Good Miscibility Research Articles

Troxerutin associated with Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharides in films improves full-thickness wound healing

The present study aimed to associate troxerutin (TRX) with polysaccharides from Agaricus blazei Murill mushroom (PolyAb) in alginate/PVA films and evaluate their effect on wound healing. The physicochemical, mechanical, morphological, and water vapor barrier properties of the films were studied, and their biological potential was analyzed in vivo using the full-thickness wound healing model. The association between TRX and PolyAb present in the polymeric film contributed to increased thermal stability, mechanical resistance, and elasticity when compared to films without TRX, which indicated good miscibility of the excipients. In the in vivo tests, the TRX films promoted greater collagen deposition and repair of epidermis and dermis layers. The 0.25 % TRX film showed an increase in reduced glutathione levels, while the 1.0 % TRX film reduced lipid peroxidation and production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, demonstrating the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of TRX films. Therefore, it is estimated that the film containing 1 % TRX can be used as biocurative for wound dressing applications.

The Properties of Thin Films Based on Chitosan/Konjac Glucomannan Blends.

In this work, blend films were prepared by blending 2% chitosan (CS) and 0.5% konjac glucomannan (KGM) solutions. Five ratios of the blend mixture were implemented (95:5, 80:20, 50:50, 20:80, and 5:95), and a pure CS film and a pure KGM film were also obtained. All the polymeric films were evaluated using FTIR spectroscopy, mechanical testing, SEM and AFM imaging, thermogravimetric analyses, swelling and degradation analyses, and contact angle measurements. The CS/KGM blends were assessed for their miscibility. Additionally, the blend films' properties were evaluated after six months of storage. The proposed blends had good miscibility in a full range of composition proportions. The blend samples, compared to the pure CS film, indicated better structural integrity. The surface structure of the blend films was rather uniform and smooth. The sample CS/KGM 20:80 had the highest roughness value (Rq = 12.60 nm). The KGM addition increased the thermal stability of films. The blend sample CS/KGM 5:95 exhibited the greatest swelling ability, reaching a swelling degree of 946% in the first fifteen minutes of the analysis. Furthermore, the addition of KGM to CS improved the wettability of the film samples. As a result of their good mechanical properties, surface characteristics, and miscibility, the proposed CS/KGM blends are promising materials for topical biomedical and cosmetic applications.

Combining ion-pair strategy and percutaneous permeation enhancers to develop sustained-release paliperidone patch

In this study, a sustained-release paliperidone (PAL) patch was developed using a combination of ion-pair strategy and percutaneous permeation enhancers (PPEs). The ion-pair strategy was used to improve drug-adhesive miscibility and control drug release. PPEs were used to break SC barrier function to facilitate drug skin permeation. The in vitro skin permeation experiments using single-factor experiments and Box-Behnken design gave the optimized formulation, a 55 μm adhesive thickness patch with 7 % (w/w) PAL-LA (Lauric acid), 9.7 % (w/w) Plurol® Oleique CC 497 (POCC). Moreover, the pharmacokinetic study confirmed its potential in sustained-release transdermal patch with longer MRT0-t (18.35 ± 3.11 h) and higher BA (63.14 %) than the gavage group (Cmax = 6.64 ± 2.61 μg/mL, MRT0-t = 2.88 ± 1.06 h, BA = 45.70 %) without significant increasing Cmax. The mechanism study revealed that forming ion-pairs effectively modulated drug’s physicochemical properties and doubly ionic H-bond strength to improve drug miscibility in patches. To summarize, a sustained-release patch of PAL was successfully developed, which provided a strategy for sustained-release patches with good drug-polymer miscibility, drug controlled-release, and feasible drug utilization features.

Molecular insights into CO2 enhanced hydrocarbon recovery and its sequestration in multiscale shale reservoirs

CO2 huff-n-puff (HNP) is an attractive enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique in shale development due to its low cost, high efficiency, and environmentally friendly feature. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been widely used to investigate the mechanisms of CO2 HNP process. However, the process of CO2 HNP is highly complex, involving the CO2 adsorption and transport in multiscale porous media, while considering the effect of different hydrocarbon compositions of shale oil. In this work, we developed a novel multiscale model (nano + bulk) with the modified Eagle Ford shale oil and water as the reservoir fluid. We investigated the adsorption behaviors and transport dynamics of CO2 in the CO2 HNP process. We quantitatively evaluated the CO2 swelling effect and its miscibility with hydrocarbons. Our results show the preferential adsorption to the graphene wall is pentane < CO2 < octane. CO2 can effectively desorb the light and intermediate hydrocarbons from the graphene wall. In addition, CO2 has good swelling effect and miscibility with the light and intermediate components. Due to the large molecular diameter and the strong interactions with the nanopore wall, the heavy components tend to be trapped in the nanopore after the CO2 HNP process. However, CO2 has similar swelling effect on the light and heavy components, indicating that the heavy components in the bulk pore can be effectively swelled and produced. Different from the unstable diffusion edge in the inorganic nanopores, CO2 has a stable diffusion edge in the organic nanopores. From the adsorption perspective, CO2 has favorable sequestration performance in the inorganic nanopores in shale gas reservoirs. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of the CO2 HNP process and practical implications for CO2 sequestration in shale reservoirs.

3D printed tinidazole tablets coupled with melt-extrusion techniques for formulating child friendly medicines

This study investigates the feasibility of fabrication of poly(1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (Kollidon®25)-mediated filaments for producing tinidazole (TNZ)-loaded, customizable, child-friendly tablets (with varying shapes and sizes) using hot melt extrusion (HME) coupled with fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology. Kollidon®25, chosen for its ability to enhance the dissolution of TNZ (a BCS Class II drug), was evaluated for polymer-drug compatibility through Hansen solubility, polarity, and interaction parameter analyses, confirming good miscibility and affinity between TNZ and Kollidon®25. Placebo- and TNZ-loaded filaments were prepared in different ratios using HME, followed by the development of 3D-printed tablets via FDM. The fabricated batches of placebo and TNZ-loaded 3D tablets were characterized, and it was found that they had an average weight variation of 270.41 ± 7.44 mg and 270.87 ± 9.33 mg, hardness of 155.01 ± 11.79 N and 265.3 ± 7.62 N, and friability of 0.1583 ± 0.0011 % and 0.2254 ± 0.0013 %. Amorphization was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a layer-by-layer pattern with tiny fractures on the tablet surfaces, which enhanced media penetration, resulting in improved dissolution profiles. The TNZ release profile showed complete 100 % release within 2.0 h in a gastric acidic medium. These findings support the potential of Kollidon®25 to create customizable, child-friendly, 3D-printed dosage forms with different shapes and sizes for TNZ delivery, offering a unique approach to paediatric medications.

6-Carboxycellulose Acetate Butyrate: Effectiveness as an Amorphous Solid Dispersion Polymer.

Amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) in a polymer matrix is a powerful method for enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of otherwise crystalline, poorly water-soluble drugs. 6-Carboxycellulose acetate butyrate (CCAB) is a relatively new commercial cellulose derivative that was introduced for use in waterborne coating applications. As CCAB is an amphiphilic, carboxyl-containing, high glass transition temperature (Tg) polymer, characteristics essential to excellent ASD polymer performance, we chose to explore its ASD potential. Structurally diverse drugs quercetin, ibuprofen, ritonavir, loratadine, and clarithromycin were dispersed in CCAB matrices. We evaluated the ability of CCAB to create ASDs with these drugs and its ability to provide solubility enhancement and effective drug release. CCAB/drug dispersions prepared by spray drying were amorphous up to 25 wt % drug, with loratadine remaining amorphous up to 50% drug. CCAB formulations with 10% drug proved effective at providing in vitro solubility enhancement for the crystalline flavonoid drug quercetin as well as ritonavir, but not for the more soluble APIs ibuprofen and clarithromycin and the more hydrophobic loratadine. CCAB did provide slow and controlled release of ibuprofen, offering a simple and promising Long-duration ibuprofen formulation. Formulation with clarithromycin showed the ability of the polymer to protect against degradation of the drug at stomach pH. Furthermore, CCAB ASDs with both loratadine and ibuprofen could be improved by the addition of the water-soluble polymer poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), with which CCAB shows good miscibility. CCAB provided solubility enhancement in some cases, and the slower drug release exhibited by CCAB, especially in the stomach, could be especially beneficial, for example, in formulations containing known stomach irritants like ibuprofen.

Amorphous Polymer-Phospholipid Solid Dispersions for the Co-Delivery of Curcumin and Piperine Prepared via Hot-Melt Extrusion.

Curcumin and piperine are plant compounds known for their health-promoting properties, but their use in the prevention or treatment of various diseases is limited by their poor solubility. To overcome this drawback, the curcumin-piperine amorphous polymer-phospholipid dispersions were prepared by hot melt extrusion technology. X-ray powder diffraction indicated the formation of amorphous systems. Differential scanning calorimetry confirmed amorphization and provided information on the good miscibility of the active compound-polymer-phospholipid dispersions. Owing to Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, the intermolecular interactions in systems were investigated. In the biopharmaceutical properties assessment, the improvement in solubility as well as the maintenance of the supersaturation state were confirmed. Moreover, PAMPA models simulating the gastrointestinal tract and blood-brain barrier showed enhanced permeability of active compounds presented in dispersions compared to the crystalline form of individual compounds. The presented paper suggests that polymer-phospholipid dispersions advantageously impact the bioaccessibility of poorly soluble active compounds.

Recovery of lithium from the desorption solutions of salt lakes using β-diketone synergistic extraction system

Lithium has become increasingly important because of its irreplaceable role in lithium-ion batteries. Addressing the complex process and high energy consumption of the current adsorption-membrane integrated process for lithium extraction from high Mg/Li ratio salt lake brine, this study put forward an integrated process of adsorption-solvent extraction. Taking the desorption solution of adsorption method as raw material, the process parameters and extraction mechanism of lithium by the novel extraction system were investigated. A novel process of lithium recovery from the desorption solutions of salt lakes by solvent extraction was proposed for the first time. The composition of the extraction system was studied and determined to be HTTA-P113-kerosene. Compared with the previously reported neutral ligands (TOPO, Cyanex923), P113 not only exhibited excellent synergistic extraction ability but also had good miscibility and a green synthesis process. The effects of saponification degree, extraction time, temperature and phase ratio on lithium extraction and βLi/Na were systematically investigated. Through the four-stage countercurrent extraction, more than 99.2 % of lithium could be extracted by the organic phase consisting of 0.4 mol L−1 HTTA, 0.4 mol L−1 P113, saponification degree of 80 % at O/A ratio of 1:1 and equilibrium pH of 6.78. Furthermore, after the scrubbing and stripping process, the lithium-rich solution containing 21.64 g L−1 Li+ and 0.037 g L−1 Na+ was obtained. The Li2CO3 products with a purity of 99.5 % were successfully prepared from the lithium-rich solution by precipitation method. Finally, the extraction mechanism was studied via the slope analysis method and FT-IR spectra. It was indicated that the extracted lithium species were Li(TTA)(P113).

Upgrading lignocellulosic biomass to high-value products through the pretreatment driven by bio-based ethylene glycol solvent

Sustainable processing of lignocellulosic biomass is meaningful for comprehensive biomass conversion. Here, a ball milling (BM) assisted biomass-derived ethylene glycol (BEG) pretreatment is proposed to removes nearly 90 % of the lignin and increases cellulose accessibility by 3 times than raw biomass, facilitating subsequent enzymatic saccharification or catalytic conversion for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), achieving yields of 92.9 % and 32.6 %. The synergistic effect of BM/BEG positively impacted delignification, followed by saccharification and HMF conversion. Introduction of biomass-derived solvent recovers the lignin with a well-preserved chemical structure, uniform molecular weight, short side chains, and high purity, making it highly suitable for downstream utilization. Density functional theory revealed hydrogen bonding and good miscibility between BEG and lignin units, suggesting reaction mechanisms and pathways. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the solubilizing effect of BEG on lignin promoted cellulase-cellulose binding, thereby enhancing saccharification efficiency. The successful use of BEG solvents to maximize the biomass value is conducive to achieve closed-loop biorefinery approaches.

Effect of cage and ladder configuration of polyphenyl silsesquioxane on mechanical performance and flame retardancy of ethylene–vinyl acetate composites

Improving the flame retardancy of ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) while maintaining its mechanical properties is critical for EVA applications. Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) can be a molecular structure designed to improve the flame retardancy of polymers while minimizing damage to the mechanical properties of polymers. In this study, two types of POSS with the same chemical structure but different spatial structures, which are named cage octaphenyl POSS (OPS) and ladder polyphenyl silsesquioxane (PPSQ) are prepared. The miscibility and dispersibility of these two types of POSS in the EVA matrix and their effects on mechanical properties, dielectric properties, and fire behaviors are also investigated. Compared to OPS-based EVA composite, the PPSQ with ladder structure has good miscibility and dispersion state in EVA matrix, obtaining better toughness, dielectric properties, and flame retardancy under cone calorimeter test. However, OPS-based EVA composite obtains superior flame retardancy than that of PPSQ-based EVA composite under small fire test (limiting oxygen index and UL-94 vertical burning tests). The mechanism of these two separate flame-retardant performances under various scenarios is explored. A novel flame-retardant model is proposed, as well as a new understanding of the role of POSS in EVA combustion. This study provides powerful guidance for obtaining EVA composites with excellent flame retardant and mechanical properties.

The effect of skin diffusion kinetics of isopropyl ester permeation enhancers on drug permeation: Role of lateral spread and penetration characteristics

The purpose of present work was to study the effects of permeation enhancers’ two kinetic behaviors of simultaneous lateral diffusion and vertical penetration in the skin on its enhancing effect. The skin diffusion kinetics of isopropyl ester permeation enhancers were characterized by the innovative concentric tape peeling study and Raman imaging, which were quantitatively assessed through innovative parameters, namely, lateral-to-vertical penetration amount (CL-V) and lateral-to-vertical penetration distance (DL-V). The enhancement effect of permeation enhancers on drug flurbiprofen (FLU) was assessed by in vitro skin permeation tests, which were confirmed by transdermal water loss and skin resistance study. The relationship between kinetic parameters of permeation enhancers and permeation parameters of FLU was carried out by correlation analysis. The molecular mechanisms of effect of skin diffusion kinetics of permeation enhancers on drug permeation were characterized by molecular docking, modulated-temperature differential scanning calorimetry (MTDSC), Raman spectra, solid-state NMR and molecular dynamic simulation. The results indicated skin diffusion kinetics of short-chain (C8–C12) isopropyl ester permeation enhancers were governed by vertical penetration, while long-chain (C14–C18) ones were characterized by lateral spread. Quadratic correlation between CL-V and enhancement ratio of permeation-retention ratio of FLU (ERQ/R) (R2 = 0.95), DL-V and enhancement ratio of permeation area (ERA) of FLU (R2 = 0.98) indicating that varied skin diffusion kinetics of permeation enhancers directly influenced the barrier function of stratum corneum (SC) and further enhancing drug permeation. In terms of molecular mechanism, long-chain isopropyl ester enhancers had good miscibility with SC, leading to their high CL-V and DL-V, and causing strong interaction strength with SC and resulting in weaker skin barrier function for drug permeation. In summary, in comparison to short-chain isopropyl ester enhancers that relied on penetration, long-chain ones that depended on lateral spread exhibited greater enhancement efficacy, which guided the application of enhancers in transdermal formulations.

Mixed matrix membranes consisting of PDMS and IL@MoS2 for enhancing 2-phenylethanol pervaporation separation

The MoS2-based mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) exhibited excellent pervaporation separation for aromatic compounds, but the narrow interlayer spacing and few affinity sites in MoS2 limited the simultaneous improvement in the total flux and separation factor. Therefore, constructing 2-PE transport channels and affinity sites in MMMs is of significant importance to improve the pervaporation separation performance. Herein, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (IL) was intercalated into the interlayer of the molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) under electrostatic and concentration diffusion interactions to obtain IL@MoS2. Then, IL@MoS2 was incorporated into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to prepare MMMs for efficient 2-PE separation, which had good miscibility with polymer matrix. The total flux, separation factor and pervaporation separation index of as-prepared MMMs reached 1466 g m−2 h−1, 33 and 47,571 g m−2 h−1, separately, which increased by 26 %, 31 % and 44 % compared with that of PDMS embedding with MoS2. This is because IL@MoS2 in MMMs not only can afford 2-PE transport channels, but also provide 2-PE affinity sites due to the hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions, which promotes the solubility of 2-PE in MMMs. When the concentration of maltol increased to 1500 ppm in 2-PE aqueous solution, the 2-PE flux and separation factor of 2-PE/water only decreased by 23 % and 26 %, revealing that MMMs had good 2-PE selectivity in 2-PE/maltol/water mixture. In addition, it displayed exceptional durability during 168 h testing, demonstrating that this membrane had a good application prospect for 2-PE separation.

Experimental and mechanism study on the separation of isobutyl alcohol and water azeotrope using hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents

Isobutyl alcohol with good miscibility, high octane number and energy density has been paid more and more attention in the field of new biofuels, as it is an ideal alternative fuel for gasoline. However, isobutyl alcohol and water azeotrope need a clean and efficient separation method to realize the separation in isobutyl alcohol production process and industrial wastewater. Three hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were used to separate isobutyl alcohol. Decanoic acid was used as hydrogen bond donor and menthol, thymol and lidocaine were used as hydrogen bond acceptors to synthesize DESs. The liquid-liquid equilibrium experiment was carried out for the system containing DESs and MSD −water at 101.3 kPa and 303.15 K, and the separation effect of different DESs was indicated using distribution coefficient (β) and selectivity (S). The σ-Profile can be a good reflection of the strength of a substance's ability to accept and provide hydrogen bonds. The interaction energy and self-diffusion coefficient of the separation system were described quantitatively by molecular dynamics simulation. The relationship between DESs and the separation system was analyzed quantitatively by radial distribution function and spatial distribution function. The separation results show that the three DESs have good separation effect on isobutyl alcohol-water system, among which the DESs synthesized by thymol and decanoic acid has the best separation effect, and the interaction of isobutyl alcohol-water separation process is controlled by van der Waals forces. DESs plays an important role in the separation and treatment of isobutyl alcohol-containing wastewater, and promotes the sustainable development of wastewater treatment projects to save costs and increase production benefits.

An Indacenodithienothiophene-Based Wide Bandgap Small Molecule Guest for Efficient and Stable Ternary Organic Solar Cells.

The strategic and logical development of the third component (guest materials) plays a pivotal and intricate role in improving the efficiency and stability of ternary organic solar cells (OSCs). In this study, a novel guest material with a wide bandgap, named IDTR, is designed, synthesized, and incorporated as the third component. IDTR exhibits complementary absorption characteristics and cascade band alignment with the PM6:Y6 binary system. Morphological analysis reveals that the introduction of IDTR results in strong crystallinity, good miscibility, and proper vertical phase distribution, thereby realizing heightened and balanced charge transport behavior. Remarkably, the novel ternary OSCs have exhibited a significant enhancement in photovoltaic performance. Consequently, open-circuit voltage (VOC), short-circuit current (JSC), and fill factor (FF) have all witnessed substantial improvements with a remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.94% when L8-BO replaced Y6. Beyond the pronounced improvement in photovoltaic performance, superior device stability with a T80 approaching 400h is successfully achieved. This achievement is attributed to the synergistic interplay of IDTR, providing robust support for the overall enhancement of performance. These findings offer crucial guidance and reference for the design and development of efficient and stable OSCs.

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)-Protic ionic Liquid-Based anhydrous Proton-Conducting composite polymer electrolyte membranes for High-Temperature fuel cell applications

A high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has enormous potential to produce clean energy with minimal environmental pollution along with high energy density and conversion efficiency. In the present work, anhydrous proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membranes for prospective high-temperature fuel cell application were successfully prepared using different protic ionic liquids (PILs) and sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK). The protic ionic liquids (PILs), 2-hydroxyethylammonium formate, diethylmethyl ammonium triflate, 1-ethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1,2-dimethyl imidazolium bis(trifluoro methylsulfonyl)imide, and diethylmethylammonium methanesulfonate were selected based on their favorable physicochemical properties. The effect of the incorporation of the PIL on the structural, thermal, and electrical transport properties of the composite SPEEK polymer electrolyte membranes was studied. The prepared polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. FTIR results indicated an interaction between the PIL and the SPEEK, which resulted in homogeneous and flexible membranes. The DSC results confirmed good miscibility and elucidated plasticizing effect of the incorporated PIL on the SPEEK polymer matrix. All the PEMs showed good thermal stability and high-temperature anhydrous proton conductivity, achieving best proton conductivity, ≈8 × 10–3 S cm−1 at 120 °C and low activation energy ≈0.26 eV, making it suitable for prospective high-temperature PEMFC applications.

Formulation study of PLGA in situ films for topical delivery of salicylates

A film-forming system (FFS) represents a convenient topical dosage form for drug delivery. In this study, a non-commercial poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) was chosen to formulate an FFS containing salicylic acid (SA) and methyl salicylate (MS). This unique combination is advantageous from a therapeutic point of view, as it enabled modified salicylate release. It is beneficial from a technological perspective too, because it improved thermal, rheological, and adhesive properties of the in situ film. DSC revealed complete dissolution of SA and good miscibility of MS with the polymer. MS also ensures optimal viscoelastic and adhesive properties of the film, leading to prolonged and sustained drug release. The hydrolysis of MS to active SA was very slow at skin pH 5.5, but it apparently occurred at physiological pH 7.4. The film structure is homogeneous without cracks, unlike some commercial preparations. The dissolution study of salicylates revealed different courses in their release and the influence of MS concentration in the film. The formulated PLGA-based FFS containing 5 % SA and 10 % MS is promising for sustained and prolonged local delivery of salicylates, used mainly for keratolytic and anti-inflammatory actions and pain relief.

High Open-Circuit Voltage Organic Solar Cells with 19.2% Efficiency Enabled by Synergistic Side-Chain Engineering.

Restricted by the energy-gap law, state-of-the-art organic solar cells (OSCs) exhibit relatively low open-circuit voltage (VOC) because of large nonradiative energy losses (ΔEnonrad). Moreover, the trade-off between VOC and external quantum efficiency (EQE) of OSCs is more distinctive; the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of OSCs are still <15% with VOCs of >1.0V. Herein, the electronic properties and aggregation behaviors of non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) are carefully considered and then a new NFA (Z19) is delicately designed by simultaneously introducing alkoxy and phenyl-substituted alkyl chains to the conjugated backbone. Z19 exhibits a hypochromatic-shifted absorption spectrum, high-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level and ordered 2D packing mode. The D18:Z19-based blend film exhibits favorable phase separation with face-on dominated molecular orientation, facilitating charge transport properties. Consequently, D18:Z19 binary devices afford an exciting PCE of 19.2% with a high VOC of 1.002V, surpassing Y6-2O-based devices. The former is the highest PCE reported to date for OSCs with VOCs of >1.0V. Moreover, theΔEnonrad of Z19- (0.200eV) and Y6-2O-based (0.155eV) devices are lower than that of Y6-based (0.239eV) devices. Indications are that the design of such NFA, considering the energy-gap law, could promote a new breakthrough in OSCs.

Evaluating the hypolipidemic effect of garlic essential oil encapsulated in a novel double-layer delivery system

The limited application of garlic essential oil (GEO) is attributed to its pungent taste, poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Liposomes are nontoxic, biodegradable and biocompatible, and β-cyclodextrin can inhibit undesirable odors and improve the stability and bioavailability. Thus a promising dual-layer GEO β-cyclodextrin inclusion compound liposome (GEO-DCL) delivery system with both advantages was designed and prepared in this study. Experimental results indicated that the encapsulation efficiency of GEO-DCLs was 5% higher than that of GEO liposomes (GEO-CLs), reaching more than 88%. In vitro release experiment showed that the release rate of GEO in GEO-DCLs was 40% lower than that of GEO-CLs after incubation in gastric juice for 6-h, indicating that the stability of GEO-DCLs was better than GEO-CLs. Evaluation of the effects of GEO-DCLs on lowering blood lipid levels in hypercholesterolemia mice. GEO-DCLs could reduce the weight and fat deposition in hypercholesterolemia mice. Inhibiting the increase of TC, LDL-C, and decrease of HDL-C in mice. The degree of liver injury was decreased, the number of round lipid droplets in liver cytoplasm was reduced, and the growth of fat cells was inhibited. The lipid-lowering effects of GEO-DCLs were dose-dependent. GEO-DCL can improve the bioavailability of GEO and improve dyslipidemia. Based on GEO's efficacy in lowering blood lipids, this study developed a kind of GEO-DCL compound pomegranate juice beverage with good taste, miscibility and double effect of reducing blood lipids. This study lays a foundation for the application of GEO in the field of functional food.

Efficient and Stable All-Polymer Solar Cells Enabled by Dual Working Mechanism.

Ternary strategy with integration characteristics and adaptability is a simple and effective method for blooming of the performance of photovoltaic devices. Herein, a novel wideband gap polymer donor PBB2-Hs is synthesized as the guest component to optimize all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs). High-energy photon absorption and long exciton lifetime of PBB2-Hs constitute efficient energy transfer. Good miscibility and cascade energy levels promote the formation of alloy-like structure between PBB2-Hs and host system. The dual working mechanisms greatly improve photon capture and charge transfer in active layers. Additionally, the introduction of PBB2-Hs also optimizes the ordered molecular stacking of acceptors and suppresses molecular peristalsis. Upon adding 15 wt% PBB2-Hs, the ternary all-PSC achieved a champion efficiency of 17.66%, and can still maintain 82% photostability (24h) and 91% storage stability (1000h) of the original PCE. Moreover, the strong molecular stacking and entanglement between PBB2-Hs and the host material increased the elongation at break of ternary blend film by 1.6 times (16.2%), allowing the flexible device to maintain 83% of the original efficiency after 800 bends (R = 5mm). This work highlights the effectiveness of guest polymer on simultaneously improving photovoltaic performance, photostability and mechanical stability in all-PSCs.

Isomerization of Benzothiadiazole Yields a Promising Polymer Donor and Organic Solar Cells with Efficiency of 19.0.

The exploration of high-performance and low-cost wide-bandgap polymer donors remains critical to achieve high-efficiency nonfullerene organic solar cells (OSCs) beyond current thresholds. Herein, the 1,2,3-benzothiadiazole (iBT), which is an isomer of 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BT), is used to design wide-bandgap polymer donor PiBT. The PiBT-based solar cells reach efficiency of 19.0%, which is one of the highest efficiencies in binary OSCs. Systemic studies show that isomerization of BT to iBT can finely regulate the polymers' photoelectric properties including i) increasing the extinction coefficient and photon harvest, ii) downshifting the highest occupied molecular orbital energy levels, iii) improving the coplanarity of polymer backbones, iv) offering good thermodynamic miscibility with acceptors. Consequently, the PiBT:Y6 bulk heterojunction (BHJ) device simultaneously reaches advantageous nanoscale morphology, efficient exciton generation and dissociation, fast charge transportation, and suppressed charge recombination, leading to larger VOC of 0.87V, higher JSC of 28.2 mA cm-2, greater fill factor of 77.3%, and thus higher efficiency of 19.0%, while the analog-PBT-based OSCs reach efficiency of only 12.9%. Moreover, the key intermediate iBT can be easily afforded from industry chemicals via two-step procedure. Overall, this contribution highlights that iBT is a promising motif for designing high-performance polymer donors.