Browsing by Author "Rajesh Rakesh Kumar"

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Assessing the impact of microwave treatment on the nutritional quality and metabolomic profile of barley flour
(Elsevier B.V., 2025) Mavuri Tejaswini Durga; Alonkrita Chowdhury; Rajesh Rakesh Kumar; S. Suvetha; Dodla Mamatha; Akshita Trivedi; Kratika Maurya; Pavan Kumar Yadav; Mayukh Ghosh
Microwave treatment effectively enhances barley's functional food properties while reducing anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) such as phytates, trypsin inhibitors, and condensed tannins, which limit nutrient bioavailability. Conventional thermal methods reduce ANFs but degrade bioactive compounds. Microwave processing offers an alternative, preserving or enhancing these components. This study evaluated microwave treatments (300–800 W, 1.5–9 min) effects on barley flour compared to untreated samples. Favorable treatments, T-4, T-5, T-6 (600 W, 2, 4, and 6 min), and T-7 (800 W, 1.5 min), increased total phenolic content from 1622.98 μg GAE/g DW (control) to 1890.43 μg GAE/g DW (T-4). Antioxidant activities were enhanced, including DPPH scavenging (2046.11 μg AAE/g DW, T-7), ABTS scavenging (1271.55 μg GAE/g DW, T-6), total antioxidant capacity (4397.14 μg AAE/g DW, T-7), FRAP (1920.80 μg AAE/g DW, T-7), CUPRAC (4278.10 μg AAE/g DW, T-5), and ferrous ion chelation (256.47 μg EDTA eq./g DW, T-6). ANFs, such as phytates (516.83 μg PAE/g DW in T-4), trypsin inhibitors (0.11 mg/g DW in T-6), and condensed tannins (194.23 μg CE/g DW in T-1), were reduced in treatment-specific manner. LC-HRMS-based metabolomics revealed T-7 as the most effective treatment, enhancing various phenolics and flavonoids (e.g., ferulic acid, catechin) while maintaining sugars, lipids, and vitamins. Multivariate analyses confirmed T-7's superiority in preserving metabolite integrity while improving nutritional and functional properties. Excessive power and prolonged exposure (e.g., T-9: 800 W, 5 min) led to the degradation of bioactive compounds. This study highlights microwave processing as a sustainable and effective approach for developing functional foods from barley. © 2025 The Authors
Correction to: Optimization of microwave parameters to enhance phytochemicals, antioxidants and metabolite profile of de-oiled rice bran (Scientific Reports, (2024), 14, 1, (23959), 10.1038/s41598-024-74738-1)
(Nature Research, 2025) Alonkrita Chowdhury; Alla Yaswanth Naveen Kumar; Rajesh Rakesh Kumar; Vivek Kumar Maurya; M. Satyanarayana Mahesh; Abhishek Kumar Singh; Pavan Kumar Yadav; Mayukh Ghosh
Correction to: Scientific Reportshttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-74738-1, published online 14 October 2024 The original version of this Article contained errors in the values of the phytochemical and antioxidant analysis. Consequently, in the Results and discussion section, under the subheading ‘Phytochemical analysis’, “The TPC values varied across the different treatment groups, ranging from 947.95 ± 11.72 to 1304.77 ± 9.50 µg GAE/g of DM. The control group had a TPC of 1164.32 ± 15.63 µg GAE/g of DM. Most treatment groups showed an increase in phenolic content compared to the control group, with T-1 exhibiting the highest TPC at 1304.77 ± 9.50 µg GAE/g of DM, followed by T-2, T-7, T-5, T-4, T-3, T-6, and T-8 in decreasing order (Fig. 1a). In contrast, the T-9 group showed a significant decrease in phenolic content compared to the control. These results indicate that microwave parameters have a notable impact on the total phenolic content of the treated DORB samples, highlighting the importance of optimizing these parameters to enhance nutritive value. The treatment-specific influence on TPC aligns with the findings of Pokkanta et al.8 in rice bran. They reported that microwaving at 260 watts for 0.5 to 3 min and at 440 watts for 0.5 to 2.5 min resulted in a maximum increase in phenolic content, while a decrease occurred at 880 watts. This study corroborates those findings, as the highest TPC was observed with the 300 watts for 3 min treatment (T-1), while a significant reduction was seen in the 800 watts for 5 min treatment (T-9). The reduction in T-9 might be due to the degradation of phenolics caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures. The effectiveness of the 300 watts for 3 min microwave treatment in enhancing phenolic content could be attributed to factors such as the release of bound phenolics through the breakdown of cell walls and minimal thermal damage to bioactive compounds during the process45. The TFC varied among the different treatment groups, ranging from 482.73 ± 9.96 to 916.82 ± 16.29 µg QE/g of DM, with the control group having a TFC of 900.91 ± 11.5 µg QE/g of DM. Most treatment groups showed a significant increase in flavonoid content compared to the control. The T-6 treatment group exhibited the highest TFC, followed by T-4, T-7, T-1, T-2, T-5, and T-3 (Fig. 1b). A significant decrease in flavonoid content was observed in the T-9 group, while the TFC of T-8 was comparable to the control. The decrease in T-9, which involved treatment at 800 watts for 5 min, is likely due to the degradation of flavonoids caused by prolonged exposure to high-intensity microwaves13,46. A similar wattage-time -dependent variation in TFC in microwaved rice bran was also reported by Pokkanta et al.8 The flavonol content ranged from 6.59 ± 0.77 to 43.35 ± 0.88 µg CE/g of DM among the treated samples, whereas the control group had a much lower flavonol content of 1.87 ± 0.22 µg CE/g of DM. All treated samples exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) increase in flavonol content compared to the control, indicating that microwave treatment positively influenced flavonol levels in DORB. The highest flavonol content was observed in the T-7 group (800 watts for 1.5 min), which yielded a concentration of 43.35 ± 0.88 µg CE/g of DM, followed by T-6, T-5, T-4, T-3, T-2, T-1, T-8, and T-9 (Fig. 1c).” now reads: “The TPC values varied across the different treatment groups, ranging from 1743.69 ± 3.2 to 3879.31 ± 24.67 µg GAE/g of DM. The control group had a TPC of 2082.75 ± 5.58 µg GAE/g of DM. Most treatment groups showed an increase in phenolic content compared to the control group, with T-1 exhibiting the highest TPC at 3879.31 ± 24.70 µg GAE/g of DM, followed by T-2, T-7, T-5, T-4, T-3, T-6, and T-8 in decreasing order (Fig. 1a). In contrast, the T-9 group showed a significant decrease in phenolic content compared to the control. These results indicate that microwave parameters have a notable impact on the total phenolic content of the treated DORB samples, highlighting the importance of optimizing these parameters to enhance nutritive value. The treatment-specific influence on TPC aligns with the findings of Pokkanta et al.8 in rice bran. They reported that microwaving at 260 watts for 0.5 to 3 min and at 440 watts for 0.5 to 2.5 min resulted in a maximum increase in phenolic content, while a decrease occurred at 880 watts. This study corroborates those findings, as the highest TPC was observed with the 300 watts for 3 min treatment (T-1), while a significant reduction was seen in the 800 watts for 5 min treatment (T-9). © The Author(s) 2025.
Development of a Self-Healing, Tissue-Adhesive, and Bacteriostatic Guar Gum-Based Hydrogel for Enhanced Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration
(American Chemical Society, 2025) Sheetal Jaiswal; Vijay K. Sharma; Deepak Kumar; Paramjeet Yadav; Biplob Koch; Satish K. Verma; Mayank Varshney; Rajesh Rakesh Kumar
A guar gum (GG)-grafted-(polydimethylamino-co-polyacrylamido sulfonic acid) [GG-g-(PDMAEA-co-PAMPS)] hydrogel was developed as a promising material for wound dressings. The hydrogel was synthesized by grafting poly(dimethylaminoethacrylate) (PDMAEA) and poly(acrylamidopropyl sulfonic acid) (PAMPS) onto guar gum (GG), and its structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Rheological assessments demonstrated its mechanical robustness and self-healing properties while swelling studies revealed pH-sensitive behavior. Biocompatibility was confirmed through cell viability assays, showing minimal cytotoxicity and the hydrogel exhibited a bacteriostatic effect against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis. In a rat full-thickness chronic wound model, the hydrogel significantly accelerated wound healing, enhanced collagen deposition, reduced inflammation, and promoted angiogenesis. These results underscored the potential of the GG-g-(PDMAEA-co-PAMPS) hydrogel as an effective solution for chronic wound management. © 2025 American Chemical Society.
Multi-Responsive Hydrogel Based on Sodium Alginate With Acrylic Acid and Methacrylic Acid: Impact on Normal and Cancerous Cells
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025) Krishtan Pal; Sheetal Jaiswal; Paramjeet Yadav; Rajesh Rakesh Kumar; Tarun Minocha; Sanjeev Kumar Yadav
The application of sodium alginate (SA) in the field of hydrogels has attracted much attention. However, it remains challenging to fabricate sodium alginate-based biocompatible hydrogels with improved strength, high elasticity, porosity, and extraordinary adhesiveness. Herein, a hydrogel is constructed by SA and a copolymer of acrylic acid (AA) and meth acrylic acid (MAA), was synthesized via a free-radical polymerization (FRP) and reinforced by using dynamic cross-linker (Fe2+/Fe3+) with their carboxylate groups (COO−) like a chelating complex. The XPS validates the presence of dynamic Fe2+ (711 eV)/Fe3+ (714 eV) ions in the hydrogel scaffold. Porous structure contributes to improving the swelling rate (400%) which assists in drug delivery (80%) applications. The hydrogel has a well-interconnected network with a crossover point (G′ = G″) at 120 Pa with 8.52% strain and various factors viz. frequency temperature and time sweep study affect the gelation. The hydrogel exhibits a substantial surface area (25m2/g), pore depth size up to 350 nm, and height distribution histogram average size of 394 nm. The poly(AA-co-MAA) copolymer found actively targeting breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and exhibited biocompatibility against HEK-293 cells and useful in water soluble controlled drug delivery. © 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
PVA/AMPS hydrogels: Promising adsorbents for wastewater treatment with high efficiency and reusability
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025) Paramjeet Yadav; Shere Afgan; Shiwani R. Singh; Ravi Prakash; Pralay Maity; Rajesh Rakesh Kumar
A PVAMPS hydrogel was synthesized through chemical cross-linking and semi-interpenetration of Poly (vinyl Alcohol) (PVA) and 2-Acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) with glutaraldehyde in distilled water. Various ratios of PVA/AMPS, namely PVAMPS-1 (2:1), PVAMPS-2 (1:1), and PVAMPS-3 (1:2), were examined to understand their individual impacts on gel formation. The synthesis of hydrogels was confirmed using FT-IR and solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy. The PVAMPS hydrogels demonstrated high efficiency as a selective adsorbent for removing cationic dyes, such as Methylene Blue, Safranine-O, and Thionine, from aqueous solutions, with over 90% removal of cationic dyes observed within 18 hours. Regeneration and reusability studies revealed that even after four cycles, the adsorption capacity of the PVAMPS hydrogels remained exceptionally high, with removal rates exceeding 90% for Methylene Blue. However, for Safranine-O and Thionine, the removal rates dropped to 20% and 23%, respectively, after four cycles. These findings underscore the promising potential of PVAMPS hydrogels for the removal of cationic dyes in wastewater treatment. © 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
RAFT Synthesis of Self-Assembled Poly(Acrylic Acid)-b-poly(N-Acryloyl-L-Tryptophan) Polymer: Investigating Micelle Formation and Biocompatibility
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025) Megha Keshari; Sheetal Jaiswal; Baishakhi Mahapatra; Rakesh Kumar Singh; Rajesh Rakesh Kumar
Purpose: This study aims to synthesize and evaluate the physicochemical and biological properties of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and its block copolymer with N-acryloyl-L-tryptophan (PNALT), specifically focusing on their suitability for biomedical applications. Methods: PAA and PAA-b-PNALT were synthesized via RAFT polymerization using benzyl dodecyl trithiocarbonate (BDTTC) as the chain transfer agent (CTA). Kinetic studies were performed using 1H NMR to monitor acrylic acid (AA) conversion. Molecular weight evolution and polymer dispersity were analysed by GPC. Thermal behaviour was evaluated by TGA and DSC, while micelle formation was assessed using DLS and TEM. Cytotoxicity was evaluated on RAW 264.7 and MCF-7 cell lines via MTT assay. Results: The polymerization followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with a linear increase in molar mass and narrow PDI. PAA-b-PNALT exhibited enhanced thermal stability compared to PAA, as shown by TGA. No distinct Tg was observed in DSC, suggesting stability between 25–130°C. DLS and TEM confirmed self-assembly of PAA-b-PNALT into spherical micelles (80–220 nm). MTT assays demonstrated good cytocompatibility of both polymers, with PAA-b-PNALT showing improved biocompatibility, particularly at 50 µM on MCF-7 cells. Conclusion: PAA-b-PNALT exhibits desirable features such as controlled molar mass, thermal stability, self-assembly into micelles, and enhanced cytocompatibility. These properties position it as a promising candidate for applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and related biomedical technologies. © 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
Temperature-Tunable Adsorption of Methylene Blue by Poly(AAc-Co-AAm) Hydrogels: Swelling Behavior, Kinetics, and Isotherm Studies
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025) Pratibha Mandal; Kawale Ashlesha Purushottam; Nishant Shekhar; Arti Srivastava; Sheetal Jaiswal; Manoj Kumar Bharty; Rajesh Rakesh Kumar
In this study, poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) [poly(AAc-co-AAm)] hydrogels were synthesized via free radical polymerization using acrylic acid (AAc), acrylamide (AAm), and N, N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker. The synthesized hydrogels were characterized by FTIR, 1H-NMR, TGA, and SEM to confirm structural integrity, crosslinking, and thermal stability. Swelling behavior was evaluated at varying temperatures (30°C, 35°C, and 45°C) and pH (3.0–8.0). Maximum equilibrium swelling was observed for poly(AAc-co-AAm)3 due to higher hydrophilic group content, reaching saturation within 3 h. Swelling increased with both temperature and pH due to hydrogen bond disruption and ionic repulsion. TGA demonstrated a three-step decomposition, indicating stability up to ~180°C. Adsorption studies were performed by using methylene blue (100 mg/L) with 12 mg of hydrogel at pH 8.0. Optimal dye uptake occurred within 8 h. Adsorption increased with increase in dye concentration (20–100 mg/L), and the hydrogel showed enhanced adsorption at higher pH due to deprotonation of carboxylic groups. Kinetic analysis confirmed the pseudo-second-order model (R2 > 0.995) best described the process, indicating chemisorption. Freundlich isotherm (R2 = 0.998) best fit equilibrium data, suggesting multilayer adsorption on a heterogeneous surface. These findings validate the hydrogels as efficient, pH-sensitive, and thermo-responsive adsorbents for dye removal applications. © 2025 Wiley Periodicals LLC.