Synthetic microfiber emissions from denim industrial washing processes: An overlooked microplastic source within the manufacturing process of blue jeans.

In recent years, domestic laundry has been recognized as a relevant source of microfiber (MF) pollution to aquatic environments. Nevertheless, the MF emissions from industrial washing processes in real world scenarios have not been quantified. The aim of this study was to quantify the MF emissions from 3 industrial washing processes (rinse wash, acid wash and enzymatic wash) commonly employed in the manufacturing process of blue jeans.

Lattice Boltzmann simulation of swelling of an implant for microtia manufactured with IPN hydrogel.

The swelling characteristics of an implant for microtia treatment manufactured with IPN hydrogel was achieved using a three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann model. Dimensionless units of length and mass were employed. Comparisons between computational data and experimental values obtained by an adsorption isotherm test of a hydrogel implant immersed in Ringer's solution at a constant temperature of 310.

Physicomechanical characterization and biological evaluation of bulk-fill composite resin.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect, degree of conversion (% DC), Vickers hardness (VH), and surface morphology of composite resins. Eleven resins, nine bulk-fill resins, and two conventional resins were evaluated. Each material was sampled to evaluate DC (using FTIR), VH, cytotoxicity (using MTT and Neutral Red - NR test), surface morphology (using SEM and AFM), and organic filler (using EDS).

Pilot-scale synthesis and rheological assessment of poly(methyl methacrylate) polymers: perspectives for medical application.

This work presents the rheological assessment of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymers synthesized in a dedicated pilot-scale plant. This material is to be used for the construction of scaffolds via Rapid Prototyping (RP). The polymers were prepared to match the physical and biological properties required for medical applications.

Starch and chitosan oligosaccharides as interpenetrating phases in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) injectable gels.

Thermosensitive interpenetrating gels were prepared by physically blending poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) as the matrix and the following polysaccharides as interpenetrating phases: chitosan oligosaccharides (identified as QNAD and QNED) and soluble starch (STARCH). The molecular weight of the dispersed phase, the free water/bound water ratio and the thermosensitivity (transition temperature: LCST) of the gels were determined. It was found that these gels are pseudoplastic and that their viscosity depends on the molecular weight of the dispersed phase.

Functional electrospun poly (lactic acid) scaffolds for biomedical applications: experimental conditions, degradation and biocompatibility study.

The electrospinning technique is a method used to produce nano and microfibers using the influence of electrostatic forces. Porous three dimensional networks of continuous and interconnected fibers as scaffolds were obtained from a poly (lactic acid) solution. The concentration of the polymeric solution, 12.

Evaluation of the potential of novel PCL-PPDX biodegradable scaffolds as support materials for cartilage tissue engineering.

Cartilage is a specialized tissue represented by a group of particular cells (the chondrocytes) and an abundant extracellular matrix. Because of the reduced regenerative capacity of this tissue, cartilage injuries are often difficult to handle. Nowadays tissue engineering has emerged as a very promising discipline, and biodegradable polymeric scaffolds are widely used as tissue supports.

Influence of in vitro hydrolytic degradation on the morphology and crystallization behavior of poly(p-dioxanone).

We have studied the hydrolytic degradation of high molecular weight poly(p-dioxanone), PPDX, sutures. The samples were degraded either in distilled water or in a phosphate buffer at 37 degrees C, and the starting viscosity-average molecular weight was 130 kg/mol. The hydrolytic degradation of PPDX occurs in an approximate two stage process where the amorphous regions of the sample are attacked faster than the crystalline regions of the sample.