Cellulose-mediated mechanical property tuning in small intestinal submucosal matrix to enhance stem cell osteogenic differentiation.

Natural extracellular matrices (ECM) provide a more accurate simulation of the cellular growth environment, making them excellent substrate materials for in vitro cell culture. The porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) is one of the most widely used natural ECM that display superior bioactivity. However, decellularization operations often result in fiber breakage and failure to recover mechanical strength in the SIS.

Effect of combined exposure to phthalates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during early pregnancy on gestational age and neonatal size: A prospective cohort study.

Many studies have indicated that individual exposure to phthalates (PAEs) or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) affects pregnancy outcomes. However, combined exposure to PAEs and PAHs presents a more realistic situation, and research on the combined effects of PAEs and PAHs on gestational age and newborn size is still limited. This study aimed to assess the effects of combined exposure to PAEs and PAHs on neonatal gestational age and birth size.

Association of urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites with gestational diabetes mellitus and gestational hypertension among pregnant women in Southwest China: A cross-sectional study.

The association of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and gestational hypertension during pregnancy has not yet been established. To investigate the association between PAH exposure and GDM and gestational hypertension, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 4206 pregnant women from the Zunyi birth cohort in southwestern China. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to detect the urinary levels of 10 monohydroxylated PAHs (OH-PAHs).

Synthesis and properties of EPDM-based oil-absorptive gels with different types of EPDM and styrene derivatives.

A series of oil gels based on different types of ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) and styrene derivatives crosslinked with divinylbenzene (DVB) were synthesized by suspension polymerization. Effects of EPDM types and styrene derivatives on gel fraction, swelling ratio (), solubility parameter (), average molecular weight between cross-links ( ), and oil absorption and oil retention of EPDM-based oil-absorptive gels were studied. Characterization of EPDM-based oil-absorptive gels with different styrene derivatives was performed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and oil absorbency tests.

Study on TEMPO-Mediated Oxidation of -Succinyl Chitosan and the Water Retention Property.

C-6 oxidized chitosan is of great interest in obtaining a new moisture retention polymer like hyaluronic acid. The direct C-6 specific oxidation of chitosan mediated by the TEMPO/NaClO/NaBr system has proven to be difficult because of the high crystalline and high C-2 amino group content. In this work, the pre-modification of chitosan by -succinylation was investigated and followed by the TEMPO-mediated C-6 specific oxidation under homogeneous conditions.

Rheological behaviours of guar gum derivatives with hydrophobic unsaturated long-chains.

Three guar gum derivatives with hydrophobic unsaturated long-chains were successfully synthesized, including oleic guar gum (OGG), linoleic guar gum (LGG) and erucic guar gum (EGG). The guar gum derivatives were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Moreover, comparative studies on the rheological behaviours of guar gum (GG) and three guar gum derivatives were performed.

Toward High-Performance Electron/Hole-Transporting-Layer-Free, Self-Powered CsPbIBr Photodetectors via Interfacial Engineering.

Self-powered photodetectors (PDs) with inorganic lead halide perovskites hold multiple traits of high sensitivity, fast response, independence from external power supply, and excellent sustainability and stability, thus holding a great promise for practical applications. However, they generally contain high-temperature-processed electron-transporting layers (ETLs) and high-cost, unstable hole-transporting layers (HTLs) coupled with noble metal electrodes, which bring significant obstacles of production cost and stability for their potential commercialization. Herein, we demonstrate the building of high-performance HTL/ETL-free, self-powered CsPbIBr PD with simplified architecture of fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)/CsPbIBr/carbon upon interfacial modification by polyethyleneimine (PEI).

A Novel pH- and Salt-Responsive -Succinyl-Chitosan Hydrogel via a One-Step Hydrothermal Process.

In this study, we synthesized a series of pH-sensitive and salt-sensitive -succinyl-chitosan hydrogels with -succinyl-chitosan (NSCS) and the crosslinker glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) via a one-step hydrothermal process. The structure and morphology analysis of the NSCS and glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane--succinyl chitosan hydrogel (GNCH) revealed the close relation between the swelling behavior of hydrogels and the content of crosslinker GPTMS. The high GPTMS content could weaken the swelling capacity of hydrogels and improve their mechanical properties.

Homogeneous synthesis of hydroxypropyl guar gum in an ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride.

With potassium hydroxide (KOH) as catalyst, hydroxypropyl guar gum (HPG) was successfully prepared under homogenous conditions in an ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BmimCl). The value of degree of molar substitution (MS) of HPG, which was determined by means of (1)H NMR, was easily controlled by varying the mass ratio of propylene oxide (PO) to guar gum (GG). The distribution of hydroxypropyl moieties among the seven hydroxy groups in HPGs was investigated by NMR and the results indicated that the homogeneous reaction preferentially substituted at the C3−OH of the mannosyl residues in guar gum which was quite different from the heterogeneous reaction where substitution mostly occurred at C6−OH.

Modification of hydroxypropyl guar gum with ethanolamine.

A new guar gum derivative containing amino group was synthesized through nucleophilic substitution of p-toluenesulfonate activated hydroxypropyl guar gum with ethanolamine. For the preparation of p-toluenesulfonate esters hydroxypropyl guar gum, the results showed that the reaction rate was optimal at 25 °C and the reaction could reach equilibrium state when it was carried out for 10h at 25 °C. For the nucleophilic substitution of tosyl group with ethanolamine, the reaction was completed after 10h reaction at 50 °C.

One-step synthesis of glucose-branched galactomannan.

The synthesis of branched polysaccharides using naturally occurring materials has been reported since 1975, but applications of branched polysaccharides are relatively limited because of the long and complex modification processes. In this work, a practical and efficient procedure is presented that in one step levoglucosan can be grafted to galactomannan (at 115°C for 15h) with monochloroacetic acid as catalyst. The structural characteristics of the resulting substances were investigated by NMR spectroscopy.

A first oxalamidino complex of samarium via reduction-coupling of carbodiimine: synthesis and molecular structure of [eta4-C2(NR)4][(MeC5H4)2Sm(HMPA)]2.2THF (R = Pr i, Cy).

Treatment of the THF solution of (MeC5H4)2Sm(THF) with an equivalent of carbodiimine [RN=C=NR](R = Pr(i) or Cy; Cy = cyclohexyl) in the presence of an equivalent of hexamethylphosphoric triamide (HMPA) at room temperature gives, via a reduction-coupling reaction of carbodiimine, the corresponding bimetallic oxalamidino complex of samarium [eta4-C2(NR)4][(MeC5H4)2Sm(HMPA)]2.2THF.

Novel lanthanide(II) complexes supported by carbon-bridged biphenolate ligands: synthesis, structure and catalytic activity.

[Ln[N(SiMe3)2]2(THF)2](Ln = Sm, Yb) reacts with 1 equiv. of carbon-bridged biphenols, 2,2'-methylene-bis(6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol)(L1H2) or 2,2'-ethylidene-bis(4,6-di-tert-butylphenol)(L2H2), in toluene to give the novel aryloxide lanthanide(II) complexes [[LnL1(THF)n]2](Ln = Sm, n = 3 (1); Ln = Yb, n = 2 (2)) and [[LnL2(THF)3]2](Ln = Sm (5); Ln = Yb (6)) in quantitative yield, respectively. Addition of 2 equiv.