Polyethylene Glycol Research Articles

A novel green CeO2 polishing slurry and its chemical mechanical action mechanism for achieving atomic-level smoothing of fused silica glass surfaces

Pitch-based tools are integral to computer-controlled optical surfacing (CCOS) for polishing fused silica but face limitations such as low material removal rates (MRR) and challenges in achieving atomic-level smoothing while ensuring environmental sustainability. While chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) excels in processing planar surfaces, it struggles with complex freeform geometries. CCOS addresses this gap with specialized tool head designs that enable precise machining of intricate surfaces. This study introduces an eco-friendly CeO2-based polishing slurry suited for CCOS with pitch tools. By incorporating green reagents, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and ethylene glycol (EG), and minimizing harmful chemical usage, the slurry achieves significant breakthroughs in performance. Experimental results reveal a surface roughness (Sa) of 0.075nm, meeting atomic-level smoothing standards, alongside an MRR of 40.5 μm /h, marking substantial improvements over traditional methods. Physicochemical analyses of the CeO2 abrasives, including particle size, morphology, and Ce element content, revealed that abrasives with sharp edges and high Ce content are key factors for obtaining high surface quality and MRR. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations highlight the synergistic effects of the components, optimizing chemical-mechanical interactions to enhance surface quality. These findings demonstrate the potential of green polishing technologies in advancing the precision machining of fused silica, particularly for complex geometries. The study provides a sustainable and high-performance solution for achieving atomic-level smoothing, paving the way for broader applications in precision optics.

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.

Developing novel hybrid bilayer nanofibers based on polylactic acid with impregnation of chamomile essential oil and gallic acid-stabilized silver nanoparticles

This study presents fabrication and characterization of novel chamomile essential oil (CMO)/gallic acid-stabilized silver nanoparticles (gallic acid-nanosilver, GNS), embedded into polylactic acid (PLA)-based hybrid bilayer nanofibers (NFs). Where CMO was impregnated into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution and electrospun simultaneously with PLA to obtain PLA/PVA-PEG-CMO NFs (PLA/CMO A2). Meanwhile, GNS were added to PVA-PEG-CMO and electrospun to obtain PLA/PVA-PEG-CMO-GNS NFs (PLA/CMO-GNS A3). Where pure PLA/PVA-PEG NFs were coded pure PLA/A1. Physicochemical properties of fabricated bilayer-NFs were performed using various approaches. Besides, porosity%, swelling, biodegradability, CMO release pattern, antioxidant, antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity were investigated. Study investigation revealed PLA-based bilayer NFs exhibited a biphasic release profile for impregnated CMO. Due to presence of GA, antioxidant property and biocompatibility of PLA/CMO-GNS A3 was superior compared to pure PLA/A1 and PLA/CMO A2. Antibacterial activity was enhanced in presence of CMO in PLA/CMO A2 than pure PLA/A1. Furthermore, addition of GNS in PLA/CMO-GNS A3 displayed highest antibacterial activity due to synergy of CMO/GNS. Finally, MTT assay with HFB4 fibroblasts demonstrated absence of cytotoxicity of bilayer-based NFs. Thus, study suggests that developed PLA/PVA-PEG NFs could be a promising candidate for tissue regeneration and food edible packaging in particular when impregnated with both CMO/GNS.

Advances in the study of LNPs for mRNA delivery and clinical applications.

Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was discovered in 1961 as an intermediary for transferring genetic information from DNA to ribosomes for protein synthesis. The COVID-19 pandemic brought worldwide attention to mRNA vaccines. The emergency use authorization of two COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273, were major achievements in the history of vaccine development. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), one of the most superior non-viral delivery vectors available, have made many exciting advances in clinical translation as part of the COVID-19 vaccine and therefore has the potential to accelerate the clinical translation of many gene drugs. In addition, due to these small size, biocompatibility and excellent biodegradability, LNPs can efficiently deliver nucleic acids into cells, which is particularly important for current mRNA therapeutic regimens. LNPs are composed cationic or pH-dependent ionizable lipid bilayer, polyethylene glycol (PEG), phospholipids, and cholesterol, represents an advanced system for the delivery of mRNA vaccines. Furthermore, optimization of these four components constituting the LNPs have demonstrated enhanced vaccine efficacy and diminished adverse effects. The incorporation of biodegradable lipids enhance the biocompatibility of LNPs, thereby improving its potential as an efficacious therapeutic approach for a wide range of challenging and intricate diseases, encompassing infectious diseases, liver disorders, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular conditions, among others. Consequently, this review aims to furnish the scientific community with the most up-to-date information regarding mRNA vaccines and LNP delivery systems.

Preparation and properties of a fluorine-free aerogel foam extinguishing agent

Research on fluorine-free firefighting foams is urgently needed due to the environmental hazards of conventional aqueous film-forming foams. Functional particles have significant research potential in the development of fluorine-free foam extinguishing agents. In this study, hydrophobic aerogel particles were prepared using a template method, and a fluorine-free aerogel foam extinguishing agent was developed by electrostatic and steric stabilization. The research investigated the impact of aerogel particles and polymers (xanthan gum and polyethylene glycol) on foam characteristics, fire extinguishing performance, as well as their synergistic effect. The results indicated that polymers and aerogel particles reduced the average foam radius and enhanced the foam liquid film strength, though they could not inhibit foam coarsening. Although accelerating foam drainage, aerogel particles effectively enhanced the fire extinguishing performance of the foam. With the addition of only 0.4wt.% aerogel particles, the fire extinguishing time of the foam was reduced by 21.7%, while 100% burnback time increased by 45%. Furthermore, the polymer enhanced the burnback performance of the foam in synergy with aerogel particles by improving foam stability on the hot heptane surface.

Introducing Degradable Cationic Nanogels Carrying TLR9 Stimulating Oligonucleotides.

Cationic, core-crosslinked nanogel particles are prepared from synthetic biodegradable materials. These fully hydrophilic nanogels offer superior customizability compared to common lipid nanoparticles, thereby circumventing intrinsic immune stimulatory properties. Electrostatic loading allows for complexation of nucleic acids including the immune stimulatory Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonistCpG-ODN (cytidine-phosphate-guanosine oligodeoxynucleotide). Only when complexed inside nanogels, one can control CpG-ODN's biodistribution, prevent systemic toxicity, and increase bioavailability at target locations. Nanogels are prepared from cyclic aliphatic carbonate monomers with reactive pentafluorophenyl (PFP) esters. First, block copolymers are acquired via cationic ring opening polymerization (CROP) onto polyethylene glycol (PEG). Upon self-assembly in ethanol, the micelles' core is cationically core-crosslinked, and the resulting fully hydrophilic particles exhibit sizes of ≈20nm, also upon loading with CpG-ODN. In vitro, they promote intracellular delivery devoid of carrier-related toxicities, while retaining the immune stimulatory properties of the TLR agonist cargo. In vivo, the nanogels reduce systemic liver immune responses and remain near the injection site. Additionally, delivery into cDC1 (conventional dentritic cells type 1) antigen-presenting cells, which are highly relevant for antitumoral T-cell immune responses, is confirmed. Altogether, cationic, core-crosslinked polycarbonate nanogels show promise for nucleic acid delivery, showcasing controlled immunostimulatory cargo delivery and an enhanced hydrolytic biodegradability profile, highly valuable for cancer immunotherapy.

Development of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Polyethylene Glycol Copolymer-based Orodispersible Films Loaded with Entecavir: Formulation and In vitro Characterization.

The aim of the study is to prepare entecavir (ETV)-loaded orodispersible films (ODFs) using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) graft copolymer (Kollicoat® IR) as a film-forming agent, and further to evaluate the dissolution rate, mechanical and physicochemical properties of films. ETV-ODFs were prepared by a solvent casting method. The amount of film-forming agent, plasticizer, and disintegrating agent was optimized in terms of the appearance, thickness, disintegration time and mechanical properties of ODFs. The compatibility between the drug and each excipient was conducted under high temperature (60 °C), high humidity (RH 92.5%), and strong light (4500 Lx) for 10 days. The dissolution study of optimal ODFs compared with the original commercial tablet (Baraclude®) was performed using a paddle method in pH 1.0, pH 4.5, pH 6.8, and pH 7.4 media at 37 °C. The morphology of ODFs was observed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mechanical properties such as tensile strength (TS), elastic modulus (EM), and percentage elongation (E%) of ODFs were evaluated using the universal testing machine. The physicochemical properties of ODFs were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The related substances were less than 0.5% under high temperature, high humidity, and strong light for 10 days when ETV was mixed with excipients. The optimal formulation of ODFs was set as the quality ratio of Kollicoat® IR, glycerol, sodium alginate (ALG-Na): TiO2: MCC+CMC-Na: ETV was 60:9:12:1:1:1. The drug-loaded ODFs were white and translucent with excellent stripping property. The thickness, disintegration time, EM, TS, and E% were 103.33±7.02 μm, 25.31±1.95 s, 25.34±8.69 Mpa, 2.14±0.26 Mpa, and 65.45±19.41 %, respectively. The cumulative drug release from ODFs was more than 90% in four different media at 10 min. The SEM showed that the drug was highly dispersible in ODFs, and the XRD, DSC, and FT-IR results showed that there occurred some interactions between the drug and excipients. In conclusion, the developed ETV-loaded ODFs showed relatively short disintegration time, rapid drug dissolution, and excellent mechanical properties. This might be an alternative to conventional ETV Tablets for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

Preparation and characteristics of sodium caseinate/zein composite coating and its application effect on inhibiting the rancidity of peanut chunks

Sodium caseinate (CN) and zein were used as raw materials to prepare a composite coating applied in air system with mechanical properties, and water vapor and oxygen permeability as evaluation index. Results showed the most suitable conditions were the mass ratio of CN to zein at 0.25: 1, 60% (v/v) aqueous ethanol, polyethylene glycol (0.3 g/g) as the plasticizer, and citric acid (2.5%, w/v) as the crosslinker, and curing temperature at 50 ˚C. Under these conditions, the tensile strength of composite coating was 6.671 MPa, and the elongation at break was 97.596%. The water vapor permeability was 14.236 g·mm/(m2·d·kPa), and the growth rate of peroxide value of tung oils sealed by the composite coating was 71.300%. Results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry revealed that CN and zein were effectively crosslinked by citric acid with improved compatibility and smoother surface of the resulting coating. Results from the accelerated oxidation experiment showed that coating reduced the peroxide value and p-anisidine value of peanut chunks from 1.02 g/100 g and 6.59 to 0.62 g/100 g and 2.24, respectively, indicating that the composite coating prepared effectively inhibited the oxidative rancidity of peanut chunks.

Self-driven photoelectrochemical sensor based on Z-type perovskite heterojunction for profenofos detection in milk and cabbage

With growing public concern about the accumulation of pesticide residues in food and their potential impacts on health and the environment, the demand for advanced detection technologies has become more critical. To address this need, we have developed an innovative self-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor, utilizing a Z-type heterojunction structure. This sensor exploited the synergistic interactions between the carbonyl groups in polyvinylpyrrolidone and the Pb2+ ions in the perovskite, and was further enhanced by the strong hydrogen bonds formed between polyethylene glycol and MA+. To optimize the sensor's performance, we incorporated perylene tetracarboxylic acid, which enhanced interface adhesion and promotes charge separation, elements crucial for the visible light-driven PEC process. This strategic design resulted in a sensor with high sensitivity and stability, which was capable of detecting profenofos residues in complex food matrices such as milk and cabbage. The sensor demonstrated a linear detection range from 0.1 to 107ngL-1 and an exceptional detection limit of 0.033ngL-1. When applied to real samples, the sensor achieved recovery rates ranging from 96.68% to 107.2%, with relative standard deviations between 1.08% and 4.54%. In light of these results, the sensor not only showed high efficiency in real-time monitoring of pesticide contamination, but also highlights its significant potential for broader application in the field of food safety.

Formulation and Development of Clove and Coriander Combination Herbal Dental Anticaries Gel and Evaluation of its Antimicrobial Activity

Background:: Dental caries is one of the Periodontal diseases that has been recognized as a major public health problem for decades throughout the world. It occurs in all groups, ethnicities, races, and genders at all socioeconomic levels. Natural remedies are more acceptable in the belief that they are safer with fewer side effects than synthetic ones. Clove and coriander oil are established herbal drugs for periodontal diseases. Objective:: This research work was intended to formulate a dental gel containing clove and Coriander as the major constituents and evaluate it for dental caries treatment. Both of the herbal oils have a vast range of antimicrobial activity against a great number of periodontal pathogens; therefore, they are used for periodontitis treatment. Methods:: The combination gel was prepared using carbopol 934 as a gelling agent, clove oil and coriander oil as therapeutic constituents, polyethylene glycol as a co-solvent, methyl paraben and propyl paraben as a preservative and a required quantity of distilled water as vehicle. Results:: The gel was analyzed for various properties like antimicrobial activity, pH, spreadability, extrudability, drug content etc., and it was shown that the combination gel is a satisfactory dosage form that is used in periodontitis treatment. The combination gel revealed the ZI (zone of inhibition) of about 22.05±0.04 mm. Conclusion:: The present study concluded that the combination gel preparations of clove oil and coriander oil reported satisfactory physicochemical properties along with good drug content compared to the single gel preparation.

Near-identical macromolecules spontaneously partition into concentric circles.

Although separation is entropically unfavourable, it is often essential for our life1,2. The separation of very similar macromolecules such as deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs) and their single nucleotide variants is difficult but holds great advantage for the progress of life science3. Here we report that a particular liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) at a solid-liquid interface led to the partitioning of DNAs with nearly identical structures. We found this intriguing phenomenon when we did drop-casting onto a glass plate an aqueous ammonium sulfate dispersion of phase-separated droplets comprising a homogeneous mixture of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) samples with different termini. Even when the molecular weights of their PEG parts were identical to each other, terminally different PEGs spread competitively at the solid-liquid interface and partitioned into micrometre-scale concentric circles. We found that this competitive spreading was induced by an ammonium sulfate layer spontaneously formed on the glass surface. We successfully extended the above mechanism to partitioning a mixture of nearly identical DNAs into concentric circles followed by their selective extraction using the salting-in effect. We could isolate a human cancer-causing single nucleotide variant in 97% purity from its 1:1 mixture with the original DNA.

Silver functionalized chitosan composite hydrogel with sustained silver release and enhanced antibacterial properties promotes healing of infected wounds

Bacterial infections during wound healing often cause inflammation, which delays the healing process. Therefore, innovative wound dressings are urgently needed to inhibit bacterial infections and promote healing. This study proposes an Ag-functionalized chitosan hydrogel dressing, formed via a Schiff-base reaction between alkynyl Ag substituted chitosan (Ag-CS) and octafunctionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane with benzaldehyde-terminated polyethylene glycol (POSS-PEG-CHO), to address the issue of bacterial infection in wounds. The hydrogel demonstrated excellent injectability and self-healing properties. AgNPs and alkynyl Ag, produced by the reducing effect of chitosan and the reversible reaction of alkynyl Ag, delay the release of Ag+. Furthermore, the hydrogel exhibits a broad-spectrum antibacterial effect and effectively inhibits bacterial biofilm formation. The release of Ag+ lasts for 7 days, ensuring sustainable antibacterial properties. In a mouse infected wound model, the composite hydrogel significantly accelerated wound healing. By the eighth day, the wound healing rate reached 99 %, whereas the control group achieved only 91 %. Histological and immunofluorescence staining results indicated that hydrogel-treated wounds had faster re-epithelialization, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis, with reduced inflammation. In conclusion, the Ag-functionalized chitosan hydrogel, with sustained Ag release and enhanced antibacterial properties, shows great potential as a wound dressing for promoting the healing of infected wounds.

Hansen parameters and GastroPlus assisted optimized topical elastic liposomes to treat breast cancer using a novel isatin derivative

Breast cancer treatment is a global health challenge using conventional toxic chemotherapeutic agents. A novel isatin could be a promising alternative. An isatin derivative (TM-19) was synthesized and characterized using NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). HSPiP and GastroPlus predictive software were used to predict suitable solvents for solubility and in vivo oral pharmacokinetics in humans (fasted condition), respectively. Based on predictive findings, topical elastic liposomes (phosphatidylcholine as PC and span 80 by film hydration method) was prepared, characterized, and optimized using QbD (quality by design). QbD identified the impact of composition on response variables (Y1 for size, Y2 for polydispersity index, Y3 for zeta potential, and Y4 for %EE). In vitro cytotoxicity study was carried out against MCF-7 cell lines. Low molecular weight and lipophilic TM-19 was crystalline in nature (255 g/mol). GastroPlus program predicted limited in vivo dissolution and poor oral absorption (10.4 %). Results confirmed the highest TM-19 solubility in DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) ˃ chloroform ˃ PEG 400 (polyethylene glycol 400). Considering experimental and predicted data, topical delivery of TM-19 using optimized (desirability parameter value = 0.97) elastic liposomes (TF1) was quite promising due to optimal size (344 nm), high %EE (61.7 %), low PDI (0.45), and optimal zeta potential (− 12.34 mV). TM-19 loaded TF1 elicited concentration dependent cytotoxic effect (˃ 90 % at 10 µM) against MCF-7 as compared to TM-19 suspension.

Development of lipopeptide-based HIV-1/2 fusion inhibitors targeting the gp41 pocket site with a new design strategy

Emerging studies demonstrate that lipid conjugation is a vital strategy for designing peptide-based viral fusion inhibitors, and the so-called lipopeptides exhibit greatly improved antiviral activity. In the design of lipopeptides, a flexible linker between the peptide sequence and lipid molecule is generally required, mostly with a short polyethylene glycol or glycine-serine sequence. Very recently, we discovered that the helix-facilitating amino acid sequence "EAAAK" as a rigid linker is a more efficient method in the design of SARS-CoV-2 fusion inhibitory lipopeptides. In this study, we comprehensively characterized the functionalities of different linkers in HIV fusion inhibitors. A short-peptide inhibitor 2P23, which mainly targets the gp41 pocket site, was used as a design template, generating a group of cholesterol-modified lipopeptides. In the inhibition of HIV-1 infection, the lipopeptide inhibitors with a rigid linker were much superior than those with the flexible linkers, as indicated by LP-37 with the "EAAAK" linker and LP-39 with the repeated "EP" amino acid sequences. Both lipopeptides were very potent inhibitors of HIV-2 and simian immunodeficiency (SIV) either. Promisingly, LP-37 displayed high α-helicity, thermostability and binding ability to a target-mimic peptide, and it was metabolically stable when treated with temperature, proteolytic enzymes or human sera. Taken together, our studies have verified a universal strategy for designing viral fusion inhibitors and offered a novel HIV fusion inhibitor for drug development.

Bioprinting 3D lattice-structured lumens using polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) combined with self-assembling peptide nanofibers as hybrid bioinks for anchorage dependent cells

There is a pressing need for new cell-laden, printable bioinks to mimic stiffer tissues such as cartilage, fibrotic tissue and bone. PEGDA monomers are bioinks that crosslink with light to form a viscoelastic solid, however, they lack cell adhesion properties. Here, we utilized a hybrid bioink by combining self-assembled peptide nanofibers with PEGDA for 3D printing lumens. Adult human dermal fibroblast (aHDF) cells were first seeded in peptide-laden in 2D and 3D layers and cell behavior were studied. The cell's morphology remained spheres when they were infused in the 3D hydrogel and highly aligned with 2D overlay hydrogels. HDF cells did not adhere to unmodified PEGDA lumens, however, they successfully attached and proliferated on PEGDA/peptide lumens. Moreover, HDF cells seeded on the hybrid PEGDA/peptide lumens displayed a distinct spread F-actin morphology. The results showcase the potential of peptide hydrogels in facilitating interaction of anchorage dependent cells with PEGDA structures.

Quantitative and acoustic characteristics of ternary mixes including EDTAs: A thermodynamic study

The ternary system of water, Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acids (Disodium EDTA, Trisodium EDTA and Tetrasodium EDTA) and polyethylene glycol 4000 has had its ultrasonic velocities (s) and densities (ρ) recorded at 288.15–318.15 K at atmospheric pressure of 0.01 MPa, depending on the composition. These numbers have been used to compute the experimental volumetric and ultrasonic characteristics. Using density and speed of sound measurements, the apparent and partial molar properties along with transfer properties are investigated. The evaluation additionally includes the expansibilities (Eϕ0) and its first order derivative ∂Eϕ0∂TP. In addition, the pair and triplet coefficients are derived using liquid theory of McMillan and Mayer. These computed parameters provide light on the results in relation to the physicochemical co-solute–solvent relationship that arises in the current system under investigation. The mixes of these solutions include structures of glycol and EDTAs that are firmly bound. We analyse the findings in the context of complex structure creation and breakdown in ternary combinations. The co-sphere overlap model states that the produced parameters, which are considered the kind of interactions occurring inside the combination, are used to characterise the outcomes. Excess parameters and FT-IR spectroscopic characteristics show a good agreement, supporting the use of FT-IR to analyse particular interactions, such as the creation of hydrogen bonds among ternary liquid mixtures.

Insights into the photosensitivity and photobleaching of dissolved organic matter from microplastics: Structure-activity relationship and transformation mechanism

Revealing the structure-activity relationship between physicochemical properties and photoactivities of microplastic dissolved organic matter (MPDOM) is significant for understanding the environmental fate of MPs. Here, we systematically analyzed the physicochemical properties and molecular composition of DOM derived from MPs including polystyrene (PS), polyethylene glycol terephthalate (PET), polyadipate/butylene terephthalate (PBAT), polylactic acid (PLA), polypropylene (PP), and compared their photosensitivity and photobleaching behaviors. Results indicated that PSDOM and PETDOM had more similar properties and compositions, and showed stronger photosensitivity and photobleaching effects than PBATDOM, PLADOM and PPDOM. The [3DOM∗]SS and [1O2]SS varied in the range of 0.31-13.03 × 10-14 and 1.71-5.49 × 10-13M, respectively, which were within the reported range of DOM from other sources. The SUVA254, HIX, AImodwa, Xcwa and lignin/CRAM-like component showed positive correlation with the [3DOM∗]SS, [1O2]SS and Φ3DOM*. The negative correlation between E2/E3 and [3DOM∗]SS was due to the higher proportion of low-molecular weight components in MPDOM. The lignin/CRAM-like component was identified to be the crucial photobleaching-component. The lignin/CRAM-like in PSDOM showed a deepened oxidation degree, while its change trend in PETDOM was from unsaturated to saturated. These findings provide new insights into the relevant photochemical fate of MPDOM.

Encapsulating phase change materials into melamine formaldehyde sponge assembled with polypyrrole modified halloysite nanotube for effective solar-thermal energy storage and solar-thermal-electric conversion

Exploiting inexpensive composite phase change materials (PCMs) with comprehensive characteristics of high encapsulation efficiency, good leakage resistance, strong flexibility, high heat conductivity, and powerful light absorption is considerably imperative for their solar-thermal and solar-thermal-electric conversion. Herein, polypyrrole (PPy) modified halloysite (HNT/PPy) was assembled into the pores of melamine formaldehyde (MF) sponge to construct hierarchical porous structure (MHP), in which PPy serves as light absorber and heat conducting agent to consolidate the light absorption and thermal conductivity, while the interwoven HNT in MF not only acts as carrier to provide sufficient space for guaranteeing more PCMs’ encapsulation, but also dramatically narrows MF’s pore size and prevents PCMs’ leakage. As expected, the MHP can encapsulate as high as 95 wt% of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with extremely high latent heat of 177.8 J g−1 (PEG@MHP). The rich hydroxyl groups on PEG, PVA and HNT form strong hydrogen bond interaction, effectively improving the leakage-proof performance of PEG@MHP. Especially, PEG@MHP with 82 wt% encapsulation ratio (PEG@MHP-82) demonstrates unexceptionable leakage resistance (negligible leakage at 100 °C), strong light absorption (97 %), good photothermal conversion efficiency (90.36 %), and high thermal conductivity (0.235 W m−1 K−1). Except that, the solar-thermal-electric (STE) conversion system assembled with PEG@MHP-82 enables efficient voltage and current outputs of 587 mV and 83.3 mA respectively under 3 kW m−2 with heat dissipation in water. Encouragingly, the voltage output still achieves 154.7 mV under actual outdoor illumination (0.984 kW m−2). This work provides a simple method to efficiently encapsulate PCMs for realizing high-efficiency solar-thermal and solar-thermal-electric conversion.

Li-ion batteries with poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate]-grafted oxidized starch solid and gel polymer electrolytes

Polymer electrolytes are considered in lithium-ion batteries because of their high safety and properties such as flexibility, easy moldability, etc. Starch is one of these polymers from renewable resources. Considering the semi-crystal structure of starch and ion conduction in amorphous phase, herein starch is oxidized and then modified with poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate]. Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are prepared by dissolution of lithium salt within polymer while gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) as crosslinked structures are swollen in lithium salt solution. After validation of successful syntheses, all SPEs and GPEs with different oxidation state and various PEGMA/oxidized starch are evaluated in Li-ion battery performance. The synthesized GPEs and SPEs show the highest ionic conductivity of 5.5 × 10−3 and 2.19 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻1, respectively at room temperature. Lithium ion transfer number (t+) of 0.6–0.9 and electrochemical stability window of 4.4–4.9 V are obtained for SPEs and GPEs. The discharge capacity is ∼180 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C with capacity retention of 75 % after 100 cycles.

Relevance of Neutralizing Antibodies for the Pharmacokinetics of Pegunigalsidase Alfa in Patients with Fabry Disease.

Pegunigalsidase alfa is a newly approved drug for the treatment of Fabry disease, designed to increase the plasma half-life and reduce immunogenicity of infused α-galactosidase A (AGAL). We provide the first comprehensive pharmacokinetic and immunogenic data apart from industry-initiated studies. Pharmacokinetics of pegunigalsidase alfa, amino acid, and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-specific antibodies and immunecomplexes were measured in treated patients (11 switched, two naïve). Measurements were performed in serum samples drawn directly before and after infusions over three to ten consecutive infusions. Only three patients started directly with 1.0 mg/kg body weight. No infusion-associated reactions were reported under pegunigalsidase alfa during the observation. Patients without pre-existing neutralizing anti-AGAL antibodies showed high enzymatic AGAL peak activities and sustained AGAL serum concentrations until the next infusion, which was not observed in those with neutralizing anti-AGAL antibodies. Nine (69.2%) patients presented with pre-existing anti-PEG antibodies (IgG or IgM), which seemed to have no impact on pharmacokinetics during the observation. No new anti-PEG or anti-AGAL antibody formation was observed after treatment initiation. Three (75.0%) patients with pre-existing neutralizing anti-AGAL antibodies showed a titer increase and one (25.0%) patient a decrease. In patients with anti-AGAL antibodies (n = 4) immune-complex formation was detected. The pharmacokinetics of pegunigalsidase alfa show different profiles depending on the presence of pre-existing neutralizing antibodies, with reduced plasma half-life and peak enzyme activity after infusion in patients with antibodies. The clinical significance of a reduced pegunigalsidase alfa half-life and the formation of immune complexes in antibody-positive patients needs to be analyzed in future studies.