Aerosolization of poly(sulfobetaine) microparticles that encapsulate therapeutic antibodies.

Pulmonary delivery of protein therapeutics poses significant challenges that have not been well addressed in the research literature or practice. In fact, there is currently only one commercial protein therapeutic that is delivered through aerosolization and inhalation. In this study, we propose a drug delivery strategy that enables a high-concentration dosage for the pulmonary delivery of antibodies as an aerosolizable solid powder with desired stability.

Biodegradable zwitterionic poly(carboxybetaine) microgel for sustained delivery of antibodies with extended stability and preserved function.

Many recent innovative treatments are based on monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and other protein therapies. Nevertheless, sustained subcutaneous, oral or pulmonary delivery of such therapeutics is limited by the poor stability, short half-life, and non-specific interactions between the antibody (Ab) and delivery vehicle. Protein stabilizers (osmolytes) such as carboxybetaine can prevent non-specific interactions within proteins.

Diffusion, Interactions, and Disparate Kinetic Trapping of Water-Hydrocarbon Mixtures in Nanoporous Solids.

Mixed fluids confined in porous solid hosts present challenges for the accurate characterization of individual-component behavior. NMR diffusometry with chemical resolution is used to identify unexpected loading- and composition-dependent anomalous diffusion in water/cyclohexane mixtures confined to solid nanoporous glass (NPG) hosts. Diffusion NMR results indicate that data obtained on pure-component liquids in confinement cannot be extrapolated to their nonideal liquid mixtures confined in the same solid host.

Interactions between Biomolecules and Zwitterionic Moieties: A Review.

Throughout the past decade, zwitterionic moieties have gained attention as constituents of biocompatible materials for exhibiting superhydrophilic properties that prevent nonspecific protein adsorption. Researchers have been working to synthesize zwitterionic materials for diverse biomedical applications such as drug delivery, protein stabilization, and surface modification of implantable materials. These zwitterionic materials have been used in assorted architectures, including protein conjugates, surface coatings, nanoparticles, hydrogels, and liposomes.

Effect of salinity, Mg and SO on "smart water"-induced carbonate wettability alteration in a model oil system.

Hypothesis: We present a systematic study of the "smart water" induced wettability alteration. This process is believed to be greatly affected by the brine salinity and the presence of Mg and SO in the brine.

Experiments And Modelling: To characterize the wettability alteration, we perform spontaneous imbibition measurement using Indiana limestone cores and a model oil with added naphthenic acid.

Process simulation of ethanol production from biomass gasification and syngas fermentation.

The hybrid gasification-syngas fermentation platform can produce more bioethanol utilizing all biomass components compared to the biochemical conversion technology. Syngas fermentation operates at mild temperatures and pressures and avoids using expensive pretreatment processes and enzymes. This study presents a new process simulation model developed with Aspen Plus® of a biorefinery based on a hybrid conversion technology for the production of anhydrous ethanol using 1200tons per day (wb) of switchgrass.

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes at the Interface of Pickering Emulsions.

Carbon nanotubes exhibit very unique properties in biphasic systems. Their interparticle attraction leads to reduced droplet coalescence rates and corresponding improvements in emulsion stability. Here we use covalent and noncovalent techniques to modify the hydrophilicity of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and study their resulting behavior at an oil-water interface.

Life cycle assessment of the production of ethanol from eastern redcedar.

This life cycle assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental impacts of an ethanol production system using eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) as the feedstock. Aspen Plus® was used to model the acid bisulfite pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, and distillation steps.

Amine modeling for CO2 capture: internals selection.

Traditionally, trays have been the mass-transfer device of choice in amine absorption units. However, the need to process large volumes of flue gas to capture CO2 and the resultant high costs of multiple trains of large trayed columns have prompted process licensors and vendors to investigate alternative mass-transfer devices. These alternatives include third-generation random packings and structured packings.

Water in oil emulsion droplet size characterization using a pulsed field gradient with diffusion editing (PFG-DE) NMR technique.

This paper describes a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique, pulsed field gradient with diffusion editing (PFG-DE), to quantify drop size distributions of brine/crude oil emulsions. The drop size distributions obtained from this technique were compared to results from the traditional pulsed field gradient (PFG) technique. The PFG-DE technique provides both transverse relaxation (T2) and drop size distributions simultaneously.