Abstract: A reacting canister utilizing transparent optical fiber technology coated with a photo-catalyst and a plasmonic layer, including yttrium aluminum garnet nanoparticles, disposed between the optical fiber and the photo-catalyst to degrade off-flavor compounds in aquacultured aquatic life. The degradation of off-flavored compounds—including 2-methylisoborneol—can be significantly enhanced by increasing the surface area of the catalyst. Coating individual transparent optical fibers and aligning those fibers in a canister configuration allows the treatment of large volumes of water in portable and scalable reactors. Once the fluid is treated, the fluid is returned to the reservoir containing the aquacultured aquatic life.

Abstract: A method of slowing progression of an amyloid disease by administration of cactus mucilage extract from Opuntia ficus-indicia is presented. Both gelling and non-gelling cactus mucilage extracts were found to induce changes in the secondary structures of the amyloid beta peptides thus interfering with formation of A? fibrils and aggregation of A? fibrils into plaques.

Abstract: An ammonia adsorption product is described which may be used for fresh caught fish and bait. The product may comprise functionalized tectosilicate compound and a buffer. High concentrations of ammonia produced by fish waste can be lethal, even though oxygen availability is rich enough to keep fish breathing. The product is a user-friendly, sustainable, affordable product which is able to extend the life of the fish by safely removing ammonia by an ion-exchange mechanism. This product can convert toxic ammonia into ammonium and uptake ammonium by releasing sodium ions in the water.

Abstract: A catalytic reactor using catalyst-coated optical fiber technology that will allow the control of light and its emission mode to quantitatively optimize catalytic degradation of off-flavor compounds. This degradation can be greatly enhanced by increasing the surface area of the catalyst. Coating individual transparent optical fibers and aligning them in a canister configuration allows the treatment of large volumes of water in portable and scalable reactors.

Abstract: A method of slowing progression of an amyloid disease by administration of cactus mucilage extract from Opuntia ficus-indicia is presented. Both gelling and non-gelling cactus mucilage extracts were found to induce changes in the secondary structures of the amyloid beta peptides thus interfering with formation of A? fibrils and aggregation of A? fibrils into plaques.

Abstract: A method of treating an amyloid disease by administration of cactus mucilage extract from Opuntia ficus-indicia is presented. Both gelling and non-gelling cactus mucilage extracts were found to induce changes in the secondary structures of the amyloid beta peptides thus interfering with formation of A? fibrils and aggregation of A? fibrils into plaques.

Abstract: An ammonia adsorption product is described which may be used for fresh caught fish and bait. The product may comprise functionalized tectosilicate compound and a buffer. High concentrations of ammonia produced by fish waste can be lethal, even though oxygen availability is rich enough to keep fish breathing. The product is a user-friendly, sustainable, affordable product which is able to extend the life of the fish by safely removing ammonia by an ion-exchange mechanism. This product can convert toxic ammonia into ammonium and uptake ammonium by releasing sodium ions in the water.

Abstract: An ammonia adsorption product is described which may be used for fresh caught fish and bait. The product may comprise functionalized tectosilicate compound and a buffer. High concentrations of ammonia produced by fish waste can be lethal, even though oxygen availability is rich enough to keep fish breathing. The product is a user-friendly, sustainable, affordable product which is able to extend the life of the fish by safely removing ammonia by an ion-exchange mechanism. This product can convert toxic ammonia into ammonium and uptake ammonium by releasing sodium ions in the water.

Abstract: An ammonia adsorption product is described which may be used for fresh caught fish and bait. The product may comprise functionalized tectosilicate compound and a buffer. High concentrations of ammonia produced by fish waste can be lethal, even though oxygen availability is rich enough to keep fish breathing. The product is a user-friendly, sustainable, affordable product which is able to extend the life of the fish by safely removing ammonia by an ion-exchange mechanism. This product can convert toxic ammonia into ammonium and uptake ammonium by releasing sodium ions in the water.

Abstract: In recent years, a great deal of attention has been drawn to the issue of water contamination, particularly in developing countries, where an inexpensive, effective method of reducing waterborne pathogens and contaminants is needed. Experiments performed with mucilage extracted from the Opuntia ficus-indica cactus show that this mucilage is an effective tool for clearing contaminants from water supplies, including the removal of Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus bacteria, and the reduction of arsenic concentrations with very low mucilage concentrations (5 mg/L and 10 mg/L). Results for Bacillus and E. coli show settling to be complete in approximately five to ten minutes with removal rates of up to 97%, when CaCl2 is co-applied. Arsenic is removed at between 35% to 85% by increasing the contact time between the mucilage and the arsenic solutions depending on the pH and mucilage concentration.

Abstract: Novel electrospun nanofibers and nanofibrous membranes, methods of manufacturing the same, and methods of using the same are provided. The nanofibers include a cactus mucilage, such as mucilage from Opuntia ficus-indica. An organic polymer can be added to the cactus mucilage before electrospinning. The nanofibrous membranes can be used in water filtration.

Abstract: Alzheimer' s disease (AD) is the common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the formation of extraneuronal accumulation of amyloid fibrils and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of Amyloid ?-Protein (A?) into plaques. Cactus mucilage extracted from Opuntia ficus-indica was analyzed in disturbing the aggregation pathway of Amyloid ?-Protein (A?) fibrils and ?-synuclein. Mucilage is a pectin polysaccharide with a backbone of ?-D-galacturonic acid and ?-L-rhamnose and a branch of arabinose or xylose. Two different fractions of mucilage can be extracted: pectin gelling extract which forms gels in the presence of Ca2+ ions (GE) and non-gelling extract (NE). The effectiveness of mucilage in disturbing the formation of A? fibrils was evaluated. A? monomeric species have been incubated along with different concentration of the mucilage extract in vitro. The aggregation kinetics of the A? proteins were monitored by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of reducing a microbial infection of a heparinized surface wherein heparin precipitation is reduced as compared to a control. In some embodiments a composition comprising ethanol and isopropanol is applied to the surface. In other embodiments, two or more ethanol compositions are applied and removed sequentially from the surface prior to contacting the surface with a biological fluid, tissue or vessel, wherein the composition in each successive administration comprises an increased amount of ethanol. Also provided is a method of reducing a microbial infection of a surface comprising applying a mucilage extract from an Opuntia ficus indica species to the surface.

Abstract: Potable drinking water is plagued with widespread arsenic contamination, particularly in developing communities. Ferric ions were introduced to interact with arsenate based on the strong affinity of arsenate for ferric hydroxides, followed by mucilage addition. The mucilage coagulated and flocculated the ferric-arsenate complex and formed visible flocs that settled at the bottom of the tubes. The system showed 75-96% arsenate removal in 1 hour, while longer retention times showed 100% removal. The role of the mucilage was demonstrated by untreated solutions showing no concentration difference and remaining stable for more than 15 days. This mucilage-based technology has the potential to be a relatively inexpensive, environmentally sustainable alternative to synthetic polymer flocculants for removing arsenic from drinking water.

Abstract: Novel electrospun nanofibers and nanofibrous membranes, methods of manufacturing the same, and methods of using the same are provided. The nanofibers include a cactus mucilage, such as mucilage from Opuntia ficus-indica. An organic polymer can be added to the cactus mucilage before electrospinning. The nanofibrous membranes can be used in water filtration.

Abstract: Novel electrospun nanofibers and nanofibrous membranes, methods of manufacturing the same, and methods of using the same are provided. The nanofibers include a cactus mucilage, such as mucilage from Opuntia ficus-indica. An organic polymer can be added to the cactus mucilage before electrospinning. The nanofibrous membranes can be used in water filtration.

Abstract: Specific drug delivery to tumor cells without affecting normal cells is a major challenge in cancer treatment. The present invention incorporates embedding nonionic surfactant vesicles (niosomes) containing an anti-cancer therapeutic agent with chlorotoxin into a thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel network. Chitosan has mucoadhesive property which can be used in the targeting of the tumor cells with the mucin over expression. Chlorotoxin is a 36 amino acid peptide obtained from Leiurus quinquestriatus scorpion venom which binds preferentially to tumor cells of neuroectodermal origin but not to normal cells. The incorporation of chlorotoxin along with niosomes in the chitosan hydrogel is used as the second targeting strategy to further improve the specific delivery of drugs to tumor cells such as glioma.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of reducing a microbial infection of a heparinized surface wherein heparin precipitation is reduced as compared to a control. In some embodiments a composition comprising ethanol and isopropanol is applied to the surface. In other embodiments, two or more ethanol compositions are applied and removed sequentially from the surface prior to contacting the surface with a biological fluid, tissue or vessel, wherein the composition in each successive administration comprises an increased amount of ethanol. Also provided is a method of reducing a microbial infection of a surface comprising applying a mucilage extract from an Opuntia ficus indica species to the surface.

Abstract: Despite advances in off-shore oil exploration and drilling technology, accidental oil spills do occur. Depending on their magnitude and location, irreparable damage may be inflicted on marine and coastal ecosystems. Emulsification of a water/surfactant/oil system results in the production of oil droplets and this depends on the formulation and composition variables, mixing characteristics and system preparation. Thus, research is ongoing on improving methods of cleaning up oil spills. Cactus mucilage was used to disperse and absorb oil from a simulated oil slick in different salt concentrations. Results show correlations between emulsion properties and interfacial characteristics of mucilage as function of aqueous phase salinity. Mucilage powder added to the oil floating on the water dispersed the oil film and absorbed the oil while remaining afloat, facilitates removal of the oil-mucilage aggregate.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of reducing a microbial infection of a heparinized surface wherein heparin precipitation is reduced as compared to a control. In some embodiments a composition comprising ethanol and isopropanol is applied to the surface. In other embodiments, two or more ethanol compositions are applied and removed sequentially from the surface prior to contacting the surface with a biological fluid, tissue or vessel, wherein the composition in each successive administration comprises an increased amount of ethanol. Also provided is a method of reducing a microbial infection of a surface comprising applying a mucilage extract from an Opuntia ficus indica species to the surface.