Processing and Properties of Nanofibrous Bacterial Cellulose-Containing Polymer Composites: A Review of Recent Advances for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an extracellular natural polymer produced by many microorganisms and its properties could be tailored via specific fabrication methods and culture conditions. There is a growing interest in BC derived materials due to the main features of BC such as porous fibrous structure, high crystallinity, impressive physico-mechanical properties, and high water content. However, pristine BC lacks some features, limiting its practical use in varied applications. Thus, fabrication of BC composites has been attempted to overcome these constraints. This review article overviews most recent advance in the development of BC composites and their potential in biomedicine including wound dressing, tissue engineering scaffolds, and drug delivery. Special emphasis is placed on the fabrication and applications of BC-containing nanofibrous composites for biomedical usage. It summarizes electrospinning of BC-based nanofibers and their surface modification with an outline on challenges and future perspective.     

Conductivity of carbon black-loaded styrene–butadiene rubber

Styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) charged with 50 phr of HAF carbon black has been found to show a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity close to 0.07/°C at 27°C. Beyond a point (75°C) of minimum conductivity, however, it behaves as a normal noncrystalline semiconductor with a resistivity which decreases with rise of temperature with an activation energy of 0.56 eV. Blending the composition with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) shifts the minimum towards lower temperatures. The descending branch of the conductivity versus reciprocal absolute temperature characteristic is probably associated with thermal expansion of tunnelling paths separating the conducting carbon particles.     

Factors affecting electrical conductivity of carbon black-loaded rubber. II. Effect of concentration and type of carbon black on electrical conductivity of SBR

Effect of the concentration of four types of carbon black, namely, HAF, FEF, ISAF and GPF, on the electrical conductivity of SBR (1502) was studied. The anomalous behavior of conductivity [σ_min in σ(T) curves] becomes more pronounced as we approach a characteristic value of carbon concentration, F₀, at which maximum anomaly occurs; F₀ was found to depend on the type of carbon black. Moreover, the depth of the valley shape of the σ(T) curve increases with the particle size of carbon black used.     

Preparation and characterization of a codeine responsive electrode

Summary The behaviour of codeine reineckate and codeine tetraphenylborate membrane electrodes has been observed with a respectiveNernstian response of 58 and 56 mV/decade for 9.3×10^–5–1.3×10^–3 M codeine sulfate solutions. The workingpH ranges were 5–8 and 4–8, respectively. The selectivity towards sugars, amines, amino acids, cations, and some pharmaceutical compounds was found to be satisfactory. The isothermal temperature coefficient was 0.0014 V/°C. The electrodes were applied successfully for the determination of codeine in some pharmaceutical dosage forms with a relative standard deviation range of 0.16–0.30% and an average recovery of 98.6±0.6%.

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Herstellung und Charakterisierung einer codeinselektiven Elektrode

Zusammenfassung Das Verhalten von Codeinreineckat- und Codeintetraphenylboratmembranelektroden in 9.3×10^–5–1.3×10^–3 M Codeinsulfatlösungen wurde untersucht (Nernstscher Response: 58 bzw. 56 mV/Dekade). Der verwendetepH-Bereich für die beiden Elektroden war 5–8 bzw. 4–8. Ihre Selektivität gegenüber Zuckern, Aminen, Aminosäuren, Kationen und einigen pharmazeutisch aktiven Verbindungen ist zufriedenstellend. Der isotherme Temperaturkoeffizient beträgt 0.0014V/°C. Die Elektroden wurden erfolgreich zur Bestimmung von Codein in einigen pharmazeutischen Präparaten eingesetzt (relative Standardabweichung: 0.16–0.30%).

     

Generic fast gradient liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry techniques for the assessment of the in vitro permeability across the blood-brain barrier in drug discovery

Rapid, generic gradient liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) assays, designed to accelerate sample analyses, have been developed to keep pace with the productivity of advanced synthetic procedures. In this study, LC/MS/MS was combined with an in vitro, cell-based, blood-brain barrier (BBB) model to evaluate the potential of new chemical entities (NCEs) to cross the BBB. This in vitro assay provides the permeability of discovery compounds across a monolayer of a primary culture of bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells in a fraction of the time that is required for in vivo studies (brain/plasma concentrations), using only 2 mg of the compound. The results are consistent with in vivo brain/plasma concentration ratio data.     

Laser-assisted one-step fabrication of homogeneous glass–silver composite

Glass doped with silver ions was fabricated using a dry technique and then irradiated at the scanning speed of 14 mm?s^?1 using a nanosecond pulsed Nd:YVO₄ laser operating at 355?nm. This led to the spatially selective, one-step precipitation of silver particles and fabrication of a homogeneously structured optical composite material: glass?Csilver composite. The optical and structural properties of such composite material can be designed at will, which could have potential impact on light/plasmon wave and sensing technologies, optoelectronics, and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy.     

Solvent selection in ultrasonic-assisted emulsification microextraction: Comparison between high- and low-density solvents by means of novel type of extraction vessel

There are numerous published reports about dispersive liquid phase microextraction of the wide range of substances, however, till now no broadly accepted systematic and purpose oriented selection of extraction solvent has been proposed. Most works deal with the optimization of available solvents without adequate pre-consideration of properness. In this study, it is tried to compare the performances of low- and high-density solvents at the same conditions by means of novel type of extraction vessel with head and bottom conical shape. Extraction efficiencies of seven basic pharmaceutical compounds using eighteen common organic solvents were studied in this work. It was much easier to work with high-density solvents and they mostly showed better performances. This work shows that although exact predicting the performance of the solvents is multifaceted case but the pre-consideration of initial selection of solvents with attention to the physiochemical properties of the desired analytes is feasible and promising. Finally, the practicality of the method for extraction from urine and plasma samples was investigated.     

Supported N-propylsulfamic acid on magnetic nanoparticles used as recoverable and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of 2, 3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones in water

An efficient and eco-friendly method is reported for the synthesis of 2-substituted-2,3-dihydroquinazolin -4（1 H）-ones from direct cyclocondensation of anthranilamide with aldehydes and ketones using N-propylsulfamic acid supported onto magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles（MNPs-PSA） as a recoverable and recyclable nanocatalyst in good to excellent yields in water at 70℃.The catalyst was readily separated using an external magnet and reusable without significant loss of their catalytic efficiency.     

Silver(I)‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes of bis‐imidazol‐2‐ylidenes having different aromatic‐spacers: synthesis,crystal structure,and in vitro antimicrobial and anticancer studies

A series of Ag(I) complexes ( 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ) derived from imidazol‐2‐ylidenes was synthesized by reacting Ag₂O with an o‐, m‐, p‐xylyl or 1,3,5‐triazine‐linked imidazolium salts ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) and then characterizing these using various spectro‐analytical techniques. Additionally, triazine‐linked bis‐imidazolium salt 5 was characterized using the single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction method. Complexes 6–9 were formed from the N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand precursors 1–3 as PF₆^‐ salts in good yields. Conversely, salt 5 does not form Ag(I) complex even under various reaction conditions. Using ampicillin as a standard, complexes 6–9 were tested against bacteria strains Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria, respectively, showing potent antimicrobial activities against the tested bacteria even at minimum inhibition concentration and bacterial concentration levels. Furthermore, the potential anticancer activities of the reported complexes were evaluated against the human colorectal cancer (HCT 116) cell lines, using 5‐fluorouracil as a standard drug. The highest anticancer activities were observed for complex 8 with an IC₅₀ value of 3.4 μm , whereas the lowest was observed for complex 9 with an IC₅₀ value of 18.1 μm . Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.