Niosomes are employed for their improved physical properties and stability and as a controlled delivery system. However, their large-scale production and different preparation methods affect their physical properties. The microfluidic method represents a novel approach to the preparation of niosomes that enables precise control and decreases the preparation time and steps compared to alternative methods. The UVB protection and anti-hyperpigmentation activities of lycopene-loaded niosomes prepared by microfluidic (MF) and novel conventional thin-film hydration (THF) methods were compared. Extract powders from tomatoes (T), carrots (C), and mixed red vegetables (MR) were utilized to prepare lycopene-rich extract-entrapped niosomes. The resulting niosome formulations were characterized by particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, FT-IR spectra, entrapment efficiency, lycopene-release profile, permeation, and stability. The lycopene extract–niosome formulations were evaluated for their potential to provide UVB protection to human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and for their anti-melanogenesis effects on B16F10 melanoma cells. The results indicated that niosomes prepared by the MF method exhibited high uniformity and homogeneity (reflected by a low PDI value) and maintained smaller sizes when processed through a chip utilizing a hydrodynamic flow-focusing (HFF) platform compared to THF niosomes. The release kinetics of all lycopene–niosome formulations followed the Korsmeyer–Peppas model. The FT-IR spectra indicated that lycopene was incorporated into the niosome bilaminar membrane. Moreover, niosomes obtained from MF demonstrated enhanced stability during heating–cooling cycles, along with high UVB protection and anti-melanogenesis effects. Therefore, these developed niosome preparation methods could be effectively applied to topical products.

This paper introduces the design and characterization of a double-stage energy harvesting floor tile that uses a piezoelectric cantilever to generate electricity from human footsteps. A frequency up-conversion principle, in the form of an overshooting piezoelectric cantilever, plucked with a proof mass is utilized to increase energy conversion efficiency. The overshoot of the proof mass is implemented by a mechanical impact between a moving cover plate and a stopper to prevent damage to the plucked piezoelectric element. In an experiment, the piezoelectric cantilever of a floor tile prototype was excited by a pneumatic actuator that simulated human footsteps. The key parameters affecting the electrical power and energy outputs were investigated by actuating the prototype with a few kinds of excitation input. It was found that, when actuated by a single simulated footstep, the prototype was able to produce electrical power and energy in two stages. The cantilever resonated at a frequency of 14.08 Hz. The output electricity was directly proportional to the acceleration of the moving cover plate and the gap between the cover plate and the stopper. An average power of 0.82 mW and a total energy of 2.40 mJ were obtained at an acceleration of 0.93 g and a gap of 4 mm. The prototype had a simple structure and was able to operate over a wide range of frequencies.

We designed and optimized a glucose biosensor system based on a screen-printed electrode modified with the NAD-GDH enzyme. To enhance the electroactive surface area and improve the electron transfer efficiency, we introduced graphene oxide (GO) and ferrocene-modified linear poly(ethylenimine) (LPEI-Fc) onto the biosensor surface. This strategic modification exploits the electrostatic interaction between graphene oxide, which possesses a negative charge, and LPEI-Fc, which is positively charged. This interaction results in increased catalytic current during glucose oxidation and helps improve the overall glucose detection sensitivity by amperometry. We integrated the developed glucose sensor into a flow injection (FI) system. This integration facilitates a swift and reproducible detection of glucose, and it also mitigates the risk of contamination during the analyses. The incorporation of an FI system improves the efficiency of the biosensor, ensuring precise and reliable results in a short time. The proposed sensor was operated at a constant applied potential of 0.35 V. After optimizing the system, a linear calibration curve was obtained for the concentration range of 1.0–40 mM (R² = 0.986). The FI system was successfully applied to determine the glucose content of a commercial sports drink.

This study addresses the challenge of the scalable, cost-effective synthesis of high-quality turbostratic graphene from low-cost carbon sources, including biomass waste such as sugarcane leaves, bagasse, corncobs, and palm bunches, using the Direct Current Long Pulse Joule Heating (DC-LPJH) technique. By optimizing the carbonization process and blending biomass-derived carbon with carbon black and turbostratic graphene, the gram-scale production of turbostratic graphene was achieved in just a few seconds. The synthesis process involved applying an 18 kJ electrical energy pulse for 1.5 s, resulting in temperatures of approximately 3000 K that facilitated the transformation of the carbon atoms into well-ordered turbostratic graphene. Structural and morphological characterization via Raman spectroscopy revealed low-intensity or absent D bands, with a high I_2D/I_G ratio (~0.8–1.2), indicating monolayer turbostratic graphene formation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) identified sp²-hybridized carbon and oxygenated functional groups, while NEXAFS spectroscopy confirmed the presence of graphitic features and both sp² and sp³ bonding states. Energy consumption calculations for the DC-LPJH process demonstrated approximately 10 kJ per gram, demonstrating the potential for cost-effective production. This work presents an efficient approach for producing high-quality turbostratic graphene from low-cost carbon sources, with applications in enhancing the properties of composites, polymers, and building materials.