Controlling the cooperative self-assembly of graphene oxide quantum dots in aqueous solutions

The 3D supramolecular association behavior of the synthesized 2D graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) could be smartly controlled in dilute aqueous solutions to tune their final properties.

Valorization of cellulose and waste paper to graphene oxide quantum dots

Valorization of cellulose and waste paper to value-added 2D graphene oxide quantum dots through 3D carbon nanosphere intermediates from microwave assisted hydrothermal degradation.

Synthesis, characterization, and cellular uptake of magnetic nanocarriers for cancer drug delivery

HYPOTHESIS

The absence of targetability is the primary inadequacy of conventional chemotherapy. Targeted drug delivery systems are conceptualized to overcome this challenge. We have designed a targetable magnetic nanocarrier consisting of a superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) core and biocompatible and biodegradable poly(sebacic anhydride)-block-methyl ether poly(ethylene glycol) (PSA-mPEG) polymer shell. The idea is that this type of carriers should facilitate the targeting of cancer cells.

EXPERIMENTS

PSA-mPEG was synthesized with poly-condensation and the in vitro degradation rate of the polymer was monitored by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The magnetic nanocarriers were fabricated devoid of any surfactants and were capable of carrying high payload of hydrophobic dye. The successful encapsulation of SPIO within the polymer shell was confirmed by TEM. The results we obtained from measuring the size of SPIO loaded in polymeric NPs (SPIO-PNP) by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and iron content measurement of these particles by ICP-MS, indicate that SPIO is the most suitable carrier for cancer drug delivery applications.

FINDINGS

Measuring the hydrodynamic radii of SPIO-PNPs by DLS over one month revealed the high stability of these particles at both body and room temperature. We further investigated the cell viability and cellular uptake of SPIO-PNPs in vitro with MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. We found that SPIO-PNPs induce negligible toxicity within a concentration range of 1-2μg/ml. The TEM micrographs of thin cross-sectioned MDA-MBA-231 cells showed internalization of SPIO-PNPs within size range of 150-200nm after 24h. This study has provided a foundation for eventually loading these nanoparticles with anti-cancer drugs for targeted cancer therapy using an external magnetic field.

LDI-MS examination of oxygen plasma modified polymer for designing tailored implant biointerfaces

A versatile parylene C coating for biomaterials was fabricated by the mild oxygen plasma treatment and examined by the use of LDI-MS..

Degradation profile and preliminary clinical testing of a resorbable device for ligation of blood vessels

A resorbable device for ligation of blood vessels was developed and tested in vitro to reveal the degradation profile of the device and to predict the clinical performance in terms of adequate mechanical support during a healing period of 1week. In addition, preliminary clinical testing was performed that showed complete hemostasis and good tissue grip of renal arteries in five pigs. The device was made by injection molding of poly(glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate) triblock copolymer, and it consisted of a case with a locking mechanism connected to a partly perforated flexible band. A hydrolytic degradation study was carried out for 7, 30 and 60days in water and buffer medium, following the changes in mass, water absorption, pH and mechanical properties. A new rapid matrix-free laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) method was developed for direct screening of degradation products released into the degradation medium. The combination of LDI-MS and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry analyses enabled the comparison of the degradation product patterns in water and buffer medium. The identified degradation products were rich in trimethylene carbonate units, indicating preferential hydrolysis of amorphous regions where trimethylene units are located. The crystallinity of the material was doubled after 60days of hydrolysis, additionally confirming the preferential hydrolysis of trimethylene carbonate units and the enrichment of glycolide units in the remaining solid matrix. The mechanical performance of the perforated band was followed for the first week of hydrolysis and the results suggest that sufficient strength is retained during the healing time of the blood vessels.

Combined chromatographic and mass spectrometric toolbox for fingerprinting migration from PET tray during microwave heating

A combined chromatographic and mass spectrometric toolbox was utilized to determine the interactions between poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) food packaging and different food simulants during microwave heating. Overall and specific migration was determined by combining weight loss measurements with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). This allowed mapping of low molecular weight migrants in the molecular range up to 2000 g/mol. Microwave heating caused significantly faster migration of cyclic oligomers into ethanol and isooctane as compared to migration during conventional heating at the same temperature. This effect was more significant at lower temperature at which diffusion rates are generally lower. It was also shown that transesterification took place between PET and ethanol during microwave heating, leading to formation of diethyl terephthalate. The detected migrants included cyclic oligomers from dimer to hexamer, in most cases containing extra ethylene glycol units, and oxidized Irgafos 168. ESI-MS combined with CID MS-MS was an excellent tool for structural interpretation of the nonvolatile compounds migrating to the food simulants. The overall migration was below the overall migration limit of 10 mg/dm(2) set by the European commission after 4 h of microwave heating at 100 °C in all studied food simulants.

Surface assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) for analysis of polyester degradation products

Novel surface assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) method was developed for rapid analysis of low molecular mass polyesters and their degradation products by laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry. Three polycaprolactone materials were analyzed by the developed method before and after hydrolytic degradation. The signal-to-noise values obtained by SALDI-MS were 20-100 times higher compared with the ones obtained by using traditional MALDI-MS matrices. A clean background at low mass range and higher resolution was obtained by SALDI-MS. Different nanoparticle, cationizing agent, and solvent combinations were evaluated. Halloysite nanoclay and magnesium hydroxide showed the best potential as SALDI surfaces. The SALDI-MS spectrum of the polyester hydrolysis products was verified by ESI-MS. The developed SALDI-MS method possesses several advantages over existing methods for similar analyses.

Microwave heating causes rapid degradation of antioxidants in polypropylene packaging, leading to greatly increased specific migration to food simulants as shown by ESI-MS and GC-MS

Microwave heating of commercial microwavable polypropylene packaging in contact with fatty food simulants caused significant antioxidant degradation and increased specific migration as shown by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Degradation of the antioxidants Irgafos 168 and Irganox 1010 was not detected during conventional heating of polypropylene packaging at the same temperature. The migration into aqueous food simulants was primarily restricted by the water solubility of the migrants. Using isooctane as fatty food simulant caused significant swelling and greatly enhanced overall migration values compared to the other fatty food simulant, 99.9% ethanol, or the aqueous food simulants 10% ethanol, 3% acetic acid, or water. ESI-MS spectra clearly reflected the overall migration values, and the number and amount of compounds detected decreased as the hydrophilicity of the food simulant increased. ESI-MS was shown to be an excellent tool for the analysis of semivolatile migrants and a good complement to GC-MS analysis of volatile migrants.

Degradable polyethylene: fantasy or reality

Plastic waste disposal is one of the serious environmental issues being tackled by our society today. Polyethylene, particularly in packaging films, has received criticism as it tends to accumulate over a period of time, leaving behind an undesirable visual footprint. Degradable polyethylene, which would enter the eco-cycle harmlessly through biodegradation would be a desirable solution to this problem. However, the "degradable polyethylene" which is presently being promoted as an environmentally friendly alternative to the nondegradable counterpart, does not seem to meet this criterion. This article reviews the state of the art on the aspect of degradability of polyethylene containing pro-oxidants, and more importantly the effect these polymers could have on the environment in the long run. On exposure to heat, light, and oxygen, these polymers disintegrate into small fragments, thereby reducing or increasing the visual presence. However, these fragments can remain in the environment for prolonged time periods. This article also outlines important questions, particularly in terms of time scale of complete degradation, environmental fate of the polymer residues, and possible accumulation of toxins, the answers to which need to be established prior to accepting these polymers as environmentally benign alternatives to their nondegradable equivalents. It appears from the existing literature that our search for biodegradable polyethylene has not yet been realized.

In vitro and in vivo degradation profile of aliphatic polyesters subjected to electron beam sterilization

Degradation characteristics in response to electron beam sterilization of designed and biodegradable aliphatic polyester scaffolds are relevant for clinically successful synthetic graft tissue regeneration. Scaffold degradation in vitro and in vivo were documented and correlated to the macroscopic structure and chemical design of the original polymer. The materials tested were of inherently diverse hydrophobicity and crystallinity: poly(L-lactide) (poly(LLA)) and random copolymers from L-lactide and ε-caprolactone or 1,5-dioxepan-2-one, fabricated into porous and non-porous scaffolds. After sterilization, the samples underwent hydrolysis in vitro for up to a year. In vivo, scaffolds were surgically implanted into rat calvarial defects and retrieved for analysis after 28 and 91days. In vitro, poly(L-lactide-co-1,5-dioxepan-2-one) (poly(LLA-co-DXO)) samples degraded most rapidly during hydrolysis, due to the pronounced chain-shortening reaction caused by the sterilization. This was indicated by the rapid decrease in both mass and molecular weight of poly(LLA-co-DXO). Poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (poly(LLA-co-CL)) samples were also strongly affected by sterilization, but mass loss was more gradual; molecular weight decreased rapidly during hydrolysis. Least affected by sterilization were the poly(LLA) samples, which subsequently showed low mass loss rate and molecular weight decrease during hydrolysis. Mechanical stability varied greatly: poly(LLA-co-CL) withstood mechanical testing for up to 182 days, while poly(LLA) and poly(LLA-co-DXO) samples quickly became too brittle. Poly(LLA-co-DXO) samples unexpectedly degraded more rapidly in vitro than in vivo. After sterilization by electron beam irradiation, the three biodegradable polymers present widely diverse degradation profiles, both in vitro and in vivo. Each exhibits the potential to be tailored to meet diverse clinical tissue engineering requirements.

Porosity and pore size regulate the degradation product profile of polylactide

Porosity and pore size regulated the degradation rate and the release of low molar mass degradation products from porous polylactide (PLA) scaffolds. PLA scaffolds with porosities above 90% and different pore size ranges were subjected to hydrolytic degradation and compared to their solid analog. The solid film degraded fastest and the degradation rate of the porous structures decreased with decreasing pore size. Degradation products were detected earlier from the solid films compared to the porous structures as a result of the additional migration path within the porous structures. An intermediate degradation rate profile was observed when the pore size range was broadened. The morphology of the scaffolds changed during hydrolysis where the larger pore size scaffolds showed sharp pore edges and cavities on the scaffold surface. In the scaffolds with smaller pores, the pore size decreased during degradation and a solid surface was formed on the top of the scaffold. Porosity and pore size, thus, influenced the degradation and the release of degradation products that should be taken into consideration when designing porous scaffolds for tissue engineering.