The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of the applied voltage on the morphological and mechanical properties of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds for potential use in tissue engineering. The morphology of the scaffolds was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the BET techniques for measuring the surface area and pore volume. Stress-strain curves from tensile tests were obtained for estimating the mechanical properties. Additional studies for detecting changes in the chemical structure of the electrospun PCL scaffolds by Fourier transform infrared were performed, while contact angle and X-ray diffraction analysis were realized for determining the wettability and crystallinity, respectively. The SEM, AFM and BET results demonstrate that the electrospun PCL fibers exhibit morphological changes with the applied voltage. By increasing the applied voltage (10 to 25 kV) a significate influence was observed on the fiber diameter, surface roughness, and pore volume. In addition, tensile strength, elongation, and elastic modulus increase with the applied voltage, the crystalline structure of the fibers remains constant, and the surface area and wetting of the scaffolds diminish. The morphological and mechanical properties show a clear correlation with the applied voltage and can be of great relevance for tissue engineering.

In this study, thermoplastic starch (TPS) biofilms were developed using starch isolated from the seeds of Melicoccus bijugatus (huaya) and reinforced with bentonite clays at concentrations of 1%, 3%, and 5% by weight. Novelty of this research lies in utilizing a non-conventional starch source and enhancing properties of TPS through clay reinforcement. FTIR analysis verified bentonite’s nature of clays, while SEM analysis provided insights into morphology and agglomeration behavior. Key findings include a notable increase in biofilm thickness and elastic modulus with higher clay content. Specifically, tensile strength of biofilms improved from 2.5 MPa for pure TPS to 5.0 MPa with 5% clay reinforcement. The elastic modulus increased from 25 MPa (TPS) to 60 MPa (5% clay). Thermal stability also showed enhancement, with initial degradation temperature increasing from 110 °C for pure TPS to 130 °C for TPS with 5% clay. Water vapor permeability (WVP) tests demonstrated a decrease in WVP values from 4.11 × 10⁻¹⁰ g m⁻¹ s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹ for pure TPS to 2.09 × 10⁻¹⁰ g m⁻¹ s⁻¹·Pa⁻¹ for TPS with 5% clay, indicating a significant barrier effect due to clay dispersion. These results suggest that biofilms based on huaya starch and reinforced with bentonite clay have considerable potential for sustainable food packaging applications, offering enhanced mechanical and barrier properties.

Colok seed (Talisia floresii Standl) represents 80% of the total fruit weight and is obtained from trees that grow mainly in Yucatan Peninsula. The aim of this work was the physicochemical characterization from colok starch seeds as an alternative to conventional sources and to identify its characteristics for potential applications in different industrial sectors. Starch yield was 42.1% with low levels of lipids, ashes and fibers. The amylose content was 33.6 ± 1.15%. The gelatinization temperature was 85 ± 0.25 °C. Color analysis resulted in a starch with an intermediate luminosity, reflecting a dark color. Finally, in morphology, starch granule exhibited an average size of 18.7 μm, spherical, uniform and without fractures. Overall results demonstrated that isolated colok starch can be used in food products that require high processing temperatures, such as sauces, cookies, noodles, bread and food packages.

Isla Arena is located in the coordinate 20° 70´ N - 90° 45´ W, from Campeche, Mexico. In these estuaries, the ocean mixes with fresh water, and ecosystems are concentrated where petenes and pink flamingos proliferate. Crustaceans and mollusks abound in the sea. Despite its enormous marine wealth, there are no studies carried out on which halophilic microorganisms are present in these waters. In this work, the diversity and structure of the microbial community was investigated through a metagenomics approach and corroborated for sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. It was found that the phylum Fimicutes predominates with more than 50%, in almost the same proportion of the class Bacilli and with almost 41% of relative abundance of the order Bacillales. The sequencing results showed that one of the samples presented a high percentage of similarity (99.75%) using the Nucleotide BLAST program with a peculiar microorganism: Bacillus subtilis. This microorganism is one of the best characterized bacteria among the gram-positive ones. Our results demonstrate that B. subtilis can be an efficient source of proteases, lipases and cellulases, from halophilic microbial communities located in poorly explored areas.

In this research, damage in bone cements that were prepared with core-shell nanoparticles was monitored during four-point bending tests through an analysis of acoustic emission (AE) signals. The core-shell structure consisted of poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) as rubbery core and methyl methacrylate/styrene copolymer (P(MMA-co-St)) as a glassy shell. Furthermore, different core-shell ratios 20/80, 30/70, 40/60, and 50/50 were prepared and incorporated into the solid phase of the bone cement formulation at 5, 10, and 15 wt %, respectively. The incorporation of a rubbery phase into the bone cement formulation decreased the bending strength and bending modulus. The AE technique revealed that the nanoparticles play an important role on the fracture mechanism of the bone cement, since a higher amount of AE signals (higher amplitude and energy) were obtained from bone cements that were prepared with the nanoparticles in comparison with those without nanoparticles (the reference bone cement). The SEM examination of the fracture surfaces revealed that all of the bone cement formulations exhibited stress whitening, which arises from the development of crazes before the crack propagation. Finally, the use of the AE technique and the fracture surface analysis by SEM enabled insight into the fracture mechanisms that are presented during four-point bending test of the bone cement containing nanoparticles.

This study investigates the statistical optimization of cellulose extraction from Carludovica palmata fibers, an underexplored lignocellulosic resource with potential for sustainable polymer applications. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on a Central Composite Design (CCD) was applied to optimize acid and alkaline hydrolysis parameters, including reagent concentration, temperature, and reaction time, with the aim of maximizing cellulose yield while minimizing process severity. The multivariate approach enabled the identification of nonlinear effects and optimal operational windows that cannot be resolved using conventional single‐variable methods. Under optimized conditions, cellulose yields of 42.7% for the acid stage and 57.7% for the alkaline stage were obtained, and the statistical models showed good predictive reliability. Structural and thermal characterization confirmed that optimization influenced polymer‐relevant properties: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy evidenced effective removal of hemicellulose and lignin, X‐ray diffraction revealed an increase in crystallinity from 41% in untreated fibers to 64% after alkaline treatment, and thermogravimetric analysis showed enhanced thermal stability, with the main degradation temperature increasing from 328 °C to 352 °C. These results demonstrate that statistical optimization is an effective strategy to improve both yield and physicochemical properties of cellulose, supporting the valorization of C. palmata fibers for biopolymer‐based materials.