Enhanced viability of probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii encapsulated by layer-by-layer approach in pH responsive chitosan-dextran sulfate polyelectrolytes

Saccharomyces boulardii was encapsulated by layer-by-layer technique (LbL) using oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, chitosan and dextran sulfate to protect from degradation during its gastrointestinal transit. The protective effect of the coating was evaluated by checking viability after subjecting the coated cells to lyophilisation and simulated gastrointestinal conditions. During lyophilization, coated S. boulardii was found to have an enhanced viability of 7.74 +/- 2.00 log CFU/100 mg (5.62 x 10(6) +/- 2.12 CFU/100 mg) and 5.53 +/- 1.85 log CFU/100 mg (3.46 x 10(5) 1.73 CFU/100 mg) for uncoated cells. On sequential treatment with simulated gastric and intestinal juice, the coated cells had a viability of 4.59 +/- 1.52 log CFU/100 mg (3.8 x 104 +/- 1.52 CFU/100 mg) while only 1.90 +/- 0.80 log CFU/100 mg (0.79 x 102 +/- 0.81 CFU/100 mg) of uncoated cells survived. Confocal studies displayed the selective permeability of the coated cells which plays a significant role in maintaining the integrity and viability of the yeast cells. This clearly indicates that LbL is an efficient protective encapsulation technique and it could be potentially used for improving therapeutic applications of yeast. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enzymatic degradation of polymers: a brief review

Recently, research on polymer has drawn much attention mainly due to the ever increasing application of these polymeric materials in several areas such as food packaging industry, agricultural industry and biomedical research. However, increasing industrial use of polymers has led to the environmentally critical issue of waste disposal. Further, the successful implication of polymeric materials in biomedical applications depends on the biodegradability of the concerned polymer. Various enzymes play an important role in the biodegradation of polymers. The present review describes the enzyme mediated biodegradation of various polymers including synthetic, natural and blends of these materials. Detailed examples of enzymatic degradation of polymers are illustrated from current scientific literature with the discussion on various factors that can influence the degradation. In addition, different techniques that are generally applied to assess the degradation process as well as degradation products have been described. Finally, a special emphasis is given to the investigation of the kinetics of polymer degradation by enzymes.

Controlling Conformations of Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Based Conjugated Polymers: Role of Torsional Angle

Transport of charge carriers through conjugated polymers is strongly influenced by the presence and distribution of structural disorders. In the present work, structural defects caused by the presence of torsional.. angle were investigated in a diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based conjugated polymer. Two new copolymers of DPP were synthesized with varying torsional angles to trace the role of structural disorder. The optical properties of these copolymers in solution and thin film reveal the strong influence of torsional angle on their photophysical properties. A strong influence was observed on carrier transport properties of polymers in organic field-effect transistors (OFET) device geometry. The polymers based on phenyl DPP with higher torsional angle (PPTDPP-OD-TEG) resulted in high threshold voltage with less charge carrier mobility as compared to the polymer based on thiophene DPP (2DPP-OD-TEG) bearing a lower torsional angle. Carrier mobility and the molecular orientation of the conjugated polymers were correlated on the basis of grazing incidence X-ray scattering measurements showing the strong role of torsional angle introduced in the form of structural disorder. The results presented in this Article provide a deep insight into the sensitivity of structural disorder and its impact on the device performance of DPP-based conjugated polymers.

Mechanochemical Synthesis of Amide Functionalized Porous Organic Polymers

Two porous organic polymers decorated with the amide functionality were synthesized mechanochemically and their properties were compared with the ones prepared by conventional solution mediated method. All the POPs were subjected to gas and water vapor sorption studies. The mechanochemically synthesized POPs have less surface area and show moderate adsorption properties compared to the solution mediated POPs. The amide based POPs show remarkable stability in water and concentrated acids.

Selenium in Diketopyrrolopyrrole-based Polymers: Influence on Electronic Properties and Charge Carrier Mobilities

Diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based pi-conjugated copolymers with thiophene have exceptionally high electron mobilities. This paper investigates electronic properties and charge carrier mobilities of selenophene containing analogues. Two new copolymers, with alternating thiophene DPP (TDPP) and selenophene DPP (SeDPP) units, were synthesized. Two side-chains, hexyl (Hex) and triethylene glycol (TEG) were employed, yielding polymers designated as PTDPPSeDPP-Hex and PTDPPSeDPP-TEG. Selenophene systems have smaller band gaps, with concomitant enhancement of the stability of the reduced state. For both polymers, ambipolar mobilities were observed in organic field-effect transistors (OFET). Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) data indicates preferential edge-on orientation of PTDPPSeDPP-TEG, which leads to superior charge transport properties of the TEG substituted polymer, as compared to its Hex analogue. Time-dependent-density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations corroborate the decrease in the optical band gap with the inclusion of selenophene. Ambipolar charge transport is rationalized by exceptionally wide conduction bands. Delta SCF calculations confirm the larger electron affinity, and therefore the greater stability, of the reduced form of the selenophene-containing DPP polymer in presence of chloroform.

Intermittent electrical stimuli for guidance of human mesenchymal stem cell lineage commitment towards neural-like cells on electroconductive substrates

In the context of the role of multiple physical factors in dictating stem cell fate, the present paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the intermittently delivered external electric field stimulation towards switching the stem cell fate to specific lineage, when cultured in the absence of biochemical growth factors. In particular, our findings present the ability of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) to respond to the electric stimuli by adopting extended neural-like morphology on conducting polymeric substrates. Polyaniline (PANI) is selected as the model system to demonstrate this effect, as the electrical conductivity of the polymeric substrates can be systematically tailored over a broad range (10(-9) to 10 S/cm) from highly insulating to conducting by doping with varying concentrations (10(-5) to 1 M) of HCl. On the basis of the culture protocol involving the systematic delivery of intermittent electric field (dc) stimulation, the parametric window of substrate conductivity and electric field strength was established to promote significant morphological extensions, with minimal cellular damage. A time dependent morphological change in hMSCs with significant filopodial elongation was observed after 7 days of electrically stimulated culture. Concomitant with morphological changes, a commensurate increase in the expression of neural lineage commitment markers such as nestin and PI tubulin was recorded from hMSCs grown on highly conducting substrates, as revealed from the mRNA expression analysis using Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) as well as by immune-fluorescence imaging. Therefore, the present work establishes the key role of intermittent and systematic delivery of electric stimuli as guidance cues in promoting neural-like differentiation of hMSCs, when grown on electroconductive substrates. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Use of side-chain for rational design of n-type diketopyrrolopyrrole-based conjugated polymers: what did we find out?

The primary role of substituted side chains in organic semiconductors is to increase their solubility in common organic solvents. In the recent past, many literature reports have suggested that the side chains play a critical role in molecular packing and strongly impact the charge transport properties of conjugated polymers. In this work, we have investigated the influence of side-chains on the charge transport behavior of a novel class of diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) based alternating copolymers. To investigate the role of side-chains, we prepared four diketopyrrolopyrrole-diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP-DPP) conjugated polymers with varied side-chains and carried out a systematic study of thin film microstructure and charge transport properties in polymer thin-film transistors (PTFTs). Combining results obtained from grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) and charge transport properties in PTFTs, we conclude side-chains have a strong influence on molecular packing, thin film microstructure, and the charge carrier mobility of DPP-DPP copolymers. However, the influence of side-chains on optical properties was moderate. The preferential ``edge-on'' packing and dominant n-channel behavior with exceptionally high field-effect electron mobility values of >1 cm(2) V-1 s(-1) were observed by incorporating hydrophilic (triethylene glycol) and hydrophobic side-chains of alternate DPP units. In contrast moderate electron and hole mobilities were observed by incorporation of branched hydrophobic side-chains. This work clearly demonstrates that the subtle balance between hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity induced by side-chains is a powerful strategy to alter the molecular packing and improve the ambipolar charge transport properties in DPP-DPP based conjugated polymers. Theoretical analysis supports the conclusion that the side-chains influence polymer properties through morphology changes, as there is no effect on the electronic properties in the gas phase. The exceptional electron mobility is at least partially a result of the strong intramolecular conjugation of the donor and acceptor as evidenced by the unusually wide conduction band of the polymer.

Explosives Sensing by Using Electron-Rich Supramolecular Polymers: Role of Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Significant Enhancement of Sensitivity

We demonstrate here that supramolecular interactions enhance the sensitivity towards detection of electron-deficient nitro-aromatic compounds (NACs) over discrete analogues. NACs are the most commonly used explosive ingredients and are common constituents of many unexploded landmines used during World WarII. In this study, we have synthesised a series of pyrene-based polycarboxylic acids along with their corresponding discrete esters. Due to the electron richness and the fluorescent behaviour of the pyrene moiety, all the compounds act as sensors for electron-deficient NACs through a fluorescence quenching mechanism. A Stern-Volmer quenching constant determination revealed that the carboxylic acids are more sensitive than the corresponding esters towards NACs in solution. The high sensitivity of the acids was attributed to supramolecular polymer formation through hydrogen bonding in the case of the acids, and the enhancement mechanism is based on an exciton energy migration upon excitation along the hydrogen-bond backbone. The presence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the acids in solution was established by solvent-dependent fluorescence studies and dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments. In addition, the importance of intermolecular hydrogen bonds in solid-state sensing was further explored by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) experiments at the liquid-solid interface, in which structures of self-assembled monolayer of the acids and the corresponding esters were compared. The sensitivity tests revealed that these supramolecular sensors can even detect picric acid and trinitrotoluene in solution at levels as low as parts per trillion (ppt), which is much below the recommended permissible level of these constituents in drinking water.

Dual enzyme responsive and targeted nanocapsules for intracellular delivery of anticancer agents

We report the fabrication of dual enzyme responsive hollow nanocapsules which can be targeted to deliver anticancer agents specifically inside cancer cells. The enzyme responsive elements, integrated in the nanocapsule walls, undergo degradation in the presence of either trypsin or hyaluronidase leading to the release of encapsulated drug molecules. These nanocapsules, which were crosslinked and functionalised with folic acid, showed minimal drug leakage when kept in pH 7.4 PBS buffer, but released the drug molecules at a rapid rate in the presence of either one of the triggering enzymes. Studies on cellular interactions of these nanocapsules revealed that doxorubicin loaded nanocapsules were taken up by cervical cancer cells via folic acid receptor medicated endocytosis. Interestingly the nanocapsules were able to disintegrate inside the cancer cells and release doxorubicin which then migrated into the nucleus to induce cell death. This study indicates that these nanocapsules fabricated from biopolymers can serve as an excellent platform for targeted intracellular drug delivery to cancer cells.

New low band gap 2-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-benzod]imidazole and benzo1,2-c; 4,5-c `]bis1,2,5]thiadiazole based conjugated polymers for organic photovoltaics

Two new low band gap D-A structured conjugated polymers, PBDTTBI and PBDTBBT, based on 2-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-benzod]imidazole and benzo1,2-c; 4,5-c']bis1,2,5]thiadiazole acceptor units with benzo1,2-b; 3,4-b']dithiophene as a donor unit have been designed and synthesized via a Stille coupling reaction. The incorporation of the benzo1,2-c; 4,5-c']bis1,2,5]thiadiazole unit into PBDTBBT has significantly altered the optical and electrochemical properties of the polymer. The optical band gap estimated from the onset absorption edge is similar to 1.88 eV and similar to 1.1 eV, respectively for PBDTTBI and PBDTBBT. It is observed that PBDTBBT exhibited a deeper HOMO energy level (similar to 4.06 eV) with strong intramolecular charge transfer interactions. Bulk heterojunction solar cells fabricated with a configuration of ITO/PEDOT: PSS/PBDTBBT: PC71BM/Al exhibited a best power conversion efficiency of 0.67%, with a short circuit current density of 4.9 mA cm(-2), an open-circuit voltage of 0.54 V and a fill factor of 25%.

Supramolecular Gating of Ion Transport in Nanochannels

Several covalent strategies towards surface charge-reversal in nanochannels have been reported with the purpose of manipulating ion transport. However, covalent routes lack dynamism, modularity and post-synthetic flexibility, and hence restrict their applicability in different environments. Here, we introduce a facile non-covalent approach towards charge-reversal in nanochannels (< 10 nm) using strong charge-transfer interactions between dicationic viologen (acceptor) and trianionic pyranine (donor). The polarity of ion transport was switched from anion selective to ambipolar to cation selective by controlling the extent of viologen bound to the pyranine. We could also regulate the ion transport with respect to pH by selecting a donor with pH-responsive functional groups. The modularity of this approach further allows facile integration of various functional groups capable of responding to stimuli such as light and temperature to modulate the transport of ions as well as molecules.

Effect of metal oxidation state on FRET: a Cu(I) silent but selectively Cu(II) responsive fluorescent reporter and its bioimaging applications

Copper(II) and copper(I) complexes of a newly designed and crystallographically characterized Schiff base (HL) derived from rhodamine hydrazide and cinnamaldehyde were isolated in pure form formulated as Cu(L)(NO3)] (L-Cu) (1) and Cu(HL)(CH3CN)(H2O)]ClO4 (HL-Cu) (2), and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic tools. Interestingly, complex 1 but not 2 offers red fluorescence in solution state, and eventually HL behaves as a Cu(II) ions selective FRET based fluorosensor in HEPES buffer (1 mM, acetonitrile-water: 1/5, v/v) at 25 degrees C at biological pH with almost no interference of other competitive ions. The dependency of the FRET process on the +2 oxidation state of copper has been nicely supported by exhaustive experimental studies comprising electronic, fluorimetric, NMR titration, and theoretical calculations. The sensing ability of HL has been evaluated by the LOD value towards Cu(II) ions (83.7 nM) and short responsive time (5-10 s). Even the discrimination of copper(I) and copper(II) has also been done using only UV-Vis spectroscopic study. The efficacy of this bio-friendly probe has been determined by employing HL to detect the intercellular distribution of Cu(II) ions in HeLa cells by developing image under fluorescence microscope.

Investigations on pressure and thickness profiles in carbon fiber-reinforced polymers during vacuum assisted resin transfer molding

Systematic experiments have been carried out by monitoring the in-situ pressure and thickness profiles for three different configurations, viz., flat plate, flat plate with a central circular hole, and an L-section using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. The effect of anisotropy on resin flow has been quantified by considering uni-directional carbon fiber preforms with 0 degrees and 90 degrees orientation to the flow direction for each configuration. A quasi-isotropic 45 degrees/0 degrees/-45 degrees/90 degrees](S) layup has also been included for flat plate case. Additionally, the study has been extended to understand the effect of using high permeability medium for each configuration. Fluid pressure profiles and thickness variation profiles have been obtained using an array of pressure sensors and linear variable differential transformers for each configuration. Experimental data reveal that anisotropy (due to changing fiber orientations), configuration, and gravity significantly change fluid pressure and displacement fields obtained during VARTM.

Remotely triggered micro-shock wave responsive drug delivery system for resolving diabetic wound infection and controlling blood sugar levels

A novel, micro-shock wave responsive spermidine and dextran sulfate microparticle was developed. Almost 90% of the drug release was observed when the particles were exposed to micro-shock waves 5 times. Micro-shock waves served two purposes; of releasing the antibiotic from the system and perhaps disrupting the S. aureus biofilm in the skin infection model. A combination of shock waves with ciprofloxacin loaded microparticles could completely cure the S. aureus infection lesion in a diabetic mouse model. As a proof of concept insulin release was triggered using micro-shock waves in diabetic mice to reduce the blood glucose level. Insulin release could be triggered for at least 3 days by exposing subcutaneously injected insulin loaded particles.

Water-responsive carbon nanotubes for selective detection of toxic gases

Ammonia plays an important role in our daily lives and hence its quantitative and qualitative sensing has become necessary. Bulk structure of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been employed to detect the gas concentration of 10 ppm. Hydrophobic CNTs were turned to hydrophilic via the application of a ramp electric field that allowed confinement of a controlled amount of water inside CNT microstructure. These samples were then also used to detect different gases. A comparative study has been performed for sensing three reducing gases, namely, ammonia, sulphur-di-oxide, and hydrogen sulphide to elaborate the selectivity of the sensor. A considerable structural bending in the bulk CNT was observed on evaporation of the confined water, which can be accounted to the zipping of individual nanotubes. However, the rate of the stress induced on these bulk microstructures increased on the exposure of ammonia due to the change in the surface tension of the confined solvent. A prototype of an alarm system has been developed to illustrate sensing concept, wherein the generated stress in the bulk CNT induces a reversible loss in electrical contact that changes the equivalent resistance of the electrical circuit upon exposure to the gas. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.