High Hydrophilicity Research Articles

Chitosan functionalized two-dimensional covalent organic framework nanosheets with high hydrophilicity for efficient glycopeptide enrichment.

Glycopeptides are an important biomarker, which play a crucial role in various biological processes. Due to their low abundance and the presence of interfering macromolecular proteins, enrichment of glycopeptides is necessary before testing. However, most materials for enriching glycopeptides have high site resistance, relatively low surface area, and limited recognition sites. Herein, a highly hydrophilic two-dimensional (2-D) covalent organic framework (NUS-10) loaded with chitosan (CS) (denoted as NUS-10@CS) had been synthesized. After enrichment with NUS-10@CS, a total of 34 glycopeptides from horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tryptic digests were detected, demonstrating a high enrichment efficiency for glycopeptides from model glycoprotein digestion. Meanwhile, the material exhibited ultra-high adsorption capacity (1 fmol/μL HRP), excellent selectivity (HRP tryptic digest/bovine serum albumin (BSA) tryptic digest=1:2000), macromolecular protein anti-interference ability (HRP tryptic digest/BSA = 1:2000) and good binding capacity (200mg/g). Additionally, 712 glycopeptides corresponding to 200 glycoproteins were identified from 3µL human serum. NUS-10@CS was promising for glycopeptide analysis, helping to identify potential disease biomarkers more efficiently, and leading to easier and more accurate diagnosis of diseases, which was essential for early intervention and treatment.

Insight into enhanced enrichment and nitrogen removal performance of Anammox bacteria with novel biochar/tourmaline polyurethane sponge modified biocarrier

A novel biochar/tourmaline polyurethane sponge modified biocarrier (BTP) could enhance Anammox bacteria (AnAOB) enrichment and nitrogen removal performance. With higher hydrophilicity and specific surface area, BTP significantly improved total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) removal efficiency to 80 ± 2 %, compared to unmodified biocarrier of 67 ± 3 % when influent TIN reached 633.9 ± 22.0 mg/L. BTP stimulated the upregulation of amino acid synthases genes abundance and improved protein secretion in extracellular polymer substances (EPS). Moreover, significant increases were found in heme concentration, specific anammox activity and hydrazine dehydrogenase of AnAOB with BTP compared to unmodified biocarrier. Extracellular electron transfer pathway of AnAOB was improved by BTP via upregulating cytochrome C and ferredoxin synthesis. Candidatus Brocadia was the main genus in Anammox biofilm, with relative abundance of 20.1 % and 27.6 % in the control and BTP, respectively, which explained the improvement of nitrogen removal performance

Synthesis and Characterization of Cellulose Acetate—HBA/Poly Sulfone Blend for Water Treatment Applications

Cellulose acetate (CA) was chemically modified with p–hydrazinobenzoic acid (HBA) for the fabrication of a CA–HBA polymeric membrane. The CA–HBA was characterized using NMR, UV-Vis, and EDX/SEM techniques. CA–HBA exhibited high hydrophilicity, as it included carboxylic groups as well as the hydroxyl group of the CA glycosidic ring. The HBA moieties increased the hydrophilicity and the number of active sites inside the CA polymeric matrix, but they did not improve the thermal stability of the polymer, as shown by the thermogravimetry (TGA). Polysulfone (PSF) was blended with CA-HBA in various compositions to produce highly thermal and effective membranes for water treatment applications. The fabricated membranes (CA–HBA/PSF) (5:95) (10:90) (15:85) were found to exhibit high thermal stabilities. The CA–HBA/PSF 15:85 membrane exhibited the highest efficiency towards the removal of Cu (II) ions, while the 5:95 membrane exhibited the highest salt rejection (89%).

HEMA-free versus HEMA-containing adhesive systems: a systematic review

BackgroundHydrophilic monomer 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-free adhesive systems are gaining increasing popularity nowadays. Although the addition of HEMA to dental adhesives improves dentin wettability and resin diffusion into demineralized collagen fibrils, HEMA’s high hydrophilicity can lead to hydrolytic degradation of the adhesive interface. Thus, HEMA-free adhesive systems have been developed. Unfortunately, the lack of HEMA in the adhesive composition may lead to a separation phase between hydrophobic and hydrophilic components. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the clinical performance of HEMA-free adhesive systems and compare them with HEMA-containing ones.MethodsAn electronic search of The National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE/PubMed) was conducted. Eligibility criteria were reporting empirical data from clinical studies published between 2013 and 2023 about the clinical performance of HEMA-free adhesive systems for direct resin composite restorations. Studies with at least 2-year clinical follow-up done in permanent dentition in any form of cavities were selected. The included studies were assessed for risk of bias using the modified Cochrane Collaboration tool criteria.ResultsThe database search returned 147 studies; a total of 7 studies were included in this review; the majority of studies reported no significant difference between the two types of adhesives for the parameter of retention.ConclusionsHEMA-free adhesive systems exhibited good clinical performance with regard to retention. There was some concern about their influence on marginal adaptation and marginal discoloration due to the conflicted results reported by the included trials. Thus, the results need to be confirmed with long-term evaluations.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42023448952.

Synthesis and Properties of Biodegradable Copolyester with Phenyl Side Groups

AbstractPoly(butylene adipate terephthalate) (PBAT) is a biodegradable copolyester that has garnered significant attention in recent years. However, its application is limited by low tensile strength and elastic modulus. Current research focuses on copolymerization modifications aimed at enhancing PBAT's performance. In this study, a novel copolyester with phenyl side groups, poly(butylene‐co‐3‐phenoxy‐1,2‐propylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBPAT), is synthesized via melt polycondensation. The impact of varying amounts of the fourth monomer, 3‐phenoxy‐1,2‐propylene glycol (PPDO), on the copolyester's properties is investigated. FTIR and NMR spectroscopy confirm the structure and composition of PBPAT. The molecular weight, thermal properties, mechanical properties, processing characteristics, and hydrophilicity of the copolymers are comprehensively evaluated. The results indicate that PPDO does not affect the crystal structure of PBAT. However, the performance of PBPAT is significantly influenced by the PPDO content, which the optimal mechanical properties are achieved with 12.5% PPDO, demonstrating a tensile strength of 26.1 MPa and an elastic modulus of 220.6 MPa. Furthermore, PBPAT copolyesters exhibit high crystallinity, heat resistance, good hydrophilicity, and superior processability. The novel PBPAT copolyester offers enhanced performance characteristics and holds potential for replace commercial PBAT, thereby expanding the application scope of biodegradable materials.

Synthesis and Characterization of Polysulfone/Peat Clay Hollow Fibre Membranes: The Effect of Composition and Morphology

In this work, Synthesis of polysulfone (PSf) hydrophilic ultrafiltration membrane was prepared by addiction of Peat Clay (PC) as additive via phase inversion method. The polysulfone dope solution was loading by varied calcined peat clay composition, namely 0, 2, 4, and 6 wt%. Therefore, this study aims to study the influence of peat clay on the morphology and efficiency of the modified membranes studied. The prepared peat clay particles and membranes are all characterized by various physicochemical techniques such as Water Contact Angle (WCA), porosity, water absorption, FTIR, XRF, SEM, water flux. The characterization analysis on peat clay used in this study showed a higher value of silica components of 64.4492 wt%. The experimental results showed that the modified membrane showed high hydrophilicity the contact angle of water from 96.31° to 55.97°. The ability of water absorption increased to 42.71%, and membrane porosity increased from 23.66% to 45.63%. Whereas in SEM in the PSf membrane with the addition of peat clay, the top layer is solid with a higher thickness than without the addition of peat clay. The characteristics of the membrane show that the functional group in the addition of peat clay in the absorption of Si-OH and Si-O-Si, but there is a decrease in pure water flux (up to 3.61 kg.m-2.h-1) compared to pure membranes. Based on the results obtained, PSf-Peat Clay hollow fibre membrane shows potential as an innovative water reclamation technology.

Preparation of sulfur-doped porous carbon from polyphenylene sulfide waste for photothermal conversion materials to achieve solar-driven water evaporation.

In recent years, solar-driven photothermal water evaporation technology for seawater desalination and wastewater treatment has developed rapidly, which is of great significance for addressing the issue of freshwater scarcity. However, due to the high costs associated with the manufacturing, maintenance, and operation of such devices, their application remains challenging in remote and resource-scarce regions. Due to its excellent light absorption capability in the near-infrared region, high hydrophilicity, and stable chemical properties, coupled with the low cost of recycling waste carbonized polyphenylene sulfide, this material is an excellent choice as a photothermal material for solar-driven water evaporation devices. Ordinary wood in nature usually has a highly regenerative porous structure, which is a natural water transport channel that facilitates the transport of water from the bottom to the top, allowing it to be rapidly converted into vapor. Based on this characteristic, this article innovatively proposes to prepare waste polyphenylene sulfide from porous carbonized materials (KCP) as the photothermal conversion material for novel photothermal water evaporation devices, achieving solar-driven water evaporation. This material efficiently facilitates the conversion between solar and thermal energies and exhibits excellent hydrophilicity, thereby enabling the rapid utilization of absorbed solar energy for water evaporation on the surface of the evaporator. In this study, a porous carbonized polyphenylene sulfide photothermal water evaporator (KCP-wood) was fabricated by using freeze-drying and in situ coating to load the photothermal conversion material onto a wood substrate. Under simulated one-sun irradiation, this evaporator achieved a water evaporation rate of 2.41 kg m-2 h-1 and a photothermal conversion efficiency of 91.3%. Additionally, a systematic study was conducted on the photothermal performance of various light-water evaporators, encompassing photothermal conversion efficiency, stability, thermal conductivity, and anti-fouling capabilities. Finally, the practical performance of the light-water evaporator under various environmental conditions was validated, demonstrating its excellent stability and durability. It is capable of effectively applying to high-efficiency water resource utilization and solar energy conversion fields.

Simultaneous Profiling of Multiple Phosphorylated Metabolites in Typical Biological Matrices via Ion-Pair Reversed-Phase Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry.

Simultaneous analysis of multiple phosphorylated metabolites (phosphorylated metabolome) in biological samples is vital to reveal their physiological and pathophysiological functions, which is extremely challenging due to their low abundance in some biological matrices, high hydrophilicity, and poor chromatographic behavior. Here, we developed a new method with ion-pair reversed-phase ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry using BEH C18 columns modified with hybrid surface technology. This method demonstrated good performances for various phosphorylated metabolites, including phosphorylated sugars and amino acids, nucleotides, NAD-based cofactors, and acyl-CoAs in a single run using standard LC systems. Specifically, the method showed good retention (capacity factor > 2) and reproducibility (ΔtR < 0.09 min, n = 6), peak symmetry (tailing factor < 2), and sensitivity (limit-of-detection < 238 fmol-on-column with QTOFMS) for all tested analytes especially for the medium- and/or long-chain acyl-CoAs. The method demonstrated reproducible applicability across numerous biological matrices, including tissue (liver), human biofluids (urine, plasma), cells, and feces, and revealed significant molecular phenotypic differences in phosphorylated metabolite composition.

Genome-Wide Identification, Phylogenetic Evolution, and Abiotic Stress Response Analyses of the Late Embryogenesis Abundant Gene Family in the Alpine Cold-Tolerant Medicinal Notopterygium Species.

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are a class of proteins associated with osmotic regulation and plant tolerance to abiotic stress. However, studies on the LEA gene family in the alpine cold-tolerant herb are still limited, and the phylogenetic evolution and biological functions of its family members remain unclear. In this study, we conducted genome-wide identification, phylogenetic evolution, and abiotic stress response analyses of LEA family genes in Notopterygium species, alpine cold-tolerant medicinal herbs in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and adjacent regions. The gene family identification analysis showed that 23, 20, and 20 LEA genes were identified in three Notopterygium species, N. franchetii, N. incisum, and N. forrestii, respectively. All of these genes can be classified into six LEA subfamilies: LEA_1, LEA_2, LEA_5, LEA_6, DHN (Dehydrin), and SMP (seed maturation protein). The LEA proteins in the three Notopterygium species exhibited significant variations in the number of amino acids, physical and chemical properties, subcellular localization, and secondary structure characteristics, primarily demonstrating high hydrophilicity, different stability, and specific subcellular distribution patterns. Meanwhile, we found that the members of the same LEA subfamily shared similar exon-intron structures and conserved motifs. Interestingly, the chromosome distributions of LEA genes in Notopterygium species were scattered. The results of the collinearity analysis indicate that the expansion of the LEA gene family is primarily driven by gene duplication. A Ka/Ks analysis showed that paralogous gene pairs were under negative selection in Notopterygium species. A promoter cis-acting element analysis showed that most LEA genes possessed multiple cis-elements connected to plant growth and development, stress response, and plant hormone signal transduction. An expression pattern analysis demonstrated the species-specific and tissue-specific expression of NinLEAs. Experiments on abiotic stress responses indicated that the NinLEAs play a crucial role in the response to high-temperature and drought stresses in N. franchetii leaves and roots. These results provide novel insights for further understanding the functions of the LEA gene family in the alpine cold-tolerant Notopterygium species and also offer a scientific basis for in-depth research on the abiotic stress response mechanisms and stress-resistant breeding.

Facile Preparation of Sulfonated Polysulfone Composite Membranes with High Hydrophilicity and Visible-Light Driving Self-Cleaning Performance.

The photo-Fenton reaction can efficiently degrade organic pollutants and thus is applied intensively for clearing out membrane fouling. However, the pollutant removal efficiency is greatly limited by the redox cycle rate of Fe2+/Fe3+ and the rapid recombination rate of the photogenerated electrons and holes. In order to overcome these drawbacks, a sulfonated polysulfone composite membrane was designed and prepared by incorporating titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles into a sulfonated polysulfone membrane and sequentially forming β-FeOOHs on the membrane surface. It was found that the synergy of TiO2 and β-FeOOH enhanced the hydrophilicity and improved the pure water flux of the composite membrane. As a result, the composite membrane exhibited superior separation performance for methylene blue and rhodamine B cationic dyes. The rejection rate was larger than 99.5%, and the pure water flux was larger than 125.7 L m-2 h-1, largely surpassing that of nanofiltration membranes. Meanwhile, the composite membrane exhibited an excellent self-cleaning performance, achieving a flux recovery rate over 99.7% after visible-light driving Fenton reaction treatment. The rejection rate still remained above 97.2% after 5 cycles of filtration and recovery, indicating the strong treatment ability of the membrane for dye wastewater.

Kombucha Versus Vegetal Cellulose for Affordable Mucoadhesive (nano)Formulations.

Cellulose nanofibers gained increasing interest in the production of medical devices such as mucoadhesive nanohydrogels due to their ability to retain moisture (high hydrophilicity), flexibility, superior porosity and durability, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and biocompatibility. In this work, we aimed to compare the suitability of selected bacterial and vegetal nanocellulose to form hydrogels for biomedical applications. The vegetal and bacterial cellulose nanofibers were synthesized from brewer's spent grains (BSG) and kombucha membranes, respectively. Two hydrogels were prepared, one based on the vegetal and the other based on the bacterial cellulose nanofibers (VNC and BNC, respectively). VNC was less opaque and more fluid than BNC. The cytocompatibility and in vitro antioxidant activity of the nanocellulose-based hydrogels were investigated using human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1, ATCC CRL-2014). The investigation of the hydrogel-mucin interaction revealed that the BNC hydrogel had an approx. 2× higher mucin binding efficiency than the VNC hydrogel at a hydrogel/mucin ratio (mg/mg) = 4. The BNC hydrogel exhibited the highest potential to increase the number of metabolically active viable cells (107.60 ± 0.98% of cytotoxicity negative control) among all culture conditions. VNC reduced the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by about 23% (105.5 ± 2.2% of C-) in comparison with the positive control, whereas the ROS level was slightly higher (120.2 ± 3.9% of C-) following the BNC hydrogel treatment. Neither of the two hydrogels showed antibacterial activity when assessed by the diffusion method. The data suggest that the BNC hydrogel based on nanocellulose from kombucha fermentation could be a better candidate for cytocompatible and mucoadhesive nanoformulations than the VNC hydrogel based on nanocellulose from brewer's spent grains. The antioxidant and antibacterial activity of BNC and both BNC and VNC, respectively, should be improved.

Design of Fluorinated Poly(Ether‐Pyridine) Films for Impedimetric Detection of Heavy Metal Ions

ABSTRACTA series of fluorinated poly(ether‐pyridine)s were synthesized via polycondensation of bis‐perfluoropyridine with either bisphenol A (BPA) or isosorbide, a bio‐sourced diol. The polymers were characterized using 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy, and their molecular weights were determined using GPC. Thermal properties were assessed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The presence of isosorbide in polymer P2 increases the glass transition temperature and results in a lower molecular weight and a higher hydrophilicity. On the other hand, polymer P3, based on BPA, shows the best thermal stability, the highest molecular weight, and the most pronounced hydrophobic character. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to evaluate the modified gold electrodes for the selective detection of metal ions. Among the four target ions (Ni2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, and Hg2+), defined by the European Water Framework Directive, Pb2+ was selectively detected on the hydrophilic polymer P2, while Cd2+ was selectively detected on the hydrophobic polymer P3. The achieved detection limits were 5 × 10−11 M, corresponding to 10 ng/L for Pb2+ and 5.6 ng/L for Cd2+, respectively.

Development of essential oil diffusion matrices using non-ionic surfactants-supported NADES and hydrophobic NADES.

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) represent a significant advance in green chemistry, offering an eco-friendly alternative to conventional organic solvents for applications in extraction, reaction media, and formulations. This study explores the application of NADES in essential oil formulations, using lavender essential oil (LEO) to investigate the solubilization and release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Two distinct NADES formulations were evaluated: hydrophilic NADES combined with surfactants, and hydrophobic NADES. The results show that hydrophilic NADES, when combined with non-ionic surfactants, form stable emulsions that effectively solubilize and release LEO's VOCs, overcoming the high hydrophilicity limitation of NADES. Headspace analysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified 25 VOCs, with differential components analyzed through orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). VOCs were well-clustered in OPLS-DA and principal component analysis (PCA), with five clearly differentiated groups (C, N1, N3, N5, and N9). However, challenges remain, particularly in the solubilization and gradual release of VOCs. In contrast, hydrophobic NADES demonstrated a controlled release mechanism, effectively encapsulating and steadily releasing VOCs, making them advantageous for sustained fragrance delivery. The study further emphasizes the importance of the Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) in NADES formulations, showing that adjusting HLB through surfactant concentrations significantly influences VOC release dynamics. In conclusion, this research highlights the potential of NADES as efficient, eco-friendly solvent systems for essential oil applications. By providing insights into optimizing NADES compositions for specific solubility and release profiles, the study identifies both challenges and opportunities, paving the way for further advancements in green chemistry.

Dual-fluorescent starch biopolymer films containing 5-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amine powder as a functional nanofiller

Physical and photophysical properties of starch-based biopolymer films containing 5-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amine (NTA) powder as a nanofiller were examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), stationary UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as resonance light scattering (RLS) and time-resolved measurements, and where possible, analyzed with reference to pristine NTA solutions. AFM studies revealed that the addition of NTA into the starch biopolymer did not significantly affect surface roughness, with all examined films displaying similar Sq values ranging from 70.7 nm to 79.7 nm. Similarly, Young’s modulus measurements showed no significant changes after incorporating the 1,3,4-thiadiazole. Adhesion force and water contact angle assessments demonstrated that the films maintained high hydrophilicity (water wetting) across all examined films. Color analysis corroborated the anticipated trend, showing that increasing additive content resulted in decreased lightness and increased yellowness. Interestingly, however, while in polar isopropanol solvent at low concentration, NTA shows a typical single-band emission, centered at 410 nm and a slight enhancement of the band on the long-wavelength side around 530 nm, its incorporation into the biopolymer matrices results in the appearance of dual fluorescence signal with maxima at 430 and 530 nm. Concentration-dependence emission experiments, demonstrating that with even a slight increase of the amount of NTA in solution, an additional, weak long-wavelength emission band emerged within the spectral range corresponding to the intensive band in the biopolymer film, along with results of the performed quantum-chemical studies, including both the monomeric and aggregated (dimer and trimer) models, conclusively unveil that the dual fluorescence observed in starch/NTA films is due to molecular aggregation effects resulting in aggregation-induced emission. This study underscores the potential of NTA as an additive in biobased polymer films, furnishing them with new photophysical features without substantially altering their surface properties and thus enabling their extended applications.

Thermal Resistance Enhancement and Wettability Amelioration of Poly(benzimidazole-aramid) Film by Silica Nanocomposites.

Polybenzimidazole (PBI) is a high-performance polymer known for its excellent thermal stability, mechanical strength, and chemical resistance, attributes that are derived from its unique structure comprising repeated benzene and imidazole rings. However, limitations such as relatively low thermal stability and moisture sensitivity restrict its application as a super engineering plastic. In this study, amide groups are incorporated into the PBI backbone to synthesize the copolymer poly(BI-co-A), effecting a structural modification at the molecular level. Additionally, silica nanospheres were composited into the poly(BI-co-A) film to further enhance its thermal performance. The resulting composite films exhibited remarkable thermal stability, with the temperature for 10% weight loss reaching as high as 761 °C. To address increased water absorption due to the high hydrophilicity of hydroxyl groups on the silica nanospheres' surface, a dehydration treatment was applied in an electric furnace. This treatment produced a highly thermoresistant poly(BI-co-A) nanocomposite film with reduced wettability, making it suitable for applications in humid environments.

First preclinical SPECT/CT imaging and biodistribution of [165Er]ErCl3 and [165Er]Er-PSMA-617

Background165Er (t1/2 = 10.4 h, Ex-ray = 47.1 keV (59.4%) and 54.3 keV (14.3%)) is a promising radionuclide suitable for targeted Auger electron therapy of cancer. 165Er can be produced at a relatively low cost, high yield, and high purity using small medical cyclotrons. As a late lanthanide, 165Er is easy to label and can be used as a surrogate for other lanthanides or Ac in proof-of-concept studies. In this report, we explore the radiochemistry, in vitro, and in vivo behavior of [165Er]ErCl3 and [165Er]Er-PSMA-617 to showcase the application of this radionuclide. Particularly, we report the first phantom and preclinical SPECT imaging of this radionuclide leveraging its characteristic X-ray photon emissions.ResultsThe 165Ho(p,n)165Er nuclear reaction using a 13 MeV cyclotron demonstrated production yields of up to 25 ± 5 MBq. µA−1 h−1 at the end of the bombardment. After the purification (4.0 ± 0.5 h) using a sequential combination of cation exchange and extraction chromatography, 4-h irradiation produced up to 1.5 GBq of [165Er]ErCl3. High molar activity [165Er]Er-PSMA-617 was prepared (~ 200 MBq/nmol). [165Er]Er-PSMA-617 showed a LogD7.4 value of -2.34 ± 0.24 meaning high hydrophilicity of the complex as expected. The stability of [165Er]Er-PSMA-617 in saline, human, and mouse serum was studied and showed intact tracer after 12 h in all three cases. [165Er]ErCl3 and [165Er]Er-PSMA-617 were both taken up by LNCaP cells. PSMA-617 has IC50 at nanomolar range for [165Er]Er-PSMA-617 in LNCaP cells. SPECT images with preclinical phantoms showed good uniformity, spatial resolution, and quantitative accuracy. SPECT/CT imaging in LNCaP tumor-bearing mice injected with [165Er]Er-PSMA-617 showed high tumor uptake and quantitative accuracy when comparing the results to ex vivo biodistribution %IA/g values. Mice injected with [165Er]ErCl3 showed uptake in bone structures and excretion through both liver and kidneys.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated the preclinical use of 165Er for the first time. Using [165Er]ErCl3 and [165Er]Er-PSMA-617 as examples, the radiochemistry, cell, and animal studies showed that 165Er can be used as a tool for evaluating targeted radiopharmaceuticals. The X-ray emission from 165Er can be used for quantitative SPECT imaging in mice.

Polysulfone-Based Membranes Modified with Ionic Liquids and Silica for Potential Fuel Cell Applications.

The urgent need for sustainable, low-emission energy solutions has positioned proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) as a promising technology in clean energy conversion. Polysulfone (PSF) membranes with incorporated ionic liquid (IL) and hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane-functionalized silica (SiO2-PDMS) were developed and characterized for their potential application in PEMFCs. Using a phase inversion method, membranes with various combinations of PSFs, SiO2-PDMS, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium triflate (BMI.TfO) (1-10 wt%) were prepared and characterized to assess their morphology, porosity, wettability, ionic conductivity, and thermal stability. Incorporating IL significantly altered the membrane structure, increasing porosity and surface roughness, while SiO2-PDMS enhanced IL retention, reducing leakage by up to 32%. Proton conductivity increased by up to 30 times compared to pure PSF, and membranes exhibited high hydrophilicity at optimal IL concentrations. This work highlights the potential of IL and silica-based membranes for practical applications in PEMFCs.

Fabrication of nanocellulose-based high-mechanical and super-hydrophobic xerogels for speedy oil absorbents

Cellulose-based porous materials are promising for various fields and preferred for sustainable development. However, the low mechanical properties and high hydrophilicity of cellulose-based xerogels had a direct influence on their application in oil absorption. To address the challenge, an environmentally friendly and economical method for synthesizing MTMS/C0.2-TOCN0.9 xerogels with high hydrophobicity and excellent mechanical strength was successfully established. In this work, shape-recoverable using nanocellulose (TOCN)-based xerogels with porous structure (porosity of 91.5–98.7 %), as well as excellent hydrophobic properties were prepared by TOCN-stabilized wet foams with physical crosslinking, ice crystal-induced phase separation and MTMS modification through simple air-drying instead of the traditional freeze-drying. At the optimized ingredients of TOCN and crosslinker (Ca2+), the xerogel (MTMS/C0.2-TOCN0.9) exhibited superior compressive performance (approximately 35 KPa) and exceptional structural stability after 50 cycles at a compression deflection of 60 %, which was still maintained at 71.5 % of the original stress. Moreover, the MTMS/C0.2-TOCN0.9 xerogel achieved stable superhydrophobicity (128.3°) and excellent oil absorption capacity (59.6 g/g), rendering it a desirable adsorbent for oil spill cleaning. Compared to the pseudo-first-order model, the pseudo-secondary model had higher validity in oil absorption kinetic theories. The MTMS/C0.2-TOCN0.9 xerogel was recyclable and nontoxic, which has the potential to promote environmental applications.

Dissolving alginate-based blend microneedles with enhanced mechanical performance for transdermal delivery of vitamin B12

Transdermal delivery of vitamin B12 (Vit-B12) is challenging due to its high hydrophilicity and molecular weight that limit permeation through the skin. Polymeric microneedles (MNs) have been demonstrated to facilitate enhanced transdermal delivery of various drugs with different properties, by piercing the outermost layer of the skin barrier in a minimally-invasive manner. Although sodium alginate (SA) has been widely investigated and used for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications, MNs made of pure SA, exhibit poor mechanical properties. Therefore, this study investigates the effect of incorporating different excipients into SA MNs, to enhance their insertion ability and mechanical performance, by a modified vacuum deposition micromolding method. Among these, poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-containing SA MNs at a ratio of 1:8 show improved mechanical strength with minimal height reduction (< 10%) at all tested forces, and higher insertion capabilities into a skin-simulant parafilm model (> 65% in the second layer), compared to control SA MNs. Consequently, Vit-B12 was successfully loaded and concentrated into the MN shafts of the lead formulations, by the addition of hydroxypropyl cellulose to the baseplate. Vit-B12 MNs were characterized by means of fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements, drug loading and dissolution kinetics. The MNs exhibited adequate mechanical properties and a complete drug release within 30 min, while a considerable fraction was released after few minutes. The present study shows promising findings regarding the potential use of SA in the preparation of dissolving MNs with enhanced mechanical performance for transdermal delivery of Vit-B12. However, further preclinical investigations are necessary to comprehensively evaluate their therapeutic efficacy. Additionally, this work suggests that alginate-based blend MNs may have a potential application in the delivery of other hydrophilic and large compounds for improved therapeutic outcomes.

Fabrication of hydrophobic cellulosic paper via physical vapor deposition of alkenyl succinic anhydride.

While plant fibers are abundant and biodegradable natural polymers, their high hydrophilicity often limits their applicability. To broaden the applicability of plant fiber materials across diverse fields, the present study employed cellulosic paper as a substrate and alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) as a low surface free energy material to fabricate a series of hydrophobic cellulosic papers (ASAP, ASA-P@Si, ASA-P@Ca, and ASA-P@Ti) through surface coating and physical vapor deposition of ASA. The results demonstrated that, in comparison to uncoated cellulosic paper, the coated variants exhibited significantly improved hydrophobicity. Notably, ASA-P@Si demonstrated superior hydrophobic performance with a contact angle of 140.90° and a sizing degree of 7.2s, thereby meeting the requirements for specific fine paper grades. In contrast to the traditional ASA internal sizing process, the method in this study necessitates only approximately one-tenth of the conventional ASA internal sizing agent to achieve or even exceed the hydrophobic properties of paper attainable with ASA inter sizing process. Furthermore, the mechanism through which hydrophobic properties are conferred to paper can be elucidated by its surface roughness and low surface free energy, distinguishing it from the traditional ASA internal sizing approach.