Cationic antimicrobial peptides represent a promising therapeutic option against multidrug-resistant bacteria for the treatment of local infections. However, due to their low stability and potential toxicity, there are limited possibilities for their application in clinical practice. In this study, different poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) microparticles (MPs) loaded with citropin 1.1 (CIT) were investigated in order to demonstrate the effect of the polymer microstructure on the encapsulation efficiency () and kinetics of the peptide release from the newly developed devices. The characteristics of the new systems in terms of surface morphology, particle size, and zeta potential analysis, as well as the haemolytic activities of the peptide were investigated. The release kinetics of CIT from the MPs was also investigated. CIT loading was favoured by a high content of negative charged linear polymer chains in the PCL structure. The presence of non-charged, amorphous macrocycle domains results in faster degradation of the PCL matrix. Depending on the crystallinity of the PCL, the peptide release exhibited a near-zero-order or near-first-order profile with no “burst release”. The results indicated that CIT-loaded PCL MPs could potentially be a promising drug delivery system (DDS) for the treatment of local infections.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nano8070482 | DOI Listing |
Nanoscale
January 2025
State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
Lithium metal is considered one of the most promising anode materials for lithium batteries due to its high theoretical specific capacity (3860 mA h g) and low redox potential (-3.04 V). However, uncontrolled lithium dendrite growth and severe interfacial side reactions during cycling result in poor performance and safety risks, significantly limiting its practical applications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
January 2025
Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of High-Performance Polymer Materials and Technology of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Overheating remains a major barrier to chip miniaturization, leading to device malfunction. Addressing the urgent need for thermal management promotes the development of solid-state electrocaloric cooling. However, enhancing passive heat dissipation through two-dimensional materials in electrocaloric polymers typically compromises the electrocaloric effect.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhys Chem Chem Phys
January 2025
School of Mechanical & Vehicle Engineering, Linyi University, Linyi, Shandong 276000, China.
Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that regular conical helices of poly(-phenylene) (PPP) chains can be constructed inside the confined space of single-walled carbon nanocones (CNCs). The translocation displacement of the PPP chain combined with the change of the system total potential energy including each energy component and structural parameters of the formed conical helix is discussed to deeply explore the microstructure evolution, driving forces and dynamic mechanisms. In addition, the influence of chain length, cone angle, temperature, chain number, linked position of benzene rings and the form of Lennard-Jones potential on the helical encapsulation is further studied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe development of materials from renewable resources has been increasing, intending to reduce the consumption of fossil sources, with terpenes being one of the main families that reduce the consumption of isoprene. The study of the binary catalytic system neodymium versatate/dibutyl magnesium (NdV/Mg(-Bu)), for the coordination homopolymerization of β-myrcene and β-farnesene, was carried out analysing different [Nd] : [Mg] ratios (between 4 and 10). Reporting conversions of 92% and 83% at an [Nd] : [Mg] ratio of 8 for polymyrcene (PMy) and polyfarnesene (PFa), respectively, and microstructures comprising 1,4 content above 80% for both polymers (PMy, -59% and PFa, -83%).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAngew Chem Int Ed Engl
January 2025
The University of Hong Kong, Department of Chemistry, Pokfulam Road, 999077, Hong Kong, CHINA.
Electrically conductive coordination polymers (ECCPs), particularly those incorporating benzenehexathiol (BHT) ligands, are emerging as a distinctive class of electronic materials with tunable semiconducting and metallic properties. However, the exploration of novel ECCPs with low-symmetry structures and electrical anisotropy remains under development. Here, we report the on-water surface synthesis of a novel ECCP, namely Cu5BHT, which exhibits a low-symmetry structure and unique in-plane electrical anisotropy that differs from the well-known Cu3BHT phase.
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