers as well as in the interfacial region, samples were further subjected to chemical fixation and labeling, or chemical etching. All experiments were performed with a Philips 430T TEM/STEM at 300 keV with a liquid Nitrogen sample holder.

The use of charging effects in Al/Al2O3 metal matrix composite materials as contrast mechanism in the SEM

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 422-423
Author(s):  
Andreas M. Borchert
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Electron ◽  
Aluminum Matrix ◽  
Interfacial Structure ◽  
Resolving Power ◽  
Coated Sample ◽  
Material Combination ◽  
Uncoated Sample ◽  
Backscattered Electrons ◽  
Contrast Mechanism ◽  
Good Contrast

In Al/Al2O3 MMC's the metal/ceramic interfacial structure is of great concern because aluminum does not wet (i.e. bond) well to alumina. One proposed method to overcome this problem is to form a magnesium-rich spinel (MgAl2O4) as an additional phase between the aluminum matrix and the alumina particle. The spinel forms by diffusion of Mg from the matrix and improves the bonding. Typically the SEM would be the most suitable instrument to study the spinel, but this particular material combination (alumina/spinel) does not have sufficient secondary or backscattered electron contrast to allow for normal imaging. The purpose of this work was to develop a technique for examining the growth and morphology of this spinel at the Al/Al2O3 interface. Samples of an Al/Al2O3 MMC with a spinel at the particle interface were prepared according to standard metallographic procedures. Certain samples were sputter coated with a gold film of approximately 12 nm thickness; other samples were examined uncoated. Nonconductive, uncoated specimens charge under the incident electron beam if the accelerating voltage is below E1 or above E2 in Figure 1. In both of cases (below E1 and above E2) the number of electrons entering the sample is higher than the number of electrons leaving the sample. The resolving power of the SEM is usually degraded by this effect and therefore nonconductive specimens are coated with a layer of conductive material prior to observation. Figure 2 shows how this effect can create contrast between two materials due to its effect on the secondary electron detector bias voltage. Figure 3 shows that this contrast mechanism exists for the material combination alumina/spinel. The secondary electron image of a coated sample (3a) shows almost no contrast between alumina and spinel whereas the uncoated sample (3b) shows good contrast due to the different charging characteristics of the materials. The alumina charges stronger than the spinel and appears brighter in the image. The assumption that the effect is due to secondary electrons is supported by Figure 4. The micrograph in Figure 4a was obtained by backscattered electrons only and shows poor contrast whereas the micrograph in Figure 4b was obtained by secondary and backscattered electrons and shows good contrast. Figure 5 shows micrographs obtained at different operating voltages. The reduction in contrast at lower operating voltages is due to reduced charging.

HRTEM simulation of interfacial structure in amorphous multilayers

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 466-467
Author(s):  
Margaret L. Sattler ◽  
Michael A. O'Keefe
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽  
Interfacial Structure ◽  
Multilayer Sample ◽  
Resolution Electron ◽  
Multilayered Materials ◽  
Simulated Images

Multilayered materials have been fabricated with such high perfection that individual layers having two atoms deep are possible. Characterization of the interfaces between these multilayers is achieved by high resolution electron microscopy and Figure 1a shows the cross-section of one type of multilayer. The production of such an image with atomically smooth interfaces depends upon certain factors which are not always reliable. For example, diffusion at the interface may produce complex interlayers which are important to the properties of the multilayers but which are difficult to observe. Similarly, anomalous conditions of imaging or of fabrication may occur which produce images having similar traits as the diffusion case above, e.g., imaging on a tilted/bent multilayer sample (Figure 1b) or deposition upon an unaligned substrate (Figure 1c). It is the purpose of this study to simulate the image of the perfect multilayer interface and to compare with simulated images having these anomalies.

Serum Retinol and β-carotene Levels and Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Morbid Obesity

2010 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Villaça Chaves ◽  
Gisele Gonçalves de Souza ◽  
Andréa Cardoso de Matos ◽  
Dra. Wilza Abrantes Peres ◽  
Silvia Elaine Pereira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Morbid Obesity ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
World Health ◽  
Morbidly Obese ◽  
Serum Retinol ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Β Carotene

Objective: To evaluate retinol and β-carotene serum levels and their relationship with risk factors for cardiovascular disease in individuals with morbid obesity, resident in Rio de Janeiro. Methodology: Blood serum concentrations of retinol and β-carotene of 189 morbidly obese individuals were assessed. The metabolic syndrome was identified according to the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) and World Health Organization (WHO). Lipid profile, insulin resistance, basal insulin, glycemia, blood pressure, and anthropometry and their correlation with retinol and β-carotene serum levels were evaluated. Results: Metabolic syndrome diagnosis was observed in 49.0% of the sample. Within this percentage the levels of β-carotene were significantly lower when body mass index increased. Serum retinol didn't show this behavior. Serum retinol inadequacy in patients with metabolic syndrome (61.3%), according to WHO criterion, was higher (15.8%) than when the whole sample was considered (12.7%). When metabolic syndrome was diagnosed by NCEP criterion, β-carotene inadequacy was higher (42.8%) when compared to the total sample (37.5%). There was a significant difference between average β-carotene values of patients with and without metabolic syndrome (p=0.048) according to the classification of the NCEP. Lower values were found in patients with metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: Considering the vitamin A contribution in antioxidant protection, especially when risk factors for cardiovascular disease are present, it is suggested that great attention be given to morbidly obese. This could aid in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, which affects a significant part of the population.

Vitamin A Value of Plant Food Provitamin A - Evaluated by the Stable Isotope Technologies

2014 ◽  
Vol 84 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 25-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangwen Tang
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Provitamin A ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Plant Food ◽  
Plant Foods ◽  
A Value ◽  
Provitamin A Carotenoids ◽  
Β Carotene

Humans need vitamin A and obtain essential vitamin A by conversion of plant foods rich in provitamin A and/or absorption of preformed vitamin A from foods of animal origin. The determination of the vitamin A value of plant foods rich in provitamin A is important but has challenges. The aim of this paper is to review the progress over last 80 years following the discovery on the conversion of β-carotene to vitamin A and the various techniques including stable isotope technologies that have been developed to determine vitamin A values of plant provitamin A (mainly β-carotene). These include applications from using radioactive β-carotene and vitamin A, depletion-repletion with vitamin A and β-carotene, and measuring postprandial chylomicron fractions after feeding a β-carotene rich diet, to using stable isotopes as tracers to follow the absorption and conversion of plant food provitamin A carotenoids (mainly β-carotene) in humans. These approaches have greatly promoted our understanding of the absorption and conversion of β-carotene to vitamin A. Stable isotope labeled plant foods are useful for determining the overall bioavailability of provitamin A carotenoids from specific foods. Locally obtained plant foods can provide vitamin A and prevent deficiency of vitamin A, a remaining worldwide concern.

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