Raman spectroscopy of chocolate bloom
Raman spectroscopy has been widely applied to the chemical analysis of food quality and, in particular, of chocolate. We perform Raman analysis of bloom formation in white and dark chocolates. We show evidence of sugar and fat bloom and investigate spectroscopic signatures of polymorphic changes in different phases.
Surface structure and composition of fresh and bloomed chocolate analysed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cryo-scanning electron microscopy and environmental scanning electron microscopy
Abstract Bloom on chocolate is an unsightly surface condition resulting in a white, powdery appearance that consumers interpret as a sign of poor quality. Bloom results from incorrect processing or storage. Two innovative methods have been developed, and used in conjunction, to investigate the morphology and composition of bloomed chocolate. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) was used to image the morphology of the surface of fresh and bloomed chocolate and to observe the changes in morphology, in real time, during heating and cooling. The nodular morphology of sugar bloom was easily distinguished from the blade like crystals of fat bloom. Surface details for the fat blades indicated an extrusion mechanism during their formation on the chocolate surface. “Cold stage” X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was used to analyse the surface composition of fresh and bloomed samples. The carbon species present in the bloom on poorly tempered chocolate were a combination of CH 2 , C–OH, O C–OH and O–C–O groups indicating a mixture of sugar and fat bloom. Conversely the species present on bloomed, well tempered chocolate comprised only CH 2 , C–OH, O C–OH indicating the bloom was comprised of fat (from cocoa butter) and no sugar.
Synergistic and antagonistic combinations of drugs in human prostate cancer cell lines in vitro
Microtubulin binding agents such as docetaxel have significant preclinical and clinical activity in the treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer. We have previously used median-effect analysis in vitro to define both synergistic and antagonistic drug combinations which may be of value in management of human disease. These studies extend our findings in defined prostate cancer cell lines. A semi-automated microtiter culture system was used. Docetaxel was combined with 18 other agents, incubated with DU 145, LnCaP or PC 3 prostate cancer cell lines for 72 h and the cells then incubated with MTT to determine cytotoxic effect. Both doublet and triplet combinations were examined. Synergy and antagonism as measured by the combination index were determined for each combination. The non-mutually exclusive criterion was applied. Docetaxel demonstrated cytotoxic additive effects or synergy with cis-retinoic acid, cyclosporin A and vinorelbine in all three cell lines. Docetaxel combined with either epirubicin or doxorubicin displayed cytotoxic synergistic effects in hormone-refractory DU 145 and PC 3 cell lines. In contrast, drugs which have been combined clinically to treat hormone-refractory prostate cancer, i.e. cisplatin, carboplatin or etoposide, were antagonistic when combined with docetaxel. We conclude that combinations of docetaxel with either cis-retinoic acid or vinorelbine may offer an enhanced cytotoxic effect in the management of hormone-refractory prostate cancer and need to be evaluated for therapeutic effect. The combination of docetaxel with an anthracycline was also synergistic in the two hormone-refractory cell lines, DU 145 and PC3, thus suggesting a potential role in advanced disease after endocrine failure. Combinations of docetaxel with platinum or etoposide may lead to subadditive effects in treatment.