Glycol Research Articles

Anion-Reinforced Solvation Structure Enables Stable Operation of Ether-Based Electrolyte in High-Voltage Potassium Metal Batteries.

Electrolytes with anion-dominated solvation are promising candidates to achieve dendrite-free and high-voltage potassium metal batteries. However, it's challenging to form anion-reinforced solvates at low salt concentrations. Herein, we construct an anion-reinforced solvation structure at a moderate concentration of 1.5 M with weakly coordinated cosolvent ethylene glycol dibutyl ether. The unique solvation structure accelerates the desolvation of K+, strengthens the oxidative stability to 4.94 V and facilitates the formation of inorganic-rich and stable electrode-electrolyte interface. These enable stable plating/stripping of K metal anode over 2200 h, high capacity retention of 83.0 % after 150 cycles with a high cut-off voltage of 4.5 V in K0.67MnO2//K cells, and even 91.5 % after 30 cycles under 4.7 V. This work provides insight into weakly coordinated cosolvent and opens new avenues for designing ether-based high-voltage electrolytes.

Preparation of Antifog Hard Coatings Based on Carboxy-Functionalized Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Cross-Linked with Oligo(ethylene glycol)s.

In this study, we prepared antifog hard coatings by heating a mixture of carboxy-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS-C) and oligo(ethylene glycol)s (OEGs, HO(CH2CH2O) n H, n = 1-6) in N,N-dimethylformamide, applying the mixture onto a glass substrate, and subsequently removing the solvent via heating. In addition, we evaluated the water resistance, hardness, and antifogging performance of the coatings. In particular, the coating produced at a 2:1 functional group ratio of POSS-C to tetraethylene glycol (OEG, n = 4) coating exhibited high surface hardness (6H), as determined using pencil scratch testing. The coating remained clear after exposure to the vapor of warm water at 40 °C at a height of 2 cm for 10 s, demonstrating its antifogging property. Furthermore, no dissolution or cracking was observed when the POSS-C/OEG coating (n = 4, COOH/OH = 2:1) was immersed in water at room temperature for 1 h, confirming its water resistance. The Fourier transform infrared/attenuated total reflectance results showed the formation of ester bonds, indicating the construction of a network structure that enhanced the water resistance and hardness of the coating.

Ethanol activation of polyester membrane for superior dye/salt separation performance

Dye wastewater poses a severe danger to the environment and human health. The purification of dye wastewater is the focus and hotspot of most researchers. In this work, ethylene glycol (EG) was selected as an aqueous phase monomer to fabricate polyester membranes through an interfacial polymerization reaction. Then the polyester membrane was activated by ethanol aqueous solution. By adjusting the activation time and concentration of the ethanol, the network of the polyester membrane can be reshaped to endow the membrane with excellent performance. The activation mechanism was also explored here. Compared to the membrane without activation (PE-0%), the permeability of the optimized membrane (PE-40%) was increased by 8.3 times, and a high rejection was maintained (CR: 99.2%). Importantly, the PE-40% membrane also presented good acid and alkali resistance, chlorine resistance, and excellent antifouling performance. Our work provides an effective and feasible strategy for the development of high-performance polyester membranes.

Simultaneous Second Harmonic Generation and Multiphoton Excited Photoluminescence in Samarium-Doped BaTiO3 Nanoparticles Functionalized with Poly(ethylene glycol).

In this work, samarium-doped BaTiO3 (BT:Sm) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared and coated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to investigate their optical characteristics and compatibility with biological systems. The structure, particle morphology, optical properties, and biological compatibility of the NPs were assessed. The results demonstrated the formation of BT:Sm and [(BT:Sm)-PEG]. The relative intensities and positions of peaks in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) are consistent with an average crystallite size of ∼75 nm. The Raman spectra showed that Sm doping produced the typical tetragonal peaks at around 306 and 715 cm-1, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that the PEGylation process was effective. Also, our investigation demonstrates the potential of these NPs as very temperature-sensitive nanosensors with a resolution exceeding 0.5 °C, which is achievable through optical excitation. We also analyze their emission properties. Finally, we present a study related with the mitochondrial activity of naked and PEG-coated NPs. The results indicate that neither naked nor PEG-coated NPs exhibit changes in mitochondrial metabolism, as indicated by quantitative cell viability and morphological visualization. The PEG-coated NPs prevented the formation of aggregates in cell culture compared to naked NPs, demonstrating the significance of PEG as a stabilizing agent.

Molecular Dynamics Study of the Anticorrosive Lubricating Effects and Interfacial Behavior of Dicarboxylic Acid Alcohol Amine

In this study, water-soluble additives with excellent performance were designed, and their anticorrosive, tribological characteristics, and antibacterial properties were evaluated. Combined with molecular dynamics (MD), the interfacial behavior of additives on metal surfaces was investigated at the atomic scale. The results showed that the additive molecules could reduce the wear rate of ethylene glycol aqueous (EGaq) by 94.7%, exhibiting excellent anticorrosive efficiency while also possessing certain antibacterial properties. MD results indicated that the additive could firmly adhere to the metal surface due to its higher electron transfer rate, and the interfacial interaction energy increased with the extension of the carbon chain. The coexistence of longer alkyl chains and frictionally active elements ensured the overall stability of the adsorption film.

The Extraction Using Deep Eutectic Solvents and Evaluation of Tea Saponin.

Tea saponins have high surface-active and biological activities and are widely used in chemicals, food, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides. Tea saponins are usually extracted using ethanol or water, but both methods have their disadvantages, including a negative impact on the environment, high energy consumption, and low purity. In this study, we explored an effective process for extracting tea saponins from tea meal using deep eutectic solvents combined with ultrasonic extraction and enzymatic techniques. The experimental results showed that a high extraction efficiency of 20.93 ± 0.48% could be achieved in 20 min using an ultrasonic power of 40% and a binary DES consisting of betaine and ethylene glycol (with a molar ratio of 1:3) at a material-liquid ratio of 1:35 and that the purity of the tea saponins after purification by a large-pore adsorption resin reached 95.94%, which was higher than that of commercially available standard tea saponin samples. In addition, the extracted tea saponins were evaluated for their antioxidant and bacteriostatic activities using chemical and biological methods; the results showed that the tea saponins extracted using these methods possessed antioxidant properties and displayed significant antibacterial activity. Therefore, the present study developed a method for using deep eutectic solvents as an environmentally friendly technological solution for obtaining high-purity tea saponins from tea meal oil. This is expected to replace the current organic solvent and water extraction process and has great potential for industrial development and a number of possible applications.

Experimental and theoretical studies to investigate molecular interactions between ethylene glycol oligomers and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide

The thermophysical characteristics of pure liquids and their mixes are substantial in applied as well as theoretical research. This paper presents the measured data on: density (ρ), viscosity (η), refractive index (nD) and consequent calculated parameters: {excess molar volume (VmE), partial molar volume (V¯m), excess partial molar volume (V¯mE), deviation in viscosity (Δη), excess Gibbs energy of activation of viscous flow (ΔG∗E), deviation in refractive index (ΔϕnD) and deviation in molar refraction (ΔxRM)} of binaries containing 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([BMIM]Br) with glycol oligomers (mono/di/tri/tetra-ethylene glycol) at T/K = 298.15–313.15 and pressure p/MPa = 0.1. The Redlich-Kister equation efficiently estimates the standard deviation between the experimental and calculated excess properties. The interactions between constituents were considered while interpreting the obtained results. The values of VmE, V¯mE, Δη, ΔϕnD and ΔxRM exhibited negative trends throughout the range, whereas ΔG∗E values displayed a sigmoidal shift (negative to positive) with increasing [BMIM]Br concentration. The VmE data has been explored in terms of Prigogine-Flory-Patterson (PFP) and Graph theories to elucidate the deviations in thermophysical properties of the mixtures caused by variations in strength and magnitude of interactions. Additionally, the η values were correlated using ten models and their correlation ability has been perceived via the average standard deviation percentage. The pure and binary mixtures were also spectroscopically examined using Fourier Transform InfraRed (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy to elucidate the structural variations.

Stretchable interconnected modular electrochromic devices enabled by self-healing, self-adhesive, and ion-conducting polymer electrolyte

Here, we propose a versatile terpolymer electrolyte material, UPy-PEGMA-VBMI, comprised of three monomers: ureidopyrimidinone methacrylate (UPyMA), poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA), and vinyl benzyl-methylimidazolium (VBMI). The UPy-PEGMA-VBMI, supported by a combination of soft ethylene glycol chains, an ion-conducting imidazole unit, and self-complementary quadruple hydrogen bonds of UPy, exhibits exceptional properties such as high stretchability, rapid self-repair, solution processability, self-adhesion, and ion conduction. The UPy-PEGMA-VBMI was then applied to make ion gel composite films, demonstrating a notable ionic conductivity of 3.84 × 10−3 S cm−1 while maintaining robust stretching and adhesive characteristics. The electrochromic devices (ECDs) fabricated by this ion gel demonstrate outstanding performance, with fast switching times, long-term kinetic stability, and extraordinarily high coloration efficiency of 443.83 cm2 C−1. The stretchable ECDs are fabricated by utilizing the stretchable nature of UPy-PEGMA-VBMI, exhibiting a transmittance contrast of 42.7 % at an extension of 53 % and operational stability during stretching cycles. Moreover, self-healing and self-adhesive features enable the fabrication of interconnected modular ECDs, implementing area-scalable devices. These modular ECDs, each powered independently, provide arbitrary positioning and shifting of individual device patches, overcoming the performance limitations of conventional large-area devices. The unprecedented material and resulting devices open new possibilities for electrochromic applications, particularly in stretchable ECDs, pattern-switching devices, and scalable flexible ECDs.

Fabrication and characterization of thin self-rolling film for anti-inflammatory drug delivery

Thin films have been identified as an alternative approach for targeting sensitive site as drug delivery tool. In this work, the preparation of self-rolling thin films to form tubes for wound healing and easy placement (e.g. in the colon via colonoscopy) have been studied. We explored the use of thin films as a protective dressing combined to local release of an anti-inflammatory in order to improve drug efficacy and limit the side effects of the oral route. Non-cytotoxic poly(ethylene) glycol and poly(lactic acid) photo-crosslinkable star copolymers were used for rapid UV crosslinking of bilayered films loaded with prednisolone. The films, crosslinked under UV lamp without the need of photoinitiator, are optimized and compared in terms of water uptake, swelling ratio, final tube diameter and morphology, anti-inflammatory drug loading and release. Our studies showed the spontaneous rolling of bilayer constructs directly after immersion in water. Tubular geometry allows application of the patch through minimally invasive procedures such as colonoscopy. Moreover, the rolled-up bilayers highlighted efficient release of encapsulated drug following Fickian diffusion mechanism. We also confirmed the anti-inflammatory activity of the released anti-inflammatory drug that inhibits the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β in RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated by Escherichia coli (E. coli).

Discrimination and simultaneous quantification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(butylene terephthalate) microplastics in environmental samples via gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A method has been developed to quantify PET and PBT microplastics (MPs) based on depolymerization and detection of depolymerization products by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) without a complex separation process from environmental samples. Under the optimal depolymerization conditions, PET and PBT were efficiently convertedto ethylene glycol (78%) and 1,4-butanediol (87%), respectively. Subsequently, the linear curves were constructed between signal intensities of depolymerization products and polymer masses by GC-MS/MS, and the correlation coefficients of PET and PBT were 0.996 and 0.997, respectively. The spiking and recovery experiments of PET and PBT in the environmental samples showed that the recovery was stable in the range 89-100%, and the limit of detection was 4.95μg and 1.39μg of PET and PBT, respectively. The method has been proven to be capable of simultaneous identification and quantification of PBT and PET MPs in real environmental water samples without complex separation process, which provided a scheme for the determination of microplastics.

Comparative study on the maximum-pull and tear-off ring method for the measurement of surface tension

The ring method, due to its basic form, is often used in the classroom for an immediate and intuitive grasp of concept of surface tension. Yet, during the measuring process, the large and small results trouble the students. The large values are obtained from the maximum-pull, and the small from the tear-off moment. In this paper, we demonstrate a series of rings with different thicknesses to investigate these two moments. In the water measurement, by subtracting the weight of the liquid raised by the ring or replacing the ring-diameter with tearing-diameter for the moments of maximum pull and film breaking, respectively, a corrected surface tension is obtained. The same correction is also applied in the determination of ethylene glycol and ethanol, but only the moment of maximum pull is applicable. These experimental results are interesting, and will largely stimulate students to understand the concept of surface tension and the ring method of measurement.

Analysis of MHD third-grade hybrid nanofluid model in Darcy-Forchheimer porous medium: Evaluation of the thermal performance of [formula omitted]-[formula omitted] cylindrical nanoparticles dispersed in ethylene glycol fluid

Researchers and scientists became interested in the newly developed idea of hybrid nanofluids because of their exceptional thermal conductivities, which resulted in enhanced thermal performance. These fluids have a wide range of uses in the industrial and technical fields. This novel class of fluids is playing a vital role in solar energy, automotive industry, cooling of the machine and manufacturing, heating and ventilation systems, electronic cooling, nuclear systems cooling, biomedical fields, space, ships, and defense systems. In light of the physical significance of the above-mentioned class of fluids, the current investigations are carried to examine the thermal performance of the mixture of cylindrical shaped aluminum oxide Al2O3 and copper Cu nanoparticles suspended in ethylene glycol using third-grade non-Newtonian fluid flow model. The fluid flow is induced by the stretching of the permeable sheet in exponential manner that is embedded in a Dacry-Forchheimer porous medium. The effects of Lorentz force applied normal to the flow and suction impacts have been incorporated in the current proposed model. The solutions of the flow model transformed to ordinary differential equations are computed using MATLAB built-in solver bvp4c. The solutions are presented in graphical representations. Graphical solutions reflect that fluid velocity slows down by growing the volume fractions of the nanoparticles. Increasing values of viscoelastic parameters reflect that there is a reduction in velocity and intensification in profiles of temperature and concentration have been noted. Rising values of cross-diffusion parameter is leading to the reduction in magnitude of velocity, and augmenting behavior of temperature and concentration has been seen. Observations indicate rising third-grade fluid parameter and porosity parameter lead to reduction in velocity. Increasing Schmidt number gives reduced Sherwood number, and magnetic field parameter improves the rate of hear transfer (Nusselt number) and skin friction coefficient for both Al2O3/ethylene glycol nanofluid and Al3O3-Cu/ethylene glycol-based hybrid nanofluid. The suggested model's validity is confirmed through comparison with previously released findings. Additionally, a grid independence test (sensitivity analysis) has been performed to verify the accuracy and verification of the numerical model.

Catalytic Hydroxyethylation of Phenols with Renewable Ethylene Glycol Diester as an Alternative to Ethylene Oxide

AbstractPolyol esters are abundant bio‐based resources. Integration of polyol esters into the production chain of fine chemicals would reduce carbon emissions and improve the sustainability of the chemical industry. An efficient synthetic route to phenoxyethanols was developed through catalytic hydroxyethylation of phenols with ethylene glycol diacetate as the reagent. This method showed the potential of ethylene glycol diester as a safe and sustainable substitute for ethylene oxide, a useful but toxic reagent. A variety of phenoxyethanol esters were produced in high yield under simple catalytic conditions. Mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction underwent a neighboring group participation process.

A new di-recognition and di-functional nanosurface aptamer molecularly imprinted polymer probe for trace glyphosate with SERS/RRS/Abs trimode technique

A new di-recognition nitrogen-doped carbon dot nanosurface aptamer molecularly imprinted polymer (CDNAg@MIPApt) nanocatalytic di-functional probe was prepared by microwave irradiation. The probe was utilized nitrogen-doped silver carbon dots (CDNAg) as the matrix, glyphosate (Gly) as the template molecule, α-methyl acrylate as the monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linker, and aptamer as the biorecognition element. It could not only recognize Gly but also exhibits catalytic amplification function. It was found that CDNAg@MIPApt catalyzed the redox reaction of polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400)-AgNO3 to generate silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The AgNPs indicator component exhibit the effects of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) and surface plasmon resonance absorption (Abs). In the presence of Gly, it binds to the surface imprinted site of CDNAg@MIPApt, to reduce AgNPs generation due to the catalytic activity of CDNAg@MIPApt decreasing. Thus, the SERS/RRS/Abs signal values decreased linearly. The linear ranges of SERS/RRS/Abs assay were 0.1–2.5 nM, 0.25–2.75 nM and 0.5–5 nM respectively. The detection limits were 0.034 nM, 0.071 nM and 0.18 nM Gly.

Two new selenidostannates TM-Sn-Se (TM = transition metal) photoelectrocatalytic materials

In recent decades, chalcogenides have appealed extensive attention due to potential applications in photoelectric materials. Two selenidostannates, [Fe1.11Zn0.89(en)3]2Sn2Se6 (1, en = ethylenediamine) and [Co1.24Zn0.76(en)3]2Sn2Se6 (2) were synthesized by solvothermal method with ethylenediamine and ethylene glycol as the solvents, both consisting of complexes in which the two different transition metals occupied the same position and [Sn2Se6]4− anions. Transition metal complexes (TMCs) can combine photoelectric properties with inorganic skeletons to extend their compound properties. Therefore, we investigated the photocurrent response of both compounds and found higher transient photocurrent densities. The band gaps of compounds 1 and 2 were calculated to be 2.31 eV and 2.17 eV, respectively, indicating that two compounds have potential semiconductor properties. In addition, we also studied the photodegradation efficiency of compounds 1 and 2 and found that the degradation efficiency of two compounds could be achieved 84.5 % and 55.9 %, which indicated that the compounds have excellent photocatalytic properties. The field of photoelectrocatalytic research on selenidostannates is broadened.

Preparation and characterization of the injectable pH- and temperature-sensitive pentablock hydrogel containing human growth hormone-loaded chitosan nanoparticles via electrospraying

This research investigated the in vivo gelation, biodegradation, and drug release efficiency of a novel injectable sensitive drug delivery system for human growth hormone (HGh). This composite system comprises pH- and temperature-sensitive hydrogel, designated as oligomer serine-b-poly(lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactide)-b-oligomer serine (OS-PLA-PEG-PLA-OS) pentablock copolymer, as matrix and electrosprayed HGh-loaded chitosan (HGh@CS) nanoparticles (NPs) as principal material. The proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of the pH- and temperature-sensitive OS-PLA-PEG-PLA-OS pentablock copolymer hydrogel proved that this copolymer was successfully synthesized. The HGh was encapsulated in chitosan (CS) NPs by an electrospraying system in acetic acid with appropriate granulation parameters. The scanning electron microscopy images and size distribution showed that the HGh@CS NPs formed had an average diameter of 366.1 ± 214.5 nm with a discrete spherical shape and dispersed morphology. The sol–gel transition of complex gel based on HGh@CS NPs and OS-PLA-PEG-PLA-OS pentablock hydrogel was investigated at 15 °C and pH 7.8 in the sol state and gelled at 37 °C and pH 7.4, which is suitable for the physiological conditions of the human body. The HGh release experiment of the composite system was performed in an in vivo environment, which demonstrated the ability to release HGh, and underwent biodegradation within 32 days. The findings of the investigation revealed that the distribution of HGh@CS NPs into the hydrogel matrix not only improved the mechanical properties of the gel matrix but also controlled the drug release kinetics into the systematic bloodstream, which ultimately promotes the desired therapeutic body growth depending on the distinct concentration used.

Electrochemical Diffusion Study in Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Dimethacrylate-Based Hydrogels.

Hydrogels are of great importance for functionalizing sensors and microfluidics, and poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEG-DMA) is often used as a viscosifier for printable hydrogel precursor inks. In this study, 1-10 kDa PEG-DMA based hydrogels were characterized by gravimetric and electrochemical methods to investigate the diffusivity of small molecules and proteins. Swelling ratios (SRs) of 14.43-9.24, as well as mesh sizes ξ of 3.58-6.91 nm were calculated, and it was found that the SR correlates with the molar concentration of PEG-DMA in the ink (MCI) (SR = 0.1127 × MCI + 8.3256, R2 = 0.9692) and ξ correlates with the molecular weight (Mw) (ξ = 0.3382 × Mw + 3.638, R2 = 0.9451). To investigate the sensing properties, methylene blue (MB) and MB-conjugated proteins were measured on electrochemical sensors with and without hydrogel coating. It was found that on sensors with 10 kDa PEG-DMA hydrogel modification, the DPV peak currents were reduced to 92 % for MB, 73 % for MB-BSA, and 23 % for MB-IgG. To investigate the diffusion properties of MB(-conjugates) in hydrogels with 1-10 kDa PEG-DMA, diffusivity was calculated from the current equation. It was found that diffusivity increases with increasing ξ. Finally, the release of MB-BSA was detected after drying the MB-BSA-containing hydrogel, which is a promising result for the development of hydrogel-based reagent reservoirs for biosensing.

The catabolism of ethylene glycol by Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 and its dependence on mycofactocin.

Ethylene glycol (EG) is a widely used industrial chemical with manifold applications and also generated in the degradation of plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate. Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 (RHA1), a potential biocatalytic chassis, grows on EG. Transcriptomic analyses revealed four clusters of genes potentially involved in EG catabolism: the mad locus, predicted to encode mycofactocin-dependent alcohol degradation, including the catabolism of EG to glycolate; two GCL clusters, predicted to encode glycolate and glyoxylate catabolism; and the mft genes, predicted to specify mycofactocin biosynthesis. Bioinformatic analyses further revealed that the mad and mft genes are widely distributed in mycolic acid-producing bacteria such as RHA1. Neither ΔmadA nor ΔmftC RHA1 mutant strains grew on EG but grew on acetate. In resting cell assays, the ΔmadA mutant depleted glycolaldehyde but not EG from culture media. These results indicate that madA encodes a mycofactocin-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase that initiates EG catabolism. In contrast to some mycobacterial strains, the mad genes did not appear to enable RHA1 to grow on methanol as sole substrate. Finally, a strain of RHA1 adapted to grow ~3× faster on EG contained an overexpressed gene, aldA2, predicted to encode an aldehyde dehydrogenase. When incubated with EG, this strain accumulated lower concentrations of glycolaldehyde than RHA1. Moreover, ecotopically expressed aldA2 increased RHA1's tolerance for EG further suggesting that glycolaldehyde accumulation limits growth of RHA1 on EG. Overall, this study provides insights into the bacterial catabolism of small alcohols and aldehydes and facilitates the engineering of Rhodococcus for the upgrading of plastic waste streams.IMPORTANCEEthylene glycol (EG), a two-carbon (C2) alcohol, is produced in high volumes for use in a wide variety of applications. There is burgeoning interest in understanding and engineering the bacterial catabolism of EG, in part to establish circular economic routes for its use. This study identifies an EG catabolic pathway in Rhodococcus, a genus of bacteria well suited for biocatalysis. This pathway is responsible for the catabolism of methanol, a C1 feedstock, in related bacteria. Finally, we describe strategies to increase the rate of degradation of EG by increasing the transformation of glycolaldehyde, a toxic metabolic intermediate. This work advances the development of biocatalytic strategies to transform C2 feedstocks.

Reinforcement of the intestinal mucosal barrier via mucus-penetrating PEGylated bacteria.

The breakdown of the gut's mucosal barrier that prevents the infiltration of microorganisms, inflammatory cytokines and toxins into bodily tissues can lead to inflammatory bowel disease and to metabolic and autoimmune diseases. Here we show that the intestinal mucosal barrier can be reinforced via the oral administration of commensal bacteria coated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to facilitate their penetration into mucus. In mice with intestinal homoeostatic imbalance, mucus-penetrating PEGylated bacteria preferentially localized in mucus at the lower gastrointestinal tract, inhibited the invasion of pathogenic bacteria, maintained homoeostasis of the gut microbiota, stimulated the secretion of mucus and the expression of tight junctions, and prevented the mice from developing colitis and diabetes. Orally delivered PEGylated bacteria may help prevent and treat gastrointestinal disorders.

Surface-modified injectable poly(ethylene-glycol) diacrylate-based cryogels for localized gene delivery

Lentiviral transduction is widely used in research, has shown promise in clinical trials involving gene therapy and has been approved for CAR-T cell immunotherapy. However, most modifications are done ex vivo and rely on systemic administration of large numbers of transduced cells for clinical applications. A novel approach utilizing in situ biomaterial-based gene delivery can reduce off-target side effects while enhancing effectiveness of the manipulation process. In this study, poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)-based scaffolds were developed to enable in situ lentivirus-mediated transduction. Compared to other widely popular biomaterials, PEGDA stands out due to its robustness and cost-effectiveness. These scaffolds, prepared via cryogelation, are capable of flowing through surgical needles in both in vitro and in vivo conditions, and promptly regain their original shape. Modification with poly(L-lysine) (PLL) enables lentivirus immobilization while interconnected macroporous structure allows cell infiltration into these matrices, thereby facilitating cell-virus interaction over a large surface area for efficient transduction. Notably, these preformed injectable scaffolds demonstrate hemocompatibility, cell viability and minimally inflammatory response as shown by our in vitro and in vivo studies involving histology and immunophenotyping of infiltrating cells. This study marks the first instance of using preformed injectable scaffolds for delivery of lentivectors, which offers a non-invasive and localized approach for delivery of factors enabling in situ lentiviral transduction suitable for both tissue engineering and immunotherapeutic applications.