A digital twin for Cu production with cyclotron and solid target system.

One method for finding reliable and cost-effective solutions for designing radioisotope production systems is represented by the "digital twin" philosophy of design. Looking at cyclotron solid targets, uncertainties of the particle beam, material composition and geometry play a crucial role in determining the results. The difference between what has been designed and what can be effectively manufactured, where processes such as electroplating are poorly controllable and generate large non-uniformities in deposition, must also be considered.

Supercritical CO Impregnation of Thymol in Thermoplastic Starch-Based Blends: Chemico-Physical Properties and Release Kinetics.

The aim of the present study was to investigate starch-based materials, prepared in an environmentally friendly way and from renewable resources, suitable for the development of biodegradable active food packaging. For this purpose, a bioactive compound (thymol) was incorporated into thermoplastic starch (TPS) and a TPS blend with poly (ε-caprolactone) (TPS-PCL) by the supercritical CO (scCO) impregnation process. Impregnation experiments with scCO were carried out at a pressure of 30 MPa and temperatures in the range of 40-100 °C during 1 to 20 h.

Ulomoides dermestoides Coleopteran action on Thermoplastic Starch/Poly(lactic acid) films biodegradation: a novel, challenging and sustainable approach for a fast mineralization process.

Ulomoides dermestoides (UL) are macroinvertebrates insects belonging to Tenebrionidae Coleopteran family. They were used to hasten, in five days, the biodegradation-mineralization of thermoplastic starch (TPS)-poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films, otherwise biodegradable under composting conditions. After the contact of TPS-PLA film with UL for five days, TPS was metabolized and PLA was hydrolysed, as evidenced by decreasing of hydroxyl and carbonyl group peaks intensity by FTIR spectra, increasing of 13% of PLA crystallinity by DSC thermograms, reduction of PLA and TPS thermal stability by TGA analysis; faecal residues evidenced two glass transition temperature T, at 33 °C and 57 °C, associated with depolymerized TPS and PLA, respectively.

Citrus Pomace Biomass as a Source of Pectin and Lignocellulose Fibers: From Waste to Upgraded Biocomposites for Mulching Applications.

Citrus pomace derived from the industrial processing of juice and essential oils mostly consists of pectin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and simple sugars. In this work, citrus pomace waste from an agricultural company in South Italy was used as source of pectin. The extraction conditions of the polysaccharide were optimized using a suitable combination of time and a concentration of a mild organic solvent, such as acetic acid; thus recovering high M pectin and bioactive molecules (flavonoids and polyphenols).

Semi-Crystalline Hydrophobic Polyamidoamines: A New Family of Technological Materials?

The hitherto known polyamidoamines (PAAs) are not suitable as structural materials because they are usually water-soluble or swellable in water. This paper deals with the synthesis and characterization of semi-crystalline hydrophobic PAAs (H-PAAs) by combining different bis--amines with bis-acrylamides obtained from C6-C12 bis--amines. H-PAAs were initially obtained in a solution of benzyl alcohol, a solvent suitable for both monomers and polymers.

Renewable polymers and plastics: Performance beyond the green.

Renewable bio-based polymers are one of the effective answers that the bioeconomy offers to solve the environmental emergency connected to plastics and more specifically fossil-based plastics. Previous studies have shown that more than 70 % of the natural capital cost associated with plastic derives from the extraction and processing of fossil raw materials and that the price of fossil plastic would be on average 44 % higher if such impact was fully paid by businesses. The disclosure of the hidden costs of plastics will contribute to dispelling the myth of the expensiveness of renewable polymers.

Biodegradable polymers as carriers for tuning the release and improve the herbicidal effectiveness of Dittrichia viscosa plant organic extracts.

Background: The organic extracts (OEs) of Dittrichia viscosa, a ruderal plant common in the Mediterranean regions, proved to have herbicidal properties. In order to improve OE effectiveness and to develop novel eco-friendly bioherbicidal products, different amounts of OE were included in poly(butylene succinate)- and polycaprolactone-based films (PBS and PCL, respectively). Particular attention was given to the study of interactions between the polymers and OEs, with a deep spotlight concerning the influence of OEs on structural, morphological and thermal properties of both polymers, in order to assess the OE releasing kinetics from the matrices and its tuned herbicidal action against seeds.

Well-Defined Thermo-Responsive Copolymers Based on Oligo(Ethylene Glycol) Methacrylate and Pentafluorostyrene for the Removal of Organic Dyes from Water.

Thermo-responsive copolymers based on oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA, = 300 g/mol) and pentafluorostyrene (PFS), coded PFG, were synthesized by RAFT polymerization, using a trithiocarbonate (CTTPC) as controlling agent. Different molar masses were targeted and dispersities lower than 1.51 were obtained.

Wound healing and antimicrobial effect of active secondary metabolites in chitosan-based wound dressings: A review.

Wound healing can lead to complex clinical problems, hence finding an efficient approach to enhance the healing process is necessary. An ideal wound dressing should treat wounds at reasonable costs, with minimal inconveniences for the patient. Chitosan is one of the most investigated biopolymers for wound healing applications due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and antimicrobial activity.

Thermoplastic starch and bioactive chitosan sub-microparticle biocomposites: Antifungal and chemico-physical properties of the films.

In this study, chitosan (C) tripolyphosphate (T) sub-micro particles containing ungeremine (CTUn), an alkaloid particularly active against Penicilliumroqueforti, a fungus responsible of the bakery products deterioration, were prepared through external gelation crosslinking process. The particles were included in a thermoplastic starch based polymer Mater-Bi (MBi), and MBi/CTUn bioactive biocomposites were obtained. The films showed bioactivity against P.

Rapid and automated production of [Ga]gallium chloride and [Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE on a medical cyclotron.

Introduction: The demand for Gallium-68 (Ga) for labelling PET radiopharmaceuticals has increased over the past few years. Ga is obtained through the decayed parent radionuclide Ge using commercial Ge/Ga generators. The principal limitation of commercial Ge/Ga generators is that only a limited and finite quantity of Ga (<1.

Macroporous alginate foams crosslinked with strontium for bone tissue engineering.

Nowadays, the need of novel strategies to repair and regenerate bone defects in the field of biomedical applications has increased. Novel approaches include the design of natural bioactive scaffolds mimicking bone tissue. These bioactive scaffolds have to possess biophysical properties suitable to address biological response towards newly bone tissue formation.

Improved small scale production of iodine-124 for radiolabeling and clinical applications.

Aim: This work describes a small-scale production of iodine-124 using a 16.5 MeV cyclotron, and a subsequent validation of the formulated sodium [124I]iodide solution for routinely clinical applications.

Methods: Iodine-124 (I) was produced via the Te(p, n)I reaction using a 16.

Effect of pH and TPP concentration on chemico-physical properties, release kinetics and antifungal activity of Chitosan-TPP-Ungeremine microbeads.

In this study, chitosan based microbeads containing Ungeremine, an antimicrobial alkaloid particularly active against Penicillium roqueforti, a filamentous fungus responsible of the bakery products deterioration, were prepared by external gelation by using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) as crosslinking agent. The stability of the beads, as well as the loading efficiency of the bioactive molecule, were assessed at different pH and TPP concentrations resulting particularly enhanced at low pH. All the microbeads evidenced antimicrobial activity against Penicillium roqueforti.

Lignin and holocellulose from pecan nutshell as reinforcing fillers in poly (lactic acid) biocomposites.

Lignocellulose from agro-food biowaste represents a valuable source of cost-effective structural fillers for wholly renewable polymer composites. In this work, pecan (Carya illinoinensis) nutshell (NS) fiber and its structural components, holocellulose (HC) and acid insoluble lignin (AIL), were isolated, characterized and used as reinforcing fillers to manufacture poly(lactic acid) (PLA) based biocomposites. Thermal, morphological and mechanical properties of the prepared materials were analyzed.

Pectin-honey coating as novel dehydrating bioactive agent for cut fruit: Enhancement of the functional properties of coated dried fruits.

In this paper, a novel and sustainable process for the fruit dehydration was described. Specifically, edible coatings based on pectin and honey were prepared and used as dehydrating and antimicrobial agents of cut fruit samples, in this way promoting the fruit preservation from irreversible deteriorative processes. Pectin-honey coating was tested on apple, cantaloupe melon, mango and pineapple.

Shedding light on surface exposition of poly(ethylene glycol) and folate targeting units on nanoparticles of poly(ε-caprolactone) diblock copolymers: Beyond a paradigm.

Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) covered with a hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) shell are usually prepared from diblock PEG-PCL copolymers through different techniques. Furthermore PEG, NPs can be decorated with targeting ligands to accumulate in specific cell lines. However, the density and conformation of PEG on the surface and its impact on the exposition of small targeting ligands has been poorly considered so far although this has a huge impact on biological behaviour.

Design of pectin-sodium alginate based films for potential healthcare application: Study of chemico-physical interactions between the components of films and assessment of their antimicrobial activity.

In this study, pectin based films including different amounts of sodium alginate were prepared by casting method. All the films, with and without polyglycerol as plasticizer, were crosslinked with zinc ions in order to extend their potential functionality. The development of junction points, occurring during the crosslinking process with zinc ions, induced the increasing of free volume with following changing in chemico-physical properties of films.

Enhancement of interfacial adhesion between starch and grafted poly(ε-caprolactone).

The use of a modified poly(ε-caprolactone) (gPCL) to enhance polymer miscibility in films based on thermoplastic starch (S) and poly(ε-caprolactone) is reported. PCL was functionalized by grafting with maleic anyhdride (MA) and/or glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) by reactive blending in a batch mixer. gPCL based materials were analysed in terms of their grafting degree, structural and thermal properties.

A pilot study on the impact of known drug-drug interactions in cancer patients.

Background: When a patient concomitantly uses two or more drugs, a drug-drug interaction (DDI) can possibly occur, potentially leading to an increased or decreased clinical effect of a given treatment. Cancer patients are at high risk of such interactions because they commonly receive multiple medications. Moreover, most cancer patients are elderly and require additional medications for comorbidities.

Functionalized PCL/HA nanocomposites as microporous membranes for bone regeneration.

In the present work, microporous membranes based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and PCL functionalized with amine (PCL-DMAEA) or anhydride groups (PCL-MAGMA) were realized by solvent-non solvent phase inversion and proposed for use in Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR). Nanowhiskers of hydroxyapatite (HA) were also incorporated in the polymer matrix to realize nanocomposite membranes. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed improved interfacial adhesion with HA for functionalized polymers, and highlighted substantial differences in the porosity.

Synthesis of chitosan-PEO hydrogels via mesylation and regioselective Cu(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition.

In this work, a well-defined hydrogel was developed by coupling chitosan with PEO through "click chemistry". Azide functionalities were introduced onto chitosan, through mesylation of C-6 hydroxyl groups, and reacted with a di-alkyne PEO by a regioselective Cu(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition. This synthetic approach allowed us to obtain a hydrogel with a controlled crosslinking degree.

From biowaste to bioresource: Effect of a lignocellulosic filler on the properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate).

A lignin-rich residue (LRR) obtained as a by-product from the fermentative bioethanol production process, and commercial alkali lignin (AL), were used as fillers for the preparation of bio-based blends and composites with poly(3-hydrobutyrate) (PHB). Chemical characterization of LRR demonstrated that the filler contained sugar residues. Rheological and thermal characterization of the blends demonstrated that LRR did not affect thermal stability of PHB, while AL had a strong pro-degrading effect.

Development of innovative biopolymers and related composites for bone tissue regeneration: study of their interaction with human osteoprogenitor cells.

Purpose: In the framework of a project aiming to improve the properties of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-based devices, we prepared novel composites and tested their in vitro biocompatibility and osteogenic capacity on human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) from bone marrow.

Methods: We prepared two functionalized derivatives, PCL-g-MAGMA and PCL-g-DMAEA, by insertion of anhydride groups by radical grafting of maleic anhydride (MA) and glycidyl-methacrylate (GMA) molecules, and by insertion of N-(dimethylamino)ethylacrylate (DMAEA) of tertiary amines groups, respectively. In addition, in order to improve the osteoconductive properties of the materials, we also prepared the corresponding composites containing the mineral component of bone, namely hydroxyapatite (HA).

Enhancement of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) thermal and processing stability using a bio-waste derived additive.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable polymer, whose applicability is limited by its brittleness and narrow processing window. In this study a pomace extract (EP), from the bio-waste of winery industry, was used as thermal and processing stabilizer for PHB, aimed to engineer a totally bio-based system. The results showed that EP enhanced the thermal stability of PHB, which maintained high molecular weights after processing.