Micro- and nanoplastics have been detected in environmental compartments from the highest mountains to the deepest seas. They have been shown to be present at almost all trophic levels, and within humans they have been detected in numerous organs and human stool. Whilst their ubiquitous nature is indisputable, little is known about the health risks they may present. Much current research is focussed on the production of test materials with which to perform the necessary health studies. An important aspect of this is the correct storage and suspension of the materials to ensure they remain stable both chemically and with regards to size and shape. In this review, we look at the chemical stability of nine common polymers in a range of liquids; first with the use of commercial compatibility charts and then with a more quantitative approach using Hansen solubility parameters. We then look at stability with regards to particle agglomeration, whether and how stable compositions can be predicted, and which dispersants can be added to increase stability. Finally, we discuss the role of bio-surfactants and the eco-corona and how these may offer a route to both better stability and environmental relevance.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124306 | DOI Listing |
Expert Opin Drug Deliv
January 2025
Vladimir Zelman Center for Neurobiology and Brain Rehabilitation, Moscow, Russia.
Introduction: The pursuit of linear dosage in pharmacy is essential for achieving consistent therapeutic release and enhancing patient compliance. This review provides a comprehensive summary of zero-order drug delivery systems, with a particular focus on reservoir-based systems emanated from different microfabrication technologies.
Areas Covered: The consideration of recent advances in drug delivery systems is given to encompass the key areas including the importance of achieving a constant drug release rate for therapeutic applications.
J Biomed Mater Res A
January 2025
Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland.
Bone tissue regeneration can be affected by various architectonical features of 3D porous scaffold, for example, pore size and shape, strut size, curvature, or porosity. However, the design of additively manufactured structures studied so far was based on uniform geometrical figures and unit cell structures, which often do not resemble the natural architecture of cancellous bone. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of architectonical features of additively manufactured (aka 3D printed) titanium scaffolds designed based on microtomographic scans of fragments of human femurs of individuals of different ages on in vitro response of human bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHum Reprod Open
November 2024
Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Study Question: How accurately can artificial intelligence (AI) models predict sperm retrieval in non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients undergoing micro-testicular sperm extraction (m-TESE) surgery?
Summary Answer: AI predictive models hold significant promise in predicting successful sperm retrieval in NOA patients undergoing m-TESE, although limitations regarding variability of study designs, small sample sizes, and a lack of validation studies restrict the overall generalizability of studies in this area.
What Is Known Already: Previous studies have explored various predictors of successful sperm retrieval in m-TESE, including clinical and hormonal factors. However, no consistent predictive model has yet been established.
Genet Med Open
April 2024
UCSF Bioethics, University of California, San Francisco, CA.
Purpose: Sharing aggregate results with research participants is a widely agreed-upon ethical obligation; yet, there is little research on communicating study results to diverse populations enrolled in genomics research. This article describes the cocreation of a visual narrative to explain research findings to families enrolled in a clinical genomics research study.
Methods: The design process involved researchers, clinicians, study participants, a physician illustrator, and a health communications expert.
Natl Sci Rev
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002, China.
Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) materials are known for their intriguing physical properties, but their rational design and synthesis remain a great challenge for chemists. In this work, we successfully synthesized a new non-centrosymmetric oxide, i.e.
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