Nanoengineering Multilength-Scale Porous Hierarchy in Mesoporous Metal-Organic Framework Single Crystals.

Developing a reliable method for constructing mesoporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with single-crystalline forms remains a challenging task despite numerous efforts. This study presents a solvent-mediated assembly method for fabricating zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) single-crystal nanoparticles with a well-defined micro-mesoporous structure using polystyrene--poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer micelles as a soft-template. The precise control of particle sizes, ranging from 85 to 1200 nm, is achieved by regulating nucleation and crystal growth rates while maintaining consistent pore diameters in mesoporous nanoparticles and a rhombohedral dodecahedron morphology.

Correction: Ocular biocompatibility evaluation of POSS nanomaterials for biomedical material applications.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C5RA08668J.].

Expression of concern: Synthesis of MA POSS-PMMA as an intraocular lens material with high light transmittance and good cytocompatibility.

Expression of concern for 'Synthesis of MA POSS-PMMA as an intraocular lens material with high light transmittance and good cytocompatibility' by Bailiang Wang , , 2014, , 52959-52966, https://doi.org/10.1039/C4RA08060B.

Expression of concern: and evaluation of xanthan gum-succinic anhydride hydrogels for the ionic strength-sensitive release of antibacterial agents.

Expression of concern for ' and evaluation of xanthan gum-succinic anhydride hydrogels for the ionic strength-sensitive release of antibacterial agents' by Bailiang Wang , , 2016, , 1853-1861, https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TB02046H.

Metal-organic framework functionalized poly-cyclodextrin membranes confining polyaniline for charge storage.

Crystals of a metal-organic framework, UiO-66, are grown on electrospun crosslinked poly-cyclodextrin (poly-CD) fibrous membranes with an ultrahigh coverage, and polyaniline (PANI) is further confined within the MOF pores. The obtained PANI@UiO-66/poly-CD membranes are used as free-standing electrodes towards use in wearable energy-storage devices.

Correction: Surface modification of intraocular lenses with hyaluronic acid and lysozyme for the prevention of endophthalmitis and posterior capsule opacification.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C4RA13499K.].

Probing the electronic and ionic transport in topologically distinct redox-active metal-organic frameworks in aqueous electrolytes.

Three topologically distinct zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) constructed from redox-innocent linkers, MOF-808, defective UiO-66, and CAU-24, are synthesized, and the spatially dispersed redox-active manganese sites are post-synthetically immobilized on the hexa-zirconium nodes of these Zr-MOFs. The crystallinity, morphology, porosity, manganese loading, and bulk electrical conductivity of each material are studied. The redox-hopping-based electrochemical reaction between the installed Mn(III) and Mn(IV) occurring within the thin films of these MOFs in aqueous electrolytes is investigated, in the presence of various concentrations of NaSO in the electrolytes.

Cerium-Based Metal-Organic Framework Nanocrystals Interconnected by Carbon Nanotubes for Boosting Electrochemical Capacitor Performance.

In this study, nanocrystals of a cerium-based metal-organic framework (Ce-MOF), Ce-MOF-808, are directly grown on the surface of carboxylic acid-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by a facile one-step solvothermal synthesis method. Ce-MOF-CNT nanocomposites with various Ce-MOF-to-CNT ratios are synthesized, and their crystallinity, morphology, porosity, and electrical conductivity are examined. The redox-hopping and electrochemical behaviors of the pristine Ce-MOF in aqueous electrolytes are investigated, suggesting that the pristine Ce-MOF is electrochemically active but possesses a limited charge-transport behavior.

Bottom-up fabrication of zwitterionic polymer brushes on intraocular lens for improved biocompatibility.

Intraocular lens (IOL) is an efficient implantable device commonly used for treating cataracts. However, bioadhesion of bacteria or residual lens epithelial cells on the IOL surface after surgery causes postoperative complications, such as endophthalmitis or posterior capsular opacification, and leads to loss of sight again. In the present study, zwitterionic polymer brushes were fabricated on the IOL surface via bottom-up grafting procedure.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of xanthan gum-succinic anhydride hydrogels for the ionic strength-sensitive release of antibacterial agents.

In this work, we report a new approach to prepare high gel performance hydrogels which are used as ionic strength-sensitive drug release systems. Succinic anhydride (SA)-modified xanthan (XG-SA) derivatives were prepared and confirmed by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Rheological measurements showed that the storage moduli (G') and loss moduli (G'') of XG-SA were much higher than native XG suggesting a higher stability of the hydrogels.

Development of antibacterial and high light transmittance bulk materials: Incorporation and sustained release of hydrophobic or hydrophilic antibiotics.

Infection associated with medical devices is one of the most frequent complications of modern medical biomaterials. Bacteria have a strong ability to attach on solid surfaces, forming colonies and subsequently biofilms. In this work, a novel antibacterial bulk material was prepared through combining poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) with either hydrophobic or hydrophilic antibiotics (0.

Hydrated polysaccharide multilayer as an intraocular lens surface coating for biocompatibility improvements.

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is a significant complication of intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in cataract surgery, in which the adhesion and proliferation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) on the IOL surface play important roles. In the present study, a highly swollen hyaluronic acid (HA)/chitosan (CHI) polyelectrolyte multilayer was fabricated on the IOL surface via the layer by layer technique. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) results not only show the successful construction of the multilayer, but also indicate its hydrogel-like swollen property.

Anaerobic biodegradation of high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by a facultative anaerobe Pseudomonas sp. JP1.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are harmful persistent organic pollutants, while the high-molecular-weight (HMW) PAHs are even more detrimental to the environment and human health. However, microbial anaerobic degradation of HMW PAHs has rarely been reported. One facultative anaerobe Pseudomonas sp.

Hydrophobic modification of polymethyl methacrylate as intraocular lenses material to improve the cytocompatibility.

The development of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after intraocular lenses (IOL) implantation for dealing with cataract is mainly due to the severe loss of the human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) during surgery contact. A novel poly (hedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-co-methyl methacrylate) copolymer (allyl POSS-PMMA) was synthesized by free radical polymerization method to promote the adhesion of HLECs. FT-IR and (1)H NMR measurements indicated the existence of POSS cage in the product, which demonstrated the successful synthesis of allyl POSS-PMMA copolymer.

Draft genome sequence of Rhodococcus sp. strain P14, a biodegrader of high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The genus Rhodococcus is known for its ability to degrade various xenobiotic compounds. Rhodococcus sp. strain P14 isolated from crude oil-contaminated sediments can degrade mineral oil and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).