Characterization of corn (Zea mays) leaf powder and Its adsorption properties regarding Cu(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous samples

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Elucidating the optical properties of novel heterolayered materials based on MoTe2-InN for photovoltaic applications

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Mass and surface fractal in supercritical dried silica aerogels prepared with additions of sodium dodecyl sulfate

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Electrical and electrochemical measurements in nanostructured films of polythiophene derivatives

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Study on determination and removal of metallic ions from aqueous and alcoholic solutions using a new POSS adsorbent

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Dendrimer nanocarriers for transport modulation across models of the pulmonary epithelium

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of PEGylation on the interaction of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer nanocarriers (DNCs) with in vitro and in vivo models of the pulmonary epithelium. Generation-3 PAMAM dendrimers with varying surface densities of PEG 1000 Da were synthesized and characterized. The results revealed that the apical to basolateral transport of DNCs across polarized Calu-3 monolayers increases with an increase in PEG surface density. DNC having the greatest number of PEG groups (n = 25) on their surface traversed at a rate 10-fold greater than its non-PEGylated counterpart, in spite of their larger size. This behavior was attributed to a significant reduction in charge density upon PEGylation. We also observed that PEGylation can be used to modulate cellular internalization. The total uptake of PEG-free DNC into polarized Calu-3 monolayers was 12% (w/w) vs 2% (w/w) for that with 25 PEGs. Polarization is also shown to be of great relevance in studying this in vitro model of the lung epithelium. The rate of absorption of DNCs administered to mice lungs increased dramatically when conjugated with 25 PEG groups, thus supporting the in vitro results. The exposure obtained for the DNC with 25PEG was determined to be very high, with peak plasma concentrations reaching 5 mu gmL(-1) within 3 h. The combined in vitro and in vivo results shown here demonstrate that PEGylation can be potentially used to modulate the internalization and transport of DNCs across the pulmonary epithelium. Modified dendrimers thereby may serve as a valuable platform that can be tailored to target the lung tissue for treating local diseases, or the circulation, using the lung as pathway to the bloodstream, for systemic delivery.

Adsorption of immunoglobulin Y in supermacroporous continuous cryogel with immobilized Cu2+ ions

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Adsorção de cádmio em Latossolos sob vegetação de mata nativa e cultivados

Heavy metals are found naturally in soils at low concentrations, but their content may be increased by human activity, making them one of the barriers in management of tropical soils. These chemical elements can be found in the composition of organic and inorganic fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, mine tailings, and urban waste, and may cause serious damage to the environment and human health. Thus, adsorption studies are essential in assessing the behavior of heavy metals in the soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of soil chemical, particle size, and mineralogical properties on adsorption of cadmium (Cd), evaluated by Langmuir and Freundlich models, in Latossolos (Oxisols) with or without human activity. Soil samples were collected from the surface layer, 0.00-0.20 m, and chemical, particle size, and mineralogical analyzes were performed. In the adsorption study, concentrations of 0, 5, 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mu g L-1 of Cd were used in the form of Cd(NO3)(2). The empirical mathematical models of Langmuir and Freundlich were used for construction of adsorption isotherms. Data were analyzed by means of multivariate statistical techniques, Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis. The data from the adsorption experiment showed a good fit to the Langmuir and Freundlich models. Soils with a lower goethite/hematite ratio and greater cation exchange capacity and pH, showed higher maximum adsorption capacity of Cd.

The Aerosol OT + n-butanol + n-heptane + water system: Phase behavior, structure characterization, and application to Pt70Fe30 nanoparticle Synthesis

A phase diagram of the pseudo-ternary Aerosol OT (AOT) + n-butanol/n-heptane/water system, at a mass ratio of AOT/n-butanol = 2, is presented. Conductivity measurements showed that within the vast one-phase microemulsion region observed, the structural transition from water-in-oil to oil-in-water microemulsion occurs continuously without phase separation. This pseudo-ternary system was applied to the synthesis of carbon-supported Pt 70Fe30 nanoparticles, and it was found that nanoparticles prepared in microemulsions containing n-butanol have more Fe than those prepared in ternary microemulsions of AOT/n-heptane/water under similar conditions. It was verified that introducing n-butanol as a cosurfactant into the AOT/n-heptane/water system lead to complete reduction of the Fe ions that allowed obtaining alloyed PtFe nanoparticles with the desired composition, without the need of preparing functionalized surfactants and/or the use of inert atmosphere. © 2007 American Chemical Society.

Photo-induced destruction of giant vesicles in methylene blue solutions

We study the photodecomposition of phospholipid bilayers in aqueous solutions of methylene blue. Observation of giant unilamellar vesicles under an optical microscope reveals a consistent pattern of membrane disruption as a function of methylene blue concentration and photon density for different substrates supporting the vesicles.

Evaluating the equilibrium association constant between artinM lectin and myeloid leukemia cells by impedimetric and piezoelectric label free approaches

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Application of orange peel waste in the production of solid biofuels and biosorbents

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A modular approach to study protein adsorption on surface modified hydroxyapatite

Biocompatible inorganic nano- and microcarriers can be suitable candidates for protein delivery. This study demonstrates facile methods of functionalization by using nanoscale linker molecules to change the protein adsorption capacity of hydroxyapatite (HA) powder. The adsorption capacity of bovine serum albumin as a model protein has been studied with respect to the surface modifications. The selected linker molecules (lysine, arginine, and phosphoserine) can influence the adsorption capacity by changing the electrostatic nature of the HA surface. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of linker-molecule interactions with the HA surface have been performed by using NMR spectroscopy, zeta-potential measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analyses. Additionally, correlations to theoretical isotherm models have been calculated with respect to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Lysine and arginine increased the protein adsorption, whereas phosphoserine reduced the protein adsorption. The results show that the adsorption capacity can be controlled with different functionalization, depending on the protein-carrier selections under consideration. The scientific knowledge acquired from this study can be applied in various biotechnological applications that involve biomolecule-inorganic material interfaces.

Utilização de turfa para remoção de metais potencialmente tóxicos de uma empresa recicladora de plásticos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Desenvolvimento de dispersões sólidas e nanopartículas poliméricas mucoadesivas de Zidovudina e avaliação da interação biológica com a mucosa intestinal

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)