Acid Gel Research Articles

EFFECTIVENESS OF APPLYING HYALURONIC ACID GEL IN GINGIVAL RETRACTION

The interdental papilla is a small part of the free gingiva that fills the space between the teeth, apical to its contact area. The objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of the application of hyaluronic acid gel in gingival retraction. The methodology used was a literature review with an exploratory qualitative approach, using academic platforms and bibliographies: SCIELO, PUB MED and GOOGLE ACADEMICO. The inclusion criteria were articles from the last few years in Portuguese and English. The effectiveness of the use of HA gel in reducing the area of ​​the black triangle was 85.06%. In addition, the length of the papilla increased by 70.256%, while the distance from the contact to the papilla decreased by 83.026%. At the different times, the values ​​of the variables studied at the three levels were significantly different (p < 0.05). We concluded that injection of HA with a concentration of 1.6% at two points of the interdental papilla was effective in reconstructing the interdental papilla in the esthetic zone, especially in long-term follow-ups (especially 6 months).

Fabrication and characterization of acidic high internal phase emulsion gels stabilized solely by wheat gluten for plant-based mayonnaise

Plant-based diets are currently gaining more popularity as a means of reducing the environmental footprint and promoting human health. Herein, plant protein-based acidic high internal phase emulsion gels (HIPE gels) were fabricated via a facile one-pot approach using wheat gluten (WG) solely. Pre-dissolving WG in edible vinegar-water solution was contributed to the fabrication of stable emulsion gels. Factors that affect the structure and performance of plant proteins as HIPE gels stabilizers were investigated. The results indicated that the stable HIPE gels could be formed with a vinegar concentration between 5 % and 20 % and a WG concentration of 1.0 %–7.5 % only. Microscopy images reveal that a collaboration of the soluble protein molecules adsorption and protein aggregate Pickering stabilization at oil-water interface, which was turned to form stable HIPE gels. In addition, the resulted HIPE gels exhibited shear thinning behavior, viscoelastic features, and good thixotropic recovery, which provide a similar perceived texture and sensory property for formulating egg-free mayonnaise. These findings provide a useful approach to construct HIPE-based softs from low-cost wheat gluten for preparing plant-based mayonnaise.

Numerical investigation into the acid flow and reaction behavior in the tight, naturally fractured carbonate reservoir during acid fracturing

Tight naturally fractured carbonate reservoirs require acid fracturing to build the connectivity between the wellbore and natural fractures (NFs), where hydrocarbon is stored. The high leakoff nature of the NF complicates the acid flow and etching pattern, raising the difficulty in acid fracturing design and optimization. To explore the acid flow and reaction behavior in such reservoirs, an acid fracturing model accounting for the NF distribution is developed, which consists of a fracture surface characterization model, a fracture propagation model, and an acid-etching model. Based on the model, the effects of injection parameters and the NF properties on the effectiveness of acid fracturing are investigated. Then, strategies for acid fracturing the tight naturally fractured carbonate reservoirs are proposed. Results show that high pumping rates and retarded acids with low hydrogen ion (H+) diffusion coefficient is conducive to achieving a long acid penetration distance, while a low pumping rate and acids with a high H+ diffusion coefficient facilitates the NF etching. Therefore, a large stimulated area can be achieved by applying a multi-stage alternating injection of the crosslinked acid with a high pumping rate followed by the gelled acid with a low injection rate. NFs impact acid fracturing in two distinct ways: enhancing the non-uniform etching of the fracture surface and reducing the effective acid-etched fracture length through high leakoff. When NF density is high, leakoff control techniques should be employed; and when the NF inclination is high, non-uniform etching techniques should be used to generate acid-etched channels in flow barriers.

A Wide‐Temperature Adaptive Electrochromic Device Based on a Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Poly(acrylic acid) Gel Electrolyte

AbstractAs a promising energy‐saving technology, electrochromic technology has been widely investigated for practical applications. However, there is relatively few research about the applications under certain extreme climatic conditions since gel electrolytes often occur freezing and volatilizing. In this work, a poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid) (PVA/PAA) gel electrolyte with good anti‐freezing and heat‐resistance performance is developed. Utilizing hydrated tungsten oxide (WO3·xH2O) and polyaniline (PANI) as electrochromic materials and the PVA/PAA gel as electrolyte, a WO3·xH2O/PVA/PAA‐ethylene glycol (EG)‐H2O/PANI electrochromic device (WO3·xH2O/PAEH/PANI ECD) is obtained, which can work efficiently at wide operating temperatures from −20 to 60 °C. The device has multiple reversible color changes, a large optical modulation of 66.2% at 600 nm, high coloration efficiency of 386.0 cm2 C−1, fast responses (with coloration/bleaching times of 1.3/1.1 s), as well as excellent cyclic stability (82.0% of the initial optical modulation is still retained after 2100 cycles). This work reveals the potential application prospects of PAEH gel electrolyte in practical extreme operating conditions.

Preparation and characterization of bovine dental pulp-derived extracellular matrix hydrogel for regenerative endodontic applications: an in vitro study

BackgroundThe use of biological scaffolds in regenerative endodontics has gained much attention in recent years. The search for a new biomimetic scaffold that contains tissue-specific cell homing factors could lead to more predictable tissue regeneration. The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize decellularized bovine dental pulp-derived extracellular matrix (P-ECM) hydrogels for regenerative endodontic applications.MethodsFreshly extracted bovine molar teeth were collected. Bovine dental pulp tissues were harvested, and stored at -40º C. For decellularization, a 5-day protocol was implemented incorporating trypsin/EDTA, deionized water and DNase treatment. Decellularization was evaluated by DNA quantification and histological examination to assess collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) content. This was followed by the preparation of P-ECM hydrogel alone or combined with hyaluronic acid gel (P-ECM + HA). The fabricated scaffolds were then characterized using protein quantification, hydrogel topology and porosity, biodegradability, and growth factor content using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA): transforming growth factor beta-1(TGF-β1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).ResultsDecellularization was histologically confirmed, and DNA content was below (50 ng/mg tissue). P-ECM hydrogel was prepared with a final ECM concentration of 3.00 mg/ml while P-ECM + HA hydrogel was prepared with a final ECM concentration of 1.5 mg/ml. Total protein content in P-ECM hydrogel was found to be (439.0 ± 123.4 µg/µl). P-ECM + HA showed sustained protein release while the P-ECM group showed gradual decreasing release. Degradation was higher in P-ECM + HA which had a significantly larger fiber diameter, while P-ECM had a larger pore area percentage. ELISA confirmed the retention and release of growth factors where P-ECM hydrogel had higher BMP-2 release, while P-ECM + HA had higher release of TGF-β1, bFGF, and VEGF.ConclusionsBoth P-ECM and P-ECM + HA retained their bioactive properties demonstrating a potential role as functionalized scaffolds for regenerative endodontic procedures.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Topical Treatments for Actinic Keratosis in Italian National Health System.

Introduction: Actinic keratosis (AK) is a widespread pre-cancerous skin condition that may evolve to squamous cell carcinoma, a non-melanoma skin cancer, which is able to become locally invasive and metastatic. Thus, it is important to treat AK. Methods: We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis for the field-directed therapeutic approaches: local application of drugs containing 5-fluorouracil, both alone at a 4% concentration and associated to 10% salicylic acid at a 0.5% concentration (0.5% 5-FU + 10% SA cut. sol.); diclofenac-hyaluronic acid gel; imiquimod, both at 3.75% and 5% (5% IMQ cream) concentrations; and tirbanibulin ointment. The effectiveness data were abstracted from the literature. The cost-effectiveness analysis was performed by considering the prices reported by Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco (AIFA) for each medicine. Results: We obtained the total cost for each treatment by computing the cost of a single treatment for its duration. Application of 0.5% 5-FU + 10% SA cut. sol. appeared as the most convenient approach, as it was more effective and less expensive than all treatments except for 5% IMQ cream. For this last option, the incremental cost/effectiveness ratio analysis showed that a modest gain in effectiveness has a cost of EUR 7.94, therefore making it less cost effective.

Self-Cross-Linked Hyaluronic Acid Gel for Adhesion Prophylaxis in Laparoscopic Deep Endometriosis Removal: Safety Report of a Prospective Pilot Study

Background/Objectives: Surgical removal of deep endometriosis lesions is an established method of reducing patient symptoms, but it often results in iatrogenic adhesions that lead to further problems. This pilot study presents the safety evaluation of a novel self-cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel used to reduce adhesions after non-bowel deep endometriosis surgery. Methods: A single cohort, single-center, non-randomized pilot study was conducted in patients diagnosed with non-bowel deep endometriosis who underwent a three-stage treatment regimen consisting of first surgery, hormone therapy and second surgery. The present report is limited to an analysis of the inflammatory parameters, pain and complications occurring within a 72 h period following the initial laparoscopy (FLL) utilizing the anti-adhesion gel. Results: 60 patients (28.48 ± 5.9 years old) were included. 24 h after the intervention, a slight elevation in C-reactive protein levels was observed in 38.33% of cases (0.98 ± 1.46 mg/dL), with a statistically significant difference after FLL (0.98 ± 1.46 mg/dL before FLL vs. 1.03 ± 1.29 mg/dL after FLL; p =< 0.001); there were no patients with levels above 10 mg/dL before or after surgery. 24 h after FLL, 29.33% of patients had a leukocyte count greater than 11 Thous/μL, with a maximum observed value of 16.2 Thous/μL. The count was found to be statistically significantly higher after FLL (6.03 ± 1.91 Thous/μL before FLL vs. 9.15 ± 2.61 Thous/μL after FLL; p =< 0.001). At 72 h post-intervention, postoperative pain was reported in up to 63.33% of cases, and one urinary tract infection with fever occurred but was not considered to be related to the product. No serious adverse events were observed. Conclusions: The results of this exploratory study showed a safe range of inflammatory response within a 24 h period following the application of the novel self-cross-linked hyaluronic acid antiadhesion gel (HyaRegen®) in patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for non-bowel deep endometriosis.

Process Mapping of the Sol-Gel Transition in Acid-Initiated Sodium Silicate Solutions.

Fabricating large-scale porous bioactive glass bone scaffolds presents significant challenges. This study aims to develop formable, in situ setting scaffolds with a practical gelation time of about 10 min by mixing 45S5 bioactive glass with sodium silicate (waterglass) and an acid initiator. The effects of pH (2-11), waterglass concentration (15-50 wt.%), and acid initiator type (phosphoric or boric acid) were examined to optimize gelation kinetics and microstructure. A 10 min gelation time was achieved with boric acid and phosphoric acid at various pH levels by adjusting the waterglass concentration. Exponential and polynomial models were proposed to predict gelation times in basic and acidic environments, respectively. The optical properties of the gels were studied qualitatively and quantitatively, providing insights into gelation kinetics and structure. Acidic gels formed smaller particles in a dense network (pores < 550 nm) with higher light transmittance, while basic gels had larger aggregates (pores ~5 µm) and lower transmittance. As the waterglass concentration decreased, pore size and transmittance converged in both groups. The onset of gelation was detected around 8 min using the derivative of light transmittance. This work identifies the key factors controlling waterglass gelation and their impact on gel structure, enabling the tailored creation of formable, in situ setting bioactive glass bone scaffolds.

A Rare Case of Homozygous Hemoglobin G-Philadelphia &amp; Alpha Thalassemia

Abstract Introduction/Objective Hemoglobin (Hb) G-Philadelphia (GPh) is an alpha chain gene variant caused by a missense mutation resulting in a change from Glu to Asp at position 68. This change leads to alterations in the Hb structure and oxygen affinity. The mutation is inherited in an autosomal codominant pattern allowing for an asymptomatic carrier state. While the most common alpha chain variant, GPh heterozygosity is still infrequent, estimated at 1:5000 in African Americans. In African Americans, GPh is frequently linked to an alpha thalassemia deletion. On its own it is considered a benign variant that does not result in significant health issues. Homozygous HbGPh frequency is estimated at 1 in 25 million. Methods/Case Report A postpartum woman in her 4th decade of life was found to have a Hb of 10.8 and a mean corpuscular volume of 74. Initial work up included Hb electrophoresis that quantified HbA at 0%, Hb F at 0%, HbA2 at 0%, and 2 Hb variants representing 96.1% and 3.8% of the total globin. The major Hb variant migrated in the D or G position by alkaline and acid gel Hb electrophoresis. The minor variant was consistent with HbG2. Due to this abnormal Hb electrophoresis, a sample was sent out for a Hb evaluation reflexive cascade (HERC). HERC analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary gel electrophoresis found 99.9% of Hb consistent with the alpha chain variant HbG. Analysis of the alpha globin gene region revealed 2 copies of an alpha globin gene deletion that was interpreted as alpha-thal trait (-a/-a). This result is consistent with homozygous alpha-thal-2 and homozygous HbGPh (alpha^G/thal + alpha^G/thal). Results (if a Case Study enter NA) NA Conclusion Alpha^G/thal + alpha^G/thal presents a unique and complex challenge for diagnosis due to its rarity and because HbG2 is not always visualized by alkaline gel electrophoresis. The presence of a Hb G or D variant, a HbG2 variant, and the lack of both HbA and HbA2 are key electrophoretic findings. Clinically, alpha^G/thal + alpha^G/thal behaves essentially like a homozygous alpha-thal-2 trait with persistent microcytosis and erythrocytosis. Thus, co- inheritance of the alpha-thal trait will be suggested by a thalassemic complete blood count pattern.

Non-Surgical Treatment of Moderate Periodontal Intrabony Defects With Adjunctive Cross-Linked Hyaluronic Acid: ASingle-Blinded Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of moderate intrabony defects treated with minimally invasive non-surgical technique (MINST) with or without adjunctive delivery of cross-linked hyaluronic acid (xHyA) gel. Forty-two patients with 42 interdental intrabony defects were randomly assigned to test (MINST + xHyA) or control procedures (MINST alone). Probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession (GR) and bleeding on probing (BOP) at the treated sites were assessed at baseline and at 3 and 6 months. Full-mouth plaque score (FMPS) and full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS) were recorded at baseline and after 6 months. Radiographic evaluation was performed at baseline and after 6 months, assessing the defect fill (DF) and radiographic defect angle (RDA). The primary outcome variable was PD change. Thirty-eight patients completed the trial without any adverse events. At 6 months, a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) was measured in all clinical parameters except GR (p > 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control procedures (p > 0.05). Statistically significant differences between the test and control sites were observed at 3 months for PD and CAL changes (p < 0.05). The DF change was statistically significant when comparing experimental and control procedures at 6 months (p < 0.05). Both procedures failed to show statistically significant differences in terms of RDA changes at 6 months (p > 0.05). Within their limitations, the present results indicate that (a) treatment of intrabony defects with MINST, with or without application of xHyA gel, resulted in statistically significant improvements in the investigated clinical parameters at 3 and 6 months after therapy, and (b) although the adjunctive use of xHyA gel to MINST improved the clinical outcomes compared with MINST alone up to 3 months, statistically significant differences were not observed at 6 months. The study protocol was registered in ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT05188898).

Comparing Holotranscobalamin and Total Vitamin B12 in Diagnosing Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Megaloblastic Anemia Patients.

Background Megaloblastic anemia is characterized by abnormally large red blood cells caused by a deficiency in either vitamin B12 or folic acid, both of which are essential for DNA synthesis. Vitamin B12 insufficiency can lead to severe neurological damage, making early identification of vitamin B12 deficiency crucial to prevent irreversible harm. Vitamin B12 deficiency results in decreased levels of holotranscobalamin (Holo-TC) and increased levels of methylmalonic acid (MMA). Methylmalonic acid is considered the gold standard for diagnosing B12 deficiency because it is a specific marker that rises when B12 is insufficient, even when serum B12 levels appear normal. Elevated MMA levels reflect impaired B12 metabolism, making it a critical tool for early detection and intervention. Previous research indicates that Holo-TC, the active form of vitamin B12 available to cells, is a more specific diagnostic tool for early vitamin B12 deficiency than total B12. This study aims to determine the diagnostic validity of total vitamin B12 and Holo-TC using MMA as the gold standard in patients with megaloblastic anemia. Methods A total of 95 megaloblastic anemia patients were selected from Jinnah Hospital and Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, after receiving approval from the ethical review committees. This was a cross-sectional study. Whole blood, serum, and urine samples were collected in ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) vials, gel vials, and urine containers, respectively. The EDTA samples were used for complete blood count measurements using a hematology analyzer (Sysmex-XT 1800i, Sysmex America, Inc., Mundelein, IL), while serum and urine samples were employed for the detection of serum folic acid, cobalamin, Holo-TC, and MMA levels through manual enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of Holo-TC and cobalamin were calculated. Results The majority of patients fell within the age group of 20-70 years, with 57% of them being females and 43% males; Holo-TC exhibited a sensitivity of 98.9% and specificity of 50.00%, with a PPV of 98.90% and NPV of 50%. Vitamin B12 demonstrated a sensitivity of 63% and specificity of 50%, with a PPV of 98.33% and NPV of 2.85%. The diagnostic accuracy of Holo-TC and vitamin B12 was observed to be 97.8% and 63%, respectively. Conclusions Between the two, Holo-TC displays higher diagnostic accuracy than vitamin B12 and can serve as the primary test for patients suspected of having vitamin B12 deficiency.

High efficacy of red light photodynamic therapy with 10 % aminolevulinic acid gel irrespective of the extent of keratinocyte atypia in actinic keratosis – exploratory post-hoc analysis of three pivotal phase III trials

BackgroundPrimary endpoints of clinical studies investigating treatments for actinic keratosis (AK) are mainly based on clinical evaluation, but a recent study showed that in AK, clinical classification according to Olsen and the extent of keratinocyte atypia do not necessarily correlate. The influence of the epidermal extent of atypia on treatment efficacy is usually not investigated and therefore remains largely unknown. ObjectiveTo evaluate whether the extent of keratinocyte atypia influences efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) when treating AK. MethodsWe performed a post-hoc analysis of histological (keratinocyte intraepithelial neoplasia (KIN)), and clinical (Olsen) data of biopsied lesions of three pivotal studies evaluating PDT using 10 % aminolevulinic acid (ALA) gel or vehicle and narrow- or broad-spectrum red light lamps. ResultsOverall, 514 biopsied lesions were considered. Clearance rates after red light PDT with 10 % ALA gel were comparable for KIN I-III (88.2 %, 92.0 % and 87.9 %) and Olsen I-II lesions for any given lamp type. Generally, clearance rates were higher using narrow- compared to broad-spectrum lamps. For both lamp types, the variation in clearance rates from KIN I-III was low. Clearance was lower with vehicle. LimitationsVarying lesion numbers in the subgroups and a remaining risk of bias due to the biopsies are potential limitations. ConclusionOur results suggest that red light PDT with 10 % ALA gel is an effective treatment option for AK regardless of the extent of keratinocyte atypia.

Topical hADSCs-HA Gel Promotes Skin Regeneration and Angiogenesis in Pressure Ulcers by Paracrine Activating PPARβ/δ Pathway.

Pressure ulcer is common in the bedridden elderly with high mortality and lack of effective treatment. In this study, human-adipose-derived-stem-cells-hyaluronic acid gel (hADSCs-HA gel) was developed and applied topically to treat pressure ulcers, of which efficacy and paracrine mechanisms were investigated through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Pressure ulcers were established on the backs of C57BL/6 mice and treated topically with hADSCs-HA gel, hADSCs, hyaluronic acid, and normal saline respectively. The rate of wound closure was observed continuously during the following 14 days and the wound samples were obtained for Western blot, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and proteomic analysis. Human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and human venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) under normal or hypoxic conditions were treated with conditioned medium of human ADSCs (ADSC-CM), then CCK-8, scratch test, tube formation, and Western blot were conducted to evaluate the paracrine effects of hADSCs and to explore the underlying mechanism. The in vivo data demonstrated that hADSCs-HA gel significantly accelerated the healing of pressure ulcers by enhancing collagen expression, angiogenesis, and skin proliferation. The in vitro data revealed that hADSCs strengthened the proliferation and wound healing capabilities of HDFs and HUVECs, meanwhile promoted collagen secretion and tube formation through paracrine mode. ADSC-CM was also proved to exert protective effects on hypoxic HDFs and HUVECs. Besides, the results of proteomic analysis and Western blot elucidated that lipid metabolism and PPARβ/δ pathway mediated the healing effect of hADSCs-HA gel on pressure ulcers. Our research showed that topical application of hADSCs-HA gel played an important role in dermal regeneration and angiogenesis. Therefore, hADSCs-HA gel exhibited the potential as a novel stem-cell-based therapeutic strategy of treating pressure ulcers in clinical practices.

Synergistic removal of malachite green and Cr(Ⅵ) using ethylenediamine disuccinic acid functionalized silica gel

As common industrial raw materials, malachite green (MG) and Cr(Ⅵ) generally coexist in waste liquids discharged from the paper printing, leather, and textile industries, causing serious harm to humans and the environment. Therefore, developing an effective method for the synergistic removal of MG and Cr(Ⅵ) from aquatic environments is of great research value. In this work, the non-homogeneous Fenton-like catalysts, namely, EDDS-Silica and EDDS-Co2+-Silica were successfully prepared using ethylenediamine disuccinic acid (EDDS) and silica gel (Silica) as raw materials, and a non-homogeneous Fenton-like catalytic method was developed for the efficient and synergistic removal of MG and Cr(Ⅵ) from wastewater. EDDS-Silica and EDDS-Co2+-Silica were analyzed using Fourier infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to determine their structural composition and elemental contents. The catalytic degradation and removal effects of these materials in an MG single-waste system were also investigated. The results demonstrated that the incorporation of both materials can overcome the limitation of the conventional Fenton reaction, which is its applicability to acidic environments only. Moreover, EDDS-Co2+-Silica showed better degradation effects on MG than EDDS-Silica. Quantitative calculations based on density functional theory were used to predict the optimal coordination forms between Co2+and EDDS-Silica as well as the MG structure. The lowest unoccupied and highest occupied molecular orbitals of the catalysts were then used to predict the active sites on which MG tends to capture or release electrons during the degradation reaction. The optimal conditions for the synergistic removal of MG and Cr(Ⅵ) from a binary system using EDDS-Co2+-Silica were further investigated under different influencing factors. The results showed that EDDS-Co2+-Silica still had excellent catalytic effect on the degradation rate of MG in the range of pH 3-7, and the optimal conditions were as follows: solution pH, 7; degradation time, 1 h; temperature, 25 ℃; H2O2 concentration, 20 mmol/L; and the initial mass concentration of Cr(Ⅵ), 25 mg/L. Under the above conditions, the degradation rate was increased from 87.25% to 96.67% compared with that in the MG monosystem. Obvious enhancements in degradation effect and efficiency confirmed that the incorporation of EDDS-Co2+-Silica was favorable for the synergistic removal of MG and Cr(Ⅵ) in the binary system. Strongly oxidizing Cr(Ⅵ) can participate in the Fenton reaction, thus promoting MG degradation over a wide pH range. Thus, a positive synergistic effect exists between MG and Cr(Ⅵ). Considering that a large number of metal ions remained in the solution after the degradation reaction, EDDS-Silica was added to the degradation solution, and adsorption experiments were performed for 4 h at 30 ℃to adsorb and remove Cr and Fe via the strong chelating property of EDDS. The total residual mass concentrations of Cr and Fe were 4.96 and 1.02 mg/L, respectively, which meet national emission standards. These findings indicate that EDDS-Silica has good effects on the removal of residual metal ions after the nonhomogeneous Fenton reaction. As heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts, the aminopolycarboxylic acid-modified materials proposed in this study can simultaneously promote the Fenton reaction and remove residual metal ions, thereby effectively removing MG and Cr(Ⅵ) from the binary system while ensuring that the content of residual metal ions in the system meets environmental emission standards. This study has broad application prospects in dye degradation and heavy-metal-ion wastewater treatment, and provides a reference value and theoretical basis for the development of other similar ligand-modified materials.

Effectiveness of 0.2% Hyaluronic Acid on Clinical, Biomolecular and Microbiological Parameters in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients with Periodontitis.

This double-blind randomized clinical trial assessed the effectiveness of 0.2% hyaluronic acid (HA) gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planning (SRP) in patients with periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), focusing on changes in clinical periodontal parameters, the expression of inflammatory mediators, and oral pathogens. The randomized clinical trial involved 36 participants, 18 DM patients, and 18 healthy patients. The participants in each group were randomly assigned to receive placebo or HA gel after SRP. Gingival crevicular fluid and subgingival plaque samples were taken before treatment and at 4-week follow-up. Clinical parameters, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-10 levels, and proportions of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) were evaluated at baseline and follow-up. Paired t-test (parametric data) or Wilcoxon signed-rank test (nonparametric data) was used for intragroup comparison between baseline and follow-up, and comparisons between groups one-way analysis of variance test (parametric data) or Kruskal-Wallis test (nonparametric data). At 4 weeks, most of the groups showed statistically significant decreases (p ≤ 0.05) in various clinical and biomolecular parameters. However, there were exceptions: the pocket probing depth (PPD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) parameter did not significantly decrease for the placebo (p > 0.05) non-DM group, and the IL-10 parameter in the DM HA gel group (p = 0.108). Regarding bacterial proportions, the non-DM and DM placebo group exhibited significant test results for Pg after 4 weeks (p ≤ 0.05). In the case of Fn bacteria proportions, they decreased in all groups, but these results were not statistically significant (p ≥ 0.05). An intergroup analysis revealed no significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) for bleeding on probing (BOP), PPD, and both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Only clinical attachment loss (CAL) exhibited a statistically significant intergroup difference 0.042. The use of 0.2% HA gel into periodontal pockets alongside SRP, for both diabetic and healthy individuals, showed no statistically significant variances in clinical, biomolecular, and microbiological measures.

Multi-Parameter Experimental Investigation on the Characteristics of Acidizing Effectiveness in High-Temperature Carbonate Formation

Carbonate formation is the key reservoir in Sichuan Basin for natural gas development. Compared with the early stage of development, the burial depth of targeted formation becomes deeper, and the formation temperature gets higher. So, the characteristics of acidizing effectiveness in high-temperature carbonate formations make this evaluation slightly difficult. Currently, it is common that a single parameter is considered to study acidizing effectiveness by simulation and experiment methods. In this paper, for a more accurate investigation of acidizing effectiveness, multiple parameters, including permeability change rate, fracture conductivity, and surface roughness, were introduced by a series of experiments. It is revealed that the permeability change rate is more than 57% when using gelled acid. As the amount of diverting agent increases in diverting acid, the viscosity of the acid grows to its peak with the reaction, making it easier to block the high permeability core temporarily and divert to acidify the low permeability core, where the permeability change rate of the low permeability core goes from 51.6% to 64.2%, which shows well acidizing effectiveness. In addition, the short-term and long-term conductivity of the samples from the three different formations are more than 200 mD∙m under high closure stress. The conductivity of Maokou Formation is the largest due to its high content of carbonate minerals and high dissolution rate. And the results of long-term conductivity are consistent with those of surface roughness, making the evaluation results more reliable for acidizing effectiveness. It is worth noting that temperature is a factor that cannot be ignored in the evaluation of acidizing effectiveness because it has a great influence on the performance of the acid system, such as viscosity and the reaction-reduced rate, leading to an acidizing effectiveness affect. So, the temperature resistance of an acid system is important as well.

Removal of trace Na and K metal ions by resin-grafted crown ether for electronic-grade N-methyl pyrrolidone purification

The semiconductor industry’s rapid evolution necessitates ultra-high-purity N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) as an essential electronic-grade solvent. The development of an efficient coordination material to reduce trace metal ions, particularly Na and K metal ions, to below 1 ppb in NMP solution is a significant challenge. To address this, a novel coordination material, St-DVB-g-ACE, has been developed for the removal of Na and K metal ions from NMP. The material was synthesized by grafting 4′-aminobenzo-15-crown-5-ether onto a strong acid gel resin. The resulting St-DVB-g-ACE-3 exhibited excellent coordination performance for Na and K metal ions, with maximum Langmuir adsorption capacities reaching 20,000 μg/g and 33,333 μg/g, respectively. Of particular interest was the ability of St-DVB-g-ACE-3 to reduce all trace metal ions in industrial-grade NMP to below 1 ppb within a fixed bed column, achieving the stringent requirements for electronic-grade NMP at the G3 level. Additionally, the absorbent enhances the purity of NMP from 99.82 % to 99.84 %, indicating that the material is not dissolved and can exist stably in NMP. Its excellent recyclability and reproducibility make it highly practical for industrial use. Density functional theory (DFT) simulation, complemented by spectral analyses, revealed the interaction force and thermodynamic properties between Na and K metal ions and crown ether ring, and illustrated the interaction between anionic sulfonic group (−SO3−) and metal ions. The prepared resin-grafted crown ether adsorbents are highly effective in the thorough removal of trace metal ions from NMP solution, offering a novel and effective method for the production of electronic-grade NMP.

Modulation of chondroprotective hyaluronic acid and poloxamer gel with Ketoprofen loaded transethosomes: Quality by design-based optimization, characterization, and preclinical investigations in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease that results in biomechanical and morphological changes that contribute to cartilage degradation. Ketoprofen (KP), used in the treatment of OA, is a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Topical administration of KP bypasses gastric irritation as well as first-pass metabolism and increases localized delivery. The research intricates fabrication and optimization of KP-loaded transethosomes (KP-TEs) via Taguchi orthogonal array design and Central composite design (CCD). The optimized KP-TEs depicted an average vesicle size of 110.0 ± 1.70 nm, poly dispersibility index (PDI) of 0.103 ± 0.01, zeta potential −6.08 ± 0.27 mV, and conductivity of 0.049 ± 0.0001 mS/cm. The optimized KP-TEs were loaded in composite hyaluronic acid (HA) and poloxamer 407 (Px407) for an improvement of osteotrophic and chondroprotective transethosomal gel. The drug content of KP-TEs-HA/Px407 gel was found to be 90.08 ± 1.25 %. Preclinical research has been carried out by using the monosodium iodoacetate to develop model for osteoarthritis in male wistar rats. The X-ray imaging of KP-TEs-HA/Px407 gel treated group showed intact meniscus, healthy articular joint, and normal synovial lining same as the healthy control group. The IL − 1β IL-6, IL-22, TNF-α, and IL-10, levels, X-ray imaging, and studies on histopathology demonstrated the effectiveness of transethosomal gel in reducing pain and inflammation.

Unlocking relief: formulation, characterization, and in vivo assessment of salicylic acid-loaded microemulgel for psoriasis management.

Psoriasis, a chronic skin condition, affects around 2-5% of the population. Topical corticosteroids treat the vast majority of cases (> 80%). Because of the physicochemical characteristics of the damaged stratum corneum, all treatments are ineffective. Nevertheless, systemic immunosuppression, the oral strategy, has substantial adverse effects that may be avoided using the topical procedure. The research sought to determine if a salicylic acid-loaded microemulsion-based gel (emulgel) could successfully infiltrate and maintain salicylic acid in skin tissue for psoriasis treatment. The pseudo-ternary phase was generated in different Smix ratios (1:1, 2:1, and 3:1; Labrasol:Transcutol® P). At a 3:1 ratio, the Smix had a substantial microemulsion area. Microemulsion was characterized for particle size, pH, etc. For topical application, the selected microemulsion was combined with Carbopol 940 gel, and ex vivo permeation and drug retention study were conducted. The effectiveness of the developed gel was checked using the IMQ-induced psoriatic plaque model. Salicylic acid microemulsion has an average globule size of 79.72nm, pH 5.93, and 100% transmittance. In an ex vivo diffusion study, emulgel revealed greater penetration and more drug retention than ordinary salicylic acid gel. The emulgel was non-irritating on the skin of rats. In vivo studies revealed significant antipsoriatic activity of microemulsion-loaded gel compared to the marketed product. Developed emulgel was considered a potential product for an effective and safe way to administer salicylic acid for the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis.

Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)/Poly(Acrylic Acid) Gel Polymer Electrolyte Modified with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and SiO2 Nanospheres to Increase Rechargeability of Zn-Air Batteries.

Zn-air batteries (ZABs) are a promising technology; however, their commercialization is limited by challenges, including those occurring in the electrolyte, and thus, gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) and hydrogels have emerged as substitutes for traditional aqueous electrolytes. In this work, PVA/PAA membranes were synthesized by the solvent casting method and soaked in 6 M KOH to act as GPEs. The thickness of the membrane was modified (50, 100, and 150 μm), and after determining the best thickness, the membrane was modified with synthesized SiO2 nanospheres and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). SEM micrographs revealed that the CNTs displayed lengths of tens of micrometers, having a narrow diameter (95 ± 7 nm). In addition, SEM revealed that the SiO2 nanospheres had homogeneous shapes with sizes of 110 ± 10 nm. Physicochemical experiments revealed that SiO2 incorporation at 5 wt.% increased the water uptake of the PVA/PAA membrane from 465% to 525% and the ionic conductivity to 170 mS cm-1. The further addition of 0.5 wt.% CNTs did not impact the water uptake but it promoted a porous structure, increasing the power density and the stability, showing three-times-higher rechargeability than the ZAB operated with the PVA/PAA GPE.