Sonication Research Articles

Formation, characteristics and oil industry applications of nanoemulsions: A review

Nanoemulsions are kinetically stable homogeneous dispersions of immiscible liquids with droplet sizes in the order of 500 nm. The nano-size droplets are advantageous in enhancing nanoemulsion properties such as sturdy stability, large surface area per unit volume, improved interfacial and wetting behavior and configurable rheology. Nanoemulsions are widely prepared by high energy or Brute Force comprising ultrasonication and high pressure homogenization (HPH) and by low energy or Persuasion methods comprising phase inversion temperature (PIT) and phase inversion composition (PIC). Bubble bursting, microfluidization and evaporative ripening are the newly developed nanoemulsions preparation techniques. From pharmaceuticals, drug delivery, cosmetics, material synthesis to food, agriculture and nanoscale colloidal dispersions understanding nanoemulsions have found a diverse industrial applications. Recent investigations discovered nanoemulsions to be beneficial in oil and gas industry operations for instance in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications. This review article summarizes methods of nanoemulsions formation, its properties and significant research on nanoemulsions in oil and gas industry.

Serous Membrane Detachment with Ultrasonic Homogenizer Improves Engraftment of Fetal Liver to Liver Surface in a Rat Model of Cirrhosis.

Liver transplantation is the most effective treatment for end-stage cirrhosis. However, due to serious donor shortages, new treatments to replace liver transplantation are sorely needed. Recent studies have focused on novel therapeutic methods using hepatocytes and induced pluripotent stem cells, we try hard to develop methods for transplanting these cells to the liver surface. In the present study, we evaluated several methods for their efficiency in the detachment of serous membrane covering the liver surface for transplantation to the liver surface. The liver surface of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV)-deficient rats in a cirrhosis model was detached by various methods, and then fetal livers from DPPIV-positive rats were transplanted. We found that the engraftment rate and area as well as the liver function were improved in rats undergoing transplantation following serous membrane detachment with an ultrasonic homogenizer, which mimics the Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator® (CUSA), compared with no detachment. Furthermore, the bleeding amount was lower with the ultrasonic homogenizer method than with the needle and electric scalpel methods. These findings provide evidence that transplantation to the liver surface with serous membrane detachment using CUSA might contribute to the development of new treatments for cirrhosis using cells or tissues.

Effect of different cell disruption methods on lipid yield of Schizochytrium sp.

AbstractIn this study, it was investigated to increase the lipid yield of the microalgae Schizochytrium sp., by applying different cell disruption methods; acid treatment with HCl, osmotic shock, enzyme applications and ultrasonic homogenizer were combined with the Bligh and Dyer or Soxhlet methods. In the Soxhlet method, the lipid and fatty acid yields decreased due to the inability of the method to break down the lipid cells sufficiently and the high temperature application. Enzyme application (hemicellulase treatment at 55°C for 2 days) prior to Bligh and Dyer method (BDE) was found more efficient in terms of lipid and DHA yield compared to other methods. BDE process increased the lipid yield to 21.72 ± 0.74% and DHA content to 19.25 ± 0.09% from lipid yield of 18.87 ± 0.4% and DHA content of 18.41 ± 0.20% by the Bligh and Dyer control (BDC). Major saturated fatty acids were 14:0, 16:0, 18:0, 24:0 and the highest saturated fatty acid was 16:0 (palmitic acid). Lipid health indices such as n‐6/n‐3, PUFA/SFA, atherogenicity index, thrombogenicity index and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratios were almost favorable. With this study, appropriate lipid extraction methods were studied to provide an economical and environmental friendly suggestion for future studies to be used in areas such as food, feed and cosmetics grade. It was concluded that the most convenient method among the cell disruption methods was BDE owing to lipid and fatty acid yield.

Enhancement of storage stability of surimi particles stabilized novel pickering emulsions: Effect of different sequential ultrasonic processes

Preparation of highly stable Pickeringemulsions stabilized by food grade particles especially with low concentrations is of concern. In this study, the effects of two-step emulsification procedure with different sequential ultrasonic processes on the storage stability, droplets size, zeta potential, microstructures as well as the rheological behaviors of surimi particles-stabilized Pickeringemulsions with 0.6 oil–water ratio were investigated. The results showed that the surimi particles based-emulsions prepared by the homogenization-ultrasonic (H-U) or ultrasonic-homogenization (U-H) method both possessed excellent physical stability during 14 days storage. Particularly, the stability index of emulsions all exceeded 99.5% in the U-H groups. The confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and cryo-scanning electron microscope (cryo-SEM) images provide evidence that more particles attached on the oil–water interfaces and the network structures formed via particle–particle interactions obviously arrested phase separation in H-U and U-H emulsions. Moreover, the Pickering emulsions obtained by two-step method all exhibited higher viscosity and storage modulus values, which were also conducive to the special storage stability of samples. In short, the storage stability of protein based-Pickering emulsions can be enhanced using homogenization-ultrasonic (H-U) or ultrasonic-homogenization (U-H) procedure.

Synthesis and Characterization of Carbon and Carbon-Nitrogen Doped Black TiO2 Nanomaterials and Their Application in Sonophotocatalytic Remediation of Treated Agro-Industrial Wastewater.

The conventional open ponding system employed for palm oil mill agro-effluent (POME) treatment fails to lower the levels of organic pollutants to the mandatory standard discharge limits. In this work, carbon doped black TiO2 (CB-TiO2) and carbon-nitrogen co-doped black TiO2 (CNB-TiO2) were synthesized via glycerol assisted sol-gel techniques and employed for the remediation of treated palm oil mill effluent (TPOME). Both the samples were anatase phase, with a crystallite size of 11.09–22.18 nm, lower bandgap of 2.06–2.63 eV, superior visible light absorption ability, and a high surface area of 239.99–347.26 m2/g. The performance of CNB-TiO2 was higher (51.48%) compared to only (45.72%) CB-TiO2. Thus, the CNB-TiO2 is employed in sonophotocatalytic reactions. Sonophotocatalytic process based on CNB-TiO2, assisted by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and operated at an ultrasonication (US) frequency of 30 kHz and 40 W power under visible light irradiation proved to be the most efficient for chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. More than 90% of COD was removed within 60 min of sonophotocatalytic reaction, producing the effluent with the COD concentration well below the stipulated permissible limit of 50 mg/L. The electrical energy required per order of magnitude was estimated to be only 177.59 kWh/m3, indicating extreme viability of the proposed process for the remediation of TPOME.

Modifying the structure, physicochemical properties, and foaming ability of amaranth protein by dual pH-shifting and ultrasound treatments

Native amaranth protein (APN) is a nutritional ingredient with potential applications for the structuration and functionalization of food products. However, its solubility is poor, which limits its use in the food industry. The effect of ultrasonication (US) at 50% amplitude for 10 min (APUS), pH-shifting at pH 2 and 12 (APpH2 and APpH12), and the combination of both (APpH2US and APpH12US) on the structural, physicochemical, and functional properties of APN were investigated. Alkaline pH-shifting combined with US decreased the hydrodynamic diameter of APN from 1167.0 ± 15.6 nm to 438.3 ± 8.4 nm (APpH12US), whereas acidic pH-shifting increased the hydrodynamic diameter up to 2490.0 ± 5.3 nm (APpH2). Fractions of α-helix, β-sheet, β-turn, and random coil structures of APN were affected by pH12-shifting and US, but pH2-shifting did not. Exposed sulfhydryl groups of the APN diminished, while disulfide bonds increased as a result of pH-shifting alone or combined with US. Zeta potential values revealed that the isoelectric point of APN (4.0) was increased for APpH12 (4.2) and APpH12US (4.5) and decreased for APUS (3.5). The highest solubility was achieved by APpH12US. Foaming capacity and stability were significantly increased in all treatments, except APpH2.

On the possibility to process copper-molybdenum ore using a combined flotation reagent

The article presents the results of laboratory studies on ore flotation of copper-molybdenum deposits in the East Kazakhstan region of Kazakhstan using a combined reagent. It is required to use new beneficiation methods and flotation reagents to increase the efficiency of flotation of ore minerals to improve the processing of finely disseminated ores. The problem can be solved by using a combination of different collectors. The objective of the research is to increase the recovery of copper and molybdenum during flotation of copper-molybdenum ore using a combined reagent. The studied ore sample contains 0.42% copper; 0.009% molybdenum. A combination of sodium butyl xanthate, TS-100 thionocarbamate, and reaflot in a ratio, in %: 15: 3: 1, was used as a combined flotation reagent. The combined flotation reagent was preliminarily passed through an ultrasonic homogenizer JY96-IIN to obtain a reagent microemulsion before flotation. The optimum dispersion time for the combined flotation reagent is 60 seconds. At the same time, 99.4% are microemulsion particles with a particle size of fewer than 3.7 microns. The use of a combined reagent microemulsion increases the extraction of copper into the copper-molybdenum concentrate by 3.69%, and the extraction of molybdenum by 6.05%. The copper content in the copper-molybdenum concentrate increases by 1.26%. The copper content in the flotation tailings decreases from 0.07 to 0.056%. The consumption of the combined reagent is reduced by 15% in comparison with the basic butyl xanthate.

Preparation of Acyclovir-Containing Solid Foam by Ultrasonic Batch Technology.

In recent years, the application of solid foams has become widespread. Solid foams are not only used in the aerospace field but also in everyday life. Although foams are promising dosage forms in the pharmaceutical industry, their usage is not prevalent due to decreased stability of the solid foam structure. These special dosage forms can result in increased bioavailability of drugs. Low-density floating formulations can also increase the gastric residence time of drugs; therefore, drug release will be sustained. Our aim was to produce a stable floating formula by foaming. Matrix components, PEG 4000 and stearic acid type 50, were selected with the criteria of low gastric irritation, a melting range below 70 °C, and well-known use in oral drug formulations. This matrix was melted at 54 °C in order to produce a dispersion of active substance and was foamed by different gases at atmospheric pressure using an ultrasonic homogenizer. The density of the molded solid foam was studied by the pycnometer method, and its structure was investigated by SEM and micro-CT. The prolonged drug release and mucoadhesive properties were proved in a pH 1.2 buffer. According to our experiments, a stable foam could be produced by rapid homogenization (less than 1 min) without any surfactant material.

Study on physicochemical characteristics of lutein nanoemulsions stabilized by chickpea protein isolate-stevioside complex.

Chickpea protein isolate (CPI) originating from chickpeas has the advantages of facilitating the stability of food emulsions. Stevioside (STE) exhibits a notable surface activity and can improve the water solubility of numerous hydrophobic nutrients. STE and protein mixtures show great potential as emulsions stabilizers. The present study aimed to prepare a novel nanoemulsion for encapsulating lutein (LUT) by ultrasonic homogenization using chickpea protein isolate-stevioside complex (CPI-STE) as a stabilizer and also to investigate the physicochemical characteristics. The results obtained showed that different preparation conditions demonstrated significant influences on the physicochemical properties of CPI-STE-LUT nanoemulsions. Under the optimal condition, the average particle size of CPI-STE-LUT nanoemulsions was 195.1nm, and the emulsifying and encapsulation efficiencies of lutein were 91.04% and 87.56%, respectively. CPI-STE-LUT nanoemulsions stabilized by CPI-STE could significantly increase the emulsifying and encapsulation efficiencies of lutein compared to that stabilized by CPI. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that hydrogen bond was the main binding force of CPI and lutein, and there was a covalent bond between the two molecules. Furthermore, the stability of CPI-STE-LUT nanoemulsions in gastrointestinal phase was higher than that of CPI-LUT nanoemulsions, which could load lutein more effectively and be more resistant to digestive enzymes. The present study reports the physicochemical characterization of CPI-STE-LUT nanoemulsions for the first time. CPI-STE-LUT nanoemulsions were characterized by a small average particle size lower than 200 nm, as well as high emulsifying and encapsulation efficiencies, and good stability. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

H2O2-assisted Sonophotocatalytic Degradation of Diclofenac using a Visible Light-Active Flower-like Micron-sized TiO2 Photocatalyst

The recovery of TiO2 nanoparticles after utilization is a major challenge that hinders the wide-scale implementation of photocatalytic technology in wastewater treatment. In this study, an easily recoverable flower-shaped micron-sized TiO2 (MST) photocatalyst was synthesized from nano-sized TiO2 seeds via a hydrothermal process. The synthesized MST photocatalyst displayed an average particle size of 1.577 μm with 2.7 eV bandgap energy and 100.18 m2/g surface area. The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized material was evaluated for the degradation of diclofenac (DCF) from aqueous solution under visible light. The degradation efficiency under visible light reached 52.87% in 120 min. When photocatalysis was coupled with ultrasonication (US), namely sonophotocatalysis, the DCF degradation efficiency increased to 62.61%. The highest DCF degradation efficiency (86.92%) was achieved under the optimized conditions of 30 kHz US frequency, 0.4 g/L of TiO2 loading, 10 ppm initial concentration of DCF, and 1.0 mM H2O2 dosage. The synergy index of sonophotocatalysis was 1.25, indicating the synergistic effects of both sonocatalysis and photocatalysis on DCF degradation efficiency. The MST photocatalyst was easily recovered through centrifugation after reaction and reused for another two cycles of sonophotocatalysis. The photocatalyst was significantly stable under these process conditions, with only a 5.19% decrease in degradation after three consecutive cycles.

Efficiency of Ultrasonic Incorporated Glutathione Treatment in Preserving the Physicochemical Quality and Preventing the Browning of Lotus Rhizome Slices

AbstractThis study investigated the efficacy of 40‐kHz (200 W) ultrasonication (US) for 2 min combined with glutathione (GSH) at 0.5% w/v (US + GSH) in preventing browning and preserving the physicochemical quality of lotus rhizome slices stored in a 4 ± 1 °C refrigerator. According to the visual appearance of the slices, US + GSH treatment more effectively inhibited the browning of the cut surface than did GSH or US treatment alone. US + GSH and GSH treatments were more effective than US and control treatments in preserving the slices’ colour attributes, such as their lightness and whiteness index values, and potentially retarded enzymatic browning reactions and increases in browning index and total colour difference values. Moreover, the application of US and US + GSH treatments noticeably preserved the texture of the slices. None of the treatments affected the total sugar content during storage. The US + GSH treatment markedly enhanced the ferric reducing antioxidant potential of the slices during storage. The slices treated with US, GSH, and US + GSH exhibited slower reductions in 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity than did the controls. In conclusion, US + GSH treatment is a feasible approach for inhibiting browning, maintaining texture, and inducing antioxidant activity in lotus rhizome slices during storage.

Properties of starch nanoparticle obtained by ultrasonication and high pressure homogenization for developing carotenoids-enriched powder and Pickering nanoemulsion

The effect of ultrasound (US) and high pressure homogenization (HPH) on starch nanoparticles and their ability to stabilize Pickering nanoemulsion of carotenoids and bioactives-enriched olive oil was evaluated. The carotenoids used in nanoemulsion were extracted from the peel of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis). As the US treatment time increased, mean particle size decreased from microsize to 340 nm and subsequent HPH treatment of this suspension caused further decrease in particles size (<60 nm). US and HPH treatments increased swelling and solubility and also the gelatinization and melting temperatures of the starch nanoparticles. The Pickering nanoemulsion was rich in carotenoids and total phenolic content and exhibited high antioxidant activity, which had protective effect on its stability. The carotenoids-enriched nanoemulsion was found to be stable to heat and freeze-thaw treatments. The developed nanoemulsion showed better oxidative stability as well as physical stability during storage at 6 °C and 25 °C.

Influence of ultrasound and extraction conditions on the intensity of extraction of anthocyanin pigment from berry raw materials

The effect of ultrasound and extraction conditions on the degree of anthocyanin pigment extraction from berry raw materials has been studied. It has been shown that the use of ultrasound for extraction allows increasing the anthocyanin pigment yield. The ultrasound-assisted water extraction at 25°C for 30 minutes increases the yield of pigment in aqueous solution by 22 %. The increase in the ultrasound-assisted extraction temperature to 65°C reduces the extraction time down to 15 minutes. It has been shown that the use of ultrasound reduces the extraction degree in 96 % ethanol and in the ethanol/water/hydrochloric acid system and increases the amount of anthocyanin pigment into the solution containing water as an extraction agent. In this case, the use of the ultrasound-assisted extraction reduces the anthocyanin pigment extraction time to 20 minutes with the use of the 96 % ethanol as an extraction agent, and to 15 minutes in an aqueous solution. The study of the ultrasound-assisted extraction effect, as well as the frequency and power of ultrasonic vibrations on the anthocyanin pigment extraction intensity has shown that the indirect ultrasound-assisted extraction (ultrasonic bath) with the ultrasound exposure frequency of 35 kHz and the power of 80 W allows allocating the anthocyanin pigment to the fullest extent possible within 30 minutes. With the direct ultrasound exposure (ultrasonic homogenizer) with the frequency of 20 kHz and the power of 75 W, the extraction time with an aqueous solution is reduced to 15 minutes, and with 96 % ethanol - to 20 minutes.

FTIR analysis of polyethylene glycol treated bacterial cellulose pellicle

Abstrak. This research identified the effect of additional polyethylene glycol (PEG) in bacterial cellulose made from pineapple peel waste. The produced pellicles were soaked in PEG solution with 0%, 1%, 2.5%, and 5%. Then, they were homogenised using an ultrasonic homogeniser for 15 minutes before dried using the freeze-drying method. The functional groups were observed using FTIR. The functional groups showed the presence of cellulose I and cellulose II at 439.08 cm−1, 2895.15 cm−1, 1963.53 cm−1 1633.71 cm−1, 1315.45 cm−1, 839.03 cm−1 wavenumbers. Additional PEG caused an increase of the C-H bond at 1963.53 cm−1 wave number.

Zinc oxide nanorods incorporated magnetic isoreticular metal–organic framework for photodegradation of dyes

Cobalt magnetic isoreticular metal – organic framework (CoFe2O4-IRMOF-3) was prepared by facile solvothermal procedure. ZnO nanorods were assembled on the CoFe2O4-IRMOF-3 using a commercial ultrasonic homogenizer. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO-CoFe2O3-IRMOF-3 was investigated by photodegradation of two cationic dyes including methylene blue and rhodamin B. CoFe2O4 and ZnO nanorods were incorporated on the IRMOF-3 to improve the separation and photocatalytic activity of IRMOF-3 under visible light, respectively. The mesoporous nanocomposite was characterized by various techniques including transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersion x-ray, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The zeta potential of synthesized samples showed the surface of all materials was negative charge in the range of the pH experiment (pH 6.5). The results showed that the ZnO-CoFe2O3-IRMOF-3 had extremely degradation ability of MB and RhB molecule due to the synergetic effect between ZnO and CoFe2O4-IRMOF-3 in comparison with IRMOF-3 and CoFe2O4-IRMOF-3. The introduced ZnO on the surface of CoFe2O4-IRMOF-3 incremented degradation of dyes in the visible region and increased the transfer and separation of the generated charge on the contact area between ZnO and CoFe2O4-IRMOF-3. Furthermore, after five times recycling, the separation of ZnO-CoFe2O4-IRMOF-3 from liquid media using magnetic, the composite still showed high photodegradation ability.

Improvement of Diesel Fuel to Enhance Engine Performance and Emissions Using Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Additive

The nanoparticles diesel additives played a major role in enhancing diesel performance by improve its efficiency and alter the emissions of CO, NOx and HC including several hazardous air pollutions. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZONP) is used in diesel engines which blended with diesel by using ultra sonicator and a mechanical homogenizer to achieve good dispersing. Five concentration of ZONP are studied in this study. To demonstrate and access the enhanced performance of the nano-diesel blend a comparison of fuel consumption, brake power and engine efficiency with base diesel are made. The addition of ZONP promote combustion by increasing engine performance and reducing the emissions. To evaluate the impact of ZONP on engine performance and environment, several experiments performed on the diesel engine at 1400 rpm which is kept constant throughout the experiment with different range of loads. The results show clearly that by adding the nanoparticles, namely ZONP into the diesel fuel has significant improvement of high the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and low Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) as compared to diesel. Also, the average reduction in CO is 33% for high ZONP concentrations and applied high loads while average increases in CO2 is 8%, and NOx is 33% and more for high ZONP concentrations and applied high loads compared to pure diesel. Furthermore, 100% eliminated HC is observed when compared to pure diesel at different loads.

Effect of ultrasound and coagulant types on properties of β-carotene bulk emulsion gels stabilized by soy protein

β-carotene is a lipid-soluble nutrient. However, the application of β-carotene in food systems is limited due to its poor water solubility and low bioaccessibility. In this work, we proposed a food-grade soy protein cold-set bulk emulsion gels for β-carotene delivery. In the current study, the formation of cold-set β-carotene bulk emulsion gels was induced by adding CaCl2, glucono-δ-lactone (GDL), and transglutaminase (MTGase). The bioaccessibility (82.39 ± 0.02%) of β-carotene encapsulated in ultrasound-treated MTGase-induced emulsion gels was higher than that in ultrasound-treated emulsions (63.37 ± 0.09%). Moreover, our results demonstrated that the ultrasound-treated MTGase-induced bulk emulsion gels exhibited higher gel strength and water holding capacity (91.02 ± 3.58% and 99.81 ± 0.19%, respectively) than ultrasound-treated CaCl2-induced (37.27 ± 1.19% and 87.37 ± 1.89%, respectively) and GDL-induced samples (58.18 ± 1.38% and 90.43 ± 3.65%, respectively). Furthermore, compared with mechanical homogenization, ultrasonic homogenization improved the β-carotene bioaccessibility and functional properties of bulk emulsion gels. In conclusion, bulk emulsion gels can provide more sensory perceptions and food consumption choices, thus they are promising delivery system of lipid-soluble nutrients.

Priming with CuO Nanoparticles and Ultrasound Enhanced Antioxidant Potential and Total Taxol in the Cell Suspension Culture of Corylus avellana L.

The main superiority of taxol production in hazelnuts compared to the yew tree is that hazelnut is broadly accessible, grows much faster in nature, and is easier to establish in the in vitro systems. The aim of this experiment was to improve taxol production and evaluate other characteristics of cell suspension culture treated with 4 concentrations (0, 2, 4, 6 mg L-1) of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs), ultrasonication (30 and 60 seconds) in two sampling times (9 and 18 days after treatment). Interaction of all three factors was significant on fresh weight (FW), protein content, H2O2 generation, and taxol content. The highest fresh and dry weights (DW) and protein content were obtained from non-application treatments of CuO NPs. The content of anthocyanins, proline, antioxidant activity, and catalase and peroxidase enzymes increased with the application of silver nitrate nanoparticles. Comparing means for interaction effects showed that H2O2 and taxol content have nearly similar trend, indicating the stimulation of taxol production pathway by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ultrasonication (US) enhanced most of the traits studied in this experiment and stimulated the antioxidant system without negatively affecting on cellular growth. The antioxidant response and taxol content evoked by stress treatments i.e. US and CuO NPs is partially relieved by increasing the duration after treatment (the 18th day after treatment).

A Novel Orthotopic Liver Cancer Model for Creating a Human-like Tumor Microenvironment.

Simple SummaryHepatocellular carcinoma is the most common form of liver cancer. The lack of models that resemble actual tumor development in patients, limits the research to improve the diagnosis rate and develop new treatments. This study describes a novel mouse model that involves organoid formation and an implantation technique. This mouse model shares human genetic profiles and factors around the tumor, resembling the actual tumor development in patients. We demonstrate the roles of different cell types around the tumor, in promoting tumor growth, using this model. This model will be useful to understand the tumor developmental process, drug testing, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment development.Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer. This study aims to develop a new method to generate an HCC mouse model with a human tumor, and imitates the tumor microenvironment (TME) of clinical patients. Here, we have generated functional, three-dimensional sheet-like human HCC organoids in vitro, using luciferase-expressing Huh7 cells, human iPSC-derived endothelial cells (iPSC-EC), and human iPSC-derived mesenchymal cells (iPSC-MC). The HCC organoid, capped by ultra-purified alginate gel, was implanted into the disrupted liver using an ultrasonic homogenizer in the immune-deficient mouse, which improved the survival and engraftment rate. We successfully introduced different types of controllable TME into the model and studied the roles of TME in HCC tumor growth. The results showed the role of the iPSC-EC and iPSC-MC combination, especially the iPSC-MC, in promoting HCC growth. We also demonstrated that liver fibrosis could promote HCC tumor growth. However, it is not affected by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Furthermore, the implantation of HCC organoids to humanized mice demonstrated that the immune response is important in slowing down tumor growth at an early stage. In conclusion, we have created an HCC model that is useful for studying HCC development and developing new treatment options in the future.

Mechanical Properties of novel hardened cement paste reinforced with Multi-Walled Carbon Nano-Tubes (MWCNTs) and Glass Fibers Nano material

To improve the mechanical and durability properties of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortar and paste, the incorporation of multi walled Carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and their dispersion procedures, functionalization, and ultra sonication have been intensively implemented. Most of the studies showed significant enhancements in the mechanical properties of OPC mortar or paste; however, others showed impairments. The recent studies regarding the implementation of MWCNTs and Glass Fibres on the mechanical properties of OPC paste and mortar were reviewed and these properties include compressive, tensile, flexural strengths, and elastic modulus. A statistical study was conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of concrete by dispersion of MWCNT’s and Glass Fibres in the cement paste. In these composites, the percentage of MWCNTs was fixed at 0.75% by weight of cement, while the percentage of Glass Fibers was fixed at 0.25% by weight of cement. The samples were cured in tap water for 28 days at 25 + 2?C.Composite specimens were tested for compression and flexure in order to evaluate their mechanical properties such as compressive strength, flexural strength, toughness and ductility and compared with the results of plain cement control beams. The maximum deflection was found to be 0.5mm with a maximum load of 500N. The flexural strength was observed to be 1250.50 N/mm2 as per ASTM D 790 which is 20% more than the flexural strength obtained with Plain Cement+MWCNT’s and 60 to 70% more than that obtained with Plain Cement + Glass Fibres. The flexural modulus as per deflection criteria is 535.94 N/mm2 which is 10 to 20% more than that obtained of Plain Cement+MWCNT’s and Plain Cement+ Glass Fibres. The compressive strength of Plain Cement+0.75% MWCNT’s+0.25% Glass fibres was found to be 65 N/mm2 which is greater than Plain cement and Plain cement+MWCNT’s. Surface morphology by Scanning Electron microscopy of the specimens infers the clustering of glass fibres and demonstr