Fabrication of carbon microcapsules containing silicon nanoparticles-carbon nanotubes nanocomposite by sol-gel method for anode in lithium ion battery

Carbon microcapsules containing silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs)-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanocomposite (Si-CNT@C) have been fabricated by a surfactant mediated sol-gel method followed by a carbonization process. Silicon nanoparticles-carbon nanotubes (Si-CNT) nanohybrids were produced by a wet-type beadsmill method. To obtain Si-CNT nanocomposites with spherical morphologies, a silica precursor (tetraethylorthosilicate, TEOS) and polymer (PMMA) mixture was employed as a structure-directing medium. Thus the Si-CNT/Silica-Polymer microspheres were prepared by an acid catalyzed sol-gel method. Then a carbon precursor such as polypyrrole (PPy) was incorporated onto the surfaces of pre-existing Si-CNT/silica-polymer to generate Si-CNT/Silica-Polymer@PPy microspheres. Subsequent thermal treatment of the precursor followed by wet etching of silica produced Si-CNT@C microcapsules. The intermediate silica/polymer must disappear during the carbonization and etching process resulting in the formation of an internal free space. The carbon precursor polymer should transform to carbon shell to encapsulate remaining Si-CNT nanocomposites. Therefore, hollow carbon microcapsules containing Si-CNT nanocomposites could be obtained (Si-CNT@C). The successful fabrication was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). These final materials were employed for anode performance improvement in lithium ion battery. The cyclic performances of these Si-CNT@C microcapsules were measured with a lithium battery half cell tests.     

Ultrasound-assisted microencapsulation of jackfruit extract in eco-friendly powder particles: characterization and antiproliferative activity

The aim of the article was to develop stable and safe eco-friendly microcapsules and evaluate their physicochemical properties and their efficiency to protect a jackfruit extract. Eco-friendly microcapsules were produced by ultrasound and spray drying using only three safe ingredients: sucrose ester (SE), miglyol and maltodextrin (DE = 10). Some physicochemical properties, particle morphology, FT-IR, differential scanning calorimetry and antiproliferative activity were determined for microcapsules loaded or not with the jackfuit extract. The results revealed that the encapsulation process by spray drying produced stable microcapsules, with adequate physicochemical and fluid properties for a powder product. The cell viability on the proliferation of M12.C3.F6 cell line was not affected by powder microcapsules without jackfruit extract, indicating that capsules are not toxic for these cells. However, microcapsules with jackfruit extract (100 μg/ml) were able to inhibit significantly the proliferation of M12.C3.F6 cells. These microcapsules can be used for the protection of different compounds sensitive to light, oxygen and/or heat and displaying a very low aqueous solubility.     

一步法高通量可控制备生物相容水/水微囊及其响应释放

生物相容水/水微囊在药物递送、 医学治疗等领域具有重要应用. 本文通过设计同轴微流控器件, 结合数值模拟优化和流动阻力分析, 实现一步法高通量可控制备大小均匀、 尺寸可控、 壁厚可调、 生物相容的水/水微囊. 采用实验研究和数值模拟相结合的方式, 研究了微流控器件结构、 内相流速、 外相流速、 外相/空气界面张力、 内相/外相界面张力、 内相黏度和外相黏度等参数对水/水微囊直径和壁厚的调控规律. 通过微通道流动阻力分析, 设计多通道平行放大微流控器件, 实现尺寸均匀可控水/水微囊的高通量制备. 验证了生物相容水/水微囊作为活性物质的理想载体, 可以通过改变pH或溶解囊壁释放载体, 进而实现活性物质的pH响应释放, 为其实际应用奠定了基础.     

微流控技术制备微胶囊负载钯催化剂

采用微流控技术结合悬浮聚合方法实现了百微米级含膦配体聚苯乙烯微胶囊的可控制备, 微胶囊尺寸在320~420 μm范围内可调, 且单分散性好. 扫描电子显微镜、能量散射光谱和电感耦合等离子发射光谱结果证实了其形貌和组成的均匀性及钯负载的可控性和有效性. 以溴代芳烃与苯硼酸的Suzuki偶联反应为模型反应评价了负载Pd(PPh₃)₄的百微米级微胶囊的催化性能, 发现其性能与文献报道的7~8 μm的同类催化剂微胶囊接近, 且均优于均相催化剂; 该催化剂经简单过滤后, 可实现多次循环使用, 未发现活性物种的流失. 该法实现了连续制备, 因而有助于提高制备的效率和可控性. 另外, 所制百微米级催化剂微胶囊在固定床反应器内具有较高催化剂浓度和机械性能, 且优于浆态床中使用的微米级催化剂微胶囊.     

壳聚糖溶液pH对载细胞海藻酸钠-壳聚糖微胶囊性能的影响

以激光共聚焦扫描显微镜为研究手段, 原位直观地考察了在不同pH条件下聚电解质膜的络合程度和蛋白扩散情况. 通过分析pH值对微胶囊膜性能的影响规律, 并结合不同种类细胞对环境pH的敏感特性, 确定了制备细胞培养用海藻酸钠-壳聚糖微胶囊的最佳pH值. 结果表明, 当壳聚糖溶液的pH值由3.50增加到6.50, 微胶囊膜的络合深度呈现高-低-高的趋势, 而微胶囊膜的膨胀性能呈现低-高-低的趋势, 模型蛋白通过微囊膜的扩散呈现低-高-低的趋势, 拐点均出现在pH=4.00和5.50处. 结合动物细胞及微生物细胞对环境pH耐受能力的考察, 确定制备微囊化动物细胞时, 微胶囊成膜反应溶液的最佳pH值为5.50; 制备微囊化大肠杆菌时, 反应溶液的最佳pH值为5.00; 制备微囊化酵母菌时, 反应溶液的最佳pH值为4.50.     

Synthesis and characterization of microencapsulated dicyclopentadiene with melamine–formaldehyde resins

Microcapsules containing healing agents have been used to develop the self-healing polymeric composites. These microcapsules must possess special properties such as appropriate strength and stability in surrounding medium. A new series of microcapsules containing dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) with melamine–formaldehyde (MF) resin as shell material were synthesized by in situ polymerization technology. These microcapsules may satisfy the requirements for self-healing polymeric composites. The chemical structure of microcapsule was identified by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The morphology of microcapsule was observed by using optical microscope (OM) and scanning electron microscope. Size distribution and mean diameter of microcapsules were determined with OM. The thermal properties of microcapsules were investigated by using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Additionally, the self-healing efficiency was evaluated. The results indicate that the poly(melamine–formaldehyde) (PMF) microcapsules containing DCPD have been synthesized successfully, and their mean diameters fall in the range of 65.2∼202.0 μm when the adjusting agitation rate varies from 150 to 500 rpm. Increasing the surfactant concentration can decrease the diameters of microcapsules. The prepared microcapsules are thermally stable up to 69 °C. The PMF microcapsules containing DCPD can be applied to polymeric composites to fabricate the self-healing composites.     

An approach to analysis of pigment release from microcapsules with size distribution

We have studied the release curve for microcapsules with size distribution. On the basis of an analogy to the relaxation phenomena with multiple characteristic times, we propose a stretched exponential release curve for the system with size distribution and relate the release curve to the size distribution function of the microcapsule. This method was successfully applied to the transfer of azo-pigments from inner medium of dioctyl phthalate to dispersing medium of methanol through poly(ureaurethane) microcapsule membrane.     

Preparation and mechanical properties of thermal energy storage microcapsules

A series of heat energy storage microcapsules was prepared using melamine-formaldehyde resin as the shell material and the mechanical properties of the shell were investigated. A phase change material whose melting point was 24 °C was used as core and the quantity of heat involved in phase transition was 225.5 J/g. Average diameter of the microcapsules varied from 5 to 10 μm, and the globular surface was smooth and compact. The mechanical properties of the shell were evaluated by observing the surface morphological structure change after application of pressure by means of scanning electron microscopy. When the mass ratio of the core and shell material is 3:1, a yield point of about 1.1×10⁵ Pa was found and when the compression was increased beyond this point the microcapsules showed plastic behavior. This has been attributed to the cross-link density and to the high degree of reaction of the shell material. Different yield points subsequently reflected differences in the mechanical behavior. It was also found that the mechanical intensity of double-shell microcapsules was better than that of single shelled ones.     

Performance of biodegradable microcapsules of poly(butylene succinate), poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) and poly(butylene terephthalate-co-adipate) as drug encapsulation systems

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu), poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) and poly(butylene terephthalate-co-adipate) (PBTA) microcapsules were prepared by the double emulsion/solvent evaporation method. The effect of polymer and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) concentration on the microcapsule morphologies, drug encapsulation efficiency (EE) and drug loading (DL) of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) were all investigated. As a result, the sizes of PBSu, PBSA and PBTA microcapsules were increased significantly by varying polymer concentrations from 6 to 9%. atRA was encapsulated into the microcapsules with an high level of approximately 95% EE. The highest EE and DL of BSA were observed at 1% polymer concentration in values of 60 and 37%, respectively. 4% PVA was found as the optimum concentration and resulted in 75% EE and 14% DL of BSA. The BSA release from the capsules of PBSA was the longest, with 10% release in the first day and a steady release of 17% until the end of day 28. The release of atRA from PBSu microcapsules showed a zero-order profile for 2 weeks, keeping a steady release rate during 4 weeks with a 9% cumulative release. Similarly, the PBSA microcapsules showed a prolonged and a steady release of atRA during 6 weeks with 12% release. In the case of PBTA microcapsules, after a burst release of 10% in the first day, showed a parabolic release profile of atRA during 42 days, releasing 36% of atRA.     

交联壳聚糖水凝胶填充层状微胶囊的制备与性能

在甲基丙烯酸和乳酸接枝修饰的水溶性壳聚糖(CML)存在下, 合成了尺寸均匀的球形CML杂化碳酸钙微粒. 通过层层组装(LBL)技术在该微粒表面形成了聚苯乙烯磺酸钠(PSS)/聚烯丙基胺盐酸盐(PAH)多层膜, 去除碳酸钙微粒后得到内部含有CML的聚电解质微胶囊. 进一步采用紫外光引发CML聚合, 将CML转化为CML微凝胶, 得到内部填充凝胶的微胶囊. 通过扫描电镜、光学显微镜和透射电镜等技术表征了微胶囊的结构. 与传统的LBL微胶囊不同, 凝胶填充的微胶囊干燥时尺寸收缩, 但仍可保持球形; 再次水化后, 能够膨胀恢复其原有尺寸和形态. 各种具有不同电荷性质、分子量和亲疏水性的染料分子及蛋白质均可有效地装载到微胶囊内.