The high interest in polymers from natural resources prompted us to investigate the use of enzymatically synthesized polyglobalide (PGL) in the preparation of polymer networks with potential applications as biomaterials for drug delivery devices. Polymer networks were obtained under mild conditions by photoinitiated thiol-ene coupling between PGL and a poly(ethylene glycol- co-thiomalate) (PEG-SH) copolymer obtained by polycondensation. The obtained polymer networks were thoroughly characterized by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, titration of thiol groups and elemental analysis. Our study took into consideration the synthesis parameters for the polymer networks, such as the total polymer concentration and the SH/C=C functionality molar ratio. Swelling in both THF and water was assessed, and the potential of the materials for drug delivery was determined. The scanning electron microscopy images showed that the prepared polymer networks may have different morphologies ranging from homogeneous polymer materials to macroporous structures. Additionally, the prepared materials were found to be suitable from a cytotoxicity point of view, enabling their application as biomaterials for drug delivery devices.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.8b00634 | DOI Listing |
Sci Rep
December 2024
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Hydrogen-based electric vehicles such as Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCHEVs) play an important role in producing zero carbon emissions and in reducing the pressure from the fuel economy crisis, simultaneously. This paper aims to address the energy management design for various performance metrics, such as power tracking and system accuracy, fuel cell lifetime, battery lifetime, and reduction of transient and peak current on Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) and Li-ion batteries. The proposed algorithm includes a combination of reinforcement learning algorithms in low-level control loops and high-level supervisory control based on fuzzy logic load sharing, which is implemented in the system under consideration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFood Chem
December 2024
College of Food Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong 266109, China; School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology & Business University (BTBU), Beijing 100048, China; Shandong Ensign Industry Co., Ltd., Weifang, Shandong 262409, China. Electronic address:
Gelatin, a natural and edible polymer, has attracted wide attention for use in food and edible packaging applications. However, its inadequate properties, especially poor flexibility, limit its broader utilization. Hybridizing different polymers is a promising strategy to achieve enhanced properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMembranes (Basel)
December 2024
NYUAD Water Research Center, New York University Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi 129188, United Arab Emirates.
Membrane engineering is a complex field involving the development of the most suitable membrane process for specific purposes and dealing with the design and operation of membrane technologies. This study analyzed 1424 articles on reverse osmosis (RO) membrane engineering from the Scopus database to provide guidance for future studies. The results show that since the first article was published in 1964, the domain has gained popularity, especially since 2009.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanomaterials (Basel)
December 2024
Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Portici Research Centre, P.le E. Fermi 1, Portici, 80055 Naples, Italy.
In recent years, the morphology control of semiconductor nanomaterials has been attracting increasing attention toward maximizing their functional properties and reaching their end use in real-world devices. However, the development of easy and cost-effective methods for preparing large-scale patterned semiconductor structures on flexible temperature-sensitive substrates remains ever in demand. In this study, vapor post-treatment (VPT) is investigated as a potential, simple and low-cost post-preparative method to morphologically modify gravure-printed zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticulate thin films at low temperatures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGels
December 2024
Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
Hydrogels are widely used in the field of adhesive materials. However, hydrogel adhesion has previously required the covalent graft of supramolecular groups on polymeric chains. In contrast to that, here, a hydrogel adhesion induced by covalent polymer entanglement between two hydrogel networks was reported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!