Intriguing Carbon Flake Formation during Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sodium Lignosulfonate.

Elongated carbon structures, here denoted as carbon flakes (CF), are revealed after microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization of sodium lignosulfonate. The morphology of formed CF is investigated by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Interestingly, a wide range of length distributions (between 100 and 700 nm) and a relatively constant aspect ratio and thickness are observed, indicating structures clearly different from the carbon spheres commonly formed during hydrothermal carbonization of lignocellulosic biomass. Moreover, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy provide further information of the chemical structure, which consist mainly of nanographitic domains with a high degree of defects such as oxygenated functional groups, hybridized sp3 carbon, and aliphatic side chains. Furthermore, new insights into the formation mechanisms are uncovered and the formation is speculated to proceed through the combined effect of microwave irradiation and a heterogeneous solid-solid conversion. The formed CF are anticipated as highly interesting products for a variety of material applications.

DLP 3D Printing Meets Lignocellulosic Biopolymers: Carboxymethyl Cellulose Inks for 3D Biocompatible Hydrogels.

The development of new bio-based inks is a stringent request for the expansion of additive manufacturing towards the development of 3D-printed biocompatible hydrogels. Herein, methacrylated carboxymethyl cellulose (M-CMC) is investigated as a bio-based photocurable ink for digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing. CMC is chemically modified using methacrylic anhydride. Successful methacrylation is confirmed by 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. Aqueous formulations based on M-CMC/lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP) photoinitiator and M-CMC/Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM)/LAP show high photoreactivity upon UV irradiation as confirmed by photorheology and FTIR. The same formulations can be easily 3D-printed through a DLP apparatus to produce 3D shaped hydrogels with excellent swelling ability and mechanical properties. Envisaging the application of the hydrogels in the biomedical field, cytotoxicity is also evaluated. The light-induced printing of cellulose-based hydrogels represents a significant step forward in the production of new DLP inks suitable for biomedical applications.

Transdermal opioids for cancer pain control in patients with renal impairment.

OBJECTIVES: As guidelines for opioid use in renal-impaired patients with cancer are limited, the authors sought to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability, of transdermal buprenorphine for moderate/severe cancer pain in renal-impaired outpatients. METHODS: In a prospective parallel-group active-controlled study, n = 42 consecutively recruited outpatients with or without renal impairment (serum creatinine ≥1.3 or ≤1.2 mg/dL, respectively) were treated with transdermal buprenorphine (group BUP) or fentanyl (group FEN), respectively. Patients were followed up, at home, by the nonprofit ANT-Italia-foundation physicians in Bologna, Italy. Measurements at 10 (T1), 30 (T2), and 90 (T3) days after enrollment (T0) were pain intensity (Numerical Rating Scale [NRS]), Karnofski score, opioid dose (µg/h), rescue-dose consumption, and occurrence of adverse effects. Patients recorded subjective measurements in a personal diary. Upon data analysis, investigators were blinded to the patient group. RESULTS: At T0, in groups BUP and FEN, median NRS score was 8.0 (CI, 7.4-8.4); its reduction over time (T3; NRS = 3.0; CI, 2.1-3.8 and 2.0-4.0, respectively) was significant and constant in both groups (t-test; T0-T1, T1-T2, and T2-T3; p < 0.0001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.05, respectively). At all times, there were no significant differences in pain scores between the groups. In all evaluations, adverse effects were reported n = 73/126 times (60.8 percent) and showed no significant association (X(2), p > 0.05) with the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Transdermal buprenorphine, in outpatients with cancer and renal impairment, is as effective, safe, and tolerable as fentanyl in patients without such impairment. These results add further evidence to the notion that buprenorphine, with its peculiar pharmacokinetics, may be an appropriate choice for opioid treatment in patients with renal impairment.