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SUMMARY:Insights into the Structural Analysis of Caffeine–Oxalic Acid Co
 -crystals Using High-Resolution PXRD and Computational Refinement
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260327T101000Z
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260327T103000Z
DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260425T212911Z
UID:indico-contribution-809-10347@events.saip.org.za
DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Sihle Thabethe (University of Cape Town)\nCo-crystal
 lization is a powerful tool in crystal engineering\, enabling modification
  of material and drug properties. While single-crystal methods dominate\, 
 many systems crystallize only as powders\, requiring alternative approache
 s. We synthesized the caffeine–oxalic acid cocrystal and applied high-re
 solution powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) with computational analysis to as
 sess phase formation\, crystallinity\, and supramolecular organization. PX
 RD data were collected on a Bruker D2 diffractometer and analyzed using Di
 ffrac.EVA\, Topas\, EXPO2014\, and DASH\, with structural models derived f
 rom the Cambridge Structural Database. Thermal analysis (TGA/DSC) was perf
 ormed to evaluate hydration\, phase purity\, and decomposition.\nPXRD prof
 iles confirmed successful co-crystal formation\, distinct from starting ma
 terials. Thermal analysis indicated no hydration\, with decomposition begi
 nning at 200 °C. Indexing revealed a monoclinic P21/a system consistent
  with prior reports\, with lattice parameters: a = 18.97 Å\, b = 14.88 Å
 \, c = 3.27 Å\, β = 122.74°. Structure solution via simulated annealing
  achieved a valid fit (Profile χ² < 2)\, refined further by Rietveld met
 hods. Hydrogen bonding analysis revealed partial expected interactions\, t
 hough higher-resolution synchrotron data will be required for full elucida
 tion. This work demonstrates the integrated use of PXRD\, computational re
 finement\, and thermal analysis as a practical strategy for investigating 
 co-crystals and inclusion complexes in early-stage solid-form screening.\n
 \nhttps://events.saip.org.za/event/272/contributions/10347/
LOCATION:
URL:https://events.saip.org.za/event/272/contributions/10347/
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SUMMARY:Physicochemical Characterisation and Antibacterial Activities of C
 erium Oxide Nanoparticles
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260327T095000Z
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260327T101000Z
DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260425T212911Z
UID:indico-contribution-809-10327@events.saip.org.za
DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Fezile Motsoene (University of Johannesburg)\nDiabet
 ic wounds represent a complex biophysical microenvironment characterised b
 y sustained inflammation\, excess reactive oxygenated species\, impaired f
 ibroblastic proliferation\, and prevalent bacterial infections\, particula
 rly P. aeruginosa. Dysregulated redox homeostasis and altered cellular res
 ponses in diabetic tissue significantly compromise wound healing. Although
  conventional therapies\, including hormonal regulation\, pressure reducti
 on\, wound debridement\, and antibiotic treatments\, have long served as t
 he foundational approach to the management of diabetic wounds\, the increa
 sed disease recurrence and heightened bacterial progression have highlight
 ed the limitations of traditional methods. Therefore\, this study evaluate
 s the biophysical and bacterial interaction between green-synthesised ceri
 um oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) and both P. aeruginosa bacterial and mam
 malian wounded cells. The comprehensive physicochemical characterisation w
 ill be used to demonstrate the band gap energy\, hydrodynamic size\, morph
 ological properties\, and redox activity. Additionally\, the biophysical e
 valuation\, including antibacterial assays against P. aeruginosa\, will de
 monstrate a concentration-dependent response mediated through membrane int
 eractions. Moreover\, the application of CeO2 NPs in fibroblasts will enha
 nce the viability and proliferative responses under oxidative stress condi
 tions\, suggesting restoration of redox equilibrium and improved metabolic
  activity. These findings support the potential integration of complementa
 ry bioenergetic modulation strategies in future investigations. Furthermor
 e\, the collective findings will enhance the biophysical understanding of 
 nanobio interactions in diabetic wounds while advocating the advancement o
 f redox-active plant-derived nanoparticles designed for resource-constrain
 ed environments.\n\nhttps://events.saip.org.za/event/272/contributions/103
 27/
LOCATION:
URL:https://events.saip.org.za/event/272/contributions/10327/
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SUMMARY:In vitro characterisation of electrospun nanofibers for chronic di
 abetic wounds
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260327T093000Z
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260327T095000Z
DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260425T212911Z
UID:indico-contribution-809-10326@events.saip.org.za
DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Sinesipho Phalaso ()\nWound healing is a complex pro
 cess that can be impaired in conditions such as diabetes\, leading to chro
 nic wounds. Advanced dressings\, including nanofiber-based scaffolds\, off
 er enhanced interaction with the wound environment and support cellular ac
 tivity. In this study\, polycaprolactone (PCL) and gelatin (GEL) nanofiber
 s were fabricated via electrospinning to evaluate their potential for diab
 etic wound applications in vitro. Morphology was analyzed using field-emis
 sion scanning electron microscopy (FESEM)\, while biocompatibility\, poros
 ity\, water uptake\, and degradability were assessed. Nanofibers supported
  fibroblast attachment after 24 hours of incubation and demonstrated high 
 porosity\, strong water absorption\, and controlled degradation. These fin
 dings indicate that electrospun PCL/GEL nanofibers are promising candidate
 s for chronic wound management. Future work will focus on antimicrobial dr
 ug loading to further enhance their therapeutical potential.\n\nhttps://ev
 ents.saip.org.za/event/272/contributions/10326/
LOCATION:
URL:https://events.saip.org.za/event/272/contributions/10326/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF ZINC-MODIFIED COCONUT HU
 SK BIOCHAR
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260327T091000Z
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260327T093000Z
DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260425T212911Z
UID:indico-contribution-809-10308@events.saip.org.za
DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Ralph kwakye (university of health and allied scienc
 es)\nMicrobial resistance is increasing the global burden\, and the search
  for non-antimicrobial products useful in environmental as well as biologi
 cal applications continues. Coconut husk-derived biochar (BC) was synthesi
 sed by pyrolysis at 450 °C and then modified by zinc ion exchange to form
  zinc-loaded biochar (Zn-BC). The structural and morphological characteris
 ation by X-ray diffraction (XRD)\, scanning electron microscopy (SEM)\, an
 d Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed the amorphous s
 tructure of carbon matrix loaded with adsorbed zinc-based crystalline doma
 ins\, maintaining the porous microstructure of the biochar. Antimicrobial 
 activity showed no inhibition to BC (MIC > 1 mg mL⁻¹) against all teste
 d microorganisms. Zn-BC showed broad bactericidal and fungicidal activity 
 of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in all the examined organisms (0
 .5 mg mL⁻¹). Activity ratios (MBC/MIC ≤ 4) proved bactericidal and fu
 ngicidal. In addition\, Zn-BC exhibited a moderate antioxidant activity co
 mpared to that of BC. Zn-BC exhibited up to 67.0 ± 1.5% radical scavengin
 g in the DPPH assay at 5 mg mL⁻¹\, and 61.7 ± 2.6% for unmodified bioc
 har. In the ABTS assay\, Zn-BC showed concentration-dependent scavenging w
 ith an inhibition of 57.6 ± 5.2% at 25 mg mL⁻¹\, higher than that of u
 nmodified BC. These findings indicate that zinc modification can convert c
 oconut husk biochar into an effective and versatile material with high ant
 imicrobial and moderate antioxidant activity.\n\nhttps://events.saip.org.z
 a/event/272/contributions/10308/
LOCATION:
URL:https://events.saip.org.za/event/272/contributions/10308/
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