Crosslinked Bifunctional Particles for the Removal of Bilirubin in Hyperbilirubinemia Cases.

This work describes the development of styrene-divinylbenzene (St-DVB) particles with polyethylene glycol methacrylate (PEGMA) and/or glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) brushes for the removal of bilirubin from blood in haemodialyzed patients. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was immobilized onto the particles using ethyl lactate as a biocompatible solvent, which allowed the immobilization of up to 2 mg BSA/g of particles. The presence of albumin on the particles increased their capacity for bilirubin removal from phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) by 43% compared to particles without albumin.

Tailor-Made Bio-Based Non-Isocyanate Polyurethanes (NIPUs).

Non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) based on biobased polyamines and polycarbonates are a sustainable alternative to conventional polyurethanes (PU). This article discloses a novel method to control the crosslinking density of fully biobased isocyanate-free polyurethanes, synthesized from triglycerides carbonated previously in scCO and different diamines, such as ethylenediamine (EDA), hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) and Priamine-1075 (derived from a dimerized fatty acid). As capping substances, water or bioalcohols are used in such a way that the crosslinking density can be adjusted to suit the requirements of the intended application.

In Vitro Antioxidant and Pancreatic Anticancer Activity of Novel 5-Fluorouracil-Coumarin Conjugates.

Molecular hybridization consists of the combination of two or more non-identical pharmacophores in a single molecule. It has emerged as a promising strategy that allows the design of molecular frameworks with enhanced activity and affinity compared to their parent drugs. In this work, two novel hybrids that combine the well-known anticancer chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil with antioxidant coumarin derivatives have been synthesized and characterized by means of a copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC).

Functionalization of Poly(styrene-co-methyl methacrylate) Particles for Selective Removal of Bilirubin.

Hyperbilirubinemia is one of the main causes of death in patients with severe hepatic problems, which justifies the research for bilirubin removal solutions. In this study, St-MMA particles with PEGMA and/or GMA brushes were synthesized. First, the recipe for St-MMA was optimized and then adapted for PEGMA and GMA incorporation.

Glycolysis of Polyurethanes Composites Containing Nanosilica.

Rigid polyurethane (RPU) foams have been successfully glycolyzed by using diethylene glycol (DEG) and crude glycerol (CG) as transesterification agents. However, DEG did not allow to achieve a split-phase process, obtaining a product with low polyol purity (61.7 wt %).

Synthesis and Operating Optimization of the PEG Conjugate via CuAAC in scCO.

A new sustainable green protocol for obtaining polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugates, with a prototype molecule, which in this work was coumarin, by means of click chemistry is presented. The organic solvents commonly used for this type of reaction were replaced by supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO). The synthesis and characterization of PEG-coumarin were successfully reported using FTIR, H NMR, and MALDI TOF.

Winterization of peanut biodiesel to improve the cold flow properties.

Biodiesel is susceptible to start-up and performance problems, consistent with its chemical composition, when vehicles and fuel systems are subjected to cold temperatures. In this work, a comprehensive evaluation of the crystallization behavior of different biodiesels was performed by measuring the cold filter plugging point (CFPP), cloud point (CP) and pour point (PP). Results were related to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms.

Production of biodiesel from winery waste: extraction, refining and transesterification of grape seed oil.

In regions with a large wine production the usage of their natural waste to make biodiesel can result an interesting alternative. In this work, different methods of extraction, refining and transesterification of grape seed oil were assayed. Two techniques of oil extraction were compared: solvent extraction and pressing.

Influence of fatty acid composition of raw materials on biodiesel properties.

The aim of this work was the study of the influence of the raw material composition on biodiesel quality, using a transesterification reaction. Thus, ten refined vegetable oils were transesterificated using potassium methoxide as catalyst and standard reaction conditions (reaction time, 1h; weight of catalyst, 1 wt.% of initial oil weight; molar ratio methanol/oil, 6/1; reaction temperature, 60 degrees C).