Complete Encapsulation Research Articles

Facilitating the transportation of highly viscous oil by aqueous foam injection

This work aims at studying a new idea for cold transportation of high-viscosity oil by foam injection. Special attention is paid to the drag reduction achieved by introducing a non-Newtonian aqueous foam to Newtonian oil in the stratified and core annular flow (CAF) regimes. Pressure gradients were measured during the co-current flow of highly viscous oil and foam in a horizontal rough-wall tempered borosilicate glass pipe with 25 m in total length and 25 mm inner diameter. Measurements were made for oil and foam superficial velocities in the range of 0.1–0.9 m/s and 0.05–0.84 m/s, respectively. New hydraulic models for foam-oil horizontal pipe flow based on the one-dimensional two-fluid approach were established. These models are capable of representing the observed flow configurations ranging from stratified flow to concentric CAF and eccentric CAF. Good agreement was obtained between the predictions and experimental data over a wide range of operating conditions. A maximum drag reduction ratio could be reached at the critical input foam-to-oil flow ratio, where complete encapsulation of the oil core by the foam becomes feasible. An optimum core-to-pipe radius ratio range for the highest oil-transport operational coefficient was identified.

Potential mechanisms of endothelialisation in individuals implanted with a leadless pacemaker systems: An experimental in vitro study

BackgroundLeadless pacemaker technology is a promising upcoming field in clinical rhythmology. Today, the most commonly used system in the clinical setting is the Micra™ leadless pacemaker system (Medtronic).In autopsies of patients who witnessed non-pacemaker associated death, unexpected ingrowth/encapsulation within the wall of the right ventricle was reported. The occurrence of a complete encapsulation was not expected and the process of endothelialisation remains unclear. We hypothesized, that a local inflammatory response might be the cause of these findings. The aim of our experimental in-vitro study was to investigate the effect of the Micra™ system and its single components on inflammatory processes. MethodsFor this purpose, whole Micra™ pacemakers were incubated in heparin plasma from 25 healthy volunteers for 48 h at 37 °C. Furthermore, 1 g gold, steel, titanium, tungsten and nitinol wires were incubated in heparin plasma for 48 h at 37 °C as well (n = 10).To detect eventual inflammatory processes, interleukin- (IL) 1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), the chemokine IL-8 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, the level of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were analysed. ResultsELISA analyses showed that the whole Micra system leads to a significant increase in the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 which correlates with the data gained by the incubation of whole blood with the different wires. In particular, 0.5 g of tungsten showed a significant rise of IL-6 which could also be found for IL-1β and IL-8. ConclusionsThe in vitro study of the Micra system showed that the material composition led to an onset of inflammatory processes in whole blood. Consequently, one may speculate that the composition of Micra pacemaker may have a local inflammatory, though subclinical, effects in patients implanted with a Micra™ pacemakers.

Preparation and Short-Term Aging Properties of Asphalt Modified by Novel Sustained-Release Microcapsules Containing Rejuvenator.

Aged asphalt can enormously affect the performance of asphalt pavement and cause serious environmental hazards. Microcapsule-modified asphalt is one of the effective means to improve the anti-aging ability of asphalt. In this work, novel sustained-release microcapsules containing rejuvenator were prepared by the solvent evaporation method. The morphology of the microcapsules was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The sustained-release properties of the microcapsules were investigated by static thermogravimetric analysis. The physical properties such as penetration, ductility, softening point, and Brookfield viscosity of the original asphalt and microcapsule-modified asphalt were studied. In addition, the viscoelasticity of the original asphalt and microcapsule-modified asphalt was investigated by means of a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). The results show that the prepared microcapsules have a smooth surface and a complete encapsulation with an average particle size of 60 μm. After the heating treatment (above 140 °C), a large number of micropores were formed on the shell surface of microcapsules, which provided a structural basis for the sustained-release of rejuvenator. The release rate of the rejuvenator was obviously slowed down by the microcapsules. The aging behavior of sustained-release microcapsules containing rejuvenator-modified asphalt can be greatly improved. The enhanced anti-aging properties of sustained-release microcapsule-modified asphalt are attributed to the functions of the rejuvenator which can be slowly released from the micropores on the microcapsules’ surface, after which the light components lost in the original asphalt can be supplemented.

Diagnosis and Course of a Case of Fetal Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm Using Tissue Doppler Imaging

Leadless pacemaker technology is a promising upcoming field in clinical rhythmology. Today, the most commonly used system in the clinical setting is the Micra™ leadless pacemaker system (Medtronic).In autopsies of patients who witnessed non-pacemaker associated death, unexpected ingrowth/encapsulation within the wall of the right ventricle was reported. The occurrence of a complete encapsulation was not expected and the process of endothelialisation remains unclear. We hypothesized, that a local inflammatory response might be the cause of these findings. The aim of our experimental in-vitro study was to investigate the effect of the Micra™ system and its single components on inflammatory processes.For this purpose, whole Micra™ pacemakers were incubated in heparin plasma from 25 healthy volunteers for 48 h at 37 °C. Furthermore, 1 g gold, steel, titanium, tungsten and nitinol wires were incubated in heparin plasma for 48 h at 37 °C as well (n = 10).To detect eventual inflammatory processes, interleukin- (IL) 1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), the chemokine IL-8 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, the level of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were analysed.ELISA analyses showed that the whole Micra system leads to a significant increase in the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 which correlates with the data gained by the incubation of whole blood with the different wires. In particular, 0.5 g of tungsten showed a significant rise of IL-6 which could also be found for IL-1β and IL-8.The in vitro study of the Micra system showed that the material composition led to an onset of inflammatory processes in whole blood. Consequently, one may speculate that the composition of Micra pacemaker may have a local inflammatory, though subclinical, effects in patients implanted with a Micra™ pacemakers.

A novel HBx genotype serves as a preoperative predictor and fails to activate the JAK1/STATs pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

Genetic variability in the hepatitis B virus X gene (HBx) is frequently observed and is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, a genotype classification based on the full-length HBx sequence and the impact of genotypes on hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC prognosis remain unclear. We therefore aimed to perform this genotype classification and assess its clinical impact. We classified the genotypes of the full-length HBx gene through sequencing and a cluster analysis of HBx DNA from a cohort of patients with HBV-related HCC, which served as the primary cohort (n = 284). Two independent HBV-related HCC cohorts, a validation cohort (n = 171) and a serum cohort (n = 168), were used to verify the results. Protein microarray assay analysis was performed to explore the underlying mechanism. In the primary cohort, the HBx DNA was classified into 3 genotypes: HBx-EHBH1, HBx-EHBH2, and HBx-EHBH3. HBx-EHBH2 (HBx-E2) indicated better recurrence-free survival and overall survival for patients with HCC. HBx-E2 was significantly correlated with the absence of liver cirrhosis, a small tumor size, a solitary tumor, complete encapsulation and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A-0 tumors. Additionally, HBx-E2 served as a significant prognostic factor for patients with BCLC stage B HCC after hepatectomy. Mechanistically, HBx-E2 is unable to promote proliferation in HCC cells and normal hepatocytes. It also fails to activate the Janus kinase 1 (JAK1)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/STAT5 pathway. Our study identifies a novel HBx genotype that is unable to promote the proliferation of HCC cells and suggests a potential marker to preoperatively predict the prognosis of patients with BCLC stage B, HBV-associated, HCC. We classified a novel genotype of the full-length hepatitis B virus X gene (HBx), HBx-E2. This genotype was identified in tumor and nontumor tissues from patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma. HBx-E2 could preoperatively predict the prognosis of patients with intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma, after resection.

STRENGTH OF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ENCAPSULATED WITH COMPOUND UNDER THERMAL IMPACTS

Electronic packages with complete encapsulation by compound are in the research objective for the represented study. Encapsulation designed to provide reliable protection against all climatic impacts and increases mechanical strength of the package becomes the reason for potentially destructive mechanical stress that appears when packages are subjected to thermal impacts due to internal mechanical interaction between sealed components and sealant caused by difference of their physical and mechanical characteristics. The Lame-Gadolin theory that considers interaction of compound thick-walled cylinders in form of axially symmetric problem has been substantiated for the stress calculations in electronic components represented as the solids of revolution surrounded by the layer of compound and subjected to simultaneous action of pressure and temperature. Statically indeterminate problem was solved with considerations in the material properties and compatibility in deformations in order to define radial, tangential stresses and strain in both electronic components and compound. Calculation formulas for radial and tangential stresses in both electronic component and compound, and the contact pressure at the boundary between two joint cylinders were represented for the case of stabilized temperature drop, which represent the ultimate thermal impact on the encapsulated package. The taken considerations provide stress calculation for sealed components at the arbitrary form of encapsulation, what means irrespective to sealant profile, on only condition that compound thickness is 4 times higher than component’s external radius. Since materials of copmound and compound are in complicated stressed condition their strength assessment is performed by using third strength theory or theory of greatest tangential stresses.

Optical calcium test for measurement of multiple permeation pathways in flexible organic optoelectronic encapsulation.

Organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices and other organic electronics have the promise to provide lightweight, flexible alternatives to traditional rigid semiconductor technologies. However, organic electronics often degrade rapidly upon exposure to oxygen, water, light, and combinations thereof, as well as upon exposure to elevated temperatures. This requires the use of high gas barrier packaging in order for devices to have operational lifetimes on the order of years. To meet the challenge of transparent high gas barrier materials which maintain the flexibility of organic optoelectronics, many different materials and encapsulation schemes have been developed including the lamination of devices between flexible multi-layer barrier films. Because of their excellent barrier properties, these materials often require specialized testing for permeation measurements which evaluate materials independently. In this work, we demonstrate the use of an optical calcium test, which uses a sample geometry that closely mimics an OPV device, to evaluate a complete encapsulation scheme and to elucidate the relative importance of different permeation pathways. Using an encapsulation scheme of laminating a device between two multi-layer barrier films using an adhesive, measurements were made for water vapor permeation through the barrier film, the bulk adhesive, and along the adhesive-to-barrier film interface. The results show that the combined lateral permeation, including through the bulk adhesive and along the adhesive-to-barrier film interface, can constitute over 50% of the total permeation for small devices (4.5 cm × 4.5 cm). The adhesive-to-barrier film interface was also found to be a very important pathway as it was deemed responsible for more permeation than the bulk adhesive. The technique was also used to evaluate encapsulation design variables such as the effects of adhesive thickness and surface treatments on the lateral water permeation. We demonstrate that decreasing the adhesive thickness leads to a decrease in the lateral water permeation.

1st INCF Workshop on Mouse and Rat Brain Digital Atlasing Systems

The recommendations of this workshop group center around the mission of INCF “to contribute to the development of scalable, portable, and extensible digital applications that can be used by neuroscience laboratories to further knowledge of the human brain and related diseases.” Our expectation is that in the near future, research will involve intense interactions among scientists and computer networks at the level of ideas and dynamic reusable data. Neuroscientists will place greater reliance on stable web-enabled knowledgebases and will move away from rigid legacy models involving static research summaries and one-way non-digital communication. Atlases and spatial indexes will play a fundamental role in this shifting research landscape and will evolve into critical resources for gathering, securing, analyzing, and communicating research. In the next decade, the standard bearer of scientific progress— the primary research paper—is likely to transition from a sleek and static synopsis of results and conclusions to a more complete, dynamic, and re-computable encapsulation of data and interpretation. This transition is already evident in the fields of genomics and bioinformatics in which papers are often pointers to massive data sets, analytic tools, and other appendix material. It is likely that a typical 3rd-millenium neuroscience communication/publication will include accessible data sets with full metadata, far more complete details on experimental design, and an enriched discussion section including interactive content such as a forum for genuine discussion between the lead authors and a larger community of reviewers and commentators. Web-accessible brain atlases and spatial indexes will undoubtedly be among the most important tools needed to transition gracefully from our static synopsis mode of publication to a data-rich, dynamic, multidimensional mode of scientific interaction. Atlases will be key query tools as they appeal to our preference for visual exploration of complex data sets. Thus, this is a crucial time for an international community of neuroscientists to begin to converge on a lingua franca for digital neuroscience atlases, less with the goal of enforcing conformity, than with the goal of building resources and tools that translate among existing and future atlasing systems and their terminologies. This kind of transnational and translational activity ideally matches the mission of the INCF in the domain of digital atlasing. With these longer-term objectives in mind, the 1st INCF Mouse and Rat Atlasing Workshop was held in Stockholm in February 2007. Our first objective was to survey current activities and plans related to mouse and rat brain digital atlasing systems and to produce a broad international inventory of resources and ongoing efforts. The second objective was to review the range of techniques that are being used to build, normalize, segment, and label atlases and to examine what aspects of this technical work are redundant, compatible, and compliant across platforms. The third objective was to forge an international network to foster increased collaboration and interoperability across national, linguistic, and funding barriers and to examine how to promote international collaborations in the future. The final and most important objective of this workshop was to improve the impact of atlasing projects in the near term (5 years) while reducing costs and redundancy of these efforts. Funds spent in support of the INCF secretariat and the national nodes should ultimately be leveraged many times over. Atlasing efforts in each member country should be able to accomplish more as part of a coordinated INCF activity than they would in isolation. To attain this goal, the INCF secretariat and the supporting nodes strongly encourage integration, code reuse, and joint projects. Researcher goals and platforms differ, and all participants at this workshop accept, and even encourage, a wide variety of approaches to brain atlasing. However, all participants also appreciate the enormous benefits that may be gained by combining and integrating across diverse resources.

Solitary Circumscribed Neuroma of the Tongue: a Case Report

A 12-year-old boy presented with an asymptomatic nodule with normal mucosal coloration, of 1 year's evolution, located on the middle third of the tongue. An excisional biopsy was performed. The histologic sections revealed a mucosal fragment covered with parakeratinized stratified squamous epithelium. In the connective tissue, a discrete mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate could be observed, and in the central portion of the section, an extensive area of spindle cell proliferation compatible with Schwann cells (S100 positive) with EMA positive outer cells was present. The histologic diagnosis was solitary circumscribed neuroma (SCN) or palisaded encapsulated neuroma (PEN). This lesion was first described as PEN; however, as neither palisaded nor complete encapsulation is observed in all cases, it was called SCN. The lesion mostly occurs in skin; however, the oral cavity is the second most common site of occurrence.

Ternary Free-Energy Entropic Lattice Boltzmann Model with a High Density Ratio.

A thermodynamically consistent free energy model for fluid flows comprised of one gas and two liquid components is presented and implemented using the entropic lattice Boltzmann scheme. The model allows a high density ratio, up to the order of O(10^{3}), between the liquid and gas phases, and a broad range of surface tension ratios, covering partial wetting states where Neumann triangles are formed, and full wetting states where complete encapsulation of one of the fluid components is observed. We further demonstrate that we can capture the bouncing, adhesive, and insertive regimes for the binary collisions between immiscible droplets suspended in air. Our approach opens up a vast range of multiphase flow applications involving one gas and several liquid components.

Cucurbit[7]uril-Dimethyllysine Recognition in a Model Protein.

Here, we provide the first structural characterization of host-guest complexation between cucurbit[7]uril (Q7) and dimethyllysine (KMe2 ) in a model protein. Binding was dominated by complete encapsulation of the dimethylammonium functional group. While selectivity for the most sterically accessible dimethyllysine was observed both in solution and in the solid state, three different modes of Q7-KMe2 complexation were revealed by X-ray crystallography. The crystal structures revealed also entrapped water molecules that solvated the ammonium group within the Q7 cavity. Remarkable Q7-protein assemblies, including inter-locked octahedral cages that comprise 24 protein trimers, occurred in the solid state. Cucurbituril clusters appear to be responsible for these assemblies, suggesting a strategy to generate controlled protein architectures.

Cucurbit[7]uril‐Dimethyllysine Recognition in a Model Protein

AbstractHere, we provide the first structural characterization of host–guest complexation between cucurbit[7]uril (Q7) and dimethyllysine (KMe2) in a model protein. Binding was dominated by complete encapsulation of the dimethylammonium functional group. While selectivity for the most sterically accessible dimethyllysine was observed both in solution and in the solid state, three different modes of Q7‐KMe2 complexation were revealed by X‐ray crystallography. The crystal structures revealed also entrapped water molecules that solvated the ammonium group within the Q7 cavity. Remarkable Q7‐protein assemblies, including inter‐locked octahedral cages that comprise 24 protein trimers, occurred in the solid state. Cucurbituril clusters appear to be responsible for these assemblies, suggesting a strategy to generate controlled protein architectures.

Air-Stable Room-Temperature Mid-Infrared Photodetectors Based on hBN/Black Arsenic Phosphorus/hBN Heterostructures.

Layered black phosphorus (BP) has attracted wide attention for mid-infrared photonics and high-speed electronics, due to its moderate band gap and high carrier mobility. However, its intrinsic band gap of around 0.33 electronvolt limits the operational wavelength range of BP photonic devices based on direct interband transitions to around 3.7 μm. In this work, we demonstrate that black arsenic phosphorus alloy (b-As xP1- x) formed by introducing arsenic into BP can significantly extend the operational wavelength range of photonic devices. The as-fabricated b-As0.83P0.17 photodetector sandwiched within hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) shows peak extrinsic responsivity of 190, 16, and 1.2 mA/W at 3.4, 5.0, and 7.7 μm at room temperature, respectively. Moreover, the intrinsic photoconductive effect dominates the photocurrent generation mechanism due to the preservation of pristine properties of b-As0.83P0.17 by complete hBN encapsulation, and these b-As0.83P0.17 photodetectors exhibit negligible transport hysteresis. The broad and large photoresponsivity within mid-infrared resulting from the intrinsic photoconduction, together with the excellent long-term air stability, makes b-As0.83P0.17 alloy a promising alternative material for mid-infrared applications, such as free-space communication, infrared imaging, and biomedical sensing.

An Evaluation of the Efficacy of Corrections in 6 Degrees of Freedom for Standard-Fractionation Head and Neck IGRT

The HexaPODTM evo RT System allows for corrections in 6 degrees of freedom (DoF) (translations and rotations along each of the x-, y-, and z-axes). It has most commonly been used for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) treatments in combination with highly rigid immobilization to enhance the quality of image registrations. The purpose of this study is twofold: to determine whether the use of 6-DoF corrections will yield superior image registrations for conventionally-fractionated head and neck IMRT treatments with 0.5-cm PTV margins, and to determine a margin for such H&N treatments at which the use of 6-DoF corrections demonstrates significant registration improvements. Twenty patients retrospectively treated for H&N cancers were selected. A variety of H&N subsites were included, provided that the relevant treatment volumes included the primary tumours and lymph nodal groups. Patients were prescribed 60-70 Gy/30-35 # to the primary tumour, and 54-56 Gy to the nodal volumes; patients being treated with small treatment volumes (e.g., SBRT, early-stage glottic cancers) were excluded. Global cone beam CT (CBCT)-CT image registrations were performed by a single observer for 6 fractions per patient. The same observer produced contours for the clivus, C2 vertebra, C7 vertebra, and mandible for each patient. Uniform expansions (0.5-cm and 0.3-cm) of these sub-volumes were generated, and an acceptable sub-volume match for each margin was defined by the expansion contour's complete encapsulation, observed in all three spatial planes, of the pertinent structure on the secondary CBCT image. Acceptability was evaluated for each sub-volume, for both 0.5-cm and 0.3-cm margins, with 3- and 6-DoF corrections. For the 0.5-cm margin, the percentage of unacceptable registrations across all sub-volumes was 8% using 3-DoF corrections and 2% using 6-DoF corrections. This increases to 32% and 9%, respectively, for the registrations using the 0.3-cm uniform expansion margin. In both cases, the C7 vertebra shows the greatest improvement (43% of improved registrations for 0.3-cm, and 15% for 0.5-cm). C2 demonstrated the least impact of the 6-DoF corrections, with reductions of only 11% and 3% in unacceptable registrations for the 0.3-cm and 0.5-cm margins, respectively. There were no significant correlations seen in registration improvement with respect to treatment fraction. The improvement in using 6-DoF corrections for a 0.5-cm margin are not significant enough to warrant the consideration of implementing such a technique. The use of 6-DoF corrections in the case of a 0.3-cm margin proves to be beneficial, and such a margin has been demonstrated to be adequate for planning target volume coverage. This technique would be worth considering, if it resulted in no increased cost with regards to workflow, or in reduction of patient-related toxicities.

Unique electrophysiological and impedance signatures between encapsulation types: An analysis of biological Utah array failure and benefit of a biomimetic coating in a rat model

Intracortical microelectrode arrays, especially the Utah array, remain the most common choice for obtaining high dimensional recordings of spiking neural activity for brain computer interface and basic neuroscience research. Despite the widespread use and established design, mechanical, material and biological challenges persist that contribute to a steady decline in recording performance (as evidenced by both diminished signal amplitude and recorded cell population over time) or outright array failure. Device implantation injury causes acute cell death and activation of inflammatory microglia and astrocytes that leads to a chronic neurodegeneration and inflammatory glial aggregation around the electrode shanks and often times fibrous tissue growth above the pia along the bed of the array within the meninges. This multifaceted deleterious cascade can result in substantial variability in performance even under the same experimental conditions. We track both impedance signatures and electrophysiological performance of 4 × 4 floating microelectrode Utah arrays implanted in the primary monocular visual cortex (V1m) of Long-Evans rats over a 12-week period. We employ a repeatable visual stimulation method to compare signal-to-noise ratio as well as single- and multi-unit yield from weekly recordings. To explain signal variability with biological response, we compare arrays categorized as either Type 1, partial fibrous encapsulation, or Type 2, complete fibrous encapsulation and demonstrate performance and impedance signatures unique to encapsulation type. We additionally assess benefits of a biomolecule coating intended to minimize distance to recordable units and observe a temporary improvement on multi-unit recording yield and single-unit amplitude.

Control of Structure Topology and Spatial Distribution of Biomacromolecules in Protein@ZIF-8 Biocomposites

The protective capacity and applications of biomimetically mineralized biomacromolecule zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) composites are likely dependent on the localization of the biomolecule and the topology of the mineralized ZIF coating. Herein, we identify reaction conditions to reliably yield the porous ZIF-8 sodalite topology (high ZIF-8 precursor concentrations; high 2-methylimidazole:Zn2+ ratios) in preference to other more dense phases. Furthermore, protocols to universally prepare biocomposites with a range of biomacromolecules are canvassed. Through the use of fluorophore-tagged proteins and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), we further establish the positioning of biomolecules within ZIF-8 crystals. CLSM reveals subsurface localization with fluorescein-tagged bovine serum albumin (BSA) or full encapsulation with rhodamine B-tagged BSA. These observations allowed us to demonstrate that core–shell ZIF-8 growth strategies afford complete encapsulation with varying thicknesses of poten...

Microfluidic-Assisted Production of Size-Controlled Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles-Loaded Poly(methyl methacrylate) Nanohybrids.

In this paper, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs, around 6 nm) encapsulated in poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles (PMMA NPs) with controlled sizes ranging from 100 to 200 nm have been successfully produced. The hybrid polymeric NPs were prepared following two different methods: (1) nanoprecipitation and (2) nanoemulsification-evaporation. These two methods were implemented in two different microprocesses based on the use of an impact jet micromixer and an elongational-flow microemulsifier. SPIONs-loaded PMMA NPs synthesized by the two methods presented completely different physicochemical properties. The polymeric NPs prepared with the micromixer-assisted nanoprecipitation method showed a heterogeneous dispersion of SPIONs inside the polymer matrix, an encapsulation efficiency close to 100 wt %, and an irregular shape. In contrast, the polymeric NPs prepared with the microfluidic-assisted nanoemulsification-evaporation method showed a homogeneous dispersion, an almost complete encapsulation, and a spherical shape. The properties of the polymeric NPs have been characterized by dynamic light scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, and transmission electron microscope. In vitro cytotoxicity assays were also performed on the nanohybrids and pure PMMA NPs.

An Exploration of Induced Supramolecular Chirality Through Association of Chiral Ammonium Ions and Tartrates with the Achiral Host Cucurbit[7]uril

AbstractThe chiral amines (R,R and S,S)‐1‐amino‐2‐benzyloxycyclopentane and (R and S)‐α‐methylbenzylamine were converted to ammonium (D and L) hydrogen tartrate salts and induced chiroptic effects were investigated following encapsulation in Q[7]. Significant chiroptic differences were observed in ORD and CD spectra for the two amines. The optical spectra were performed as a precursor study to a potential method for enantiomer separation, utilising Q[7] encapsulation in conjunction with enantio‐pure hydrogen tartrates. An enantiomeric excess was achieved for the two antipodes of 1‐amino‐2‐benzyoxycyclopentane but not for those of α‐methylbenzylamine. However, material differences of crystallinity or the formation of a glass were observed for the latter amine induced by the different antipodes of hydrogen tartrate. 1H NMR spectra of aminobenzyloxycyclopentane showed back‐folding of the two rings with complete encapsulation in Q[7], leading to a secondary helical structure observed in CD spectra.

Complete encapsulation of zeolite supported Co based core with silicalite-1 shell to achieve high gasoline selectivity in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Zeolite-based capsule catalysts have exhibited significant results in terms of catalytic activity and product selectivity in Fisher-Tropsch synthesis. Herein, we synthesized a ZSM-5 supported Co based microcapsule catalyst encapsulated by microporous silicalite-1 shell via hydrothermal synthesis process. Synthesized microcapsule catalyst has a uniform microporous structure with an additional stay zone for both reactants as well as product inside its channels and showed significantly high CO conversion rate (68.9%) and gasoline range hydrocarbon selectivity (74.7%) with a low CO2 and CH4 selectivity (2.8% and 8.7%, respectively). This microcapsule catalyst may consider to be used on commercial scale because of its facile preparation method and promising performance.

Relationship between polarities of antibiotic and polymer matrix on nanoparticle formulations based on aliphatic polyesters

In the field of nanomedicine, nanoparticles are developed to target antibiotics to sites of bacterial infection thus enabling adequate drug exposure and decrease development of resistant bacteria. In the present study, we investigated the encapsulation of two antibiotics with different polarity into different PEGylated polymeric nanoparticles based on aliphatic polyesters, to obtain a better understanding of critical factors determining encapsulation and release. The nanoparticles were prepared from diblock copolymers comprising of a poly(ethylene glycol) block attached to an aliphatic polyester block of varying polarity: poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (mPEG-PLGA), poly(lactic-co-hydroxymethyl glycolic acid) (mPEG-PLHMGA) and poly(lactic-co-benzyloxymethyl glycolic acid) (mPEG-PLBMGA). Hydrophobic bedaquiline and hydrophilic vancomycin were encapsulated via single and double-emulsion solvent evaporation techniques, respectively. Encapsulation, degradation and release studies at physiological simulating conditions were performed. Drug polarity and preparation techniques influenced encapsulation efficiency into polymer nanoparticles, giving almost complete encapsulation of bedaquiline and approx. 30% for vancomycin independent of the polymer type. The nonpolar bedaquiline showed a predominantly diffusion-controlled release independent of polymer composition. However, polar vancomycin was released by a combination of diffusion and polymer degradation, which was significantly affected by polymer composition, the most hydrophilic polymer displaying the fastest release.