Carboxymethyl Cellulose Research Articles

Tailoring the Holocellulose Fiber/Acrylic Resin Composite Interface with Hydrophobic Carboxymethyl Cellulose to Enhance Optical and Mechanical Properties.

Interface engineering is essential for cellulosic fiber-reinforced polymer composites to achieve high strength and toughness. In this study, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) functionalized with hydrophobic quaternary ammonium ions (QAs) were utilized to modify the interface between holocellulose fibers (HF) and acrylic resin. The wet HF/CMC papers were prepared by vacuum filtration, akin to papermaking, followed by cationic ion exchange with different hydrophobic QAs. Subsequently, the modified papers were dried, impregnated with an acrylic resin monomer, and cured to produce transparent composite films. The effect of the hydrophobic QA moieties on the structure and optical and mechanical properties of the HF/CMC/acrylic resin composites were investigated. The composite film with cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA)-functionalized CMC showed high optical transmittance (87%) with low haze (43%), while the composite film with phenyltrimethylammonium (PTMA)-functionalized CMC demonstrated high Young's modulus of 7.6 GPa and high tensile strength of 180 MPa. These properties are higher than those of the composites prepared through covalent interfacial modification strategies. The results highlighted the crucial role of hydrophobic functionalized CMCs in facilitating homogeneous resin impregnation in the HF fiber network, producing a composite with enhanced interfacial adhesion strength, increased optical transparency, and mechanical strength. This facile use of hydrophobic CMCs as interfacial compatibilizers provides an energy-efficient route for preparing transparent, thin, and flexible composite films favorable in optoelectronic applications.

Evaluation of commercial importance of endophytes isolated from Argemone mexicana and Papaver rhoeas.

The paper industry is a composite one constituting different types of mills, processes, and products. The paper industries consume large amounts of resources, like wood and water. These industries also create huge amounts of waste that have to be treated. In our study, 23 endophytic bacteria were isolated from Argemone mexicana, and 16 endophytic bacteria were isolated from Papaver rhoeas. Seventeen and 15 bacterial endophytes from A. mexicana and P. rhoeas, respectively, showed cellulose-degrading activity. The biochemical and molecular characterization were done for endophytic bacteria with cellulolytic activity. The consortium of cellulose-degrading endophytic bacteria from A. mexicana showed endoglucanase activity (0.462IU/ml) and FPCase enzyme activity (0.269IU/ml) and from P. rhoeas gave endoglucanase activity (0.439IU/ml) and FPCase enzyme activity (0.253IU/ml). Degraded carboxy methylcellulose and filter paper were further treated by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and bioethanol was produced. Cellulose-degrading endophytic bacteria were also tested for auxin, siderophore production, and phosphate solubilization activities. Individual cellulose-degrading endophytic bacteria with plant growth-promoting activities were used as biofertilizers, tested for plant growth-promoting activities using Basmati Pusa 1121 rice, and plant growth parameters were recorded. The degraded paper enhances the growth of rice plants. Selected bacterial endophytes and their consortia from A. mexicana and P. rhoeas were powerful cellulose degraders, which can be further employed for ethanol production and as significant biofertilizers in agriculture.

Quantitative investigation of drug-drug interaction between bergenin and vilazodone in rats through UPLC-MS/MS assay

In this study, we firstly established and verified a method by ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) for the analysis of vilazodone and its metabolite M10 in rat plasma, then this method was used to explore the pharmacokinetics of vilazodone and M10 present or absence of 80 mg/kg bergenin in rats. Protein precipitation with acetonitrile was used to prepare the samples in this research. The mobile phase for liquid chromatography was consisted of 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution and acetonitrile. Brexpiprazole was used as the internal standard (IS), and the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was used for detection. The verification items required by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines such as selectivity, sensitivity, linearity, stability, recovery and matrix effect of this method were all met the standards. Besides, rats were used to explore the drug-drug interaction between vilazodone and bergenin, which were divided into two groups, and separately gavaged with the same-volume of carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC-Na) solution and 80 mg/kg bergenin, respectively. The results showed that bergenin significantly affected the metabolism of vilazodone. It suggested that there was a potential drug-drug interaction between bergenin and vilazodone in rats. In clinical application, we should pay attention to the dose of vilazodone when in combination with bergenin.

Wireless Sensor System Based on Organohydrogel Ionic Skin for Physiological Activity Monitoring.

Supermolecular hydrogel ionic skin (i-skin) linked with smartphones has attracted widespread attention in physiological activity detection due to its good stability in complex scenarios. However, the low ionic conductivity, inferior mechanical properties, poor contact adhesion, and insufficient freeze resistance of most used hydrogels limit their practical application in flexible electronics. Herein, a novel multifunctional poly(vinyl alcohol)-based conductive organohydrogel (PCEL5.0%) with a supermolecular structure was constructed by innovatively employing sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na) as reinforcement material, ethylene glycol as antifreeze, and lithium chloride as a water retaining agent. Thanks to the synergistic effect of these components, the PCEL5.0% organohydrogel shows excellent performance in terms of ionic conductivity (1.61 S m-1), mechanical properties (tensile strength of 70.38 kPa and elongation at break of 537.84%), interfacial adhesion (1.06 kPa to pig skin), frost resistance (-50.4 °C), water retention (67.1% at 22% relative humidity), and remoldability. The resultant PCEL5.0%-based i-skin delivers satisfactory sensitivity (GF = 1.38) with fast response (348 ms) and high precision under different deformations and low temperature (-25 °C). Significantly, the wireless sensor system based on the PCEL5.0% organohydrogel i-skin can transmit signals from physiological activities and sign language to a smartphone by Bluetooth technology and dynamically displays the status of these movements. The organohydrogel i-skin shows great potential in diverse fields of physiological activity detection, human-computer interaction, and rehabilitation medicine.

Asymmetric chitosan-derivative/carboxymethylcellulose layer-by-layer film combining antimicrobial and vascular regeneration for the repair of infected wounds.

Bacterially infected wounds are a serious threat to patients' lives and health, and multifunctional dressings with antimicrobial properties and healing promotion are urgently needed. Thus, we used the cationic and anionic properties of chitosan (CS)-nerol (N) derivative (CSN) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) to prepare asymmetric layer-by-layer self-assembled (LBL) composite films (CSN-CMC LBL films) with antibacterial and healing properties using a spin-coating method. SEM images showed that the CSN-CMC LBL films had completely different degrees of roughness at the bottom (hydrophilic layer) and at the top (hydrophobic layer), with the roughness at the top increasing as the number of layers increased. The CSN and CMC were used to prepare asymmetric LBL films via the electrostatic attraction of -COO- and NH3+. In addition, adhesion and water contact angle tests showed that the CSN-CMC LBL films had enhanced tissue adhesion and good hydrophobicity. These materials had excellent antimicrobial activity and good biocompatibility. Importantly, the results of the animal infection model showed that CSN-CMC-8 LBL films effectively eliminated the infection in vivo, inhibited inflammation, promoted vascular regeneration, accelerated the epithelialization process, and achieved high quality healing. Overall, the CSN-CMC LBL films in this study showed considerable potential for application in infected wound healing.

High voltage electrostatic field and composite coating impact on the quality of Sichuan pepper

The effects of coated film (CF), high voltage electrostatic field (HVEF), and high voltage electrostatic field combined with coated film (HVEFCF) treatment on the quality of Sichuan pepper during storage at room temperature (temperature: 25 ± 2 °C, humidity: 20 ± 2%) were investigated. The pectin (1%), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (0.5%), and ascorbic acid (0.04%) were used to prepare the CF solution. The influence of different treatments on the colour, antioxidant activity, flavor components, OH-α-sanshool content, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) of Sichuan pepper during storage was evaluated. The results showed that HVEFCF treatment significantly reduced the colour change and loss of antioxidant activity of Sichuan pepper during storage. Meanwhile, HVEFCF-treated Sichuan pepper reduced the loss of flavor compounds during storage. Moreover, HVEF-treated Sichuan pepper reduced the loss of TPC and TFC by 106.16% and 44.02%, respectively, after 60 days of storage compared with the control check (CK) group. Furthermore, after 60 days of storage, the amount of OH-α-sanshool in the Sichuan pepper treated with HVEFCF was 9.72 mg/g, significantly preserving the loss of numbing compounds as compared to the CK group. To summarise, HVEFCF is a simple, cheap and efficient way to reduce the quality loss of Sichuan pepper during storage, which has a wide range of application scope in the future.

The neuroprotective effect of Diosgenin in the rat Valproic acid model of autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with two core behavioral symptoms restricted/repetitive behavior and social-communication deficit. The unknown etiology of ASD makes it difficult to identify potential treatments. Valproic acid (VPA) is an anticonvulsant drug with teratogenic effects during pregnancy in humans and rodents. Prenatal exposure to VPA induces autism-like behavior in both humans and rodents. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Diosgenin in prenatal Valproic acid-induced autism in rats. pregnant Wister female rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of VPA (600 mg/kg, i.p.) on gestational day 12.5. The male offspring were given oral Dios (40 mg/kg, p.o.) or Carboxymethyl cellulose (5 mg/kg, p.o.) for 30 days starting from postnatal day 23. On postnatal day 52, behavioral tests were done. Additionally, biochemical assessments for oxidative stress markers were carried out on postnatal day 60. Further, histological evaluations were performed on the prefrontal tissue by Nissl staining and Immunohistofluorescence. The VPA-exposed rats showed increased anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze (EPM). They also demonstrated repetitive and grooming behaviors in the marble burying test (MBT) and self-grooming test. Social interaction was reduced, and they had difficulty detecting the novel object in the novel object recognition (NOR) test. Also, VPA-treated rats have shown higher levels of oxidative stress malondialdehyde (MDA) and lower GPX, TAC, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Furthermore, the number of neurons decreased and the ERK signaling pathway upregulated in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). On the other hand, treatment with Dios restored the behavioral consequences, lowered oxidative stress, and death of neurons, and rescued the overly activated ERK1/2 signaling in the prefrontal cortex. Chronic treatment with Dios restored the behavioral, biochemical, and histological abnormalities caused by prenatal VPA exposure.

Insight into the catalytic mechanism of CuCeOx/C for the hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan

2,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF) is a diol with great potential for polyester monomer. Herein, an efficient CuCeOx/C was synthesized using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a sacrificial template for the catalytic hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to BHMF. Under the optimal conditions, the BHMF yield of over 98 % was obtained. The unique catalyst reactivity originated from the synergism of the rich oxygen vacancies (OV) and Cu2+/Cu0-species on the catalyst surface. The incorporation of CeOx as support strengthened the electrophilicity for the Cu2+-species, which was beneficial to the adsorption of the negative aldehyde groups in HMF. The Cu2+ and Cu0-species on the CuCeOx/C surface were responsible for adsorbing HMF and activating H2. The selective adsorption of the aldehyde group in HMF via the oxygen-terminal through a vertical or tilted configuration ensured the efficient hydrogenation of HMF to BHMF.

Effects of co-assembly of gliadin and carboxymethyl cellulose on the high internal phase Pickering emulsions: rheology properties, 3D printing performance and oil-soluble nutrient delivery

Effects of co-assembly of gliadin and carboxymethyl cellulose on the high internal phase Pickering emulsions: rheology properties, 3D printing performance and oil-soluble nutrient delivery

Carboxymethyl cellulose enhanced Cr(VI) removal of zero-valent iron via the coating anti-passivation mechanism

Competition for electrons from dissolved oxygen and secondary passivation resulting from the deposition of FeCr hydroxide are two challenges that impede the removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) with zero-valent iron (ZVI). In this study, we fabricated micron-sized zero-valent iron modified with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-ZVI) via a mechanical ball milling process and demonstrated its improved performance up to eight times for Cr(VI) removal. Owing to the CMC protective film, the inhibition of dissolved oxygen for Cr(VI) removal, aging of ZVI in air, and secondary passivation of ZVI by the deposition of FeCr hydroxides were all inhibited. Even after a week of continuous aging, the CMC-ZVI maintained a stable Cr(VI) removal efficiency of over 50 %. The excellent hydrophilicity of CMC enhanced the interaction of CMC-ZVI with water and Cr(VI), thus improving its capacity for Cr(VI) removal. Furthermore, CMC-ZVI not only proficiently reduced and completely removed the high-mobility Cr(VI) from actual electroplating effluent, but also effectively alleviated the inhibition of Cr(VI) removal via CMC-ZVI by aeration and air aging. The efficiency of CMC-ZVI in removing Cr(VI) from actual electroplating effluent was improved by over 41 times compared to pristine ZVI. This advantage has the potential to make the storage and transportation of ZVI more affordable and convenient and increases its potential for practical applications. This study provides an efficient Cr(VI) removal strategy using ZVI for environmental remediation and a strategy for the production of highly reactive, aging-resistant, easily stored, and transported zero-valent iron with the potential for practical applications.

Polymer Coatings Affect Transport and Remobilization of Colloidal Activated Carbon in Saturated Sand Columns: Implications for In Situ Groundwater Remediation.

Colloidal activated carbon (CAC) is an emerging technology for the in situ remediation of groundwater impacted by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In assessing the long-term effectiveness of a CAC barrier, it is crucial to evaluate the potential of emplaced CAC particles to be remobilized and migrate away from the sorptive barrier. We examine the effect of two polymer stabilizers, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PolyDM), on CAC deposition and remobilization in saturated sand columns. CMC-modified CAC showed high mobility in a wide ionic strength (IS) range from 0.1 to 100 mM, which is favorable for CAC delivery at a sufficient scale. Interestingly, the mobility of PolyDM-modified CAC was high at low IS (0.1 mM) but greatly reduced at high IS (100 mM). Notably, significant remobilization (release) of deposited CMC-CAC particles occurred upon the introduction of solution with low IS following deposition at high IS. In contrast, PolyDM-CAC did not undergo any remobilization following deposition due to its favorable interactions with the quartz sand. We further elucidated the CAC deposition and remobilization behaviors by analyzing colloid-collector interactions through the application of Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory, and the inclusion of a discrete representation of charge heterogeneity on the quartz sand surface. The classical colloid filtration theory was also employed to estimate the travel distance of CAC in saturated columns. Our results underscore the roles of polymer coatings and solution chemistry in CAC transport, providing valuable guidelines for the design of in situ CAC remediation with maximized delivery efficiency and barrier longevity.

Antimicrobial, anticancer activities, molecular docking, and DFT/B3LYP/LANL2DZ analysis of heterocyclic cellulose derivative and their Cu-complexes

In this study, novel Cu-complexes of heterocyclic cellulose which were synthesized via the reaction of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) from bagasse pulp with NH2NH2 to give hydrazide cellulose which easily reacted with CS2 to form salt and then cyclized in the presence of HCl to afford cellulose oxadiazole, or with hydrazine hydrate to give cellulose triazole. Furthermore, the cellulose oxadiazole and triazole moieties acting as chelating agents with metal ion Cu (II), and all synthesized compounds were examined for their spectral analysis to show the adsorption of Cu (II) on the surface of cellulose through intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Results illustrated that cellulose oxadiazole and Cu- cellulose oxadiazole exhibited antimicrobial activities more than triazole and Cu- cellulose triazole. Furthermore, anticancer results showed that both cellulose oxadiazole and triazole exhibited activity higher than Cu-cellulose oxadiazole and Cu-cellulose triazole, where the cellulose triazole showed the highest activity (IC50 = 58.7 μg/μL). Additionally, the docking simulation of the synthesized cellulose complexes with different proteins such as PDBID:3t88, PDBID:4ynt, PDBID:1tgh, PDBID:2wje, and PDBID:4hdq and shortage bond length to confirm the experimental results. Optimization of metal complexes utilized the DFT/B3LYP/LANL2DZ basis set to confirm the stability of these metals theoretically and their physical descriptors and FMO analysis.

Expression and characterization of a novel β-1,4-endoglucanase from Bacillus subtilis strain isolated from a pulp and paper mill wastewater.

The production of fermentable sugars from lignocellulosic biomass is achieved by the synergistic action of a group of enzymes called cellulases. Cellulose is a long chain of chemically linked glucoses by β-1,4 bonds. The enzyme β-1,4-endoglucanase is the first cellulase involved in the degradation, breaking the bond of the amorphous regions. A β-1,4-endoglucanase enzyme with high activity was obtained from a Bacillus subtilis strain isolated from wastewater of a pulp and paper mill. Sequencing and bioinformatic analysis showed that the gene was amplified by PCR consisting of 1,407 nucleotides and coding for a β-1,4-endoglucanase enzyme of approximately 55 kDa. The open reading frame (ORF) encoding the mature endoglucanase (eglS) was successfully inserted in a modified cloning plasmid (pITD03) and into the pYD1 plasmid used for its expression in yeast. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) plate assay, SDS-PAGE, and zymogram confirmed the production and secretion by the transformed E. coli BL21-SI strain of a 39 kDa β-1,4-endoglucanase consistent with the catalytic domain without the cellulose-binding module (CBM). The results showed that the truncated β-1,4-endoglucanase had higher activity and stability.

Nanomorphogenesis of Polyamide Membranes by Regulating Activator-Inhibitor Diffusivity Difference

The use of nanofiltration (NF) membranes featuring crumpled polyamide layers with excellent permeance and selectivity is promising for efficient water reclamation. Although diffusion-driven instability has been regarded as the key mechanism for forming crumpled polyamide structures, in-depth analyses of the morphological and structural features of these membranes are still lacking. We used ammonium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and glutaraldehyde (GA) to crosslink and form a pH-responsive interlayer to manipulate the interfacial polymerization (IP) process and the microstructures of interlayered thin-film composite (TFNi) membranes. Experimental observations and molecular dynamics simulations indicate a transition point in the spatial patterns from irregular to regular polyamide nanostructures by tuning the diffusivity difference between the reactant monomers in the two immiscible phases during the IP process. Compared with irregularly crumpled TFNi membranes, regularly crumpled TFNi membranes exhibited polyamide layers with higher aspect ratios (i.e., height/lateral dimension), potentially offering an increased filtration area and sufficient nanovoids. TFNi membranes exhibited a 2.5-fold increase in permeance compared to pristine polyamide membranes, along with twice the selectivity (up to 87.2) for Cl-/SO42-. Our work provides molecular insights into the tuning of morphological features and membrane performance of crumpled polyamide membranes.

Salt reduction in myofibrillar protein gel via inhomogeneous distribution of sodium-containing encapsulated fish oil coacervate: Mucopenetration ability of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose

The potential application of fish oil microcapsules as salt reduction strategies in low-salt myofibrillar protein (MP) gel was investigated by employing soy protein isolates/carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (SPI-CMC) coacervates enriched with 25 mM sodium chloride and exploring their rheological characteristics, taste perception, and microstructure. The results revealed that the SPI-CMC coacervate phase exhibited the highest sodium content under 25 mM sodium level, albeit with uneven distribution. Notably, the hydrophilic and adhesive properties of CMC to sodium facilitated the in vitro release of sodium during oral digestion, as evidenced by the excellent wettability and mucopenetration ability of CMC. Remarkably, the fish oil microcapsules incorporating SPI-CMC as the wall material, prepared at pH 3.5 with a core-to-wall ratio of 1:1, demonstrated the highest encapsulation efficiency, which was supported by the strong hydrogen bonding. Interestingly, the presence of SPI-CMC coacervates and fish oil microcapsules enhanced the interaction between MPs and strengthened the low-salt MP gel network. Coupled with electronic tongue analysis, the incorporation of fish oil microcapsules slightly exacerbated the non-uniformity of sodium distribution. This ultimately contributed to an enhanced perception of saltiness, richness, and aftertaste in low-salt protein gels. Overall, the incorporation of fish oil microcapsules emerged as an effective salt reduction strategy in low-salt MP gel.

Isolation, screening and characterization of efficient cellulose-degrading fungal and bacterial strains and preparation of their consortium under in vitro studies.

In this investigation, cellulose-degrading fungi and bacteria were isolated from different partially decomposed cellulose-rich substrates, such as groundnut residues, rice straw, and rotten wood, following dilution plating techniques on carboxymethyl cellulose agar media and screening for potential cellulose degradation ability. The development of a clear halo zone surrounding the microbial colonies during the initial screening process using the Congo red test (20 isolates) suggested cellulose hydrolysis, and the highest cellulase production activity was implied by the isolates with the largest clear zone ratio (9 isolates). Using both macroscopic and microscopic examinations, as well as standard biochemical tests outlined in Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, the genus-level identification of fungi and bacteria was accomplished. In order to molecularly identify the 4 isolatedfungal and bacterial strains at the species level after being ultimately selected for cellulase production potential under in vitro studies, fungal and bacterial DNA was extracted and amplified by PCR using the universal primers ITS1 and ITS4 for fungi (ITS rRNA, 5.8S rRNA) and 8F and 1492R for bacterial isolates (16S rRNA). After sequencing, the PCR results were compared to other comparable sequences in GenBank (NCBI). Based on the available NCBI data, phylogenetic analysis of their ribosomal gene partial sequences revealed that DAJ2 (PP086700) shares 100% homology with Aspergillus foetidus, DTJ4 (PP086699) shares 99.74% similarity with Trichoderma atrobrunnium, DBJ6 (PP082584) shares 100% identity with Priestia megaterium, and DMB9 (PP082585) shares 99.88% homology with Micrococcus yunnanensis. The cellulolytic potential of Phanerochaete chrysosporium is well established. Therefore, it was considered a standard culture for comparison and was collected from the MTCC, Chandigarh, India. Overall, all 4 selected isolates and the check organism were mutually compatible or synergistic with each other, and their consortium is useful for the accelerated decomposition of organic constituents during rapid composting.

TO STUDY THE ROLE OF TEAR FILM MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE-9 (MMP-9) IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF INFLAMMATORY DRY EYE DISEASE USING POINT TO CARE RAPID MMP-9 IMMUNOASSAY KIT

Purpose: To study the role of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the tear film for the diagnosis and management of inflammatory dry eye disease using point to care Rapid MMP-9 immunoassay kit. Methods: This prospective interventional study was conducted at a tertiary eye care centre in a duration of two years. 300 eyes (Right Eye) of 300 patients with Dry Eye Disease (DED) were included in the study. After assessing the signs and grade of dry eye clinically, the patients were subjected to MMP-9 immunoassay of the tear film. The tear MMP-9 immunoassay results were interpreted using qualitative (positive or negative) and quantitative (reagent band density on a four-point scale: 0 = negative 1 = weakly positive 2 = moderately positive 3 = strongly positive) methods. The patients who were tested negative for MMP-9 were treated with eye drop Carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) 0.5% thrice a day, while those who were tested positive for MMP-9 were given eye drop Cyclosporine 0.05 % twice a day in addition to lubricants. Treatment and follow up was done for a period of six months and the response to treatment was re-assessed at the end of first week, first month, three months and six months. Result: At presentation among 120 MMP-9 positive patients, 34%(41) were mild positive, 45%(54) were moderate positive, 21%(25) were severe positive. 88.98%(105) of 120, MMP-9 positive patients became mild positive and 10.8% converted to MMP-9 negative at the end of six months follow up. In MMP-9 positive group, mean reduction in OSDI from baseline 33.46 ± 13.47 to 11.86 ± 2.99, mean increase in Schirmer from baseline 9.22 ± 1.64 to 13.15 ± 2.42 and mean increase in TBUT from baseline 8.68 ± 1.11 to 11.33 ± 1.36 were observed at the end of six month follow up. Conclusion: In this study, we found that there is a positive correlation between the MMP-9 immunoassay results with that of the severity of the signs and symptoms of DED. It was also observed that patients who were in MMP-9 positive group were found to have higher OSDI, lower Schirmer and TBUT values at baseline andthey showed significant improvement in the scores of dry eye with anti-inflammatory drops.Hence, topical anti-inflammatory eye drops plays a major role in the management of patients with severe DED.

Functionalization of Cathode–Electrolyte Interface with Ionic Liquids for High-Performance Quasi-Solid-State Lithium–Sulfur Batteries: A Low-Sulfur Loading Study

We introduce a quasi-solid-state electrolyte lithium-sulfur (Li–S) battery (QSSEB) based on a novel Li-argyrodite solid-state electrolyte (SSE), Super P–Sulfur cathode, and Li-anode. The cathode was prepared using a water-based carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solution and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) as the binder while Li6PS5F0.5Cl0.5 SSE was synthesized using a solvent-based process, via the introduction of LiF into the argyrodite crystal structure, which enhances both the ionic conductivity and interface-stabilizing properties of the SSE. Ionic liquids (IL) were prepared using lithium bis(trifluoromethyl sulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) as the salt, with pre-mixed pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethyl sulfonyl)imide (PYR) as solvent and 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) as diluent, and they were used to wet the SSE–electrode interfaces. The effect of IL dilution, the co-solvent amount, the LiTFSI concentration, the C rate at which the batteries are tested and the effect of the introduction of SSE in the cathode, were systematically studied and optimized to develop a QSSEB with higher capacity retention and cyclability. Interfacial reactions occurring at the cathode–SSE interface during cycling were also investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy supported by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. This work offers a new insight into the intimate interfacial contacts between the SSE and carbon–sulfur cathodes, which are critical for improving the electrochemical performance of quasi-solid-state lithium–sulfur batteries.

Preparation and Physicochemical Properties of a Thermosensitive Hydrogel-based Lipopeptide Biosurfactant

Background: Temperature-sensitive (thermo-sensitive) formulations are a novel drug delivery dosage form that shows bio-inspired behavior in various applications. The structure and properties of a thermosensitive polymer are critical in designing an intelligent biometric polymer that contains lipopeptide biosurfactants. Objectives: In this study, thermo-sensitive hydrogels with lipopeptide biosurfactants as a potential wound dressing dosage form were formulated and examined regarding physicochemical properties. Methods: The lipopeptide biosurfactants were isolated from the Acinetobacter junni B6 bacterial strain and loaded on a formulation of poloxamer 407® and carboxymethyl cellulose as a gelling agent. Numerous experiments were carried out to evaluate the physicochemical properties of these formulations, such as the stability, spreadability, release profile, and kinetic. Results: The formulation (Poloxamer 407® (19% w/v), carboxymethyl cellulose (2% w/v), lipopeptide biosurfactants (5mg/mL), benzyl alcohol (1% v/v), and 0.1mL polyethylene glycol 400) was select as the optimum formulation. The selected formulation released 26.9% of the lipopeptide biosurfactants with anomalous transport kinetics after 10 hours. Conclusions: The results showed that a thermo-sensitive formulation could help achieve a sustained release of lipopeptide biosurfactants and potentially be used as a dressing formulation for wounds in future studies.

Assessment of the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus to create biofilms during wound healing in a rat model treated with carboxymethyl cellulose/carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel containing EDTA.

The primary objective of this study was to develop a carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) hydrogel containing ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) as the materials for wound healing. CMC and CMCS solutions were prepared with a concentration of 4% (w/v). These solutions were made using normal saline serum with a concentration of 0.5% (v/v). Additionally, EDTA with the concentrations of 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% (w/v) was included in the prepared polymer solution. The analysis of the hydrogels revealed that they possess porous structures with interconnected pores, with average in size 88.71 ± 5.93 μm. The hydrogels exhibited a swelling capacity of up to 60% of their initial weight within 24 h, as indicated by the weight loss and swelling measurements. The antibacterial experiments showed that the formulated CMC/CMCS/EDTA 0.5% hydrogel inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Moreover, the produced hydrogels were haemocompatible and biocompatible. At the last stage, the evaluation of wound healing in the animal model demonstrated that the use of the produced hydrogels significantly improved the process of wound healing. Finally, the findings substantiated the effectiveness of the formulated hydrogels as the materials for promoting wound healing and antibacterial agents.