Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Enriched with Amber for In Vitro Plant Rooting

Synthesis of xylan and lignin based hydrogels and their use as growth media for rice (Oryza sativa)

Different hydrogels were synthesised using lignin and xylan (extracted from rice straw) as the raw material, PVA as matrix template, citric acid, and succinic acid as crosslinkers and were structurally characterised by FT-IR and SEM analysis. Citric acid cross-linked hydrogels caused loose bonding between polymers and resulted in formation of large pores whereas succinic acid cross-linked hydrogels were observed to have less porosity and tight bonding network. The swelling ratio and reswelling capacity of hydrogels revealed that lignin hydrogels outperformed all other hydrogels. All the synthesised hydrogels were tested for their use as soil culture media ingredient for the germination of rice seedlings. All the hydrogels performed well in stress conditions as compared to normal conditions. Xylan/lignin hydrogel and lignin hydrogels performed best under stress conditions. These hydrogels could be used effectively as an ingredient of soil culture media owing to their tendency to absorb and retain water properly.

Comparison of Structural, Water-Retaining and Sorption Properties of Acrylamide-Based Hydrogels Cross-Linked by Physical and Chemical Methods

Two series of hydrogels based on acrylamide and its copolymers with acrylonitrile and acrylic acid were synthesized by two cross-linking methods - chemical (using N,N'-methylene bis-acrylamide) and physical (using montmorillonite (MMT)) ones. The structure of the gels was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The swelling and sorption properties were analyzed as a function of both the monomer composition and the cross-linking method. The shift of the band corresponding to Si-O (995-1030 cm-1 ) confirmed the formation of intercalation structures for MMT-cross-linked gels. Moreover, physically cross-linked gels demonstrated a non-monotonic dependence of the swelling degree on the MMT concentration, and acrylamide-acrylic acid copolymer MMT-cross-linked gels showed pH sensitivity and the highest swelling degree of 150 g/g. The highest sorption capacity towards cadmium(II) ions was demonstrated by acrylamide-acrylic acid copolymer gels, both covalently cross-linked (30 mg/g) and MMT-cross-linked (8.9 mg/g).

Personalization of Minimally-Invasive Aesthetic Procedures with the Use of Ultrasound Compared to Alternative Imaging Modalities

Ultrasonography is a well-tolerated procedure that aids in the targeted esthetic therapies of special cutaneous regions, as well as in the prevention (vascular mapping, identification of previous filler, and others) and management of potential complications (vascular occlusion, external vascular compression, product misplacement or migration, inflammatory reactions, and others). It has lately been promoted as the first-line imaging tool to address injectables. In this article, we aim to review the evolving role of ultrasonography in cosmetic filler procedures, from the fundamental ultrasound characterization of cosmetic fillers to the ultrasound-enhanced detection and management of cosmetic filler complications, including ultrasound's role in hyaluronidase-guided injections for cosmetic filler dissolution. Furthermore, the paper explores the integral role played by ultrasound in enhancing the precision, efficacy, and safety of additional minimally invasive aesthetic techniques such as mesotherapy, radiofrequency, cryolipolysis, and polydioxanone procedures.