Development of Soft Wrinkled Micropatterns on the Surface of 3D-Printed Hydrogel-Based Scaffolds via High-Resolution Digital Light Processing.

The preparation of sophisticated hierarchically structured and cytocompatible hydrogel scaffolds is presented. For this purpose, a photosensitive resin was developed, printability was evaluated, and the optimal conditions for 3D printing were investigated. The design and fabrication by additive manufacturing of tailor-made porous scaffolds were combined with the formation of surface wrinkled micropatterns.

Ionenes as Potential Phase Change Materials with Self-Healing Behavior.

Ionenes are poly(ionic liquids) (PILs) comprising a polymer backbone with ionic groups along the structure. Ionenes as solid-solid phase change materials are a recent research field, and some studies have demonstrated their potential in thermal dissipation into electronic devices. Eight ionenes obtained through Menshutkin reactions were synthesized and characterized.

Development of Novel Phase-Change Materials Derived from Methoxy Polyethylene Glycol and Aromatic Acyl Chlorides.

In this research, novel, organic, solid-liquid phase-change materials (PCMs) derived from methoxy polyethylene glycol (MPEG) and aromatic acyl chlorides (ACs) were prepared through a condensation reaction. The MPEGs were used as phase-change functional chains with different molecular weights (350, 550, 750, 2000, and 5000 g/mol). The aromatic ACs, terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) and isophthaloyl chloride (IPC), were employed as bulky linker cores.

New Light-Green Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Polymer Based on Dimethylacridine-Triphenyltriazine Light-Emitting Unit and Tetraphenylsilane Moiety as Non-Conjugated Backbone.

In the search for solution-processable TADF materials as a light emitting layer for OLED devices, polymers have attracted considerable attention due to their better thermal and morphological properties in the film state with respect to small molecules. In this work, a new polymer (-TPS-DMAC-TRZ) with thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) light-emitting characteristics was prepared from a conjugation-break unit (TPS) and a well-known TADF core (DAMC-TRZ). This material was designed to preserve the photophysical properties of DAMC-TRZ, while improving other properties, such as thermal stability, promoted by its polymerization with a TPS core.

A Psychrophilic GelMA: Breaking Technical and Immunological Barriers for Multimaterial High-Resolution 3D Bioprinting.

The increasing demand for tissue replacement has encouraged scientists worldwide to focus on developing new biofabrication technologies. Multimaterials/cells printed with stringent resolutions are necessary to address the high complexity of tissues. Advanced inkjet 3D printing can use multimaterials and attain high resolution and complexity of printed structures.

Spraying Fluorinated Silicon Oxide Nanoparticles on CuONPs@CF-PVDF Membrane: A Simple Method to Achieve Superhydrophobic Surfaces and High Flux in Direct Contact Membrane Distillation.

Desalinization of seawater can be achieved by membrane distillation techniques (MD). In MD, the membranes should be resistant to fouling, robust for extended operating time, and preferably provide a superhydrophobic surface. In this work, we report the preparation and characterization of a robust and superhydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride membrane containing fluoroalkyl-capped CuONPs (CuONPs@CF) in the inner and fluorinated capped silicon oxide nanoparticles (SiONPs@CF) on its surface.

New Benzotriazole and Benzodithiophene-Based Conjugated Terpolymer Bearing a Fluorescein Derivative as Side-Group: In-Ternal Förster Resonance Energy Transfer to Improve Organic Solar Cells.

A new benzodithiophene and benzotriazole-based terpolymer bearing a fluorescein derivative as a side group was synthesized and studied for organic solar cell (OSC) applications. This side group was covalently bounded to the backbone through an n-hexyl chain to induce the intramolecular Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) process and thus improve the photovoltaic performance of the polymeric material. The polymer exhibited good solubility in common organic chlorinated solvents as well as thermal stability (TDT10% > 360 °C).

Lactate metabolism coordinates macrophage response and regeneration in zebrafish.

Macrophages are multifunctional cells with a pivotal role on tissue development, homeostasis and regeneration. Indeed, in response to tissue injury and the ensuing regeneration process, macrophages are challenged and undergo massive metabolic adaptations and changes. However, the control of this metabolic reprogramming by macrophage microenvironment has never been deciphered in vivo.

PPARβ/δ priming enhances the anti-apoptotic and therapeutic properties of mesenchymal stromal cells in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Background: Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) have been widely used for their therapeutic properties in many clinical applications including myocardial infarction. Despite promising preclinical results and evidences of safety and efficacy in phases I/ II, inconsistencies in phase III trials have been reported. In a previous study, we have shown using MSC derived from the bone marrow of PPARβ/δ (Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors β/δ) knockout mice that the acute cardioprotective properties of MSC during the first hour of reperfusion are PPARβ/δ-dependent but not related to the anti-inflammatory effect of MSC.

PVDF Composite Membranes with Hydrophobically-Capped CuONPs for Direct-Contact Membrane Distillation.

Water scarcity is an imminent problem that humanity is beginning to attempt to solve. Among the several technologies that have been developed to mitigate water scarcity, membrane distillation is of particular note. In the present work, CuO nanoparticles capped with 1-octanethiol (CuONPs@CH) or 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanethiol (CuONPs@CF) are prepared.

New Hybrid Copper Nanoparticles/Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Composite with Antibacterial Activity.

In the search for new materials to fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a hybrid composite from metallic copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) and a novel cationic π-conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) were designed, synthesized, and characterized. The CuNPs were prepared by chemical reduction in the presence of CPE, which acts as a stabilizing agent. Spectroscopic analysis and electron microscopy showed the distinctive band of the metallic CuNP surface plasmon and their random distribution on the CPE laminar surface, respectively.

New Poly(imide)s Bearing Alkyl Side-Chains: A Study on the Impact of Size and Shape of Lateral Groups on Thermal, Mechanical, and Gas Transport Properties.

A set of five new aromatic poly(imide)s (PIs) incorporating pendant acyclic alkyl moieties were synthesized. The difference among them was the length and bulkiness of the pendant group, which comprises of linear alkyl chains from three to six carbon atoms, and a -butyl moiety. The effect of the side group length on the physical, thermal, mechanical, and gas transport properties was analyzed.

Synthesis and Characterization of a 2,3-Dialkoxynaphthalene-Based Conjugated Copolymer via Direct Arylation Polymerization (DAP) for Organic Electronics.

Poly[(5,5'-(2,3-bis(2-ethylhexyloxy)naphthalene-1,4-diyl)bis(thiophene-2,2'-diyl))--(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-4,7-diyl)] (PEHONDTBT) was synthesized for the first time and through direct arylation polymerization (DAP) for use as p-donor material in organic solar cells. Optimized reaction protocol leads to a donor-acceptor conjugated polymer in good yield, with less structural defects than its analog obtained from Suzuki polycondensation, and with similar or even higher molecular weight than other previously reported polymers based on the 2,3-dialkoxynaphthalene monomer. The batch-to-batch repeatability of the optimized DAP conditions for the synthesis of PEHONDTBT was proved, showing the robustness of the synthetic strategy.

Author Correction: Rapid fabrication of reinforced and cell-laden vascular grafts structurally inspired by human coronary arteries.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Rapid fabrication of reinforced and cell-laden vascular grafts structurally inspired by human coronary arteries.

Design strategies for small diameter vascular grafts are converging toward native-inspired tissue engineered grafts. A new automated technology is presented that combines a dip-spinning methodology for depositioning concentric cell-laden hydrogel layers, with an adapted solution blow spinning (SBS) device for intercalated placement of aligned reinforcement nanofibres. This additive manufacture approach allows the assembly of bio-inspired structural configurations of concentric cell patterns with fibres at specific angles and wavy arrangements.

Cold-adaptation of a methacrylamide gelatin towards the expansion of the biomaterial toolbox for specialized functionalities in tissue engineering.

Tissue regeneration is witnessing a significant surge in advanced medicine. It requires the interaction of scaffolds with different cell types for efficient tissue formation post-implantation. The presence of tissue subtypes in more complex organs demands the co-existence of different biomaterials showing different hydrolysis rate for specialized cell-dependent remodeling.

Synthesis and Properties of Poly(imides) and Poly(imides)/Ionic Liquid Composites Bearing a Benzimidazole Moiety.

Three new aromatic poly(imides) containing benzimidazole units in the backbone were synthesized and characterized by several spectroscopic techniques. Flexible spacer groups were incorporated into the poly(imides) structure to improve their solubility in organic solvents and their oxidative stabilization. All poly(imides) were thermally stable ( > 512 °C) and had the ability to form dense flexible films.

PANI Branches onto Donor-Acceptor Copolymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Electroluminescent Properties of New 2D-Materials.

A new series of two-dimensional statistical conjugated polymers based on aniline and 9,9-dihexylfluorene as donor units and benzo- or naphtho-quinoxaline/thiadiazole derivatives as acceptor moieties, possessing PANI segments as side chains, were designed and synthesized. To investigate the effects of the perpendicular PANI branches on the properties of the main chain, the optical, electrochemical, morphological and electroluminescence properties were studied. The 2D materials tend to possess lower molecular weights and to absorb and to emit light red-shifted compared to the trunk 1D-polymers, in the yellow-red region of the visible spectrum.

Preparation of CuONPs@PVDF/Non-Woven Polyester Composite Membrane: Structural Influence of Nanoparticle Addition.

Membrane distillation techniques have appeared as promising options for guaranteeing the availability of potable water in times of scarcity of this essential resource. For membrane preparation, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is preferred due to the easier synthesis procedures, with respect to other fluorine-based polymers. In this work, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) of different weight percent (wt %) embedded in PVDF membranes supported on non-woven polyester fabric (NWPET) were prepared by the phase inversion method, and characterized by spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR, Raman) and electron microscopy techniques (SEM).

New Triphenylamine-Based Oligomeric Schiff Bases Containing Tetraphenylsilane Moieties in the Backbone.

Three new triphenylamine-based oligomeric Schiff bases (polySB1, polySB2 and polySB3) containing tetraphenylsilane core (TPS-core) in the main chain were obtained from TPS-core-based diamines and bis(4-formylphenyl)phenylamine by a high-temperature polycondensation reaction. These new oligomers were structurally characterized by FT-IR, NMR and elemental analysis. All polySBs were highly soluble in common organic solvents, such as chloroform, tetrahydrofuran and chlorobenzene.

Design and fabrication of biocompatible wrinkled hydrogel films with selective antibiofouling properties.

In this article, we explored the selective antibiofouling capacity acquired by functional wrinkled hydrogel films via a fine tuning of their chemical structure through the gradual insertion of hydrophobic radical groups in their network. The hydrogel consists of three main components: hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA, amphiphilic monomer), trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFMA, hydrophobic monomer), and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA, hydrophilic crosslinking agent). Interestingly, the manipulation of the chemical composition affects both, surface morphology and physicochemical characteristics of the patterns, inducing transitions between different surface microstructures, i.

IFN-γ and IL-33 modulate mesenchymal stem cells function targeting Th1/Th17 axis in a murine skin transplantation model.

The immune regulatory properties of IL-33 have indicated that this cytokine has the capacity to target several immune cells under a variety of immunological responses, including overt inflammation and tolerance. Due to its versatile mechanistics, we sought to investigate the role of IL-33 on mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), a population of cells with recognizable modulatory functions. Our data indicates that IL-33 does not affect the expression of classical MSC markers such as CD29, CD44 and CD73, or the lack of CD45, CD11b and CD117.

Suzuki-Type Cross-Coupling Reaction of Unprotected 3-Iodoindazoles with Pinacol Vinyl Boronate: An Expeditive C-3 Vinylation of Indazoles under Microwave Irradiation.

Herein we report an expeditive C-3 vinylation of unprotected 3-iodoindazoles under microwave irradiation. Ten C-5 substituted 3-vinylindazole derivatives, nine of them novel, were synthesized through this method, which proceeds in moderate to excellent yields starting from C-5 substituted 3-iodoindazole derivatives. In all cases, the C-3 vinylated derivative was the only isolated product.

Silylated oligomeric poly(ether-azomethine)s from monomers containing biphenyl moieties: synthesis and characterization.

In this study, four new silicon-containing poly(ether-azomethine)s with linear structures were prepared using original silicon and biphenyl moiety-containing monomers: two diamines and two dialdehydes. The oligomeric natures of the samples were established by GPC analysis, which showed chains containing 3 to 5 repetitive units. The monomers and the oligomeric samples were structurally characterized by NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy.