Polyethylene Glycol Polymers Research Articles

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.

Matrix-Insensitive Sensor Arrays via Peptide-Coated Nanoparticles: Rapid Saliva Screening for Pathogens in Oral and Respiratory Diseases.

Plasmonic nanoparticle-based biosensors often report a colorimetric signal through the aggregation or clustering of the nanoparticles (NPs), but these mechanisms typically struggle to function in complex biofluids. Here, we report a matrix-insensitive sensor array approach to detect bacteria, fungi, and viruses whose signal is based on the dissociation of the peptide-aggregated NPs by thiolated polyethylene glycol (HS-PEG) polymers. We show that the HS-PEGs of differing sizes have varying capabilities to dissociate citrate-capped gold nanoparticle (AuNP) and silver nanoparticle (AgNP) assemblies. The dissociative abilities of the HS-PEGs were used in this sensor array to discriminate at the 90% confidence level the microorganisms Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Candida albicans in water and saliva using linear discriminant analysis (LDA). We further demonstrate the versatility of the sensor array by detecting various subtypes of the viruses SARS-CoV-2 (beta, delta, and omicron) and influenza (H3N2) spiked in saliva samples using LDA. In the final demonstration, the sensor array design stratified healthy saliva samples from patient samples diagnosed with periodontitis as well as COVID-19.

Nanoformulation of imidacloprid insecticide with biocompatible materials and its ecological and physiological effects on wheat green aphid, Schizaphis graminum Rondani

Nanoformulation of imidacloprid was prepared using the biocompatible polymer of polyethylene glycol (PEG). TEM image showed that the spherical nanoparticles were 50–150 nm. The lethal concntrationof 30 percent (LC30) and 50 percent (LC50) of the insecticide and its nanoformulation studied on adult female aphids were 21.46 and 58.56 mg a.i./L for pure insecticide, and 3.79 and 4.94 mg a.i./L for nanoformulated insecticide, respectively. The results of the sublethal effect test (LC30) of this insecticide showed that nymphal developmental in nanoimidacloprid (5.55 days) was higher than control (4.22 days). The results showed that the insecticide treatments significantly reduced the demographic characteristics of Schizaphis graminum. The intrinsic rates of increase (r) values of aphids in control, insecticide treatment and its nanoformulation were 0.421, 0.315 and 0.29, respectively. The results of evaluating the effect of the studied insecticide on the specific activity of beta-esterase and glutathione S-transferase showed that there was no significant difference in the activity of this enzymes between the control and the insecticide treatment and its nanoformulation. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that after conducting additional tests, the insecticide nanoformulation can be used due to its effectiveness in lower concentrations in the management of sucking pests such as aphids.

Injectable Hydrogels for Programmable Nanoparticle Release

AbstractInjectable hydrogels represent a promising strategy for the extended release of biological molecules, thereby reducing the frequency of injections. This study introduces a novel system based on Michael addition of dextran and polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers functionalized with oxanorbornadiene (OND) and thiol groups, respectively. Reliable control over gelation speed allows administration by injection using a simple syringe‐to‐syringe mixing protocol that entrains more than 95% of virus‐like particle (VLP) cargo. A combination of retro‐Diels‐Alder and hydrolytic ester bond cleavage gives rise to programmable release of the VLPs. Different release profiles, including burst, linear, and delayed release over a two‐week period, are engineered using different OND linkages, and rheological characterization shows the hydrogels to be well within the desired range of stiffness for subcutaneous use. The modular nature of this system offers a generalizable platform for developing degradable materials aimed at sustained release biomedical applications.

Multidimensional analysis of textiles coated with electroactive polymers for actuators

This paper presents a multidimensional analysis of textiles coated with conductive polymers for actuators. The purpose of using multidimensional scaling analysis is to compare similarities and dissimilarities between conductive textiles obtained through conductive polymeric film deposition to observe the optimal value for electrical resistance and to select an adequate method to achieve conductive fabric using different polymers (polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinylidene fluoride) and metal microparticles (copper or nickel). The multidimensional analysis is based on mapping a series of material properties from a proximity matrix (similarities or dissimilarities) between these properties. Multidimensional scaling allows rebuilding the exact map of the values (within approximately a symmetry or rotation). To fit dissimilarity or similarity matrices for multiple variables into one common space estimating the weight parameters for each variable, the INDSCAL model (individual differences multidimensional scaling) was used.

IMMISCIBLE POLYMER–FILLER SYSTEMS FOR TUNABLE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

ABSTRACT A model system consisting of a 50/50 immiscible mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF), with covalently bound nano silica–reinforcing particles, was used to investigate how the distribution of particles affects viscoelastic properties. The rubbery polymers were generated by chain extending from their respective oligomers through hydroxyl end groups with 1,6-diisocyanato hexane. The viscosity of the resulting PEG and PTHF polymers was 32 and 1000 Pa-s, respectively. Setting the overall SiO2 concentration to 10 phr, we explored three different silica distributions: (1) all-in-PEG, 20 phr in PEG and neat PTHF; (2) uniform, 10 phr in both PEG and PTHF; and (3) all-in-PTHF, neat PEG and 20 phr in PTHF. When compared with the uniform system, the storage and loss shear moduli and the viscosity of the all-in-PTHF system showed a 20-fold increase of the stiffness at low strain, yet nearly the same viscosity at high strain. Similarly, the storage and loss moduli of all-in-PEG mixtures were roughly 1/10 that of the uniform system. The surprisingly high modulus and high viscosity of the all-in-PTHF system can be understood as the entire PTHF regions themselves becoming solid filler.

Biocompatibility and Haemocompatibility Assessments of RBC with Polymeric Coated Cardiac Stent.

The current investigation was conducted to evaluate the biocompatibility and hemocompatibility of polymeric-coated cardiac stents. Coronary stents are typically small wire mesh tubes that are used to open arteries that are obstructed over time as a result of the buildup of fat, cholesterol, or other materials. A 10 milliliter isolated blood red blood cell was obtained using the Prozeta cobalt chromium coronary stent, which had the following specifications: stent length = 18 mm, strut thickness = 0.065 mm, expansion range = 2.25 mm to 4.00 mm, and burst pressure = 6ATM. Using an R&D coating equipment, polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers were applied to the coronary stent. Assessments of the polymeric-coated cardiac stent’s biocompatibility and hemocompatibility were conducted using various evaluation criteria. CAD software has been used to help with the stent’s modeling. According to the supplied catalog, the strut’s thickness and width are calculated to be 0.065 mm and its length is 18 mm. The histology of RBC in an isolated sample (polymer coated on stent) found at 2000 Rx was examined using a motic microscope. Using a UV-visible spectrophotometer set to 414 wave length, a 10µg/ml solution of RBC in distilled water was scanned at 200–500 nm to measure the UV absorption maximum. The absorbance was found to be 0.8312 nm. An FTIR analysis of RBC reveals absorptions that include bending and stretching vibrations. Peak Position was discovered at wave numbers 3661.76, 1684.62, 1547.98, 1472.07, 1278.06, and 841.98. Using SEM the surface morphology of RBC was study and it was found the measurements 6.1, 4.2, 3.3, 3.2, 3.1, and 2.2 µm in diameter with standard error 0.548584. It has been determined that PEG-coated material demonstrated significant outcomes that resulted in coronary stent that was both biocompatible and hemocompatible of polymeric-coated cardiac stent, which is a step towards altering the treatment regimen.

Magnetic Nanoparticles with On-Site Azide and Alkyne Functionalized Polymer Coating in a Single Step through a Solvothermal Process.

Background/Objectives: Magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (MNPs) are becoming more important every day. We prepared MNPs in a simple one-step reaction by following the solvothermal method, assisted by azide and alkyne functionalized polyethylene glycol (PEG400) polymers, as well as by PEG6000 and the polyol β-cyclodextrin (βCD), which played a crucial role as electrostatic stabilizers, providing polymeric/polyol coatings around the magnetic cores. Methods: The composition, morphology, and magnetic properties of the nanospheres were analyzed using Transmission Electron and Atomic Force Microscopies (TEM, AFM), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), X-ray Diffraction Diffractometry (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM). Results: The obtained nanoparticles (@Fe3O4-PEGs and @Fe3O4-βCD) showed diameters between 90 and 250 nm, depending on the polymer used and the Fe3O4·6H2O precursor concentration, typically, 0.13 M at 200 °C and 24 h of reaction. MNPs exhibited superparamagnetism with high saturation mass magnetization at room temperature, reaching values of 59.9 emu/g (@Fe3O4-PEG6000), and no ferromagnetism. Likewise, they showed temperature elevation after applying an alternating magnetic field (AMF), obtaining Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values of up to 51.87 ± 2.23 W/g for @Fe3O4-PEG6000. Additionally, the formed systems are susceptible to click chemistry, as was demonstrated in the case of the cannabidiol-propargyl derivative (CBD-Pro), which was synthesized and covalently attached to the azide functionalized surface of @Fe3O4-PEG400-N3. Prepared MNPs are highly dispersible in water, PBS, and citrate buffer, remaining in suspension for over 2 weeks, and non-toxic in the T84 human colon cancer cell line, Conclusions: indicating that they are ideal candidates for biomedical applications.

Preparation and Characterization of Electrospun Ketoconazole Loaded Nanofibers as Dermal Patch

Objective: This study aims to formulate a ketoconazole patch containing electrospun nanofibres and enhance the solubility due to theincreased particle surface using the electrospinning method. Methods: The Design-Expert version13 software was used in experimental designing, to ensure an efficient nanofiber preparation process. Several nanofiber formulations were prepared with different concentrations of drug and polymers. In this study, Ketoconazole was selected as the model drug, ketoconazole is widely used as an antifungal drug in the treatment of fungal infections. Eudragit and Polyethylene glycol polymers were used with ketoconazole to formulate electrospun nanofibers. Then Ketoconazole nanofibers were investigated and evaluated chemically and morphologically by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: Utilizing the electrospinning method, Ketoconazole electrospun nanofiber was successfully fabricated. The producedketoconazole-loaded nanofibers mat was formulated as a dermal patch. The Eudragit and polyethylene glycol polymers revealed goodcharacteristics that led to the production of uniform ketoconazole nanofibers. The prepared patch showed good physical and mechanicalproperties. The SEM results Images for the produced nanofiber mat showed good nanofiber distribution and no beads formation withseveral fiber diameter sizes, while Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy findings revealed the conjugation between polymers andketoconazole pure powder, the major characteristic peaks of ketoconazole appeared in the FTIR spectrum. Formula 7 showed minimumnanofibers diameter with maximum entrapment efficiency. Conclusions: In this study, the use of the electrospinning method completed the formulation of a dermal patch containing antifungalnanofibers successfully. Using design expert software to ensure maximum optimization, two biocompatible polymers were used, Eudragit E100 and PEG 600 to formulate ketoconazole nanofibers. The formulated dermal patch could be promising for pharmaceutical antifungal applications.

Enhancing osmotic stress tolerance of cell mimetics by modulating lipid bilayer

Seeking effective ways to maintain cellular homeostasis is crucial to the survival of organisms when they encounter osmotic stress. Glycine betaine (GB) is a widely generated natural osmolyte, but its endogenous production and action are limited. Herein, a kind of nonionic surfactant dodecyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (DG) and a common polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG) are proven to have the ability to enhance the osmotic stress (induced by sugar concentration changes) tolerance of cell and organism models, those are giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and gram-negative Escherichia coli. DG or PEG only induces small size decrease and certain shape change of GUVs. Importantly, DG or PEG at the concentration 100 times lower than that of GB effectively increases the survival rate of bacteria under both hypoosmotic and hyperosmotic conditions. This intriguing result is attributed to the insertion of DG or adsorption of PEG in the lipid bilayer membrane, leading to enhanced membrane permeability. These exogenous substances can replace GB to facilely and highly efficiently augment adaptation of organisms to osmotic stress.

Towards the preparation of smart drug delivery platforms for colorectal cancer therapy: Biocompatible and targeted mesoporous silica nanoparticles with the deferiprone-copper complex gatekeeper

BackgroundAchieving smart drug release and preventing premature leakage throughout the delivery journey are two crucial factors that are essential to take into account in the design of nanocarriers. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) can be modified with gatekeeper molecules to achieve controlled release behavior, making them highly promising nanocarriers for smart drug delivery purposes. MethodsHerein, we introduced a novel gatekeeper in the form of an inverted umbrella, consisting of a deferiprone (DFP)-copper complex, which was strategically immobilized on the surface of MSNs to facilitate smart and controlled release of doxorubicin (DOX) within tumor cells. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer and aptamer were further added onto the surface of the nanocarrier to enhance its biocompatibility, and targeting capabilities. The physicochemical characteristics of the targeted nanoplatform, Apt-PEG-DOX@GNP, were investigated, and its anti-cancer effect was evaluated against C26 cells and CHO cells to assess its specificity. In order to evaluate the anti-tumor efficacy, possible side effects, and biodistribution of the prepared nanocarriers, the in vivo experiment was carried out on BALB/c mice bearing colorectal tumors. ResultsThe substantial surface area of MSNs, measuring 339 m2/g, facilitated effective encapsulation of DOX with a maximum loading 23 % ± 2.05. Preparation of Apt-PEG-DOX@GNP yielded uniform particles with an average diameter of 144.73 ± 11.29 nm. The Apt-PEG-DOX@GNP demonstrated iron-dependent release behaviors, wherein the cleavage of DFP−COOH-Cu(II) bonds decorating the silica nanoparticles occurred asynchronously, leading to the formation of new DFP−COOH-Fe(II) bonds for the subsequent release of DOX. The in vivo experiments revealed that the biocompatible nanocarriers displayed targeted toxicity towards C26 tumor-bearing BALB/c mice, resulting in minimal side effects. ConclusionOur prepared novel nanoplatforms showed promising potential for targeted treatment of colorectal cancer and precise control over the drug release.

Design of Novel Membranes for the Efficient Separation of Bee Alarm Pheromones in Portable Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometric Systems.

Bee alarm pheromones are essential molecules that are present in beehives when some threats occur in the bee population. In this work, we have applied multilevel modeling techniques to understand molecular interactions between representative bee alarm pheromones and polymers such as polymethyl siloxane (PDMS), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and their blend. This study aimed to check how these interactions can be manipulated to enable efficient separation of bee alarm pheromones in portable membrane inlet mass spectrometric (MIMS) systems using new membranes. The study involved the application of powerful computational atomistic methods based on a combination of modern semiempirical (GFN2-xTB), first principles (DFT), and force-field calculations. As a fundamental work material for the separation of molecules, we considered the PDMS polymer, a well-known sorbent material known to be applicable for light polar molecules. To improve its applicability as a sorbent material for heavier polar molecules, we considered two main factors-temperature and the addition of PEG polymer. Additional insights into molecular interactions were obtained by studying intrinsic reactive properties and noncovalent interactions between bee alarm pheromones and PDMS and PEG polymer chains.

Improving Tamoxifen Performance in Inducing Apoptosis and Hepatoprotection by Loading on a Dual Nanomagnetic Targeting System.

Although tamoxifen (TMX) belongs to selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) and selectively binds to estrogen receptors, it affects other estrogen-producing tissues due to passive diffusion and non-differentiation of normal and cancerous cells and leads to side effects. The problems expressed about tamoxifen (TMX) encouraged us to design a new drug delivery system based on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to simultaneously target two receptors on cancer cells through folic acid (FA) and hyaluronic acid (HA) groups. The mediator of binding of two targeting agents to MNPs is a polymer linker, including dopamine, polyethylene glycol, and terminal amine (DPN). Zeta potential, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) methods confirmed that MNPs-DPN-HA-FA has a suitable size of ~105 nm and a surface charge of -41 mV, and therefore, it can be a suitable option for carrying TMX and increasing its solubility. The cytotoxic test showed that the highest concentration of MNPs-DPN-HA-FA-TMX decreased cell viability to about 11% after 72 h of exposure compared to the control. While the protective effect of modified MNPs on normal cells was evident, unlike tamoxifen, the survival rate of liver cells, even after 180 min of treatment, was not significantly different from the control group. The protective effect of MNPs was also confirmed by examining the amount of malondialdehyde, and no significant difference was observed in the amount of lipid peroxidation caused by modified MNPs compared to the control. Flow cytometry proved that TMX loaded onto modified MNPs can induce apoptosis by targeting the overexpressed receptors on cancer cells. Real-time PCR showed that the modified MNPs activated the intrinsic and extrinsic mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis, so the Bak1/Bclx ratio for MNPs-DPN-HAFA- TMX and free TMX was 70.82 and 0.38, respectively. Also, the expression of the caspase-3 gene increased 430 times compared to the control. On the other hand, only TNF gene expression, which is responsible for metastasis in some tumors, was decreased by both free TMX and MNPs-DPN-HA-FA-TMX. Finally, molecular docking proved that MNPs-DPN-HA-FA-TMX could provide a very stable interaction with both CD44 and folate receptors, induce apoptosis in cancer cells, and reduce hepatotoxicity. All the results showed that MNPs-DPN-HA-FA-TMX can show good affinity to cancer cells using targeting agents and induce apoptosis in metastatic breast ductal carcinoma T-47D cell lines. Also, the protective effects of MNPs on hepatocytes are quite evident, and they can reduce the side effects of TMX.

Evaluation of X-ray radiation shielding performance of Bi2O3 and BaTiO3 embedded in PVP and PEG polymer nanocomposite

This study addressed the limitations of lead-based radiation shields by developing lead-free, non-toxic, lightweight, and flexible shielding materials with high attenuation efficiency. To achieve this, single and triple layers of Bi2O3-BaTiO3/PVP-PEG nanocomposite films were synthesized. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers (2:1 ratio) were used as the polymeric matrix in which fillers of Bi2O3 and BaTiO3 nanoparticles (NPs) with particle sizes ranging from 90 to 210 nm and <100 nm, respectively, were embedded. Four single-layer samples with 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% NP concentrations were prepared; the samples were 1.05, 1.09, 1.27, and 1.42 mm thick, respectively. Two samples of triple-layered films were prepared with 30% and 50% NPs, measuring 3.78 and 4.23 mm in thickness, respectively. The attenuation efficiency of these films was investigated using X-ray tube voltages from 10 to 120 kVp. Further, the flexibility of the synthesized films was tested by manual handling. All single- and triple-layer nanocomposites exhibited effective radiation attenuation and desirable flexibility. Specifically, at the lowest tube voltage, all samples exhibited 100% attenuation, while at the highest tube voltage, the attenuation ranged from 27% to 84%, depending on the NP concentration and number of layers of the sample. The highest attenuation ratio, observed in the 50% triple-layer sample, reached 100% up to approximately 60 kVp and 84% at 120 kVp. Consequently, the most optimal film synthesized in this study had a triple-layer configuration with 50% Bi2O3-BaTiO3 NPs embedded in a PVP-PEG polymer with an average attenuation of 95.5% for all tube voltages (10–120 kVp). Therefore, this shielding is suitable for various diagnostic applications, such as mammography, dental X-rays, computerized tomography, and fluoroscopy. Highlights Single- and triple-layered nanocomposite Bi2O3-BaTiO3/PVP-PEG films were synthesized The attenuation efficiency of the films against X-rays was investigated A triple-layer configuration with 50% Bi2O3-BaTiO3/PVP-PEG was suitable for various diagnostic applications

Co-delivery of retinoic acid and miRNA by functional Au nanoparticles for improved survival and CT imaging tracking of MSCs in pulmonary fibrosis therapy

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as promising candidates for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) therapy. Increasing the MSC survival rate and deepening the understanding of the behavior of transplanted MSCs are of great significance for improving the efficacy of MSC-based IPF treatment. Therefore, dual-functional Au-based nanoparticles (Au@PEG@PEI@TAT NPs, AuPPT) were fabricated by sequential modification of cationic polymer polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and transactivator of transcription (TAT) penetration peptide on AuNPs, to co-deliver retinoic acid (RA) and microRNA (miRNA) for simultaneously enhancing MSC survive and real-time imaging tracking of MSCs during IPF treatment. AuPPT NPs, with good drug loading and cellular uptake abilities, could efficiently deliver miRNA and RA to protect MSCs from reactive oxygen species and reduce their expression of apoptosis executive protein Caspase 3, thus prolonging the survival time of MSC after transplantation. In the meantime, the intracellular accumulation of AuPPT NPs enhanced the computed tomography imaging contrast of transplanted MSCs, allowing them to be visually tracked in vivo. This study establishes an Au-based dual-functional platform for drug delivery and cell imaging tracking, which provides a new strategy for MSC-related IPF therapy.

Enhancing camptothecin loading and release control through physical surface modification of organosilica nanoparticles with polyethylene glycol

The surface modification of nanoparticles holds the potential to enhance the loading capacity of drug molecules and regulate their release, making it possible to exploit the differences between tumor and normal cells. To this end, the surfaces of tetrasulfide-based phenylene-containing biodegradable periodic mesoporous organosilica (BPMO) nanoparticles (designated P4S) are modified herein with a hydrophilic and biocompatible polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer. The PEG coating is optimized by adjusting the PEG concentration during synthesis, thus resulting in a significant increase in the nanoparticle stability. Furthermore, PEG modification enhances the nanoparticles' camptothecin (CPT) loading capacity. Drug release assessments under physical and acidic pH conditions demonstrate the pH-responsive properties of the P4S nanoparticles upon PEG functionalization, which results in increased drug release at low pH, along with enhanced cellular uptake potential. Notably, the cytotoxicity of CPT against HepG2 cancer cells is significantly improved when loaded into the P4S-PEG nanoparticles. These findings reveal the efficacy of PEG surface modification of the drug-delivery material in augmenting the activity of CPT, with promising prospects for clinical applications.

In Situ Growth of Columnar PEG on PEDOT and Its Antifouling Properties.

The antifouling properties of conductive polymers have received extensive attention for biosensor and bioelectronic applications. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a well-known antifouling material, but the controlled regulation of the surface topography of PEG without a template remains a challenge. Here, we show a columnar structure antifouling conductive polymer brush with enhanced antifouling properties and considerable conductivity. The method involves synthesizing the 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene monomer modified with azide (EDOT-N3), the electropolymerization of PEDOT-N3, and the in situ growth of PEG polymer brushes on PEDOT through double-click reactions. The resultant columnar structure polymer brush exhibits high electrical conductivity (3.5 Ω·cm2), ultrahigh antifouling property, electrochemical stability (capacitance retention was 93.8% after 2000 cycles of CV scans in serum), and biocompatibility.

Incorporation of natural and synthetic polymers into honey hydrogel for wound healing: A review.

The difficulty in treating chronic wounds due to the prolonged inflammation stage has affected a staggering 6.5 million people, accompanied by 25 billion USD annually in the United States alone. A 1.9% rise in chronic wound prevalence among Medicare beneficiaries was reported from 2014 to 2019. Besides, the global wound care market values were anticipated to increase from USD 20.18 billion in 2022 to USD 30.52 billion in 2030, suggesting an expected rise in chronic wounds financial burdens. The lack of feasibility in using traditional dry wound dressings sparks hydrogel development as an alternative approach to tackling chronic wounds. Since ancient times, honey has been used to treat wounds, including burns, and ongoing studies have also demonstrated its wound-healing capabilities on cellular and animal models. However, the fluidity and low mechanical strength in honey hydrogel necessitate the incorporation of other polymers. Therefore, this review aims to unravel the characteristics and feasibility of natural (chitosan and gelatin) and synthetic (polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene glycol) polymers to be incorporated in the honey hydrogel. Relevant articles were identified from databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct) using keywords related to honey, hydrogel, and polymers. Relevant data from selected studies were synthesized narratively and reported following a structured narrative format. The importance of honey's roles and mechanisms of action in wound dressings were discussed. Notable studies concerning honey hydrogels with diverse polymers were also included in this article to provide a better perspective on fabricating customized hydrogel wound dressings for various types of wounds in the future. Honey's incapability to stand alone in hydrogel requires the incorporation of natural and synthetic polymers into the hydrogel. With this review, it is hoped that the fabrication and commercialization of the desired honey composite hydrogel for wound treatment could be brought forth.

Bottlebrush Polyethylene Glycol Nanocarriers Translocate across Human Airway Epithelium via Molecular Architecture-Enhanced Endocytosis.

Pulmonary drug delivery is critical for the treatment of respiratory diseases. However, the human airway surface presents multiple barriers to efficient drug delivery. Here, we report a bottlebrush poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-BB) nanocarrier that can translocate across all barriers within the human airway surface. Guided by a molecular theory, we design a PEG-BB molecule consisting of a linear backbone densely grafted by many (∼1000) low molecular weight (∼1000 g/mol) polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains; this results in a highly anisotropic, wormlike nanocarrier featuring a contour length of ∼250 nm, a cross-section of ∼20 nm, and a hydrodynamic diameter of ∼40 nm. Using the classic air-liquid-interface culture system to recapitulate essential biological features of the human airway surface, we show that PEG-BB rapidly penetrates through endogenous airway mucus and periciliary brush layer (mesh size of 20-40 nm) to be internalized by cells across the whole epithelium. By quantifying the cellular uptake of polymeric carriers of various molecular architectures and manipulating cell proliferation and endocytosis pathways, we show that the translocation of PEG-BB across the epithelium is driven by bottlebrush architecture-enhanced endocytosis. Our results demonstrate that large, wormlike bottlebrush PEG polymers, if properly designed, can be used as a carrier for pulmonary and mucosal drug delivery.

Graphite Sheet-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Mass Spectrometry for Small Organic Compound Analysis.

Carbon-based nanopowders have been used as ionization materials for laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) and are very efficient at detection in low m/z regions. In this study, we aimed to develop a new sheet-type graphite material that possessed a randomly grooved nanostructured surface consisting of developed sp2-conjugated atomic carbon to facilitate the desorption/ionization of small compounds in LDI-MS. The graphite sheet exhibited higher UV absorption and provided higher ionization efficiency and survival yield in the LDI-MS detection of a thermometer ion, 4-chloro-benzopyridinium, than those of highly oriented graphite plates. These properties demonstrate that the present graphite sheet is suited for use as an LDI-MS material. Graphite sheet-assisted LDI-MS successfully detected various substances, including amino acids, peptides, and polyethylene glycol polymers, with higher ion intensities and less noise than those associated with conventional organic matrix-assisted LDI-MS (MALDI-MS). Furthermore, graphite sheet-assisted LDI-MS analysis provided more peaks (252 peaks) derived from soy sauce than those obtained by MALDI-MS (36 peaks) and required fewer preparation processes (dilution and air-dried) compared with previously established graphite carbon black-assisted LDI-MS (171 peaks) in the positive mode. This study demonstrates that graphite sheet-assisted LDI-MS has the potential for small organic compound analyses in the biomedical and food science fields.