Exploratory catalyst screening studies on the base free conversion of glycerol to lactic acid and glyceric acid in water using bimetallic Au-Pt nanoparticles on acidic zeolites

The base free oxidation of glycerol with molecular oxygen in water using bimetallic Au-Pt catalysts on three different acidic zeolite supports (H-mordenite, H-β and H-USY) was explored in a batch setup. At temperatures between 140 and 180 °C, lactic acid formation was significant and highest selectivity (60 % lactic acid at 80 % glycerol conversion) was obtained using Au-Pt/USY-600 (180 °C). A selectivity switch to glyceric acid (GLYA) was observed when the reactions were performed at 100 °C. Highest conversion and selectivity towards GLYA were obtained with Au-Pt/H-β as the catalyst (68 % selectivity at 68 % conversion).

Thermo-oxidative stabilization of poly(lactic acid) with antioxidant intercalated layered double hydroxides

Two antioxidant modified layered double hydroxides (AO-LDHs) were successfully prepared by theintercalation of 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (IrganoxCOOH) and 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox) in the layered structure of LDH. It was foundthat by anchoring the phenolic moieties to the LDH layers the antioxidant power is retained in the caseof Trolox, and even amplified in the case of IrganoxCOOH. A small amount of the two AO-LDHs wasincorporated into poly(lactic acid), PLA, by solution mixing and melt extrusion. The thermo-oxidativestability of the composites was compared with that of the neat PLA and PLA containing free AOs. SECanalysis indicates that, after a controlled period of ageing, both the AO-LDHs protect the PLA fromchain scission. The oxidation induction time (OIT, DSC) at 230 °C shows also the beneficial effects ofthe presence of the functional filler in the polymer matrix. Further, results from a preliminary migrationtest suggest that the AO species have a low tendency to migrate away from the AO-LDHs embedded inthe polymer matrix thus keeping the AO protected inside the nanofiller layers thereby remaining activefor a longer time.

Neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells on conductive nanofiber scaffolds

Nerve tissue engineering requires suitable precursor cells as well as the necessary biochemical and physical cues to guide neurite extension and tissue development. An ideal scaffold for neural regeneration would be both fibrous and electrically conductive. We have contrasted the growth and neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells on three different aligned nanofiber scaffolds composed of poly L: -lactic acid supplemented with either single- or multi-walled carbon-nanotubes. The addition of the nanotubes conferred conductivity to the nanofibers and promoted mESC neural differentiation as evidenced by an increased mature neuronal markers expression. We propose that the conductive scaffold could be a useful tool for the generation of neural tissue mimics in vitro and potentially as a scaffold for the repair of neural defects in vivo.

An innovative method to obtain porous PLLA scaffolds with highly spherical and interconnected pores

Scaffolding is an essential issue in tissue engineering and scaffolds should answer certain essential criteria: biocompatibility, high porosity, and important pore interconnectivity to facilitate cell migration and fluid diffusion. In this work, a modified solvent castingparticulate leaching out method is presented to produce scaffolds with spherical and interconnected pores. Sugar particles (200–300 lm and 300–500 lm) were poured through a horizontal Meker burner flame and collected below the flame. While crossing the high temperature zone, the particles melted and adopted a spherical shape. Spherical particles were compressed in plastic mold. Then, poly-L-lactic acid solution was cast in the sugar assembly. After solvent evaporation, the sugar was removed by immersing the structure into distilled water for 3 days. The obtained scaffolds presented highly spherical interconnected pores, with interconnection pathways from 10 to 100 lm. Pore interconnection was obtained without any additional step. Compression tests were carried out to evaluate the scaffold mechanical performances. Moreover, rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were found to adhere and to proliferate in vitro in the scaffold over 21 days. This technique produced scaffold with highly spherical and interconnected pores without the use of additional organic solvents to leach out the porogen.

In vitro biocompatibility of different polyester membranes

Nowadays, synthetic biodegradable polymers, such as aliphatic polyesters, are largely used in tissue engineering. They provide several advantages compared to natural materials which use is limited by immunocompatibility, graft availability, etc. In this work, poly(L-lactic) acid (PLLA), poly(DL-lactic) acid (PDLA), poly-epsilon-caprolactone (PCL), poly(L-lactic)-co-caprolactone (molar ratio 70/30) (PLCL) were selected because of their common use in tissue engineering. The membranes were elaborated by solvent casting. Membrane morphology was investigated by atomic force microscopy. The membranes were seeded with human fibroblasts from cell line CRL 2703 in order to evaluate the biocompatibility by the Alamar blue test. The roughness of the membranes ranged from 4 nm for PDLA to 120 nm and they presented very smooth surface except for PCL which beside a macroscopic structure due to its hydrophobicity. Human fibroblasts proliferated over 28 days on the membranes proving the non-in vitro toxicity of the materials and of the processing method. A further step will be the fabrication of three-dimensional scaffold for tissue engineering and the treatment of the scaffolds to augment cell adhesion.

Nucleation parameters for polymer crystallization from non-isothermal thermal analysis

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been used to obtain kinetic and nucleation parameters for polymer crystallization under a non-isothermal mode of operation. The available isothermal nucleation growth-rate equation has been modified for non-isothermal kinetic analysis. The values of the nucleation constant (K g ) and surface free energies (sgr, sgr e ) have been obtained for i-polybutene-1, i-polypropylene, poly(L-lactic acid), and polyoxymethylene and are compared with those obtained from isothermal kinetic analysis; a good agreement in both is seen.

Layer-by-layer assembly of gelatin

Electrostatic assembly of one species can be realized using gelatin as a polyampholyte. Under suitable conditions where the electrostatic attraction and repulsion were both significant and in balance, linear growth of multilayers driven by electrostatic interactions was sustained over many successive assembly steps, and the maximum amount of adsorption of each layer was reached when the solution pH was around the isoelectric point. The rearrangement of the adsorbed chains after drying was confirmed by contact angle analysis. In addition with only one species involved, the assembled thin films should be chemically uniform rather than layered.

The release behavior of doxorubicin hydrochloride from medicated fibers prepared by emulsion-electrospinning

The release behavior of a water-soluble small molecule drug from the drug-loaded nanofibers prepared by emulsion-electrospinning was investigated. Doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dox), a water-soluble anticancer agent, was used as the model drug. The laser scanning confocal microscopic images indicated that the drug was well incorporated into amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lactic acid) (PEG-PLA) diblock copolymer nanofibers, forming "core-sheath" structured drug-loaded nanofibers.

Hydrogen Bonding and Crystallization in Biodegradable Multiblock Poly(ester urethane) Copolymer

The hydrogen bonding and crystallization of a biodegradable poly(ester urethane) copolymer based on poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) as the soft segment were investigated by FTIR. On slow cooling from melt, the onset and the progress of the crystallization of the urethane hard segments were correlated to the position, width, and relative intensity of the hydrogen-bonded N-H stretching band. The interconversion between the "free" and hydrogen-bonded N-H and C=O groups in the urethane units in the process was also revealed by 2D correlation analysis of the FTIR data. The crystallization of the PLLA soft segments was monitored by the ester C=O stretching and the skeletal vibrations. It was revealed that the PLLA crystallization was restricted by the phase separation and the urethane crystallization, and at cooling rates of 10 degrees C/min or higher, the crystallization of the PLLA soft segments was prohibited.

Poly(ethylene glycol-co-propylene glycol) as a Macromolecular Plasticizing Agent for Polylactide: Thermomechanical Properties and Aging

Finding a Suitable plasticizer for polylactide (PLA) is necessary to overcome its brittleness and enlarge its range of applications. In this study, commercial PLA was melt-blended with a new plasticizer, an ethylene glycol/propylene glycol random copolymer [poly(ethylene glycol-co-propylene glycol) (PEPG)] with a typical number-average molecular weight of 1.2 kDa and an ethylene glycol content of 78.7 mol %. The thermal properties, crystallization behavior, and mechanical properties of the quenched blends and the properties of the blends after storage for 2 months under the ambient conditions were investigated in detail. The advantage of using PEPG is that it does not crystallize at room temperature and has good compatibility with PLA. The quenched PLA/PEPG blends were homogeneous and amorphous systems. With an increase in the PEPG content (5-20%), the glass-transition temperature, tensile strength, and modulus of the blends decreased, whereas the elongation at break and crystallizability increased dramatically. The cold crystallization of PLA resulted in phase separation of the PLA/PEPG blends by annealing of the blends at the crystallization temperature.