Fabrication and characterization of chitosan-gelatin/single-walled carbon nanotubes electrospun composite scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering applications

Cartilage is a connective tissue with a slow healing rate due to lack in blood circulation and slow metabolism. Designing tissue engineering scaffolds modified based on its specific features can assist its natural regeneration process. In this study, the chitosan-gelatin/single-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized by COOH (SWNTs-COOH) nanocomposite scaffolds were fabricated through electrospinning. The effect of each component and different duration of cross-linking were assessed in terms of morphology, porosity, chemical structure, thermal behavior, mechanical properties, wettability, biodegradability, and in vitro cell culture study. Adding SWNTs-COOH decreased fiber diameter, water contact angle and degradation rate while increased tensile strength, hydrophilicity, stability and cell viability, due to their high intrinsic electrical conductivity, and mechanical properties and the presence of COOH functional groups in its structure. All the sample presented a porosity percentage of more than 80%, which is essential for tissue engineering scaffolds. The presence SWNTs-COOH did not have any adverse effect on cytocompatibility. The optimal cross-linking time increased the stability of the scaffolds in PBS. It can be concluded that the chitosan-gelatin/1wt% SWNTs-COOH scaffold can be appropriate for cartilage tissue engineering applications.     

A novel approach for prediction of exothermic decomposition temperature of energetic complexes through additive and non-additive descriptors

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - A novel approach is offered for reliable valuation of exothermic decomposition temperature ( $$T_{{{\text{exo}}}}$$ ) of energetic complexes (ECs),...     

Optimization of combined Reverse Osmosis: thermal Zero Liquid Discharge system parameters for an Ammonia and Urea production complex

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) has shown to be a promising technology to recycle water with good quality. The ZLD objective is to purify the water from...     

Development of a stability-indicating CE assay for the determination of amlodipine enantiomers in commercial tablets

A simple, accurate, precise and sensitive method using CD for separation and stability indicating assay of enantiomers of amlodipine in the commercial tablets has been established. Several types of CD were evaluated and best results were obtained using a fused-silica capillary with phosphate running buffer (100 mM, pH 3.0) containing 5 mM hydroxypropyl-alpha-CD. The method has shown adequate separation for amlodipine enantiomers from its degradation products. The drug was subjected to oxidation, hydrolysis, photolysis and heat to apply stress conditions. The range of quantitation for both enantiomers was 5-150 microg/mL. Intra- and inter-day RSD (n=6) was <4%. The limit of quantification that produced the requisite precision and accuracy was found to be 5 microg/mL for both enantiomers. The LOD for both enantiomers was found to be 0.5 microg/mL. Degradation products produced as a result of stress studies did not interfere with the detection of enantiomers and the assay can thus be considered stability indicating.     

Gas hydrates of methane, ethane, propane, and carbon dioxide in the presence of single NaCl, KCl, and CaCl2 aqueous solutions: Experimental measurements and predictions of dissociation conditions

Experimental dissociation data for methane, ethane, propane, and carbon dioxide simple hydrates in the presence of NaCl, KCl, and CaCl₂ aqueous solutions with different concentrations of single salt are reported in this communication. The experimental data were generated using a reliable isochoric technique. Some of the experimental hydrate dissociation data measured in this study are compared with some selected experimental data from the literature and the agreements are generally found acceptable, which is a guarantee for the reliability of our experimental technique and the data generated here. All the experimental data are finally compared with the predictions of a general correlation and a thermodynamic model and good agreements between the experimental and predicted data are generally observed.     

A Biomimetic Potentiometric Sensor Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for the Cetirizine Assay in Tablets and Biological Fluids

Despite the increasing number of applications of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in analytical chemistry, the construction of a biomimetic potentiometric sensor remains still challenging. In this work, a biomimetic potentiometric sensor, based on a non‐covalent imprinted polymer was fabricated for the recognition and determination of cetirizine. The MIP was synthesized by precipitation polymerization, using cetirizine dihydrochloride as a template molecule, methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a cross linking agent. The sensor showed high selectivity and a sensitive response to the template in aqueous system. The MIP‐modified electrode exhibited Nernstian response (28.0±0.9 mV/decade) in a wide concentration range of 1.0×10^?6 to 1.0×10^?2 M with a lower detection limit of 7.0×10^?7 M. The electrode has response time of ca. 20 s, high performance, high sensitivity, and good long term stability (more than 5 months). The method was satisfactory and used to the cetirizine assay in tablets and biological fluids.     

Recent developments in the synthesis and applications of dihydropyrimidin-2(1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-ones and thiones

Dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones/thiones (DHPMs) are important heterocyclic compounds owing to their excellent biological activities and have been widely utilized in pharmaceutical applications. Recently, numerous DHPM derivatives have been prepared. This review covers the synthesis of DHPMs and improved procedures for the preparation of DHPMs from 1995 to 2016.     

Influence of the spatial variation of Poisson’s ratio upon the elastic field in nonhomogeneous axisymmetric bodies

The effect of a nonconstant Poisson’s ratio upon the elastic field in functionally graded axisymmetric solids is analyzed. Both of the elastic coefficients, i.e. Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio, are permitted to vary in the radial direction. These elastic coefficients are considered to be functions of composition and are related on this basis. This allows a closed form solution for the stress function to be obtained. Two cases are discussed in this investigation: first, both Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio are allowed to vary across the radius and the effect of spatial variation of Poisson’s ratio upon the maximum radial displacement is investigated; secondly, Young’s modulus is taken as constant and the change in the maximum hoop stress resulting from a variable Poisson’s ratio is calculated.     

Adsorption of acid red 114 and reactive black 5 in aqueous solutions on dendrimer‐conjugated magnetic nanoparticles

The adsorption of the dyes Acid Red 114 and Reactive Black 5 in aqueous solutions on polyhydroxyl dendrimer magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂‐TRIS) was studied in a batch system. The Fe₃O₄@SiO₂‐TRIS NPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Experiments were performed under different conditions such as the initial dye concentration, adsorbent dose, and pH. The pseudo‐second‐order model provided a very good fit for the two anionic dyes. The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models were used to describe the equilibrium isotherms at different temperatures, and the former agreed very well with the experimental data. However, the adsorption capacity of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂‐TRIS NPs was reduced during surface modification, which could be due to the dye occupying the binding sites of the dendrimer. Thermodynamic parameters, namely the change in free energy (ΔG⁰), enthalpy (ΔH⁰), and entropy (ΔS⁰), were also determined.