Hydrophilic Character Research Articles

Highly selective alginate/CuO mixed matrix membranes for efficient dehydration pervaporation of various organic solvents

Pervaporation is an energy-efficient technique for dehydrating organic solvents from aqueous mixtures. To develop a highly selective pervaporation membrane with broad usage, we incorporated three types of CuO particles (solid CuO-S, sea urchin-like CuO-U, and porous CuO-P) into sodium alginate (Alg) for fabricating the Alg/CuO mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The CuO syntheses and membrane preparation are simple and eco-friendly. The synthesized particles and membranes were systematically characterized. The improved hydrophilic feature of Alg/CuO MMMs was validated from the reduced water contact angle and higher water swelling ratio with increasing CuO wt%. When the Alg/CuO MMMs were applied to the pervaporation of 30 wt% water/isopropanol (IPA) at 25 ℃, both the permeation flux and separation factor were enhanced significantly compared to the pure Alg membrane. The separation efficiency followed the order of Alg/CuO-S MMMs < Alg/CuO-U MMMs < Alg/CuO-P MMMs, in good agreement with their water swelling tendency. The incorporation of 3 wt% porous CuO-P particles in MMM achieved the optimal dehydration efficacy (normalized total flux of 3.5 kg m-2h−1, separation factor of ca. 5000, and water purity of 99.96 wt%, with a stable performance over 168 h). A further larger loading wt% led to a decreased separation selectivity due to more void formation from particle aggregation. With an increase in feed temperature, both the permeation flux and separation factor were improved; however, the increase in feed water concentration deteriorated the separation selectivity while enhancing the flux. Furthermore, the high selectivity and broad applicability of Alg/3% CuO-P MMM were fruitfully demonstrated by exhibiting superior separation efficiencies in dehydrating various polar aprotic solvents compared with several membranes discussed in the literature.

Flexible all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor based on Ti3C2Tx MXene/graphene/carbon nanotubes

As the emerging 2D materials, MXenes have been regarded as promising electrode materials in supercapacitor as power supply for wearable and portable electronic devices due to their metallic conductivity, hydrophilic feature, abundant functional groups, and large theoretical specific surface area etc. The capacity and rate capability of MXene-based electrodes is limited by the sheet restacking, hindering their further development. Herein, Ti3C2Tx MXene/graphene/carbon nanotubes (MXene/graphene/CNTs) flexible film was successfully fabricated by vacuum assisted filtration. Intercalation and confinement of graphene and carbon nanotubes between the Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets could increase the spacing and specific surface area, alleviate the stacking of MXene nanosheets, thus enhancing the electrochemical properties. The prepared MXene/graphene/CNTs film possesses increased specific surface area, average pore size, pore volume (112.259 m2g−1, 9.982 nm, 0.276 cm3g−1), compared to MXene (93.088 m2g−1, 3.786 nm, 0.088 cm3g−1). Consequently, MXene/graphene/CNTs delivers high area specific capacitance of 1862.5 mF cm−2 at 1 mA cm−2 and excellent rate capability (1525 mF cm−2, 81.88 % at 20 mA cm−2). Flexible asymmetric supercapacitor constructed with MXene/graphene/CNTs film and active carbon as positive and negative electrodes, and PVA/H2SO4 gel as solid electrolyte, achieves an energy density of 133.75 μWh cm−2 at the power density of 750 μW cm−2. In addition, there is still 94.9 % of the initial performance after cycling 8000 charge/discharge cycles at 10 mA cm−2, corresponding to a single-turn decay rate down to 0.00019 %. Besides, this flexible supercapacitor manifests outstanding electrochemical stability at different bending times. These advantages make the flexible supercapacitor device very promising for wearable electronics applications.

Bamboo belts with variable fiber cell angles for winding applications: Development of a novel manufacturing technique and assessment of performance feasibility

In response to the environmental impacts of synthetic fiber production and disposal, coupled with limitations in the existing continuous processing methods for plant fibers, this study proposed a novel manufacturing approach for preparing wide and continuous bamboo winding belts. The current application scenarios of bamboo belt winding products are limited because the reinforcement orientation cannot be optimized due to the inherent stiffness of bamboo belts, and the variety of bamboo belt types is limited. This study employed two representative types of bamboo belts: bamboo slivers and thin bamboo veneers, which had varying cross-sectional aspect ratios. Verification demonstrated that this method enabled the production of bamboo winding products with any reinforcement orientations ranging from 0 radians to π radians. This addressed the challenge of optimizing reinforcement orientation in bamboo winding products and was anticipated to broaden the application of this method to other winding units with unidirectional reinforcement. Additionally, the performance feasibility of the two bamboo winding belts prepared using this method was evaluated in terms of microstructure, surface wettability, and mechanical properties. The bamboo slivers and thin bamboo veneers, with their rigid-flexible structure, hydrophilicity, and non-catastrophic fracture characteristics, enhanced their winding potential. These wide, continuous, and rigid-flexible features of the bamboo winding belts held promise for their expanded applications in bamboo winding products, thus promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly manufacturing practices.

Tuning the Properties of Polyvinylidene Fluoride/Alkali Lignin Membranes to Develop a Biocatalytic Membrane Reactor for an Organophosphorus Pesticide Degradation.

It has been observed that the immobilization of a phosphotriesterase enzyme (PTE) onto polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes significantly decreased the enzyme activity, and this negative effect was attributed to the hydrophobic character of the membrane. The indirect indication of this reason was that the same enzyme immobilized on other membrane materials bearing hydrophilic character showed better performance. In this work, we provide direct evidence of the mechanism by immobilizing a PTE on a PVDF membrane hydrophilized by blending it with alkali lignin (AL). The PTE was immobilized on PVDF membrane by a covalent bond with the same procedure used in earlier studies to attribute changes in enzyme activity solely to the wettability properties (and not to the material chemistry). The activity of the PTE immobilized on the PVDF membrane hydrophilized with AL was 50% higher than that of the enzyme immobilized on the PVDF hydrophobic membrane. Further improvements of the membrane structure tailored for the development of a biocatalytic membrane reactor (BMR) were also promoted. In particular, the performance of the BMR was studied as a function of the thickness of the membrane, which allowed us to modulate the residence time into the enzyme-loaded membrane pores while maintaining the flow rate through the pores at a constant.

Towards ultra-stable and dendrite-suppressed Li-metal batteries: Ion-regulating graphene-modified separators

The practical application of metallic lithium (Li) anodes is hindered by nonuniform Li deposition/dissolution, as well as poor electrochemical reversibility during cycling. To address these challenges, surface modification of polymer separators with functional materials has been extensively explored. In this study, two distinct surface-modifying layers composed of MnOx and polydopamine (PDA) are applied to modify the surface of graphene-coated polypropylene separators (G@PP). Both MnOx and PDA, which are formed through the graphene layer, significantly enhance the intrinsic electrolyte wettability of G@PP, resulting in a homogeneous Li-ion flux. Furthermore, the lithiophilic properties revealed by DFT and COMSOL analyses synergize with the hydrophilic characteristics, resulting in a more stable electrochemical performance in Li-metal batteries (LMBs). The enhanced electrolyte permeability of the coating layer allows Li–Cu cells with MnOx-modified graphene-coated PP (MG@PP) and PDA-modified graphene-coated PP (PG@PP) separators to exhibit significantly improved cycle stability compared with Li–Cu cells with G@PP separators. Interestingly, Li–S cells equipped with MG@PP and PG@PP separators exhibit also enhanced electrochemical performance compared with Li–S cells with G@PP separators. These results highlight that surface engineering of separator-coating materials along with hydrophilic and lithiophilic materials enhances both long-term cycle stability and electrochemical kinetics in LMBs.

Metal(triphenylphosphine)-atovaquone Complexes: Synthesis, Antimalarial Activity, and Suppression of Heme Detoxification.

To ascertain the bioinorganic chemistry of metals conjugated with quinones, the complexes [Ag(ATV)(PPh3)2] (1), [Au(ATV)(PPh3)]·2H2O (2), and [Cu(ATV)(PPh3)2] (3) were synthesized by the coordination of the antimalarial naphthoquinone atovaquone (ATV) to the starting materials [Ag(PPh3)2]NO3, [Au(PPh3)Cl], and [Cu(PPh3)2NO3], respectively. These complexes were characterized by analytical and spectroscopical techniques. X-ray diffraction of single crystals precisely confirmed the coordination mode of ATV to the metals, which was monodentate or bidentate, depending on the metal center. Both coordination modes showed high stability in the solid state and in solution. All three complexes showed negative log D values at pH 5, but at pH 7.4, while complex 2 continued to have a negative log D value, complexes 1 and 3 displayed positive values, indicating a more hydrophilic character. ATV and complexes 1-3 could bind to ferriprotoporphyrin IX (FePPIX); however, only complexes 1-3 could inhibit β-hematin crystal formation. Phenotype-based activity revealed that all three metal complexes are able to inhibit the growth of P. falciparum with potency and selectivity comparable to those of ATV, while the starting materials lack this activity. The outcomes of this chemical design may provide significant insights into structure-activity relationships for the development of new antimalarial agents.

Insights of particle types on interface wear properties of different water-lubricated bearing materials

The particle types in lubricating medium are very important to the performance of friction interface. Three potential ship water-lubricated bearing materials (PBT, PEEK and Polyurethane composite 10. wt% carnauba wax (PUCW10)) were selected to carry out tribological tests in water environment with different particles (Al2O3, SiO2, sand or clays). The results show that all three materials showed significant friction coefficients and wear in water environment containing sand below 60 µm at 0.5 MPa and 150 r/min. and the surface hardness, hydrophilicity and particles characteristics affect the wear properties of samples. PUCW10 benefits from the wax layer formed by carnauba wax component on worn surface to avoid excessive wear, thereby obtaining better particle wear resistance and vibration reduction effect.

One-step E-Jet printing of loofah-like ZnO nanostructures by real-time laser zone irradiation

Loofah-like nanostructures have been applied in many fields because of their high specific surface area, high porosity, and low density. Developing additive manufacturing methods for loofah-like nanostructures remains a challenge. This paper proposed a novel E-Jet nanoprinting method with real-time laser zone irradiation, for one-step fabricating of loofah-like ZnO nanostructures. The combination of laser irradiation and electrohydrodynamic effect had been proved in detail by adding laser irradiation to the traditional E-Jet printing process. Printable ZnO inks were prepared. The numerical model of the jetting under the combination of flow field and electric field; and the model of the interaction between laser and printing structure were established respectively. The laser beam irradiated the printing structure in real-time to rapidly absorb energy, resulting in thermal expansion and thermal decomposition. The shock wave generated by laser irradiation induced the physical fragmentation and redistribution of particles in the printed structure. Printing at different laser powers was investigated; and the loofah-like ZnO nanostructures, down to the scale of ∼90 nm, have been directly printed without post-processing. The characteristic morphology and hydrophilic characteristics of the printed structure were studied. This study provided a new way for green and efficient additive fabrication of loofah-like nanostructures, which was of significance for the development of nanofabrication and nanodevices.

Positive-Charge-Based Small Molecule Dyes for Gut Microbiota Fluorescent Imaging.

As one of the research hotspots in recent years, gut microbiota have been proven to be closely related to host metabolism, nutrient absorption, and immune regulation. However, there are still many urgent issues in the research of gut microbiota, such as the localization and tracking of gut microbiota. In this research, two new fluorescent probes, EF and 6F, were developed by optimizing the structure of the positron salt small molecule probe F16. In vitro labeling experiments showed that EF and 6F can quickly label Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Lactobacillus reuteri, as well as Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Salmonella pullorum. Meanwhile, EF and 6F have little bacterial toxicity and are used at a maximum concentration of 200 μM. Compared with EF, 6F has better hydrophilicity and stronger fluorescence characteristics in aqueous solutions, making it more suitable for imaging within gut microbiota populations. The results of in vivo imaging experiments indicate that EF and 6F can label and image the intestinal microbiota colonized by the mouse intestinal mucosal epithelium without causing any damage to intestinal tissue. Compared with commercially available MitoTracker dyes and fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate (FITC) dyes, EF and 6F exhibit better biocompatibility. Therefore, the compounds EF and 6F synthesized in this study are novel small molecule probes suitable for imaging gut microbiota, providing a better probe selection for exploring complex gut microbiota.

Characterization of a Novel Monoclonal Antibody with High Affinity and Specificity against Aflatoxins: A Discovery from Rosetta Antibody-Ligand Computational Simulation.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) accumulates in crops, where it poses a threat to human health. To detect AFB1, anti-AFB1 monoclonal antibodies have been developed and are widely used. While the sensitivity and specificity of these antibodies have been extensively studied, information regarding the atomic-level docking of AFB1 (and its derivatives) with these antibodies is limited. Such information is crucial for understanding the key interactions that are required for high affinity and specificity in aflatoxin binding. First, a 3D comparative model of anti-AFB1 antibody (Ab-4B5G6) was predicted from the sequence using RosettaAntibody. We then utilized RosettaLigand to dock AFB1 onto ten homology models, producing a total of 10,000 binding modes. Interestingly, the best-scoring mode predicted strong interactions involving four sites within the heavy chain: ALA33, ASN52, HIS95, and TRP99. Importantly, these strong binding interactions exclusively involve the variable domain of the heavy chain. The best-scoring mode with AFB1 was also obtained through AF multimer combined with RosettaLigand, and two interactions at TRP and HIS were consistent with those found by Rosetta antibody-ligand computational simulation. The role of tryptophan in π interactions in antibodies was confirmed through mutation experiments, and the resulting mutant (W99A) exhibited a >1000-fold reduction in binding affinity for AFB1 and analogs, indicating the effect of tryptophan on the stability of CDR-H3 region. Additionally, we evaluated the binding of two glycolic acid-derived molecular derivatives (with impaired hydrogen bonding potential), and these derivatives (AFB2-GA and AFG2-GA) demonstrated a very weak binding affinity for Ab-4B5G6. The heavy chain was successfully isolated, and its sensitivity and specificity were consistent with those of the intact antibody. The homology models of variable heavy (VH) single-domain antibodies were established by RosettaAntibody, and the docking analysis revealed the same residues, including Ala, His, and Trp. Compared to the potential binding mode of fragment variable (FV) region, the results from a model of VH indicated that there are seven models involved in hydrophobic interaction with TYR32, which is usually referred to as polar amino acid and has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic features depending on the circumstances. Our work encompasses the entire process of Rosetta antibody-ligand computational simulation, highlighting the significance of variable heavy domain structural design in enhancing molecular interactions.

Application of artificial intelligence sensor and visual image technology in the analysis of hydrophilic space landscape characteristics

With the continuous development of intelligent sensor technology and artificial intelligence, the application of artificial intelligence feature recognition at the level of intelligent sensor information acquisition to urban landscape analysis has become a current research trend and hot spot, but also brings us new research directions and challenges. In this paper, the multi-sensor collaborative filtering algorithm is optimized, and a method based on evidence theory is proposed to deal with the fuzzy and unclear information generated in the process of multi-sensor collaboration. Then, the analysis and recognition of multi-sensor fusion information using AI technology are analyzed in detail. This paper discusses the problems in multi-sensor information fusion and related solutions. Combined with the key nodes of 3D object AI feature recognition, multi-sensor collaborative Dempster Shafer evidence theory and 3D convolutional neural network waterfront space landscape feature recognition sub-model are constructed, and the waterfront space landscape recognition analysis model is tested and analyzed. The results show that the multi-sensor information collection Kalman filtering fusion algorithm effectively realizes the recognition of landscape feature information and the filtering of irrelevant interference information combined with an artificial intelligence algorithm to build a landscape feature recognition model. Among all kinds of landscape recognition, the recognition effect of beach inflow is the best, and the recognition accuracy, recall, and F1 value are all above 95. However, the identification effect of hydrophilic plank roads and underwater breakwater is relatively poor. The recognition accuracy of the hydrophilic platform is the lowest at 83.16 % among the eight landscape types, and the recall rate of underwater breakwater is the lowest at 79.96 % among the eight landscape types. In general, the multi-sensor Kalman filtering algorithm information fusion model designed in this paper has higher recognition accuracy and better classification performance for the collection and classification of the entire landscape dataset. The work of this paper provides a new idea and direction for the design and application of waterfront landscape identification and analysis systems based on intelligent sensors and artificial intelligence technology and lays a certain foundation for the intelligent design of urban waterfront landscapes.

Relationship between Roughness and Wettability of Nine Types of Implant Surfaces and Potential Interference of Surface Oxygen and Carbon: In Vitro Evaluation.

Aim: To assess the roughness and hydrophilicity of nine types of dental implant surfaces, while also examining the presence of contaminants carbon and oxygen on these surfaces. Furthermore, the study investigated potential correlations between these characteristics across the analyzed surfaces. Materials and Methods: The surfaces analyzed were as follows: MI: machined (turned), Implacil implant; TOI: blasted with titanium oxide, Implacil implant; TOAEI: blasted with titanium oxide and acid-etched, Implacil implant; ZAED: blasted with zirconia and acid-etched, DSP implant; CPD: coated with calcium phosphate, DSP implant; XD: subjected to an experimental treatment (patent pending), DSP implant; DAEHAS: double acid-etched and activated with hydroxyapatite nano-crystals, SIN implant; DAES: double acid-etched, SIN implant; and AMP: untreated surface of the Plenum implant, produced by additive manufacturing. Four and five disc-shaped specimens were used in the hydrophilicity and roughness assessments, respectively. Roughness was evaluated by optical profilometry and scanning electron microscopy; hydrophilicity was determined using the sessile-drop technique; and the chemical analysis was performed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The Kruskal- Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and Spearman correlation tests were employed to analyze the data (p < 0.10). Results: Significant differences were observed among the analyzed surfaces in terms of both roughness and hydrophilicity (p < 0.001). The surface exhibiting the highest roughness was AMP, whereas the greatest hydrophilicity was exhibited by CPD. Correlations between roughness and hydrophobicity were observed for MI (r = 0.936, p = 0.009), ZAED (r = 0.957, p = 0.004), and DAES (r = 0.964, p = 0.005). The carbon concentration observed on the CPD surface was lower than that observed on the other surfaces, whereas the oxygen concentrations were similar. No correlations were observed between the presence of contaminants and the roughness or hydrophilicity characteristics. Conclusion: Roughness and hydrophilicity values exhibited considerable variation among the tested surfaces. Aside from the CPD surface, comparable concentrations of carbon and oxygen were detected. Although correlations between roughness and hydrophilicity were observed only for the ZAED, DAES, and MI surfaces, these correlations were inadequate to establish a causal relationship between the two surface characteristics.

(Invited) Development of Cost-Effective Anion Exchange Membranes for Water Electrolyzers

Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) offers the possibility of combining the advantages of alkaline electrolyzers, which allows the use of cheap and plentiful catalytic materials, with those of proton exchange membrane electrolysis, such as high performance and fast response to changing operating conditions. However, the development of performing and durable anion exchange membranes is still the major challenge for the ultimate industrial adoption of AEMWE [1]. The anion-exchange membrane (AEM) is a crucial component that should allow good charge and water transport, i.e. high ionic conductivity, but should also guarantee good chemical, thermal, and mechanical stability.In this paper, commercial and innovative membranes, also based on a nanocomposite approach, are investigated in AEMWE in terms of performance and stability. Fumasep® FAA3-50 (FumaTech) and PiperIon® (Versogen) membranes were used as benchmark materials to compare the results obtained with the novel materials developed among the partners of an Italian project called AMPERE (FISR2019 call). An anion exchange membrane was synthesized from polysulphone (PSU), which was properly functionalized through the introduction of quaternary ammonium functionalities on the polymeric backbone (qPSU) by using an optimized synthetic procedure, to achieve adequate hydrophilicity features, while preserving its mechanical properties [2]. Furthermore, an innovative nanocomposite AEM based on trimethylammonium functionalized silica nanoscale ionic materials (NIM-N+) incorporated in quaternized polysulfone (qPSU) was developed and investigated [3].Other composite membranes including graphene oxide (GO) as the filler were analyzed to increase the ion conductivity and the stability of the membrane based on commercial Fumion® ionomer.Finally, the investigation comprised the very promising class of AEMs based on poly(aryl piperidiniums)s (PAPs), which combine a heteroatom-free backbone with the stable piperidinium cationic group. The simplest and less-expensive chemistry in this family is poly(biphenyl piperidinium), which was synthesized with suitable mechanical properties for use in water electrolyzers [4].An overview of the electrochemical results obtained with the above-mentioned AEMs in single-cell electrolyzers is presented and discussed.

Non‐Conductive and Conductive Washable Amylopectin‐Mastic Gum Adhesives for On‐Skin Applications

AbstractThe investigation of a skin adhesive based on amylopectin and mastic gum for attaching skin sensors are reported. The material provides reliable adhesion and is, at the same time, readily washable from the skin due to the hydrophilic character of the amylopectin compound. The effect of water and glycerol content on the adhesion properties in combination with polyimide‐based substrates is assessed and optimize the material for homogeneous and washable on‐skin applications. This results show that the adhesive material can withstand a shear stress of 88.7 ± 5.30 kPa in a lap shear test. The adhesive material can also be easily rendered conductive by adding sodium chloride. Impedance spectroscopy is performed on the conductive adhesive material to assess the impedance behavior during drying conditions over 24 h in comparison to commercial electrolyte gel. While the conductive adhesion material's initial impedance is slightly higher than the commercial gel, the long‐term assessment demonstrates a significantly improved stability over time. In conclusion, this study develops a skin adhesive combining amylopectin and mastic gum, demonstrating promising adhesion strength and conductivity properties, thus potentially addressing current stability challenges in skin‐sensor applications.

Antibacterial and antioxidant phlorizin-loaded nanofiber film effectively promotes the healing of burn wounds.

Burns usually result in damage and loss of skin forming irregular wound wounds. The lack of skin tissue protection makes the wound site highly vulnerable to bacterial infections, hindering the healing process. However, commonly used wound dressings do not readily provide complete coverage of irregular wounds compared to regular wounds. Therefore, there is an urgent need to prepare a wound dressing with high antimicrobial efficacy for the administration of drugs to irregular wounds. In this study, a chitosan (CS)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) composite nanofiber membrane (CS/PVP/Phlorizin) loaded with root bark glycosides (Phlorizin) was developed using an electrostatic spinning technique. The incorporation of phlorizin, a natural antioxidant, into the fiber membranes notably boosted their antimicrobial and antioxidant capabilities, along with demonstrating excellent hydrophilic characteristics. In vitro cellular experiments showed that CS/PVP/Phlorizin increased Hacat cell viability with the presence of better cytocompatibility. In scald wound healing experiments, Phlorizin-loaded nanofibrous membranes significantly promoted re-epithelialization and angiogenesis at the wound site, and reduced the inflammatory response at the wound site. Therefore, the above results indicate that this nanofiber membrane is expected to be an ideal dressing for burn wounds.

Caries-Prone Primary Teeth: A Hidden Reason and Prophylactic Treatment in the Viewpoint of Materials Science.

Dental caries, the most prevalent chronic disease across all age groups, has a high prevalence, particularly among children. However, there is no specific and effective treatment for the prevention of caries in primary teeth (Pr.T.), which stems from a lack of knowledge regarding the basic nature of the tooth surface. Herein, we observed that the adhesion energies of the caries-related bacteria Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis to Pr.T were approximately 10 and 5.5 times higher than those to permanent teeth (Pe.T). A lower degree of mineralization and more hydrophilic characteristics of the Pr.T enamel account for this discrepancy. Accordingly, we proposed that the on-target modification of both hydroxyapatite and organic components on Pr.T by dual modification would render a sufficient hydration layer. This resulted in an approximately 11-time decrease in bacterial adhesion energy after treatment. In contrast, a single hydroxyapatite modification on Pe.T and young permanent teeth (Y.Pe.T) was sufficient to achieve a similar effect. Theoretical simulation further verified the rationality of the approach. Our findings may help understand the reason for Pr.T being caries-prone and provide references for treatment using resin restorations. This strategy offers valuable insights into daily oral hygiene and dental prophylactic treatment in children.

“Evaluation of surface interaction of plant root extract components on mild steel surface in HCl medium: Electrochemical, and surface characterization approaches”

Mild steel materials are extensively used in various industrial operations in acidic conditions, but it susceptible to corrosion and lose its service life. Decalepis hamiltonii root extract (DHRE) containing several phytochemicals are readily interact on mild steel surface and prevent it from corrosion. The weight loss method, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that, DHRE inhibited maximum 97.19%, 97.35%, and 96.73%, respectively for corrosion of MS in 1 M HCl. Activation energy in the absence of the inhibitor was found to 80.89 kJ/mol, which increased to 140.55 kJ/mol with 200 ppm of DHRE concentration, indicating a higher energy requirement to undergo corrosion Scanning electron microscopy images of MS surface in presence of DHRE constituents, serving as a safeguard for MS corrosion. Atomic force microscopic images shows the corroded MS surface roughness in presence of DHRE reduced from 1048 nm to 682 nm. The variation of MS surface hydrophilic character was evaluated by contact angle measurements.

Amorphous core-shell NiMoP@CuNWs rod-like structure with hydrophilicity feature for efficient hydrogen production in neutral media

Amorphous core-shell NiMoP@CuNWs rod-like structure with hydrophilicity feature for efficient hydrogen production in neutral media

Adverse effects of sterilization processes on the fundamental topographic properties of modified dental implant surfaces

The employ of sterilization processes are essential to investigate biomaterials aiming for experimental, preclinical, or clinical applications with biological tissues. However, responsive surface properties of biomaterials may be susceptible to sterilization processes, compromising important physio-chemical characteristics. For that reason, this in vitro study aimed to investigate the effects of three different processes for sterilization (humid heat under pressure, UVC-light exposure, and Gamma irradiation) on the major topographical properties of implant surfaces applied to dental bone-anchored implants and/or implant-abutments. Three groups of implant surfaces were developed: a smooth machined surface, a micro-texturized surface, and a hydrophilic micro-texturized surface. The implants were sterilized with three methodologies and characterized regarding surface morphology, elemental surface composition, roughness parameters, wettability characteristics, and compared to the samples as-developed. Surface morphology and roughness parameters were not modified by any of the sterilization processes applied. On the other hand, hydrophilic implants were negatively affected by autoclaving. After package opening, hydrophilic features showed to be sensible to atmospheric air exposition independently of the sterilization process performed. Our findings revealed significant chemical changes on the implant surfaces caused by autoclaving and UVC exposure; additionally, the results showed the importance of selecting an appropriate sterilization method when investigating hydrophilic implants so as not to generate imprecise outcomes.Graphical

A computational approach to developing a multi-epitope vaccine for combating Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced pneumonia and sepsis.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a complex nosocomial infectious agent responsible for numerous illnesses, with its growing resistance variations complicating treatment development. Studies have emphasized the importance of virulence factors OprE and OprF in pathogenesis, highlighting their potential as vaccine candidates. In this study, B-cell, MHC-I, and MHC-II epitopes were identified, and molecular linkers were active to join these epitopes with an appropriate adjuvant to construct a vaccine. Computational tools were employed to forecast the tertiary framework, characteristics, and also to confirm the vaccine's composition. The potency was weighed through population coverage analysis and immune simulation. This project aims to create a multi-epitope vaccine to reduce P. aeruginosa-related illness and mortality using immunoinformatics resources. The ultimate complex has been determined to be stable, soluble, antigenic, and non-allergenic upon inspection of its physicochemical and immunological properties. Additionally, the protein exhibited acidic and hydrophilic characteristics. The Ramachandran plot, ProSA-web, ERRAT, and Verify3D were employed to ensure the final model's authenticity once the protein's three-dimensional structure had been established and refined. The vaccine model showed a significant binding score and stability when interacting with MHC receptors. Population coverage analysis indicated a global coverage rate of 83.40%, with the USA having the highest coverage rate, exceeding 90%. Moreover, the vaccine sequence underwent codon optimization before being cloned into the Escherichia coli plasmid vector pET-28a (+) at the EcoRI and EcoRV restriction sites. Our research has developed a vaccine against P. aeruginosa that has strong binding affinity and worldwide coverage, offering an acceptable way to mitigate nosocomial infections.