Solvent-free Process Research Articles

Eco-conscious synthesis of novel 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives as potent Anti-microbial agent and comparative study of cell viability and cytotoxicity in HEK-293 cell line utilizing Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica) fruit extract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a pressing global health challenge that necessitates the search for novel antimicrobial agents and synthetic methodologies. This study investigates the synthesis and antimicrobial efficacy of 25 novel 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives, catalyzed by Amla (Phyllanthus emblica) fruit juice, which is rich in organic acids and polyphenolic compounds, thus serving as an environmentally sustainable catalyst, in adherence to green chemistry principles. The synthesis is achieved through a one-pot, solvent-free process that yields high quantities of the desired compounds in significantly less time compared to traditional methods. Comprehensive antimicrobial evaluation was conducted against a range of clinically relevant microorganisms, including Chromobacterium violaceum, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus niger. Concurrently, cytotoxic assays were performed on HEK-293 cells, to assess safety profiles, revealing that compounds B-1, B-6, B-7, B-14 and B-15 exhibited potent antimicrobial activity while maintaining low cytotoxicity and high cell viability. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of the synthesized compounds in combatting infectious diseases and addressing the challenges posed by AMR, highlighting the critical importance of dose optimization in therapeutic applications. This study combats contagious diseases, mitigates AMR challenges and contributes significantly to the field of antimicrobial drug discovery, emphasizing the need for sustainable synthetic strategies that align with future pharmaceutical endeavors. Our research not only advances the understanding of these novel compounds but also supports ongoing efforts to develop safe and effective therapies against resistant pathogens.

Recovery of Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate and terephthalic acid from waste PET bottles for synthesis of cerium-based metal-organic frameworks: A study towards supercapacitor applications

Controlled chemical recycling of plastic waste is a most important concern to reduce plastic waste as well as effective recovery of the various byproducts without toxic emission. In this study, we focused on effective recovery of Bis-2-hydroxyethylene terephthalate (r-BHET) from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste via solvent free melt depolymerization process. Recovered BHET was converted into terephthalic acid (r-TPA) by hydrolysis. Both r-BHET and r-TPA were used to construct a metal organic framework (MOF) with cerium metal for potential energy applications. Extensive characterization, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) were confirmed the structural integrity and purity of the r-BHET and r-TPA and provides insights into the well-defined structure and elemental composition of the MOFs. The specific capacitances of BHET and TPA-Ce-MOF were found to be 91.5 and 220.1 F/g respectively. Comprehensive characterization ensures the quality of the recovered products and synthesized MOFs, promoting environmentally conscious strategies in materials synthesis and energy storage applications.

The novel incorporation of lignin-based systems for the preparation of antimicrobial cement composites

This paper, for the first time, presents a potential application of titanium(IV) oxide and silicon(IV) oxide combined with lignin through a solvent-free mechanical process as admixtures for cement composites. The designed TiO2–SiO2 (1:1 wt./wt.) hybrid materials mixed with lignin were extensively characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), electrokinetic potential analysis, thermal analysis (TGA/DTG), and porous structure properties. In addition, particle size distributions and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were conducted to evaluate morphological and microstructural properties. In the next step, the effect of the TiO2–SiO2/lignin hybrid admixture on the workability, hydration process, microstructure, porosity, mechanical, and antimicrobial properties of the cement composites was evaluated. It was observed that appropriately designed hybrid systems based on lignin contributed to better workability, with an improvement of 25 mm, and reduced porosity of cement composites, decreasing from 14.4 % to 13.3 % in the most favorable sample. Additionally, a higher microstructure density was observed, and with increasing amounts of hybrid material admixture, the mechanical parameters also improved. In addition, the TiO2–SiO2/lignin hybrid systems had significant potential due to their high microbial purity, suggesting their effectiveness in minimizing microbial accumulation on surfaces. The final stage of analysis involved employing response surface methodology (RSM) to ascertain the optimum composition of cement composites. The results obtained indicate that the TiO2–SiO2/lignin admixtures are a promising approach for the valorization of lignin waste flows in the design of cement composites.

Solvent-free and efficient heterogeneous Biginelli reactions catalyzed by copper (II)-incorporated iminophenol-based porous organic polymer

The copper (II)-incorporated iminophenol containing porous polymer (Cu-TAzo-TAPB), which was reported to be a recyclable catalyst for click reactions, is now exploited as an efficient catalyst in the solvent-free one-pot process to make 3,4-dihydropyrimidinone derivatives (DHPMs) by a three-component condensation reaction of urea/thiourea, aldehydes, and active methylene compounds. Usually, these reactions are complicated to carry out in a neutral medium. We describe here an eco-friendly method to produce Biginelli products with 5 mol% catalyst loading with a simple isolation technique. The high product yields show the effective Biginelli reaction technique. The catalyst is highly stable and easily recoverable for reuse without significant loss of catalytic efficiency.

Preparation of (NH4)2SO4 Spherical Particles with Functions of Sustained-Release and Anticaking by an Organic Solvent-Free Process

Preparation of (NH₄)₂SO₄ Spherical Particles with Functions of Sustained-Release and Anticaking by an Organic Solvent-Free Process

Ultra-high volume expansion ratio branched PBT/TPEE three-dimensional reticulated foams of supercritical CO2 melt foaming for efficient oil/water separation

The development of polymer reticulated foams with high expansion ratios (VER) for selective oil-adsorption applications has been hindered by technical challenges. In this article, high VER reticulated foam with outstanding selective oil-adsorption performance was realized through the synergistic effect of molecular topological structure and blending heterostructure. Branched polybutylene terephthalate(B-PBT)/thermoplastic polyester elastomer(TPEE) was prepared by blending reaction. Then, B-PBT/TPEE blends were foamed by supercritical CO2 melting foaming, a solvent-free process. The nano-scale TPEE, acting as the weak point, induced the cell wall to rupture and form reticulated foam after the B-PBT had expanded to a high VER. The branching topological structure endowed PBT high storage modulus(G’) and complex viscosity(η*), which support the expansion of foam and keep foam from collapsing before the melt solidification. As a result, ultra-high VER three-dimensional reticulated foams possessing VER of 46.9 and open-cell content of 97.8 % were prepared, which is higher about 200 % than the previous research. The water contact angle of reticulated foams is 132° and cyclohexane droplets diffuse into reticulated foam showing the contact angle of 0°, indicating the reticulated foam have oleophilicity and hydrophobicity. The adsorption capacity of the reticulated foam for various oils is from 24 to 67 g/g. Moreover, the adsorption rate constant of reticulated foam is 8 times more than that of conventional open-cell foam. These benefits from the unique cell structure and high VER of reticulated foam. The work provides a facile and novel method for the green preparation of high-performance oil/water separation materials.

Comparative Analysis of Single- and Poly-Crystalline Layered Cathode Materials: Determining the Superior Choice

In the field of cathode material candidates of lithium-ion batteries, there has been ongoing debate regarding which material is superior: poly-crystalline (PC) or single-crystalline (SC) cathode active materials. The PC materials are characterized by primary particles that agglomerate into secondary particles, which PCs are prone to micro-crack due to significant c-axis volumetric expansion/contraction in their lattice structure.As an alternative, the SC materials have been received attention for their physical resistance from the expansion/contraction and external pressure. However, in terms of lithium-diffusion pathway, it has been reported that SC’s structures possess certain disadvantages in lithium-ion diffusion compared to PC materials. This is attributed to the scarcity of grain boundaries and the extensive pathways of bigger primary particles in SC, which impede the efficient movement of lithium ions. Even though the comparative analysis has been needed between PC and SC above superiority, achieving an exact comparison under identical or similar conditions is challenging due to differences in particle size and surface environment, including binders and conducting materials.In this study, we standardized the size of both PC and SC particles to 10 μm to evaluate their electrochemical performance under identical environmental conditions and using a common commercial electrode composition (96:2:2, active material, carbon black, and PVDF binder) in a wet process with a 60% nickel cathode (NCM622). Consequently, in comparing PC and SC materials, the focus has been on analyzing key factors that contribute to electrode performance, specifically concerning issues of lithium-ion diffusion and the composition of materials at the electrode level that may arise. Moreover, we fabricated SC electrodes using a solvent-free dry electrode process as an alternative of better process, aimed at creating higher energy density electrodes without the addition of carbon black, but rather by employing coated carbon nanotubes (CNT) on the SC surface with the composition (99.6:0:0.4, active material, carbon black, PTFE binder) to clarify the comparison between two main cathodes’ design.Finally, we found that the dry-processed SC electrode demonstrated superior performance in full-cell tests and show excellent cycle performance at high temperature (45 °C) and high voltage (2.8 to 4.5V). The enhanced performance observed in dry-processed electrodes using CNT was found to be primarily due to the reduced ion resistance in environments devoid of internal carbon black, as confirmed through comparison with wet-processed electrodes. Although electron conductivity was ensured through the conductive material, a significant decrease in performance was noted if the environment was not conducive to the movement of internal lithium-ion. And it is attributable to enhanced surface stability under high-voltage storage conditions with a reduced specific surface area compared to PC cathode and PC wet process condition. Figure 1

The Impact of PTFE:PVDF Ratio on the Fabrication of Free-Standing Electrodes for Solvent-Free Dry Electrodes in Libs

The current wet process of LIB electrode fabrication presents several challenges, including the use of the environmentally toxic and harmful N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solvent and non-uniform binder distribution due to the capillary force of the drying process. In addition, it is difficult to increase the thickness of the electrode and leads to relatively low-capacity electrodes. To address these issues, solvent-free dry electrode processes are promising. In the dry electrode process, binders play crucial roles in free-standing electrode formation. Fibrillization of Polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) occurs at a temperature of about 19 ℃, and the shear force of high temperature and high pressure helps to maintain the shape of the free-standing electrode.In this study, we performed a comparative analysis through the physical blending of PTFE and PVDF polymer binders with different ratios. A variety of characterization tools are used to investigate the optimal ratio that ensures good cycle performance for high-loading cathode electrodes while maintaining free-standing electrodes: 180° peel test, sheet-resistance test, SAICAS, FE-SEM, and electrochemical performance tests Keywords: Solvent-free, Dry electrode; electrode fabrication; PTFE polymer binder, Fibrillization, Lithium ion batteries Figure 1

Development of Dual-Gel System for Wearable Electrochemical Sensors

With the innovation of materials and rapid development of wearable technology, wearable electronics—particularly textile-based systems—have broadened perspectives in health monitoring, therapy, and disease diagnosis.Bioelectronics interpret analyte information into real-time electrical signals with high sensitivity. Realizing the selective detection of analytes in biofluids often requires bioreceptors, such as enzymes, antibodies, and DNA, along with corresponding electrochemical detection techniques.Enzymatic sensors have relatively complex sensing structures among others. Enzymes function as biocatalysts at the sensing interface, facilitating electron transfer from analytes to the electrode surface. To enhance overall data acquisition, redox mediators are typically incorporated into these systems.Wearable bioelectronics are currently fabricated by depositing functional materials onto conformal flexible substrates using techniques such as spin coating, spray coating, printing, etching, and other technologies. However, seamlessly integrating multi-layer textile-based biosensors necessitates specific screen mesh and inkjet angles that ultimately limit the manufacturing process.Here, we propose a dual-gel system consisting of a base gel embedding functional materials (redox mediators and bioreceptors) and an encapsulation gel to stabilize the base gel while offering antifouling properties. The thin dual-gel film is fabricated through blade-casting followed by photo-initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition (piCVD) and can seamlessly adhere to various rough fabric surfaces. Moreover, this solvent-free process largely prevents bioreceptor degradation, promising better manufacturing sustainability.Glucose detection on flexible electrodes utilizing such a dual-gel system is exemplified as a proof-of-concept. This unique dual-gel system is expected to contribute to the development of textile-based electronics with greater versatility and improved sensing performance.

(Invited) Advanced Electrode Processing for Next Generation Batteries

The development of environmentally friendly processing techniques is a key requisite for future sustainable battery development. The so-called DRYtraec® process is a solvent-free process developed as a viable approach to replace slurry-based binders by fibrous polymers and produce laminated electrodes with a low carbon footprint. It has been demonstrated to work for both, liquid and solid electrolyte batteries. NMC cathodes can be produced in a wide range of loading. For lithium sulfur batteries carbon/sulfur composites can be processed without sulfur loss. In particular in the field of solid state batteries it shows significant advantages. All-solid-state lithium-ion batteries are promising candidates to overcome safety and energy limitations of established lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Excellent results have been reported for sulfide based electrolytes on a small scale. More and more companies announce their first pilot production lines. Therefore, scalable concepts for material and component development are of crucial need. We evaluate this process for the fabrication of thin argyrodite separator films and compare it with slurry-based separators in ASSBs. To test new cell concepts and components under relevant conditions, it is important to manufacture prototype cells with thin separator layers and flexible housing. Therefore, we prepared slurry-free pouch cells based on Ni-rich NMC cathodes and PVD-synthesized Si anodes.The presentation highlights recent developments of the DRYtraec® process and its application to ASSBs, LiS and LIBs.

Extraction of turpentine essential oil from Pinus pinaster ait: Comparison of yield and composition between conventional- or microwave assisted-hydro-distillation and vacuum distillation

Turpentine essential oil was extracted from Pinus pinaster Ait. resin, collected from “les Cévennes” area (south-eastern France). Three extraction processes were investigated: conventional hydro-distillation (CHD), microwaves assisted hydro-distillation (MWHD) under a limited amount of water and a solvent-free process, i.e. vacuum distillation (VD). The selected experimental conditions agreed with the theoretical flash region and equilibrium yield predicted by flash calculations described well the results.CHD using a low water/resin ratio of 2 showed a high yield (∼25%w/w) and a turpentine essential oil (EO) primarily rich in α- and β-pinenes, but also in sesquiterpene compounds such as β-caryophyllene. Microwave heating did not improve the total extraction staying around 20%w/w but depending on power condition, both the monoterpene/sesquiterpene ratio and the proportion of oxygenated compounds can be increased. Pressure, rather than temperature, was observed to have a greater impact on the VD extraction yield. At a temperature above or equal to 90 °C and a pressure of 1 kPa, the yield became comparable to that obtained by CHD but with a high pinenes and low sesquiterpenes content.

Sulfur-modified polyurethane adhesives: Green synthesis process and disassembly-responsive characteristics

Polyurethane adhesives have been widely used in industrial production and daily life for their excellent properties. With the urgent need for social progress, the intelligent responsiveness of polyurethane adhesives has become more and more important. Here, we demonstrate a stimulus-responsive polyurethane adhesive. Starting from the structural design, sulfur (S8) is added into the polyurethane adhesive for the first time using the inverse vulcanized mechanism, and the controllable disassembly response of the polyurethane adhesive under the condition of thermal stimulation is realized. In addition, the stimulus response of the adhesive can also be activated through the permeation process of methoxide anion (CH3O−), and the rapid disassembly response property is displayed in the methanol solution of CH3ONa, to realize the recovery of the bonding substrate. Simultaneously, the implementation of the inverse vulcanized mechanism imparts the adhesive with a diminished water absorption swelling rate and heightened cross-link density. On the surface of the metal substrate, it shows excellent bonding properties, with a lap shear adhesion strength reaching 2.8 MPa. It is worth noting that the adhesive also exhibits excellent underwater durability. After 36 h of underwater soaking treatment, its adhesion can still be maintained at 2.4 MPa. This work reveals the mechanism of rapid disassembly of polyurethane adhesives at the molecular level. By density functional theory (DFT) calculation, it is found that the minimum bond energy of the S-S bond in a polyurethane adhesive system is 134 KJ·mol−1, and the disassembly response can be triggered by heating to 53.79℃. At the same time, the mechanism of the disassembly response induced by CH3O− is further analyzed using an electrostatic potential (ESP) diagram. This work utilizes sulfur (S8) and castor oil (CO) as raw materials, which can be sourced from industrial or agricultural by-products. It breaks away from traditional polyurethane adhesive preparation methods and offers a "green" strategy that can be synthesized through a solvent-free one-pot process, thus providing a new way of thinking about obtaining sustainable polymers from industrial and agricultural by-products.

Mechanochemical Synthesis of Cross-Linked Chitosan and Its Application as Adsorbent for Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Simulated Electroplating Wastewater.

Chitosan is a promising adsorbent for removing a wide range of pollutants from wastewater. However, its practical application is hindered by instability in acidic environments, which significantly impairs its adsorption capacity and limits its utilization in water purification. While cross-linking can enhance the acid stability of chitosan, current solvent-based methods are often costly and environmentally unfriendly. In this study, a solvent-free mechanochemical process was developed using high-energy ball milling to cross-link chitosan with various polyanionic linkers, including dextran sulfate (DS), poly[4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid] (PSSM), and tripolyphosphate (TPP). The mechanochemically cross-linked (MCCL) chitosan products exhibited superior adsorption capacity and stability in acidic solutions compared to pristine chitosan. Chitosan cross-linked with DS (Cht-DS) showed the highest Reactive Red 2 (RR2) adsorption capacity, reaching 1559 mg·g-1 at pH 3, followed by Cht-PSSM (1352 mg·g-1) and Cht-TPP (1074 mg·g-1). The stability of MCCL chitosan was visually confirmed by the negligible mass loss of Cht-DS and Cht-PSSM tablets in pH 3 solution, unlike the complete dissolution of the pristine chitosan tablet. The MCCL significantly increased the microhardness of chitosan, with the order Cht-DS > Cht-PSSM > Cht-TPP, consistent with the RR2 adsorption capacity. When tested on simulated rinsing wastewater from chromium electroplating, Cht-DS effectively removed Cr(VI) (98.75% removal) and three per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (87.40-95.87% removal), following pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetics. This study demonstrates the potential of the cost-effective and scalable MCCL approach to produce chitosan-based adsorbents with enhanced stability, mechanical strength, and adsorption performance for treating highly acidic industrial wastewater containing a mixture of toxic pollutants.

Highly conductive composite cathode prepared by dry process using Nafion-Li ionomer for sulfide-based all-solid-state lithium batteries

All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) offer safe operation and high energy density, making them potential alternatives to liquid-electrolyte-based lithium-ion batteries. Sheet-type composite cathodes for sulfide-based ASSLBs are typically fabricated using a nonconducting polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) binder by a solvent-free dry process, resulting in poor cycling stability and low rate capability. We demonstrate a strategy for using a Li+-incorporated Nafion (Nafion-Li) binder to fabricate a composite cathode via a dry process for improving cycling performance of ASSLBs. The solid-state cell assembled with Li6PS5Cl and LiNi0.7Co0.15Mn0.15O2 cathode using an optimal amount of Nafion-Li delivers a discharge capacity of 177.8 mAh g−1 (4.1 mAh cm−2) at 25 °C and exhibits a high capacity retention of 97% after 200 cycles at 0.5C. The improved cycling performance results from enhanced electrical conductivity (ionic and electron conductivity) and better interfacial contacts between cathode active material, solid electrolyte, and conducting carbon in the composite cathode, provided by Nafion-Li binder.

Solventless recovery of lipids from urban sewage sludge: How to sustainably turn a waste into a valuable source of oleochemicals

For the first time, the recovery of lipids from urban sewage sludge was investigated through a solvent-free process based on elementary operations validated on a pilot scale (2 tons per hour). Sedimented sewage sludge was dewatered through centrifugation, acidified (and in the case treated with hydrogen peroxide), heated to 80 °C and centrifuged to obtain three different streams: i) raw grease, ii) exhausted aqueous phase, and iii) dewatered sludge.The recovery yield of grease from sludge could reach a very high value (70 wt%), depending essentially on the initial lipid content in sewage sludge, which was monitored and found to range between 1.1 and 6.6 wt% (13–25 wt% with respect to TS). The use of H2O2 played a crucial role in the recoverability of lipids and the relevant pureness in free fatty acids content (>89 wt%). In addition, the total solids content in the exhausted aqueous phase and the final residual sludge were sensibly affected by using H2O2. Final dewatered sludge had a very high content of solids (TS 31.0 ± 2.3 wt%) and resulted in 15 % less of the amount of sludge conventionally obtained from anaerobic digestion. According to these figures, for medium wastewater treatment plants, a selling price of 800–900 Euro per ton of grease would guarantee a return on investments within three years of operations. This simple procedure represents a quick and proficient way to treat sewage sludge, turning it into a valuable feedstock for fine chemicals, in agreement with Circular Bioeconomy principles.

Reactive organophosphorus retardant-enhanced sorbitol epoxy resins with highly thermal and flame-retardant performance

As a low-cost sugar-based chemical, sorbitol has been less reported in recent years in the field of epoxy resins. In view of the low viscosity characteristics of its epoxy monomer, it is of great significance to prepare the advanced resin system via a solvent-free green curing process. As known, most of the existing flame-retardant networks contain organophosphorus flame retardants. To achieve excellent flame- retardant effect, a large amount of phosphorus was added to the resin matrices. As a result, apart from exacerbating the migration of organophosphorus, their thermal stability and phase transition temperature are further reduced, thus weakening the thermal properties of the material to a certain extent. In order to overcome those problems, we introduced ultra-low amounts of phosphorus to achieve efficient flame retardant into the sorbitol -based epoxy resin. It was found that the introduction of EP-DOPO in 0.55 P wt% amount could achieve a UL94-V0 grade flame retardant effect. Different from other phosphorus-containing flame retardants, reactive EP-DOPO favored an improvement in both thermal stability and phase transition temperature, meanwhile, it effectively avoids the phosphorus migration as well.

Fusion Bonding Technique for Solvent-Free Fabrication of All-Solid-State Battery with Ultrathin Sulfide Electrolyte.

For preparing next-generation sulfide all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs), the solvent-free manufacturing process has huge potential for the advantages of economic, thick electrode, and avoidance of organic solvents. However, the dominating solvent-free process is based on the fibrillation of polytetrafluoroethylene, suffering from poor mechanical property and electrochemical instability. Herein, a continuously solvent-free paradigm of fusion bonding technique is developed. A percolation network of thermoplastic polyamide (TPA) binder with low viscosity in viscous state is constructed with Li6PS5Cl (LPSC) by thermocompression (≤5MPa), facilitating the formation of ultrathin LPSC film (≤25µm). This composite sulfide film (CSF) exhibits excellent mechanical properties, ionic conductivity (2.1 mS cm-1), and unique stress-dissipation to promote interface stabilization. Thick LiNi0.83Co0.11Mn0.06O2 cathode can be prepared by this solvent-free method and tightly adhered to CSF by interfacial fusion of TPA for integrated battery. This integrated ASSB shows high-energy-density feasibility (>2.5 mAh cm-2 after 1400 cycles of 9200 h and run for more than 10 000 h), and energy density of 390 Wh kg-1 and 1020 Wh L-1. More specially, high-voltage bipolar cell (≥8.5V) and bulk-type pouch cell (326 Wh kg-1) are facilely assembled with good cycling performance. This work inspires commercialization of ASSBs by a solvent-free method and provides beneficial guiding for stable batteries.

The art of Lithiation Revisited: Solvent-free room temperature reaction

The lithiation reaction holds immense significance across various branches of chemistry, particularly in the realm of electrochemical energy storage. Here, we report a new method that enables a solvent-free process at room temperature, exhibiting remarkably swift reaction kinetics. Through this process, the chemical integration of Li+ into charged materials based on transition metals is achieved using lithium iodide, LiI. An evident application of this method lies in advancing the direct recycling of cathode materials reclaimed from spent batteries. Notably, the process facilitates the efficient and direct recycling of spent Li(1-x)FePO4 cathode material, sourced from a commercial LIB, without the need for any solvents or heat treatments. The regenerated material exhibits a fully reversible capacity of approximately 168 mAh/g against Li metal, even under high current density conditions, with a consistently stable coulombic efficiency surpassing 99 % over 45 cycles. This regenerative approach holds the potential for seamless extension to other LIB cathode materials, including but not limited to LMFP, LMO, LCO and NMC.

Preformed Vesicle Approach to LNP Manufacturing Enhances Retinal mRNA Delivery.

Complete encapsulation of nucleic acids by lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) is often thought to be one of the main prerequisites for successful nucleic acid delivery, as the lipid environment protects mRNA from degradation by external nucleases and assists in initiating delivery processes. However, delivery of mRNA via a preformed vesicle approach (PFV-LNPs) defies this precondition. Unlike traditional LNPs, PFV-LNPs are formed via a solvent-free mixing process, leading to a superficial mRNA localization. While demonstrating low encapsulation efficiency in the RiboGreen assay, PFV-LNPs improved delivery of mRNA to the retina by up to 50% compared to the LNP analogs across several benchmark formulations, suggesting the utility of this approach regardless of the lipid composition. Successful mRNA and gene editors' delivery is observed in the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors and validated in mice, non-human primates, and human retinal organoids. Deploying PFV-LNPs in gene editing experiments result in a similar extent of gene editing compared to analogous LNP (up to 3% on genomic level) in the Ai9 reporter mouse model; but, remarkably, retinal tolerability is significantly improved for PFV-LNP treatment. The study findings indicate that the LNP formulation process can greatly influence mRNA transfection and gene editing outcomes, improving LNP treatment safety without sacrificing efficacy.

Fucoidans from Laminaria hyperborea demonstrate bactericidal activity against diverse bacteria

Fucoidans are a heterogenous class of fucose-rich sulfated carbohydrates which have attracted increasing attention in cancer and inflammation research due to their bioactive properties. There are reports that fucoidans may have direct antibacterial effects and synergy with antibiotics. However, the literature is conflicting, potentially due to the limited reporting of origin, characteristics, and extraction methods of the fucoidans tested. Here we report the results of 18 defined fucoidans screened for direct, indirect, and synergistic antibacterial effects. 15 distinct fucoidan fractions, isolated from Laminaria hyperborea using a solvent-free extraction process, were characterised for molecular weight, pH, viscosity, and sulfur content. These, together with three commercially available crude fractions, were assessed at concentrations from 0.03125-24 mg mL-1 for minimum inhibitory concentration against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis. Furthermore, we tested a selection of fucoidans for antibacterial synergy with vancomycin and indirect antibacterial effects in whole blood survival assays. Reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to assess the stress response in fucoidan-treated S. aureus cultures. We have identified one fucoidan fraction with bactericidal activity against diverse bacteria. This effect is dose-, fucoidan fraction- and bacteria-specific, and furthermore, not related to osmotic stress. No synergistic effects were observed with fucoidan in combination vancomycin. Fucoidans have exciting potential as antimicrobial agents. Further analysis is required to establish the precise molecular characteristics responsible for their potent bactericidal activity.