Recent advances and challenges in the recovery and purification of cellular exosomes

Exosomes are nanovesicles secreted by most cellular types that carry important biochemical compounds throughout the body with different purposes, playing a preponderant role in cellular communication. Because of their structure, physicochemical properties and stability, recent studies are focusing in their use as nanocarriers for different therapeutic compounds for the treatment of different diseases ranging from cancer to Parkinson's disease. However, current bioseparation protocols and methodologies are selected based on the final exosome application or intended use and present both advantages and disadvantages when compared among them. In this context, this review aims to present the most important technologies available for exosome isolation while discussing their advantages and disadvantages and the possibilities of being combined with other strategies. This is critical since the development of novel exosome‐based therapeutic strategies will be constrained to the effectiveness and yield of the selected downstream purification methodologies for which a thorough understanding of the available technological resources is needed.     

云制造平台加工能力分享调度优化研究

云制造平台加工能力分享的调度优化是云制造模式的核心运营问题。为提高云制造平台对参与能力分享企业资源的利用率,解决实际云制造需求环境下企业级制造资源调度问题,达到云制造平台动态实时的要求,以最小化工期和成本为目标函数,构建了基于平台并面向分享的云加工能力调度模型。为快速求解多个云任务订单的最优调度序列,引入任务简易编码和随机权重,设计了改进的二阶粒子群算法,并提出可分享加工能力时间窗的更新策略。最后,通过算例验证云制造平台加工能力调度机制的可行性和有效性。     

Oligomeric phthalonitriles and tetrakis(phenylethynyl)benzene blends with improved processing and thermal properties

Blended resins were prepared from the resorcinol-based PEEK-like oligomeric phthalonitrile resin (RES) and tetrakis(phenylethynyl)benzene (TPEB), a high char yield arylacetylene resin. Initial probing of curing properties using differential scanning calorimetry, indicated that TPEB and RES co-cure when heated. Characterization of thermal properties using thermogravimetric analysis indicated that a 1:1 TPEB-RES blend (by weight) exhibited a char yield of 80% which was 6% larger compared to pure RES (74%). According to FTIR characterization, the enhanced thermal properties of TPEB-RES were the result of increased crosslinking density. Rheological studies of TPEB, RES, and TPEB-RES blends indicated that blended systems exhibit similar processing characteristics as RES resin. For example, resins display ideal viscosities and relatively large processing windows when cured at 175 °C. Alternatively, pure TPEB resin exhibits low viscosities when melted, which are not suitable for preparing composite materials. This study indicates that preparing TPEB-RES blends is an effect strategy for improving thermal performance of potential RES composites while still maintaining the required processability for fabrication of dense polymer composites. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2630–2640     

Processing polyamides with superheated water

Superheated water (shH₂O) is investigated as a process aid in conventional aliphatic polyamide (PA) systems. The polymers investigated include PA 6 (PA6), PA 6,6 (PA66), PA 6,12 (PA612), and PA 12 (PA12). It is shown that the PA melting and crystallization temperatures are significantly reduced when exposed to shH₂O. For example, the melting temperature of PA6 is depressed from 206 to 153 °C in the presence of shH₂O. A relationship between amide group density and thermal transition temperature reduction is observed. Processing these materials in shH₂O has led to a variety of materials ranging from low‐density foams to higher density locally anisotropic foamed morphologies. In situ observations of PAs melting in the presence of shH₂O are performed using a specially designed reactor. Results from these experiments are used to estimate the diffusion coefficient of shH₂O in PA6. Finally, low‐temperature extrusion is performed with PA6 and shH₂O at temperatures as low as 180 °C and mixture viscosity is estimated. A 20‐fold depression in the melt viscosity of PA6 is observed at 240 °C with shH₂O. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 803–813     

Morphological reorganization and mechanical enhancement in multilayered polyethylene/polypropylene films by layer multiplication or mild annealing

Shortly after processing, Polyethylene/Polypropylene (PE/PP) multilayer films demonstrate an increase in tensile modulus and other mechanical properties when the individual layer thickness is below 0.5 µm. Subsequent annealing at 60 °C for 16 h brings the properties of all other samples to similar values. WAXD characterization of the layered films identified a prevalence of mesophase in the thicker PP layers. In samples with increased layer numerosity or subjected to annealing, WAXD detected its conversion to α crystalline phase that correlates with improved mechanical properties. SSNMR and DSC detailed the defective nature of α iPP crystallites. Comonomers, detected by NMR in the commercial polymers used for the films, are the source of “tunable disorder” that dictates the formation of the PP mesophase and the low temperature of conversion to the mechanically stronger defective α phase. Soft intrafilm layer interfaces instead enable nucleation and localized polymer chain rearrangement even without annealing. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 520–531     

Processing optimization: A way to improve the ionic conductivity and dielectric loss of electroactive polymers

Electro‐active polymers (EAPs) such as P(VDF‐TrFE‐CTFE) are greatly promising in the field of flexible sensors and actuators, but their low dielectric strength driven by ionic conductivity is a main concern for achieving high electrostrictive performance. It is well known that there is a quadratic dependence of the strain response and mechanical energy density on the applied electric field. This dependence highlights the importance of improving the electrical breakdown EAPs while reducing the dielectric losses. This article demonstrates that it is possible to dramatically increase the electrical breakdown and decrease the dielectric losses by controlling processing parameters of the polymer synthesis and fabrication procedure. As a result, an enhancement of around 70% is achieved in both the strain and blocking force. The effects on the dielectric losses of the polymer crystallinity, molecular weight, solvent purity, and crystallization temperature are also investigated. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 1164–1173     

Plasma Treatment of Polymers

Abstract

Plasma treatment of polymers encompasses a variety of plasma technologies and polymeric materials for a wide range of applications and dates back to at least the 1960s. In this article we provide a brief review of the United States patent literature on plasma surface modification technologies and a brief review of the scientific literature on investigations of the effects of plasma treatment, the nature of the plasma environment, and the mechanisms that drive the plasma–surface interaction. We then discuss low‐radio‐frequency capacitively coupled nitrogen plasmas and their characteristics, suggesting that they provide significant plasma densities and populations of reactive species for effective plasma treatments on a variety of materials, particularly when placing the sample surface in the cathode sheath region. We further discuss surface chemical characterization of treated polymers, including some results on polyesters treated in capacitively coupled nitrogen plasmas driven at 40 kHz. Finally, we connect plasma characterization with surface chemical analysis by applying a surface sites model to nitrogen uptake of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN) treated in a 40 kHz nitrogen plasma. This example serves to suggest an interesting practical approach to comparisons of plasma treatments. In addition, it suggests an approach to defining the investigations required to conclusively identify the underlying treatment mechanisms.     

Digital Interferometric Measurement of Forced Convection Heat Transfer in a Miniature Rectangular Channel

Investigations have been performed on convective heat transfer in water flowing through mini-channels using the non intrusive technique of laser interferometry coupled with digital image processing. Optical glass channels, fabricated with metallic heating surfaces, were studied using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer configuration. Fringe patterns captured using a high-sensitivity CCD camera were analyzed digitally based on a calculation method developed for the liquid medium. Results of parametric studies were compared and contrasted with relevant theoretical solutions from the literature. Indication of the onset of turbulence at Reynolds numbers smaller than the conventional transition Reynolds number for large channels has also been noticed in the experimental investigation.     

Product Inhibited Enzymatic Reactions on the Rotating Disk Electrodes

A model of cyclic staircase voltammetry of enzymatic reactions on the rotating disk electrode is developed and the inhibition by the product is investigated. The responses are mostly time – dependent current – potential curves with maxima in the forward but not in the backward branch. If the maxima appear in both branches, the inhibition is potential – dependent either directly or indirectly. The source of the second maximum is explained.     

Simultaneous quantification of ten Amadori compounds in tobacco using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

Amadori compounds are aroma precursors formed in the initial phase of the Maillard reaction. Based on their similar structures, simultaneous quantification of more than six Amadori compounds in tobacco has not been reported yet. In this study, a simple and rapid method was developed to simultaneously quantify ten Amadori compounds including the isomers of Fructose‐isoleucine and Fructose‐leucine in tobacco. The separation was performed on an Atlantis T₃ column (2.1 × 250 mm, 5 μm) by gradient elution using acetonitrile and water as the mobile phases. The quantification method was systematically evaluated and proven to be sensitive and accurate. The linearity was good, with correlation coefficients of 0.9977–0.9999. The limits of detection and quantitation were 1.354–2.532 and 4.516–8.444 ng/mL, respectively. The recoveries were 84.0–119.6%, and the relative standard deviations were 1.33–5.40%. The method was used to analyze the changes in the amounts of ten Amadori compounds in tobacco before and after tobacco primary processing. The analysis shows that the Maillard reaction occurs during the short processing period.