Complex calcium carbonate/polymer microparticles as carriers for aminoglycoside antibiotics.

Composite microparticles of CaCO and two pectin samples (which differ by the functional group ratio) or corresponding nonstoichiometric polyelectrolyte complexes with different molar ratios (0.5, 0.9 and 1.

Salicyl-imine-chitosan hydrogels: Supramolecular architecturing as a crosslinking method toward multifunctional hydrogels.

Hydrogels based on chitosan and salicyladehyde were obtained by dynamic covalent chemistry. The unusual chitosan gelling in the presence of the monoaldehyde has been deciphered following and correlating data of NMR, FTIR, single crystal and wide angle XRD, POM and optical measurements. Of significant importance in understanding the crosslinking features was the synthesis of a model compound and the successfully growth as single crystal allowing the study of its supramolecular peculiarities.

Artificial water channels--incipient innovative developments.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are biological water channels known for fast water transport (∼10(8)-10(9) water molecules per s per channel), with complete proton/ion exclusion. Few synthetic channels have been designed to mimic this high water permeability and to reject ions at a significant level. This Feature Article will discuss the incipient developments of the first artificial water channel systems.

DyNAvectors: dynamic constitutional vectors for adaptive DNA transfection.

Dynamic constitutional frameworks, based on squalene, PEG and PEI components, reversibly connected to core centers, allow the efficient identification of adaptive vectors for good DNA transfection efficiency and are well tolerated by mammalian cells.