Porous carbonaceous materials simultaneously dispersing N, Fe and Co as bifunctional catalysts for the ORR and OER: electrochemical performance in a prototype of a Zn-air battery.

Infiltration of the mesoporous structure of SBA-15 silica as a hard template with phenanthroline complexes of Fe and Co allowed the simultaneous dispersion of nitrogen, iron and cobalt species on the surface of the obtained carbonaceous CMK-3 silica replica, with potential as bifunctional heterogeneous catalysts for the cathodic oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR and OER). The textural properties and mesopore structure depended on the composition of the material. The carbonaceous FeCoNCMK-3 (1/1), obtained with an Fe/Co molar ratio of 1/1, exhibited an ordered cylindrical mesoporous structure with a high mesopore volume, a rather homogeneous composition in terms of total and surface concentrations of iron and cobalt, and a balanced presence of pyridinic-, pyrrolic- and graphitic-N species.

Composite Membranes Based on Functionalized Mesostructured Cellular Foam Particles and Sulfonated Poly(Ether Ether Sulfone) with Potential Application in Fuel Cells.

Composite polymeric membranes were designed based on sulfonated poly(ether ether sulfone) (sPEES) and mesostructured cellular foam (MCF) silica nanoparticles functionalized with organic compounds. Parameters such as molecular weight (MW) of the polymer, nature of the functional group of the MCF silica, and percentage of silica charge were evaluated on the final properties of the membranes. Composite membrane characterization was carried out on their water retention capacity (high MW polymer between 20-46% and for the low MW between 20-60%), ion exchange capacity (IEC) (high MW polymer between 0.

Species-dependent impact of immunosuppressive squalene-gusperimus nanoparticles and adipose-derived stem cells on isolated human and rat pancreatic islets.

Transplantation of pancreatic islets is a promising approach to controlling glucose levels in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), but islet survival is still limited. To overcome this, islet co-culture with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) together with safe immunosuppressive agents like squalene-gusperimus nanoparticles (Sq-GusNPs) may be applied. This could support islet survival and engraftment.

Cassava and banana starch modified with maleic anhydride-poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether (Ma-mPEG): A comparative study of their physicochemical properties as coatings.

This study proposes a simple route to obtain starch grafted copolymers from cassava and banana starches chemically modified with amphiphilic maleic anhydride-poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether (Ma-mPEG). The starches were extracted from cassava (StC) and banana (StB) pulp and characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, amylose content, scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and average molecular weight. Starches were chemically modified with amphiphilic Ma-mPEG in three mass ratios 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3.

determination of the immunosuppressive effect, internalization, and release mechanism of squalene-gusperimus nanoparticles for managing inflammatory responses.

Gusperimus is an anti-inflammatory drug that has shown to be effective in managing autoimmunity and preventing graft rejection. This is unstable and easily broken down into cytotoxic components. We encapsulated gusperimus binding it covalently to squalene obtaining squalene-gusperimus nanoparticles (Sq-GusNPs).

Design and characterization of Squalene-Gusperimus nanoparticles for modulation of innate immunity.

Immunosuppressive drugs are widely used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and to prevent rejection in organ transplantation. Gusperimus is a relatively safe immunosuppressive drug with low cytotoxicity and reversible side effects. It is highly hydrophilic and unstable.

Polyelectrolyte Nanoparticles of Amphiphilic Chitosan/Pectin from Banana Peel as Potential Carrier System of Hydrophobic Molecules.

In this study, pectins were extracted from banana wastes under different acidic conditions, obtaining pectins with different degrees of esterification (DE) depending on the acid type and pH. The formation of the polyelectrolyte nanoparticles was evaluated according to the DE of the pectin, the mass ratio of the polymers of pectin to amphiphilic chitosan (AmCh), and their concentration. The properties of the polyelectrolyte nanoparticles were evaluated at different pH and temperatures.

Low Dispersity and High Conductivity Poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) Membranes Obtained by Inexpensive Free Radical Polymerization of Sodium 4-styrenesulfonate.

Controlled polymerizations are often used to synthesize polymers with low dispersity, which involves expensive initiators, constrained atmospheres, and multi-step purifying processes, especially with water soluble monomers. These drawbacks make the synthesis very expensive and of little industrial value. In this report, an inexpensive free radical polymerization of sodium 4-styrenesulfonate, using benzoyl peroxide as initiator in water/,-dimethylformamide solutions, is presented.

PEG-g-chitosan nanoparticles functionalized with the monoclonal antibody OX26 for brain drug targeting.

Aim: Drug targeting to the CNS is challenging due to the presence of blood-brain barrier. We investigated chitosan (Cs) nanoparticles (NPs) as drug transporter system across the blood-brain barrier, based on mAb OX26 modified Cs.

Materials & Methods: Cs NPs functionalized with PEG, modified and unmodified with OX26 (Cs-PEG-OX26) were prepared and chemico-physically characterized.

Tribological properties of polypropylene composites with carbon nanotubes and sepiolite.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and sepiolite (SEP) were modified in order to improve their compatibility with the polypropylene (PP) matrix. Carboxylic groups were introduced into the CNTs through an oxidative treatment and aliphatic chains were incorporated on SEP by ion exchange of a cationic surfactant. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PPgMA) was mixed with neat PP to introduce polar groups into the polymer matrix.

Thermosensitive behavior in cell culture media and cytocompatibility of a novel copolymer: poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-butylacrylate).

Cell sheet technology is a promising step forward in tissue engineering. Cell sheets are usually generated using Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels due to their swelling change around the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). Nevertheless, LCST can be affected by cell culture medium components and therefore it is necessary to ensure that the polymer preserves its thermosensitivity under these conditions.

Interplay between structure and dynamics in chitosan films investigated with solid-state NMR, dynamic mechanical analysis, and X-ray diffraction.

Modern solid-state NMR techniques, combined with X-ray diffraction, revealed the molecular origin of the difference in mechanical properties of self-associated chitosan films. Films cast from acidic aqueous solutions were compared before and after neutralization, and the role of the counterion (acetate vs Cl(-)) was investigated. There is a competition between local structure and long-range order.

Reinforcement of polymeric latexes by in situ polymerization.

Two silicas with different particle sizes have been synthesized by the Stöber method. The particles have been functionalized with methacryloyl groups. In situ emulsion polymerization of butyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate in the presence of functionalized silica particles was performed.

Scratch and wear resistance of polyamide 6 reinforced with multiwall carbon nanotubes.

While carbon nanotubes have been used for a variety of purposes, it was not known whether they can improve tribological properties of polymers. Polyamide 6 (PA6) has been reinforced with 0.2, 0.