Mean Pore Size Research Articles

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF POLY (𝜀-CAPROLACTONE)/POLY (L-LACTIC) ACID/GELATIN NANOFIBER 3D SCAFFOLD CONTAINING RESVERATROL ON BONE REGENERATION

Bone defects affect many people and impose expenses of costly treatment with possible complications. This study aims to investigate a novel Poly ([Formula: see text]-caprolactone)/Poly (L-lactic) acid/Gelatin nanofiber [PCL/PLA/GNF] scaffold containing 5% resveratrol (Resv) which was manufactured via thermally induced phase separation technique (TIPS), and its applicability for bone defect treatment. Gelatin nanofiber (GNF) was synthesized via the electrospinning method and mixed with PCL/PLA solution and then 5% resveratrol was added to fabricate a 3D scaffold via the TIPS technique. The prepared scaffolds were evaluated regarding their porosity, morphology, contact angle, degradation properties, biomechanical, blood compatibility, and cell viability via MTT assay. The scaffolds were further investigated by implantation in a rat femur defect model. PCL/PLA/GNF with 5% Resv showed a cancellated structure with irregular-shaped pores. The mean pore size was estimated to be 160 [Formula: see text]m and the porosity was 80.56 ± 2.68%. The contact angle of the fabricated scaffold was 95.4 ± 3.4, which determines the hydrophobic nature of the scaffold. Increased cell viability in scaffolds was observed by adding resveratrol. Twelve weeks after the implantation of the scaffold into the bone defect, the defects filled with PCL/PLA/GNF-resveratrol contained scaffold were remarkably better than PCL/PLA/GNF and negative control group (89.23 ± 6.34% in 12 weeks), and the difference was significant (p ¡ 0.05). In conclusion, the PCL/PLA/GNF scaffold containing 5% of resveratrol demonstrated adequate mechanical and physical properties. There is possible applicability of PCL/PLA/GNF scaffold containing 5% of resveratrol for surgical treatment of bone defects.

Study on Matrix Damage and Control Methods of Fracturing Fluid on Tight Sandstone Gas Reservoirs.

Hydraulic fracturing is a highly effective method for stimulating the development of gas reservoirs. However, the process of pumping fracturing fluid (FF) into the reservoir unavoidably causes damage to the surrounding matrix, leading to a decrease in the overall stimulation effect. To assess the extent of matrix permeability damage caused by the intrusion of FF, as well as its impact on the pore throat structure, and to propose appropriate measures to control this damage, we conducted a series of experimental studies on tight gas reservoirs. These studies included mercury intrusion, core flow, nitrogen adsorption, linear expansion, and contact angle measurements. The findings revealed that the damage inflicted on matrix permeability by FF was significantly greater than that caused by its gel-breaking counterpart. Surprisingly, the damage rate of the rejecting fluid to the matrix was found to be comparable to that of its gel-breaking counterpart. The fractal dimension (D2) was observed to have a strong correlation with surface area, pore volume, and mean pore size, making it an effective means of characterizing pore structure characteristics. After the rock samples were displaced by the formation water, the D2 value decreased, leading to a decrease in the complexity of the pore throat structure and an increase in matrix permeability. Conversely, the displacement of the FF increased the D2 value, indicating a gradual complication of the pore throat structure and a more uneven distribution of pore sizes. The inclusion of polyamide in antiexpansion FF, as well as its gel-breaking counterpart, proved to be effective in inhibiting the hydration and expansion of clay minerals, thereby reducing water-sensitive damage. Additionally, the use of surfactants with low surface tension enhanced the flowback rate of FF by increasing the contact angle and reducing the work of adhesion. This, in turn, helped to decrease the apparent water film thickness and expand gas flow channels, ultimately improving gas permeability.

Time-dependent evolution and strength modulation of 3D printed concrete pore structure based on microbial remediation

The post-hardened pore structure's characteristics and the properties of concrete are strongly connected. This study uses 3D printed concrete (3DPC) as the sample to examine how the porosity, average diameter, and printing parameters affect strength after hardened. In order to accomplish the time-dependent management of the concrete pore structure, pre-embedding microorganisms and employing recycled aggregates as carriers were used which rises concrete strength. According to the experimental findings, the porosity of 3DPC is more directly connected to strength increase, and the variation in average diameters represents the strength of anisotropy. Comparing the microbially repaired samples to the control group, the pore structure revealed a 5.66% reduction in 28 day porosity, a maximum reduction in mean pore size of 49.67 μm, and a smaller dispersed pore size for the same volume. Based on the anisotropy coefficient, a prediction model for the time-dependent strength in 3DPC was put forth, and the computed values were confirmed to be the best fit in the Y-axis with the experimental results. The strength performance in the X-axis of the printed specimens after pore structure repair was greater than that of the cast one, and the anisotropy difference was comparatively less.

Experimental Investigation of a Plate-Frame Water Gap Membrane Distillation System for Seawater Desalination.

This study presented a detailed investigation into the performance of a plate-frame water gap membrane distillation (WGMD) system for the desalination of untreated real seawater. One approach to improving the performance of WGMD is through the proper selection of cooling plate material, which plays a vital role in enhancing the gap vapor condensation process. Hence, the influence of different cooling plate materials was examined and discussed. Furthermore, two different hydrophobic micro-porous polymeric membranes of similar mean pore sizes were utilized in the study. The influence of key operating parameters, including the feed water temperature and flow rate, was examined against the system vapor flux and gained output ratio (GOR). In addition, the used membranes were characterized by means of different techniques in terms of surface morphology, liquid entry pressure, water contact angle, pore size distribution, and porosity. Findings revealed that, at all conditions, the PTFE membrane exhibits superior vapor flux and energy efficiency (GOR), with 9.36% to 14.36% higher flux at a 0.6 to 1.2 L/min feed flow rate when compared to the PVDF membrane. The copper plate, which has the highest thermal conductivity, attained the highest vapor flux, while the acrylic plate, which has an extra-low thermal conductivity, recorded the lowest vapor flux. The increasing order of GOR values for different cooling plates is acrylic < HDPE < copper < aluminum < brass < stainless steel. Results also indicated that increasing the feed temperature increases the vapor flux almost exponentially to a maximum flux value of 30.36 kg/m2hr. The system GOR also improves in a decreasing pattern to a maximum value of 0.4049. Moreover, a long-term test showed that the PTFE membrane, which exhibits superior hydrophobicity, registered better salt rejection stability. The use of copper as a cooling plate material for better system performance is recommended, while cooling plate materials with very low thermal conductivities, such as a low thermally conducting polymer, are discouraged.

Characterization and biological evaluation of a novel flavonoid-collagen antioxidant hydrogel with cytoprotective properties.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a critical and important role during wound healing but excess ROS at the wound site can lead to cellular damage and sub-optimal healing. Minimizing oxidative damage to the wound site and any supplemental therapeutic cells can be achieved by delivering exogenous antioxidants. Collagen hydrogels are ideal wound care materials due to their biocompatibility, high water content, and porous, three-dimensional architecture. Yet, they lack the inherent antioxidant activity that could help mitigate excess ROS at a wound site. This work formulates and evaluates the in vitro biocompatibility and antioxidant capabilities of collagen-fibroblast hydrogels combined with the polyphenolic antioxidant luteolin. Collagen solutions mixed with luteolin readily assembled into robust hydrogels with increasing gel strength due to increasing concentrations of luteolin. SEM images confirmed a mean pore size of 2.2 μm and a drastically different macromolecular ultrastructure with extensive fine crosslinking relative to collagen. Adequate cell viability and metabolic activity of dermal fibroblasts cultured within the gels were measured across all formulations, resulting in higher antioxidant activity and more than double the protection to cells from oxidative damage than traditional collagen hydrogels. Given these results, luteolin-collagen hydrogels demonstrate the potential for superior wound-healing properties when compared to collagen alone.

Study on the Effect of Foam Stability on the Properties of Foamed Lightweight Soils.

The properties of prepared foamed lightweight soils (FLSs) using prefabricated foam requires high foam stability. This paper investigates the geometrical characteristics of different foam densities, different types of foaming agents in the air, and the presence of slurry. Then, it studies their effects on the pore structure and mechanical properties of FLS. Results show that with the increase in foam density the bleeding rate of foam in the air for 1 h increases and the foam with a foam density of 50 kg/m3 is the most stable in the air. The stability of foam in slurry is not directly related to the property of foam in the air. The FLS prepared with the same foaming agent had the best performance with the FLS designed with a foam density of 50 kg/m3, which had the smallest average pore size and the most minor pore size distribution, and had the highest compressive strength. Among the three different foaming agents, Type-S was the best, and the slurry had the lowest rate of increase in wet density after the defoaming test, indicating that the foam had the best stability in the cement slurry. The FLS prepared with the density of 50 kg/m3 using the Type-S foaming agent and mixed with the slurry of cement, fly ash:slag:water = 105:105:140:227.5, was hardened to a mean pore size of 299 μm, and the 7 days, 28 days, and 56 days compressive strengths were 0.92 MPa, 2.04 MPa, and 2.48 MPa, respectively, which had the smallest average pore size and the highest compressive strength among the FLSs prepared using the three foaming agents.

Halloysite Nanotube-Enhanced Polyacrylonitrile Ultrafiltration Membranes: Fabrication, Characterization, and Performance Evaluation.

This research focuses on the production and characterization of pristine polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as well as halloysite nanotube (HNT)-doped PAN ultrafiltration (UF) membranes via the phase inversion technique. Membranes containing 0.1, 0.5, and 1% wt HNT in 16% wt PAN are fabricated, and their chemical compositions are examined using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is utilized to characterize the membranes' surface and cross-sectional morphologies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is employed to assess the roughness of the PAN/HNT membrane. Thermal characterization is conducted using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA), while contact angle and water content measurements reveal the hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties. The pure water flux (PWF) performance of the porous UF water filtration membranes is evaluated at 3 bar, with porosity and mean pore size calculations. The iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiencies of PAN/HNT membranes from dam water are examined, and the surfaces of fouled membranes are investigated by using SEM post-treatment. Mechanical characterization encompasses tensile testing, the Mori-Tanaka homogenization approach, and finite element analysis. The findings offer valuable insights into the impact of HNT doping on PAN membrane characteristics and performance, which will inform future membrane development initiatives.

The effect of ink ball milling time on interparticle interactions and ink microstructure and their influence on crack formation in rod-coated catalyst layers

This work investigates the influence of ballmilling (sometimes also referred to as jar roller milling) time on cathode catalyst layer (CL) inks and electrode properties using formulations and coating methods relevant for industrial manufacturing. Four CL inks with the same composition were milled for 24, 48, 72, or 96 h. Rheological investigation of these inks showed a reduction of elastic moduli and steady-shear viscosity with continuous ink milling, which is correlated to a decrease in particle-particle interactions as well as formation of smaller agglomerates. Optical microscopy (OM) analysis of the fabricated electrodes revealed a trend in surface crack formation; formulations milled for 24 h contained the lowest average surface crack area percentages of 0.370% at heavy-duty loadings of ∼0.300 mgPt cm−2, compared to 2.418% for the ink milled for 96 h. Further characterization of the CL through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging showed a decrease in the mean agglomerate and pore size with milling time. These smaller electrode features were consistent with reduced fracture resistance and, hence, development of larger stresses during drying. Our results highlight the need to consider ink processing as an important component in defect-free CL manufacturing.

In-situ growth of poly(m-phenylenediamine) in polyethylene (PE) matrix for nanofiltration membranes enabling outstanding selectivity of both mono-/di-valent ions and dyes/salt mixtures with enhanced water flux

Membrane-based nanofiltration is a crucial technique for treating dyestuff-salts wastewater, owing to its excellent selectivity towards mono/multivalent ions and organic matter. In this study, a facile and highly practical method was employed to enhance the hydrophilicity of the PE matrix through in-situ growth of poly(m-phenylenediamine) on the PE fibrils via the chemical oxidative polymerization of MPD. The inclusion of the poly(m-phenylenediamine) on PE enables the formation of homogenous and defect-free PA layer showing a unique honeycomb-like Turing morphology with characteristic crater-belt structure. Furthermore, the pendant amine groups from the poly(m-phenylenediamine) chain promotes the formation of a PA layer with a smaller effective mean pore size and a sharper pore size distribution, resulting from the formation of an extra polyamide network (reaction of PMPD with TMC) within the PA layer. The as-prepared PE-based NF membrane exhibits a high pure water permeance of 17.7 LMH bar−1, exceptional Na2SO4 rejection of 99.3%, and a long-term stability for cross-flow filtration for over 10 days. The PE-based NF membrane exhibits the water flux 2.2 times higher than that of the commercially available DK and DL membranes while maintaining a high salt rejection. Additionally, the PE-based NF membrane demonstrates exceptional selectivity, with a value of 115 for the separation of NaCl/Na2SO4 and 339.8 for Cl-/SO42- in a binary salt mixture. Furthermore, the PE-based NF membrane shows ultra-high selectivity values of 990 for CR/NaCl and 1039 for MB/NaCl in the treatment of dye/salt mixtures, respectively, which are significantly higher than those of the DK and DL membranes. The findings of this study highlight the potential of the in-situ growth of poly(m-phenylenediamine) on PE fibrils as a simple and cost-effective method for the modulation of hydrophilicity to enhance the NF membrane performance.

Liquid-liquid extraction of phenolic wastewater through a surface modified poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) hollow fiber membrane contactor and process optimization

BackgroundStrict environmental regulations have been recognized for phenolic wastewater treatment due to toxicity of the phenolic compounds. In this study, solvent extraction of a phenolic wastewater was investigated via a liquid-liquid membrane contactor system. MethodsPorous poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) hollow fiber membranes were modified by coating an ultra-thin layer of hydrophobic surface modifying macromolecule (SMM). The membranes were characterized by various tests such as SEM-EDS, nitrogen permeation, overall porosity, contact angle and critical water entry pressure (CEPw). Significant findingsFrom SEM, an open structure with combination of finger-like and sponge-like structure was produced. The membrane exhibited high surface hydrophobicity (water contact angle of 109°) with good wetting resistance, overall porosity of 82% and mean pore size of 18 nm. From response surface methodology (RSM), the maximum phenol extraction flux of 2.02 × 10−3 kg/m2s was estimated by the model at the optimum process variables as phenol concentration of 448 mg/L, feed temperature of 42 °C, aqueous phase flowrate of 196 mL/min and organic phase flowrate of 117 mL/min. The coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.972 showed a close proximity between the model and the experimental data. The membrane showed a reasonable flux that can be a favorable alternative for industrial phenolic wastewater treatment.

Isothermal foaming-nucleation-crystallization of glass ceramic foams with hierarchical pore structure: A sustainable approach for disposal of secondary aluminum ash

Secondary aluminum ash (SAA) is a hazardous solid waste generated in the process of recycling aluminum. The preparation of glass ceramic foams from high content of SAA, used as nucleating and foaming agent, was proposed to achieve green and comprehensive utilization of SAA. With the help of thermodynamic phase diagram and viscosity calculation, a mixture of SAA and waste glass (WG) were transformed, at 1200 °C for 30 min, into glass ceramic foams with porosity of 45.49%–59.45%, respectively. The mean pore size of the samples decreased from 2.89 to 1.53 mm with the decrease of SAA addition. Through the adjustment of temperature, it was found that the mixture had a microporous region at 1100 °C. The expansion region was observed at 1180 °C and 1200 °C, because of the oxidation of AlN in SAA. The porosity of the samples could be raised to 64.51%, with 5–9% B2O3 as a supplement, which contributed to the development of the liquid phase and a decrease in the melt's viscosity. The mechanism of in-situ isothermal foaming, nucleation, and crystallization of SAA and WG was clarified. The crystal intensity dropped and the amorphous phase became the primary phase at 800 °C. Al2O3, sodium silicate and sodium aluminum silicate precipitated at 1000 °C. Al2O3 and spinel with high melting point were wrapped by silicate. Silicate turned into the melt again as the temperature continued to rise. With the further reduction of viscosity, the gas diffused in crystalline and amorphous phases, and finally forms glass ceramic foams with hierarchical pore structure.

Ammonium perchlorate catalyzed with novel porous Mn-doped Co3O4 microspheres: superior catalytic activity, advanced decomposition kinetics and mechanisms

Mn-doped Co3O4 nanoparticles of 15 nm were developed via solvothermal synthesis. Mn@Co3O4 microspheres were developed via controlled annealing treatment at 600 °C. Mn@Co3O4 microspheres demonstrated an average diameter of 5.5 µm, with specific area (BET) of 73.7 m2 g−1. The pore diameter was centered at 13.1 nm, and the mean pore size was 16 nm; porous structure could secure extensive interfacial surface area. Mn@Co3O4 microspheres were integrated into ammonium perchlorate (AP) matrix. The catalytic activity of Mn@Co3O4 on AP decomposition was assessed via DSC and TGA/DTG. Whereas Mn@Co3O4/AP nanocomposite demonstrated decomposition enthalpy of 1560 J g−1, pure AP demonstrated 836 J g−1. While Mn@Co3O4/AP nanocomposite demonstrated one decomposition temperature at 310 °C,pure AP exposed two decomposition stages at 298 °C, and 453 °C. Decomposition kinetics was investigated via isoconversional (model free) and model fitting. Kissinger, Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), integral isoconversional method of Ozawa, Flyn and Wall (FWO), and differential isoconversional method of Friedman. Mn@Co3O4/AP demonstrated apparent activation energy of 149.7 ± 2.54 kJ mol−1 compared with 173.16 ± 1.95 kJ mol−1 for pure AP. While AP demonstrated sophisticated decomposition models starting with F3 followed by A2, Mn@Co3O4/AP nanocomposite demonstrated A3 decomposition model. Mn@Co3O4 can expose active surface sites; surface oxygen could act as electron donor to electron deficient perchlorate group. Furthermore, Mn@Co3O4/AP could act as adsorbent of released NH3 gas with efficient combustion. This study shaded the light on Mn@Co3O4 as potential catalyst for AP decomposition.

Effects of Sintering Processes on Microstructure Evolution, Crystallite, and Grain Growth of MoO2 Powder

MoO2 micro-powders with a mean pore size of 3.4 nm and specific surface area of 2.5 g/cm3 were compacted by dry pressing, then pressureless sintered at a temperature of 1000–1150 °C for 2 h or for a sintering time of 0.5–12 h at 1050 °C in an N2 atmosphere. Then, their microstructure evolution for morphology, crystallite, and grain growth were investigated. By sintering at a certain temperature and times, the irregular shape of the MoO2 powders transformed into an equiaxed structure, owing to the surface energy, which contributed to faster grain growth at the initial stage of sintering. The crystallite and grain sizes exponentially increased with the sintering time, and the growth exponent, n, was approximately 2.8 and 4, respectively. This indicates that the crystallite growth is governed by dislocation-mediated lattice diffusion, and the grain growth is determined by surface diffusion-controlled pore mobility. The increase in sintering temperature increased both crystallite and grain size, which obeyed the Arrhenius equation, and the activation energies were determined to be 95.65 and 76.95 kJmol−1 for crystallite and grain growths, respectively.

Surfactant-free gelatin-stabilised biodegradable polymerised high internal phase emulsions with macroporous structures.

High internal phase emulsion (HIPE) templating is a well-established method for the generation of polymeric materials with high porosity (>74%) and degree of interconnectivity. The porosity and pore size can be altered by adjusting parameters during emulsification, which affects the properties of the resulting porous structure. However, there remain challenges for the fabrication of polyHIPEs, including typically small pore sizes (∼20-50μm) and the use of surfactants, which can limit their use in biological applications. Here, we present the use of gelatin, a natural polymer, during the formation of polyHIPE structures, through the use of two biodegradable polymers, polycaprolactone-methacrylate (PCL-M) and polyglycerol sebacate-methacrylate (PGS-M). When gelatin is used as the internal phase, it is capable of stabilising emulsions without the need for an additional surfactant. Furthermore, by changing the concentration of gelatin within the internal phase, the pore size of the resulting polyHIPE can be tuned. 5% gelatin solution resulted in the largest mean pore size, increasing from 53μm to 80μm and 28μm to 94µm for PCL-M and PGS-M respectively. In addition, the inclusion of gelatin further increased the mechanical properties of the polyHIPEs and increased the period an emulsion could be stored before polymerisation. Our results demonstrate the potential to use gelatin for the fabrication of surfactant-free polyHIPEs with macroporous structures, with potential applications in tissue engineering, environmental and agricultural industries.

Effect of TiO2 concentration in PVDF-TiO2-PVP mixed matrix membrane performance using ultrafiltration process

This study investigated how the addition of hydrophilic TiO2 to a porous asymmetric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) Ultrafiltration (UF) membrane altered its properties and performance. The hydrophilicity and flux of PVDF and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) combinations will be lower, and TiO2 will significantly impact raising those values. By mixing titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles with a pore-forming agent in a dope solution, PVDF-TiO2-PVP membranes were prepared via non-solvent-induced phase inversion method. Experiments using PVDF membranes with varying concentrations of TiO2 (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2% wt) were applied to evaluate pure water flux and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) flux. The functional group composition of membranes was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The wettability of porous membranes was determined by measuring contact angles. Results demonstrated that membranes constructed from PVDF/PVP/TiO2 with a lower loading of TiO2 nanoparticles had a smaller mean pore size, more apertures inside the membrane, and better membrane hydrophilicity. The highest flux of pure water (121 L/m2h) was achieved by the PVDF-TiO2-PVP mixed-matrix membrane at a TiO2 concentration of 2 wt%.

Cr(VI) and doxorubicin adsorptive capture by a novel bionanocomposite of Ti-MOF@TiO2 incorporated with watermelon biochar and chitosan hydrogel

Biodegradable polymers, biochars and metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have manifested as top prospects for elimination of harmful pollutants. In the current study, Ti-MOF was synthesized and decorated with TiO2 nanoparticles, then embedded into watermelon peel biochar and functionalized with chitosan hydrogel to produce Ti-MOF@TiO2@WMPB@CTH. Various instruments were employed to assure the effective production of the bionanocomposite. The HR-TEM and SEM studies referred to excellent surface porosity and homogeneity of Ti-MOF@TiO2@WMPB@CTH bionanocomposite, with 51.02–74.23 nm. Based on the BET analysis, the mesoporous structure has a significant surface area of 366.04 m2 g−1 and a considerable total pore volume of 11.38 × 10−2 cm3 g−1, with a mean pore size of 12.434 nm. Removal of doxorubicin (DOX) and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) was examined under various experimentations. Pseudo-second order kinetic models in addition to Langmuir isotherm offered the best fitting. Thermodynamic experiments of the two contaminants demonstrated spontaneous and endothermic interactions. After five subsequent adsorption and desorption cycles, Ti-MOF@TiO2@WMPB@CTH bionanocomposite demonstrated an exceptional recyclability for the elimination of DOX and Cr(VI) ions, reaching 97.96 % and 95.28 %, respectively. Finally, the newly designed Ti-MOF@TiO2@WMPB@CTH bionanocomposite demonstrated a high removing efficiency of Cr(VI) ions and DOX from samples of real water.

PHEMA-based cryogels as 3D placental scaffolds

The placental barrier regulates the passage of nutrients, waste, drugs, and chemicals between maternal and fetal tissues. Mono and co-culture systems were constituted with human placental choriocarcinoma cells (BeWo) and human umbilical cord vein cells (HUVEC) on biocompatible poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)-based cryogels. PHEMA cryogels were supported with extracellular matrix (ECM) elements. According to the Fourier transform infrared spectrometry-Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) results, it was confirmed that gelatin, folic acid (FA), fibronectin (FN), and collagen type IV (COL Type IV) were successfully incorporated into the structure of cryogels. The mean pore size of the cryogels confirmed by micro-computed tomography analysis was in the range of 15–195 µm. The antidepressant active ingredient Vortioxetine was investigated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol2-yl)− 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium-bromide (MTT) viability analysis in the constituted cryogel co-culture system. The cryogels did not cause any toxic effect on the cells. High doses of Vortioxetine showed reduced cell viability in monocultures, but not the expected reduction in cell viability at the same doses of co-culture. The highest amount of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone was in the PHEMA+COL Type IV+FA group. There were no significant changes in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9 protein levels due to Vortioxetine dose administration.

Breast Cancer Cell Type and Biomechanical Properties of Decellularized Mouse Organs Drives Tumor Cell Colonization.

Tissue engineering has emerged as an indispensable tool for the reconstruction of organ-specific environments. Organ-derived extracellular matrices (ECM) and, especially, decellularized tissues (DCL) are recognized as the most successful biomaterials in regenerative medicine, as DCL preserves the most essential organ-specific ECM properties such as composition alongside biomechanics characterized by stiffness and porosity. Expansion of the DCL technology to cancer biology research, drug development, and nanomedicine is pending refinement of the existing DCL protocols whose reproducibility remains sub-optimal varying from organ to organ. We introduce a facile decellularization protocol universally applicable to murine organs, including liver, lungs, spleen, kidneys, and ovaries, with demonstrated robustness, reproducibility, high purification from cell debris, and architecture preservation, as confirmed by the histological and SEM analysis. The biomechanical properties of as-produced DCL organs expressed in terms of the local and total stiffness were measured using our facile methodology and were found well preserved in comparison with the intact organs. To demonstrate the utility of the developed DCL model to cancer research, we engineered three-dimensional tissue constructs by recellularization representative decellularized organs and collagenous hydrogel with human breast cancer cells of pronounced mesenchymal (MDA-MB-231) or epithelial (SKBR-3) phenotypes. The biomechanical properties of the DCL organs were found pivotal to determining the cancer cell fate and progression. Our histological and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study revealed that the larger the ECM mean pore size and the smaller the total stiffness (as in lung and ovary), the more proliferative and invasive the mesenchymal cells became. At the same time, the low local stiffness ECMs (ranged 2.8-3.6 kPa) did support the epithelial-like SKBR-3 cells' viability (as in lung and spleen), while stiff ECMs did not. The total and local stiffness of the collagenous hydrogel was measured too low to sustain the proliferative potential of both cell lines. The observed cell proliferation patterns were easily interpretable in terms of the ECM biomechanical properties, such as binding sites, embedment facilities, and migration space. As such, our three-dimensional tissue engineering model is scalable and adaptable for pharmacological testing and cancer biology research of metastatic and primary tumors, including early metastatic colonization in native organ-specific ECM.

Effects of MOFs size and functional group on the pore structure and performance of thin-film nanocomposite membranes

Incorporation of nanomaterials into the selective layer during the interfacial polymerization process was an effective way to improve the perm-selectivity of the membranes. In this study, the piperazine enriched templates assisted interfacial polymerization method was proposed to enhance the salts rejection of thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes. The mono-dispersed UiO-66 type MOFs with high amine adsorption ability were utilized as templates to increase the reaction region and promote the participation of piperazine (PIP) during the interfacial polymerization reaction, resulting in a denser polyamide (PA) layer with weaker surface electronegativity and higher nitrogen-containing group contents. The TFN membranes prepared with 236 nm UiO-66-OH and PIP concentration of 0.35 w/v% exhibited smaller mean pore size (0.636 nm) and reduced surface zeta potential (−26.0 mV) compared to the pristine TFC membranes (0.667 nm and −31.1 mV). Consequently, the rejection of 10 mM MgCl2, MgSO4 and Na2SO4 was increased from 44.7%, 97.7% and 98.3% to 84.3%, 99.2% and 99.5%, respectively, while the pure water flux was slightly decreased from 53.5 L m−1 h−1 to 37.4 L m−1 h−1 at 0.3 MPa. In addition, the size and functional group of the MOFs were found to have significant impacts on the pore structure and performance of the TFN membranes. The increasing of reaction region with relatively large MOFs and higher absorption ability were beneficial to obtain a thicker PA layer, while strong interaction between MOFs and PA oligomers was unfavorable for PA chain packing. Therefore, the TFN membranes prepared with UiO-66-NO2 exhibited a much narrow size distribution and high rejection to all salts, whether by divalent cationic salt or divalent anion salts, i.e., MgCl2 of 95.5%, MgSO4 of 98.9% and Na2SO4 of 99.1%, and the pure water flux was 28.6 L m−1 h−1 at 0.3 MPa. These results illustrated the influences of MOFs size and functional group on the interfacial polymerization process, which was crucial for the TFN membranes preparation.

Effect of pore structure evolution on mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of porous SiC-Mullite ceramics

The porous SiC-Mullite porous ceramics with different pore size were prepared by SiC particles, kaolin, Al(OH)3, and flake graphite, V2O5 and AlF3 were used as mineralizers, the pore size was controllable by adjusting the size of flake graphite. Then the improved empirical formula and grey theory were used to study the effect of the change in pore size on the material properties. The results showed that with the increase of mean pore size from 1.1 μm to 8.5 μm, the cold modulus of rupture and cold crushing strength decreased by 20.8 MPa and 13.7 MPa, respectively. And the thermal conductivity increased from 1.213 W⋅m−1⋅K−1 to 1.721 W⋅m−1⋅K−1 at 800 °C. The <5 μm pores were helped enhance the strength and decreased the thermal conductivity.