Efficiency of single-pulse laser fragmentation of organic nutraceutical dispersions in a circular jet flow-through reactor

Nutraceuticals provide health benefits and particularly profit from a sensitive, high-purity production process. Microparticle laser fragmentation in liquids is an emerging technique for the contamination-free comminution of organic drugs and nutraceuticals aiming at solubility enhancements. However...

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Main Authors: Tina Friedenauer, Maximilian Spellauge, Alexander Sommereyns, Verena Labenski, Tuba Esatbeyoglu, Christoph Rehbock, Heinz P. Huber, Stephan Barcikowski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Beilstein-Institut 2025-05-01
Series:Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.16.55
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author Tina Friedenauer
Maximilian Spellauge
Alexander Sommereyns
Verena Labenski
Tuba Esatbeyoglu
Christoph Rehbock
Heinz P. Huber
Stephan Barcikowski
author_facet Tina Friedenauer
Maximilian Spellauge
Alexander Sommereyns
Verena Labenski
Tuba Esatbeyoglu
Christoph Rehbock
Heinz P. Huber
Stephan Barcikowski
author_sort Tina Friedenauer
collection DOAJ
description Nutraceuticals provide health benefits and particularly profit from a sensitive, high-purity production process. Microparticle laser fragmentation in liquids is an emerging technique for the contamination-free comminution of organic drugs and nutraceuticals aiming at solubility enhancements. However, current discontinuously operated fragmentation setups suffer from chemical degradation by multipulse laser excitation at high fluence and do not allow for systematic studies of the fragmentation mechanisms. In this work, continuous-flow microparticle laser fragmentation in liquids with ultrashort-pulsed lasers was studied in a circular jet reactor using curcumin and cannabidiol as model substances and single-pulse-per-volume element conditions to compare the fragmentation efficiency for these two nutraceuticals. Fragmentation efficiency based on the yield of submicrometer particles and nanoparticles was quantified using UV–vis extinction spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and analytical centrifugation, while high-performance liquid chromatography determined degradation. We found improved fragmentation efficiency at lower mass concentrations. In all experiments, chemical degradation was minimal (<2%), and increased mass concentration of curcumin enabled ultralow by-product formation of 0.01%. The process selectivity against degradation was defined by the application-relevant descriptor of mole degradation per produced submicrometer particle surface and quantified regarding feedstock mass concentration and nutraceutical type. Cytotoxicity in HepG2 cancer cells was significantly reduced in cells treated with laser-processed curcumin in comparison to unirradiated curcumin controls, and antioxidant effects were proven, ensuring high viability even at high curcumin concentrations.
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spelling doaj-art-fb34d6bf96db48ab9a874deb9ce6a4b42025-08-20T03:36:34ZengBeilstein-InstitutBeilstein Journal of Nanotechnology2190-42862025-05-0116171172710.3762/bjnano.16.552190-4286-16-55Efficiency of single-pulse laser fragmentation of organic nutraceutical dispersions in a circular jet flow-through reactorTina Friedenauer0Maximilian Spellauge1Alexander Sommereyns2Verena Labenski3Tuba Esatbeyoglu4Christoph Rehbock5Heinz P. Huber6Stephan Barcikowski7Technical Chemistry I and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstrasse 7, Essen 45141, Germany Technical Chemistry I and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstrasse 7, Essen 45141, Germany Institute of Photonic Technologies (LPT), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Konrad-Zuse-Strasse 3/5, Erlangen 91052, Germany Department of Molecular Food Chemistry and Food Development, Institute of Food and One Health, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Am Kleinen Felde 30, Hannover 30167, Germany Department of Molecular Food Chemistry and Food Development, Institute of Food and One Health, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Am Kleinen Felde 30, Hannover 30167, Germany Technical Chemistry I and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstrasse 7, Essen 45141, Germany Department of Applied Sciences and Mechatronics, Lasercenter HM, Munich University of Applied Sciences HM, Lothstrasse 34, Munich 80335, Germany Technical Chemistry I and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstrasse 7, Essen 45141, Germany Nutraceuticals provide health benefits and particularly profit from a sensitive, high-purity production process. Microparticle laser fragmentation in liquids is an emerging technique for the contamination-free comminution of organic drugs and nutraceuticals aiming at solubility enhancements. However, current discontinuously operated fragmentation setups suffer from chemical degradation by multipulse laser excitation at high fluence and do not allow for systematic studies of the fragmentation mechanisms. In this work, continuous-flow microparticle laser fragmentation in liquids with ultrashort-pulsed lasers was studied in a circular jet reactor using curcumin and cannabidiol as model substances and single-pulse-per-volume element conditions to compare the fragmentation efficiency for these two nutraceuticals. Fragmentation efficiency based on the yield of submicrometer particles and nanoparticles was quantified using UV–vis extinction spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and analytical centrifugation, while high-performance liquid chromatography determined degradation. We found improved fragmentation efficiency at lower mass concentrations. In all experiments, chemical degradation was minimal (<2%), and increased mass concentration of curcumin enabled ultralow by-product formation of 0.01%. The process selectivity against degradation was defined by the application-relevant descriptor of mole degradation per produced submicrometer particle surface and quantified regarding feedstock mass concentration and nutraceutical type. Cytotoxicity in HepG2 cancer cells was significantly reduced in cells treated with laser-processed curcumin in comparison to unirradiated curcumin controls, and antioxidant effects were proven, ensuring high viability even at high curcumin concentrations.https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.16.55antioxidantcannabidiolcurcumindrugfood additivelow degradationnanoparticlepulsed laser ablation in liquidssolubilization
spellingShingle Tina Friedenauer
Maximilian Spellauge
Alexander Sommereyns
Verena Labenski
Tuba Esatbeyoglu
Christoph Rehbock
Heinz P. Huber
Stephan Barcikowski
Efficiency of single-pulse laser fragmentation of organic nutraceutical dispersions in a circular jet flow-through reactor
Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology
antioxidant
cannabidiol
curcumin
drug
food additive
low degradation
nanoparticle
pulsed laser ablation in liquids
solubilization
title Efficiency of single-pulse laser fragmentation of organic nutraceutical dispersions in a circular jet flow-through reactor
title_full Efficiency of single-pulse laser fragmentation of organic nutraceutical dispersions in a circular jet flow-through reactor
title_fullStr Efficiency of single-pulse laser fragmentation of organic nutraceutical dispersions in a circular jet flow-through reactor
title_full_unstemmed Efficiency of single-pulse laser fragmentation of organic nutraceutical dispersions in a circular jet flow-through reactor
title_short Efficiency of single-pulse laser fragmentation of organic nutraceutical dispersions in a circular jet flow-through reactor
title_sort efficiency of single pulse laser fragmentation of organic nutraceutical dispersions in a circular jet flow through reactor
topic antioxidant
cannabidiol
curcumin
drug
food additive
low degradation
nanoparticle
pulsed laser ablation in liquids
solubilization
url https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.16.55
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