Development of BioPolyurethane Coatings from Biomass-Derived Alkylphenol Polyols-A Green Alternative.

Bio-based polyols were obtained from the thermochemical liquefaction of two biomass feedstocks, pinewood and , with conversion rates varying between 71.9 and 79.3 wt.

Versatility of Amide-Functionalized Co(II) and Ni(II) Coordination Polymers: From Thermochromic-Triggered Structural Transformations to Supercapacitors and Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting.

The new 2D coordination polymers (CPs) [M(L)(HO)] [M = Co () and Ni (); L = 4-(pyridin-3-ylcarbamoyl)benzoate] were synthesized from pyridyl amide-functionalized benzoic acid (). They were characterized by elemental, Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) structural analyses. Single-crystal XRD analysis revealed the presence of a 2D polymeric architecture, and topological analyses disclose a 2,4-connected binodal net.

Influence of apple phytochemicals in ZnO nanoparticles formation, photoluminescence and biocompatibility for biomedical applications.

The new green-synthesised ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) using apple (var. Starking) phytochemicals present a great potential for bioimaging applications. These NPs, when compared with ZnO microparticles synthesised with pure phytochemicals (quercetin or sucrose), and water, revealed that sizes and shapes were widely dependent on the organic precursors used.

In vitro degradation of ZnO flowered coated Zn-Mg alloys in simulated physiological conditions.

Flowered coatings composed by ZnO crystals were successfully electrodeposited on Zn-Mg alloys. The distinct coatings morphologies were found to be dependent upon the solid interfaces distribution, with the smaller number of bigger flowers (ø 46μm) obtained on Zn-Mg alloy containing 1wt.% Mg (Zn-1Mg) contrasting with the higher number of smaller flowers (ø 38μm) achieved on Zn-Mg alloy with 2wt.

In vivo assessment of a new multifunctional coating architecture for improved Mg alloy biocompatibility.

Magnesium alloys are regarded as potential biodegradable load-bearing biomaterials for orthopedic applications due to their physico-chemical and biomechanical properties. However, their clinical applicability is restricted by their high degradation rate, which limits the physiological reconstruction of the neighbouring tissues. In this work, a multifunctional coating architecture was developed on an AZ31 alloy by conjoining an anodization process with the deposition of a polymeric-based layer consisting of polyether imine reinforced with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, aiming at improved control of the corrosion activity and biological performance of the Mg substrate.

In vitro corrosion behaviour and anti-Candida spp. activity of Zn coated with ZnO-nanostructured 'Anastacia' flowers.

Rejection and colonization by microbes are two problematic issues that often require the surgical removal of medical implants with increased risks for patients. In this work it is shown that functionalization of Zn surfaces with ZnO-nanostructured 'Anastacia' flowers (NAF) resulted in improved biomaterials that can potentially overcome these important drawbacks, which can further boost the use of Zn in biomedical implants. The in vitro degradation of NAF-coated Zn under simulated physiological conditions resulted in the formation of a biomimetic corrosion layer rich in a hydroxyapatite analogue that, being an important bone component, may potentially decrease implant rejection.

Studies on the electrochemical growth of (Per)2[Au(mnt)2].

The first stages of the electrocrystallization of (Per)(2)[Au(mnt)(2)] salt from dichloromethane on gold, platinum, and highly orientated pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in order to understand the determinant factors for nucleation and crystal growth. The crystal growth occurs from adsorbed films of dithiolate on gold or platinum and of perylene on HOPG, after homogeneous nucleation, and it is controlled by the low diffusion of the species toward the growing surface.