Freezing-Tolerant Supramolecular Adhesives from Tannic Acid-Based Low-Transition-Temperature Mixtures.

Natural polyphenols like tannic acid (TA) have recently emerged as multifunctional building blocks for designing advanced materials. Herein, we show the benefits of having TA in a dynamic liquid state using low-transition-temperature mixtures (LTTMs) for developing freezing-tolerant glues. TA was combined with betaine or choline chloride to create LTTMs, which direct the self-assembly of guanosine into supramolecular viscoelastic materials with high adhesion.

Eudragit Films as Carriers of Lipoic Acid for Transcorneal Permeability.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a highly prevalent disease affecting almost 10% of the world population; it is characterized by acute and chronic conditions. Diabetic patients have twenty-five times higher risk of going blind and developing cataracts early than the general population. Alpha-lipoic acid (LA) is a highly valuable natural antioxidant for the prevention and treatment of ophthalmic complications, such as diabetic keratopathy and retinopathy.

Biocompatible Hydrogel for Intra-Articular Implantation Comprising Cationic and Anionic Polymers of Natural Origin: In Vivo Evaluation in a Rabbit Model.

We describe the functional capability of a cross-linked hydrogel composed of sulfated glycosaminoglycans and a cationic cellulose by conducting trials on experimental animal models using intra-articular implants to treat an articular disease called osteoarthritis. Forty-eight mature New Zealand white rabbits were divided into three experimental groups: A, B, and C. Group A and B underwent unilateral anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) of the right knee.

Self-assembled micelles of the (lipo) glycopeptides, teicoplanin, as taxane nanocarriers.

The use of nanoparticles is one of the strategies currently studied to minimize the toxicity and lack of tissue specificity of many cancer drugs used in chemotherapy. In this research the physicochemical and biological behavior of a novel self-assembled nanostructure of the antibiotic Teicoplanin (Teico) was characterized as a nanocarrier system for solubilizing highly hydrophobic drugs like Paclitaxel (Ptx) in aqueous media. The Teico micelles were loaded with Ptx in DMSO or PEG-400.

Characterization and bacterial adhesion of chitosan-perfluorinated acid films.

We reported herein the study and characterization of films obtained by casting of chitosan solutions in perfluorinated acids, trifluoroacetic (TFA), perfluoropropionic (PFPA), and perfluorooctanoic (PFOA). The films were characterized by FTIR, solid state (13)C NMR, X-ray, AFM, contact angle, thermogravimetric effluent analysis by mass spectrometry, and rheology. The results showed a marked influence of chain length of the perfluorinated acids on the hydrophobic/hydrophilic ratio of the modified chitosan films which was evidenced by the different characteristics observed.

Characterization of physicochemical properties of perfluorodecanoic acid-polyquaternium cellulose hydrogel.

We investigated the nature and stability of the interactions established between polyquaternium (PQ10) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) in terms of different variables such as composition, ionic strength, pH and temperature. The PQ10-PFDA complex formation is interpreted in view of electrostatic associations between carboxylic and quaternary amino group. The properties of the systems were characterized by rheology analysis.

Structural and conformational properties of fluoroformic acid anhydride, FC(O)OC(O)F.

The conformational properties and geometric structures of fluoroformic acid anhydride, FC(O)OC(O)F, have been studied by vibrational spectroscopy, gas electron diffraction (GED), single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and quantum chemical calculations (HF, MP2, and B3LYP methods with 6-31G* and B3LYP/6-311+G* basis sets). Satellite bands in the IR matrix spectra, which increase in intensity when the matrix gas mixture is heated prior to deposition as a matrix, indicate the presence of two conformers at room temperature. According to the electron diffraction analysis, the prevailing conformer is of C(2) symmetry with both C=O bonds synperiplanar with respect to the opposite C-O bond ([sp, sp] conformer).