Microwave-assisted synthesis of crosslinked ureido chitosan for hemostatic applications.

In this study, we present a facile method for introducing hydrophilic ureido groups (NH-CO-NH-) into chitosan using a microwave-assisted reaction with molten urea, with the aim of enhancing chitosan's interaction with blood components for improved hemostasis. The formation of the ureido groups through nucleophilic addition reaction between the amine groups in chitosan and in situ generated isocyanic acid was confirmed by FTIR, CP/TOSS C NMR, and CP/MAS N NMR spectroscopic techniques. However, in stark contrast to the glucans, the said modification introduced extensive crosslinking in chitosan.

Solvent-less carboxymethylation-induced electrostatic crosslinking of chitosan.

The successful N-carboxymethylation and concomitant crosslinking of solid chitosan upon heating its mixture with solid monochloroacetic acid, without the use of solvents or catalysts, is reported. The N-carboxymethylation was confirmed through the analysis of the partially depolymerized product using NMR spectroscopy, as well as a control reaction with lysine. This transformation was facilitated by the nucleophilic nature of the free amine group in the repeating unit of chitosan, which possesses lone pair of electrons capable of attacking the carbon center bearing the leaving group and displacing the leaving group in a concerted manner.

Valorization of agro-wastes for the biosynthesis and characterization of polyhydroxybutyrate by sp. isolated from rice bran dumping yard.

Investigations have been made to determine the usage of inexpensive agro-waste products as an alternative carbon source for the production of degradable bacterial polyester. Among 33 bacterial isolates, a gram-positive bacterium PPECLRB-16 isolated from rice bran dumping yard was found to accumulate a relatively higher quantity of PHB and identified as sp. through 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis.

Scale-up of non-toxic poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)-Chitin based nanocomposite articles by injection moulding and 3D printing.

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), a compostable polymer, filled with different weight percentage of unbleached nano chitin (NC; 10%, 30% and 50%), a biodegradable filler from crustacean waste, were prepared from the extruded blends by injection moulding and 3D printing. The nanochitin required was prepared from chitin isolated from prawn shells (Fenneropenaeus indicus). The nanochitin crystals were observed to contain carboxylic acid surface functional groups as assessed by FT-IR, C solid state NMR (SS NMR) spectroscopy, zeta potential measurements and the extent of the same was estimated by potentiometric titration.

Statistical augmentation of polyhydroxybutyrate production by Isoptericola variabilis: Characterization, moulding, in vitro cytocompatibility and biodegradability evaluation.

This study aimed to explore the production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), which has been widely considered as a potential substitute for the synthetic polymers. Among 53 actinomycete isolates, 11 of them were found to be PHB positive and the quantity of PHB from the positive isolates varied from 10.5 to 29.

Facile preparation of biocompatible macroporous chitosan hydrogel by hydrothermal reaction of a mixture of chitosan-succinic acid-urea.

The facile preparation of macroporous, super water absorbing, biocompatible hydrogels of chitosan involving the hydrothermal reaction of a mixture of chitosan (CH), succinic acid (SA) and urea (UR), all of which are sustainable materials, is reported. The structure of the dry CHSAUR was ascertained by CP MAS-SS NMR spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, powder x-ray diffraction analysis (PXRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The principle role of UR in the synthesis was identified as the source of ammonia, which increased the pH of the acidic chitosan solution with reaction time, leading to the formation of the insoluble hydrogel of chitosan accompanied by the formation of pores of different sizes and volumes.

Biocompatible Porous Scaffolds of Chitosan/Poly(EG--PG) Blends with Tailored Pore Size and Nontoxic to Stem Cells: Preparation by Controlled Evaporation from Aqueous Acetic Acid Solution.

The preparation of porous films (average size variation from 1 to 32 μm) of a 1:1 blend of chitosan with poly(EG--PG) by the controlled evaporation of water from a 2 wt % aqueous acetic acid solution is reported. Interestingly, the blend exhibited porosity that could be tailored from 1 to 32 μm with the temperature of preparation of the blend film. The powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, and differential scanning calorimetry analyses of the films suggested the formation of partially miscible blends.

Biocompatible hydrogels of chitosan-alkali lignin for potential wound healing applications.

Biocompatible hydrogels were prepared by mixing aqueous-acidic solution of chitosan with alkali lignin, a major by-product of the paper producing industries, for the first time, by sustainable means. Electrostatic interactions between the phenoxide groups in lignin and the ammonium groups on the chitosan backbone were found to be responsible for the ionotropic cross-linking. These gels were non-toxic to Mesenchymal stem cells, in vitro, and to zebrafish up to 100 μg/ml, in vivo.

Facile, shear-induced, rapid formation of stable gels of chitosan through in situ generation of colloidal metal salts.

A novel method of preparing chitosan gels using in situ generated negatively-charged colloidal salts of a variety of metal ions is described. Their potential as scaffolds for tissue-engineering and as recoverable catalysts in aza-Michael addition is demonstrated here. Given their wide range of properties, they have broad scope for applications.

Phenothiazine Based Donor-Acceptor Compounds with Solid-State Emission in the Yellow to NIR Region and Their Highly Selective and Sensitive Detection of Cyanide Ion in ppb Level.

Four new novel donor-acceptor (A-π-D-A, A-D-π-D-A) compounds (1 a, 1 b, 2 a and 2 b) based on ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) and phenothiazine (PTz) have been rationally designed and synthesized towards solid state emission ranging from yellow to near infrared (NIR). The compounds 1 b and 2 b, in thin film form, showed an emission maximum at 713 nm and 696 nm, respectively, with the corresponding absolute solid-state quantum yield of 3.3 % and 9.

Super water absorbing polymeric gel from chitosan, citric acid and urea: Synthesis and mechanism of water absorption.

A new superabsorbent with maximum water absorption capacity of ∼1250 g/g is prepared by hydrothermal synthesis from sustainable and biodegradable resources such as chitosan, citric acid and urea (denoted as 'CHCAUR'). CHCAUR is characterized extensively by various analytical techniques such as PXRD, SSNMR, FTIR, and TGA. Pure and saline water absorption study showed that CHCAUR could be a better adsorbent compared to the super absorbent polymer (SAP) used in commercial diaper material.

Green, Seed-Mediated Synthesis of Au Nanowires and Their Efficient Electrocatalytic Activity in Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

A new, simple, green method for the synthesis of Au nanowires (average diameter 8 nm and several micrometers in length) using Au seeds prepared from bael gum (BG) is reported. The nanowires are characterized using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution-TEM. It is observed that the rate of the reduction process might be the decisive factor for the shape selectivity, as evident from the formation of nanowires at a particular concentration of seeds and NaOH.

Super water-absorbing new material from chitosan, EDTA and urea.

A new, super water-absorbing, material is synthesized by the reaction between chitosan, EDTA and urea and named as CHEDUR. CHEDUR is probably formed through the crosslinking of chitosan molecules (CH) with the EDTA-urea (EDUR) adduct that is formed during the reaction. CHEDUR as well as the other products formed in control reactions are characterized extensively.

Synthesis and morphological study of thick benzyl methacrylate-styrene diblock copolymer brushes.

We demonstrate, for the first time, the synthesis of model poly(benzyl methacrylate) [P(BnMA)] brushes of very high thickness (>300 nm) on silicon wafer. P(BnMA) brush is also synthesized from the surface of silica nanoparticles, from a covalently anchored initiator monolayer, using ambient temperature ATRP. The kinetic studies and block copolymerization from the surface anchored P(BnMA)-Br macroinitiator showed that the polymerization was controlled in nature.

Synthesis of Polymer Grafted Magnetite Nanoparticle with the Highest Grafting Density via Controlled Radical Polymerization.

The surface-initiated ATRP of benzyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, and styrene from magnetite nanoparticle is investigated, without the use of sacrificial (free) initiator in solution. It is observed that the grafting density obtained is related to the polymerization kinetics, being higher for faster polymerizing monomer. The grafting density was found to be nearly 2 chains/nm2for the rapidly polymerizing benzyl methacrylate.