Glycol Research Articles

Effect of surfactant PEG on the property control of Bi2O3 and its photocatalytic activity

A detailed investigation into the effect of the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) addition mass on the bismuth (III) oxide (Bi2O3) photocatalyst is limited but necessary. Bismuth (III) oxide/PEG photocatalysts with different morphologies were prepared with different PEG mass via the solvothermal method and characterized for phase, morphology, optical absorption properties, elemental composition and specific surface area. The results indicated that all bismuth (III) oxide photocatalysts with different additions (Bi2O3/PEG-m x ) were pure β-bismuth (III) oxide phases, comprising larger platelike and smaller particle-like particles. Enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to increased larger specific surface area with PEG below 10 g. With 12 g of PEG, the formation of surface pores on plate-like bismuth (III) oxide impoved light penetration and utilization. Bi2O3/PEGm12 exhibited optimal photocatalytic activity, achieving over 90% bisphenol A(BPA) degradation after 180 min at 0.6 g·L−1 under visible light. Bismuth (III) oxide /PEG-ty prepared below 140°C showed poor activity, while above 160°C, high activity was observed. Bismuth (III) oxide/PEG effectively mineralize over 80% of bisphenol A into inorganic molecules and water under the co-oxidation of superoxide radicals (·O2 −) and holes (h+). This is the first detailed research on the regulation and modification of β-bismuth (III) oxide by PEG, which may provide new insights into the photocatalytic technology.

Sustainable catalytic pathways for biofuel precursors: quantitative conversion of glucose to gluconic acid using Pt-Zn biochar catalyst

Achieving quantitative conversion of biomass-derived feedstocks under ambient environmental conditions (20°C, atmospheric air, 0.1 MPa) is a critical milestone for sustainability in chemical processes. Herein, the quantitative conversion of glucose to gluconic acid was accomplished under ambient environmental conditions without any additives using a Pt-Zn intermetallic nanoparticle-supported biochar catalyst prepared from raw rice straw (Pt-Zn/strawC) via a straightforward one-pot solvothermal reaction with ethylene glycol solvent. Spectroscopic analyses verified the formation of the Pt-Zn intermetallic alloy and confirmed strong electronic metal-support interactions. The Pt-Zn/strawC catalyst (Pt:Zn molar ratio of 1:6) was highly selective for the conversion of glucose to gluconic acid, whereas yields as high as 99.9% (98.9% gluconic acid, 1.0% glucaric acid) were reached at 20 oC under base-free and additive-free conditions. Isotope measurements and density functional theory revealed synergistic interactions in the Pt-Zn alloy, wherein the alloy tended to absorb glucose and active O2 into superoxide radical (O2·). This work demonstrates a chemocatalytic method that is practical for environmental conditions and provides a new avenue for sustainable conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to chemical products.

Comparative studies on pinhole free CBD-CdZnS thin films on ITO and FTO substrate

The development of CdZnS thin films using the chemical bath deposition process in nonaqueous media is a technological challenge. In this work, 75 millilitres of ethylene glycol and ethanol (1:2 ratios) were used to develop a CdZnS thin film on ITO and FTO glass substrates using cadmium acetate, zinc sulphate, and thiourea. The ideal bath temperature was kept at 1300C and the anneal temperature of the film that had been deposited in the air was maintained at 3500C. The films have been examined using FTIR, WCA, FESEM, and XRD. XRD studies reveal that CdZnS films have a hexagonal crystal structure with a preference for orientation (002) during the deposition and annealing processes and the assessment of the various attributes have been done, such as dislocation density, micro strain, and grain size. FESEM study indicates that as deposited film on ITO glass have smooth surface and grains appear in the form of small needle shape of equal sizes where as FTO substrate reveals the grains of equal size throughout the entire surface in cluster form. It is also confirmed that both the CdZnS films formed on ITO and FTO substrates have hydrophilic quality. The presence of chemical bonds and functional groups was confirmed by FTIR analysis.

Simultaneous therapeutic and diagnostic applications of magnetic PLGA nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin in rabbit.

In this study, DOX (Doxorubicin) and Fe3O4 magnetic nanocrystals (SPIONs (Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocrystals)) were encapsulated in the PLGA-PEG: poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles for theranostic purposes. The final prepared formulation which is called NPs (Nanoparticles) exhibited a particle size with a mean diameter of ~ 209nm and a sufficient saturation magnetization value of 1.65 emu/g. The NPs showed faster DOX release at pH 5.5 compared to pH 7.4. Also, the cytotoxicity effect of NPs increased compared to Free-DOX alone in C6 glioma cancer cells. For in vivo investigations, the 2.2 Kg rabbits were injected with NPs formulations via a central articular anterior vein in their ears. Furthermore, the images of rabbit organs were depicted via MR (Magnetic resonance) and fluorescent imaging techniques. A negative contrast (dark signal) was observed in T2 (Relaxation Time) weighted MR images of IV (Intravenously)-injected rabbits with NPs compared to the control ones. The organ's florescent images of NPs-injected rabbits showed a high density of red color related to the accumulation of DOX in liver and kidney organs. These data showed that the NPs have no cytotoxicity effect on the heart. Also, the results of histopathological tests of different organs showed that the groups receiving NPs and Free-DOX were almost similar and no significant difference was seen, except for the cardiac tissue in which the pathological effects of NPs were significantly less than the Free-DOX. Additionally, pharmacokinetic studies were also conducted at the sera and whole bloods of IV-injected rabbits with NPs and Free-DOX. The pharmacokinetic parameters showed that NPs could enhance the DOX retention in the serum compared to the Free-DOX. Altogether, we aimed to produce a powerful delivery nanosystem for its potential in dual therapeutic and diagnostic applications which are called theranostic agents.

Recommended Practices for the Electrochemical Recovery of Cobalt from Lithium Cobalt Oxide: A Case Study of the Choline Chloride:Ethylene Glycol Deep Eutectic Solvent.

We recommend best practices for the recovery of cobalt from LiCoO2 (LCO) lithium-ion battery (LIB) cathodes by (i) leaching using green deep eutectic solvents (DES) and (ii) subsequent electrodeposition, through a case study of the choline chloride (ChCl):ethylene glycol (EG) DES. DES physical properties (conductivity, viscosity, and surface tension) were tailored by varying the composition between mole ratios of 1:2 and 1:5 (ChCl:EG). Examined along with leaching process parameters (temperature, duration), increasing the fraction of hydrogen bond donors (HBDs) decreased DES surface tension and enhanced leaching. Complete Co recovery was achieved using1:5 ChCl:EG DES at 160oC and 48 hours. Leaching temperatures >160oC are discouraged due to DES thermal degradation. The electrodeposition process was optimized for selective Co recovery with high faradaic efficiency. The leaching ability of the DES was antithetical to the stability of electrodeposition cell components and required operational parameter adjustment to minimize degradation. The optimized system (copper cathode and stainless-steel anode) employing 1:5 DES leachate exhibited a faradaic efficiency of ~80 %, specific Co recovery of ~0.8 mg hr-1 cm-1 at 50 oC and evidence of uniform deposition. DES surface tension is a key descriptor of metal recovery, and guidelines are presented to maximize selective Co recovery.

Plasticity Variable Collagen-PEG Interpenetrating Networks Modulate Cell Spreading.

The extracellular matrix protein collagen I has been used extensively in the field of biomaterials due to its inherent biocompatibility and unique viscoelastic and mechanical properties. Collagen I self-assembly into fibers and networks is environmentally sensitive to gelation conditions such as temperature, resulting in gels with distinct network architectures and mechanical properties. Despite this, collagen gels are not suitable for many applications given their relatively low storage modulus. We have prepared collagen-poly(ethylene glycol) [PEG] interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogels to reinforce the collagen network, which also induces changes to network plasticity, a recent focus of study in cell-matrix interactions. Here, we prepare collagen/PEG IPNs varying collagen concentration and collagen gelation temperature to assess changes in microarchitecture and mechanical properties of these networks. By tuning these parameters, IPNs with a range of stiffness, plasticity and pore size are obtained. Cell studies suggest that matrix plasticity is a key determinant of cell behavior, including cell elongation, on these gels. This work presents a natural/synthetic biocompatible matrix that retains the unique structural properties of collagen networks with increased storage modulus and tunable plasticity. The described IPN materials will be of use for applications in which control of cell spreading is desirable, as only minimal changes in sample preparation lead to changes in cell spreading and circularity. Additionally, this study contributes to our understanding of the connection between collagen self-assembly conditions and matrix structural and mechanical properties and presents them as useful tools for the design of other collagen based biomaterials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: We developed a collagen-poly(ethylene glycol) interpenetrating network (IPN) platform that retains native collagen architecture and biocompatibility but provides higher stiffness and tunable plasticity. With minor changes in collagen gelation temperature or concentration, IPN gels with a range of plasticity, storage modulus, and pore size can be obtained. The tunable plasticity of the gels is shown to modulate cell spreading, with a greater proportion of elongated cells on the most plastic of IPNs, supporting the assertion that matrix plasticity is a key determinant of cell spreading. The material can be of use for situations where control of cell spreading is desired with minimal intervention, and the findings herein may be used to develop similar collagen based IPN platforms.

Solid Polymer Electrolytes with Sacrificial End Groups for a Wide Oxidative Potential and Stable Interface in Lithium Metal Batteries.

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), despite being the most studied polymer electrolyte, suffers from serious drawbacks, which require fundamental studies behind its underperformance in lithium batteries. Here, we report the effect of the terminal group on triarm PEG stars bearing either hydroxyl (TPEG-OH) or carbonate-ketone (TPEG-Carb-ket) terminal groups. The latter is synthesized by a ring-opening reaction triggered by the -OH end group of TPEG-OH and results in a carbonate-ketone functionality. Indeed, the modified chain end is found to act as a sacrificial group by focusing the reactivity of the chain on the terminal group, protecting the rest of the TPEG molecule, which significantly reduces interfacial degradation and achieves a broader electrochemical stability window of up to 4.47 V, high Coulombic efficiency, and capacity retention. It furthermore demonstrates a stable interface with lithium metal after more than 1200 h of stripping and plating. When those electrolytes are investigated in reference cells based on LiFePO4 cathodes and Li anodes, the change in discharge capacity is observed from 118.7 to 113.8 and 108.9 to 5.03 mAh g-1 for TPEG-Carb-ket and TPEG-OH electrolytes, respectively, from the 1st to 100th cycle. The experimental results are further supported by density functional theory calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations.

Multilayer‐coated polyphenylsulfone membranes with superior antifouling properties of PEG‐NH2 hydrogel for ultrafiltration process

AbstractThis study explores application of poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐based hydrogel to improve the antifouling properties and performance of polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) membrane. The modification of PPSU membrane was performed via coating different ratio of polydopamine (PDA) to 3‐(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) as interlayer on surface of PPSU membrane followed by grafting of PEG‐NH2 hydrogel. The as‐prepared membranes were characterized and results confirmed the successful coating of interlayer and hydrogel. The performance of as‐prepared membranes was measured using pure water flux, humic acid (HA), and bovine serum albumin (BSA) separation. The PDA‐APTES (50:50) was selected as the optimal interlayer to graft hydrogel with respect to their superior effect on properties of resultant membrane. The permeate flux and HA rejection increased from 35.2 LMH and 55% for pristine PPSU membrane to 83 LMH and 96% for optimal membrane. For optimal membrane the flux recovery ratio (FRR) value of 96% and 93% determined for BSA and HA separation, respectively. Chemical stability examined and the results confirmed that the hydrogel‐coated membrane was more stable in acidic media compared with alkali media. In summary, the simultaneous presence of the interlayer and the grafted hydrogel had a great impact on the morphology, performance, anticlogging properties, and acid resistance of the modified membranes.

The Reaction between K2CO3 and Ethylene Glycol in Deep Eutectic Solvents

The Reaction between K2CO3 and Ethylene Glycol in Deep Eutectic Solvents

Missing-Linker Defect Functionalized Metal-Organic Frameworks Accelerating Zinc Ion Conduction for Ultrastable All-Solid-State Zinc Metal Batteries.

Solid-state polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are promising for high-performance zinc metal batteries (ZMBs), but they encounter critical challenges of low ionic conductivity, limited Zn2+ transference number (tZn2+), and an unstable electrolyte-electrode interface. Here, we present an effective approach involving a missing-linker metallic organic framework (MOF)-catalyzed poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)/polyacrylamide (PAM) copolymer SPE for single Zn2+ conduction and seamless electrolyte-electrode contact. The single-Zn2+ conduction is facilitated by the anchoring of the OTF- anions onto the unsaturated metal sites of missing-linker MOF, while the PEGDA and PAM chains in competitive coordination with Zn2+ ions promote rapid Zn ion transport. Our all-solid-state electrolyte simultaneously achieves a superior ionic conductivity of 1.52 mS cm-1 and a high tZn2+ of 0.83 at room temperature, alongside uniform Zn metal deposition (1000 cycles in symmetric cells) and high Zn plating/striping efficiencies (>99% after 600 cycles in asymmetric cells). Applications of our SPE in Zn//VO2 full cells are further demonstrated with a long lifespan of 2000 cycles and an extremely low-capacity degradation rate of 0.012% per cycle. This work provides an effective strategy for using a missing-linker MOF to catalyze competitively coordinating copolymers for accelerating Zn2+ ion conduction, assisting the future design of all-solid-state ZMBs.

Liquid Overlay-Induced Donor Plant Vigor and Initial Ammonium-Free Regrowth Medium Are Critical to the Cryopreservation of Scrophularia kakudensis

Cryopreservation, storing biological material in liquid nitrogen (LN, −196 °C), offers a valuable option for the long-term conservation of non-orthodox seeds and vegetatively propagated species in the sector of agrobiodiversity and wild flora. Although the large-scale cryobanking of germplasm collections has been increasing worldwide, the wide application of cryopreservation protocols in wild flora is hampered by difficulties in vitro propagation and a lack of universal cryopreservation protocols, among others. This study established a systematic approach to developing an in vitro culture and droplet-vitrification cryopreservation procedure for shoot tips of Scrophularia kakudensis. The standard procedure includes a two-step preculture with 10% sucrose for 31 h and with 17.5% sucrose for 16 h, osmoprotection with loading solution C4-35% (17.5% glycerol + 17.5% sucrose, w/v) for 30 min, cryoprotection with A3-80% (33.3% glycerol + 13.3% dimethyl sulfoxide + 13.3% ethylene glycol + 20.1% sucrose, w/v) at 0 °C for 60 min, and cooling and rewarming using aluminum foil strips. After unloading, a three-step regrowth procedure starting with an ammonium-free medium with growth regulators was essential for developing normal plantlets from cryopreserved shoot tips. Liquid overlay on the gelled medium two weeks after inoculation resulted in vigorous growth during subcultures. Moreover, liquid overlay increased LN regeneration by up to 80%, i.e., 23% higher than no liquid overlay.

Low-temperature resistant self-healing hydrogel electrolyte for dendrite-free flexible zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors

Flexible zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSC), have great potential as a novel energy storage device, and the appropriate electrolyte with stable low-temperature resistance and high conductivity is crucial for its widespread practical application. Herein, a poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)- carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt (CMC) hydrogel electrolyte is prepared by the repeated freezing method, with the advantages of low-temperature resistance, high conductivity, excellent mechanical properties (stretching, compression and torsion), and a certain degree of self-healing function to resist the damage of tearing. The PVA main chain in the gel forms a semi-interpenetrating network with CMC, which improves the mechanical strength of the gel, as well as enhances the binding ability with Zn2+ and promotes the uniform distribution of Zn2+. The incorporation of Li+ into the polymer network disrupts the crystalline domains, enhancing the viscosity and self-healing properties of the gel while improving its low-temperature resistance and electrical conductivity. The conductivity of the gel at 25/-20 °C is 5.17/2.37 mS cm−1. In addition, ethylene glycol (EG) is added to the gel as an antifreeze agent to help the gel not freeze easily at low temperatures. A low-temperature flexible ZHSC are prepared using PVA-CMC/Zn(CF3SO3)2/Li+/EG hydrogel electrolytes and carbonized ZIF-8 (HC) as the electrode. When at a current density of 2 mA cm−2, the device exhibits a specific capacitance of 282.7 mF cm−2 (141.4 F g−1) at room temperature, 270.4 mF cm−2 (135.2 F g−1) at −20 °C and even 61.7 mF cm−2 (135.2 F g-1) at −30 °C. Furthermore, the hydrogel electrolyte can efficiently inhibit the growth of zinc anode dendrites, thus guarantee the good capacitance retention of 81.7 % at 25 °C for 10,000 cycles and a coulombic efficiency of approximately 100 %. The device is also electrochemically stable under various bending conditions, and can power the timer at −30 °C, demonstrating new possibilities for the low-temperature flexible ZHSC.

ROS-sensitive PD-L1 siRNA cationic selenide nanogels for self-inhibition of autophagy and prevention of immune escape

In the field of cancer therapy, inhibiting autophagy has emerged as a promising strategy. However, pharmacological disruption of autophagy can lead to the upregulation of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), enabling tumor immune evasion. To address this issue, we developed innovative ROS-responsive cationic poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) nanogels using selenol chemistry-mediated multicomponent reaction (MCR) technology. This procedure involved simple mixing of low-molecular-weight PEI (LMW PEI), γ-selenobutylacetone (γ-SBL), and poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA). Through high-throughput screening, we constructed a library of AxSeyOz nanogels and identified the optimized A1.8Se3O0.5/siPD-L1 nanogels, which exhibited a size of approximately 200 nm, excellent colloidal stability, and the most effective PD-L1 silencing efficacy. These nanogels demonstrated enhanced uptake by tumor cells, excellent oxidative degradation ability, and inhibited autophagy by alkalinizing lysosomes. The A1.8Se3O0.5/siPD-L1 nanogels significantly downregulated PD-L1 expression and increased the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), resulting in robust proliferation of specific CD8+ T cells and a decrease in MC38 tumor growth. As a result, the A1.8Se3O0.5/siPD-L1 nanogels inhibited tumor growth through self-inhibition of autophagy, upregulation of MHC-I, and downregulation of PD-L1. Designed with dynamic diselenide bonds, the A1.8Se3O0.5/siPD-L1 nanogels showed synergistic antitumor efficacy through self-inhibition of autophagy and prevention of immune escape.

Revitalizing Dead Zinc with Ferrocene/Ferrocenium Redox Chemistry for Deep‐Cycle Zinc Metal Batteries

Aqueous zinc (Zn) batteries are highly desirable for sustainable and large‐scale electrochemical energy storage technologies. However, the ceaseless dendrite growth and the derived dead Zn are principally responsible for the capacity decay and insufficient lifespan. Here, we propose a dissolved oxygen‐initiated revitalization strategy to reactivate dead Zn via ferrocene redox chemistry, which can be realized by incorporating a trace amount of poly(ethylene glycol) as a solubilizer to improve the solubility of water‐insoluble ferrocene derivatives. Ferrocene scaffold can be spontaneously oxidized to ferricenium cations by dissolved oxygen, which eradicates the dissolved oxygen‐involved Zn corrosion and insulating by‐product generation. Subsequently, the generated ferricenium cations as the scavenger can rejuvenate electrically isolated dead Zn into electroactive Zn2+ ions to compensate the zinc loss. Through this design, the symmetric cell exhibited improved cycle life of 3700 h at 10 mA cm−2, and 220 h under a high depth of discharge of 80%. Importantly, the Zn||NaV3O8·1.5H2O full cells demonstrated the impressive cycling stability over 1000 cycles at a low N/P ratio of 3.0. This work presents an innovative solution for the revitalization of dead Zn to extend the lifespan of deep‐cycling metal batteries.

A novel composite electrochemical sensor doped ion-imprinted polymer based on N-methacryloyl-L-histidine/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate for ultrasensitive determination of copper (II) ions in food supplements

A novel composite electrochemical sensor doped ion-imprinted polymer based on N-methacryloyl-L-histidine/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate for ultrasensitive determination of copper (II) ions in food supplements

Theoretical assessment of chemically reactive bioconvective flow of hybrid nanofluid by a curved stretchable surface with heat generation

ABSTRACT Bioconvection in hybrid nanofluids refers to the phenomenon where biological microorganisms such as algae or bacteria exhibit collective movement or pattern formation in a suspension containing nanoparticles. This phenomenon has significance in various fields, including biology, nanotechnology, and engineering. The current investigation emphasizes the bioconvective flow of a water (H2O)−ethylene glycol (C2H6O2)-based hybrid nanofluid flow by a curved stretched sheet. Copper (Cu) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles are suspended in the base fluid. The thermal field is analyzed in the presence of heat generation, dissipation, Joule heating, and the impact of thermal radiation. Binary reactions associated with Arrhenius energy are accounted in the modeling of mass concentration. The phenomenon of bioconvection is considered to regulate the random movement of tiny solid particles within the flow. Boundary layer constraints are implemented to eliminate ineffective terms from modeling. The transformation procedure is adopted to obtain the flow governing system of ODEs. The built-in code of Mathematica (NDSolve) is implemented to obtain the graphical and numerical results. The results show that the velocity field decreases with increasing porosity variable and Hartmann number. An opposite impression of the Eckert number and Schmidt variable on the thermal field is noticed. Bioconvection Peclet and Lewis numbers have a direct relationship with motile density.

Engineering p-d orbital hybridization in PdSb bimetallene for energy-saving H2 production parallel upgrade plastic waste

The electrochemical conversion of PET-derived ethylene glycol into high-quality chemicals parallel energy-saving H2 production is an optimal solution to the serious environmental pollution of plastics. In this paper, p-d orbital hybrid PdSb bimetallene with defect-rich crimped surface is synthesized by a one-step solvent approach. PdSb bimetallene exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance in ethylene glycol and PET hydrolysate oxidation attributed to the unconventional p-d orbital hybridization feature and metallene structure. PdSb bimetallene shows better properties than Pd metallene and commercial Pd black catalysts under ethylene glycol conditions and PET hydrolysate. Besides PdSb bimetallene can oxidize ethylene glycol to produce the valuable product glycolic acid with high Faradaic efficiency and selectivity. Besides, PdSb bimetallene can oxidize PET-derived ethylene glycol into glycolic acid with high selectivity in EGOR||HER system. This study provides insights into the synthesis of metallene with p-d orbital hybridization properties, coupled with energy-saving H2 production parallel upgrade plastic waste.

Low-Cost Ni-W Catalysts Supported on Glucose/Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Carbons for Sustainable Ethylene Glycol Synthesis.

The production of ethylene glycol (EG) from cellulose has garnered significant attention in recent years as an attractive alternative to fossil fuels due to the potential of cellulose as a renewable and sustainable feedstock. In this work, to the best of our knowledge, a series of low-cost Ni-W bimetallic catalysts supported on glucose/carbon nanotube hybrid carbons were synthesised for the first time and employed to transform cellulose into EG. Two different strategies were combined for the preparation of the carbons: the activation and addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to obtain a hybrid material (AG-CNT). The catalytic conversion process proceeded through cellulose hydrolysis to glucose, followed by glucose retro-aldol condensation to glycolaldehyde and its subsequent hydrogenation to EG. Through the optimisation of the catalyst's properties, particularly the metals' content, a good synergistic effect of C-C bond cleavage and hydrogenation capabilities was assured, resulting in the highly selective production of EG. The balance between Ni and W active sites was confirmed to be a crucial parameter. Thus, total cellulose conversion (100%) was achieved with EG yields of 60-62%, which are amongst the best yields ever reported for the catalytic conversion of cellulose into EG via carbon-supported catalysts.

Heterophase Pt/EG-catalyzed hydrosilylation in droplet microfluidics: Spectral monitoring and efficient 3D-printed reactors

Homogeneous Pt-catalyzed hydrosilylation is an industrially important process for the synthesis of organosilanes. Reusable heterophase (biphase) Pt-catalysts can solve economic and ecological issues arising from the high cost of Pt and its irretrievable “scattering”. Previously, we proposed a sustainable and convenient-to-handle heterophase Pt/EG-catalytic system (EG – ethylene glycol). In the current research heterophase Pt/EG-catalyzed hydrosilylation was transferred in a microfluidic regime that combined several advantages. A stable droplet or segmented Taylor flow with a well-defined contact area allow for the improvement of mass and heat transfer during the scaling of such a biphase and exothermic reaction, compared to batch mode. In situ Raman spectroscopy monitoring allows for fast and continuous data collection throughout the experiment and opens an opportunity for automation of conversion analysis. We demonstrate an efficient reaction of a range of reagents in the microfluidic reactor. In this work its universal components were constructed and modified using either commercially available units or via additive technologies (3D-printing). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a semi-automatic recyclization device for a real heterophase catalytic process. These results open up new perspectives for scaling and automating industrially relevant heterophase hydrosilylation reactions.

Visible-Light-Induced Diselenide-Crosslinked Polymeric Micelles for ROS-Triggered Drug Delivery.

To synthesize an effective and versatile nano-platform serving as a promising carrier for controlled drug delivery, visible-light-induced diselenide-crosslinked polyurethane micelles were designed and prepared for ROS-triggered on-demand doxorubicin (DOX) release. A rationally designed amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(diselenolane diol-co-isophorone diisocyanate)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-b-PUSe-b-PEG), which incorporates dangling diselenolane groups within the hydrophobic PU segments, was initially synthesized through the polycondensation reaction. In aqueous media, this type of amphiphilic block copolymer can self-assemble into micellar aggregates and encapsulate DOX within the micellar core, forming DOX-loaded micelles that are subsequently in situ core-crosslinked by diselenides via a visible-light-triggered metathesis reaction of Se-Se bonds. Compared with the non-crosslinked micelles (NCLMs), the as-prepared diselenide-crosslinked micelles (CLMs) exhibited a smaller particle size and improved colloidal stability. In vitro release studies have demonstrated suppressed drug release behavior for CLMs in physiological conditions, as compared to the NCLMs, whereas a burst release of DOX occurred upon exposure to an oxidation environment. Moreover, MTT assay results have revealed that the crosslinked polyurethane micelles displayed no significant cytotoxicity towards HeLa cells. Cellular uptake analyses have suggested the effective internalization of DOX-loaded crosslinked micelles and DOX release within cancer cells. These findings suggest that this kind of ROS-triggered reversibly crosslinked polyurethane micelles hold significant potential as a ROS-responsive drug delivery system.