Preparation and characterization of bioactive silk fibroin/paramylon blend films for chronic wound healing.

A major challenge in the chronic wound healing is a self-care wound dressing. The problem in chronic wounds is the lack of functional extracellular matrix to stimulate healing. The extracellular matrix is a network of proteins and polysaccharides that serves as physical framework and provides regulatory signals. The primary goal is to mimic the property of the extracellular matrix with Silk Fibroin and Paramylon to produce a novel bioactive film. Silk fibroin is a fibrous protein having unique mechanical properties and tunable biodegradability that makes it favourable for tailoring to specific applications. Paramylon is a ß-glucan that possess a broad spectrum of biological activity that enhances the immune response. Silk fibroin/paramylon blend films have been prepared by solution casting and were examined for structural, thermal, mechanical and other physical properties for knowing its transformation for chronic wound healing. It was observed that the fibroin films shows high thermal stability, high hydrophobicity, high stiffness value whereas the paramylon film show good water absorption property and both fibroin and paramylon shows good blood compatibility and was non-toxic as well. It also confirms that the blended films showed a combination of fibroin and paramylon property at different concentrations without any chemical interaction.

Synthesis and Electro-Catalytic Properties of Platinum Supported on Graphene for Methanol Oxidation.

Graphene serves as excellent support material in the synthesis of metal nanoparticle-graphene electrocatalysts. Highly active and stable Pt/Graphene electrocatalysts for the application of direct methanol fuel cells were developed. The oxygen/carbon ratio of graphene supports were tuned by various chemical methods. Pt nanoparticles with a narrow distribution of particle sizes were well dispersed on graphene. An increased catalytic activity and stability were achieved due to an increased graphitization degree of graphene when the Pt/Graphene was deoxidized during Ar/H2 reduction. The activity of Pt/Graphene towards methanol oxidation reaction and its stability was higher compared to Pt/Carbon. This study suggests a bi-functional effect of both graphitization and the oxygenated groups on the catalytic activity.

Simulation Studies of InGaN Based Light-Emitting Diodes to Reduce Electron Overflow Problem by Designing Electron Blocking Layer.

InGaN/GaN-based Multi Quantum Well light-emitting diodes (MQW LEDs) with p-AlInGaN/AlGaN electron blocking layers are studied using the SimuLED simulation software for analysing the electron leakage problem. The simulation results specify the importance of p-AlInGaN/AlGaN electron blocking layers (EBL) to improve the optical and electrical performance of the LED device structure. The designed cascade AlInGaN layer in AlInGaN/AlGaN EBL was investigated by changing different Al and In concentrations and was analysed. It shows an increase in Internal Quantum Efficiency by insertion of Al(x)In(y)Ga(1-x-y)N-Al0.15Ga0.85N(X = 0.1, Y = 0.15) EBL instead of conventional AlGaN EBL. Structure shows an increasing carrier capture within active region with minimizing carrier leakage and a significant reduction in efficiency droop. The suppression in Efficiency droop phenomenon can be attributed to p-AlInGaN/AlGaN electron blocking layers which aiding a supportive barrier for electron overflow and thereby enhancing the electron blocking efficiency.

Growth and characterization of hydroxyapatite crystals by hydrothermal method.

Hydroxyapatite crystals were grown by hydrothermal method using dicalcium phosphate dihydrate crystals as a starting material. The grown crystals were found to be free from carbonate inclusion. Two distinct morphologies were obtained by following two different growth methods. Controlled slow growth process and rapid growth process results in hexagonal and whisker like morphologies.