Shape memory histocompatible and biodegradable sponges for subcutaneous defect filling and repair: greatly reducing surgical incision.

Reducing surgical incision for large area subcutaneous defect filling and repair is a great challenge in the biomedical field, especially for plastic surgery. In this study, a novel hydroxyethyl cellulose/soy protein isolate (HEC/SPI) composite sponge (EHSS) with a fluid responsive shape memory property was constructed, whose thickness could be controlled by hot-pressing conditions to reduce the required surgical incision greatly. Effects of the main factors such as pressure, temperature and hot-pressing cycles on the recovery degree of EHSS were investigated systematically. The structure and physical properties of the sponges were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, SEM etc. The results showed that EHSS could be pressed into thin disks with much smaller thickness, and the thickness retention ratio and recovery ratio were affected by hot-pressing conditions such as pressure and temperature. Especially, EHSS could be hot-pressed into a dense thin disk (EHSS-PT-130) at 130 °C with the pressure of 30 MPa, which could quickly recover its original shape by soaking in hydrophilic fluids. EHSS-PT-130 also exhibited good hydrophilicity, cytocompatibility, histocompatibility and in vivo biodegradability. Compared with the original EHSS, in vivo shape memory EHSS-PT-130 required much smaller surgical incision to reach the same repair effect and no need of extra sterilization, showing potential application for subcutaneous defect filling and repair.

Accelerated skin wound healing by soy protein isolate-modified hydroxypropyl chitosan composite films.

In this study, a series of hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCS)/soy protein isolate (SPI) composite films (HCSFs) with different SPI contents were developed via crosslinking, solution casting, and evaporation process. Effects of the SPI content on the structure and physical properties of the HCSFs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction patterns, scanning electron microscopy, swelling kinetics analysis, and mechanical testing. The HCSFs exhibited a lower swelling ratio with an increase in the SPI content. The tensile strength was in a tunable range from 7.88 ±â€¯3.08 to 40.44 ±â€¯2.31 MPa by adjusting the SPI content. Cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility of the HCSFs were evaluated by a series of in vitro assays, including MTT assay, live/dead assay, cell morphology observation, hemolysis ratio testing, and plasma recalcification time measurement. Results showed that the HCSFs support L929 cells attachment and proliferation without obvious hemolysis, indicating good cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The potential of resultant HCSFs as the wound dressings was investigated using a full-thickness skin wound model in rats. Results exhibited that the HCSFs with 50% SPI content had the fastest healing speed and the best skin regeneration efficiency and may be a potential candidate as the wound dressing.

Preparation of fungus-derived chitin nanocrystals and their dispersion stability evaluation in aqueous media.

The chitin nanocrystal is a promising nano-reinforcing agent, but the parasitic pathogens carried on crabs and shrimp shells as main sources limit its application in some fields. In this study, the ChNs which avoided possible safety risks were extracted from mushrooms via protein/mineral-purification and subsequent HCl-hydrolysis. Such fungus-derived ChNs presented an α-chitin crystalline structure with a length of 143±24nm and a diameter of 10±2nm. Since the dispersion stability of ChNs suspension determines their further applications, this present study emphasized the dispersity of ChNs in aqueous media evaluated by the viscosity under steady-shear flow and UV-vis absorption, whose results indicated that ChNs in dispersion would aggregate when the concentration of homogeneous dispersion reached 0.5-0.6wt%. To explore the effect of electrostatic repulsion on interactions between nanoparticles, the maximum energy barriers for parallel and crossed orientations of ChNs in suspension were analyzed using a traditional DLVO theory with additions of NaCl solutions.

Porous cellulose spheres: Preparation, modification and adsorption properties.

Porous cellulose spheres (PCS) were fabricated by precipitating the spheres from a cellulose ionic liquid solution, followed by freezing, solvent exchange, and drying. PCS had low crystallinity and a large surface area that facilitated modification with trisodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) to introduce phosphate ester groups into the porous structure of the heterogeneous system. The STMP-modified PCS (SPCS) were used to remove heavy metal ions from aqueous solution. With increasing STMP dosage, the adsorption capacity of SPCS obviously improved due to chelation between Pb2+ and phosphate ester groups. The kinetic adsorption and isotherm data matched the pseudo-second order model and the Langmuir model well. The maximum adsorption capacity reached 150.6 mg g-1 for SPCS. SPCS were competitive with other absorbents because the phosphate ester groups and porous structure contributed to Pb2+ adsorption. Moreover, SPCS can be regenerated with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA) solution for repetitious adsorption of Pb2+.

Epichlorohydrin-Cross-linked Hydroxyethyl Cellulose/Soy Protein Isolate Composite Films as Biocompatible and Biodegradable Implants for Tissue Engineering.

A series of epichlorohydrin-cross-linked hydroxyethyl cellulose/soy protein isolate composite films (EHSF) was fabricated from hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and soy protein isolate (SPI) using a process involving blending, cross-linking, solution casting, and evaporation. The films were characterized with FTIR, solid-state (13)C NMR, UV-vis spectroscopy, and mechanical testing. The results indicated that cross-linking interactions occurred in the inter- and intramolecules of HEC and SPI during the fabrication process. The EHSF films exhibited homogeneous structure and relative high light transmittance, indicating there was a certain degree of miscibility between HEC and SPI. The EHSF films exhibited a relative high mechanical strength in humid state and an adjustable water uptake ratio and moisture absorption ratio. Cytocompatibility, hemocompatibility and biodegradability were evaluated by a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. These results showed that the EHSF films had good biocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and anticoagulant effect. Furthermore, EHSF films could be degraded in vitro and in vivo, and the degradation rate could be controlled by adjusting the SPI content. Hence, EHSF films might have a great potential for use in the biomedical field.

Reinforcement and nucleation of acetylated cellulose nanocrystals in foamed polyester composites.

The biodegradable foamed nanocomposites were developed from the reinforcement of surface acetylated cellulose nanocrystals (ACNC) as bionanofillers and the poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) as polymeric matrix. The surface modification of high-efficiency acetylation on the cellulose nanocrystals converted the hydrophilic hydroxyl groups to hydrophobic acetyl groups, which improved the compatibility between rigid nanoparticles and polyester matrix through the similar ester groups of two components. With the introduction of 5 wt% ACNC, the specific flexural strength (σ/ρf) and the specific flexural modulus (E/ρf) of the foamed composites significantly increased by 75.7% and 57.2% in comparison with those of the neat PBS foamed material. Meanwhile, with the change of the ACNC concentrations, the cell size and cell density of the foamed composites can be regulated and achieved the high cell density of 1.95 × 10(5)cells/cm(3) bearing the small average cell size of 178.84 µm (5 wt% ACNC). The microstructure observation of the foamed composites indicated the moderate loading levels of rigid ACNC can serve as the reinforcing phase for the stress transfer and promote the crystallinity advancement of the foamed composites.

Modification of porous starch for the adsorption of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution.

Porous starch xanthate (PSX) and porous starch citrate (PSC) were prepared in anticipation of the attached xanthate and carboxylate groups respectively forming chelation and electrostatic interactions with heavy metal ions in the subsequent adsorption process. The lead(II) ion was selected as the model metal and its adsorption by PSX and PSC was characterized. The adsorption capacity was highly dependent on the carbon disulfide/starch and citric acid/starch mole ratios used during preparation. The adsorption behaviors of lead(II) ion on PSXs and PSCs fit both the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity from the Langmuir isotherm equation reached 109.1 and 57.6 mg/g for PSX and PSC when preparation conditions were optimized, and the adsorption times were just 20 and 60 min, respectively. PSX and PSC may be used as effective adsorbents for removal of heavy metals from contaminated liquid.

Fabrication and evaluation of physical properties and cytotoxicity of zein-based polyurethanes.

Polyurethane prepolymer (PUP) was first synthesized from polycaprolactone diol and isophorone diisocyanate; and then a series of zein-based polyurethane (ZEPU) sheets was fabricated from PUP and zein (ZE) using a hot press and moulding process without addition of other additives. Effects of ZE content (WZE) on the structure and properties of the resultant ZEPU sheets were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, tensile testing, and dissolubility testing in alcohol. The results indicated that cross-linking and grafting reactions occurred between ZE and PUP to form new polyurethane showing a higher thermal stability, flexibility, and alcohol-resistance than the neat ZE sheets. For example, the elongation at break of ZEPU with 50 % WZE was 211.2 %, which was 47 times higher than that of neat ZE sheet. ZE molecules acted as both cross-linkers and polymer fillers in ZEPU sheets. The cytotoxicity and cytocompatibility of ZEPU sheets were evaluated by cell culture in vitro. The ZEPU sheets showed non- or low-cytotoxicity, and L929 cells grew and expanded well on the surfaces of the sheets with WZE over 50 %. Undoubtedly, the fabrication of ZE-based polyurethanes without toxic additives such as catalysts, cross-linkers and chain extenders improved the physical properties and cytocompatibility of zein, thus widening the possible range of applications for zein-based biomaterials.

Physiological effects of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles towards watermelon.

Nanoparticles (NPs) have been exploited in a diverse range of products in the past decade or so. However, the biosafety/environmental impact or legislation pertaining to this newly created, highly functional composites containing NPs (otherwise called nanomaterials) is generally lagging behind their technological innovation. To advance the agenda in this area, our current primary interest is focused on using crops as model systems as they have very close relationship with us. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the biological effects of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles towards watermelon seedlings. We have systematically studied the physiological effects of Fe2O3 nanoparticles (nano-Fe2O3) on watermelon, and present the first evidence that a significant amount of Fe2O3 nanoparticles suspended in a liquid medium can be taken up by watermelon plants and translocated throughout the plant tissues. Changes in important physiological indicators, such as root activity, activity of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), chlorophyll and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, ferric reductase activity, root apoplastic iron content were clearly presented. Different concentrations of nano-Fe2O3 all increased seed germination, seedling growth, and enhanced physiological function to some degree; and the positive effects increased quickly and then slowed with an increase in the treatment concentrations. Changes in CAT, SOD and POD activities due to nano-Fe2O3 were significantly larger than that of the control. The 20 mg/L treatment had the most obvious effect on the increase of root activity. Ferric reductase activity, root apoplastic iron content, and watermelon biomass were significantly affected by exposure to nano-Fe2O3. Results of statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences in all the above indexes between the treatment at optimal concentration and the control. This proved that the proper concentration of nano-Fe2O3 could not only increase seed germination and seedling growth, but also ultimately improve physiological function and resistance to environmental stresses of watermelon.

Fabrication and reduction-sensitive behavior of polyion complex nano-micelles based on PEG-conjugated polymer containing disulfide bonds as a potential carrier of anti-tumor paclitaxel.

This work is aimed at the development of a reduction-sensitive drug carrier for the delivery of the anti-cancer drug paclitaxel (PTX). N,N'-bis(acryloyl)cystamine (CBA) was reacted with ethanolamine (AEOL) via Michael addition to synthesize cationic poly(CBA-AEOL) (PCA) containing disulfide bonds. Subsequently, polycaprolactone (PCL) was grafted from PCA to form a novel reduction-sensitive copolymer (PCA-g-PCL). The PCA-g-PCL copolymer self-assembled as spherical micelles with a mean size of ca. 108nm. The disulfide bonds in the PCA-g-PCL copolymer contributed to the reduction-sensitivity of the micelles, observed as stepwise aggregation under simulated reduction conditions. To improve the stability of PCA-g-PCL micelles in aqueous media, carboxyl-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (mPEG-COOH) was conjugated with the PCA-g-PCL copolymer via electrostatic interaction to produce polyion complex micelles with a hydrophilic PEG surface. The in vitro release of PTX from the mPEG@PCA-g-PCL micelle showed a reduction sensitive profile, namely the rate of drug release strongly depended upon the concentration of the reducing agent. Leakage of PTX was limited to below 30% under normal conditions while almost all the drug was released in 9h under reduction conditions with 40mM DTT. In conclusion, the assembled mPEG@PCA-g-PCL micelle with reduction-sensitive controlled release shows great potential for improving the therapeutic effect of paclitaxel.

The composites based on plasticized starch and graphene oxide/reduced graphene oxide.

The graphite was oxidized to prepare graphene oxide (GO), and GO was reduced by glucose to obtain reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheet. There were abundant and residual oxygen-containing groups on GO and RGO, respectively. Compared to graphite, the GO and RGO sheets appeared flat and transparent, and the aqueous suspensions followed the Lambert-Beer's law well. The composites were also fabricated by using GO and RGO as the filler in plasticized-starch (PS) matrix. Because of more oxygen-containing groups, GO could form the stronger interaction with PS matrix than RGO. And GO/PS composites exhibited better tensile strength, elongation at break and moisture barrier than RGO/PS composites, but lower thermal stability. GO/PS composites could protect against UV light, while the conductivities of RGO/PS composites could reach 1.07×10(-4), 6.92×10(-4) and 0.01 S/cm, respectively stored at RH50, 75 and 100%.

Structure and mechanical properties of new biomass-based nanocomposite: castor oil-based polyurethane reinforced with acetylated cellulose nanocrystal.

New nanocomposites consisting of a castor oil-based polyurethane matrix filled with acetylated cellulose nanocrystals (ACNs) were developed. The ACN exhibited improved dispersion in tetrahydrofuran as a blending medium, and reduced polarity as compared with unmodified cellulose nanocrystals, resulting in a high loading level of 25 wt% in the nanocomposite. As the ACN loading-level increased from 0% to 25%, the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the nanocomposites increased from 2.79 MPa to 10.41 MPa and from 0.98 MPa to 42.61 MPa, respectively. When the ACN loading-level was 10 wt%, the breaking elongation of the nanocomposites reached the maximum value of more than twice that of the polyurethane. The enhanced mechanical performance was primarily attributed to the formation of a three-dimensional ACN network and strong interfacial interactions between filler and matrix. This work produced new polyurethane-based nanocomposites containing modified cellulose nanocrystal with a high biomass content. Its high performance could contribute to potential applications.

Improvement in hemocompatibility of chitosan/soy protein composite membranes by heparinization.

OBJECTIVE: To improve the hemocompatibility of chitosan/soy protein isolate composite membranes by heparinization. METHODS: Chitosan/soy protein isolate membranes (ChS-n, n=0, 10 and 30, corresponding to the soy protein isolate content in the membranes) and heparinized ChS-n membranes (HChS-n) were prepared by blending in dilute HAc/NaAc solution. The hemocompatibility of ChS-n and HChS-n membranes were comparatively evaluated by measuring surface heparin density, blood platelet adhesion, plasma recalcification time (PRT), thrombus formation and hemolysis assay. RESULTS: The surface heparin density analysis showed that heparinized chitosan/SPI soy protein isolate membranes have been successfully prepared by blending. The density of heparin on the surface of HChS-n membranes was in the range of 0.67-1.29 µg/cm2. The results of platelet adhesion measurement showed that the platelet adhesion numbers of HChS-n membranes were lower than those of the corresponding ChS-n membranes. The PRT of the HChS-0, HChS-10 and HChS-30 membranes were around 292, 306 and 295 s, respectively, which were longer than the corresponding ChS-0 (152 s), ChS-10 (204 s) and ChS-30 (273 s) membranes. The hemolysis rate of HChS-n membranes was lower than 1%. CONCLUSION: The hemocompatibility of ChS membranes could be improved by blending with heparin. Compared with ChS membranes, HChS membranes showed lower platelet adhesion, longer PRT, higher BCI, significant thromboresistivity and a lower hemolysis rate due to the heparinization. This widens the application of chitosan and soy protein-based biomaterials that may come in contact with blood.

Nanocomposites based on plasticized starch and rectorite clay: structure and properties.

Sodium rectorite clay (REC) was attached to cationic guar gum (CGG) using a cationic-exchange reaction to obtain CGG modified-REC (CREC). It was found that CGG appeared on the surface of REC's layered structure and represented about 30.1% wt. in CREC. REC and CREC were, respectively, used as fillers in a plasticized starch (PS) matrix to prepare PS/REC and PS/CREC composites using the casting process. Rapid Visco Analyser and scanning electron microscopy revealed that an interaction existed between the REC (or CREC) filler and the matrix. Both REC and CREC had obvious reinforcing effects on the matrix. Compared to the neat matrix, REC or CREC improved the thermal stability of the composites. By increasing the filler content from 0 to 10 wt%, water vapor permeability (WVP) values of PS/REC composites obviously decreased, while WVP values of PS/CREC composites decreased slightly.

Development of t(50) and its application to evaluate very-high-gravity ethanol fermentation.

A three-parameter logistic growth model was modified to monitor the glucose uptake profile of yeast during very-high-gravity (VHG) ethanol fermentation. The modified model was used to define t(50) as a quantifier to differentiate among various fermentation conditions. There are two types of t(50); t(50)(g) is the time required to convert 50% of the initial glucose, and t(50)(e) is the time required to produce half of the final ethanol. A 2(4) factorial experimental design was implemented to illustrate the applicability of using t(50) to isolate active ingredients in VHG growth media. The analytical results obtained from the experimental design and from a modified model were compared, which demonstrated that t(50) could serve the proposed objectives. A shorter t(50) implies a faster fermentation. A tailing of the ethanol profile after t(50)(e) indicates that there is an inhibitory effect imposed on yeast, i.e., the stronger the tailing in the ethanol profile, the stronger the inhibitory effect. When t(50) is equal to or near to the halftime of the total course of the fermentation, a bell-shaped curve was seen for the glucose uptake rate or for the ethanol production rate, indicating that the inhibitory effect exerted on yeast was evenly distributed.

Effect of polysaccharide nanocrystals on structure, properties, and drug release kinetics of alginate-based microspheres.

Polysaccharide nanocrystals, such as rod-like cellulose nanocrystals and chitin whiskers and platelet-like starch nanocrystals, were incorporated into alginate-based nanocomposite microspheres with the aim of enhancing mechanical strength and regulating drug release behavior. The structures and properties of the sols and the resultant nanocomposite microspheres were characterized by rheological testing, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The presence of polysaccharide nanocrystals increased the stability of the crosslinked network structure, and the nanocomposite microspheres consequently exhibited prominent sustained release profiles, as demonstrated by inhibited diffusion of theophylline. Furthermore, based on the drug release results, the release kinetics and transport mechanisms were analyzed and discussed.

Characterization of magnetic soluble starch-functionalized carbon nanotubes and its application for the adsorption of the dyes.

Soluble starch-functionalized multiwall carbon nanotube composites (MWCNT-starch) were prepared to improve the hydrophilicity and biocompatibility of MWCNTs. Characterization of the MWCNT-starch by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG), showed that the starch component (about 14.3 wt%) was covalently grafted onto the surface of MWCNT. MWCNT-starch-iron oxide composites, intended for use as adsorbents for the removal of dyes from aqueous solutions, were prepared by synthesizing iron oxide nanoparticles at the surface of MWCNT-starch. Starch acts as a template for growth of iron oxide nanoparticles which are uniformly dispersed on the surface of the MWCNT-starch. MWCNT-starch-iron oxide exhibits superparamagnetic properties with a saturation magnetization (23.15 emu/g) and better adsorption for anionic methyl orange (MO) and cationic methylene blue (MB) dyes than MWCNT-iron oxide.

Chitosan colloidal suspension composed of mechanically disassembled nanofibers.

Joint treatments of wet-grinding and high-pressure homogenization effectively disassembled chitosan particles into nanofibers by breaking the bond interactions between the chitosan crystalline fibrils using only strong mechanical force. We demonstrated the size reduction of chitosan fibers and characterized the properties and structure of the obtained nanofibrils. Results showed that the obtained nanofibers had a diameter of about 50nm, which comprised small bundles of nanofibrils with a diameter of 1-5nm. The zeta potential, viscosity, and stability of the nanofibrous suspension were studied and found to be dependent on the pH value of the aqueous media. Optical properties of the suspension were also characterized. After an isotropic-nematic phase transition, the chitosan nanofibrous colloids exhibited a nematic liquid crystal structure due to the layer-by-layer stacking of self-aligned nanofibers. The freeze-dried liquid crystalline colloids were shaped like a sponge with a wide-range of pore sizes and large surface areas, which could serve as an ideal tissue scaffold.

Biomimetic soy protein nanocomposites with calcium carbonate crystalline arrays for use as wood adhesive.

Despite the biodegradability, non-toxicity, and renewability, commercially available soy protein-based adhesives still have not been widely adopted by industry, partially due to their disappointing performances, i.e., low glue strength in the dry state and no glue strength in the wet state. In this study, biomimetic soy protein/CaCO(3) hybrid wood glue was devised and an attempt made to improve the adhesion strength. The structure and morphology of the adhesive and its fracture bonding interface and adhesion strength were investigated. Results showed that the compact rivets or interlocking links, and ion crosslinking of calcium, carbonate, hydroxyl ions in the adhesive greatly improving the water-resistance and bonding strength of soy protein adhesives. Glue strength of soy protein hybrid adhesive was higher than 6 MPa even after three water-immersion cycles. This green and sustainable proteinous hybrid adhesive, with high glue strength and good water-resistance, is a good substitute for formaldehyde wood glues.