Nanocompósitos multifuncionas de fibroína reforçados com biocelulose

This work shows the preparation and characterization of the new nanocomposites based on fibroin and biocellulose. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an exopolysaccharide produced by bacteria of the genus Gluconacetobacter, which it has identical chemical structure of the cellulose from plants and it has gained attention in the field of research for its unique properties as excellent mechanical properties when dry and hydrated , higher capacity of water retention, moldability , biodegradability and excellent biological affinity . Silk fibroin (SF) is a structural protein present in the cocoon of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, has been identified as suitable for developing optical devices, tissue engineering application, enzyme immobilization, controlled release drug agent biopolymer. Silk fibroin/bacterial cellulose nanocomposite films were prepared impregnating different cellulose charges (0.5 %, 1.0 %, 1.5 %, 2.5 %, 5.0 % and 10.0 %) weight/weight. According mechanical tests and water and Paynes's cup permeability showed that SF/BC 1% nanocomposite has the most relevant results. Poliethylenoglicol (PEG) containing SF films improved optical and mechanical properties when compared to pristine SF film. New SF/BC nanocomposites could be applied in Medicine, as biodegradable packaging and flexible substrates for OLEDs.

Different esthetic techniques used in combination to improve the smile

This is a clinical case report of a patient who presented with dental stains in the buccal and proximal aspects of the anterior teeth. Buccal stains were removed using the enamel microabrasion technique, and vital tooth bleaching with carbamide peroxide was also performed. Restorative procedures employing composite resin were done for a better result in the proximal aspect of teeth. Clinical significance: The authors observed the combination of these esthetic techniques improved the patient's smile. Today, dental esthetics attempts to imitate natural teeth by making them white, well-shaped, and aligned with no spots. This has enabled the development of several esthetic techniques, such as microabrasion to remove dental enamel surface stains and surface irregularities,1-6 and vital tooth bleaching to treat yellowish teeth.7 The enamel microabrasion technique uses different abrasive agents associated with chemical solutions,1,2,4,6 allowing the removal of intrinsic, hard-texture stains, and different coloring spots on the enamel surface, as well as correction of irregularities on the dental buccal surface.1,8 The various microabrasive products include the Opalustre® (Ultradent Products, http://www.ultradent.com)or Prema® Compound (Premier Dental Products, http://www.premusa.com), a low-concentration hydrochloric acid product associated with silica microparticles that is certainly effective for microabrasion technique,4,6,9,10 providing a good safety profile for the patient and professional. The microabrasion technique also promotes micro-reduction on the adamantine surface.4,5,10 In some cases, after its completion, microabrasion may cause teeth to become darker or yellowish because of the thinner remaining enamel surface, leading to more evident observation of the dentinal tissue, which in general determines tooth color. In these clinical conditions, correction of the color pattern of dental elements can be obtained with carbamide peroxide products applied in custom trays, such as the bleaching products Whiteness Perfect at 10% or 16% (FGM Productos Odontologicos, http://www.fgm.ind.br) or Opalescence® at 10% or 15% (Ultradent Products), with a considerable margin of clinical success, provided it is well indicated, well performed, and supervised by the professional.4,6,9,10 Considering all the aforementioned aspects, the authors present a clinical case about a dental-enamel microabrasion technique used to remove buccal enamel surface stains associated with dental vital bleaching and restorative procedures in the proximal aspect of anterior teeth. - See more at: https://www.dentalaegis.com/cced/2010/08/different-esthetic-techniques-used-in-combination-to-recover-the-smile#sthash.McFoH7El.dpuf

Obtaining of xanthan gum impregnated of cellulose microfibrils derived from sugarcane bagasse

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Micropartículas de goma gelana revestidas com filmes de amido resistente/pectina como estratégia para administração oral de insulina

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

Uma experiência didática sobre viscosidade e densidade

In this work, a teaching experience is proposed in order to evaluate and differentiate, in a simple and clear way, two intrinsic properties of matter that make part of daily vocabulary, viscosity and density. To this end, three liquids for domestic use have been chosen, namely saccharose solution, biodegradable detergent and vegetal soybean oil. The results analysis evidences the lack of a proportional relationship among these properties.

Effect of silica surface on luminescence properties of tb3+-glutamic acid.

We studied the effect of silica surface on luminescence properties of terbium complex by spectroscopy characterization, where microparticles of mesoporous silica type MSU-X was prepared. We used silica with different surface: calcined, washed, functionalized with 3- aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTES), and 3-glycidoxypropyl-trimethoxysilane (GPTMS); impregnated with Tb3+-glutamic acid complex. The obtained materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, porosity measurements, small-angle X-ray scattering, as structural characterization; Fourier transform infrared and luminescence spectroscopy, as spectroscopy characterization. Finally, we observed that functional groups at the silica surface lead to changes on luminescent properties of the final materials. The observed shift of the absorption and emission bands can be assigned to the effect of the functional groups of mesoporous silica.

Estudos sobre a utilização de pentóxido de nióbio nanoestruturado na produção de biodiesel

In heterogeneous catalysis, numerous elements such as titanium and iron have been studied as nanoscale catalysts, but little is known about the use of niobium in nanocatalysis. The nanostructured particles have intrinsic and different physicochemical characteristics with great potential for use in industrial scale. Brazil having the largest known worldwide niobium reserve has the great challenge of creating pioneering technologies with the metal. Biodiesel is an alternative fuel and renewable substitute for regular diesel. Being biodegradable, non-toxic and have CO2 emissions lower than regular diesel, it contributes to the environment and to the independence from oil. The aim of this work was initially synthesize nanoscale particles of niobium pentoxide (Nanospheres, nanorods, nanofibers, nanocubes) from the sol-gel technique. The characterization of different nanoscale structures obtained was performed using different analytical techniques such as x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The synthesized nanometer niobium oxide will be used as a heterogeneous catalyst in biodiesel synthesis from commercial soybean oil, checking in detail what the effect of morphology is presented (Nanospheres, nanorods, nanofibers, nanocubes) in the yield of biodiesel synthesis, comparing these results with those already described in literature for the amorphous niobium oxide and other oxide catalysts. The biodiesel obtained was characterized by gas chromatography system equipped with a FID detector

Óxidos derivados de hidromagnesitas e hidrotalcitas modificadas como catalisadores heterogêneos na síntese de biodiesel etílico

Pós-graduação em Química - IBILCE

Síntese, caracterização e aplicação de hidrogéis nanoestruturados contendo nanoargila para melhorar a germinação e qualidade de muda de hortaliça

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Master Conservationist Presentations - 2003

We begin our Master Conservationist recognition in Production Agriculture with the Buskirk Family of Hemingford in the Panhandle. Will David and Toni Buskirk, Dean and Sonya Buskirk, Chad Buskirk, and Dustin and Shelly McConville, please come forward? They started with a half-section which has grown to 2,855 acres, as well as a tree-planting business. The family formed a partnership in 1995 and named it “Trees are Us” in 1998. They have used no-till farming on 1,000 acres of cropland since 1980 and planted over 165,000 trees. A low-pressure irrigation system saves about 400 acre inches of water every growing season. They built their own no-till tree planter for differing soil conditions and a machine to install biodegradable weed barriers. Their enthusiasm for trees is contagious as they visit with others and perform volunteer work in the area. Their unique tree planting equipment is made available nationwide, which results in the planting of more than 2 million trees in over 10 states annually. Congrats to the Buskirks.

Synthesis of Carbon Nanomaterials through Up-Cycling Agricultural and Municipal Solid Wastes

This work addresses the synthesis of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) by up-cycling common solid wastes. These feedstocks could supersede the use of costly and often toxic or highly flammable chemicals, such as hydrocarbon gases, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen, which are commonly used as feedstocks in current nanomanufacturing processes for CNMs. Agricultural sugar cane bagasse and corn residues, scrap tire chips, and postconsumer polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle shreddings were either thermally treated by sole pyrolysis or by sequential pyrolysis and partial oxidation. The resulting gaseous carbon-bearing effluents were then channeled into a heated reactor. CNMs, including carbon nanotubes, were catalytically synthesized therein on stainless steel meshes. This work revealed that the structure of the resulting CNMs is determined by the feedstock type, through the disparate mixtures of carbon-bearing gases generated when different feedstocks are pyrolyzed. CNM characterization was conducted by scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as by Raman spectroscopy and by thermogravimetric analysis. Gas chromatography was used to characterize the gases in the synthesis chamber. This work demonstrated an alternative method for efficient manufacturing of CNMs using both biodegradable and nonbiodegradable agricultural and municipal carbonaceous wastes.

Low liquid-solid ratio (LSR) hot water pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse

Low liquid-solid ratio (LSR) can be used to obtain high-content xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) spend liquor by hot water pretreatment. Developing a technology based on low LSR results in more efficient water usage in the system and thus in lower capital and operating costs. Xylans from xylan rich agro-industrial waste are abundant hemicellulosic polymers with enormous potential for industrial applications. Currently, freeze-dried xylo-oligosaccharides are used as bio-based polymers and hydrolysates containing high xylose contents are converted to several chemical products. In this study, sugarcane bagasse was treated with water at low LSRs and mild temperatures in order to assess the effects of varying the pretreatment conditions on the xylo-oligosaccharide and xylose concentrations, and use a central composite experimental design to optimize the process parameters. The pretreatments were performed in the ranges temperature: 143.3-176.7 degrees C, time: 20-70 min and LSR: 1 : 1 to 11 : 1 (g g(-1)). The maximum concentrations of xylose and xylan were 13.76 and 36.18 g L-1 (equivalent to 48.29 g L-1 of xylan), respectively, which were achieved by treating bagasse at 170 degrees C for 60 min, with LSR of 3 g g(-1). The amount of xylan removed under these conditions was almost 57%. The soluble xylan consisted mainly of xylo-oligosaccharides (74 wt% of the identified compound in the spent liquor).

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the biocompatibility of a calcium phosphate/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) composite

This study assess the effects of bioceramic and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) composite (BCP/PLGA) on the viability of cultured macrophages and human dental pulp fibroblasts, and we sought to elucidate the temporal profile of the reaction of pulp capping with a composite of bioceramic of calcium phosphate and biodegradable polymer in the progression of delayed dentine bridge after (30 and 60 days) in vivo. Histological evaluation of inflammatory infiltrate and dentin bridge formation were performed after 30 and 60 days. There was similar progressive fibroblast growth in all groups and the macrophages showed viability. The in vivo study showed that of the three experimental groups: BCP/PLGA composite, BCP and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)(2)) dentin bridging was the most prevalent (90 %) in the BCP/PLGA composite after 30 days, mild to moderate inflammatory response was present throughout the pulp after 30 days. After 60 days was observed dentine bridging in 60 % and necrosis in 40 %, in both groups. The results indicate that understanding BCP/PLGA composite is biocompatible and by the best tissue response as compared to calcium hydroxide in direct pulp capping may be important in the mechanism of delayed dentine bridge after 30 and 60 days.

Vesicles as carriers of virulence factors in parasitic protozoan diseases

Different types of shed vesicles as, for example, exosomes, plasma-membrane-derived vesicles or microparticles, are the focus of intense research in view of their potential role in cell cell communication and under the perspective that they might be good tools for immunotherapy, vaccination or diagnostic purposes. This review discusses ways employed by pathogenic trypanosomatids to interact with the host by shedding vesicles that contain molecules important for the establishment of infection, as opposed to previous beliefs considering them as a waste of cellular metabolism. Trypanosomatids are compared with Apicomplexa, which circulate parasite antigens bound to vesicles shed by host cells. The knowledge of the origin and chemical composition of these different vesicles might lead to the understanding of the mechanisms that determine their biological function. (C) 2012 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Biocompatible Magnetic Microspheres for Use in PDT and Hyperthermia

Loaded microspheres with a silicon (IV) phthalocyanine derivative (NzPC) acting as a photosensitizer were prepared from polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate (PHBHV) and poly(ecaprolactone) (PCL) polymers using the emulsification solvent evaporation method (EE). The aim of our study was to prepare two systems of these biodegradable PHBHV/PCL microspheres. The first one containing only photosensitizer previously incorporated in the PHBHV and poly(ecaprolactone) (PCL) microspheres and the second one with the post magnetization of the DDS with magnetic nanoparticles. Magnetic fluid is successfully used for controlled incorporation of nanosized magnetic particles within the micron-sized template. This is the first time that we could get a successful pos incorporation of nanosized magnetic particles in a previously-prepared polymeric template. This procedure opens a great number of possibilities of post-functionalization of polymeric micro or nanoparticles with different bioactive materials. The NzPC release profile of the systems is ideal for PDT, the zeta potential and the size particle are stable upon aging in time. In vitro studies were evaluated using gingival fibroblastic cell line. The dark citotoxicity, the phototoxicity and the AC magnetic field assays of the as-prepared nanomagnetic composite were evaluated and the cellular viability analyzed by the classical test of MU.