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.Energy & Environment
Competitive Advantages:
Alternative therapy for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, Treats underlying pathology instead of symptoms, Few adverse side effects.
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.Our researchers have developed a method of treating amyloid disease found in both Alzheimer’s disease patients and Parkinson’s disease patients. They have shown that the plant mucilage extract effectively interferes with the protein accumulation pathway in the brain and successfully targets the amyloid beta protein plaques. Experimentally, both the gelling and non-gelling forms of the mucilage have been shown to disrupt the pathway leading to amyloid beta aggregation.
Competitive Advantages:
Superior 2-D layered functional coatings, Light reflective and UV resistant, Anti-microbial properties, Withstands extreme temperatures, Engineered at the nanoscale.
Cutin-based devices, coatings and methods of producing such devices and coatings are presented herein. Cutin-like materials (CLMs) are presented which mimic and adapt coatings found in nature for the next generation of functional coatings. Cutin has several advantages including excellent UV resistance, natural resistance to bacteria and viruses, noncorrosive, and stability under abrupt changes in temperature and environment. CLMs can be engineered at the nanoscale and readily impregnated with metals and metal oxides materials.Our inventors have engineered and characterized 2-D arrays of CLM for the next generation of 2-D functional coatings and 3-D structures. These CLM can be both engineered at the nanoscale and readily impregnated with metal and metal oxide materials. The coatings may be comprised of naturally derived or synthetic CLM containing fatty acid iron salts, metals, and dielectric materials. The naturally derived CLM may be sourced from a wide variety of cacti. These CLM tolerate extreme temperatures, are noncorrosive, reflect light and withstand water damage. This makes them ideal candidates for functional coatings in mechanical, electrical and thermoelectric applications.