1. Synergistic effect of supercritical and ultrasound-assisted ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) extractsTaja Žitek Makoter, Nika Kučuk, Vesna Postružnik, Maja Leitgeb, Željko Knez, Mateja Primožič, Maša Knez Marevci, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Proper processing of natural material is crucial to obtain an extract with high content of
biologically active components. Dried, grinded ginger roots were extracted by ultrasonic method
and supercritical extraction with CO2
. The aim of the study was to determine if a mixture of the two
types of extracts attained by different methods and solvents exhibits better bioavailability than each
extract itself. Therefore, both extracts were analytically evaluated and then mixed in a ratio of 1:1.
The supercritical extract (SCG extract) and the mixed extract (mixG extract) had high antioxidant
activity (78% and 73%) and total phenols (827 mg/g ext. and 1455 mg/g ext.), which is also consistent
with the levels of gingerol (303 mg/g ext. and 271 g/g ext.) and shogaol (111 mg/g ext. and 100 g/g
ext.) in the extracts. In comparison to both pure extracts higher levels of total phenols were found
in the extract mixG. This could be the reason for the significant inhibition of melanoma cells and
antimicrobial potential (against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans). The
combination of the extracts resulted in a significant increase in the inhibition of selected microbial
and melanoma cells WM-266-4 compared to the control. Cell viability decreased below 60% when
mixG extract was applied. Antimicrobial activity has been confirmed. Ključne besede: ginger, supercritical fluid extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, antimicrobial activity Objavljeno v DKUM: 09.05.2025; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 0
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2. Optimisation of the green process of industrial hemp - preparation and its extract characterisationTaja Žitek Makoter, Petra Kotnik, Teo Makoter, Vesna Postružnik, Željko Knez, Maša Knez Marevci, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Natural medicines and products are becoming increasingly important in the pharmaceutical
and food industries. The most important step in obtaining a natural remedy is the processing of
the natural material. This study offers the separation of the industrial hemp plant into fractions by
mechanical treatment, which has a significant impact on the selectivity of the obtained fractions. This
study also offers a solution to reduce waste by fractionating industrial hemp, focusing on the fraction
with the highest cannabinoid content (49.5% of CBD). The study confirmed the anticancer potential
of the extract, which prevents further division of WM-266-4 melanoma cells at a concentration of
10−3 mg/mL. However, application of the extract (c = 10−3 mg/mL) to normal human epidermal
melanocytes proved to be insignificant, as the metabolic activity of the cells was the same as in the
control cell group. Ključne besede: supercritical fluid extraction, ultrasonic extraction, melanoma cells, extraction, WM-266-4 Objavljeno v DKUM: 09.05.2025; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 1
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3. Effect of green food processing technology on the enzyme activity in spelt flourMaja Leitgeb, Željko Knez, Gordana Hojnik Podrepšek, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: In this research, a new approach to enzyme inactivation in flour was presented by supercritical
technology, considered a sustainable technology with lower energy consumption compared
to other technologies that use ultra-high temperature processing. Total protein concentration and
the activity of enzymes -amylase, lipase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and protease were determined
in flour pre-treated with scCO2. During the study, it was observed that the activity of enzymes
such as lipase and polyphenol oxidase, was significantly reduced under certain conditions of scCO2
treatment, while the enzymes -amylase and protease show better stability. In particular, polyphenol
oxidase was effectively inactivated below the 60% of preserved activity at 200 bar and 3 h, whereas
-amylase under the same conditions retained its activity. Additionally, the moisture content of the
scCO2-treated spelt flour was reduced by 5%, and the fat content was reduced by 58%, while the
quality of scCO2-treated flour was maintained. In this regard, the sustainable scCO2 process could be
a valuable tool for controlling the enzymatic activity of spelt flour since the use of scCO2 technology
has a positive effect on the quality of flour, which was verified by the baking performance of spelt
flour with the baked spelt bread as an indicator of quality. Ključne besede: food treatment, spelt flour, proteins, supercritical carbon dioxide, enzyme inactivation, defatted flour, carbon dioxide solubility Objavljeno v DKUM: 17.04.2025; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 1
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4. Enzyme activity and physiochemical properties of flour after supercritical carbon dioxide processingMaja Leitgeb, Željko Knez, Gordana Hojnik Podrepšek, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: The objectives of this study were to inactivate the enzymes α-amylase, lipase, protease,
and peroxidase in flour with supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2), and to optimize the enzymatic
treatment conditions. Enzyme inactivation is important, due to the undesirability of certain flour
enzymes that cause adverse reactions during storage as unpleasant rancidity of flour, and, at the
same time, reduce the shelf life of flour. Therefore, crude enzymes and flour were initially exposed
to scCO2 to determine the effect on specific enzyme activity under appropriate conditions. The
activity of the unwanted enzymes lipase and peroxidase decreased under optimal process conditions
of scCO2 exposure, lipase by 30%, and peroxidase by 12%, respectively. It was discovered that the
inactivation of enzymes in wheat flour occurred, where, at the same time, this sustainable method
allows the regulation of enzyme activity in the baking process. Afterwards, the effect of scCO2 on the
physicochemical properties of flour, morphological changes on starch granules, and content of total
lipids was studied. In scCO2-treated white wheat flour, the fat content decreased by 46.15 ± 0.5%,
the grain structure was not damaged, and the bread as the final product had a lower specific surface
volume. Therefore, this could be a promising technology for flour pretreatment, potentially impacting
the prolonging of its shelf-life. Ključne besede: enzymes, enzyme activity, proteins, supercritical fluids, wheat flour Objavljeno v DKUM: 10.04.2025; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 1
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5. Ketoprofen-loaded PLGA-based bioactive coating prepared by supercritical foaming on a TiAl6V4 substrate for local drug delivery in orthopedic applicationsKatja Andrina Kravanja, Klodian Xhanari, Maša Knez Marevci, Uroš Maver, Matjaž Finšgar, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: In this study, a novel biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid coating containing a model anti-inflammatory drug (ketoprofen) was prepared on TiAl6V4 substrate for use in orthopedic medicine by a two-step process combining drop casting and supercritical CO2-assisted foaming. The prepared coating was first investigated by surface analysis techniques using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The combined results confirmed the loading of ketoprofen and its homogeneous spatial distribution in the coating. 3D profilometry revealed increased surface roughness of the coating compared to the bare TiAl6V4 substrate, which is favorable for cell adhesion. Furthermore, the electrochemical measurements (i.e., electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic curve measurements) demonstrated that the coating application significantly mitigated corrosion compared to the bare TiAl6V4 substrate. In vitro drug release tests revealed extended drug release in simulated body fluids with zero-order release kinetics. Finally, the promising cell testing results using adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and osteoblasts confirmed the applicability of the coating for implants. Overall, the results of this study highlight the significant potential of the developed bioactive coating for future orthopedic applications. Ključne besede: TiAlV, bioactive coating, implants, PLGA, supercritical foaming, ketoprofen Objavljeno v DKUM: 14.03.2025; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 4
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6. Enhancing the properties and morphology of starch aerogels with nanocelluloseMilica Pantić, Mariusz Nowak, Gregor Lavrič, Željko Knez, Zoran Novak, Irena T. Žižović, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Ključne besede: starch aerogels, cellulose, supercritical impregnation, xanthohumol, usnic acid Objavljeno v DKUM: 15.01.2025; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 4
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7. Optimization of the supercritical extraction and decarboxylation process of industrial hempTaja Žitek Makoter, Petra Kotnik, Teo Makoter, Željko Knez, Maša Knez Marevci, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Cannabinoids are the main active ingredients of Cannabis sativa L., obtained by a suitable extraction method and decarboxylation, in which the acid forms of the cannabinoids are converted into active forms. Supercritical CO2 extraction method and decarboxylation process were optimized for 7 cannabinoids (CBD, CBDA, THC, THCA, CBGA, CBN and CBC). The optimal extraction conditions for all cannabinoids were determined at a temperature of 60 °C and a pressure of 300 bar to 550 bar. At higher temperatures and reaction times, a significant depletion of neutral cannabinoids was observed. The optimal conditions of the decarboxylation process varied depending on the component. For the CBD component, which could be measured in the highest concentrations (560 mg/g), the optimal conditions were 140 °C and 10 min. The study can be an important model for predicting the behavior of cannabinoids under certain parameters. Ključne besede: supercritical fluids, extraction, cannabinoids, decarboxilation, Cannabis sativa I Objavljeno v DKUM: 08.01.2025; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 7
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9. 20th European Meeting on Supercritical Fluids : Book of Abstracts2024 Opis: The 20th European Meeting on Supercritical Fluids (EMSF 2024) was hosted by the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of the University of Maribor from 26 May to 29 May 2024 in Maribor, Slovenia. The EMSF 2024 was a joint event of the International Society for the Advancement of Supercritical Fluids (ISASF) and the European Federation of Chemical Engineering (EFCE) Working Party on High Pressure Technology (WP HPT) Event No. 807. This symposium provided an excellent opportunity for engineers, chemists, physicists, food technologists, and biologists to meet and discuss new ideas, review ongoing challenges, present potential solutions, and identify future issues related to high pressure technologies and supercritical fluids. The aim of the meeting was to deepen connections between researchers, establish new contacts, and promote synergies and partnerships between researchers. The symposium presented the latest advances in high-pressure process technologies that can contribute to the further development of the field. Ključne besede: supercritical fluids, fundamental data, novel materials, industrial applications, research and development Objavljeno v DKUM: 24.07.2024; Ogledov: 161; Prenosov: 34
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10. Extraction of active compounds from mixtures of hemp (Cannabis sativa) with Pants of the Zingiberaceae familyVesna Postružnik, Taja Žitek Makoter, Darko Goričanec, Petra Kotnik, Željko Knez, Maša Knez Marevci, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Ključne besede: supercritical fluid extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, hemp, ginger, turmeric, cardamom Objavljeno v DKUM: 08.05.2024; Ogledov: 234; Prenosov: 20
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