Combination Of Polyethylene Glycol Research Articles

Enhancing the bioavailability and antioxidant activity of natamycin E235–ferulic acid loaded polyethylene glycol/carboxy methyl cellulose films as anti-microbial packaging for food application

This study investigated the development of biodegradable films made from a combination of polyethylene glycol (PEG), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and mixtures from natamycin and ferulic acid. The films were characterized for their surface microstructure, antioxidant activity, thermal stability, mechanical properties, permeability and antifungal/bacterial activity. The addition of natamycin and ferulic acid to the film matrix enhanced antioxidant activity, thermal stability, antimicrobial activity, reduced the water vapor permeability (WVP) to 1.083 × 10−10 g × m−1s−1Pa−1, imparted opaque color and increased opacity up to 3.131 A mm−1. The attendance of natamycin and ferulic acid inside films created a clear roughness shape with agglomerates on the surface of films and caused a clear inhibition zone for Aspergillus niger, E. coli and C. botulinum. The utilization of PG/CMC/N-F packaging material on Ras cheese had a noticeable effect, resulting in a slight decrease in moisture content from 34.23 to 29.17 %. Additionally, it helped maintain the titrable acidity within the range of 0.99 % to 1.11 % and the force required for puncture from 0.035 to 0.052 N with non-significant differences. Importantly, these changes did not significantly affect the sensory qualities of Ras cheese during the storage period.

Development of pH-Sensitive Nanoparticle Incorporated into Dissolving Microarray Patch for Selective Delivery of Methotrexate.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that attacks human joints. Methotrexate (MTX), as one the most effective medications to treat RA, has limitations when administered either orally or by injection. To overcome this limitation, we formulated MTX through a smart nanoparticle (SNP) combined with dissolving microarray patch (DMAP) to achieve selective-targeted delivery of RA. SNP was made using the combination of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polycaprolactone (PCL) polymers, while DMAP was made using the combination of hyaluronic acid and polyvinylpyrrolidone K-30. SNP-DMAP was then evaluated for its mechanical and chemical characteristics, ex vivo permeation test, in vivo pharmacokinetic study, hemolysis, and hen's egg test-chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM) test. The results showed that the characteristics of the SNP-DMAP-MTX formulas meet the requirements for transdermal delivery, with the particle size of 189.09 ±12.30 nm and absorption efficiency of 65.40 ± 5.0%. The hemolysis and HET-CAM testing indicate that this formula was non-toxic and non-irritating. Ex vivo permeation shows a concentration of 51.50 ± 3.20 µg/mL of SNP-DMAP-MTX in PBS pH 5.0. The pharmacokinetic profile of SNP-DMAP-MTX showed selectivity and sustained release compared with oral and DMAP-MTX with values of t1/2 (4.88 ± 0 h), Tmax (8 ± 0 h), Cmax (0.50 ± 0.04 μg/mL), AUC (3.15 ± 0.54 μg/mL.h), and mean residence time (MRT) (9.13 ± 0 h). The developed SNP-DMAP-MTX has been proven to deliver MTX transdermal and selectively at the RA site, potentially avoiding conventional MTX side effects and enhancing the effectiveness of RA therapy.

Highly efficient GPCR immobilization with enhanced fouling resistance, salt tolerance, and chromatographic performance

The feasibility of immobilized protein-based biodetection relies critically on the activity of the immobilized proteins as well as the biocompatibility of the protein surface. Although many protein immobilization strategies have been developed with satisfied detection readout signals. Non-specific interactions caused by the protein-coating surface are still of great concern since they often interfere with or affect the reliability of detection. Herein, we developed a highly efficient G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) immobilization method by the combination of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with a self-labeling enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The immobilization relies on the covalent interaction between the fusion tag of a target GPCR (kinase domain of epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR) and its covalent inhibitor ibrutinib, which is modified on PEGylated silica gels. Two types of GPCRs, N-methyl-D-aspartate 2 A receptor (NMDAR2A) and endothelin A receptor (ETAR), were used as examples to realize protein immobilization. The GPCR modified gels and the affinity columns packed with them have been extensively characterized, in terms of non-specific adsorptions, retention factor (k′), half peak width (W1/2), tailing factor (Tf), theoretical plates (N), and association and dissociation constants of the ligands with the receptors. The immobilized GPCRs with reduced non-specific interactions and enhanced fouling resistance, salt tolerance, and chromatographic performance were clearly observed. We believe it is the first work to introduce PEGylation in GPCR immobilization and provide comprehensive proof-of-concept studies to illustrate the improved antifouling property, salt tolerance, and chromatographic performance. This method could be generally applicable in other immobilized protein-based technology for reliable biodetection.

Improvement of polyvinylidene fluoride membrane performance by combination of polyethylene glycol and dragon blood resin through coordination reaction with Fe3+ ions

Fouling on hydrophobic membranes can be eliminated by modification with hydrophilic additives such as dragon blood resin (DBR: bio-polymer) and polyethylene glycol (PEG: non-bio-polymer). In this study, the surface modification of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes with bio/non-bio polymeric additives and their coordination reaction with Fe3+ ions was investigated. Five types of membranes with different compositions were prepared by immersion precipitation phase inversion method. The result showed that membrane M–PD (PVDF/PEG/DBR) improved the membrane hydrophilicity, resulting in high pure water flux (98.7 L.m−2.h−1) and humic acid rejection (99.08 %). However, the coordination reaction with PEG and Fe3+ as well as PEG/DBR and Fe3+ resulted in reduced water and humic acid flux. Coordination reaction successfully increased membrane stability as evidenced by FRR < 100 %. These results will be useful in the design of PVDF-based membranes with bio- or non-biopolymer additives.

Morphology and characteristics of polyethersulfone membrane modified with polyethylene glycol hexadecyl ether and nanocarbon

The development of polyethersulfone (PES) membranes to improve membrane performance can be done in various ways; one is by combining two types of additives (organic and inorganic) in one dope polymer solution. In this study, researchers analyzed the effect of combining polyethylene glycol hexadecyl ether (PEG-HE) as an organic additive and nanocarbon as an inorganic additive on the characteristics and performance of PES membranes. The membrane performance test includes analysis of pure water flux and rejection of synthetic fertilizer factory wastewater (Mg2+) with a concentration of 300 ppm. The membrane characterization was carried out by analyzing the morphology of the membrane structure using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), water contact angle (WCA), porosity, and membrane pore size. Ultrafiltration experiment showed that the modified PES membrane with PEG-HE and Nanocarbon had the highest pure water flux. The most significant rejection coefficient of 96.88% was found in an ultrafiltration experiment using pure PES membranes. The characteristic of other membranes will be described in detail in this article.

In situ forming biomaterials as muscle void fillers for the provisional treatment of volumetric muscle loss injuries.

Volumetric muscle loss (VML) represents a devastating extremity injury which leads to chronic functional deficits and disability and is unrecoverable through normal healing pathways. When left untreated, the VML pathophysiology creates many challenges towards successful treatment, such as altered residual muscle architecture, excessive fibrosis, and contracture(s). As such, innovative approaches and technologies are needed to prevent or reverse these adverse sequelae. Development of a rationally designed biomaterial technology which is intended to be acutely placed within a VML defect - i.e., to serve as a muscle void filler (MVF) by maintaining the VML defect - could address this clinical unmet need by preventing these adverse sequelae as well as enabling multi-staged treatment approaches. To that end, three biomaterials were evaluated for their ability to serve as a provisional MVF treatment intended to stabilize a VML defect in a rat model for an extended period (28 days): polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), hyaluronic acid and polyethylene glycol combination (HA+PEG), and silicone, a clinically used soft tissue void filler. HA+PEG biomaterial showed signs of deformation, while both PVA and silicone did not. There were no differences between treatment groups for their effects on adjacent muscle fiber count and size distribution. Not surprisingly, silicone elicited robust fibrotic response resulting in a fibrotic barrier with a large infiltration of macrophages, a response not seen with either the PVA or HA+PEG. Taken together, PVA was found to be the best material to be used as a provisional MVF for maintaining VML defect volume while minimizing adverse effects on the surrounding muscle.

Combination of chemical foaming and direct ink writing for lightweight geopolymers

In this work, the possibility of combining direct ink writing and chemical foaming to create geopolymer lattices with interconnecting porosity at different scales is investigated. Chemical foaming was achieved by introducing aluminum powder into the paste, in order to produce a foam which was then 3D printed. Homogeneous foams with interconnected pores were generated, by combining polyethylene glycol, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and aluminum powder. Porosity was characterized by X-ray tomography, mercury intrusion porosimetry and helium pycnometry. The samples obtained after the 3D printing of the foams have a similar open porosity than foams directly molded. However, their pore access diameters are very different since the 3D printing process tends to close the channels generated by the gas escape during chemical foaming. This loss is compensated by the porosity created by 3D printing, which is due to the space between the filaments.

Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA contamination in water supply resources of Tabriz metropolitan during a peak of COVID-19 pandemic.

It is crucial to have access to clean water resources during the COVID-19 pandemic for hygiene, since virus infection through wastewater leaks in metropolitan areas can be a threat. Accurate monitoring of urban water resources during the pandemic seems to be the only way to confirm safe and infected resources. Here, in this study, the amount of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2's Ribonucleic Acid (SARS-CoV-2 RNA) in the Tabriz urban water network located in the northwest of Iran was investigated by an extensive sampling of the city's water sources at a severe peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sampling process comprised a range of water sources, including wells, qanats, water treatment facilities, dams, and reservoirs. For each sample, a combination of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium chloride (NaCl) was used for concentration and a laboratory RNA-based method was conducted for quantification. Before applying the extraction and quantification procedure to real samples, the proposed concentration method was verified with synthetic serum samples for the first time. After the concentration, RNA extraction was done by the BehPrep extraction column method, and Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction(RT-PCR) detection of the virus was done by Covitech COVID-19 RT-PCR kit. In none of the water supply resources, SARS-COV-2 RNA has been detected except in a sample grabbed from a well adjacent to an urban wastewater discharge point downstream. The results of molecular analysis for the positive sample showed that the CT value and concentration of the virus genome were equal to 32.57 and 5720copies/L, respectively. Quantitative analysis of real samples shows that the city's water network was safe at the time of the study. However, given that the positive sample was exposed to wastewater leakage, periodic sampling from wells and qanats is suggested during the pandemic until it can be proven that the leakage to these water sources is impossible.

Use of Self-Curing concrete in Rigid pavement construction – A review

Abstract: India is a developing country with a complex climate and topography, and its road network serves as a lifeline for the country's development efforts. However, in other parts of the country, we are unable to find an adequate environment and just enough water to meet our needs, making construction work in arid areas difficult. We tend to use stiff asphalt for desert zones along with its extended lifespan and low cost of maintenance. Concrete is the most significant component for rigid pavement design because of its compressive strength and durability. Concrete's curing should indeed be done carefully if it is to have extra strength and longevity. which has a number of concerns dealing with human neglect, the availability of water in arid locales such as deserts, and a challenging piece of land for transportation. To avoid this problem, we tend to use a combination of Polyethylene glycol, a self-curing agent that prevents water molecules from evaporating from the concrete, thus raising its moisture absorption capability, which aids self-curing concrete with higher workability than normal concrete, during this study.

Fabrication and characterization of polyacrylonitrile and polyethylene glycol composite nanofibers by electrospinning

Thermal energy storage had been recognized as one of the most helpful technologies for the conserving energy. In this investigation, through a combination of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a phase change material (PCM), and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as supporting matrix, form-stable composite nanofibers were fabricated by single nozzle electrospinning. The structure, morphology, thermal properties and micro/nano-mechanical properties of the as-prepared nanofibers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. The results showed that PAN and PEG showed good compatibility and no chemical reaction existed between PAN and PEG instead of physical interaction. In addition, PAN/PEG composite nanofibers had a uniform microscopic morphology before thermal cycling, and a certain degree of phase change leakage occurred after thermal cycles with higher PEG content. PAN/PEG(3:2) composite nanofiber membrane had reasonable enthalpy and less morphological change compared to other ratios of nanofiber membranes. The melting and solidifying enthalpies of PAN/PEG(3:2) composite nanofibers before and after thermal cycling were 74.2 J/g and 69.6 J/g, respectively, with relatively high thermal stability and reliability. Furthermore, the thermal regulation ability of the three-layer and five-layer fibers was 5.5 °C and 12.1 °C, respectively. This study suggested that the fabricated composite nanofibers offered proper phase transition temperature range and high heat enthalpy values and hence, have the potential for thermal energy storage applications.

TGF-β1-supplemented decellularized annulus fibrosus matrix hydrogels promote annulus fibrosus repair

Annulus fibrosus (AF) repair remains a challenge because of its limited self-healing ability. Endogenous repair strategies combining scaffolds and growth factors show great promise in AF repair. Although the unique and beneficial characteristics of decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) in tissue repair have been demonstrated, the poor mechanical property of ECM hydrogels largely hinders their applications in tissue regeneration. In the present study, we combined polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) and decellularized annulus fibrosus matrix (DAFM) to develop an injectable, photocurable hydrogel for AF repair. We found that the addition of PEGDA markedly improved the mechanical strength of DAFM hydrogels while maintaining their porous structure. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) was further incorporated into PEGDA/DAFM hydrogels, and it could be continuously released from the hydrogel. The in vitro experiments showed that TGF-β1 facilitated the migration of AF cells. Furthermore, PEGDA/DAFM/TGF-β1 hydrogels supported the adhesion, proliferation, and increased ECM production of AF cells. In vivo repair performance of the hydrogels was assessed using a rat AF defect model. The results showed that the implantation of PEGDA/DAFM/TGF-β1 hydrogels effectively sealed the AF defect, prevented nucleus pulposus atrophy, retained disc height, and partially restored the biomechanical properties of disc. In addition, the implanted hydrogel was infiltrated by cells resembling AF cells and well integrated with adjacent AF tissue. In summary, findings from this study indicate that TGF-β1-supplemented DAFM hydrogels hold promise for AF repair.

One-step in-situ green synthesis of cellulose nanocrystal aerogel based shape stable phase change material

The confinement of phase change material (PCM) within 3D porous structure has been identified as an attractive and efficient strategy to fabricate high performance shape stable PCM (SSPCM). Nevertheless, the conventional fabrication techniques suffer limitations such as cumbersome preparation process, the usage of toxic reagents and high-cost additives. Herein, an ingenious and green one-step in-situ synthesis method was developed to prepare SSPCM, which was constructed by the combination of polyethylene glycol (PEG) within chemically cross-linked cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) aerogel. The as-prepared CNC/PEG phase change aerogel composite exhibited excellent shape stability, even when compressed upon the melting point of PEG, the composite still maintained its original shape without any leakage. Meanwhile, the composite possessed high phase change enthalpy of 145.8 J/g and extraordinary cyclic reversibility after 100 thermal cycles. Specifically, the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of the novel CNC/PEG phase change aerogel composite were dramatically improved due to the higher thermal conductivity of CNCs and the chemically cross-linked CNC framework. This work established a promising sustainable approach for the exploitation of CNC/PEG phase change aerogel composite with outstanding comprehensive properties, which would offer great opportunities for applications in thermal energy storage systems.

Chitosan-Coated 5-Fluorouracil Incorporated Emulsions as Transdermal Drug Delivery Matrices.

The purpose of the present study was to develop emulsions encapsulated by chitosan on the outer surface of a nano droplet containing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as a model drug. The emulsions were characterized in terms of size, pH and viscosity and were evaluated for their physicochemical properties such as drug release and skin permeation in vitro. The emulsions containing tween 80 (T80), sodium lauryl sulfate, span 20, and a combination of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and T20 exhibited a release of 88%, 86%, 90% and 92%, respectively. Chitosan-modified emulsions considerably controlled the release of 5-FU compared to a 5-FU solution (p < 0.05). All the formulations enabled transportation of 5-FU through a rat’s skin. The combination (T80, PEG) formulation showed a good penetration profile. Different surfactants showed variable degrees of skin drug retention. The ATR-FTIR spectrograms revealed that the emulsions mainly affected the fluidization of lipids and proteins of the stratum corneum (SC) that lead to enhanced drug permeation and retention across the skin. The present study concludes that the emulsions containing a combination of surfactants (Tween) and a co-surfactant (PEG) exhibited the best penetration profile, prevented the premature release of drugs from the nano droplet, enhanced the permeation and the retention of the drug across the skin and had great potential for transdermal drug delivery. Therefore, chitosan-coated 5-FU emulsions represent an excellent possibility to deliver a model drug as a transdermal delivery system.

Evidence of free radical generation from the interaction of polyethylene glycol with PVC medical tubing

The combination of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) medical tubing was previously demonstrated to degrade an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), a phenomenon proposed to occur by free radical mechanisms. This study tests the hypothesis that dehydrochlorinated PVC at the tubing surface increases the oxidative potential of PEG autooxidation via radical propagation. The functional group composition at the surfaces of intact, autoclaved, or force-degraded medical grade PVC tubings was assessed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The content of double bonds in PVC was correlated with the extent of API degradation in the PEG–PVC system, with the repeated autoclaving cycle treatments yielding the most reactive tubing. After PEG exposure, new functional groups on the surface of PVC were observed, indicating the participation of PVC in the oxidation reactions. The PEG–PVC system was further probed by the fluorinated spin-trap reagent FDMPO, where trapped adducts were analyzed by 19F NMR, revealing the presence of three radical species. Trapped adducts were then analyzed by two-dimensional liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (2D-LC-MS/MS), which revealed the presence of free chlorine atoms and/or hypochlorous acid and a PEG alkoxy radical. Chemical mechanisms describing the interaction between dehydrochlorinated PVC and PEG are proposed to explain the presence of free radicals and the functional group changes in the PVC surface.

Aqueous two-phase extraction of graphene oxides

Graphene oxide (GO) is widely used as a graphene conversion material for transparent electrodes and conductive films via reduction treatment. However, GOs are typically provided as mixtures that include various chemical structures and oxidation degrees, including strongly damaged ones. Since the contamination of these defective GOs decreases the conductivity of the resulting reduced GOs (rGOs), purification methods to concentrate low-defect GOs are required. In this study, we successfully separated GOs via aqueous two-phase extraction using a combination of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and octylphenol ethoxylate (OPE). Based on the difference in hydrophobicity caused by the number of carboxy groups, low-defect GOs and defective GOs were extracted into the hydrophobic PEG-rich phase and the hydrophilic OPE-rich phase, respectively. The low-defect GOs were then converted into rGOs, which exhibited higher conductivity than the non-extracted pristine GOs.

Co-Axial Laminar Multiphase Jet: A Novel Methodology for the Attainment Enhancement in Transition Boiling Regime

Abstract In the current investigation, by using a very low mass flux co-axial laminar multiphase fluid jet, enhancement in heat transfer rate, uniformity in heat flux distribution, and reduction in coolant consumption rate characteristics are simultaneously tried to achieve in case of cooling from a very high initial temperature (900 °C). The information on quenching technology depicting all the above-mentioned advantages has not been reported in the literature. In the present work, kerosene–water, nanofluid (Al2O3 = 0.15%)–kerosene, and nanofluid (Al2O3 = 0.15%)–polyethylene glycol combinations were used for co-axial cooling experimentation. From the heat transfer analysis, it is observed that nanofluid (Al2O3 = 0.15%) and kerosene combination produces maximum critical heat flux due to the alteration of thermophysical and interfacial properties, which enhance the driving force and flow behavior defining momentum and thermal diffusivities in the favorable direction of heat transfer, respectively. In addition to the above, the comparative study ensures a significant reduction in coolant consumption and augmentation in uniformity in heat flux distribution.

Enhancement of Dissolution Rate of Quercetin Using Solid Dispersion Approach: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation

Objective: The objective of present study was to enhance the potential activities of Quercetin by improving its solubility and dissolution profiles through solid dispersion approach. Method: A three level full factorial design (32) was adopted to study the possible combinations of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 &amp; pluronic F 127 (PF 127). The solid dispersions were prepared by solvent evaporation method and evaluated for percentage yield, drug content, aqueous solubility and drug release. For in vivo evaluations SD4 was incorporated into Carbopol base gel and subjected to anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan-induced rat paw edema method. Results: SD4 batch with drug to carrier ratio 1:1 showed release of 82.96 ± 1.76 % in 240 min following Higuchi’s model. It was 5.54 fold increment in solubility as compared to quercetin. SD4 batch was further evaluated by FTIR, DSC, PXRD and SEM. The crystallinity was significantly reduced and drug was homogeneously dispersed in the carrier as shown by the results of DSC, PXRD and SEM. The DPPH scavenging assay showed significance in the IC50 value of SD4 as compared to pure quercetin and ascorbic acid when subjected to one way ANOVA at 0.05 level of significance (P&lt;0.0001). In vivo anti-inflammatory study showed 78.17 ± 0.156 % inhibition of edema by SD4 and 58.64 ± 0.640 % by pure quercetin which is significantly lower (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the solid dispersion of quercetin shows increased solubility, dissolution profile, drug release and significant potential in enhancing the antiinflammatory activity of drug.

Desulfurization of diesel by extraction coupled with Mo-catalyzed sulfoxidation in polyethylene glycol-based deep eutectic solvents

Oxidative desulfurization (ODS) is a method of removing sulfur from diesel fuel that has the potential to complement or even replace conventional hydrodesulfurization processes in oil refineries. One of the most promising variants of ODS is extractive and catalytic ODS (ECODS) in which the organic sulfur compounds in the liquid fuel are oxidized and extracted in situ from the oil phase into an extractant phase. In this study, the desulfurization of model and real diesel fuel has been performed in ECODS systems employing two different types of deep eutectic solvents (DESs), prepared by combining polyethylene glycol (PEG) as hydrogen bond donor with tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBACl) or choline chloride (ChCl) as hydrogen bond acceptor. The ECODS systems were evaluated with the complexes [MoO2Cl2(DMB)2] (1) and [MoO2Cl2(DEO)] (2) (DMB = N,N-dimethylbenzamide, DEO = N,N′-diethyloxamide) as catalysts and 30 wt% H2O2 as oxidant. The effects of different reaction conditions, such as the amount of catalyst, H2O2 and DES, and reaction temperature, were investigated. The combination of complex 1 with the DES ChCl/PEG showed the best performance for the removal of dibenzothiophene, 4-methyldibenzothiophene and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene from a high‑sulfur (3000 ppm) model diesel, allowing a desulfurization efficiency of 99.6% to be attained at 70 °C within 2 h. By applying the optimized model diesel ECODS systems to the treatment of a commercial untreated diesel with a sulfur content of 2300 ppm, 82% of sulfur compounds could be eliminated. These promising results indicate that DESs are a viable alternative to ionic liquids as extraction solvents in ECODS processes.

The hydrothermal-alkaline/oxygen two-step pretreatment combined with the addition of surfactants reduced the amount of cellulase for enzymatic hydrolysis of reed

This study aimed to provide a low cost feasible pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis (EH) method for the effective dissolution of xylan and the high glucan digestibility of reed with a low enzyme loading. The combination of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3000-enhanced EH and hydrothermal-alkaline/oxygen pretreatment was studied. Process conditions were optimized through response surface methodology. Three models of glucan conversion rate, pretreated solids yield and lignin removal rate were established, and their determination coefficient (R2) values were 0.9218, 0.7939, and 0.8156, respectively. The models and experiments were reliable and significant. The optimal conditions favored 94.5% xylan dissolution rate and 95.6% glucan digestibility by using a cellulase loading of 3 filter paper units (FPU)/g-pretreated solids, which obviously enhanced 30.7% of the glucan conversion rate. This method was applicable due to effective xylan dissolution, lignin removal, and EH with PEG 3000 addition, which can help saved 85% cellulase loading.

Non-ionic PEG-oligoglycerol dendron conjugated nano-carriers for dermal drug delivery.

A new class of non-ionic amphiphiles have been synthesised using a combination of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and oligoglycerol dendrons as hydrophilic units and an alkoxy aryl moiety as hydrophobic unit. The resulting amphiphiles were found to aggregate in aqueous medium. Their aggregation behaviour was studied using dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorescence spectroscopy, and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The inner hydrophobic core of these aggregates in aqueous medium is capable of encapsulating lipophilic guest molecules. The encapsulation behaviour was studied using Nile red as a hydrophobic dye as well as Curcumin and Dexamethasone as hydrophobic drug candidates. Furthermore, for biological evaluation, cytotoxicity and cellular uptake was studied using different cancer cell lines. The biomedical application of synthesised amphiphiles was further investigated for dermal drug delivery on excised human skin using Nile red encapsulated in the nanocarrier. The release profile of drug/dye encapsulated amphiphiles was studied under physiochemical conditions in the presence of immobilized lipase Novozym 435.