Methyl Ether Research Articles

Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium of System Comprising Green Solvents: A Holistic Review

Abstract: The design and operation of distillation columns is based on vapor-liquid equilibrium data, which is a necessity for the chemical industry. In recent years, chemical industry has embraced green chemistry and sustainable development. Furthermore, green solvents are more environmentfriendly and cleaner than conventional solvents and thus offer a good alternative. Very limited work has been reported in the literature that focuses on the generation of isobaric/isothermal vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) data of systems comprising green solvents. In this paper, reported VLE data are explored for three emerging green solvents, such as cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME), γ- valerolactone (GVL), and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF). Emerging green solvents have favorable environmental, health, and safety characteristics, making them attractive alternatives for a wide range of applications. The study focuses on two critical separations; the extraction of formic acid from Power-to-X chemical processes and purification of acetic acid from chemical synthesis or fermentation processes. Both processes are integral parts of the chemical industry's sustainable development. To facilitate these separations, accurate VLE data for these green solvents with acetic acid/formic acid systems are essential. The paper reviews literature related to VLE data for systems involving these green solvents. It provides insights into the experimental conditions, equipment, analysis methods, thermodynamic models, and error-minimizing functions used in the previous studies. The researchers can refer to this information as a useful reference prior to the VLE experimentation and modeling of systems comprising these three green solvents. Moreover, the paper presents an overview of recent research on green solvents and their applications, illustrating their versatility and potential for various industrial processes. Research efforts are needed to generate VLE data for green solvent systems and support the chemical industry in transitions towards more sustainable practices.

Highly Efficient Production of Furfural from Corncob by Barley Hull Biochar-Based Solid Acid in Cyclopentyl Methyl Ether–Water System

Furfural, an important biobased compound, can be synthesized through the chemocatalytic conversion of D-xylose and hemicelluloses from lignocellulose. It has widespread applications in the production of valuable furans, additives, resins, rubbers, synthetic fibers, polymers, plastics, biofuels, and pharmaceuticals. By using barley hulls (BHs) as biobased support, a heterogeneous biochar Sn-NUS-BH catalyst was created to transform corncob into furfural in cyclopentyl methyl ether–H2O. Sn-NUS-BH had a fibrous structure with voids, a large comparative area, and a large pore volume, which resulted in more catalytic active sites. Through the characterization of the physical and chemical properties of Sn-NUS-BH, it was observed that the Sn-NUS-BH had tin dioxide (Lewis acid sites) and a sulfonic acid group (Brønsted acid sites). This chemocatalyst had good thermostability. At 170 °C for 20 min, Sn-NUS-BH (3.6 wt%) was applied to transform 75 g/L of corncob with ZnCl2 (50 mM) to generate furfural (80.5% yield) in cyclopentyl methyl ether–H2O (2:1, v/v). This sustainable catalytic process shows great promise in the transformation of lignocellulose to furfural using biochar-based chemical catalysts.

LIPOPHILIC SUBSTANCES OF THE ROOTS AND RHIZOMES OF LEUZEA SAFFLOWER (RHAPONTICUM CARTHAMOIDES (WILLD.) ILJIN)

The qualitative composition of lipophilic secondary metabolites in the medicinal plant leuzea safflower (Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin) has been studied by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. The roots and rhizomes of this plant species were used as the raw material. Hexane and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) were used as extractants. Two extraction schemes were used (exhaustive and sequential), which allowed us to obtain more detailed information on the composition of components of the raw material. The obtained lipophilic extracts were separated into acid and neutral components by treating with NaOH and KOH solutions. The acid components were transformed into methyl ethers by treatment with diazomethane. The neutral components of the unsaponifiable residue were analysed without derivatisation. The fractions enriched with hydrocarbons, ketones, sterols, aliphatic and triterpene alcohols were obtained by chromatographic separation through a column with silica gel. A series of low-polar compounds were identified that have not been detected previously in this kind of raw material. By comparing the mass spectra obtained in the work with the available databases, the following compounds were identified: aliphatic acids with chain length 10-30 carbon atoms (including unsaturated and dicarboxylic), the compounds of cinnamic series, as well as benzoic, salicylic, sterculic, 9,10-octadecadienic and phenylpropanoic acids. More than 90 triterpene and aliphatic compounds of the unsaponifiable residue and 33 components of free and bound acids were identified. In addition to n-alkanes, the hydrocarbon fraction contains also squalene, as well as saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons with shorter chains. Aliphatic and terpene aldehydes and ketones were detected. Highly active triterpene alcohols and ketones are represented mainly by ursane and oleanane derivatives. The major sterol component (β-sitosterol) is accompanied by cholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, stigmast-7-en-3-β-ol and stigmastan-3-β-ol.

Melamine formaldehyde resin adhesive toughened with graphene oxide: Structures and properties

The melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resin adhesive was modified by graphene oxide (GO), the chemical structure, wettability, bonding performance, tensile properties, curing performance and thermal properties of the modified resin were analyzed, and the toughening mechanism was also discussed in this study. The results showed that: (1) The MF resin with a high molar ratio possessed stable methylene ether bonds, which could easily generate parallel folding in space to form a π-π stacking supramolecular self-assembly special structure, with the potential of enhancing the toughness of molecular structures. (2) GO contained a large number of oxygen-containing reactive functional groups, which could further lower the curing temperature of the MF resin. A dense cross-linked network structure improved the thermal stability of the resin. (3) The bonding strength and toughness of the resin were significantly improved when the content of GO was 0.1 wt%. However, due to the large specific surface area and the intense π-π interaction between sheets, GO was easy to agglomerate, and the properties of the resin with GO content of 0.4 wt% degraded sharply. (4) The crystallinity of the MF resin modified by GO decreased, and the surface energy and plastic deformation energy increased due to the increased fracture crack path and fracture surface of the resin, which was the macro-reason for the improvement of toughness. (5) The strong π-π interaction between GO sheets and π-π accumulation between triazine rings were like parallel “springs” in the molecular structure of the resin, which might be the internal reason for the improvement of toughness. In addition, it was also proved that this special structure could limit the activity of hydroxymethyl and the release of free formaldehyde in the resin.

A green bulk modification for imparting a green VIPS membrane with antifouling properties

BackgroundMembrane preparation and membrane modification processes have long involved the use of toxic solvents. The present work proposes to only use envrionmentally-friendly solvents for both the fabrication and the surface modification of hydrophobic microfiltration membranes. In addition, coating processes for membrane modification are essentially surface modification processes. However, spray-coating may be a suitable method for both surface and bulk modification. MethodsAfter dissolving poly(vinylidene fluoride) in dimethylsulfoxide, membranes were formed by the vapor-induced phase separation process, and then modified using an aqeous solution of an amphiphilic copolymer containing poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate units. Then, a variety of physicochemical techniques were employed to characterize the membrane structure and prove the effectiveness of the surface/bulk modification. Antifouling tests in static and dynamic conditions were conducted. Significant findingsIt is possible to reduce the water contact angle of the top surface of the membrane from 135° to 0° and that of the bottom surface from 126° to 0° within <10 s, indicating successful hydrophilization of the membrane on the one hand, and top-to-bottom modification, despite solely exposing the top surface to the spray, on the other hand. This conclusion was confirmed by deidcated surface chemistry analyses. Besides, the membranes maintained their original highly porous and symmetric structure with light effects on surface porosity and pore size following the spray-coating process. The drasting improvement of hydrophilicity resulted in effective mitigation of fibrinogen adsorption (reduced by 85 %) and Escherichia coli adhesion (reduced by 86 %). Fouling during cyclic filtration involving a bacterial suspension was also effectively reduced with a flux recovery ratio of 53 % (against 37 % for a commercial hydrophilic membrane) and an irreversible flux decline ratio of 47 % (against 63 % for a commercial hydrophilic membrane) in the conditions of the test.

Intensified, Kilogram-Scaled, and Environment-Friendly: Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Bio-Based Acylated Hydroxystyrenes.

Lignin-derived styrene derivatives are versatile building blocks for the manufacture of biobased polymers. As shown previously, phenol-protected hydroxystyrenes are accessible under industrially sound conditions (>100 g L-1, >95% yield) by subjecting biogenic phenolic acids to enzymatic decarboxylation and base-catalyzed acylation in nonaqueous media (wet cyclopentyl methyl ether, CPME). Herein, we demonstrate the production of 1 kg of 4-acetoxy-3-methoxy-styrene in a 10 L reactor and present practical adjustments to the up- and downstream processing that warrant a straightforward process and high isolated yields. Additionally, an environmental assessment is conducted, starting with a thorough E factor analysis to identify the sources that contribute most to the environmental burden (solvent and downstream processing). Also, the total CO2 production of the process is studied, including contributions from energy use and the treatment of generated wastes. The energy impact is evaluated through thermodynamic analysis, and the environmental footprint contributions by wastes-organic and aqueous fractions-are assessed based on CO2 emissions from solvent incineration and wastewater treatment, respectively. Overall, the holistic assessment of the process, its optimization, scale-up, product isolation, and environmental analysis indicate the feasibility of multistep chemoenzymatic reactions to deliver high-volume, low-value chemicals from biorefineries.

Insights into seed coats of nine cultivars of Australian lupin: Unravelling LC-QTOF MS-based biochemical profiles, nutritional, functional, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties together with rationalizing antidiabetic mechanism by in silico approaches

Lupins, and other legumes, have attained international interest due to their reported remarkable health benefits. Currently, the seed coats are discarded as waste or animal feed. The research presented here summarizes the potential for incorporating the seed coats into ‘whole grain’ foods. We aimed to identify metabolites found in the seed coats of nine commercial Australian cultivars of lupin (Lupinus angustifolius and L. albus species), and to evaluate and compare their functional, nutritional, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties, along with in silico exploration of mechanisms of action for selected identified secondary metabolites. The seed coats were found to contain 79 to 90% dietary fibers and substantial quantity of essential macrometals. LC-QTOF MS-based, untargeted bioactive metabolite profiling explored a total of 673 chemical entities, and identified 63 bioactive secondary metabolites including: biophenols, unsaturated fatty acids, triterpenoids, alkaloids, and dietary prebiotics (insoluble fibers). The seed coats from these nine cultivars show substantial antioxidant activity. The cultivars of L. angustifolius inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase significantly in vitro. Moreover, in silico docking and dynamic simulation along with ADME/T analysis suggest that quercetin 3-methyl ether and 8-C-methylquercetin 3-methyl ether as molecules, novel in lupin seed coats, are responsible for the α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition. The findings indicated that lupin seed coats might be beneficial food components, rather than be discarded as ‘mill waste’

Expeditious assembly of N-heteroaryl substituted quercetin derivatives as potent anticancer agents

The synthesis of a small library of N-heteroaryl substituted quercetin derivatives (28 compounds) at the C8 position applying Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction between 8-iodoquercetin methyl ether and various pyridylboronic acids or quinolylboronic acids is reported. The obtained quercetin derivatives 2a-2n and 3a-3n were well characterized by the 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS data. Preliminary biological evaluations showed that some of the synthesized 8-heteroarylated quercetin derivatives possessed very high anti-cancer cell proliferation activity in HCC827 cancer cell line (IC50< 5.0 µmol/L) in vitro. Among these synthesized compounds, quinolin-7-yl substituted compound 2m exhibited best activity in HCC827 (IC50 = 3.20 µmol/L), while quinolin-3-yl substituted compound 2i showed best activity in MGC-803 cells (IC50 = 14.92 µmol/L). The 3-pyridyl compound 3c with ortho-fluorine showed best activity in OVCAR-3 cells (IC50 = 10.67 µmol/L). The disclosed structure-activity relationship provides hints that large steric hindrance at the C8 position of quercetin alter the anticancer activities and also offers new examples for new application of electronic and steric modifications as versatile tools in drug discovery.

Sulfonyl diimidazole to stabilize fluoroethylene carbonate-based SEI in high-voltage Li ion cells with a SiOx containing negative electrode

Pairing nickel-rich layered oxide cathodes (e.g., LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811)) with silicon-based anodes (e.g., SiOx-graphite) and simultaneously increasing the upper cut-off voltage (> 4.3 V vs. Li|Li+) offers a promising pathway to increase the energy density of LIBs. However, the instability of state-of-the-art electrolytes poses a notable challenge for high-voltage Li ion cells with SiOx-based anodes due to abrupt cell failure. This challenge originates mainly from the restricted lithium transport due to a thick solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), followed by lithium metal plating on the SiOx-Gr anode, which leads to a roll-over failure. In this study, we introduce an additive-based electrolyte designed to facilitate the formation of a stable SEI on SiOx-Gr while protecting the SEI from attack by hydrofluoric acid and PF6−. The electrolyte formulation comprises 1 M lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) dissolved in ethyl carbonate (EC) and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) mixture (3:7 by wt.) with 5 wt.% fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and 1.5 wt.% sulfonyl diimidazole show the ability to suppress roll-over behavior and retain a capacity of 92 % at 1C and 20 °C.

Dielectric Relaxations of Polymer and Primary and Slow Water in Water Mixtures of Poly(vinyl methyl ether) as a Polymer with Low Glass Transition Temperature

Dielectric Relaxations of Polymer and Primary and Slow Water in Water Mixtures of Poly(vinyl methyl ether) as a Polymer with Low Glass Transition Temperature

Cross-Linked Composite Solid Polymer Electrolyte Doped with Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 for High Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries.

Composite solid polymer electrolytes (CSPEs) are safer alternatives to liquid electrolytes and excellent candidates for high-voltage solid-state batteries. However, interfacial instabilities between the electrodes and CSPEs are one of the bottlenecks in pursuing these systems. In this study, a cross-linked CSPE was synthesized based on polypropylene carbonate, polyethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate with additives including lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide salt, and tantalum-doped lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZTO). Mass fractions of 10, 20, and 40% LLZTO were added to the CSPE matrix. In a symmetric cell, lithium plating and stripping revealed that the interface between the lithium metal anode and CSPE with 10% of the LLZTO (CSPE-10LLZTO) shows the most stable interface. The CSPE-10LLZTO sample demonstrated high flexibility and showed no degradation over 800 h of cycling at varying current densities. The ionic conductivity for the CSPE-10LLZTO sample at 40 °C was 6.4 × 10-4 S/cm. An all-solid-state full cell was fabricated with LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2 as the cathode, CSPE-10LLZTO as the electrolyte and separator, and Li metal as the anode, delivering approximately 140 mAh/g of capacity. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements on CSPE-xLLZTO showed high miscibility and the elimination of crystallinity. Raman spectroscopy revealed uniformity in the structure. These findings demonstrate the capability of the CSPEs to develop high-voltage solid-state lithium metal batteries.

Analyzing the Effect of Electrolyte Quantity on the Aging of Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Despite a substantial impact on various economic and cell technology factors, the influence of electrolyte quantities is rarely addressed in research. This study examines the impact of varying electrolyte quantities on cell performance and aging processes using three different electrolytes: LP57 (1 M LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate:ethyl methyl carbonate (EC:EMC 3:7 w/w), LP572 (LP57+2 wt.% vinylene carbonate (VC)) and LP57 + absVC (18.351 mg VC). Comprehensive analytical post mortem investigations revealed that continuous excessive electrolyte decomposition determines the performance of cells using LP57, leading to enhanced irreversible lithium-ion loss and interphase thickening with increasing electrolyte volume. Impedance rise due to the growth of the interphase was also identified as the cause of degrading cell performance with rising amounts of LP572, attributed to an increasingly pronounced consumption of VC rather than electrolyte aging effects. By varying the electrolyte quantity while maintaining a constant amount VC within the cell system, the differences in cell performance were minimized, and observed deteriorating effects were suppressed. This study demonstrates the sensitive interdependence of electrolyte volume and additive concentration, practically affecting aging behavior. Comprehensively understanding the characteristics of each individual electrolyte component and tailoring the electrolytes to cell-specific cell properties proves to be crucial to optimize cell performance.

Dual-network hydrogel capsules for controlled molecular transport via pH and temperature responsiveness

We have developed innovative core–shell hydrogel capsules with a dual-network shell structure designed for precise control of molecular transport in response to external stimuli such as pH and temperature. The capsules were fabricated using a combination of microfluidic electrospray techniques and water-in-water (w/w) core–shell droplets templating. The primary network of the shell, calcium alginate (Ca-Alg), with a pKa around 3.4, exhibits sensitivity to pH. The secondary network of the shell, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA), undergoes a volume phase transition near 60 °C. These properties enable precise molecular transport control in/out of the capsules by modulating the surface charges through varying pH and modifying pore size through temperature changes. Moreover, the dual-network shell structure not only significantly enhances the mechanical strength of the capsules but also improves their stability under external stimulus, ensuring structural integrity during the transport of molecules. This research lays the groundwork for further investigations into the multimodal stimuli-responsive hydrogel systems to control molecular transport, important in applications such as sensors and reactors for chemical cascade reactions.

FORMULATION OF AN EMULGEL LOADING A SYNERGISTIC ANTIBACTERIAL COMBINATION OF α-MANGOSTIN ENRICHED EXTRACT AND LAWSONE METHYL ETHER

This study aimed to formulate a stable topical emulgel containing a synergized anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) combination of α-mangostin enriched extract (AME) and lawsone methyl ether (LME). AME (containing 84.9% w/w α-mangostin) was prepared using green technology, while pure LME was semi-synthesized from lawsone. Synergistic antibacterial effects against MRSA were evaluated using a broth microdilution assay coupled with the checkerboard method. Four AME and LME-loaded emulgels (F1–F4) containing 0.025% w/w AME and 0.2% w/w LME were formulated and evaluated for their physical, chemical, and biological stabilities under accelerated conditions for 6 months. The antibacterial assay followed by the checkerboard method revealed the best synergistic anti-MRSA effect between AME and LME at concentrations of 0.5 and 4 µg/mL, respectively. Based on the stability evaluations, the F4 formula exhibited good physical, chemical, and biological stabilities for at least 6 months. These results indicate that the emulgel containing a synergistic cocktail of 0.025% w/w AME and 0.2% w/w LME possesses high potential for further in vivo studies on the treatment of wounds associated with MRSA infection.

Exploring the capabilities and limitations of the Van Hove function to understand directional correlations in ion movements within Li-ion battery electrolytes.

Understanding microscopic directional correlations in ion movements within lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrolytes is important because these correlations directly affect the ionic conductivity. Onsager transport coefficients are widely used to understand these correlations. On the other hand, the Van Hove function (VHF) is also capable of determining correlated motions. However, identifying various types of ion correlated motions in LIB electrolytes using VHF is not well explored. Here, we have conducted molecular dynamics simulations of a representative experimental LIB electrolyte system-lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6)-at different concentrations in a (9:1 wt. %) mixture of ethyl methyl carbonate and fluoroethylene carbonate in order to explore the capabilities and limitations of using VHF to understand different types of ion correlations. We conclude that analysis of VHF can qualitatively describe both the positive correlation between cation-anion at different salt concentrations and the negative correlation between cation-cation and anion-anion present in high salt concentration, but it cannot foretell which correlation is dominating at any given electrolyte concentration. This type of quantitative information can be obtained only via Onsager's approach. This could be seen as a limitation of relying solely on VHF to fully understand ion correlation in electrolyte media.

Density functional theory guide for copolymerization mechanism between allyl radical with radicalophile: photo-driven radical mediated [3 + 2] cyclization.

The challenge of activating inert allyl monomers for polymerization has persisted, prompting our proposal of the photo-driven radical mediated [3 + 2] cyclization reaction (PRMC). This innovative approach significantly expedites the homopolymerization of multi-allyl monomers, enabling the synthesis of embolic microspheres for hepatocellular carcinoma interventions. PRMC involves allyl monomers to form allylic radicals and then radicals participating in a cycloaddition reaction with unsaturated olefins as radicalophiles to form cyclopentane-based radical products. While extensively studied in the theoretical and experimental homopolymerization, PRMC's application in copolymerization remains unexplored. To address this knowledge gap, we explored the elementary reaction, selecting allyl methyl ether radicals (AMER) and α,β-unsaturated ketones as radicalophiles for copolymerization investigations by density functional theory (DFT) analysis. We quantified energy differences between ground and excited states of reactants, elucidated frontier molecular orbitals, and assessed thermodynamic data for copolymerization feasibility. We also evaluated the electronic properties of reactants, predicting the reactivity of radicalophiles and the interactions of intermolecular reactions. Additionally, we applied transition state theory and interaction/deformation models and conducted a local orbital analysis to comprehensively study excess electron distribution and gyration radius of cyclic radical product. Our findings offer vital insights into PRMC's potential in copolymerization. This research provides a robust theoretical foundation for practical application, enhancing the polymerization field. Based on density functional theory (DFT), the calculations were performed at the M06-2X/6-311 + + G(d,p) level in/by Gaussian 16 package. Subsequently, our analytical results apply time-dependent density-functional theory (TD-DFT) and solvent modeling (SMD). Single-point energy calculations determine the driving force behind the radicals' reaction with radicalophiles. Furthermore, we assessed the electrostatic potential (ESP) of the reactants. The results of the calculations were visualized by the Multiwfn 3.6 and VMD 1.9 programs.

Essential Oil Components Incorporated Emulsion Hydrogels for Eradicating Dermatophytosis Caused by Pathogenic Fungi Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis.

Dermatophytosis is a prevalent fungal infection and public health burden, majorly caused by the attack of zoophilic fungi genera of Trichophyton and Microsporum. Among them, T. mentagrophytes and M. canis are the dominating pathogens that cause dermatophytosis in humans. Though anti-fungal treatments are available, the widespread drug resistance and minimal efficacy of conventional therapies cause recurring infections. In addition, prolonged anti-fungal medications induce several systemic side effects, including hepatotoxicity and leucopenia. The anti-dermatophytic formulation of biocompatible essential oil components (EOCs) is attractive due to their highly potent anti-dermatophytic action. Herein, two EOCs, Eugenol (EU) and Isoeugenol (IU), incorporated emulsion hydrogel (EOCs-EHG) synthesized from hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate. The cytocompatibility of the hydrogels is confirmed by treating them with fibroblast and keratinocyte cell lines. The EOCs-EHG demonstrated pH and temperature-responsive sustained release of entrapped EOCs and inhibited fungal spore germination. T. mentagrophytes and M. canis biofilms are eradicated at a minimal inhibitory concentration of 2µg mL-1 each of EU and IU. The in vivo anti-dermatophytic activity of EOCs-EHG is confirmed in dermatophyte-infected Wistar albino rat models. The topical application of EOCs-EHG demonstrated complete infection eradication and facilitated skin regeneration, emphasizing the therapeutic potential of EOCs-EHG against dermatophytosis.

Acrylate-Based PEG Hydrogels with Ultrafast Biodegradability for 3D Cell Culture.

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogels are particularly challenging to degrade, which hinders efficient cell harvesting within the gel matrix. Here, highly branched copolymers of PEG methyl ether acrylate (PEGMA) and disulfide diacrylate (DSDA) (PEG-DS) with short primary chains and multiple pendent vinyl groups were synthesized by a "vinyl oligomer combination" approach. PEG-DS readily cross-links with thiolated gelatin (Gel-SH) to form hydrogels. Results demonstrate that shortening the primary chains of PEG-DS significantly enhances the viability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by up to 193.2%. Importantly, DS junctions can be easily cleaved into short primary chains using dithiothreitol (DTT), triggering ultrafast degradation of PEG-DS/Gel-SH hydrogels within 2 min under mild conditions and release of the encapsulated BMSCs. This study establishes a novel strategy to enhance the degradation of acrylate-based PEG hydrogels for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture and harvesting. These findings expand the potential applications of such hydrogels in various biomedical fields.

Synthesis and Mechanistic Investigation of an Amphiphilic Polymer in Enhancing Extra-Heavy Oil Recovery via Viscosity Reduction.

When applied to extra-heavy oil, conventional polymer surfactants exhibit poor efficacy in reducing viscosity and have limited adaptability. In this work, a novel amphiphilic polymer named PAADB was prepared by incorporating 2-acryloylamino-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS), benzyldimethyl [2-[(1-oxoallyl) zoxy] propyl] ammonium chloride (DML), and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (BEM) into the main chain of acrylamide through free radical polymerization. PAADB exhibited outstanding interfacial activity, water-phase thickening ability, and emulsifying performance. The critical micelle concentration of PAADB was approximately 2500 mg/L, with a viscosity of 84.69 mPa·s at 50 °C. Additionally, interfacial tension experienced a notable decrease from 46.53 to 14.56 mN/m. At an optimal concentration of 4000 mg/L, PAADB reduced the viscosity of extra-heavy oil by over 92% across various temperatures and by more than 93% for different types of extra-heavy oil. PAADB demonstrated excellent emulsification ability and emulsion stability, effectively dispersing crude oil to create water-in-oil droplets measuring 35.33 μm in size. Meanwhile, molecular dynamics simulations further unveiled the viscosity reduction mechanism of PAADB. The hydrophilic groups within PAADB molecules are regularly distributed on the water interface, while the hydrophobic groups infiltrate the oil molecules to form a stable interfacial film. PAADB and asphaltene spontaneously form a sandwich structure, reducing intermolecular forces and disrupting the interlayer structure of asphaltene molecules. In general, this novel amphiphilic polymer demonstrates broad applicability and potential in extra-heavy oil recovery, providing valuable insights for the development of new heavy oil viscosity reducers (HOVRs).

Acetyl zingerone methyl ether protects hair against oxidative damage incurred during and after treatment with permanent dyes and helps extend longevity of newly developed hair colour.

Use of permanent hair dyes causes unintended oxidative damage during the short time frame of the dyeing process that leads to perceivable changes in the feel, manageability and appearance of hair. Moreover, after hair has been dyed, regular exposure to the sun as a key environmental stressor continues to stimulate additional oxidative damage and to induce newly developed hair colours to fade prematurely or undergo changes in colour quality. To document the utility of acetyl zingerone methyl ether (MAZ) as a newly designed haircare ingredient to afford extra protection against oxidative damage and safeguard the integrity of hair colour. We demonstrate that MAZ is compatible chemically with the high alkaline conditions required for the colouring process and from theoretical calculations preferentially binds Fe and Cu ions relative to Ca or Zn ions. In model Fenton reactions MAZ effectively chelated active redox metals (Fe and Cu ions) in the presence of excess Ca+2 ions to inhibit the production of hydroxyl radicals, and in separate studies, MAZ neutralized singlet oxygen with greater efficiency than α-tocopherol by a factor of 2.5. When mixed into permanent dyes prior to hair tress application, MAZ significantly reduced combing forces, and SEM images led to substantial reductions in visual signs of surface damage. In a 28-day clinical study, relative to controls, mixing MAZ into hair dyes prior to application interfered neither with colour development nor with ability to cover grey hair and led to significant improvements in perceived attributes associated with hair's condition immediately following the dyeing process. Over a 28-day maintenance phase, especially between Day 14 and Day 28, continued use of shampoo and conditioner containing MAZ significantly preserved gloss measurements and hair colour in terms of longevity and colour quality as remaining desired and fresh compared to use of control shampoo and conditioner. This work establishes MAZ as a next-generation hair care ingredient for use in permanent dyes to attenuate oxidative damage and in shampoos and conditioners to promote longevity of hair colour and to maintain overall health and appearance of hair on a daily basis.