Batch Preparation Research Articles

Human Platelet Lysate as an Alternative to Autologous Serum for Human Chondrocyte Clinical Use.

ObjectiveA pivotal aspect of cartilage tissue engineering resides in cell culture medium supplementation, in view of maximizing in vitro cell proliferation and preserving cellular functionality. Autologous human serum (aHS) is commonly used as an inducive supplement for safe human articular chondrocyte (HAC) proliferation prior to clinical implantation. However, practical clinical use of aHS is hindered by constraining manufacturing requirements and quality assurance-driven downstream processing. The present study investigated potential alternative use of commercial human platelet lysate (hPL) supplements in HAC manufacturing workflows related to clinical therapeutic pathways.DesignDifferential effects of hPL, aHS, and fetal bovine serum were assessed on primary cultured HAC parameters (viability, proliferative rates, and morphology) in 2-dimensional in vitro systems. A 3-dimensional HAC pellet model served for postexpansion assessment of cellular functionality, by visualizing proteoglycan production (Alcian blue staining), and by using qRT-PCR relative quantification of chondrogenic marker (SOX9, COL2-A1, and ACAN) genetic expression.ResultsWe found that monolayer HAC culture with hPL or aHS supplements presented similar characteristics (elongated cell morphology and nearly identical growth kinetics). Chondrogenic activity appeared as conserved in HACs expanded with human or bovine supplements, wherein histologic analysis indicated a progressive sGAG accumulation and SOX9, COL2-A1, ACAN gene expression was upregulated in 3-dimensional HAC pellet models.ConclusionThis study therefore supports the use of hPL as a functional equivalent and alternative to aHS for cultured HAC batch preparation, with the potential to effectively alleviate pressure on clinical and manufacturing bottlenecks in cell therapy approaches for cartilage regeneration.

Nanofibrous membrane through multi-needle electrospinning with multi-physical field coupling

The mass electrospinning is the key way to promote the industrial application of nanofibrous membrane, in which the multi-parameter controlling is the challenge for the multi-needle electrospinning. A constant temperature and humidity environment was introduced to studied the effect of process parameters on the ejection process of multi-needle electrospinning process. This article focused on the nanofiber deposition behaviors of multi-needle electrospinning from two different polymer solution of aqueous solution of poly (ethylene oxide) and the non-aqueous solution of polyvinylidene fluoride. We found that the same humidity has opposite effects on the deposition morphology of the water-soluble material PEO and the non-water-soluble material PVDF electrospun fiber. At the same time, we explored the effects of solution conductivity, solvent volatility, temperature and viscosity on electrospinning on water-insoluble and water-soluble materials. What this paper aim is to provide a process debugging reference for the batch preparation of nanofibers of different materials by multi-needle electrospinning.

A Study of the Influence of Storage Time of Uncured Propellants on the Final Properties of the Composite in Multi‐Batch Processes on an Industrial Scale

AbstractIn the Brazilian Aerospace Program, even though all developed rocket motors are manufactured in the same plant of the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, differences are observed in the magnitude of the masses applied in each motor. Thus, depending on the volume of the combustion chamber, it is common for the casting to carry out multi‐batch processes when a required mass of solid propellant is greater than the maximum capacity of the reactor. In this context, the studies that systematically evaluate multi‐batch processes on an industrial scale of composite propellants based on polyurethanes obtained from HTPB are incipient. Furthermore, each batch preparation of the casting process for large motors is carried out on different days, so that each of these has a different storage time until the day of the effective casting. As a result, this wait can generate changes in the properties of the propellant grain as a whole, which can modify the motor's performance. Thusly, through the analysis of data of multi‐batch processes, the present study evaluated the influence of the storage time in the preparation of the propellant and on the final properties of the grain. It was concluded that the grain becomes softer with a reduction in its hardness, greater elongation at break, and less modulus for batches with longer storage times before casting.

An Ultrasensitive Contact Lens Sensor Based On Self‐Assembly Graphene For Continuous Intraocular Pressure Monitoring

AbstractElevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the leading cause of glaucoma. As glaucoma is an irreversible neurological eye disease, it is urgent to realize timely and accurate IOP detection for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Here, a contact lens sensor for continuous IOP monitoring using self‐assembly graphene (SAG), is developed. The combination of face‐to‐face water transfer printing and micro‐electromechanical systems technology can realize the batch preparation of such a sensor. The sensor has good light transmittance and temperature stability. It exhibits an ultra‐high IOP sensitivity of 1.0164 mV mm Hg−1 on a silicone eye, and 3.166 mV mm Hg−1 in vitro on the porcine eye with remarkable linearity. The sensitivity of the proposed sensor is high enough to be read by a commercial radio frequency identification read–write system for continuous wireless monitoring of IOP. Furthermore, the as‐prepared sensor can work as normal for 24 h in phosphate buffer saline.

Continuous Preparation of Precious Metal Nanoparticles from Plant Biomass and CFD Simulation

Precious metal nanomaterials have broad application prospects in many fields. However, most of the existing synthesis processes of precious metal nanomaterials are carried out in a batch reactor. Recently, the technology of batch preparation of noble metal nanoparticles by chemical method has become mature, but with the increase of reactor volume, the problems of heat and mass transfer of the system are prominent. In this paper, the technology of reducing plant biomass with green characteristics to prepare precious metal nanoparticles was introduced into the continuous operation of micro channel reactor and reactor to investigate the influence of reactor structure parameters and reaction conditions on the formation and particle size distribution of precious metal nanoparticles, and combined with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation technology to explore its influence mechanism. In this paper, it is found that the AgNPs (4.7 ± 1.9 nm) prepared by ETFE tube has a larger average particle size and a wider particle size distribution than the AgNPs (4.24 ± 0.9 nm) prepared by PTFE tube.

Coagulation-assisted preparation of graphene oxide/polyamide 6 composites

Graphene oxide (GO) reinforced polyamide 6 (PA 6) composites are promising lightweight materials for engineering applications. However, the industrial development of GO/PA 6 composites has been severely impeded by the complicated preparation process and undesirable dispersion of GO in PA 6. In this work, an economical and time costless “coagulation-assisted” tactic was proposed to implement the batch preparation of GO/PA 6 composites with uniform dispersion of GO and superior comprehensive performances simultaneously. The tensile test indicated that GO/PA 6 composites showed higher tensile strength (66.31 MPa) and Young's modulus (1.17 GPa) values than pristine PA 6 (40.81 MPa and 0.46 GPa, respectively) even at very low GO loading (0.6 wt%). Furthermore, better thermal stability of GO/PA 6 composites was obtained, the onset and maximum thermal degradation temperature of GO/PA 6 composites maximally increased by 5.21 and 12.38 °C, respectively. Additionally, GO were confirmed to induce the nucleation of crystallization of PA 6 as heterogeneous nucleus and promote the formation of α1-form crystals in PA 6. More significantly, this “coagulation-assisted” tactic can also be employed in other nanofiller reinforced polymer composites for a wide variety of applications.

Engineering application of microbial self-healing concrete in lock channel wall

In this paper, the engineering application of microbial self-healing concrete in ship lock engineering was studied. Researches including the design and batch preparation of microbial self-healing agent, and laboratory tests of microbial self-healing concrete were carried out. A class of self-healing agents containing microbial spores and calcium sources was designed and batch-produced by spray drying method, which was tested to show that the addition of self-healing agent in concrete has no significant effect on the performance of the concrete mixture and the development of the compressive strength of hardened concrete specimens. Then the self-healing agents were applied to the production of commercial concrete, and a corresponding microbial concrete production system was formulated. After applying the produced microbial self-healing concrete to the side wall of the ship lock, it was observed that the cracking of the concrete was completely healed after 60 days, and the leakage of the crack was effectively blocked. Thus microbial self-healing concrete is expected to be widely used in concrete crack self-healing in hydraulic environment.

Electrochemical determination of diethylstilbestrol in livestock and poultry meats by L-cysteine/gold nanoparticles modified electrode

A fast and simple electrochemical method for the determination of diethylstilbestrol (DES) was developed. Gold nanoparticles stabilized by chitosan (AuCS) were prepared and used in combination with L-cysteine (L-Cys) by self-assembly for fabricating the electrochemical sensors. Compared with unmodified electrode, the oxidation peak current of DES could be increased greatly by using the L-Cys/AuCS modified GCE (L-Cys/AuCS/GCE), indicating L-Cys/AuCS had excellent ability to promote electron transfer. Under the optimal conditions, the oxidation peak current was linear to the concentration of DES in the range from 5 × 10−7 to 1 × 10−4 mol/L (r = 0.997) with the detection limit of 1.7 × 10−7 mol/L (S/N = 3). The proposed method was successfully used for the determination of DES in livestock and poultry meats with the satisfying recovery results (75.3–91.9%). The method not only exhibited good accuracy and reproducibility for DES detection, but also had the advantages of low cost, simple preparation method and convenient for batch preparation.

Progress in batch preparation of single-atom catalysts and application in sustainable synthesis of fine chemicals

The batch preparation technology and the thermo-catalysis application of SACs in fine chemical industries are highlighted.

Batch Preparation of CuO/ZnO-Loaded Nanofiber Membranes for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes.

Composite nanofiber membranes (CNFMs) loaded with CuO/ZnO (CZCNFMs) have important applications in a series of organic and industrial catalytic reactions because of nanoeffects of the nanofibers and the peculiar performances of semiconductor oxides. In this work, CZCNFMs with different mass ratios of Cu to Zn were successfully fabricated in batches using modified bubble electrospinning (MBE), a heat treatment method, and a hydrothermal method. The influences of the mass ratio of Cu to Zn on the morphologies, structures, and properties of the CNFMs were studied, and the obtained CNFMs with different mass ratios of Cu to Zn were applied to the photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB). The results showed that when the mass ratio of Cu to Zn was 5:5, the fabricated CNFM had better morphology, structure, and mechanical properties and had the best degradation effects on MO and MB. In addition, the principal active substances produced during the photodegradation of MO were defined by free radical capture experiments, and the influences of the pH value of the MO solution on the photocatalytic activity of the CNFMs with the optimal mass ratio of 5:5 were discussed.

Low-cost fabrication of highly dispersed atomically-thin MoS2 nanosheets with abundant active Mo-terminated edges

In this work, highly dispersed atomically-thin MoS2 nanosheets were fabricated at one thousandth of the commercial cost using sepiolite (SEP) mineral nanofibers as carriers via a microwave hydrothermal method. Atom-resolved microscopy revealed the MoS2 nanosheets were only 1–4 atomic layers thick. The Mo atoms anchored on the mineral surface served as nucleation sites for the nanosheet growth. The MoS2 layers were in staggered stacking yielding abundant atomic steps at the nanosheets’ edges, where catalytically active molybdenum terminations dominated instead of the inert sulfur atoms commonly reported. DFT calculations disclosed that the bonding of Mo(MoS2) and O (SEP) at the MoS2/sepiolite (MSEP) interface enabled SEP to be a unique support, superior to the other minerals for growing such highly-dispersed ultrathin MoS2 architecture. In a typical photocatalyisis application, the MSEP demonstrated a significantly improved photocatalytic performance for RhB degradation compared with the MoS2 nanosheets assembled microspheres. This work provides an important new strategy for low-cost batch preparation of high quality 2D materials via assembly on mineral materials.

Micromixer Synthesis Platform for a Tuneable Production of Magnetic Single-Core Iron Oxide Nanoparticles.

Micromixer technology is a novel approach to manufacture magnetic single-core iron oxide nanoparticles that offer huge potential for biomedical applications. This platform allows a continuous, scalable, and highly controllable synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles with biocompatible educts via aqueous synthesis route. Since each biomedical application requires specific physical and chemical properties, a comprehensive understanding of the synthesis mechanisms is not only mandatory to control the size and shape of desired nanoparticle systems but, above all, to obtain the envisaged magnetic particle characteristics. The accurate process control of the micromixer technology can be maintained by adjusting two parameters: the synthesis temperature and the residence time. To this end, we performed a systematic variation of these two control parameters synthesizing magnetic nanoparticle systems, which were analyzed afterward by structural (transmission electron microscopy and differential sedimentation centrifugation) and, especially, magnetic characterization methods (magnetic particle spectroscopy and AC susceptibility). Furthermore, we investigated the reproducibility of the microtechnological nanoparticle manufacturing process compared to batch preparation. Our characterization demonstrated the high magnetic quality of single-core iron oxide nanoparticles with core diameters in the range of 20 nm to 40 nm synthesized by micromixer technology. Moreover, we demonstrated the high capability of a newly developed benchtop magnetic particle spectroscopy device that directly monitored the magnetic properties of the magnetic nanoparticles with the highest sensitivity and millisecond temporal resolution during continuous micromixer synthesis.

Batch preparation of homogeneous size hydroxyapatite based composite ceramic microspheres

A new and precise control printing method was developed for preparing homogeneous microspheres. Hydroxyapatite-sodium alginate (HA-SA) mixed suspension was used as printing material and CaCl2 solution was used as solidifying liquid to prepared ceramic microspheres by pneumatic extrusion printing technology. By adjusting the positive pressure, dwell time, and hydroxyapatite concentration, the influence of each parameter on the shape of printed microspheres was studied, and the suitable preparation parameters were determined. Then, the microspheres with uniform particle size distribution were successfully prepared in large quantities by selecting appropriate printing parameters. Then, the microspheres were dried and sintered at different temperatures. During the drying and sintering process, the microspheres showed obvious shrinkage, but still keep good sphericity. The phases of sintered microspheres are hydroxyapatite and calcium oxide. The microstructure shows typical hydroxyapatite grain characteristics.

Batch preparation of gold nanoparticles with highly uniform morphology and tunable plasmonic properties

The plasmonic properties of individual metallic nanostructures are of great importance for application in surface science, materials science, and nanophotonics. Herein, being facilitated with a home-made flow device and pulsed laser irradiation, we proposed a batch preparation protocol towards spherical Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) and cage shell entrapped spherical core nanoparticles (Au@cAu NPs) with highly uniform morphology and a tunable size distribution. The Fano resonance behavior exhibited by the effective interaction between spherical Au NPs and the silicon surface has great potential for the design of ultrasensitive optical sensing devices. In comparison with the spherical Au NP, the individual Au@cAu NP displayed not only a red-shifted and broadened localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) scattering peak, but also a higher electromagnetic field enhancement. Therefore, the Au@cAu NPs offer a better choice for plasmonic enhancement-based applications in the red and near-infrared region. In general, the current work provides a new and easy method for the large-scale preparation of gold-based uniform nanostructures, and offers an avenue to understand the interference of different plasmon modes in plasmonic systems, which has potential applications in surface science.

Characteristics of heat insulating foam aluminum silicate under change of heat treatment parameters

In case of heat insulation, work material choice depends on the type of protected object, materials available and usage convenience. Durability match between heat insulation and basic building material lies at the core of insulation choice. Foam glass and its derivatives (e.g. foam aluminum silicate) have properties meeting the strictest requirements of today. These rigid highly porous foam insulation materials have closed cell structure, representing solidified glass foam with either polyhedral or rounded cells. For these reasons, usage of highly efficient environmentally friendly foam insulation materials is so relevant today. A process was developed for batch heat treatment using local natural raw materials found in Vladimir region. The process consists of components joint grinding, produced batch preparation, blank pressing, foaming and heat annealing, and property research for produced materials. It turns out that foaming parameters are strongly intervened with batch composition, therefore requiring constant adjustment for each batch composition change. Researches show that specific heat treatment parameters provide foam formation with high foaming ratio and closed pore structure. Furthermore, we managed to create a foam aluminum silicate having the following features: density 130-350 kg/m3, coefficient of thermal conductivity 0.07 – 0.11 W/m·K, compressive strength 0.7 – 3.0 MPa.

A high quantum efficiency CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ phosphor-in-glass with excellent optical performance for white light-emitting diodes and blue laser diodes

CaAlSiN3:0.2%Eu2+ (CASN:Eu2+), an excellent red phosphor, playsaleadingpart in wide color gamut and high color rendition white light-emitting diodes (wLEDs). However, this phosphor or silicone resin mixture possesses a fatal defect of an intrinsic low thermal performance, which makes it hardly useful in high-power laser lighting and displays. Here, to improve the thermal performance of the CASN:Eu2+ phosphor, a series of red-emitting phosphor-in-glass materials (R-PiGs) with different CASN:Eu2+ concentrations (5–50 wt%) and sintering temperatures (750–850 °C) were successfully synthesized by dispersing the CASN:Eu2+ phosphor into a B2O3-Na2O-SiO2-CaO glass matrix. Surprisingly, the prepared R-PiGs showed a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 53%, and still maintained 82% efficiency compared with the CASN:Eu2+ phosphor (65%). The R-PiGs are superior to red ceramics for low cost and rapid batch preparation. Considering the densification of the R-PiGs, a systematic study was conducted on 10 wt% R-PiG sample. A facile chromaticity tuning for the configured wLEDs was obtained within the color range change from cool white to warm white when using the R-PiGs with different CASN:Eu2+ concentrations. Besides, we have successfully assembled a warm wLED with high luminous efficacy (90.3 lm/W) and color rendering (Ra = 94.2 and CCT = 5053 K). When irradiated by a blue laser, an optimized R-PiG can show enhanced luminous flux (49.27 lm) at a high laser incident power of 1.90 W/mm2. Therefore, with their excellent performances, R-PiGs are highly promising for use as red color converters for potential applications in tunable wLEDs and high-power laser lighting.

WITHDRAWN: Engineering Application of Microbial Self-healing Concrete in Lock Channel Wall

Abstract In this paper, the engineering application of microbial self-healing concrete in ship lock engineering was studied. Researches including the design and batch preparation of microbial self-healing agent, and laboratory tests of microbial self-healing concrete were carried out. A class of self-healing agents containing microbial spores and calcium sources was designed and batch-produced by spray drying method, and was tested to show that the addition of self-healing agent in concrete has no significant effect on the performance of the concrete mixture, and the development of the compressive strength of the harden concrete specimens. Then the self-healing agents were applied to the production of commercial concrete, and a corresponding microbial concrete production system was formulated. The produced microbial self-healing concrete was applied to the side wall of the ship lock, and it was observed that the cracking of the concrete was completely healed after 60 days, and the leakage of the crack was effectively blocked. Thus microbial self-healing concrete is expected to be widely used in concrete crack self-healing in hydraulic environment.

Batch preparation of electrospun polycaprolactone/chitosan/aloe vera blended nanofiber membranes for novel wound dressing

At present, more and more attention has been paid to the development of active wound dressings. Chitosan, a kind of carbohydrate polymer with good biocompatibility, is widely used in the field of wound dressings. In this study, a slopeing free surface electrospinning (SFSE) device was presented to prepare large quantities of polycaprolactone/chitosan/aloe vera (PCL/CS/AV) nanofiber membranes (NFMs) for antibacterial wound dressing. And the morphologies of PCL/CS/AV NFMs with varying weight ratios of PCL:CS:AV were studied using SEM, and the optimal weight ratio of 5:3:2 was determined for better wound dressings. Then the structure, wetting property and yield of the PCL/CS/AV NFMs with the optimal weight ratio were investigated, and the effects of the addition of AV on the antibacterial performance and the biocompatibility of NFMs was studied. In addition, the preparation mechanism of SFSE was researched by simulating the electric field distribution using Maxwell 3D due to the important role of the electric field in the SFSE process. The simulation analyses of electric fields agreed with the experimental data. The results illustrated SFSE could prepare high quality PCL/CS/AV NFMs in batches, and its yield of PCL/CS/AV NFMs was 10 times more than the single-needle ES, and the fabricated NFMs showed excellent antibacterial performance and biocompatibility, which made them suitable for wound dressings.

Spark Plasma Sintering of SiC Ceramics Based on Natural Renewable Raw Materials

The paper presents the results of obtaining silicon carbide SiC ceramic from organic raw materials by the reaction spark plasma sintering (SPS). Annealed rice husks are used as an organic raw material. A feature of the batch preparation for sintering is annealing in an inert atmosphere. Thus, the carbon source C for further reaction with silicon dioxide SiO2 to form SiC is the organic part of the rice husk. This way let to achieve the most uniform reacting components mixing directly at the stage of annealing the husks and to exclude the mixing stage from the technological process. The reaction SPS method was used for the first time for the production of ceramic material from such a raw material. The results of a comprehensive study of the obtained material by various methods are presented in the article: scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray phase analysis, strength analysis, and others.

Production of Foam Glass Materials from Silicate Raw Materials by Hydrate Mechanism

The ways of external protection of oil pipelines, their advantages and disadvantages were described. A method for protecting pipes using foam glass products, based on local raw materials, was proposed. The powder technology of the batch preparation and the hydration mechanism of foaming through the interaction of alkali and silica were chosen for this study, based on the existing methods of foaming of silicate raw materials. Compositions of the batch were developed, their foaming was carried out in the temperature range, corresponding to the pyro-plastic state, the effectiveness of the additional introduction of foaming substances was analyzed. The macro-and microstructure of the specimen, as well as their phase composition, were studied. The optimal composition and optimum foaming temperature for the production of foam glass materials were selected.